The Scottish Ambulance Service is actively engaged with NHS Boards, Health & Social Care Partnerships, GP practices and other key stakeholders to support the effective delivery of high-quality care.
As a result, we believe we have enormous potential to play a significantly enhanced role in the future of health and social care provision, by working collaboratively with the public and stakeholders around how we plan and provide safe, effective and person-centred health and care for the people of Scotland.
In 2019, we actively consulted with staff and the public to get input into the development of our 2030 Strategy. However, soon afterwards, we had to pause the development of the strategy to allow us to focus on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, taking account of the new post-pandemic landscape, we must consider how we develop our strategy to respond to Scotland’s Health & Social Care priorities to help address the root cause of the challenges we face on a day-to-day basis.
Environmental campaigners say the upcoming council elections are going to be significant in tackling the climate crisis, and are calling on all parties to make policies on transport and waste management a priority.
The councillors elected across Scotland in May will be in their position for five years in what is a vital decade for action to avert climate breakdown.
The UN climate conference in Glasgow was a key moment for international action, but the powers held by Councils makes them pivotal when it comes to tackling Scotland’s emissions and building on the legacy of COP26.
Transport is the primary source of carbon emissions in Scotland, making up around a third of the total. While progress has been made in other areas, this has barely changed in the last three decades.
Councils have the power to set up publicly-owned bus companies which could make a significant difference here. They also receive funding, which will be increasing in the coming years as part of the SNP and Greens agreement, for cycling and walking, which some councils currently make use of more than others.
Scotland is now burning almost as much of its household waste as it is sending to landfill, while household recycling rates have fallen by 2.9% to 42.0% between 2019 and 2020. This means Scotland now has the poorest recycling rates in the UK. Councils are in charge of designing and providing waste collection systems for households and therefore have a key role to play in reducing the carbon impact of household waste.
Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “These elections are being contested against the backdrop of a climate and nature emergency. Many of the powers to drive action on the climate crisis sit with local councils, which is why this vote matters so much.
“Councillors must put people and the planet at the heart of all of the decisions they make. This means making it easier and more affordable to take public transport by running services in the interests of passengers rather than shareholders, helping people to reduce and recycle their waste, and planning for the vital phase out of incineration.
“Over the coming weeks, people can get in touch with candidates to hear what they have to say on these climate-critical issues and build pressure for ambition and urgency at the local level during the next five years.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland has set out a programme of priorities for climate action they want parties to champion, which can be downloaded below:
Support for social care is to be intensified as a national priority alongside the NHS and emergency services, as staffing pressures and increased demand reflect the extent and nature of the spread and effect of Omicron.
As a result of staffing availability due to Covid, the Scottish Government and COSLA, working with local partners across the public services in Scotland, have agreed a joint approach to maximise social care support to ensure people receive the care they need, dignity and human rights are upheld, and to avoid further pressure falling on the NHS.
Some local public services report that pressure is very significant with some health and social care partnerships being asked to prioritise capacity and identify staff who can be deployed to sustain and maintain support for some of the most vulnerable people in society. This may mean some other services are temporarily paused or reduced to redeploy capacity and expertise.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “In order to protect life preserving services, and protect the vulnerable, local authorities and public services will prioritise what they deliver in the weeks ahead as a result of staffing availability due to Covid.
“That may mean some services being closed for a period or operating on reduced hours or service levels. This will free up resources to make sure we can deliver core, essential services. As soon as demands and resources allow, any affected services will resume normal operation.
“People across public services and critical national infrastructure are working hard to keep essential services going. In a lot of cases they are already being asked to be flexible to cover for absent colleagues.
“I am grateful to everyone who is helping us through this difficult period. The Third Sector has a huge amount to offer while the private sector and employers can contribute, either by releasing staff who can help in this effort, or by supporting carers leave for family and friends who might need it.
“Local public services are delivering national priorities and programmes such as testing and vaccination programmes, delivering business grants, self-isolation grants and support, and much more.
“They have played a key role throughout the pandemic in supporting vulnerable people and key workers. That partnership between local and national government is, and will remain, essential.”
COSLA President Alison Evison said: “Once again, no matter the ask, councils along with other public services will rise to the challenge in terms of providing an appropriate local response. As the sphere of government closest to our communities across Scotland, once more Local Government will play our part in the Covid response.
“Where pressures on staffing levels are identified, help and support for those most vulnerable as well as the life and limb services in our communities will be prioritised. As it has been throughout the pandemic, Health and Social Care and keeping people safe will be front and centre of local prioritisation.”
Scottish Government and Cosla Joint statement on social care support
Green jobs and more investment to create clean energy are what’s needed to deliver Net Zero for Scotland by 2045. That’s the message Scottish secondary school pupils have given to energy industry leaders at an official COP26 event – hosted by ScottishPower Renewables – in the climate conference’s Green Zone at Glasgow Science Centre.
‘Let’s Talk Energy’ saw 80 young people from 10 secondary schools, including Edinburgh Academy, come together to create their own Net Zero Energy Policy for Scotland – setting out the changes the country needs to make to achieve the Scottish Government’s target of Net Zero by 2045.
Their top three priorities were:
· Supporting skills development, including training options for young people in the renewables industry, to deliver green jobs and a positive long-term future
· Investment to increase the amount of clean, green energy available from the likes of wind and solar power and battery storage
· Improving processes to make renewable energy available faster than ever before and making it easier to switch to a low-carbon lifestyle.
Making it simpler to switch to greener forms of transport – whether electric vehicles you can charge at home or electrifying trains and buses – and providing funding to help communities make the transition to Net Zero also scored highly.
Lindsay McQuade, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, said:“Young people’s voices are being heard loud and clear at COP26 and it was inspiring and encouraging to hear their views on what we have to do now if we’re going to achieve Net Zero by 2045.
“They recognise fully that we need do more, and do it faster, if we’re going to address the climate emergency and they got straight to the point.
“As they set out, Scotland has enormous potential, but we will only achieve Net Zero with the right investment, skills development and processes in place. They have a bold vision for a cleaner and greener country, and it’s a vision that can become a reality if we all take climate action now.”
ScottishPower is the UK’s only integrated energy company and generates 100% green electricity from offshore and onshore wind.
It is developing an energy model that will help the UK reach world-leading climate change targets and is investing £10billion in the UK over five years – £6 million every working day – to double its renewable generation capacity and drive forward decarbonisation to support net zero emissions.
It is also a Principal Partner for COP26 and leads on the youth theme for the climate change conference.
Kate Turner, ScottishPower Renewables’ Director of Policy & Regulation, added: “We’re very proud to support young people from across the country in making their voices heard at this crucial climate change conference, and see such considered and thoughtful feedback.
“This is a great opportunity for the youth of today to influence the policies of tomorrow and play a vital role in shaping the legacy of COP26. I have no doubt their efforts can help ensure we all enjoy a cleaner, greener and better future, quicker – and we will do all we can to make that happen.”
‘Let’s Talk Energy’ is part of a long-term educational partnership between ScottishPower Renewables and Glasgow Science Centre.
The two organisations developed the joint COP26 programme to help children and young people engage with the United Nations Climate Change Conference. It was specially selected by the UK Cabinet Office to take place in the Green Zone.
Glasgow Science Centre helped the young people aged 11-14 research renewable energy policy ahead of the event through home and classroom learning. The pupils explored how renewable technologies such as onshore wind, offshore wind, solar power and green hydrogen could be used to achieve Net Zero.
Schools taking part in the event were: Earlston High School, Edinburgh Academy, Govan High, Hutchesons’ Grammar, Mearns Castle, Renfrew High, Strathaven Academy, St Aloysius, Turnbull High School and Woodfarm.
As part of its COP26 education programme, ScottishPower Renewables is also working with Glasgow Science Centre on a Renewables Challenge for 124 primary schools across Scotland. The four-week education programme will help P5-P7 pupils from learn about COP26, renewable energy, green jobs and going carbon neutral.
First Minister lays out her Programme for Government 2021/22
Leading Scotland safely out of the pandemic, urgently confronting climate change, driving a green, fair economic recovery, and boosting opportunities for children and young people are among the core priorities in this year’s Programme for Government (PfG), published yesterday.Oh … and there’s a referendum in there, too …
The programme sets out plans for a record increase in frontline health spending, new legislation for a National Care Service, a system providing low-income families with free childcare before and after school and during holidays, and actions to drive forward Scotland’s national mission to end child poverty.
The programme also includes plans to help secure a just transition to net zero – creating opportunities for new, good and green jobs, making homes easier and greener to heat, and encouraging people to walk, wheel or cycle instead of driving.
Speaking in Parliament, the First Minister said: “This programme addresses the key challenges Scotland faces, and aims to shape a better future.
“It sets out how we will tackle the challenge of Covid, and rebuild from it. It outlines how we will address the deep-seated inequalities in our society. It shows how we will confront with urgency the climate emergency, in a way that captures maximum economic benefit. And it details the steps we will take to mitigate, as far as we can, the damaging consequences of Brexit while offering a better alternative.
“In the face of these challenges, our ambition must be bold. This programme sets out clear plans to lead Scotland out of the greatest health crisis in a century and transform our nation and the lives of those who live here.
“We will deliver a National Care Service; double the Scottish Child Payment; and invest in affordable, energy efficient homes and green travel. We will ensure that businesses have the support, and people have the skills, to succeed in the low carbon economy of the future. We will show global leadership in tackling the climate crisis. And we will offer people an informed choice on Scotland’s future.
“To that end, I can confirm that the Scottish Government will now restart work on the detailed prospectus that will guide the decision. The case for independence is a strong one and we will present it openly, frankly and with confidence and ambition.
“This programme addresses our current reality, but it also looks forward with confidence and ambition to a brighter future. It recognises that out of the many challenges we currently face, a better Scotland – as part of a better world – is waiting to be built.”
Building on the progress from the first 100 days of this government, with the co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party at its heart, the PfG sets the scene for the next five years.
Key commitments for over the course of this Parliament include:
increasing frontline health spending by 20%, leading to an increase of at least £2.5 billion by 2026-27
undertaking the biggest public service reform since the founding of the NHS – the creation of a National Care Service – with legislation brought forward by June next year
improving national wellbeing with increased direct mental health investment of at least 25%, with £120 million this year to support the recovery and transformation of services
investing £250 million to tackle the drugs deaths emergency over the next five years
expanding the Scottish Child Payment to under-16s by the end of next year and doubling it to £20 a week as soon as possible after that, with a £520 bridging payment given to every child in receipt of free school meals this year
investing a further £1 billion to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap and providing councils with funding to recruit 3,500 additional teachers and 500 classroom assistants
providing free childcare to low income families before and after school and during holidays, and expanding free early learning and childcare to one and two year olds
investing £100 million over the next three years to support frontline services for preventing violence against women and girls
providing £1.8 billion to make homes easier and greener to heat, as part of a commitment to decarbonise 1 million homes by 2030
ensuring that at least 10% of the total transport budget goes on active travel by 2024-25, helping more people to cycle, wheel or walk instead of drive
delivering a revolution in children’s rights, including across the justice system
supporting a just transition to a low-carbon economy for people and businesses, including a £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray
investing an additional £500 million to support the new, good and green jobs of the future, including by helping people access training
delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 and investing an additional £50 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping
taking forward the democratic mandate for a referendum on independence to be held within this Parliament and, if the Covid crisis is over, within the first half of this Parliament, while providing the people of Scotland with the information they need to make an informed choice on their future.
