A joint position paper created by One Parent Families Scotland and Close the Gap sets out principles for a childcare system that works for women, children and families, including those on low incomes:
The availability of accessible, affordable, and flexible childcare is critical to the realisation of women’s equality, and to improving children’s outcome in Scotland.
This position paper, produced in partnership with Close the Gap, presents a set of principles which should drive the next stages in the development of Scotland’s childcare offer.
These principles describe a system of childcare that promotes women’s socio-economic and labour market equality, advances children’s rights, and addresses child poverty.
Our Family Supporters in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the city of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges.
We recruit, train and match dedicated, local volunteers to help families every step of the way, spending 1-1 time together on a personalised set of goals chosen by the family, for the family.
We can help in many ways, such as improved living standards, budgeting, healthier eating, better school life and behaviour, access to health and wellbeing aid, as well as introducing parents to community resources, to name a few.
We are urgently looking for volunteers as we have families who are in crisis and in need of support.
Residents at Strachan House in Blackhall enjoyed an Afternoon Tea and photoshoot with their loved ones on Sunday in celebration of Father’s Day.
With the lovely warm weather residents were able to enjoy meeting up with loved ones in the home’s garden over afternoon tea freshly prepared by the home’s talented chefs.
Throughout the afternoon the residents and their children were then offered a photo shoot session to capture the special moment with a keepsake photo of their day together.
Gordon Philp, General Manager of the home, said: “We’ve all had a wonderful day today welcoming friends and family into the home.
“Occasions like Father’s Day are so important, it was fantastic to have such a lovely gathering with our residents and their loved ones all together enjoying the sunshine.”
Gerry Smith, resident at Strachan House said: “I’ve had a great time celebrating with my daughter,it has been so lovely to see them and spend some quality time together.
“Father’s Day is such a special day, I’m so pleased we were all able to celebrate together.”
Strachan House Care Home’s varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
From ‘Science Orchestras’ to ‘Science and Supper’ – Science and Discovery Centres across the UK have built programmes designed to reach under-represented young people in their communities
The Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) has released the results from 16 diversity and inclusion programmes for young people run in Centres across the UK. The activities have specifically been built to help tackle the diversity challenges currently faced throughout the Science Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sector.
The programmes, funded by the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have been developed to help nurture and support the creative thinkers of today into diverse scientists, researchers, and innovators of the future.
Over 10,000 children, young people and their families from traditionally under-represented and marginalised communities took part in the programmes, where they were encouraged to explore STEM on their terms in fresh, inclusive, and exploratory ways.
The ASDC and STFC supported projects dovetail with the March 23 Diversity and Inclusion STEM Report, released by Greg Clark MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee which states “STEM still has a diversity problem”.
Shaaron Leverment, Chief Executive of the ASDC commented “UK STEM industry and research is one of the most innovative and exciting sectors, but if it is to flourish for our future, there is no doubt that diversity is an issue.
“Our collective vision at ASDC is for a society where science is accessible, inclusive, and valued by all as a fundamental part of everyday life. This STFC-funded project shows how science and discovery centres provide so much more than just a fun day out – they open up new relationships and pathways in STEM across all ages, genders, backgrounds, geographies and abilities.
“We’re excited to see the mix of creativity and ingenuity of the outreach programmes run by our members. They are supporting a sense of belonging, value and ownership in STEM for a new cohort that may indeed become the future STEM innovators and solution-finders of tomorrow.”
Five of the programmes that have made an impact on their local communities are:
Aberdeen Science Centre – launched ‘Supper and Science’ which worked with families within the top 20% of the Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation and were affected by the cost of living crisis, and encouraged them to take part and learnt to cook whilst also learning about the impact science and technology have on their daily lives.
Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh – in partnership with Tinderbox Sparks Youth Orchestra, formed a resident ‘science orchestra’ with 20 young people to highlight the connection between music and science, as well as compose music for Dynamic Earth’s new climate change planetarium show ‘Don’t Panic’. The orchestra performed for family and friends, as well as composing ‘Seascapes’ – a haunting accompaniment for footage of deep-sea creatures taken by the Schmitt Ocean Institute.
Jodrell Bank in Macclesfield – offered free trips for over 500 school groups and 80 families. Additionally, secondary school students participated in a ‘Girls Night Out’, an event celebrating women in science past, present and future and encouraged women to consider STEM careers, as well as supporting the centre in its mission to make ‘Space for everyone’.
National Space Centre IGNITE in Leicester – inspired by a young boy who wanted to go to attend ‘Space Club’ in Coalville but was unable to, the centre developed a community programme for children to get excited about Leicester’s role in space. The programme also demonstrated what career opportunities are available on their doorstep and the diversity of jobs available across the space sector.
