Garden Centre invites gardeners to get hands-on with wildflowers and springtime celebrations
Dobbies Garden Centres’ popular Grow How and Little Seedlings Club workshops return for spring, as the garden centre unveils its largest ever spring gardening range. This April, the Edinburgh store are offering garden fans of all ages the opportunity to get involved in interactive, educational, and hands-on sessions, completely free of charge.
Dobbies’ Grow How sessions take place on Wednesday 2 April and Saturday 5 April at 10.30am and 3.30pm, with a focus on wildflowers and how to create a thriving natural space, inside or outdoors.
Attendees at the Edinburgh store will gain valuable insight into growing wildflowers, soil testing, and the role of trees, ponds, and wildflower meadows in supporting biodiversity. The session will also cover how planting can help welcome wildlife into gardens and green spaces. As part of the workshop, customers will get the chance to plant their own wildflower seedling to take home to add to their own window box.
These Grow How demonstrations are designed to be fun, flexible, and interactive, lasting around 30 minutes and featuring a live demonstration from the Dobbies Green Team from the Edinburgh store. Participants can also take part in an ‘ask the expert’ session, where they can seek advice and tips tailored to their gardening needs.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club is another free-to-attend workshop that’s designed for children aged 4-10 years old and will take place on Sunday 6 April.
This month’s session, Earth Day and Wonderful Wildflowers, will inspire young gardeners to think about ways to be kinder to the planet while also learning about the vital role of wildflowers in keeping the earth healthy.
The workshop will introduce children to the significance of Earth Day (Tuesday 22 April) and simple ways to help protect the planet. They will discover fun facts about wildflowers and why they are important for biodiversity. A hands-on crafting activity will give them the chance to create wildflower seed balls to plant at home.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Easter Holiday Club will also return in April at the Edinburgh store with a special Spring Has Sprung session, running throughout the Easter holidays.
This fun-filled workshop will celebrate all things spring, with children exploring the signs of seasonal change both above and below the ground. They will learn about the animals and insects returning to gardens, springtime celebrations around the world, and even get to make their own kite.
Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager said: “Our workshops at the Edinburgh store are the ideal way to celebrate the start of spring while encouraging people of all ages to connect with nature, learn new skills, and have fun.
“Whether you’re looking to bring more wildflowers into your garden or get children involved in hands-on gardening activities, our free sessions are the perfect way to grow your knowledge and enjoy the season. With our largest ever spring gardening range now in store, we have everything customers need to make the most of garden living and spend time outdoors.”
To find out more about the free workshops at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and to secure a spot, visit Events | Dobbies Garden Centres.
This week, the Scottish Government released headline child poverty statistics for 2023-24. The big headline is: we’ve missed the interim child poverty targets. But what does that mean? And what comes next (write Fraser of Allander Institute’s HANNAH RANDOLPH, EMMA CONGREVE and CHIRSTY McFADYEN)?
What do the new statistics say?
First, our usual note on the data: poverty rates are usually presented as a three-year average. The pandemic interrupted data collection, so any period including 2020-21 is actually a two-year average omitting that year – although the latest data point is back to a true three-year average. The interim and final child poverty targets set out in legislation are single-year rates, though, so we needed to hit 18% relative poverty in 2023-24 to meet the interim targets.
Source: Scottish Government Notes: The questions on material deprivation changed in 2023/24, so single-year rates are not directly comparable and a three-year rate for 2021-24 has not been calculated. Rates of persistent poverty are calculated for 2018-22 and 2019-23; someone is counted as in persistent poverty in 2019-23 if they were in poverty for three or more of the four years in that period.
In sum, three of the four main measures of child poverty have fallen since last year – but not by enough to meet any of the interim targets.
How close were we to meeting the targets?
The measure of combined low income and material deprivation came closest to meeting the interim target, 9% vs. an 8% target. The relative and absolute poverty measures came in 4 and 3 percentage points above the targets, respectively (see Chart 1). It’s fair to note that the confidence intervals around these measures are relatively wide due to data limitations.
Chart 1: Relative and absolute poverty after housing costs, 2015/16 – 2023/24
Source: Scottish Government Notes: Three-year rates for periods including 2020/21 are two-year averages omitting 2020/21. The single-year rate for 2020/21 is not shown.
It’s promising that these three measures also fell from last year. The fourth measure, persistent poverty, is based on a different survey and can be relatively volatile.
Nevertheless, it’s concerning that persistent poverty, representing the proportion of children who live in relative poverty for three or more of the last four years, has risen from 17% to 23%. The rate is much higher than the interim target of 8%. However, there may be data issues driving at least part of the change – there’s potentially a lot to unpack there.
Have policies like the Scottish Child Payment made a difference?
The new data for 2023/24 represent the first year when all children under 16 in households receiving qualifying benefits got £25 per week for the full year.
As a reminder:
The Scottish Child Payment (SCP) was introduced for children under 6 in eligible households at £10 per week in February 2021;
The amount increased to £20 per week, per child in November 2021;
A system of bridging payments was introduced in 2022 for children under 16; and
Eligibility was extended to children under 16 and the payment was increased to £25 per week, per child in November 2022.
There has been some discussion of whether or not the Family Resources Survey (the survey Scotland’s child poverty statistics are based on) was accurately capturing receipt of SCP. There have been updates to the data methodology, and we’re confident that SCP is accurately represented in this year’s data. Read more on this issue here.
The new statistics today show a fall in relative and absolute poverty since last year. But it’s difficult to say what would have happened to child poverty rates in the absence of SCP; the most straightforward way to tell is to compare trends in child poverty across Scotland and the rest of the UK, where SCP is not available (see Chart 2).
Chart 2: Relative child poverty trends, Scotland vs. UK
Source: Scottish Government and DWP Notes: All rates are single-year statistics. The single-year rates for 2020/21 are not shown.
With this year’s data, we see an indication that the trend in child poverty rates since SCP was introduced may have started to diverge – but only time will tell.
The Scottish Government has also released new modelling this morning updating the estimated impact of different policies on child poverty in future years. Previous modelling from last year estimated the impact of measures like the Scottish Child Payment through this year; today’s modelling extends this period to 2029/30.
The new modelling estimates that the SCP will reduce relative child poverty by 4 percentage points in 2025/26 compared to what it would have been without it. This is slightly larger than, but similar to, JRF’s estimate of 3 percentage points.
The modelling also includes estimates of the impact of different welfare reforms at the UK level. The UK Government is due to come out with their plan to tackle child poverty in the coming months, and it will be worth watching to see what they build into their plans and how they will affect Scotland.
We expect to put a blog post out next week talking through recent modelling of potential policies, both with devolved and reserved powers. Stay tuned – and in the meantime, check out our report on a few policy packages that could meet the 2030/31 targets.
What happens next?
It’s not set out in the legislation what happens if the interim targets are not met.
Regardless, we now expect attentions to turn to the 2030/31 targets. The targets are:
Less than 10% of children in relative poverty;
Less than 5% of children in absolute poverty;
Less than 5% of children in combined low income and material deprivation; and
Less than 5% of children in persistent poverty.
No big policy changes have gone into effect in the last couple of years – so we don’t expect to see a big step change in next year’s statistics (for 2024/25) either.
In December, the Scottish Government announced that they would mitigate the UK-level two-child limit on Universal Credit from 2026/27 (or sooner if possible).
Recent estimates show that mitigation could reduce child poverty by between one and twopercentage points.
That leaves a long way to go to the 2030 targets. The Scottish Government has a number of levers available to them, but may be constrained by a tough fiscal environment. They will also have to respond to choices made by the UK Government, such as the recent cuts to disability benefits.
We’ll be looking out for the final child poverty delivery plan, which will be published next spring and will hopefully lay out the Government’s plans to reach the targets. There will also be a lot to dig into as next year’s Holyrood elections approach and different parties set out their plans to meet the targets in their manifestos.
To read more about potential policy packages to meet the 2030 targets, check out our latest modelling report here.
Forever Edinburgh is giving Edinburgh mums (and their children) the tools to create the perfect Mother’s Day through fantastic rewards and a competition with unforgettable Mother’s Day presents.