Commenting on yesterday’s Programme for Government announcement, Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said:“Alarm bells should already be ringing in both the Scottish Government and Parliament that we are currently set to miss our child poverty targets, with no clear plan on how to achieve them.
“The Programme for Government published today pushes that plan further down the road, both to the budget later in the year and next year’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.
“Time is running out on the targets. Families on low incomes across Scotland are experiencing growing financial pressure and uncertainty . They will hope the commitment to double the child payment “sooner rather than later” happens very soon and that our national mission to end child poverty gathers urgency and scale.”
The STUC welcomed the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, specifically highlighting the commitments from the First Minister to implement national bargaining in the care sector, additional funding for the health service, gender recognition reform and justice for Scotland’s miners wrongfully arrested in the 1980s.
STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer said: “Reform of our care sector cannot come quick enough and the STUC will engage fully in this legislation, campaigning for a National Care Service based on sectoral collective bargaining and not for profit delivery.
“The commitment of the First Minister to National Bargaining is therefore very welcome. However, the £800 million additional funding announced over the course of the Parliament is less than a quarter of the expenditure which the Feeley Review said was necessary for the social care sector.
“Yet we still have concerns that the Programme of Government tries too hard be all things to all people. It is simply not credible to raise the levels of investment required to tackle climate change, reduce inequality and create jobs while at the same time boasting about the lowest business taxes in UK and freezing income tax rates for the duration of the Parliament.
“The same lack of ambition is reflected in today’s Scottish Government response to the report of the Just Transition Commission which leaves much to be desired on future job creation and ensuring the burden of climate change is not carried by workers and the less well off.
“Fighting discrimination and inequality is at the heart of trade unions, we know trans people are some of the most disadvantaged and discriminated people in Scotland and the gender recognition bill is therefore extremely welcome in enabling trans people to access their human rights.
“Finally, I welcome the proposed Miners’ Strike Pardon Bill. It has been all too clear for decades that the miners were the victims of a politically inspired political attack and that organs of the state, including the police, were used to repress their legitimate industrial action.
“This Bill will help provide some relief to the thousands of lives were wrecked by wrongful arrest and is a testament to years of campaigning by working class families who refused to give up.”
GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour said:“The need to tackle the crisis in care is accepted, but the challenge is to end years of exploitation by giving care workers substantial pay increases. That’s how we’ll confront the understaffing crisis and transform the sector.
“It’s why GMB is campaigning for £15 an hour minimum for care workers. The prospect of staff remaining mired in wages of just under or over £10 an hour isn’t credible.
“And there is a growing consensus supporting that view, including among Cabinet Secretaries as the Greens committed to a £15 minimum in their recent manifesto, so we need to make it happen.
“If we are prepared to be bold and deliver proper value for workers across the social care sector then there is a huge opportunity to be grasped, everyone will benefit and Scotland will be fairer for it.”
Joanne Smith, policy and public affairs manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “Recovery and reform are very much needed as we move forward from the pandemic, and this year’s Programme for Government is the first step in this journey.
“For children in Scotland to have the best start in life, it is vital that all families can access holistic support, where and when they need it, and so we are heartened by the Scottish Government’s announcement of a Whole Family Wellbeing Fund.
“In line with the Promise’s recommendations we would like to see that national spending prioritises early, preventative support for families, therefore stripping out demand for crisis-led services.
“We are also greatly encouraged by the Scottish Government’s commitment to review and redesign the Children’s Hearing System. Through our work with very young children and families in Glasgow, we see the limitations of current justice processes in meeting the distinct needs of infants and their families.
“Given that around a third of children who come into care in Scotland are under the age of five, we need to ensure justice processes are better aligned with infants’ developmental timescales. We look forward to working alongside the Review team to ensure that the rights of infants are upheld throughout the process.”