We The Curious in Bristol – launched the ‘Space Science in Time of Crisis’ workshops with Year 9 and Year 10 students from Bristol who were encouraged to explore ‘Should space science be a priority in the current time of crisis?’ and develop a TikTok style video to share their perspectives.
Vanessa Vazquez, Community Engagement Coordinator at Aberdeen Science Centre commented on the initiatives “The STFC Impact Project brought science to communities, creating equal opportunities for all. It sparked curiosity, encouraged experimentation, and empowered individuals to take ownership.
“We witnessed incredible transformations, from a disinterested child becoming engaged and excited to them volunteering for experiments. This project went beyond checklists, exemplifying our dedication to uplifting communities. We will continue to make a positive impact, bringing joy and empowerment to every opportunity we encounter.”
Neville Hollingworth, STFC Public Engagement Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to mark over a decade of successful collaboration between STFC and ASDC with these excellent results.
“In order for UK science and innovation to thrive, it is essential that communities who are under-represented in the STEM sector are engaged with the amazing stories that the science and technology community has to tell.
“These collaborations between STFC, ASDC, and community groups, young people, and families have inspired people across the UK to take an active role in science and provided fantastic opportunities for the benefit of all of society.”
Aberlour Children’s Charity was delighted to welcome the Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Maree Todd MSP to the new Perinatal Befriending Service at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh this week.
The new service, launched six weeks ago, offers vital emotional and befriending support to parents impacted by neonatal experiences. Aberlour’s Perinatal Befriending Service is for families living in the Lothians whose babies are born at 34 weeks’ gestation or later and have received neonatal care through the NICU.
Following a pilot in the neonatal unit last year, the charity concluded that whilst becoming a new parent can be an exciting and challenging time – parents whose babies have needed specialist neonatal care are at greater risk of increased anxiety and isolation. It is estimated that parents of babies with a neonatal experience are 40% more likely to develop perinatal mental health difficulties. Parents with neonatal babies born at 34 weeks’ or later were identified as a cohort requiring enhanced support.
Funding secured from the National Lottery Community Fund, East Lothian Council, William Grant Foundation and the Charles Gordon Foundation has enabled Aberlour to establish the new Perinatal Befriending Service. It aims to connect with parents at the earliest opportunity both in hospital, community or home settings, building relationships to support parents and babies throughout pregnancy and in the first year of baby’s life.
Working in parallel with the charity’s NHS partners, the service offers in person support from a Perinatal Coordinator, a 1:1 match with a Perinatal Befriender and bespoke digital support all of which connects parents, improves emotional wellbeing, reduces isolation and supports positive relationships between parents and babies. It also recognises the significance of sustaining wider family relationships.
Perinatal befrienders are dedicated trained volunteers who are matched to parents and offer emotional listening support and help accessing services and activities in the community.
The launch of the service coincides with the launch of Aberlour’s Perinatal Connections app. As a result of listening to mums and gathering data, a gap was identified in mental health support services outside normal working hours for new and expectant mums. The app has been developed to offer a safe, facilitated space for new and expectant mothers supported by Aberlour to connect with each other and access information and resources whenever they wish.
Maree Todd,Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “Looking after our mental health is more important than ever before and we are committed to improving the mental health of mothers, fathers, carers and infants throughout pregnancy and during the postnatal period.
“I was pleased to visit Aberlour’s service and learn about their crucial support for families whose babies are receiving neonatal care. I am impressed by this service that offers vital emotional and befriending support to parents impacted by neonatal experiences.”
Emma Cashmore-Gordon, Assistant Director at Aberlour, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Maree Todd in her new capacity as Minister for Mental Wellbeing to the new Perinatal Befriending Service.
“It’s great to demonstrate how we are able to provide greater support with all the strands coming together – our Perinatal Co-ordinator, Perinatal Befrienders and the new app. Knowing that we can help families who have received neonatal care, in particular parents of babies born 34 weeks+ who really will benefit from the enhanced support is amazing”.
Megan, parent of Rosie, said: “The help I got from the service and the relationship with my befriender was unique.
“When I look back, I’m a totally different person now, when I have rough times, I can get through a day at a time”.
The Gift has been presented with the award for best Production for Children and Young People at the 20th annual Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. The awards ceremony which took place on Sunday 11th June at Traverse Theatre, saw Capital Theatres take home their first ever CATs award for the production.