Thanks to Resident Rewards Edinburgh, one lucky mum will win an Escape At One package for two people at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s One Spa. This package includes access to the thermal suite, including the hydropool, crystal steam room, rock sauna and more.
Another nine mums will win indulgent treats from Summerhall Distillery, and a voucher for pastries from bakery chain Twelve Triangles, which will be perfect for breakfast in bed. The winner of the spa trip will also receive the same hamper.
This competition aims to showcase the very best of what Edinburgh has to offer and celebrate the city’s local businesses and community spirit, making Mother’s Day even more special for mums in the city.
Matt Gammell, founder of Summerhall Distillery, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this wonderful Mother’s Day celebration.
“Our products are crafted with care, and we’re delighted to contribute to making this special day even more memorable for the lucky winners. We like to think that gin is the perfect way to raise a glass to mums!”
Fiona Young, director of One Spa, said: “A spa day at the Sheraton Grand is all about indulgence, relaxation, and feeling truly appreciated.
“We’re giving one mum the opportunity to step away from the everyday and enjoy some well-deserved me-time in our award-winning spa.”
Residents can also use Resident Rewards to plan a special day out with their mums or mother figures and save, including discounts on dining at Surgeons Quarter, Brewhemia, The Alchemist, The Brasserie at The Scholar and the latest Resident Rate – 15% off dining at 3 Blind Mice just down from the Royal Mile.
Residents can also get discounts on a number of the city’s best distillery / gin craft experiences for their mums, including a tour and tasting at competition partners Summerhall Distillery or other fantastic attractions like Johnnie Walker Princes Street, newly opened Edinburgh Gin and Port of Leith Distillery.
Want a different take on Mother’s Day? Why not explore the city’s spooky side with 10% off Enthral Experiences’ Witches Old Town Walking Tour or a city ghost or night tour by Mercat Tours. Or get out and active with Ricky’s Bicycle Tours or Stride Out Running Tours.
All these rewards and more are available through Resident Rewards Edinburgh, the perfect way to plan an unforgettable Mother’s Day in Edinburgh.
The competition is open now, with one spa day up for grabs and nine more of the ultimate Mother’s Day hampers.
Entries will close at midnight on Monday 31 March 2025. To enter, visit:
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK) is urging parents to always supervise children in and around water and always keep young children within arm’s reach, ahead of Coronation Street’s latest storyline.
The advice comes as tonight’s episode of the ITV soap features six-year-old Bertie Osbourne involved in a shocking hot tub incident.
The storyline reflects the dangers that children face at home, in and around water, as the charity has previously highlighted that on average, one child a month drowns at home.
In the upcoming episode of the award-winning show, Jenny, who is babysitting Bertie, gets distracted by a phone call from her bank and loses sight of the young child.
After noticing his football floating in the uncovered hot tub, Bertie reaches towards it and falls in unexpectedly, leaving him at risk of drowning. Fortunately, Steve and Cassie find Bertie quickly, pull him out of the water and he is rushed to hospital.
A survey conducted by water safety charity, RLSS UK, found that 1 in 5 parents have a hot tub at home, yet over half of them (59%) do not always replace the cover immediately after use* allowing children open access, often without parents’ knowledge.
RLSS UK’s Child Drowning Update highlights evidence from the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) that the number of child drowning deaths in England has doubled over the last four years**.
RLSS UK’s Interim Charity Director, Matt Croxall said: “Whilst lots of fun can be had with water in the home and garden/outdoor space, easy access to water in familiar spaces can sometimes make it easy to forget the risks water can bring. Hot tubs are a great place for grown-ups to unwind and socialise, but they can be especially hazardous for children.
“Our recent Child Drowning Update highlighted the risks that hot tubs can pose – three children accidentally drowned in the 12 months to March 2023 in hot tubs after they were left uncovered.
“It is great that such a high-profile programme as Coronation Street is featuring such an important issue and highlighting how quickly such incidents can happen.”
The charity is reminding parents that drowning happens quickly and often silently in as little as 2” (5cm) of water. RLSS UK is urging parents to always supervise children in and around water and always keep young children within arm’s reach. Evidence shows that 86% of child drownings happened when the child was unsupervised**.
