The number of houses in Scotland sold for over a million pounds fell by over a third (35%) in the first half of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, according to research from the Bank of Scotland. A total of 53 homes were sold for at least a million pounds in in the first half of 2017, compared to 81 over the same period a year earlier. Continue reading Sales of £1 million houses in Scotland fall by one third
In a UK first, public bodies in Scotland will be required to put reducing poverty and inequality at the heart of their decision making. Continue reading Angela Constance: Tackling inequalities is core to everything we do
The great divide between rich and poor in Scotland has widened, according to the latest Scottish Government report. The richest 1% of the population now owns more than the poorest 50%, the Wealth and Assets in Scotland, 2006-2014 has highlighted. Continue reading To have and have not: inequality gap widens
Councils across Scotland are set to benefit from almost £13m of funding to tackle poverty in communities across the country. The money, made up from a combination of £5m of European Social Funds (ESF) and match funding from local authorities, will be targeted to projects that combat poverty and promote equal opportunity. Continue reading ‘Significant’ Euro funds to tackle poverty
A new Scottish Government publication shows the “significant long-term challenge” of tackling deprivation, according to Communities Secretary Angela Constance. Continue reading Muirhouse sixth most deprived community in Scotland
The Scottish Government’s vision for ending child poverty in Scotland took a step forward yesterday with the launch of The Child Poverty Bill consultation. The Bill, to be introduced next year, will build on the Scottish Government’s existing work and will form part of the overall approach to tackling poverty and inequality. Continue reading A step on the road to ending child poverty in Scotland
Scotland is set to bring forward legislation to tackle the deep-rooted causes of child poverty for the first time in its history, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today. Continue reading Legislation to eradicate child poverty is on the way
Addressing Inequality in Employment forum meeting
29th June 1.30-4pm at Spartans Community Football Academy
Employment is a big issue for many people in North Edinburgh. Research in the recent Framework for Racial Equality highlighted that BME people are underrepresented in many areas. How should organisations address this?
We will have a guest speaker from the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights giving an overview of the current inequalities and how these could be addressed. We will also hear from organisations, including Port of Leith Housing, that have reviewed their recruitment practices to try to make them more accessible or to reach out to specific groups.
Local BME residents who have been supported by Community Renewal to find work or start businesses will share their experiences. There will be a chance to exchange ideas and discuss ways of moving forward both collectively and as individual organisations or residents. Lunch and crèche included. Please RSVP.
Hannah Kitchen
Development Worker, Living in Harmony,
Pilton Community Health Project
0131 551 1671
Dunedin Canmore and Port of Leith Housing Associations among projects t0 receive People and Communities Fund awards
Projects which promote healthy eating, IT skills and household budgeting will receive more than £690,000 funding to tackle poverty and inequalities in Edinburgh, it was announced this morning.
Fourteen projects from across the city have secured a share of the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund (PCF) to change disadvantaged communities by providing advice, training or voluntary opportunities.
These include Port of Leith Housing Association’s Canny Budgeting which will receive £35,000 to offer advice to residents on tackling fuel poverty, more than £10,000 for Dunedin Canmore Housing Ltd’s Digital Skills for All for IT workshops and £23,000 for Broomhouse Health Strategy’s healthy eating classes.
The 20 More project, will receive £37,000 through PCF to empower local people and help households save £20 a week, through training opportunities which will allow them to gain skills and qualifications in community development, and benefits and energy advice, at the project’s community shop.
Speaking on a visit to the 20 More Community Shop and Serenity Café which is also operated by Comas, Community Empowerment Minister Marco Biagi said: “Every community in Scotland has different challenges and aspirations and there is no one-size fits all approach to tackling poverty.
“That’s why our People and Communities Fund is giving communities in Edinburgh the power and confidence to shape their own futures.
“With household budgets under pressure, it’s great to see a project like 20 More looking for ways to save 600 of the area’s most vulnerable families at least £20 a week and helping to ease some of the stress of paying their bills.”
Ruth Campbell, Chief Executive of Comas said: “We are so pleased that the Scottish Government is focusing on empowering communities, as sustainable change must be community-led and start from the grassroots. This grant enables us to put local people in the driving seat and builds their capacity for community-led action.
“Training local people in benefits advice and energy saving will directly impact on wellbeing in this community. It will also help some residents gain employment in these growing sectors, so the grant will have a strong ripple effect.”
See below for the full list of projects to receive PCF awards:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf/awards
Another £5.6 million for People and Communities Fund
A fund which gives community groups the power to tackle poverty and inequalities in their areas has been given a £5.6 million funding boost.
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil confirmed community-led regeneration will be given extra support through the People and Communities Fund (PCF), on a visit to the Broomhouse Health Strategy Group this morning.
The People and Communities Fund will be increased from £9.4 million to £15 million as it benefits from support through the dedicated £10 million funding for Empowering Communities announced by the First Minister last November.
This investment builds on the Government’s commitment to giving people the power to take charge and make changes in their own communities.
The additional funding will be allocated to a variety of projects, including community groups who are promoting change in disadvantaged communities through training, employment, healthy eating and volunteering opportunities.
Mr Neil made the announcement ahead of this afternoon’s Stage 1 Debate for the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill. He said:
“We know every community in Scotland has different needs, and that we all have our own ideas about how we can make our areas better.
“This Government recognises that by giving communities the power and confidence to shape their own futures, we can tackle poverty and address inequalities more effectively.
“Through the People and Communities Fund we will provide money direct to community groups to help them tackle local issues on their own terms.
“This new money will support the aims of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, which will give people a stronger voice in the decisions that matter to them and will help communities who wish to take over public land and buildings.”
Since PCF launched in 2012, 156 projects have received funding worth £18.3 million those projects include the Broomhouse Health Strategy Group which was awarded almost £30,000 to run cookery and exercise sessions which encourage local people to make healthy lifestyle choices.
The sessions have helped increase self-esteem and confidence among local people, many of whom had never cooked a meal from scratch before, and it has supported their skills development with some developing the confidence to move into local volunteering roles.
Lucy Aitchison, from the Broomhouse Health Strategy Group said: “It’s been great to develop our health and wellbeing services, and you can see them making a real difference to people’s lives.
“To give people the skills to be able to look after themselves and their family more healthily is really significant. We’re so pleased to have the support to be able to address these local needs.”
For more information about the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill visit:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/engage
Details on The People and Communities Fund can be viewed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf
