Community Renewal Lifting Neighbourhood Together is a ground-breaking project, which is currently testing a new approach in lifting a whole neighbourhood out of poverty in five years. It has received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and is being delivered in Bingham, Magdalene and The Hays.
The official launch took place in October 2020. However, lockdowns and Covid safety measures stalled the team’s visits to the local residents, so they have decided to host a fun day and picnic to officially launch the project to the community.
The event will take place at Bingham Park on Sat 4 September 1 – 3pm
During the day, residents will enjoy family friendly events, entertainment and much more. And along the way, the team will be talking to residents to find out more about their aspirations for the neighbourhood.
All residents from Bingham Magdalene and The Hays are welcome.
Faith leaders from across Scotland have today united in urging the Scottish Government to “use its powers to do the just and compassionate thing” by committing to doubling the Scottish Child Payment this year.
In a joint statement released ahead of Tuesday’s publication of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for 2021/22, the leaders say that the levels of poverty in communities across Scotland “go against everything we stand for as a society.”
They go on to highlight the “moral imperative that the Scottish Government does all it can to lift children out of poverty” by immediately doubling the £10 per week per child benefit for low income families.
The significant intervention from key figures representing Scotland’s major faith groups comes two weeks after more than 120 organisations from across Scottish civil society wrote to Nicola Sturgeon, urging her to “do the right thing” by committing to doubling the payment now.
The faith leaders signing today’s joint statement include Jim Wallace (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland), Bishop William Nolan (Scottish Catholic Bishops Conference), Imam Dr Muhammad Rafiq Habib (Convenor, Muslim Council of Scotland), Rabbi Moshe Rubin (Senior Rabbi of Scotland and Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation), Charandeep Singh BEM (Director, Sikhs in Scotland), Madhu Jain (Executive Committee, Hindu Mandir Glasgow), Elizabeth Allen (Clerk, General Meeting for Scotland, Quakers) and Lieut. Col. Carol Bailey (Secretary for Scotland, The Salvation Army).
The Rt Hon Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Jim Wallace), Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: “The vision of the early leaders of the Church of Scotland at the time of the Reformation was for a ‘school in every parish’ to allow every child the chance to have every opportunity to reach their full potential.
“Our vision today is nothing less than the eradication of child poverty. It will require all levels of Government – Scottish, UK and local – to work together and use all the powers at their disposal.
“We have the means to help and there has been support expressed across the political spectrum. Surely there must now be the will to carry this through.”
Imam Dr Muhammad Rafiq Habib (Convenor, Muslim Council of Scotland) said: “Around one quarter of children in Scotland are living in poverty and we all share a moral duty to do what we can to help. These families deserve dignity and fairness.
“The Scottish Government has the opportunity next week to support those most in need by putting more cash in their pockets. I urge the Scottish Government to commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment now.”
Peter Kelly (Director, Poverty Alliance) said: “This intervention from Scotland’s faith leaders makes clear that doubling the Scottish Child Payment now is just the right thing to do.
“We have the urgent need, we have the powers, and we have the support from across all the political parties, civil society and faith groups for doubling the Scottish Child Payment. Children living in poverty can’t wait, so let’s get on and do it now.”
The National Trust for Scotland recently played host to a Classic Car and Transport Show – the first of its kind at Newhailes House & Gardens in Musselburgh.
Families and fans of classic cars flocked to the historic house and gardens to admire gleaming automobiles on Sunday 29 August. This is the latest stellar event hosted at Newhailes – from the adorable Doghailes, celebrating our best furry friends, and a concert by the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
Claire Grant, Operations Manager Edinburgh, for the National Trust for Scotland, said: “We love Newhailes – it’s a special place for our community. We’ve been delighted to showcase the house and gardens by holding exciting events through the summer.
“From crowning the best dog lookalike, to poignant fiddle music, to the gorgeous vehicles on display at our latest event – Newhailes has played host to diverse events and audiences. We love welcoming visitors to Newhailes – look out for future fun family events!”