Mary Glasgow Chief Executive of the charity Children 1st said: “Today’s Programme for Government has rightly prioritised the right of children and their families to know they can access the help and support they need whenever they need it.
“Children 1st have long called for a transformation in the support available to families, which must be based on learning from the – often difficult – experiences of children and their families when they have needed practical, emotional or financial help.
“The proposed £500m investment in a ‘Whole Family Wellbeing Fund’ is a hugely welcome step forward and we are committed to working alongside children and their families, and the Scottish Government, to turn this significant investment into practical action.”
Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said:“With Glasgow hosting COP26 later this year, the Scottish Government is right to focus on its plans for a net zero economy. Yet given the need to cement Scotland’s economic recovery post-pandemic, businesses will feel there ought to have been a greater focus on boosting growth. While there were encouraging mentions of greater access to finance, the devil will be in the detail.
“Firms are already decarbonising their operations, and, by working alongside government, can help urgently transform net zero ambitions into action. Reforming the planning and business rates systems – enabling much needed in investment in low carbon infrastructure – would help achieve ambitious climate targets.
“The First Minister is also right to highlight that COVID hasn’t gone away. Scottish firms have worked tirelessly throughout the crisis to keep staff and customers safe. Businesses are not calling for a rushed return to the workplace, though employers will rightly be speaking with their employees about a gradual return in line with the latest guidance.
“As the economy reopens, skills shortages remain a key concern, so employers will be frustrated not to hear more about plans for upskilling and retraining.
“Business investment is absolutely vital to Scotland’s economic recovery, and the government should do everything in its power to attract – not repel – investment and the very best talent. Ultimately, by working more closely with business to create sustainable economic growth, ministers will be able to achieve their goals of improving people’s living standards and public services.”
Museums & Galleries Edinburgh is a collection of 13 varied and fascinating venues owned and managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.
We look after the following venues: City Art Centre, Museum of Edinburgh (previously Huntly House),The People’s Story Museum, The Writers’ Museum, Lauriston Castle, Museum of Childhood, Travelling Gallery, Queensferry Museum, Museum Collections Centre, Scott and Nelson Monuments.
We run a varied learning and community engagement programme. Following the Covid outbreak we are looking to consult communities about how we can support their work, be more inclusive and better respond to community needs.
We would love to hear your views about what you’d like us to prioritise.
During the pandemic, patients have been seen and treated based on their clinical urgency and we will continue to do so whilst we remobilise our NHS.
Patients are being classified in the following groups:
Priority Level 1a Emergency – operation needed within 24 hours
Priority Level 1b Urgent – operation needed within 72 hours
Priority Level 2 Surgery – scheduled within 4 weeks
Priority Level 3 Surgery – scheduled within 12 weeks
Priority Level 4 Surgery – may be safely scheduled after 12 weeks
NHS Scotland is working hard to increase the services available as safely and as quickly as possible. Clinicians and Clinical Experts are continuously reviewing how they deliver services to provide additional appointments to support your care.
About your appointment
It is important to attend your appointment or to let us know if you no longer need to attend.
Make sure you read any information provided in advance of your appointment so you know what to expect and can make the relevant preparations.
Keeping an eye on your condition
It is important to attend your appointment or to let us know if you no longer need to attend.
Make sure you read any information provided in advance of your appointment so you know what to expect and can make the relevant preparations.
Self Help
If you require further advice on your condition, please contact the hospital team you are awaiting an appointment with.
If your condition or symptoms worsen while waiting, you should contact your GP Practice.
Your local pharmacist or a trained member of the pharmacy team can give you advice and provide over-the-counter medicine if needed.
Call NHS 24 on 111 for further advice on managing symptoms.
If you consider your condition or symptoms to be life-threatening, then you should call 999 immediately.