Specially designed for children aged between 2 and 5 years old, The Gift isa story about how often, the wrapping paper, cardboard boxes and bubble wrap reveal playfulness, creativity and imagination – the true gift! The Festive show isbursting with energy, acrobatic dance, textures, sounds and colour to create a multi-sensory wonderland from the left-over boxes, ribbons and wrapping.
The Gift is a commission by Capital Theatres, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court, and a co-production between Barrowland Ballet and Capital Theatres for its 2022 presentation,
Natasha Gilmore, Artistic Director of Barrowland Ballet and creator of The Gift said:“It was such a privilege to sit in The studio at Capital theatre watching the Gift over Christmas with all these families enjoying going to the theatre together.
“A reminder of the joy of theatre and what a unique and memorable experience it is.”
Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatressaid: “It was an absolute privilege to witness the impact and joy The Gift brought to young audiences and their families in The Studio last Christmas and we are thrilled Barrowland Ballet and Natasha Gilmore’s wonderful work has won a CATs award this year.
“Collaborating with Eden Court and Aberdeen Performing Arts for this commission has been a real pleasure and sits at the heart of our vision to support and develop Scottish talent.
“This is of particular significance for Capital Theatres as The Gift marks the first time we’ve commissioned new work for young children in our studio as well as our first CATs award as a producer.”
Ben Torrie, Director of Programming and Creative Arts of Aberdeen Performing Arts said: “It has been a real joy working with our friends at Capital Theatres and Eden Court on the joint commission, which has resulted in the creation of three fantastic productions.
“The innovative model makes the most of our collective resources, provides stability for venues and artists, as well as ensuring that more young audiences across Scotland get to experience top quality theatre.
“Everyone at Aberdeen Performing Arts is thrilled for Barrowland Ballet in receiving this much-deserved accolade, and we can’t wait to welcome the awarding-winning production of The Gift to the Lemon Tree this Christmas.”
Susannah Armitage, Eden Court Senior Producer said:“The Gift is a beautiful piece of festive dance theatre for children that had our young audiences transfixed.
“It was a joy to collaborate with the ever brilliant Natasha and Barrowland Ballet as part of our co-commissioning and co-producing partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts and Capital Theatres.”
There will be more support for unaccompanied asylum seeking and trafficked children arriving in Scotland, thanks to a new statutory guardianship service.
The Scottish Government has provided £1 million for the Guardianship Scotland service in 2022-23, and a further £1 million annually for the next two years initially.
The service will support children who have arrived in Scotland alone and help guide them through the asylum process.
Aberlour Children’s Charity and the Scottish Refugee Council have been awarded the contract to the run the service. Professionals employed by the service, known as Guardians, will:
accompany children and young people when they claim asylum and support them with expert advice
empower children and young people in the decision making process
listen to the experiences of affected children and young people and explain what is happening to them
Launching the service, Minister for Children and Young People Natalie Don said: “It is a privilege to help launch this new guardianship service, which is another example of how Scotland is offering a welcoming environment to people arriving in our country.
“Arriving alone can have a devastating and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people – so it is vitally important for them to be given access to the care and support they need to help them adjust to their new life here.
“I look forward to working with the Scottish Refugee Council and Aberlour to ensure that we are getting it right for all of the young people in need of our support.”
Catriona MacSween, Head of Guardianship Scotland, said: “It is wonderful that we can continue to deliver the excellent service. It is testament to the commitment and fantastic work of our guardians who work closely with local authorities and many other organisations to support unaccompanied children and young people.
“Asylum seeking children and victims of trafficking arrive in Scotland alone, confused and scared, having been through unimaginable trauma. We are so pleased that our work has been recognised and we can continue to help them.”
SallyAnn Kelly OBE, Chief Executive of Aberlour Children’s Charity, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the contract to run Guardianship Scotland.
“Aberlour has worked alongside the Scottish Government, Home Office and local authorities to ensure every unaccompanied asylum seeking child who is a victim of trafficking or potential victim of trafficking has the support of a guardian over the past 12 years. Recently, we have seen a significant rise in the numbers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and there is an even greater need for the service.
“We are delighted to build on this successful partnership with the Scottish Refugee Council and provide support to more unaccompanied children.”
Sabir Zazai OBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council said: “We are delighted to be delivering Guardianship Scotland with Aberlour and look forward to continuing our work together to develop this essential service.
“The young people we work with have been through things no child should have to endure. Many have survived human trafficking or fled countries torn apart by war, arriving in Scotland traumatised and alone with no friends or family to take care of them.
“We are committed to ensuring that every unaccompanied child in Scotland gets a dedicated guardian to support them, speak up for them and be by their side as they rebuild their lives.”