Newhailes House & Gardens is a stunning place which played a prominent role in the Scottish Enlightenment.
The estate is complete with a Palladian mansion, woodland walks and the recently renovated Stables Café, as well as Weehailes Adventure Playpark. Newhailes has something for all the family to enjoy.
Singer Anne Marie and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson support Disney Princess pledge to deliver 45,000 ‘Moments that Matter’ to children in hospitals and hospices around the world –
Nine in ten British parents believe small acts of kindness have the power to change the world –
Two thirds of children say treating others with kindness is the most important way to behave –
Famous faces including singer Anne Marie and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson are coming together to launch World Princess Week next week to inspire small acts of kindness around the world.
The stars are supporting a Disney Princess pledge to deliver 45,000 ‘Moments that Matter’ for isolated and seriously ill children in hospital and hospices in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Pop star and The Voice coach Anne-Marie is hosting an intimate acoustic performance of her chart hits ‘2002’ and ‘Beautiful’ as part of Disney’s ‘Ultimate Princess Celebration’, which champions the qualities of courage and kindness.
The performance is being screened to children in hospital, via Disney’s charity partner MediCinema, which build and run cinemas in NHS hospitals. The content will also be available to view on Disney Junior’s UK YouTube channel.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be doing a virtual reading of Moana’s story from Tales of Courage and Kindness, an online story collection featuring 14 brand new Disney Princess stories that launched in April this year and is available for children to download for free during World Princess Week at Disneyprincessstories.co.uk.
Katarina’s reading will be available for fans to enjoy later this year.
As part of ‘World Princess Week’ (23-29 August), Disney has created brand new video tutorials featuring simple ideas on how families and children can have a big impact on others, which will be available on Disney’s social channels.
Disney fans will be able to follow along with ‘kindness activity’ tutorials, including how to make Cinderella-inspired kindness cards for friends, or how to bake Tiana’s beignets for loved ones. Families are encouraged to share their own acts of kindness by using the hashtag #UltimatePrincessCelebration.
Disney will also share brand new Princess stories, experiences and fun ways to spread kindness following research that reveals nine in ten UK adults believe small acts of kindness have the power to change the world for the better.
45,000 Princess-themed adventure packs will be delivered to seriously ill children in hospitals and places of care across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, as part of Disney’s wider commitment to bring comfort and provide inspiration, with support from long standing charity partners.
These specially designed packs, created with charity partner MediCinema, aim to reduce isolation, stress and anxiety amongst children and families in places of care, providing ‘Moments that Matter’. The packs will contain new stories focusing on Disney Princess characters Rapunzel, Moana and Ariel, as well as arts and crafts activities that help to increase confidence and encourage acts of kindness.
New research conducted by Disney as part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration revealed that 70 per cent of children say it’s important to always show kindness and almost half (46 per cent) would stand up for people who are being bullied or are being treated in an unfair way.
The survey highlights some of the top ways children like to show kindness, including:
Kind acts to make their family or friends happy e.g. baking a cake (49 per cent)
Asking parents to read a book with them (49 per cent)
Comforting family members and friends when they are upset (47 per cent)
Asking parents to spend time with them e.g. watching a movie or making dinner together (47 per cent)
Making time to play and catch up with friends (46 per cent)
Sharing stories with friends and family (44 per cent)
Helping friends with problems they are facing (37 per cent)
Listening when parents or friends are telling them a story that they know is important to them (36 per cent)
Offering to do chores around the house for parents (33 per cent)
Speaking to friends and family regularly (30 per cent)
The study suggests that the majority of British parents – 91 per cent – agree that everyone can play a role in making the world a kinder place, with the research also revealing some of the kind acts kids have shown over the past year:
Been caring towards friends (56 per cent)
Wanting to spend more time with parents / family members (53 per cent)
Drawn and made signs for the health service to say ‘thank you’ (50 per cent)
Video calling friends to check in (47 per cent)
Offering to help around the house (45 per cent)
Been caring towards the planet (42 per cent)
Sharing stories or reading books together (40 per cent)
Being kinder to their brother or sister (39 per cent)
Donating some of their toys to other kids (37 per cent)
Been looking after their pet / been kind to animals (37 per cent)
Tasia Filippatos, Senior VP, Consumer Products EMEA at Disney said, “Courage and kindness are universally important qualities that are just as relevant for adults as they are for young children. We hope that families will help celebrate ‘World Princess Week’ by sharing their own small acts of kindness to help make the world a kinder place.”