Other Support
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or that your mental health and well-being has been affected by the delay in your treatment, you can call:
NHS 24 on 111, 24 hours a day, and select the Mental Health option from the telephone prompts
Breathing space on 0800 83 85 87 is open weekdays Monday-Thursday, 6am to 2am, and weekends Friday 6pm to Monday 6am
Living Life on 0800 328 9655 is open Monday-Friday 1pm to 9pm
The Stroke Association, the UK’s leading stroke charity, is announcing the top 10 priorities for stroke research, uncovered by a study involving stroke survivors, carers and health and social care professionals in stroke.
The charity’s new report – the first UK-wide project to map research priorities across the entire stroke care and treatment pathway – reveals where research can address the issues holding Stroke Association survivors back from rebuilding their lives after a devastating stroke.
John Watson, Director Scotland of the Stroke Association said: “One in five people will have a stroke in their lifetime. Stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do.
“Every stroke is unique because the brain is so complex and stroke can happen in any part of it. This means there are as many different impacts of stroke as there are stroke survivors, posing a huge challenge for research.
“According to the most recent figures from the UK Medical Research Council, only £30m of public and charity health research spending goes on stroke. This equates to less than £25 per stroke survivor per year compared to £161 per person living with cancer.
“Despite major breakthroughs over the last 10 years, we now know where there are significant blind spots in treatment and care. These are holding people back from rebuilding their lives. With the number of people having strokes set to rise – it’s estimated that the number of stroke survivors in Scotland could rise to almost 175,000 by 2035, [3]. We must act now and invest in the research that will make the biggest difference to the lives of people affected by stroke.”
Keen endurance athlete, Andrew (Andy) aged 48 from Perthshire had a stroke in 2019 – he knows only too well the burden of stroke and gaps in stroke research that matter to people affected by stroke.
Andy said: “Stroke research is important to me. There are many effects of stroke including fatigue and the psychological consequences of stroke that we should know more about.
“We need to involve people with lived experience of stroke in decisions around stroke priorities to inform researchers and funders about what really matters to us. We know what our difficulties are, and I believe further understanding of those difficulties is a good step towards finding treatments and solutions to enable people to live the best possible life they can.”
Over 1,400 people affected by stroke and professionals in stroke took part in the project, which was carried out in partnership with the James Lind Alliance (JLA), as well as individuals and organisations representing stroke patients, carers and professionals in stroke.
The Stroke Association is sharing the findings as part of its new report “Shaping Stroke Research to Rebuild Lives: The Stroke Priority Setting Partnership results for investment.”
The report sets the agenda for stroke research and identifies the areas that most urgently need investment. There are two lists of 10 priority areas: the first in stroke prevention and acute care, and the second in rehabilitation and long-term care, ranked in order of importance.
The top priorities in each list are:
Interventions to stop stroke. Stroke strikes every 5 minutes in the UK, but we know that most (80-90%) strokes are preventable [4]. We need increased investment in research so people can avoid the devastating effects of stroke in the first place.
Understanding of, and treatment for mental and emotional problems. Three quarters of stroke survivors experience a change in their mental health [5], we need research so that people can overcome significant effects such as anxiety and depression after stroke.
Dr Rubina Ahmed, Director of Research and Policy at the Stroke Association, said: “Charities like ours need to look for new ways to help stroke survivors with emotional, mental and communication problems.
“Establishing what research will make the biggest difference to stroke survivors and those caring for them is just the first step. Stroke research is severely underfunded. Just £1 in every £100 of public and charity spend in health research is on stroke and this just isn’t enough to solve the big and complex issues caused by stroke.
“The stroke funding crisis has been worsened by the coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic, which has had a devastating impact on our income, halving the charity’s research budget. Stroke research is at risk, which means recoveries of people like Andy are at risk too. Your support can fund the research that will lead to breakthroughs in treatment and care. If you can, please donate so that we can make sure more stroke survivors can rebuild their lives after stroke.
“We would like to thank everyone who took part in this project: stroke survivors, their carers, professionals in stroke, the James Lind Alliance, the Steering Group members and our partners. By having your say for stroke, you have helped to shape stroke research to rebuild lives.”