To help raise awareness of the risks water can pose around every home, RLSS UK launched a new campaign called Splash Safety at my Pad.
The campaign, which returns in May, seeks to provide young families with advice, hints and tips about how to enjoy water safely at home.
RLSS UK’s Top Tips for Staying Safe around Hot Tubs
Cover it Up
Ensure hot tubs are covered with a solid, lockable cover immediately after use to prevent curious children from climbing or falling in.
If your hot tub doesn’t have a cover or it is broken, replace this vital piece of safety equipment as soon as possible. Don’t fill or use your hot tub until you’ve replaced the cover.
Stay Together
Ensure children are always supervised by an adult when they are spending time in and around a hot tub – even when the cover is on. Accidents can happen quickly, and children are naturally drawn to water.
Top Tip: If you’re with a group of adults, take it in turns to oversee supervising children near water. Always ensure that everyone in the group knows who’s responsible for watching the children at all times.
3. Not for Little Ones!
Children under five should not use a hot tub in any circumstances.
4. Talk about the Risks
Talk to older children about how to stay safe around hot tubs. Be clear children should stay away from hot tubs when not in use. Ensure that they never open the cover without an adult present.
Sources:
* Royal Life Saving Society UK Consumer Survey, geographically represented sample of n=1,003 parents of children aged five years and under, (September 2024).
Reduce your energy bills: essential tips for new parents
The UK’s leading Smart PAYG energy supplier, Utilita, has launched an Energy Efficiency Guide to help new parents reduce their energy use and see where they could save money.
Officially launched at Pregnancy Counselling and Care (Scotland) this week, the new guide will be rolled out at Utilita’s 12 energy hubs located across the UK.
The cost of general living inevitably goes up when you’re welcoming a child into the family – thanks to the use of electric appliances such as bottle sanitisers, electric baby bouncers, baby monitors and an increased wash load.
Sasha Dixon, Utilita’s Partnerships Manager, explained: “Our Energy Experts are on hand to help you with any questions you have about your account or energy usage. Plus, they can help you top-up your meters and offer advice on schemes and benefits that may be available to you.
“As new parents, you want to save money anywhere you can, and one of the first thought for many is about how to reduce your energy bills. Whether you’re a Utilita customer or not, we’re keen to help new parents take advantage of the quick and easy ways to reduce energy bills without compromising your baby’s comfort.”
Lucy Aitchison, Operations Manager at Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland, added: “We’re delighted to be able to share such a helpful resource for new parents, as it will help them not only to keep their baby safe, but also possibly save money on their energy costs.
“All of the families that are referred to the Baby Bank are struggling with the high cost of living, and the helping hand we provide with our newborn packs, which would cost the equivalent of over £2,500 is a real lifeline.
“We’ve seen demand increase hugely this last year, as we have more than doubled the number of Baby Packs that have been sent out around the region. In 2023 we gave out over 22,000 items of baby toys, clothes and equipment, and this last year it is over 58,000 items!
“We need funding support each year to continue this valuable service, that not only helps families, but recycles so much and prevents it from being sent to landfill. Please get in touch with us if you can help support us www.counsellingandcare.co.uk.”
Utilita Energy Hubs are high street locations where customers can top up their accounts, check their balances, and get energy-saving advice – based in Edinburgh, Blackburn, Derby, Gosport, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Luton, Sheffield, Southampton, and West Bromwich.
This Mother’s Day, treat Mum to an unforgettable dining experience with the bold and vibrant flavours of Latin America at Somewhere by Nico.
Available for a limited time only in both the Glasgow and Edinburgh venues, this exclusive offer lets you celebrate in style with three delicious dishes and a Latin American cocktail of your choice for just £35 per person.
What’s Included:
A selection of three Latin American-inspired dishes
A Latin American cocktail of your choice
Live music from Verde to set the perfect atmosphere
When & Where:
Edinburgh: Live music from Verde 2pm – 4pm
Glasgow: Live music from Verde 6pm – 8pm
How to Book:
This exclusive Mother’s Day offer is available to book in the Glasgow and Edinburgh venues through the below links:
Decline in the number of specialist ASN teachers to a record low
More than doubling in the number of pupils with additional support needs since 2014
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of leading providers of specialist care and education to vulnerable children and young people, has raised concerns over cuts in specialist support being provided to those with additional support needs (ASN).
