This month, Held in Our Hearts is encouraging family, friends and colleagues to take up the baton and ‘PassTheK’ to reach our neighbours down under in Brisbane, Australia.
The charity should have been travelling there for an international conference to share learning about their work.
With the school holidays upon us, Scotland’s biggest bus operator is running a competition to give kids in Edinburgh the opportunity to see their artwork ‘wrapped’ on the side of a local bus.
First Scotland East is calling on local children to get involved in the bus company’s exciting Scotland-wide art competition, which will see the winning design placed on the side of a bus for thousands to see. The Scotland winner will also win a tour of Britain’s biggest bus depot in Edinburgh and will be presented with a video of their artwork being painted onto the side of the bus.
Winners from each region will be selected, too, and the lucky winner in Edinburgh will receive an exclusive goodie bag and a school visit from First Bus when the children are back in after the summer holidays.
The competition is running as part of Children’s Art Week, which this year, celebrates the theme of Connecting Across Generations. All kids need to enter is a sheet of plain paper, some bold colours to work with and their creative imagination. Creative ideas can be submitted using any colour, pattern or drawing.
First Bus has already received some great entries, with some illustrations championing the relationship the city has with its NHS workers.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for local kids to celebrate their creative side during lockdown.
We’re looking forward to seeing the winning design bring a splash of colour and imagination to one of our buses in Edinburgh, which we hope will bring a smile to the faces of key workers and local communities along our routes.
“We wanted to give something back to the city that we proudly serve every day and we can’t wait to look through all the entries.”
Those entering the bus designing competition are encouraged to include their name and age and should submit entries to the First Scotland East Facebook page, @FirstScotlandEast.
The deadline for submissions is 6th August 2020.
The competition is running in conjunction with First Bus’s Education Pack – an online educational resource created at the start of lockdown to provide primary aged children with a fun filled set of activities focused around buses.
The educational pack is available to download for free, from the following website link: www.firstscotlandeast.com/kidspack
Trolls (U) has topped a poll of feel good films being watched in lockdown by children aged 4 – 13, according to new research by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
The research, carried out by We Are Family and Panelbase to reflect on children’s experiences during lockdown, found that more than six in ten (62%) kids have watched happy and positive films to cheer themselves up.
The top 10 films are revealed as; Trolls (U); Frozen (PG); Boss Baby (U); The Greatest Showman (PG); The Lego Movie (U); Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (12); Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (PG), Inside Out (U), Finding Nemo (U), Spiderman: Into The Spider-verse (PG).
For children aged 4 – 11 Trolls is the favourite, but for older children, aged 12 and 13, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle came in first place.
Faye Harcourt, Director of Marketing and Outreach at the BBFC, said: “Film and TV can be an excellent tool for families to use to get together and enjoy a shared experience. It can also act as a positive distraction for children, allowing them to take a break from their surroundings and explore different world views and experiences.
“That’s why we have been working to ensure that kids’ voices are heard and, as the global pandemic continues, make sure that families and young people are getting the information they need to choose content well and to stay entertained.
The research also looked at other activities children were doing to keep positive during lockdown, with playing outdoors coming out top (64%). Kids have also been watching videos on YouTube (58%), gaming (54%), baking (43%) and doing arts and crafts (42%) to stay happy and positive.
More than a third (34%) of children have been using apps – like FaceTime, HouseParty and Zoom – to talk to their friends. But older children were much more likely to keep in touch this way, with more than two in five (44%) saying they’ve been using apps to virtually hangout with friends.
Maurice Wheeler, Managing Director of We Are Family who conducted the research, said: “During such an unusual time, it’s important to keep listening to your audience and in particular to capture the thoughts and feelings of children and young people.
“During lockdown children and families as a whole have turned to entertainment to keep themselves happy and positive, and also to bring the family unit together.”
