Tag: Children and Families

Edinburgh International Book Festival: Get ready for the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme

There are just a few days to go until this year’s book events for schools begin!

The Baillie Gifford Schools Programme, which runs from 22 – 30 August, features a packed programme of free events created especially for schools, available in-person or remotely from your classroom.

And, if you are joining us remotely, events for schools are also available to watch at a later date on-demand, so you can catch up at a time that suits you and your pupils.

All schools’ events will be followed by an in-person book signing in our Signing Tent where authors are available to sign books, answer questions – and maybe even take a picture!

Read on for information on our learning resources, the Book Festival Village, Baillie Gifford Gala Day and discounted books for your school:

Learning lies at the heart of everything we do. We aim to foster a love of books, words and reading, and inspire people of all backgrounds and ages to explore new ideas and expand their horizons.

You’ll find lots of engaging learning resources which accompany Book Festival events on our Learning Site.

From celebrating difference, nature and feminism, to tackling climate change, sexism and mental health, the site is full of activities and resources to engage your class in discussion, spark new ideas and continue encouraging them to approach the world around them boldly and creatively.

Explore learning resources

Your visit to the Book Festival Village

All schools events take place at the Book Festival Village at Edinburgh College of Art on Lauriston Place, EH3 9DF. After two years online we can’t wait to welcome schools’ groups back onsite!

There is lots to see and do at the Book Festival, so read on to find out what more to expect:

To make sure everything runs smoothly, please plan to arrive around 20 minutes before your event is due to start. There are two entrances to our site, at 74 Lauriston Place, and just around the corner on Lady Lawson Street: if travelling by coach please ensure your driver is aware of the designated schools parking on Lady Lawson Street.

Head to our Schools Check-In Point at the entrance to the Edinburgh College of Art Main Building to be greeted by our Front of House team ,who will direct you to your venue and will give you your free books!

You are welcome to bring your own packed lunches and have a picnic in the courtyard at ECA. There are grassy areas as well as covered seating. We also have a café onsite which sells meals, snacks and drinks – there’s even rumours of a majestic pirate ship, sailing the grassy greens of the Courtyard…

Find more information about the Book Festival that may help you plan your visit, with particular relevance if you are required to carry out a risk assessment prior to your school’s visit, on the schools safety information sheet.

Baillie Gifford Gala Day is back!

Baillie Gifford Gala Day – exclusive to primary schools – returns on Tuesday 30 August for a day full of festival fun.

Alongside seven 45-minute events hosted by a range of novelists, writers and illustrators, onsite excitement this year includes festival team members, as well as pupils, dressed as their favourite animal; a chance to get up close and personal with some real-life critters and creepy crawlies; protest placard making sessions using recycled materials; and an Eco Marketplace where schools and pupils can chat to organisations fighting to protect our planet and find out how they can help.

Pupils attending in-person can also look forward to receiving a free book which they can get signed and a free goody bag to take home.

Authors taking part in Baillie Gifford Gala Day include: Polly Ho-Yen; Serena Patel; Kelpies Prize-winner Lindsay Littleson; journalist and presenter Nick Sheridan; David C Flanagan; author and climate campaigner Georgina Stevens; and editors of the Beano comic, Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

Discounted Books for your School

We are offering 25% off any books ordered by schools through our independent online bookshop.

Visit the specially created Schools page to browse books in the programme and receive 25% off all orders placed. T

he offer applies to all books featured in the Baillie Gifford Schools Programme and the Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme and is valid until 30 September 2022.

To claim your discount simply enter the coupon code SC25BG22V at the checkout. 

Back to school? HMRC can help with childcare costs

Families receive up to £500 every three months (£2,000 a year) per child, or £1,000 (£4,000 a year) if their child is disabled, helping towards the cost of before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, holiday clubs and other approved childcare schemes.

In June 2022, more than 23,200 working families in Scotland benefitted from Tax-Free Childcare – but thousands more could be missing out. Overall in June, HMRC paid out £41.6 million in top-up payments, which was shared between approximately 391,000 families across the UK.

Families can find out what childcare support is best for them via Childcare Choices.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Tax-Free Childcare can make a big difference to families in Scotland, helping with the bills for things like wraparound care for school children, nurseries, childminders and holiday clubs. It’s easy to register – search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK.”

More than one million families in the UK are entitled to some form of UK Government childcare support and the government is encouraging those eligible to not miss out on their entitlements.

For thousands of families who use Tax-Free Childcare, the money they save each month on their childcare costs is money that goes back into their pockets.

Accounts can be opened at any time of the year and can be used straight away, and money can be deposited at any time and used when needed.

Any unused money that is deposited can be simply withdrawn at any time.

Fringe 2022: Railed: In for a ride with a troupe of bare Australian acrobats

Head First Acrobats – Railed at Edinburgh Fringe

“This show was just utter genius and much the best thing this reviewer

has seen at the Fringe this year. It’s a 5 stars for this show and here’s

hoping they come back soon!.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brighton and Hove News

“”The strength and skills of these gents is astounding.”.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perth Happenings

“impressive feats of athletic and acrobatic madness.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ GlamAdelaide

Think acrobatics and what springs to mind? If it’s nude Western themed circus you’re on the same wavelength as Australian Acrobats! And even if it’s not, we recommend you check out this absolute belter of a show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

Railed is a spectacular Western themed circus, combining the trademark physical talents, intricate figures, finely chiselled bodies and comic capers of the creators of the smash hits Elixir and Circus’Cision.

Bare-chested circus meets bare-knuckle bar fights. Railed is a racy, heart-stopping adult show of breath-taking acrobatics and mad-cap storytelling, featuring a rogues’ gallery of the most wanted bad-asses this side of Dodge City.

The Head First gunslingers are planning to paint the town red, to head audiences off at the pass, ransack their hearts, ambush their nights and leave them begging for mercy.

Directed by Debra Batton and John Walton, Railed features a variety of talents including all-round acrobat and teeterboard expert, Anthony Saltalmacchia; the powerful yet standoffish vagrant showing off immense feats of balance and impressive physique, Callan Harris; Jordan Twartz, world class ‘manipulator’, who plays the resident barman keeping the boys liquored up and ready for action; and Liam Dummer, who brings technicality and artistry to Head First Acrobats, all whilst playing the Railed town hero.

Details

Venue:  Assembly George Square Gardens – Spiegeltent Palais Du Variete EH8 9JU

Time:  18:35 

Dates: 3 – 28 August. Previews 3 – 4 August. No show on Mondays 8,15,27 August. 

Tickets: Previews 3-4 (£10.50); 5 – 9 ,12 – 14, 19 – 21, 25 – 28 (£17); 10 – 11, 16 – 18, 23 – 25  (£15.50).

Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms

PreHysterical

The tale of three Neanderthals – hilarious new family show at Edinburgh Fringe

Head First Acrobats – PreHysterical at Edinburgh Fringe

“PreHysterical appeals to anyone with a funny bone.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ FringeFeed

“hilarious and spectacular.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 GlamAdelaide

“Full of fun, amazing circus tricks.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 Kids in Adelaide

Circus is for everyone. And as well as entertaining, it can be educational. That is what Head First Acrobats believe, and why they have are bringing PreHysterical to Edinburgh Fringe 2022. 

PreHysterical is a hilarious circus show for children and parents of all ages, following three foolish Neanderthals as they struggle to survive the savage natural world. Avoiding predators, navigating harsh environments, and learning to work together are all explored with marvelous circus skills and achingly funny slapstick. The show quite literally rocks as it tells the tale of three people navigating life in prehistoric times.

They may not know how to make fire (or bathe), but these Neanderthals really know how to put on a show that’s hilarious and spectacular in equal measure. Join Thomas, Chelsea and Alex. – three bumbling Neanderthals – as they fumble crossing rivers, finding food and making fire, all whilst executing fantastic circus tricks. The physical humour is perfectly executed – to the great amusement of kids and parents alike, and the ridiculously impressive acrobatics are so slick, you can expeect gasps and wows from the audience.

Aerial stunts and floor acrobatics make for truly incredible circus; this, combined with tongue-in-cheek humour and the silliest of stories means that PreHysterical is for everyone.

Winner of best children’s performance weekly Award at the 2020 Perth Fringe Festival, and the best children’s performance weekly at the Adelaide Fringe in 2020 and 2022.

