Children aged five to 11 years old who have specific medical conditions which place them at greater risk from COVID-19 will be invited for their first vaccination from this week onwards.
Parents do not need to book an appointment for them online as they will be contacted directly by Health Boards.
Those five to 11 year olds who are household contacts of people with immune suppression will be invited to receive their vaccination in due course.
Letters will also be sent to young people aged 12-15 who are at particular clinical risk from COVID-19 inviting them for a booster jag, 12 weeks after their last primary dose.
Meanwhile, second doses are now available for all 12 to 15 year olds who had their first dose at least twelve weeks previously. This cohort can book an appointment online at NHS Inform or go to a drop-in centre. Parents and carers are welcome to accompany them..
Any 16 or 17 year old can book a booster online for 12 weeks after their second dose. They can also visit any drop-in centre.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The vaccination programme continues to be a huge success and we are so grateful to all those who have taken up the offer of a vaccination and of course, every single person involved in the delivery of our national programme.
“In this next part of the programme we continue to deliver boosters and take forward the latest advice from the JCVI regarding younger cohorts. They and their parents can find out more about the vaccination that is recommended for each age group at NHS Inform.
“We urge all those who are eligible for any dose to take up the offer to protect them, those around them and of course our NHS at this particularly busy time.”
On Saturday 23rd October, families from across Edinburgh came together to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new kids coding studio, Code Ninjas, launched by long-term friends and business partners, Mark Higgins and Dacre Purchase.
The family-focused business owners were determined to make it a day to remember for video-game loving kids in their community.
Mark explained: “The event went extremely well – almost 200 children, their parents and local supporters came along to wish us all the best with the new venture. Ater such a positive reaction, we’re all so excited to see what the future has in store for the business.
“We’d personally like to thank all of the wonderful families who came along. We’ve been so taken aback by the positive feedback we’ve already received since the grand opening party and have been so happy to see so many budding ninjas signing up to our sessions. Thank you to our community for celebrating our launch event with us – it was certainly one for the history books!”
Code Ninjas is the first location of its kind in Scotland and, as proven by the success of this recent launch event, a much-needed addition to Edinburgh.
“At Code Ninjas, we want our kids to develop a real passion for technology, so while the programme is loads of fun, it is also very educational,” added Suzy Enoch, the Code Ninjas studio manager.
“They are learning the language of the future – we want to give kids a gift that lasts a lifetime. Learning about computers at such a young age is crucial because it helps build the vital foundations for future success,”
Someone who experienced the fun of Code Ninjas first-hand was Juliette, aged 13.
“I learnt so much at the launch party – it was so fun!”, she said. “Grown-ups always tell you that coding is complicated, but I went to the game-building workshop and I understood it all – I made a really cool game.
I hope I get to go back so I can develop the game more and maybe start on the next level. The whole atmosphere was not like school at all – it was so relaxed even though we were still learning stuff. I loved it.”
Mark, Dacre, Suzy and the team have been just as overwhelmed by the positive response from parents. “My children were so engaged during the demonstration workshops,” said Amy.
“They are showing a real interest in what coding is, what it can do and how to apply it. The staff members are friendly and patiently answered everyone’s questions. My kids loved the decoding game too!”
Another parent, Rob, who brought his six-year-old daughter, Elodie, along on the day said: “The kids had a great time doing the coding challenges – the staff and volunteers were really friendly and helpful.
“It’s really great to see computers and programming made accessible for kids of all ages and such a range of technological toys all in the same place. We can’t wait to come back!”
Now that the studio on is open on Morningside Road and ready to welcome ninjas from across the region, children – like Juliette and Elodie – can work towards achieving the highest Code Ninjas’ honour of becoming a black belt!
“We’re here to guide the children of Edinburgh through our exciting curriculum and truly put Scotland on the map for kids coding education,” added Mark. “We’re looking forward to a ninja-fuelled future, that’s for sure!”
To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit:
An inquiry has been launched into the health and wellbeing of children and young people by a Scottish Parliament Committee.
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking to find out the key issues around health and wellbeing for children and young people in Scotland. They will investigate what the challenges and opportunities are for improving their health and wellbeing, and how addressing poverty can lead to improved health and social care outcomes.
The inquiry will focus on 4 key areas:
• Child poverty (including the Scottish Government’s current child poverty delivery plan), inequality and adverse childhood experiences; • Issues affecting care experienced young people; • Mental health, access to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the importance of early intervention; • Health and wellbeing in schools
Speaking as the inquiry launched, Gillian Martin MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, said: “There are a whole host of factors which impact the health and wellbeing of our children and young people, and our Committee will consider these in detail.