The poll, carried out by Panelbase, surveyed 1,000 children aged 4 – 13, alongside their parents, and provided participants with a curated list of popular films rated U, PG and 12. Children were then asked to decide what film they would most likely watch when they needed cheering up.
The full list is published on CBBFC, the BBFC’s dedicated children’s website, where families can find out everything they need to know about the films, including the age rating and ratings info.
There are also a range of free activities and resources for kids based on the top 10 list, including ‘Movie Night With the BBFC’ packs, case studies and children can also have a go at rating a trailer.
Final Phase 2 measures confirmed
Provisions to allow children to play outdoors with friends, the introduction of exemptions to the 2 metre physical distancing rule and mandatory use of face coverings in retail settings from Phase 3 are among measures announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.
From today, children aged 11 and under will be able to play outdoors, without physical distancing, in groups of up to eight and of no more than two other households.
Children aged 12 to 17 are asked to continue to physically distance but can meet in groups of up to eight outdoors and no more than two other households at a time.
There will be no limit placed on the total number of households children can meet in one day, enabling siblings to meet separate groups or friends, or to meet groups in addition to those their parents or carers may take part in.
The five mile limit for leisure travel will be lifted for the majority of the country from today (Friday, 3 July) as will restrictions on self-catering, self-contained accommodation.
The First Minister also confirmed that outdoor hospitality will be able to start trading from Monday 6 July, in line with indicative dates previously set out.
Following the successful introduction of mandatory face coverings on public transport, the measure will be extended to include retail settings from Friday, 10 July, in line with expected changes to other lockdown measures on that date.
The First Minister also announced the outcome of a review of the evidence on the 2 metre social distancing rule. Advice from the COVID-19 Advisory Group makes clear that the fundamental science around distance and transmission remains unchanged and that risk increases with proximity to an infected individual.
As such, the Scottish Government will retain 2 metres as the default physical distancing requirement for Phase 3 but introduce exceptions to this requirement if practicable mitigating measures can be implemented.
Settings and sectors considered appropriate for exceptions, pending agreed mitigations, are: public transport; outdoor hospitality; indoor hospitality; and retail. There will be no exemptions prior to the move to Phase 3.
Announcing the changes, the First Minister said: “As we move further out of lockdown, some rules will become more targeted and, as such, a bit more complicated.
“However, the basic foundation principles and hygiene measures remain as important as ever – each and every one of us must strike the right balance in order to keep the momentum of lifting lockdown going while protecting the progress made. What we are witnessing across the country is a sharp reminder just how highly infectious COVID-19 is, and how vital it is that we proceed with care and caution.
“That said, please take advantage of the fact that some rules are changing. Get out and about a bit more if you can and are able. Support your local businesses where possible – shops, outdoor hospitality and self-catering accommodation are beginning to reopen, travel distance restrictions are being lifted, and we are actively exploring further measures we can introduce – such as face coverings and 2 metre rule exemptions – that can get our economy safely back up and running even quicker.
“If you are ever in doubt, please remember our key guidance – the FACTS: face coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces; avoid crowded areas; clean your hands and hard surfaces regularly and thoroughly; 2 metre distancing remains in place; self-isolate, and book a test immediately, if you have symptoms of COVID-19.”
ScotRail reports that since the wearing of face coverings was made mandatory on Monday 22, June, around 90 per cent of customers have followed the guidance to keep themselves and others safe.
Route Map physical distancing approach
The First Minister’s statement
Deliveroo and NSPCC have today announced a new partnership to help children who may be at risk of abuse or neglect in Scotland.
This is especially important during the pandemic as children may be more out of sight than usual. The NSPCC, in a report released last week, revealed how lockdown has increased the risk of child abuse.
The partnership will:
During the crisis people who work within their community can play an important role in helping keep children safe and spotting possible signs of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
Deliveroo riders, with their role delivering to homes, are well-placed to spot any emerging safeguarding concerns.
Although the lockdown is easing and some children have returned to school, many children are still spending a lot of time at home and have limited contact with wider support networks.
