Children and Families – Page 11 – The NEN

HOMELESSNESS IN EDINBURGH: Charity CEO calls for urgent support in the run up to Christmas

Simon Community Scotland (SCS) figures show 38 people currently sleeping rough in Edinburgh each night
The charity handles over 500 requests for support at their Edinburgh hub each week
12 women are currently living in emergency accommodation
SCS urgently needs to raise £200,000 to help them provide safe places and support to people experiencing homelessness

Almost forty people could be sleeping rough across Edinburgh in the run up to Christmas according to Scotland’s largest provider of homeless support services, Simon Community Scotland (SCS).

The charity, known as Streetwork at Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, is currently responding to over 500 support requests per week at their Edinburgh Hub, which is open every day.

In Edinburgh, the charity is also supporting a dozen women who are experiencing homelessness by providing emergency accommodation. Around 30 people are currently in Simon Community Homes, and many more are supported through outreach services.

Simon Community’s emergency winter appeal ‘A Safe Place’ is aiming to raise £200,000 this year with funds directed straight to people being supported through their Holyrood Road Hub, SCS Homes, Streetreads Library, Outreach and Accommodation Services and Street Team.

Following the announcement that Edinburgh is now facing a housing emergency, and amid ongoing cost of living challenges, Simon Community Scotland has written an open letter to businesses around Edinburgh calling for support.

Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive at Simon Community Scotland, said: “This week alone we are providing safe places and support to well over 500 people who find themselves homeless in Edinburgh. People who are tired, cold, on the streets or in temporary accommodation.

“The winter months are particularly hard and we’re doing all we can to help. But we need support from businesses across Edinburgh to allow us to keep people safe and supported this winter, through Christmas and beyond.

“We urgently need donations to our emergency winter appeal to cope with an increasing demand for our services. From employee fundraising, volunteering and charity partnerships, we’re keen to work with as many local businesses as possible.

“Scotland’s housing crisis is a problem which won’t be solved overnight. Our Street Teams and hub staff are on the frontline, delivering support to as many people as possible. We have seen an increase in the number of people sleeping rough and visiting our hubs. We urgently need support to help provide safe places and support and we promise that all donations will be put to immediate use.”

According to Scottish Government figures, Edinburgh saw an additional 723 homeless households between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.

As of 31 March 2023, over 15,000 households were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland – 46% more than a decade before.

Justice at last?

Arrests and charges in connection with non-recent abuse at Edinburgh school

Five men, aged between 69 and 90, have been arrested and charged in connection with non-recent abuse incidents at Edinburgh Academy. Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A sixth man, aged 74, will also be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

The abuse incidents are alleged to have taken place at the school between 1968 and 1992.

Detective Inspector Colin Moffat said: “We would like to thank everyone who has come forward and assisted our enquiries to date.

“While the investigation of child abuse, particularly non-recent offences, can be complex and challenging, anyone who reports this type of crime can be assured that we will listen and we will investigate all reports, no matter when those offences occurred or who committed them.

“If you have suffered abuse, or you know anyone who may have been the victim of child abuse then please call Police Scotland on 101.”

Childline delivered over 200 counselling sessions to children in Scotland over the 12 days of Christmas last year

Landmarks across Scotland will light up green next week as a reminder that Childline will be there as a lifeline for children this festive season.
Childline will remain open 24/7, including Christmas day.

Childline delivered 240 counselling sessions to children in Scotland during the 12 days of Christmas last year¹, the NSPCC-run service reveals as it prepares to support young people round the clock this festive holiday.

As this year’s festive season fast approaches, Childline counsellors know that while many children will be looking forward to spending time with their loved ones, for others Christmas can be a challenging time.

Next week, on the longest night of the year (Friday, December 22), landmarks across Scotland including Glasgow and Dundee science centres, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, The Falkirk Wheel and Camera Obscura Edinburgh will join dozens more across the UK in lighting up green to create a striking visual reminder that Childline is there for children and young people in their darkest hours.

For some, spending an extended amount of time at home with their family can lead to tensions or amplify existing issues and this can leave many children feeling upset and isolated.

Concerns that children shared with Childline last Christmas included:

Increased family conflict.
Facing their first Christmas without a loved one.
Struggling to cope with their own mental health or family members who have mental health issues.
Concerns about parents or carers drinking more than usual over the Christmas period.
Feeling worried or guilty about Christmas placing additional financial pressure on their family.
Struggling with eating or body issues, such as feeling pressure to eat more than usual, worried about eating in front of other people or having to hide disordered eating habits.