Details

Venue:  Assembly Checkpoint, 3 Bristo Place, EH1 1EY

Time:  11:50 (50 mins)

Dates: 4 – 28 August. Preview 4 August. No show Mondays 10, 15, 22 August. 

Tickets: Preview 4th August (£8.50), 5 – 9 ,12 – 14, 19 – 21, 25 – 28 (£13.50); 10 – 11, 16 – 18, 23 – 25  (£11.50)

Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms

Artist bio

Head First Acrobats are a multi-award-winning entertainment company. Based in Melbourne, they are regulars on the international touring circuit, and specialise in acrobatic entertainment for festivals, theatres, corporate and street events.

Head First Acrobats have a talent for developing shows that are the talk of the town, filling theatres to the rafters with thrilled audiences.

Their big-hitter is the international sensation, Elixir, which was the smash hit of 2018 and won the Best Circus and Physical Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe, along with a slew of sold-out shows all over the world.  

Their new flagship show, Railed debuted at Perth FRINGE WORLD in 2019, and is a riotous high-energy comedy Western that takes no prisoners, sets the bar on fire, and hightails out of town leaving a trail of broken hearts in its wake.

Links

Website: www.headfirstacrobats.com 

Instagram: @headfirstacrobatskids

Facebook: @headfirstacrobatsforkids

Child Disability Payment pays out more that £17 million since launch

More than £17.1 million has been paid to support children and young people since Child Disability Payment launched.

These payments are designed to mitigate some of the additional costs of caring for a disabled or terminally ill child or young person.

It is estimated that as of 30 June 2022, 13,200 children and young people are in receipt of Child Disability Payment.

£11.3 million was issued to new applicants and a further £5.8 million was issued to children and young people who have had their payment transferred to Child Disability Payment.

The total number of people receiving payments includes 7,230 who had their Disability Living Allowance for children transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland.

Figures for 26 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 include an initial pilot period where Child Disability Payment was only available in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles local authority areas.

Child Disability Payment became available to people making new applications across Scotland in November 2021. Payments for children and young people whose awards transferred from DWP began in February this year.

Almost three quarters (74%) of applications were made online, with 16% by phone.

Child Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.

Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children from the DWP do not need to make a new application for Child Disability Payment as Social Security Scotland will contact them ahead of their award being automatically transferred.

Social Security & Local Government Minister Ben Macpherson said: “I’m proud to be working to further develop our Scottish social security system rooted in dignity, fairness and respect.

“We want people to get the support they need and are entitled to”.

Back to School: How to kit out your kids for less

Parents having to fork out for branded school uniforms are being offered budget-friendly ways to keep the costs down.

The frugal experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have seen hundreds of mums and dads on their sister site ParentBible struggling to pay the huge costs associated with branded school uniforms.

Their army of parents have been offering helpful ways to save on the costs of the expensive outgoing.

Popular schemes such as uniform swaps and pre-loved giveaways are providing parents with extra support to help prepare for the academic year.

Ellie Macsymons from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “We wanted to help parents who may be worrying about the dreaded costs of new school uniforms.

Parents are doing uniform swaps to save on the back-to-school costs/Image: Unsplash

“It’s becoming more difficult for families to balance household expenses during this cost-of-living crisis, which is why many are looking for money saving tips to spend less on new school uniforms.

“We’ve found some parents are joining online community groups to find second-hand uniforms as well as going directly to the school to receive free school uniforms.”

One parent, CJ Walt, said: “Top tip- join the secondary schools parents facebook groups – they’re always selling very cheap or free during the start of the six weeks as loads of kids are leaving or have grown out of their stuff. Then advertise your grown out stuff – works great and everyone gets a good deal!”

Another parent, Nicki Blair, added: “We put money away monthly from January for uniform, Xmas and birthdays.”

Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s top ways to save on branded school uniform costs:

Hand me downs

Don’t be afraid to use hand me downs. If a blazer for one child fits the younger one when they’ve outgrown it, then make good use of it. Don’t just share hand me downs with siblings – if you and your friends all have children at the same school, then make use of that network.

Uniform swap

It’s becoming a popular trend among parents to help save some extra cash. There may be an online group for your local school where you can easily swap uniforms such as a ‘year 4’ top for some ‘year 5’ trousers. It’s always best to do it just before the academic year starts.