A new NSPCC report, ‘Isolated and Struggling’, brings together evidence from academics, charities and frontline professionals, and identifies three ways in which lockdown has increased the risk of child abuse, such as a reduction in normal protective services.
In May, the NSPCC surveyed over 2,000 adults in Britain and found that over a quarter (26%) were not confident they would know where to seek help if they thought a child or young person was being abused or neglected.
To combat the issue the NSPCC have temporarily made their ‘It’s Your Call’ course free during the pandemic, as well as expanded and promoted the Helpline in response to the situation, which has now received more than 10,000 welfare contacts.
After receiving their training, Deliveroo Riders will be able to play their part in helping to keep children safe from abuse.
The riders will also promote the NSPCC Helpline number with a sticker on their delivery bags, so that any adult concerned about a child can call this number to speak to a trained professional for advice and support.
Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “It is essential that we all play our role in helping to keep children and young people safe.
“Riders and other workers visiting people’s home during the pandemic have the unique opportunity to see or hear things that others may not. Therefore, it is important that they feel confident in knowing what to do if they are concerned about a child. It’s fantastic of Deliveroo to take this positive step with us – together we believe everyone can play a part in keeping children safe.”
Will Shu, CEO Deliveroo, said: “We are so proud of the vital role Deliveroo riders are carrying out during the COVID-19 crisis. As key workers, riders are at the heart of local communities and will be able to play an important role to help keep children safe.”
To show their appreciation Deliveroo will be delivering hundreds of free meals to NSPCC Helpline frontline workers who have been working during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Abdelziz Abdou, Deliveroo rider (above), said: “I am really proud to ride for Deliveroo and have the opportunity to train with the NSPCC and play my part to spot any signs of danger.
“I will also be displaying the NSPCC Helpline number while out riding and hope that this will encourage people to call up and speak to a trained professional. This is a really important partnership and I am pleased to show my support for the NSPCC and all their hard work to keep children safe.”
Over the coming weeks and months, Deliveroo will be encouraging riders across the UK to complete the training and order stickers to support and raise awareness amongst their communities.
The NSPCC Helpline is available for advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or via help@nspcc.org.uk.
The NSPCC has made their safeguarding awareness course, It’s Your Call, temporarily free in response to the pandemic. All other NSPCC safeguarding online training has been discounted, to support people during this time.
These pictures show the incredible moment a Scottish Ambulance Service paramedic was reunited with his daughter after he chose to live separately to protect his family during the Coronavirus.
Jamie Brannan, 41, of Newburgh, Fife, said he made the decision on March 27 to keep his wife, Louise, and daughter, Jessica, aged six, safe during the peak of COVID-19.
With restrictions eased in Scotland over the last month, Jamie, based at Perth Ambulance Station, decided it was time to come home and was reunited with his daughter on June 10.
Jamie explained: “When we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases, I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family.
“Being reunited with my family was the most amazing feeling. My wife and I have been together for 15 years now, 14 of which we have lived together. So being separated for so long was such a shock to us both.
“But I have to say, and I don’t think my wife will mind me saying, the biggest reward of all was getting that first hug from my daughter. Being able to hold her again was amazing and emotional. It felt as though we had Been separated for years. Moving out was such a difficult decision but it was also the correct one.
“I’d also like to say I’ve heard many stories from across the service of staff making sacrifices. All with the aim of protecting their loved ones and continuing the amazing work they do every day within the service.”
Two years ago, Louise became very sick with sepsis, which resulted in her slipping into septic shock. Jamie found her unconscious, and after she was rushed to hospital, he was told she would likely die.
While she bravely recovered, she remains immunosuppressed, meaning she has a weakened immune system.
Jamie added: “Thankfully she was strong enough to fight the infection and woke up from an induced coma after 24 hours. However, she remains immunosuppressed so, when we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases, I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family.”