A few of the young people in Scotland who contacted Childline last year said:

“My parents argue a lot and sometimes hit each other. It makes me feel scared and my mum threatens to leave. It’s worse at Christmas, or any special days.”

“My mum is threatening to kick me out of the house because she said I ruined Christmas.”

“I went to stay with my dad over Christmas. my mum’s been acting really weird with me since I got back.”

Childline volunteer, Jess Copner (53) from Aberdeenshire, has volunteered on Christmas day for the past two years and is on duty on Christmas Eve this year. The mum and secondary school teacher said: “I did a shift last year which started at 7.15am so I had to be very organised and did lots of food preparation and gift wrapping beforehand.

“As my children are older they were just getting up when I got back, so I didn’t miss out on much at home.

“Volunteering for Childline is not completely altruistic, I also get a lot out of it. It’s great to give something back, especially at Christmas, it makes me feel good to know I’m helping others.”

Adeniyi Alade, service head of Childline, based in Aberdeen, said: “Sadly we know Christmas is not always a happy time for children. Hundreds of young people in Scotland contact Childline every year during the festive break.

“For some young people the issues they face all year round can become worse at this time of year, with societal pressures and expectations being added to existing problems.

“With schools closed for the holiday, children also have limited access to wider support networks which can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation.

“Christmas can also place a number of extra pressures on families, from financial to emotional, and for those children who are struggling with a range of issues our trained counsellors can provide a real lifeline.”

To enable the charity to be there for all children this festive season, visit the NSPCC website to donate to the charity’s Christmas appeal. Just £4 could help a counsellor answer a call.

You can also help raise vital funds for the service by rallying your friends and family to sign up to the Walk for Children and walk 5k on the 22^nd of December.

The Childline service is here for children every day, even on Christmas Day. Children can contact Childline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When a child needs help and Christmas means abuse, Childline is a lifeline and it’s vital that our counsellors are here and ready to listen and support children across the UK.

Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk

Letter: Charity keeps families together with their seriously ill children this Christmas

Dear Editor,

As the year draws to a close, we think about spending precious time with loved ones, but for many families with a sick child in hospital they’ll be worried about how they can be by their child’s side.

Can you imagine having a seriously sick child in hospital and you’re not able to be by their bedside at this traumatic time? The Sick Children’s Trust is there to make sure no child faces hospital alone and can have their family by their side, especially at Christmas.

This Christmas we expect all ten of our ‘Homes from Home’ to be full, ensuring that families with a seriously ill child in hospital can be together, but we can only do this with your help.

It costs The Sick Children’s Trust £40 to keep a family together for one night but that is only increasing with the cost of living crisis. Help us make sure families can be together this Christmas.

Last year we supported Alfie’s family in our Crawford House ‘Home from Home’.

His mum Becy said: “Crawford House really felt like a home from home. There was a large Christmas tree in the reception, and we had a communal kitchen, warm bedroom and bathroom.

“I found it so incredibly hard to leave Alfie on the ward each night, so to come back to such a warm, homely place like Crawford House, meant the world to us. It made a very difficult time that little bit easier.

“With Christmas being our favourite time of year, we wanted to start our own family traditions. One of which was to read ‘The Night before Christmas’ to Alfie, something made possible by the close proximity of Crawford House to the ward. Though it wasn’t the first Christmas we had planned, we still got to spend precious time with our baby.

“Following his recovery Alfie is now thriving. While we will be making the most of this special time, we will also be thinking about the families spending Christmas in hospital and at Crawford House this year. We know how heartbreaking it is to have a child in hospital at any time, but over the festive period is particularly difficult. We’re urging everyone to support The Sick Children’s Trust and their Christmas appeal so that every family can be together over the festive period.”

All families should be together during this precious time of year. I hope you’ll be able to donate to our Together at Christmas appeal as no matter how big or small your donation, you’ll be helping us to keep families, like Alfie’s, together at Christmas and beyond.

Please visit our website sickchildrenstrust.org to donate.

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy festive season.

Jane Featherstone

Chief Executive at The Sick Children’s Trust

Helping Ukrainians into longer term housing

Steps to provide displaced people with accommodation stability

Ukrainian people seeking refuge from the war will be supported to access longer term housing, under plans to further reduce the number of displaced people in Scotland living in temporary welcome accommodation.

From Thursday 7 December, Ukrainians arriving in Scotland for the first time through the Super Sponsor scheme and entering welcome accommodation will be supported by local authorities to identify two longer term accommodation options. Temporary welcome accommodation will be available for a maximum of six months, but may be extended in certain circumstances.

Ukrainians who are already in welcome accommodation will also be supported to find two longer term accommodation options. Where a displaced person chooses to make their own accommodation arrangements after six months and has declined offers, a maximum of 60 additional days in welcome accommodation will be permitted to allow them to safely move on.

From January, displaced people who have previously stayed in welcome accommodation and have left for an extended period will not be able to return in most cases, but will be offered help and advice to identify alternative housing options.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Over 26,000 people from Ukraine have arrived in the UK with a Scottish sponsor, more than 20,500 of them through our Super Sponsor scheme.

“Our welcome accommodation ensures that we can offer everyone who needs it an initial safe place to stay. However, we do not want people to spend longer than necessary without a settled place to call home.

“Thanks to our close working with local authorities and the third sector, the number of Ukrainians living in welcome accommodation has more than halved over the past year. These next steps will help us support even more people to find safe, settled accommodation for the longer term. This will provide much-needed stability, helping them set down roots and make the most of local opportunities.

“We will work with local authorities and COSLA to help meet the needs of individuals and families – helping those who need additional support and considering affordability, employment and education. Many Ukrainians choose to make their own accommodation arrangements and the resettlement and housing teams in our local authorities can also support this.”

COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Councillor Maureen Chalmers said: “Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, Scottish Local Government has worked in strong partnership with Scottish Government, third sector colleagues and the Ukrainian community to support displaced people seek refuge and safety in Scotland.

“Throughout this period, we have seen an exceptional level of public support. This has included thousands of people offering rooms in their homes to support hosting arrangements; a flourishing network of community and third sector activity to welcome Ukrainian households into local neighbourhoods; and support from colleagues across public services to ensure that guests have access to vital services which support resettlement and integration.

“This announcement is the next step in ensuring Ukrainian households who have arrived in Scotland have access to a home which meets their needs. Prolonged stays in welcome accommodation are unable to support the long-term integration needs of displaced people.

“Local Government is committed to supporting displaced households settle into longer term accommodation and integrate into local communities to ensure they benefit from the enhanced wellbeing that this brings.”

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Advancing children’s rights in law

Amended UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Bill passed

A Bill to provide greater protection of children’s rights has been passed by the Scottish Parliament for a second time.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) Bill requires Scotland’s public authorities to protect children’s human rights in their decision-making when delivering functions conferred by Acts of the Scottish Parliament. It also allows for children, young people and their representatives to use the courts to enforce their rights.

Several sections of the original Bill, which was passed unanimously in 2021, were ruled by the Supreme Court to be outwith the Scottish Parliament’s legislative competence, following referral by the UK Government. MSPs have now backed an amended bill with reduced scope.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This Bill is an important milestone in ensuring that children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled under Scots law.

“Although Scotland will become the first devolved nation in the world to incorporate the convention into domestic law, we are limited in what we can achieve because of the nature of the devolution settlement.

“We’ve had to limit the scope of this Bill because of legal action taken by the UK Government. That is deeply disappointing. So, while this Bill is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, it remains the case that the only way to protect children’s rights in the delivery of all public services in Scotland is for the UK Government to fully implement UNCRC. Unfortunately for Scotland’s children and young people, they remain firmly opposed to such action.”

Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament Mollie McGoran MSYP said: “The passing of the UNCRC Incorporation Bill is an important step in Scotland’s human rights journey.

“Whilst there has been challenges, this is a momentous day for the children and young people who have long campaigned for their rights to be respected in law and I want to thank and congratulate everyone who has worked for UNCRC incorporation.

“Decision makers and duty bearers in Scotland must now work towards embedding and respecting children and young people’s rights in every aspect of Scottish life. We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up and this is now an incredible opportunity to make that a reality.”

Member of Children’s Parliament Omima said: “I think the change is definitely going to be gradual.

“But I think if it is up there, and children know “all my rights do matter enough to be put into law” then they’re going to start valuing themselves more, and valuing the way that they’re treated and the way that adults especially treat them.

