Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Public Health Scotland (PHS) will work with Scottish Government and colleagues across NHS Boards to make plans for the introduction of a varicella (chickenpox) vaccination as part of the routine childhood schedule.
JCVI’s recommendation is to offer a two-dose programme offering vaccination at 12 and 18 months of age, using the combined MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) vaccine.
Varicella vaccines have been seen to dramatically decrease the number of cases of chickenpox seen in childhood when used in other countries.
Dr Claire Cameron, Consultant in Health Protection at PHS said: “Chickenpox is a highly contagious infectious disease.
“While most cases of chickenpox in children are relatively mild, many children are unwell for several days and have to miss school or nursery as a result. In some cases, chickenpox can be more severe and can lead to hospitalisations from serious secondary infections or other complications.
“The offer of the varicella vaccine is a welcome new addition to the routine childhood schedule and, as well as reducing the number of cases, will prevent more severe cases of chickenpox.”
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “The Scottish Government welcomes the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendation to introduce a chickenpox vaccine to the childhood immunisation programme.
“Immunisation is one of the most effective ways of preventing illness from infectious disease.
“We will work with Public Health Scotland, NHS Boards in Scotland, as well as colleagues across the UK, to consider this recommendation in more detail.”
More information on the current childhood immunisation schedule is available on NHS Inform.
Get ready to embark on a magical journey like no other as Craigies Farm presents “Santa Adventure,” an enchanting Christmas event that promises to transport you to a world of twinkling lights, festive wonder, and heartwarming moments.Building on the resounding success of previous years, Christmas at Craigies is back, bigger and better than ever before.
Experience the Magic of Craigies as we invite you to step through the magic door and embark on a captivating journey to the North Pole, where you will play a crucial role in saving Christmas. Craigie’s Farm have teamed up with NL Productions to transform their polytunnels into a dazzling display of colourful lights, creating an immersive lighting experience that will leave you spellbound.
A Quest to Save Christmas – Santa Claus has encountered a problem of epic proportions – he’s lost the magical word that powers the start of his sleigh. Now, it’s up to you to join this magical quest and help Santa recover the missing word. The fate of Christmas itself hangs in the balance.
As you journey through the North Pole, you’ll encounter beloved characters, including Mrs. Claus, Santa’s industrious elves, and a host of other surprises, making your adventure all the more memorable.
Craigies’ Santa Adventure is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchantment of Christmas and create cherished memories with your loved ones.
Families will enjoy one-on-one time with Santa, ensuring an intimate and high-quality experience. Upon successfully helping Santa and saving Christmas, you’ll be rewarded with a special gift to take home as a token of gratitude for your invaluable assistance.
John Sinclair, Managing Director of Craigies commented, “At Craigies Farm, we have always prided ourselves on delivering a quality Christmas experience where the focus is on spending time with family and having fun together.
“We are building on the success of previous years and partnering with NL Productions to create an immersive lighting experience within our polytunnels.
“The experience will once again feature amazing performers who will guide families on a great adventure to the North Pole, playing a crucial role in saving Christmas. There is guaranteed fun for both adults and children, ensuring everyone can create unforgettable festive memories together.”
Phil O’Halloran, NL Productions Event Producer, shares his enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the magical experience, commenting: “It is fantastic to once again be partnering with Craigies Farm.
“Halloween at Craigies has been a great success, and it is very exciting to now be converting the polytunnels into a beautiful winter wonderland. Craigies has a reputation for a quality family experience at Christmas, and we can’t wait to add another level of immersion this year.
“We can’t wait to see families enjoying their adventure to the North Pole!”
Dates and Times
Dates: 25th November – 23rd December
25th – 26th November
2nd – 3rd December
9th – 10th December
16th – 17th December
23rd December
Times: 9am – 5pm each day
Join us at Craigies for a winter wonderland like no other. For more information, ticket bookings, and updates, visit our website https://craigies.co.uk/
Carol from Shelter Scotland advises Families and Pregnant Women around any housing issues but mainly damp and mould, and overcrowding.
She will be here at PCHP on the first and third Fridays of November and December from 10am until 12pm. Come along to meet her if these issues are affecting you!
Bereaved parents who lost their partner between 9 April 2001 and 8 February 2023 may be eligible for a backdated government payment even if they no longer have dependent children.