Jamie said he was in a fortunate position where he had a flat to move into, and added: “The flat is in the same village so I was able to have mostly daily visits when I wasn’t on shift.
“Keeping my distance of course and avoiding all contact. I never entered the house and sometimes, if it was raining, I would have to stand outside and talk from the other side of the window.
“This was by far the hardest aspect of it all – being separated from my family. I remember going to visit for the first time and my daughter ran over to hug me and I had to stop her.
“I can honestly say I’ll never forget the look on her face – one of confusion and sadness. Luckily she grew to understand why I was doing what I was doing and it wasn’t forever.”
One hundred offenders have been arrested in the past six months and 180 children have been protected as a result of Police Scotland investigations into online child abuse.
Officers from Police Scotland’s Internet Investigations Unit have prepared over 350 National Online Child Abuse Prevention (NOCAP) packages since January.
NOCAP packages provide intelligence and evidence which underpins investigations carried out by both Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigations Unit and local policing divisions to identify and apprehend online child abusers.
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan Sloan, Major Crime and Public Protection lead for Police Scotland, said: “Online child sexual abuse is a national threat with advancements in technology, online functions and platforms giving predators ever evolving opportunity to target children. “Behind every downloaded image, every attempt to groom or to extort, is a child being victimised by a faceless predator.
“As today’s figures show, predators are not anonymous. Every action leaves a trace, and we will work with our partners, nationally and internationally, to track you down.“You will be caught and you risk losing everything.
“Tackling online child abuse is a priority. We draw on specialist resources from across our organisation to gather intelligence, to carry out digital forensic examinations and to support our investigations.
“And we will continue to improve our response: investing resources, using the latest technologies and taking action to identify and apprehend those who pose a threat to our children.”
Police Scotland works with a wide range of partners, nationally and internationally, and from all sectors including law enforcement agencies, internet service providers and third sector organisations, to identify perpetrators, to tackle the threat and to build safer online communities.
A leading Scottish care provider has expanded into residential care after acquiring a new home in Airdrie, where it will offer residential care services for children.
The house is currently awaiting the green light from the Care Inspectorate to be used as a residential home.
Based in Hamilton but active across Scotland, LOVE Care have been offering a wide range of professional care and respite services, tailored to individual needs and undertaken by highly trained carers.
This step into residential care comes after a continuous expansion of LOVE Care’s service portfolio during last year amid the growing demand of their provision in Scotland.
LOVE Care aims to provide 24/7 tailored care services to kids with social, emotional and behavioural needs for whom residential care is the only option.
As part of SQA accredited learning and training centre LOVE Group, the care provider will complement its residential services with educational support in line with the services that it already provides in local authorities including South Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh. It will also offer holistic therapy and wellbeing services to those in the home.
LOVE Care has previously been vocal about the need to improve the care sector standards in Scotland and ensure that not only the services offered are up to the highest standards but that carers themselves receive high levels of training and fair wages.
As such, LOVE Care train their staff following a unique hybrid model where workers are not only trained in residential childcare but also put through Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) accredited training in education delivery, providing them a greater level of formation to interact with children.
LOVE Care is a national living wage employer and facilitate internal routes to additional training and promotion within the organisation and the overall sector, making the prospect of a career in the care sector more attractive to possible applicants.
Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Care (pictured) commented: “We are delighted to expand our services into residential care. This will allow us to be providers of every tier of care services to vulnerable children in our country.
“Our aim as a social business is to bring love and support into children’s care services, ensuring that no matter what their background is, our children will be given the best possible start in life.
“We offer unique family support plans for children in our residential homes as well as a range of resilient support plans to enable their future success through a number intensive and holistic therapy and wellbeing services.
“We strongly believe in the need to improve the care standards of Scotland and urge all providers to raise their game and look at solutions to create a sustainable and successful care sector.
“As an example, the career pathway we provide through training supports individuals gain the qualifications to move through the ranks of the care sector and help establish this as a career of choice, helping to improve people’s lives.”