Look out for ‘pre-loved giveaways’

Check around selling groups for members who are selling bundles of school uniforms as part of free giveaways. These are often first come first serve, so make sure to turn post notifications on!

Shop around at different retailers

Explore various shops which are selling packs of uniform items for your unbranded clothing.This will further help when buying multiple packs to last throughout the year.

Spread the costs

Have a look at where you can put away the spare £10 or £20 every week and allocate it directly for school uniforms. If you save these extra pennies, you’ll be able to have a higher budget for the start of the academic year.

Keep your eyes peeled

It’s always worth keeping an eye out for any discounts or voucher codes. These can make a big difference to the school uniform spend.

Go directly to the school

Many parents aren’t aware of this tip but heading straight to the schools is a great way to get free school uniforms. Lots of kits are donated at the end of the academic year and these are usually available for collection in the first month of re-opening.

For more ways to save on back-to-school costs, head over to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.

Feed your kid on a budget during the summer holidays

 With food prices rising amid the cost-of-living crisis, parents are being provided helpful ways to feed their children during the summer holidays.

The penny-pinching experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at affordable ways to plan family meals throughout the summer break.

As supermarkets and fast-food chains increase their prices at the highest rates in over a decade, many parents are worried about the cost of feeding the kids during the holidays.

To support parents in the UK, restaurants and garden centres are offering discounted meals for kids to eat out, but there’s also simple methods to save money when cooking for the family at home.

Mitch Barnes, online consumer expert from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “We wanted to give parents a helping hand this summer, as many will feel the pinch of rising food costs in their weekly expenses.

 “There are numerous schemes available this summer with a wide range of pubs and supermarket restaurants offering special discounts for kids to eat out. 

“But we also wanted to provide simple ways for parents to save money on making meals at home for their children during the holidays.”

Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s budget-friendly ways to feed your kid on a budget this summer:

Picky bits for dinner

A classic British summer favourite which many households are familiar with this summer. To make the most of the leftover meals, leave them in the fridge overnight and get creative about which bits can be used for dinner. This tip will save you from making a last-minute trip to the supermarket.

Batch cooking

Many parents use this effective way to make batches of school lunches in the week. Use this tip throughout summer by freezing your food and allocating which days the kids can tuck into a delicious meal without going out to buy more ingredients.

Shop around for summer deals

If the local supermarkets are near one another, don’t be afraid to venture out to each store to work out which has the best offers. Most shops will be near the end of summer discounts, which means the chances of finding even better deals are at an all-time high.

Discounted pub meals

Local pubs are providing a variety of discounts for kids to eat cheaper this summer, from half price fish and chips to chicken nuggets for a dime. Head down and find out which are available.

A trip to the garden centre

Taking the family to the garden centre is the perfect summer day out, with fresh flowers, gardening tools and this summer – discounted meals. Lots of centres are taking on the helping kids this summer initiative, so look up your local garden centre to see what offers are available.

Cheap meals at supermarket restaurants

Throughout the summer holidays, many supermarket chains are offering further discounts on kid’s meals to help with the rising food costs. Have a look at which ones are offering free meals, with many promoting a £1 dine out option.

‘Once a week’ rule

Set some time aside for a family meal out by using the ‘once a week’ rule where you either dine out weekly or you get a takeaway of your choice as a family treat. This way you can plan around your food shops so less food will be wasted, which will also help to prevent overspending allocating food budgets.

Social media budget recipes

Everyone has a favourite social media recipe which has become a weekly make. But if you’re unsure of any meals which can be added to your cookbook, explore social media apps for simple recipes which will cost less than a fiver to make.

Family pizza making

Instead of the Saturday night takeaway, it can be a proper family get together making your own homemade pizzas. While the children are off school it’s a perfect initiative to use this to spend quality time with them, without having to splash a fortune on takeout.

Yellow stickers before scheme ends

The best before scheme is phasing out, so it’s important to make the most of a late minute dash to the shops for reduced labelled food. Have a look in the evenings and on a Sunday afternoon to have the best chance of securing food on a budget.

Family meal plan

It’s best to be organised when planning meals to save the extra pennies. To make this more creative, mark each day with a different colour pen and decorate with stickers when it’s time for a special dish or a day when you’re dining out. 