“The physical and mental toll of the pandemic on children and young people cannot be overstated and we know that prior to this pandemic there was already a high and increasing demand for youth mental health services in Scotland.
“As we emerge from the pandemic and with the Scottish Government’s current child poverty delivery plan due to run until 2022, our inquiry comes at a pivotal time. We are determined to find out how children and young people can best be supported to live healthy and flourishing lives.”
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Bruce Adamson has written to every Director of Education in Scotland urging them to support children taking part in the global climate strike tomorrow (Friday 24th September).
In the letter the Commissioner stressed that children’s right to peaceful protest should be respected by adults and that a key part of education is to ensure that children are supported to develop an understanding of human rights and a respect for the natural environment.
Commissioner Bruce Adamson: “Student protests have been recognised as having a high educational value as they are often among the first experiences of public participation and human rights defence that children take. This activity can contribute to, rather than detract from children’s enjoyment of their right to education.”
Commending the positive approach some schools have taken to enable students to exercise their rights to peaceful assembly, participation and freedom of expression, he pressed that no punitive action be taken against children for striking.
Commissioner, Bruce Adamson: “It is important that when children and young people take these peaceful and powerful actions, they are not silenced, discouraged or punished.
“I trust that you as education leaders will recognise the importance of this urgent global issue and will ensure that the children and young people taking part in climate strikes are given the support to which they are entitled.”
Acknowledging that striking may have a short-term impact on education, the Commissioner writes that: “Choosing to strike will undoubtedly have a short-term impact on children and young people’s school-based learning. However, their actions as human rights defenders in bringing attention to the threat of climate change and their demands for those in power to take action is part of their broader education.”
“We should recognise the courage that children and young people are demonstrating in their commitment to addressing climate change as an urgent and acute human rights issue.”
The Commissioner joined the calls of other global human rights leaders to support action including United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. Children’s actions in climate justice have been recognised and supported by the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the Scottish Parliament through its engagement of children in the Scottish Climate Assembly.
The Commissioner will be publishing a report on young climate activists’ right to protest in Scotland ahead of COP-26 and pressed the education leaders to support children this week and beyond.
Commissioner, Bruce Adamson: “Children and young people do not have the same political or economic power as adults, but by acting as human rights defenders, raising their voices and demanding change, they are demonstrating the power of their voices.I urge you to respect and support children and young people’s right to peaceful protest.”
Support for children and young people with mental health issues
Funding of £10.83 million has been allocated for the remainder of this year to help improve access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
The investment will also increase the numbers of trained professionals to support children and young people with neurodevelopmental support needs.
The allocation is part the of £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund announced in February 2021, and will help to deliver a number of improvements, including: · improve access to CAMHS assessments out of hours · help to put in place specialist regional CAMHS services including those with learning disabilities and those requiring secure care · Help provide access to CAMHS Intensive Home Treatment Teams · Support mental health liaison teams within paediatric services.
The Recovery and Renewal Fund supports many mental health measures contained in the Programme for Government.
Other policies include extra support for health and care staff, completion of the commitment to recruit 800 additional mental health workers this year and a pledge that at least 10% of frontline NHS spending will go towards mental health over this parliament.
Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart, who announced the allocation during a visit to the Young People’s Inpatient Unit at The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People Edinburgh said: “I am pleased to announce the allocation of £10.83 million health boards to support children and young people with mental health issues, and those with neurodevelopmental support needs.
“This funding will lead to substantial improvements in the mental health care that children and young people receive in Scotland, ensuring that the right support is available in the right place at the right time.
“We know the pandemic has had a negative impact on many people’s mental health – whatever their age or circumstances. That is why we committed £120 million to the recovery and renewal of mental health services in this year’s Programme for Government. I hope that the allocation I have announced today makes a real and lasting difference to children, young people and their families.”
Joanna Barrett, Associate Head of Policy for the Devolved Nations, NSPCC Scotland, said: “Before the pandemic hit, thousands of children referred to mental health services in Scotland were having to wait unacceptable periods of time for treatment to begin.
“The profound impact of the conditions of the past 18 months on children has compounded this by increasing the need. Our Childline counsellors have heard from children struggling with loneliness and isolation, worries about education, abusive home environments and suicidal feelings.
“This funding by the Scottish Government to address young people’s mental health is therefore crucial. However, this investment must go alongside more preventative efforts, including the provision of mental health support in schools, to ensure children get the help they need before reaching crisis point.”
Children and young people from across Scotland are to take part in a nation-wide climate surgery with MSPs next month as part of a new initiative to ensure their voices are heard as part of the debate on the climate emergency.