The call comes as new figures from the Scottish Government’s annual teacher census indicate that the number of specialist ASN teachers has fallen to a record low of 2,837 in 2024.1
In contrast, the number of those pupils with ASN has soared to a record high, now amounting to 40.5 per cent of the pupil population. 2 This includes those with mental health problems, learning disability, autism and dyslexia.
These numbers have been increasing for years. Indeed, more than doubling(102.4 per cent) over the last decade to 284,448 pupils, a rise from 140,501 in 2014, when those with ASN represented 20.8 per cent of all pupils.
Between 2014 and 2024 the number of ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,077 to 2,837, a record low and a decrease of 240 teachers.
In 2014, while each ASN teacher was supporting 40 pupils with ASN, by 2024 this figure had risen to each teacher now supporting 100 such pupils.
Against a background of spending cuts and reduction in specialist support, the SCSC has called for greater resourcing from both the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that those with ASN, who are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods, are getting the care and support that they need.
The coalition has also raised concerns about the effectiveness of a presumption of mainstreaming, meaning that all pupils are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, without the necessary support.
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need. This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods.
“With cuts in support, including in the number of specialist teachers, it is going to be extremely challenging to reduce the current inequalities faced by those with ASN.
“While we also support the presumption of mainstreaming, which means that all children and young people are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, it is clearly difficult to see how this is functioning properly given the fall in specialist support and increase in the number of those with ASN.
“The Scottish Government and local authorities need to work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. “
“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed.” – Roslyn Neely – CEO, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
A walk-in wellbeing and resilience pilot, developed to tackle Scotland’s mental health crisis will come to an end in the summer, after demonstrating unquestionably that early intervention can reduce mental health challenges among children and young people.
The Haven opened at The Fraser Centre, Tranent in September 2023 under Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s ‘No Time To Wait’ strategy. It later moved to bigger premises in Haddington due to demand, and since opening the service has attracted 3,461 visits. Of these, 2,041 were children and young people and 1,420 were their affected family members.
Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity said: “We are incredibly sad that our pilot wellbeing and resilience service is coming to an end, but that was always our intention, as a charity we couldn’t fund this forever.
“However we will close our doors with a huge sense of pride in what The Haven has achieved and a promise to all families receiving support that we will not turn our backs on them, we will continue to provide vital assistance, ensuring that the care and connection established through The Haven remain a core part of our work.”
Scotland’s national mental health charity, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), has recently announced The Nook, a network of mental health support hubs, which will build on the foundations laid by ECHC and the team at The Haven, marking a significant step forward for mental health support in Scotland, and beyond.
Roslyn Neelycontinued: “We are delighted that our work will now contribute to a long-term, sustainable national approach to Scotland’s mental health crisis.
“The Haven passes the baton to SAMH, leaving behind a wonderful legacy, proving Scotland’s mental health crisis can be reversed, and we celebrate the fact that a major organisation like SAMH is stepping in to continue this important work.
“Their ability to advocate for long-term government support means that children’s mental health remains firmly on the national agenda, and we wholeheartedly support this.”
The Haven is a groundbreaking two-year pilot which has successfully supported hundreds of families who have a child struggling with their mental health. Critically, it uses a walk-in format with no waiting lists.
The Haven takes a unique whole family approach, supporting not just the individual struggling with mental health challenges, but their parents, grandparents, siblings and carers.
Scotland’s first Festival of Movement will soon come to Linlithgow! We are delighted to now reveal the full programme for the day.
Join us across Linlithgow, from the West Lothian Cycle Route to The Cross, on Saturday 29 March for a free, fun-filled day of opportunities to get moving, from in-line skating to led cycles, as well as talks, discussions and creative workshops for all ages and abilities.
Scotland’s first Festival of Movement will soon come to Linlithgow! We are delighted to now reveal the full programme for the day.