The Government extended eligibility for Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) and Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) to cohabiting parents with dependent children in February. These benefits were previously only available to bereaved parents who were married or in a civil partnership.
The payments are designed to help with the financial impact of losing a partner and can be backdated to 30 August 2018. Anyone who had dependent children when they lost their cohabiting partner should check GOV.UK for more information.
DWP Minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said: “This change will help provide many more bereaved families with children access to the financial support they need through a profoundly difficult time.
“I would urge anyone who thinks they may be eligible to claim as soon as possible so that they can ensure that they benefit from these backdated payments.”
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) opened a 12-month window for cohabiting parents to backdate their claims. Parents whose partner died before 9 February 2023 have until the end of 8 February 2024 to do so. After this, it will not be possible to claim WPA and they will not get their full entitlement to backdated BSP.
Parents will be eligible for different benefits depending on the date their partner died. If they died before 6 April 2017, they would need to claim WPA. If they died on or after 6 April 2017, they would need to claim BSP, which has replaced WPA.
Payments can only be backdated to 30 August 2018, even if a partner died before this date.
Alison Penny MBE, Director of the Childhood Bereavement Network said: “Time is ticking on for the thousands of families that could be eligible for a back-dated payment but haven’t yet claimed. It’s crucial that we find them so they can make a decision about putting in a claim before the window closes and they miss out.
“We’re urging friends, families and support organisations to spread the word. Even if someone was bereaved a long time ago, it’s worth exploring whether they are eligible for a back payment.”
BSP claims can be made online, over the phone or through a paper application form. WPA claims are only processed by paper forms. These can be downloaded from the GOV.UK website or requested via the Bereavement Service helpline: 0800 151 2012.
Latest figures from Relationships Scotland show continued fallout from pandemic and cost of living crisis are having a negative impact on family life
Support for Scottish families seeking help to deal with relationship difficulties and family breakdown has increased by almost 40% in the last year, according to Relationships Scotland.
Relationships Scotland, the largest provider of relationship support in the country, has published its Annual Review highlighting the increase in support being offered to couples with relationship problems.
The figures for 2022/23 show that across the charity’s network of 21 member services, 86,000 hours of direct support were delivered, increasing from 62,000 the previous year. The figures also show the network provided support to over 14,400 people across the country, up from 13,850 in 2021/22.
Stuart Valentine, Chief Executive of Relationships Scotlandsaid: “There is no doubt the pandemic and the cost of living crisis have put a strain on families and relationships, and these figures are a stark reminder of how acute this strain is.
“This is a significant increase in hours of support across the whole country, and while it paints a worrying picture of the pressures being felt across the nation, we are encouraged that people feel they have somewhere to turn, and are seeking help to deal with these issues.”
The Relationships Scotland network has a strong focus on early intervention and prevention, working with families as early as possible to support them to look at the issues they are facing and helping them avoid problems spiralling. The work of the 21 member services across the country is supported by around 900 people, including over 400 volunteers.
Stuart Valentineadded: “The importance of positive and resilient relationships can not be underestimated, with the damage caused by relationship breakdown estimated to cost the Scottish economy around £3.5b each year.”
Gift the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas – a year’s membership to Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play centres across the city!
The perfect solution for grandparents, godparents, and aunts and uncles who are fed-up of giving ‘plastic fantastic’ gifts that are surplus to needs, instead inspire the kids to get the active habit and sample the world of sport and fitness from an early age. Their parents will thank you for it.
Costing £179 for 12 months, the annual soft play membership means little adventurers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello, and Scrambles at EICA: Ratho, which will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the amazing soft plays.
Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old and there are frames for babies, toddlers, and juniors up to 10 years. Each venue has a café where healthy snacks and tasty treats can be enjoyed.
With great member benefits including special offers, members’ events, discounts to popular seasonal parties and other exclusive perks, the annual Edinburgh Leisure soft play is available to buy in venue or online. Purchasers will be presented with a Christmas Gift Card, which can then be given to the child.
An annual payment to help disabled children and young people heat their homes is on its way to around 29,000 people.
The Child Winter Heating Payment of £235.70 is paid automatically to families of children and young people up to the age of 19 who already get certain benefits.