Disney fans will also be able to shop brand new Disney Princess product ranges, including toys, dress up apparel, accessories and homeware, available from shopDisney.co.uk and other major retailers.
Lead by Cynthia Cheung and Marion Geoffray, the workshop/outdoor activities involve multisensory creative play for the aged 2-5 to explore different festival traditions and stories.
In the workshop, we explore the children’s reaction and interest in the objects, the smell and the sound related to the festival. Meantime, the facilitators explore new ideas and skill involve the children’s behaviour and experiment with the artistic practice to develop the work-in-progress performance.
The workshop will also help Niroshini Thambar, the music designer, to explore insight and ideas to create a new interpretation soundtrack for the performance.
The Poverty Alliance have launched our new campaigning tool to allow you to easily email your constituency and regional MSPs urging them to push for the doubling of the Scottish Child Payment now. Children growing up in the grip of poverty can’t wait.
Our e-action comes after over 120 anti-poverty organisations, children’s charities, community groups, think tanks, trade unions, faith leaders – including the Moderator of the Church of Scotland – and academics wrote to the First Minister urging her to “do the right thing” by using the upcoming Programme for Government to commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment in this year’s budget, the £10 per week per child benefit for low income families.
The letter – coordinated by members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland – states that doubling the payment now would “signal that ending child poverty will be a defining priority for this Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.”
‘Do the right thing and double the Scottish Child Payment now’ civil society coalition tells First Minister
A coalition of over 100 anti-poverty organisations, children’s charities, community groups, think tanks, trade unions, faith leaders – including the Moderator of the Church of Scotland – and academics have today written to the First Minister urging her to “do the right thing” by using the upcoming Programme for Government to commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment in this year’s budget, the £10 per week per child benefit for low income families.
The letter – coordinated by members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland – states that doubling the payment now would “signal that ending child poverty will be a defining priority for this Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.” It has been sent after the Scottish Government – despite all of Scotland’s five main political parties committing to the move at May’s Holyrood elections – have so far failed to set a timescale for the doubling of the payment, stating only that it will take place by the end of the parliamentary term in 2026. The campaigners say the increase is needed now to help families recover from the pandemic and to meet the government’s own statutory 2023/24 interim child poverty targets.
The coalition has issued the plea at a time of growing concern over the numbers of people across the country – particularly women, disabled people and Black and minority ethnic people – being pulled into hardship and with analysis showing that, on current trends, the Scottish Government will fail to meet its child poverty reduction targets.
The letter issues the stark warning that if Scottish ministers fail to double the payment now then “more and more children will be pulled into poverty and the opportunity to meet the interim child poverty targets will be missed.”
Polly Jones (Head of Scotland, Trussell Trust), said:“Food bank use has rocketed by 63% over the last five years because people can’t afford the basics. Over the last year, families have struggled more than most. We have the powers and we have the cross-party consensus to double the Scottish Child Payment now. If Scottish ministers are serious about making ending child poverty a ‘national mission’ then we must not delay.”
Eilidh Dickson (Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Engender) said:“Child poverty and women’s poverty are inextricably linked. Women continue to provide the majority of care for children, are more likely to work in underpaid and undervalued roles, and to work part time or rely on precarious contracts. Women are also twice as likely as men to rely on social security for all or part of their income, even when aspects, for example the two-child limit, mean it fails to meet their needs.