“I think that’s just to me a big pick up for our generation – to make us feel as if we are heard and valued as people not just as children.

The UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was first passed by the Scottish Parliament unanimously on 16 March 2021.

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry announces Phase 9 of investigations

This announcement provides further information about a future Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) case study

Phase 9 of SCAI’s investigations concerns the provision of residential care in establishments for children and young people with long term healthcare needs, additional support needs and disabilities.

It is expected that public hearings will commence in spring 2025. This is an area of residential care that requires investigation as part of SCAI’s wide ranging terms of reference.

Investigation of this category of establishments has been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry and many relevant statements have already been provided by applicants.

The provision of residential care by the following institutions are being considered as part of the case study:

School	Provider	Location
Children’s Home, Humbie	Algrade Trust	Humbie
Donaldson’s School for Deaf Children	The Donaldson Trust	Edinburgh
Harmeny School	Harmeny Trust	Balerno
Ladyfield West Children’s Hospital	NHS Dumfries & Galloway	Dumfries
Lendrick Muir School	Seamab	Rumbling Bridge
Lennox Castle Hospital	NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and East Dunbartonshire Council	Lennoxtown, Glasgow
Linwood Hall Children’s Home	Fife Council	Leven
Melville House	Fife Council	Cupar
Monken Hadley / Corsbie Hall / Woodlands School	Independent	Newton Stewart
Ovenstone Residential School	Fife Council	Pittenweem
Royal Blind School	Royal Blind	Edinburgh
Royal Scottish National Hospital	NHS Forth Valley	Larbert
Starley Hall School	Independent	Burntisland
St Joseph’s Hospital	Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul	Rosewell
St Mary’s Balnakeil	Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God	Galashiels
St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and Blind	Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul	Tollcross, Glasgow
Woodfield Ladymary School	Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd	Colinton, Edinburgh

Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: “The Inquiry’s wide-ranging Terms of Reference include requiring us to investigate the provision of residential care for children in healthcare establishments providing long term care and also similar establishments.

“Phase 9 will, accordingly, examine the provision of residential care for children and young people who had long term healthcare needs, additional support needs, disabilities or a combination of those needs.

“We plan to hold public hearings and expect that they will be able to commence in spring 2025.

“A range of organisations were involved in the provision of such residential accommodation including the National Health Service, local authorities, voluntary and private providers.

“Our investigations have been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry.

“A number of people have already come forward, but we would encourage anyone with relevant information to get in touch with the Inquiry’s witness support team as soon as possible.”

The Inquiry’s witness support team can be contacted on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot

Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24202, Edinburgh EH3 1JN.

SCAI launched a new website earlier this year and includes a range of features to improve accessibility such as “Recite me” and a series of short British Sign Language videos.

Scottish Child Payment helping families of more than 323,000 children

Total spending on five family payments passes £596 million

The families of more than 323,000 under-16s were benefitting from Scottish Child Payment at the end of September, official statistics show.

Figures published today show the payment of £25 per week was reaching 323,315 children – an increase of more than 7,000 compared to 30 June 2023.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission had forecast that the average number of children receiving support in 2023/24 would be 309,000.

Today’s statistics release also shows that the combined overall amount paid out across Social Security Scotland’s five family payments, since they launched, is more than £596 million.

That’s made up of £458.5 million for Scottish Child Payment and £138.1 million for the rest of the five family payments – Best Start Foods and three Best Start Grants (Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment) combined.

The average time taken to process applications has also improved across the five family payments.

For Scottish Child Payment, the average wait was six working days in September, down from 13 working days in June.

For Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, the average wait was four working days, down from 12 over the same period.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “As the First Minister has made clear, tackling child poverty is a key mission for the Scottish Government and these figures show we are reaching more of the children and young people who need our help. We’re doing it more quickly too.

“It is estimated that Scottish Child Payment will lift around 50,000 children out of poverty in the current financial year.

“Our work with this uniquely Scottish benefit is in stark contrast with the UK Government’s approach of continued austerity, further outlined in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement last week.

“Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and our Best Start Grants provide a robust safety net and are among many actions we are taking in government to lift people out of poverty.

“However, I would continue to encourage people to spread the word as we want all eligible people to get the help they are entitled to.”

The Scottish Government has twice increased Scottish Child Payment; first from £10 to £20 per week per child then £25 when it extended to include all eligible children under 16 in November last year.