Throughout 2020 and 2021, Public Health Scotland (PHS) ran three national surveys to hear directly from the parents and carers of younger children about how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated restrictions, had affected their families.
PHS heard how the pandemic had impacted on relationships, behaviour, mood and parental wellbeing, with negative outcomes reported more frequently in low-income households compared to high-income households.
Now, three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, PHS is checking in again to see how young children and their families are doing. Parents and carers of a child aged between 0–11 years old are being asked to complete a new national survey, even if they have taken part in previous surveys or are caring for a child born out with the time of the pandemic restrictions. The survey is running for a fourth time from 8–30 June 2023, and PHS is keen to gauge any ripple effect, as well as any impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Dr Grant Aitken, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at PHS, said:
“It’s important that we find out if the challenges we heard about previously are reducing, or if there are still some families who are struggling to cope with lasting impacts of the pandemic.
“Equally, it could be that some impacts are only becoming apparent now, and it’s important we capture these if so. This includes understanding people’s financial needs, with many families struggling to afford basics like food, housing costs or household bills.”
As with previous surveys, findings will be used by PHS to support practitioners, service providers and policy makers to respond to children and families in need, in areas covering childcare, education and health. Doing so is vital to help create a Scotland where all children and their families are given the chance to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and to thrive.
Please complete the survey, or help us to promote it by emailing phs.comms@phs.scot for social media assets and a flyer for distribution or display.
New TUC survey finds low level of statutory paternity pay leaves families struggling financially – and stops 1 in 5 dads/partners from taking paternity leave at all
Low-income households and self-employed workers most likely to miss out on paternity leave
1 in 5 dads/partners who manage to take time off end up working during leave
Union body calls on ministers to increase statutory paternity pay and overhaul parental leave system
More than half (53%) of families struggle financially when dads/partners take paternity leave, according to a new TUC poll published today (Friday).
The survey also reveals that half (50%) of parents don’t feel they were able to take enough time off work as paternity leave to support their families.
And one in five (21%) parents told the TUC they didn’t take any paternity leave at all. The biggest reason for this – for more than one in four (27%) parents – is that they can’t afford to reduce their income.
Statutory paternity pay is currently £172.48 a week, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower), and paternity leave is one or two weeks.
Missing out
The TUC poll found:
Low earners: Household income has a big impact on take up of paternity leave. Nearly nine in 10 (86%) of parents where the household income is over £60,000 take statutory paternity leave provided by their employer, but this falls to two-thirds (65%) of dads/partners with a household income under £25k. And only one in seven (14%) dads/partners with household income under £25k take a more generous form of paternity leave than just the statutory – compared to more than one in three (35%) where the household income is over £80k.
Self-employed: Only one in three (31%) self-employed dads/partners took time off when their partner had a baby. Self-employed workers currently aren’t eligible for any statutory paternity pay. The TUC warns this reduces their ability to take time off work for the arrival of a new baby.
The poll also revealed that nearly one in five (18%) dads/partners are still doing some work whilst on paternity leave – rising to almost one in three (30%) part-time workers.
More than one in five (22%) do this because of the demands of their workload, and a similar percentage (19%) feel pressured to do this by their employers.
Government action needed
The TUC is calling on government to completely overhaul the current parental leave system.
The union body wants ministers to:
Increase statutory paternity pay: Statutory paternity pay needs to increase to at least the level of the real living wage, to make it feasible for dads/partners to take time out to care for their new-borns.
Extend parental leave: Both parents need a stand-alone right to their own individual period of well-paid parental leave – which is not dependent on the other partner sacrificing some of their leave (as it is in the current shared parental leave system).
Give parental leave and pay rights to all from day one: Parental leave and pay rights should be accessible to all, regardless of employment status – including those who are self-employed, agency workers or on zero-hours contracts. Qualifying periods for parental leave and pay rights should be scrapped and they should be available from day one in a job.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “It’s not right that so many dads can’t afford to take time off work when their babies are born.
“The arrival of a new-born is one of the most special moments in life. No parent should miss out on these precious first days.
“The UK’s parental leave and pay system needs an overhaul.
“Without better rights to well-paid leave, too many new parents will still miss out on spending time with their babies. And mums will continue to take on the bulk of caring.
“Ministers should give all dads better-paid paternity leave – and create a new right to well-paid parental leave just for dads, that doesn’t rely on mums giving up some of their maternity leave.”
Childline delivered 8,599 counselling sessions to children living in Scotland in 2022/23
Aberdeen and Glasgow Childline bases delivered 29,741 counselling sessions to children across the UK in 2022/23
195,542 counselling sessions were delivered by Childline across the UK in 2022/23
These figures are being released by the NSPCC as people across the nation come together to Celebrate Childhood Day on Friday, June 9
Schools and nurseries in Scotland are taking part in the Childhood Day Mile
The Scottish public have already generously donated at Childhood Day collections and events
The NSPCC has released new figures today showing its Childline service delivered over 8,000 counselling sessions to children in Scotland last year, as people across the nation come together to play their part in the charity’s fundraising day – Childhood Day (June 9).
Last year at least 8,599 of the counselling sessions delivered by Childline were with children and young people who were living in Scotland.
While almost 30,000 (29,741) sessions were delivered to children across the UK by a counsellor based at the NSPCC’s Glasgow and Aberdeen Childline call centres.
In total, over 195,000 Childline counselling sessions were held with young people from across the UK over the past year (2022/23), and the charity is determined to continue to be there for any child who wishes to speak to them about their worries and concerns.
The top five main concerns for children were mental and emotional health and wellbeing; family relationships; friendship issues; bullying and school/education problems.
The NSPCC launched its flagship fundraising and awareness day, Childhood Day, three years ago, to bring communities together and highlight the vital role everyone can play in helping to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.
This year, the charity has already seen displays of support in Scotland including collections at Morrisons in Inverurie and outside the Bruce Springsteen concert in Edinburgh, which brought in donations of £1,288.
Staff and volunteers from Glasgow Childline also raised £1,472 by doing a sponsored ‘Silly Hat Walk’ along the River Clyde in Glasgow on Sunday, June 4. This will enable Childline counsellors to deliver 368 counselling sessions to children and young people.
While staff and volunteers from Childline also raised £3,084 by taking part in the Aberdeen and Glasgow Kiltwalks.
Schools and nurseries in Scotland are also getting involved in the Childhood Day Mile including the Apple Tree Nursery in Rothesay, they are walking from the beach to the tearoom and back again, while Small Isles Primary School on the Isle of Jura and Keills Primary School on Islay, have children taking part in fun obstacle courses to complete the mile as well as football dribbling and scoring challenges. The children have also planned a whole school conga dance around the playground!
All funds raised will go to the NSPCC to help support the vital work in helping to protect children and young people. Individuals are also getting involved with the Mile in fun and creative ways, as well as taking part in volunteering to help raise donations and spread the word about Childhood Day.
Childhood Day Mile
Even if you don’t have responsibility for a child in your life, the NSPCC believes that strong communities are a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to safeguarding children.
This year the charity encouraged schools and the wider public to do their bit to support Childhood Day by taking on the Childhood Day Mile and has seen huge amounts of support across the UK.
How to Support
Whilst Childhood Day is an opportunity for everyone to get involved and raise money whilst having fun, it is also important to recognise the need for Childhood Day and the work done by the NSPCC. Half a million children across the UK suffer from abuse and neglect, which is equal to roughly seven children in a classroom experiencing abuse before they turn 18.
The NSPCC fights tirelessly to change this, and the charity’s work helps shape a better future for children in which they are safe from harm.
Jo Swinhoe, Director of Fundraising at NSPCC said:“We’re thrilled to be celebrating Childhood Day today and to see the huge amount of support across the UK.
“It’s been wonderful to have so many participants getting involved in the Childhood Mile and other fundraising efforts, and the NSPCC would like to thank every single person who has donated or volunteered.
“This special day helps us to continue to support children and protect them from abuse as we work to ensure as many children as possible have a safe and joyful childhood.”
It’s never too late to show your support for Childhood Day and the amazing work being done up and down the UK by the NSPCC. You can find out more about how to get involved with Childhood Day here.
The NSPCC is urging anyone with concerns about a child, even if they’re unsure, to contact the NSPCC Helpline to speak to one of the charity’s professionals. People can call 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.
Children and young people can contact Childline about anything that may be worrying them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 0800 1111 or a 1-2-1 chat is available online, visit: www.childline.org.uk.
Sponsors
Lidl GB and Sky Cares, Sky’s community outreach programme, are sponsoring the NSPCC’s Childhood Day for a second year as retail and media sponsors. Lidl GB has been partnered with the NSPCC for 6 years and are currently supporting young people with their mental health by raising money for Childline. Sky Cares has been partnered with the NSPCC for three years and are committed to supporting the communities where their customers and employees live and work. Both partners will be helping to raise awareness of Childhood Day, as well as holding their own activities with their colleagues and customers across Great Britain to help raise vital funds.