Doubling the Scottish Child Payment is an urgently needed response to supporting children and their caregivers. The Scottish Government must implement this now as part of its mission to eradicate child poverty, while also looking to the gender pay gap action plan and other reforms to social security. The pandemic only adds further urgency to this call as inequality and poverty deepen.”
Professor John McKendrick (Co-Director, Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University) said:“Poverty in Scotland can be solved, and we should not accept it. The Scottish Child Payment is a bold and progressive development that has the potential to lift many children out of poverty. But, with a rising tide of child poverty threatening to overwhelm, communities across Scotland, this potential needs to be realised now. If we are serious about tackling child poverty, doubling the payment now is the right thing for the Scottish Government to do.”
Larry Flanagan (General Secretary, EIS) said:“The EIS unequivocally supports the call for the Scottish Government to act decisively against child poverty and double the Child Payment now rather than delaying when there is urgent need. Levels of poverty experienced by families in Scotland continue to be unacceptably high, worsened by the economic ravages of the pandemic.
The real risk that poverty poses to the educational outcomes and life chances of large numbers of children is one that Scotland as a country simply should not be taking as we look to emergence from the pandemic and education recovery.”
The letter – along with the full list of signatories – can be read here:
Hundreds of young people and their families in the Capital have taken part in a huge programme of summer activities delivered by over 100 City of Edinburgh Council and partner organisations.
The ‘get into Summer’ initiative was part of a nationwide scheme funded by the Scottish Government to support children and young people’s wellbeing during the summer after a year of disrupted school, out of school activities and periods of isolation from friends due to the pandemic.
The activities built on the regular summer programmes put on by the Council and partners and were delivered in communities across the city. They helped children and young people to get healthy, creative and most importantly, re-connect with each other.
A key focus of the programme included activities targeted at families from low income households who may otherwise have struggled to access such experiences during the holidays. It ensured that these groups and those living in poverty were able to access, at no cost, a full programme of summer activities, in many cases with travel and food costs also covered.
The overall programme had a focus on opportunities for youth and children’s work, very young children and their families, with opportunities for sport, outdoor, art and cultural activities.
The Get into Summer project included:
Picnic in a Park trips saw over 200 children and their families take part
Over 300 food and activity parcels being delivered to families every week of the school holidays
Hundreds of activity sessions from over 150 different providers throughout the school holidays
There’s been really positive feedback from families such as:
One mum talking about her food box delivery said: “Huge thanks for our box, it was fantastic as always, we made good use of the sharing plate for all our veg as we had d.i.y rainbow wraps for dinner. Super yummy and encouraged the boys to try things they would not normally eat.”
Another mum said after her trip to a country park with her three children: “A huge thank you for the fantastic day, we loved Jupiter Artland and are already planning our next visit.”
Some of the partner organisations putting on events and providing support include: 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, Disability Services, Intercultural Youth Scotland, Edinburgh Young Carers, Lochend Football Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, Play2Learn Sports Coaching and Shakti Women’s Aid.
Councillor Ian Perry, Convener for Education, Children and Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Huge praise to all the different teams at the Council and our partners for providing such a fantastic programme of activities over the summer for our young people and their families.
“The pandemic has caused such a disruption to their wellbeing and our ‘Get into Summer’ programme brought as many of them together as possible to play and socialise over the holidays.
“There really was something for everyone with activities ranging from sports coaching to trip, to drama workshops, to local parks with many additional activities on top of what we usually offer during the holidays. This really has been a summer of fun for these families and I hope we’ll be able to do it all again next year!”
Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice Convener for Education, Children and Families Vice Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s really positive to see what a huge difference this programme of activities has made to the daily lives of children and their families during the summer.
“We listened to their voices about the impact of lockdown on their mental health and wellbeing and this was an important first step to help them re-connect with their friends and interests over the holidays.
“Many families on low income struggle during the summer holidays so this targeted offer was a positive step forward and helped boost opportunities for those who have faced the greatest challenges in the past 17 months. This programme had children’s rights and needs at its heart and thanks must go to everyone who pulled all this together.”