The statistics are available in full here:

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/scottish-child-payment-high-level-statistics-to-30-september-2023

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/best-start-grant-and-best-start-foods-high-level-statistics-to-30-september-2023

MSP supports ASN Reform Scotland

Foysol Choudhury MSP pursues support for children with additional support needs

ASN Reform Scotland recently attended the Scottish Parliament to hold a drop-in session for MSPs. Their mission was to raise awareness amongst MSPs about the issues that children with ASN and their parents are facing, how to improve ASN education in Scotland, and to help raise awareness of children with ASN ‘s educational needs.

Training for people who work with children and young people with complex additional support needs emerged as a key theme from the Scottish Government’s recent 2023 report, ‘Pupils with complex additional support needs: research into provision’. These findings about challenges in accessing training were echoed by parents in the ASN Reform Scotland Group, who raised concerns that the environment provided by mainstream schools is often not appropriate for children with additional support needs due to, for example, a lack of appropriate training for teachers.

Foysol Choudhury MSP hosted the ASN Reform Scotland Group’s drop-in session for MSPs at the Scottish Parliament, after meeting the group outside the Scottish Parliament before the Parliament’s summer recess and offering his assistance to the group. Mr Choudhury says it was saddening to hear about the lack of appropriate support some children are getting at school, with some parents reporting having to take on the burden of teaching their own children.

Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “It was made clear at the drop-in session that parents feel unsupported.

“The group are calling to increase ASN provisions in Scotland and ensure all teachers get specific ASN training to bring the best for all our children.

“There should be support for children with ASN in school along with school staff members getting provided with the correct training in all types of schools, so parents can feel they are sending their children to a safe and beneficial environment”.

Parents from the ASN Reform Scotland group also raised with Mr Choudhury their concerns over stretched funding and called for accountability over how funds are spent to support a child with ASN.

The group says this will not just benefit the children’s development but will also help their families, as parents will be assured are that their children are getting the right support and care when they are at school.

A rolling presentation was played at the meeting, to convey the concerns of parents of children with ASN across Scotland. One parent noted they want “All teachers to have ASN training in mainstream schools”. Another noted: “My child deserves to thrive, not just survive in school”.

Mr Choudhury says he will continue to support the ASN Reform Group and other parents wherever he can.

Charity creates Magical Moments this Christmas

Right There, a charity which helps prevent homelessness, has launched ‘Magical Moments’, a festive campaign to give people going through hard times, special moments at Christmas and beyond.

Tapping into the real magic of Christmas, ‘Magical Moments’ hopes to spread the message of goodwill and community kindness through a series of festive fun experiences for the children and adults being supported, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Orkney.

Every year the charity supports around 4,000 children, adults and families who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Providing one-to-one tailored support, Right There offers safe places to live, along with emotional and practical help – from mentoring to housing advice and support in the community.

By creating ‘Magical Moments’, the charity is asking members of the public to give a gift that will last far beyond Christmas. By donating to Right There via its online campaign at rightthere.org, everyone has the opportunity to change someone’s life for the better.

Right There Chief Executive, Janet Haugh said: “Christmas is a time for family, friends and exchanging gifts, but sadly this is far from the reality for some of the people we support who are living with the effects of homelessness, poverty, or have been separated from their families.

“Every day our dedicated teams help people create life-changing moments in their lives. Be that a young person from care having a mentor to help achieve their goals or supporting an adult with a safe place to live so they can move on from the trauma of homelessness.

“The festive period can be an extremely challenging time for those without a safe place to call home, but we hope ‘Magical Moments’ will spread the magic of Christmas and enable people to create a lasting legacy that will help those who need it the most all year round.”

14 year old Rhianna experienced homelessness for six months after her grandmother passed away. The trauma from this had a significant impact on her attendance at school and resulted in conflict at home with her parents.

Since getting support from Right There things have started to change with Rhianna now attending school again and having the confidence and awareness of how to manage her behaviour in a positive way.

Rhianna’s step-mum Chloe said: “My magical moment is seeing Rhianna brighter after the help from Right There, I am seeing her confidence grow.

“She’s becoming more independent and it’s so good to see her happy and enjoying school.”

To find out more about the Magical Moments campaign visit righthere.org or follow ‘Right There Org’ on social media.

Janet Haugh added: “Without giving too much away, you can expect musical performances, Santa’s grotto, festive feasts, giant crackers and much more.”