Warm welcome awaits Norhet’s charity walkers

There will be a warm welcome – and a cold pint or two – awaiting a hardy team of walkers when they get back to the Norhet Bar in Davidsons Mains late this afternoon. Continue reading Warm welcome awaits Norhet’s charity walkers

Nice LIFT: local project secures funding to tackle child poverty

Vulnerable families are set to benefit from new funding to support households in financial hardship – and North Edinburgh’s L.I.F.T is one of seven projects aimed at tackling child poverty to receive a share of the new £450,000 fund.

LIFT (Low Income Families Together), based in Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre, will receive over £70,000.

The money is a part of the Every Child, Every Chance Innovation Fund, which is jointly supported by the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation.

The fund aims to support innovative approaches which could have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030. The projects range from job training and a befriending service, to school-based mentoring and support for lone parents.

One of the successful projects is Stepwell, a social business based in Inverclyde, which provides support to people in the local community with health and finance issues as well as training and employment opportunities.

At a visit to meet staff and service users, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We are committed to tackling child poverty and are always looking for new ways to support households and families in financial hardship. No child or adult should have their chances limited by poverty.

“It has been great to hear about the approach being taken by Stepwell to tackle child poverty in Inverclyde. Their method aims to get to the root cause of any hardship and through encouragement, support and training, families can begin to change their lives.”

Steven Watson Chief Executive Officer at Stepwell, said:  “Stepwell is absolutely committed to tackling child poverty in Inverclyde.  Through our Whole Life approach, we focus on providing person-centred support, offering vocational and accredited training and ‘real’ business work placements within our social businesses.

“We are so grateful to The Hunter Foundation and Scottish Government for partnering with us.”

The Innovation Fund is a joint fund between the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation, each contributing £5 million and £2.5 million respectively over the life of Every Child, Every Chance.

The below table details the organisations awarded funding for 2018/19

New organisations via application Award – 2018/19
Clyde Gateway £9,900
Covey Befriending £11,994
L.I.F.T £70,177
MCR Pathways – Scottish Mentoring Programme £97,000
Midlothian Sure Start £121,914
North Lanarkshire Council £41,000
Stepwell £99,900

 

Total £451,885

An update on all actions committed to within the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan will be published by the end of June 2019.

 

 

 

Heartbreak as funding appeal rejected … but the fight goes on

Pilton Community Health Project could face closure unless alternative funding can be found. The respected local project – Scotland’s oldest community health organisation – was one of 35 who learned last week that they would receive no funding from the latest round of Health & Social Care grants. Continue reading Heartbreak as funding appeal rejected … but the fight goes on

Health and Social Care Grants: where the axe will fall

We have read about the likely consequences of impending Health and Social Care grant funding cuts for Pilton Community Health Project, but PCHP is not alone. A  number of local projects are bracing themselves to face cuts or worse – for some, the tabled recommendations could prove to be the end of the road. Continue reading Health and Social Care Grants: where the axe will fall

Holyrood’s Education & Skills Committee is coming to Muirhouse

Community Event 16 May:

Attainment/Achievement of children and young people experiencing poverty

The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee is meeting at Muirhouse Millennium Centre at 6 pm on Wednesday 16th May.  The committee are very keen to hear directly from parents/carers/guardians, young people, teachers, and other professionals who work with young people in schools and in the community with a focus on attainment or achievement. Continue reading Holyrood’s Education & Skills Committee is coming to Muirhouse