Try veggie days

Meats typically cost the most on weekly meals. If you decide to swap the meat for veggie choices it can save around a third on select meals during the week. Have a look at meals which don’t involve meat or try out some delicious veggie options for half the price.

For budget-friendly ways to feed the kids during the summer holidays, head over to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.

Become a superhero with Mary’s Meals

Children in Edinburgh are encouraged to find their inner superhero with an amazing free activity pack from school feeding charity Mary’s Meals.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals in 20 of the world’s poorest countries, many of which are impacted by conflict and natural disasters. The promise of a nutritious meal attracts hungry children into the classroom where, instead of working or looking for food, they can gain an education and hope for the future. The charity feeds 2,279,941 children every school day. 

The Mary’s Meals Superheroes pack is full of activities designed to teach children about life in the countries where Mary’s Meals works, such as Kenya, Zimbabwe and Yemen.  

The pack was inspired by a young girl named Upile, 13, who eats Mary’s Meals at her school in Malawi. She says: “When I grow up and finish my school, I want to be a nurse. I want to help people.” 

The activity pack includes a film featuring Upile – as well as a colouring sheet, a word search and materials for little ones to design their own superhero mask. 

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “This fantastic pack is full of activities that will keep kids entertained. Visit our website to download your free copy today!”

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Habits for Summer Holidays

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Habits for Summer Holidays

The summer holidays can be a stressful time for many families. Whilst they are a lovely opportunity to enjoy the summer together as a family, parents and carers can find it hard to juggle having the children at home with work, household and general life commitments. Naturally, during busy periods one of the first things to be pushed aside is healthy eating and taking time for ourselves to recoup and recharge.

We’ve put together some tips to help you get through the summer holidays and keep providing nourishing meals for the family – without going crazy:

Consider an early start

  • If you have older children who sleep well, you could try getting up an hour before they rise. This gives you an hour of calm before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, you can use this time to get on top of the household chores, get ahead of the day’s work commitments, do some meditation to set you up for the day or just have your breakfast in peace! Of course, this means going to bed an hour earlier to make sure you are getting enough sleep (seven to nine hours per night is ideal).

Meal plan

  • If you don’t already meal plan, now is the time to start. Having a comprehensive meal plan over the summer holidays will really take the stress out of eating well. We recommend planning for every single meal, including snacks, and have the plan pinned on the fridge for all to see. To make it easier still, use the same meal plan for every week of the holidays, as long as you have varied meals throughout the week, there’s no reason why you can’t eat the same and it makes shopping easier, as it’s the same list each week.

Write a diary/plan

  • Writing a diary or a day planner the night before each day can really help lessen those feelings of overwhelm we can experience when life is busy. It can also help calm and quieten your mind before going to sleep. You could group things into ‘urgent’ – those things that are priority and can’t wait and ‘can wait’ – those things you want to get done at some point, but if they don’t happen tomorrow that’s ok.

Above all, remember to not take on too much, and try to let the small things go as children can be demanding and take up lots of our energy.

There is plenty of information available online about free and local things to do during the holidays, so be sure to have a look and get out and about in nature everyday where possible.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Royal Bank of Scotland seeks donations for Ukraine support at national welcome centre

  • Royal Bank of Scotland partners with The City of Edinburgh Council, Volunteer Edinburgh and other city partners to create a donation distribution hub supporting Ukrainian people arriving at Edinburgh HQ 
  • Thousands of people displaced by the war in Ukraine have arrived in Scotland and been supported at Gogarburn site so far. With visa holders yet to arrive[i], many more are expected to be supported. 
  • Donations urgently needed to continue providing essential items such as toothbrushes and waterproof clothing 

    Royal Bank of Scotland has set up a dedicated donation distribution hub for Ukrainian refugees arriving in the capital. 

The hub runs alongside the Welcome Centre for Scotland, which was created through a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council and local partners, and hosted within Royal Bank’s Gogarburn headquarters.

Using funding issued by the Scottish Government to local authorities to support welcome efforts, the Welcome Centre opened its doors earlier this year to support those resettling in the country and has been the first port of call for thousands of displaced Ukrainian citizens. 

Staff from the City of Edinburgh Council are on hand to process entrance paperwork upon arrival, facilitate introductions with host families or find temporary accommodation for the many people who arrive without a place to stay.  