Over the past 30 years the Stroke Association has played a crucial role in supporting stroke research in the UK. By establishing these priorities our charity can support the research that can make the biggest difference to the lives of people affected by stroke.
Find out how stroke research helps rebuild lives at stroke.org.uk/rebuildinglives or to donate, please visit: stroke.org.uk/saveresearch
To read the full list of priorities and the report visit: www.stroke.org.uk/psp
An update to the budget framework is under way at the Council after the publication of a report outlining a range of proposals for investing approximately £20m of one-off additional revenue funding.
The report will be considered by the Council’s Finance & Resources Committee at their meeting on Thursday before being referred to Full Council on Thursday 27 May, when political groups are expected to submit motions setting out their proposals for investment.
Following confirmation by the Scottish Government of additional funding for local authorities and, after making provision for the anticipated on-going financial impacts of the pandemic over the next two years, Council officers have now identified up to £20.15m which could be made available to address budget pressures, anticipated shortfalls in savings delivery and other member priorities in 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Finance and Resources Convener Councillor Rob Munn said: “We were very pleased to have been able to set a balanced budget back in February despite the ongoing challenges and pressures brought about by the Covid19 pandemic.
“It’s welcome, therefore, to now have this opportunity to invest further in this financial year and the next and I’m looking forward to a thorough and, I hope, constructive debate among elected members over the next couple of weeks on the best ways to direct this funding.
“Ultimately, we want to ensure we’re targeting the extra investment in line with our core priorities and the services most valued by the people of Edinburgh.
Finance and Resources Vice Convener Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “I’m sure this opportunity to collectively agree priorities for investing this funding will be unanimously welcomed across the chamber.
“Committee will have its say on 20 May first of all and thereafter it’s over to the full complement of Councillors to arrive at a set of agreed spending options which support our priorities – tackling poverty and inequality, boosting sustainability and enhancing wellbeing in the city.
“I’m confident we’ll be able to approve a revised budget framework that takes Edinburgh forward positively.”
The Automatic Vending Association (AVA) has released the results from its annual member satisfaction survey this month, highlighting widespread industry support for continued remote collaboration to deliver positive change.
The survey, which gained 68 company responses from the AVA’s 180-strong member base, also showcased an influx in internal sentiment, in that the trade body has seen a 36% increase over four years for those who would recommend AVA membership – just over 90% of respondents.
AVA members also used the annual survey to highlight the services they value most in their membership, with 57.5% of members surveyed stating ongoing lobbying on key legislation is crucial in the industry’s post-pandemic recovery.
In response to this feedback, the AVA has bolstered its external communication and lobbying activity by enlisting reputation management agency, Definition.
The topics and issues covered include the ongoing lobbying for support from the government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG), Additional Restriction Grants (ARGs), an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for hospitality businesses.
AVA members also utilised this survey to highlight the need for ongoing technical advice and knowledge updates, both during the end of lockdown and when restrictions ease.
The AVA has seen a 50% increase in technical and knowledge advice since the pandemic began and has pledged to continue this with a busy webinar and internal committee schedule into 2021 and beyond.
David Llewellyn, chief executive of the AVA said: “The Automatic Vending Association is dedicated to upholding the needs of our members in what is still an immensely difficult time for their respective businesses.
“However, members should also be encouraged to join the effort to lobby for support, as we are more likely to be successful in our fight if more members show enthusiasm across the United Kingdom.
“Ways of doing this range from sharing the AVA’s social content and sharing content of your own online, all the way to reaching out to your local MP with our press releases to engage support on a local and national level.
“With the support of our members, local members of parliament and communications team, we can look to rebuild from the damage the pandemic has done to business in the wider foodservice industry, including AVA members.”
To keep up to date with the Automatic Vending Association’s lobbying activity, visit: https://www.the-ava.com/news.