Taking place on Friday 29 October, titled The Moment, it will be an opportunity for children and young people to engage with their elected representatives in places where they live, learn and play. It will allow them to communicate their expectations and hopes for their future.
Ahead of this, children and young people will be encouraged and supported to communicate their calls to action in tackling the climate emergency ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow. A number of new resources have been developed to enable children and young people to have their say.
The Children’s Parliament has developed a digital toolkit for children to explore climate issues and take part in creative activities to identify what issues they want to raise. The Scottish Youth Parliament has similarly developed resources to empower young people across Scotland to explore and raise issues.
The initiative is in partnership with Globe International and children and young people will also report on the commitments from the day at the international COP26 GLOBE Legislators’ Summit – one of the biggest online gatherings of international parliamentarians – being hosted at the Scottish Parliament on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th November.
Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament Alison Johnstone MSP said: “As all eyes turn to Glasgow in November, this new initiative is a unique opportunity for parliamentarians to hear what is important to children and young people and what they can expect from their elected representatives on how we tackle the climate emergency.
“I am proud the Scottish Parliament can play its part in supporting and encouraging young people to feel part of this global debate on one of the most fundamental issues our world is currently facing.”
Member of Children’s Parliament, age 11, Highlands said:“We want to see more awareness of the climate emergency, and changes in our community.
“We think everyone should be involved to make changes for our planet. We need to talk about our ideas with adults that can make change.”
Cathy McCulloch, co-director of the Children’s Parliament, said: “A world free of climate disasters, where all children can be healthy, happy and safe without worry of losing their homes to flooding or their food to drought, is integral to their human rights.
“Since the establishment of Children’s Parliament in 1996. Children have consistently told us that they are passionate about the environment and concerned about their future.
“The Moment gives children and young people a unique opportunity to communicate their concerns and their calls to action to their elected representatives.
“By taking part in The Moment, children and young people continue to highlight critical climate and environmental issues that many adults are not yet fully engaged with but which we all need to take seriously.”
Wiktoria Orlicka MSYP, Trustee of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said:“We hope that COP26 in Glasgow will be a fantastic opportunity for the whole world to come together and commit to create a better, healthier, and more just future for us all.
“Our From Scotland’s Young People Manifesto described the climate emergency as an issue of climate justice. This has to be one of the most important themes at COP26, and ‘The Moment’ offers a genuine opportunity for young people to bring issues like this directly to Scotland’s decision makers.
“It’s always fantastic to see children and young people taking initiative to campaign for the environment, and I urge Scotland’s decision-makers to listen to children and young people at ‘The Moment’ and take our perspectives on board.”
Those in low-income countries most at risk of sight loss
New findings released today reveal the impact of the pandemic on children’s eyesight in Scotland and Britain.
Seven in 10 adults in Britain are not aware that children should have an eye test at 4-5 years of age, as recommended by the NHS. In Scotland, two in three (66 per cent) of adults are unaware of this.
With children going back to school and spending more time on digital devices than ever before, the international eye care charity, Orbis is urging parents to book eye tests for their children as soon as possible.
The YouGov poll of 2,025 adults across Britain, 373 of them parents with children under 18 years of age, was commissioned by Orbis UK – the international eye health charity. Over half (54%) of parents in Britain admit they have not attempted to book an appointment for their children since the pandemic, while almost a quarter of parents (24%) are not sure if their child’s eyesight has got worse in this time.
The poll marks the two-year anniversary of its See My Future UK Aid Match appeal which works to fight avoidable blindness amongst children in Nepal.
While the findings reveal a need for action on eye health in Great Britain, the situation is especially stark for those living in parts of the world where there is little access to eye healthcare.
Globally 1.1 billion people experience vision loss and 90% of it is avoidable. Most of these people live in low-to-middle income countries such as Nepal, where avoidable vision loss means children are dropping out of school – either because their own eye health is poor, or to care for a blind or visually impaired family member.
The Orbis REACH (Refractive Error Among Children) initiative, partially funded by the UK government through UK Aid Match, works in the remote areas of Parsa and Siraha in Southeast Nepal.
Eye health workers screen and treat children with vision loss, enabling them to continue to attend school and look forward to a brighter future.
Children like 12-year-old Sneha* who struggled to read the blackboard and resorted to copying her friends’ notes so she could keep up in class. Orbis supported her with a screening including an eye test and glasses. She can now see properly and hopes to become a bank manager when she is older.