To allow families and individuals to settle into their new home quickly and begin to adjust to life in Scotland, paperwork is completed within the centre on the same day – meaning people can make necessary medical or legal appointments as soon as possible. Relevant literature is provided as part of a Scottish Government-produced welcome pack. 

Everyone arriving at the Welcome Centre is also offered an essentials pack made up of donations to help them settle in for the first few days. The packs contain day to day necessities such as toiletries, clothing, UK electrical adapters and toys for young children. 

With the number of displaced people to the centre increasing daily and supplies of essentials packs depleted, the donations hub is today issuing an urgent call, asking businesses and members of the public who are looking for a way to support the Ukrainian crisis to donate towards the cost of these essential items. 

The cost of each complete pack is around £30 and any donation will make a valuable difference, especially to those arriving with no belongings.  

Donations can be made to the GoFundMe[ii] set up by Volunteer Edinburgh, who meet the Ukrainian people arriving at the airport and bring them to the Welcome Centre, and also help to purchase the welcome pack items in bulk.  

An Amazon Wishlist[iii] has been set up to facilitate donations, where anyone wanting to support these efforts can buy individual items such as toothpaste, sanitary products, rain coats and hand sanitiser. These items are delivered directly to the hub and packed by volunteer staff.  

Businesses who would like to help can donate directly through the GoFundMe, via the Amazon wishlist or can send donations directly to the Royal Bank’s Gogarburn offices marked for the attention of Skillbank.  

Sheena Hales BEM, who leads the Skillbank at Royal Bank of Scotland said: “At the beginning of the pandemic, we recognised an opportunity to make use of our facilities and converted the conference centre at Gogarburn into a foodbank distribution hub, coordinating deliveries and offering storage space to charities including Social Bite and Cyrenians.  

“This charitable legacy has continued ever since, and we’re honoured to have set up the Skillbank to offer our skills and resources to help communities and people in their time of need. 

“While Edinburgh has welcomed many Ukrainian people to Scotland through the doors of the Welcome Centre, the reality is that we know there are many more coming who have fled the horrors of war, leaving their lives and loved ones to seek safety here in Scotland.

“While handing out items like a toothbrush or colouring book might seem like a small act, everything we can do to help people feel as welcome as possible is hugely important.  

“Currently we have used all of our existing essentials pack stock so any donation – big or small – is massively appreciated.” 

Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine Neil Gray said: “The safety and welfare of displaced people from Ukraine, who are primarily women and children who may have experienced much stress and trauma, is of paramount importance to the Scottish Government.

“I want to thank people and businesses across Scotland for the huge groundswell of solidarity and support they have shown for the people of Ukraine. 

“On arrival, displaced people are given a ‘Warm Scots Welcome’ at the Welcome Hubs, where the Scottish Government is working in partnership with local government and the third sector to assess their needs and provide accommodation and meals along with emotional support and medical attention if required.

“The work undertaken by RBS and the other volunteer organisations in addition to this is extremely important, providing people with items to help them settle into Scotland.”  

City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cammy Day said: “As I’ve said many times already, Edinburgh’s people and businesses have been absolutely outstanding throughout this crisis, offering their unwavering support to Ukrainian people fleeing their homeland in these most desperate of times. From volunteers meeting people on their arrival in Edinburgh, to getting help with accommodation and receiving ongoing support at our advice centre and within the local Ukrainian community, we’re here for them every step of the way. 

“I want to thank Royal Bank and their teams for their incredible support – for volunteering Gogarburn House to host our Welcome Hub, where it has run successfully since April, for repurposing their conference facilities to distribute food packages, for their co-ordination of thousands of guest backpacks, filled with nappies, toys, toiletries and other essential items, and for this latest fundraising drive to help gather much-needed donations.”  

Situated in Gogarburn, the Welcome Centre is ideally located to welcome those arriving into nearby Edinburgh airport.  

To support volunteers working within the centre, colleagues within Royal Bank have given up their time to become Executive Coaches – helping them to navigate the demands of their role and offering expert mentoring advice.  

Royal Bank has also worked with suppliers to extend its colleague-wide counselling service to offer staff and volunteers working with vulnerable individuals a confidential outlet and mental wellbeing support.