These include the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children. People getting the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment, also qualify.
People who got these benefits during the week of 18 – 24 September will get a Child Winter Heating Payment. The vast majority of people do not need to apply for this benefit as the payment is made automatically by Social Security Scotland.
The payment is per child or young person, not per household. So if more than one child or young person in a household is entitled, they will each get a payment.
Families will get a letter to confirm they are entitled to the payment and money will be paid into the same account as their qualifying benefits. If someone thinks they are eligible but have not received a letter they should contact Social Security Scotland.
For more information about Child Winter Heating Payment people can visit: mygov.scot/childwinterheatingpayment or call us for free on 0800 182 2222.
Abuse survivors, young people and bereaved families – including Scottish mum Ruth Moss, join NSPCC Chief Executive and head of Ofcom to mark momentous achievement
NSPCC says children and young people must be central to implementation and call for bold and ambitious regulation
Pictures available of installation outside Parliament thanking 147,000 campaigners who backed the legislation
Young people, abuse survivors and bereaved families celebrated the Online Safety Act becoming law at an NSPCC reception in Parliament yesterday.
After years of campaigning, legislation that will put a legal duty on tech companies to protect children from sexual abuse and harmful material on social media sites, gaming apps and messaging services was given Royal Assent on Thursday.
Ruth Moss, a member of the Bereaved Families for Online Safety – who were integral in achieving stronger protection for children in the legislation, joined fellow campaigners who have worked tirelessly for new laws that will protect children online, politicians, civil society and regulators to welcome the legislation.
Ruth’s daughter Sophie Parkinson tragically took her own life in March 2014 when she was only 13 years old after she was exposed to harmful content online.
Sophie was self-harming and viewing self-harm and suicide content from the age of 12. She had also had online relationships with older men and looked at violent pornography.
Ruth, a nurse from Dalkeith near Edinburgh, said: “For at least two years, we struggled to keep Sophie safe online.
“In spite of removing devices, restricting internet use, implementing parental controls and having conversations about internet safety, these were not enough to prevent her from being exposed to content that promoted self-harm, suicide and dark, graphic, harmful material. She managed to view violent pornography and have online conversations with adult male strangers.
“Complaining to internet and social media companies was either impossible or futile. As parents, it felt like one step forward and two steps back, especially when balancing her need to use the internet for school and controlling her use. We quickly realised that parents alone can’t control what their child sees on the internet.
“The impact of Sophie viewing this harmful material was a deterioration in her existing mental health struggles, with devastating consequences. We will never truly recover from her death, and it is rightly every parent’s worst nightmare.
“This legislation is a good first step. It sends a message to tech companies that safety should not be compromised for the sake of profit and that tech companies can’t deny responsibility for keeping their service users safe on their websites.
“In my opinion, the enforcement of the bill is key. This will be challenging. It will require Ofcom going up against some of the most powerful and influential organisations in the world. Ofcom will have a difficult job.”
Young people who campaigned with the NSPCC and a mum whose daughter was sexually abused on social media, spoke at the event. They joined the NSPCC Chief Executive Sir Peter Wanless and Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes who will be responsible for the Act’s implementation.
The event was chaired by Sajid Javid MP who was Home Secretary when regulation to help protect children online was first promised by the Government in 2018, following the launch of the NSPCC’s Wild West Web campaign.
At the reception there was a clear focus on ensuring young people’s voices and experiences are central to the implementation of the Online Safety Act, so it results in meaningful change for children as soon as possible.
The event came as Ofcom prepares to set out the rules which tech companies will have to follow to tackle child sexual abuse and protect children from harmful material.
The codes of practice will be consulted on before being implemented, but those at the event were united in their expectation that tech companies should not wait to begin putting concrete measures in place to make their sites safe by design for children.
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “It was an honour to bring together so many people from different walks of life whose campaigning and dedication has helped make the Online Safety Act possible.
“I want to particularly thank everyone who has been impacted by online abuse and unimaginable harm who have campaigned selflessly to help protect others.
“While we rightly celebrated today, it was also a catalyst towards working together to ensure the legislation results in the protections online children desperately need.
“We look forward to seeing the landmark Act implemented with bold ambition to ensure there is a rigorous focus on children as regulation comes into force.”
Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re grateful for all the hard work that went into getting these new laws onto the statute books. It means we now have regulation that will make a real difference in creating a safer life online for people – particularly children – in the UK. This is a big job, and we’re ready, but we won’t be doing it alone.
“Young people’s voices have shaped the foundations, and now we want to hear from them again to make sure we get the technical detail right. Next week, we’ll be consulting on the specific measures that tech firms can take to protect their users from illegal harms online, including child sexual abuse and grooming, and pro-suicide content.”
Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “I am immensely proud of the work that has gone into the Online Safety Act from its very inception to it becoming law.
“At the heart of this Act is the protection of children. I would like to thank the campaigners, parliamentarians, survivors of abuse and charities including the NSPCC, that have worked tirelessly, not only to get this Act over the finishing line, but to ensure that it will make the UK the safest place to be online in the world.”
Many volunteers with lived experience of abuse who have campaigned with the NSPCC for robust legislation also joined the reception.
NSPCC staff will join a panel of experts for a crucial conversation today in a Roundtable discussion at the start of Scottish Games Week.
Patrick Weaver, NSPCC Assistant Director of Fundraising and Engagement (Communities), and NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Officer Euan Graham will join Simon Monkman, the Lead for Gaming and Extremism at Ofcom, and lawyer Kirk Dailly to talk about child protection in the gaming industry.
The discussion will cover the legal frameworks now in place following the Online Safety Act receiving Royal Assent last week and ethical considerations for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young players.
They will also discuss potential opportunities to collaborate with some of the key players within the gaming industry to fundraise for the charity.
Patrick Weaver, Assistant Director of Fundraising and Engagement (Communities) at NSPCC, said: “We’re delighted to be joining this very important discussion about how we can help to keep young players safe in the gaming industry.
“We are also very excited about potential collaboration with some of the key players in the industry to help raise funds for the charity in the future.
“The NSPCC has a wealth of insight, knowledge and expertise on safeguarding children and suggestions for ways to keep young people safe online, and we are excited to get the opportunity to share this with the gaming world.
“In the long run we’d love to support companies to incorporate safeguarding when they design games and help to build a safer industry for children and young people.”
Using voluntary donations, which make up around 90 per cent of its funding, the NSPCC works tirelessly to protect children and prevent abuse from happening and to help children who have been abused, including online, to rebuild their lives.
The NSPCC’s free Childline counselling service provides a safe, confidential place for children when they have nowhere else to turn, whatever their worry, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The charity also has a helpline open every day of the year for any adult who is worried about a child. The helpline has trained practitioners who provide advice and support, listen to concerns about a child, and offer general information about child protection.
Our Helpline responded to over 59,000 contacts last year from adults who were concerned about a child, with the most common reasons concerns about neglect, physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse and/or exploitation. *
Since 2018 the NSPCC has also campaigned for a robust Online Safety Bill to be introduced, working closely with four different prime ministers, ministers, MPs and members of the House of Lords to make the Bill stronger for children. The charity also continues to call on tech companies to take the necessary action to ensure children are safe on their platforms.
NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Officer Euan Graham, who leads a campaign called ‘Let’s Chat Online Safety’ in Moray, said: “Childline hears from many young people who have been bullied or experienced abuse online. For example, more than 3,500 online grooming crimes have been reported in Scotland since 2017, with under-13s representing over half of those affected.*.
“Our ‘Let’s Chat Online Safety’ campaign helps keep children safe by providing useful tips and resources to parents, carers and teachers to make it easier for them to talk about this topic with young people.
“Many parents and carers worry about their child’s safety online, whether they are playing games, browsing the internet or on social media. And it can be quite daunting for those who aren’t particularly tech savvy, because they may not know how to put parental controls in place or how to talk about it without causing hostility, especially with teenagers who don’t want their privacy to be invaded.
“We encourage families to have regular, positive conversations about their children’s experience being online and make sure children know they can talk to them, another trusted adult or Childline if anything is worrying them.”
Patrick Weaver and Euan Graham will join the Roundtable discussion on Monday, October 30 at 2.30pm in the Salisbury Suite at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.
Scottish Games Week, which runs from Monday, October 30, to Friday, November 3, is a Scotland-wide series of events creating a global platform for Scotland’s rapidly evolving games ecosystem.