Larry Benjamin, Orbis medical volunteer and retired Consultant Ophthalmologist says: “The pandemic has been a challenge for all of us and it’s understandable parents have avoided health visits. But with so many children in Britain not seeing an optician, it is important that parents try to book eye tests for their children where possible.
“And for children living in parts of the world with little or no access to eye care, the challenges brought about by the pandemic are particularly worrying. Globally, children and adults have missed routine eye exams, and people are avoiding visits to eye health centers as they fear contracting the virus. It’s vital that Orbis reaches as many people as possible to ensure more children and families can hope for a better future.”
Rebecca Cronin, Chief Executive of Orbis UK, says: “Like NHS and high street eye-care teams, our eye health partners around the world have risen to the challenges brought about by the pandemic, delivering eye care in remote parts of the world and adhering to local guidelines to ensure patient safety.”
“But millions of people, especially children, are not getting the timely treatment they need. In many areas of the world where Orbis works, undiagnosed sight loss can have devastating consequences, plunging families into poverty.
“Even before the pandemic, the need for specialist eye doctors was already outpacing the numbers of trained experts in ophthalmic care. With 50% of people in Britain expressing concern about this, it’s clear the work of Orbis is more vital than ever and your support critical to the fight against avoidable blindness”.
The See My Future Appeal in 2019 raised almost £1.4 million pounds for the REACH project, this included over £650,000 of match funding from the UK Government. The funds have enabled over 71,639 children to have eye screenings, reached 213 schools and delivered treatments and training for eye health workers so they can identify vision issues.
With schools closed for much of 2020 the project adapted, working with local female community health volunteers to deliver house to house screenings. As a result, 1,000 more children, who do not normally attend school and would otherwise not be screened, had their eyes tested for the first time.
Orbis is now calling on its supporters to help raise money so it can help more people who are at risk of avoidable blindness.
To find out more about Orbis and how to donate, visit www.orbis.org
Fort Kinnaird has partnered with the National Literacy Trust to launch a new summer holiday reading campaign, as new research reveals that almost half of children (45%) in Scotland claim that reading makes them feel better.
The ‘Read More, Feel Better’ campaign is designed to help children across the community to continue reading for fun over the summer holidays, with a selection of top tips and advice for parents on the Fort Kinnaird website, including how to create an effective reading space at home and the best books for supporting children’s wellbeing.
Fort Kinnaird and the National Literacy Trust will also be hosting a live storytelling session for children in August, with two expert storytellers sharing exciting and engaging tales for children aged 5 – 11 years. Parents will need to register for the Zoom session in advance – keep an eye on Fort Kinnaird’s social feeds for all the details.
The centre has also donated 100 books to Venchie as part of the campaign. This follows a series of donations the centre has made to local foodbanks and charities throughout the pandemic.
‘Read More, Feel Better’ is being delivered as part of the award-winning Young Readers Programme, an initiative run by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner, British Land, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said:“Our research shows that almost half of children across the country said that reading helps them relax and feel better.
“Not only does this campaign help to support children’s wellbeing, it’s also a great way to ensure their continued literary development in a period of their education which has been so disruptive.”
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “The Read More, Feel Better campaign is a great initiative.
“The events of the last 15 months have meant that we wanted to go even further to provide some support for parents over the summer holidays, and to highlight how doing little things can have such a positive impact.”
Road policing officers would like to remind road users, parents and members of the public the importance of ensuring children are supervised and kept safe near our roads.
There have been several collisions across Scotland in recent weeks, resulting in a number of children being taken to hospital having sustained serious injuries.
Around 6.45pm on Wednesday, 7 July, 2021, a two-year-old child ran onto the road between parked cars on Woodland Crescent in Cambuslang and was struck by a car. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with serious injuries.
On Tuesday, 29 June, a five-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh with serious leg injuries after being struck by a car on the A198 towards Tranent High Street.
A four-year-old child sustained serious leg injuries and was taken to Victoria Hospital for treatment after being struck by a car on Broad Street in Cowdenbeath on Monday, 14 June.
On Wednesday, 9 June, a nine-year-old girl was taken to University Hospital Wishaw for treatment after being struck by a car on Hareleeshill Road in Larkhall.
Chief Inspector Mark Patterson, of Police Scotland’s Road Policing Department, said: “Unfortunately there has been a number of collisions involving children recently, which has resulted in serious injuries.
“Children are some of our most vulnerable road users and their safety is paramount, I would ask all parents and guardians to ensure all children are supervised at all times when near the road, and urge motorists to remain vigilant for child pedestrians, especially in built up areas.
“Police Scotland is committed to improving safety on our roads across the country and we continue to work closely with partners on all aspects of road safety.”
