Victims and Community Safety Minister, Siobhian Brown has welcomed a new strategy to help prevent violent crime and reduce the harm it causes.
The Violence Prevention Framework is the first co-ordinated strategy for Scotland to tackle the issue.
Ms Brown said: “We have made significant strides in reducing violence, and this new framework can take us further, ensuring that everyone plays their part in preventing violence wherever it persists.”
Find out more at bit.ly/ViolencePreventionFramework
Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has branded Humza Yousaf’s time as Health Secretary “catastrophic” as new figures reveal NHS waiting lists in Lothian soaring on his watch.
At the end of March, as Humza Yousaf departed as Health Secretary, there were 123,481 people in Lothian on an NHS waiting list.
This is a shocking 25 per cent increase since the same point in 2021, shortly after Humza Yousaf took over the role.
Across Scotland waiting lists are at a record high, with around 1 in every 7 Scots currently on an NHS waiting list.
Scottish Labour branded this a “national emergency” and called for the Scottish Government to support NHS Lothian and implement a real NHS catch-up plan.
Commenting, Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said “People in Lothian have been badly let down by this incompetent SNP government and their disastrous stewardship of our NHS.
“It should worry us all that First Minister Humza Yousaf left behind such a catastrophic legacy as Health Secretary.
“Despite the tireless efforts of NHS staff, record numbers of Scots are stuck languishing on NHS waiting list, including more than 120,000 people in Lothian.
“Blame for this national emergency lies squarely with Humza Yousaf and his failed NHS recovery plan, which saw waiting lists in NHS Lothian spiral by 25% after the pandemic.
“The SNP government must support NHS Lothian and deliver a real catch-up plan to help it recover from the damage inflicted by both the pandemic and by this disastrous government.”
Third sector organisations are to be paid a fee for helping provide supporting information for people applying for Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment. The £33.50 fee will be paid when they are asked by Social Security Scotland to complete a supporting information request form.
People who are applying for disability benefits who find it difficult or face barriers gathering supporting information themselves will be able to name organisations to provide this for them.
These can include third sector organisations that are helping them in their day-to-day lives, such as those offering social care or support during an illness. Collecting supporting information on behalf of people is a key difference in how people are encouraged and supported to apply for Scottish Government disability benefits.
Supporting information request forms are completed to help understand how a person’s health condition or disability affects their lives and what support they need. As well as information from health and social care professions, information could also come from charities and third sector organisations who support disabled people.
The process of requesting and giving equal consideration to supporting information from third sector organisations is not offered by the Department for Work and Pensions in England and Wales and is an example of how Social Security Scotland is doing things differently to better support people applying for benefits.
If disabled people need additional help to apply for Scottish Government benefits the free and independent Advocacy Service, provided by VoiceAbility, helps people throughout the whole of the process, from the point of application, through to any request for redetermination and appeal.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We know that third sector organisations supporting disabled people are often best placed to provide information on their conditions and needs which is why we are introducing this payment.
We recognise the value of the information that organisations supporting disabled people can supply and we want to put it on an equal footing with the information from other professionals, such as social care staff or GPs
“People who are applying for disability benefits often have extra support from charities and third sector organisations. This new system will give people more choice in who can help them provide Social Security Scotland with the information that is needed as part of their application, which will help them apply for Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment.
“We are committed to making sure everyone gets the financial support they are entitled to and we actively work to encourage take-up of Scottish Government social security benefits by promoting our 13 benefits, collaborating with various organisations and removing barriers to access.”
Social Security Scotland pay a fee for the supporting information form when they have requested the completion of a form in writing from an organisation.
Independent GPs, and those employed by independent GP practices, also get a fee when they are asked to provide information.
Clients can approach third sector organisations to provide supporting information on their behalf. Organisations will not be paid a fee unless Social Security Scotland directly request the information.
Third sector organisations who have already been asked to provide supporting information for clients receiving Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment before the fee payments process was in place will be able to have their payments backdated.
Guidance will be provided to any third sector organisation who is asked by to provide supporting information, with information also available on Social Security Scotland’s website.
If someone applying for disability benefits has supporting information available, they are encouraged provide it with their application, Examples of supporting information are medical reports, a social care assessment, a prescription list or test results.
More than £15 million has been awarded to a range of projects supporting people affected by problem substance use.
These include residential rehabilitation services, support for those affected by addiction and homelessness and programmes working with children and families affected by a loved one’s substance use.
The number of lives lost to drugs is still too high in Scotland and these funds are vital for those services working on the frontline to help those affected and their families.
Simon Community Scotland is one of the latest recipients, receiving £408,000 to deliver a new Edinburgh-based project, ‘We See You’, offering people who are homeless and using substances a safe space and access to a range of support services.
Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Elena Whitham said: “The National Mission funds have now supported 300 projects but we know there is much work still to do.
“These organisations save lives and we want to support them so they can extend as far into their communities as possible and offer people the support they need when and where they need it.
“Through our £250 million National Drugs Mission, we are focused on supporting everyone affected by problem substance use, delivering real change on the ground and implementing evidence-based approaches to improve and save lives.”
Simon Community Scotland CEO Lorraine McGrath said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding for our ‘We See You’ project in Edinburgh.
“The project brings a wide range of partners together to work with people who often feel excluded from services, creating an inclusive response that improves health, saves lives and challenges what is possible.
“Simon Community Scotland has been driving service change and innovation in reducing drug deaths and harms within the population we support. This is an exciting step towards achieving even greater health improvement in Edinburgh.”
These recent awards for multi-year funding are made through the Corra Foundation which supports the Scottish Government with its funding processes as part of the National Drugs Mission. £65 million has been awarded through Corra over the duration of the National Mission to support third sector and grassroots organisations.
A total of 300 grants have now been made from the funds set up as part of the National Drugs Mission.
Emergency measures to protect tenants during the cost of living crisis, including the private rent cap and additional eviction protections, will be extended for a further six months if approved by Parliament.
Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie has confirmed proposals to keep the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act measures in place until 31 March 2024 at the latest. This would mean:
Social rented sector tenants are protected by the voluntary agreement reached with social landlords on below-inflation rent increases for this financial year.
Mr Harvie said: “As the cost of living crisis continues, these measures are giving important support to tenants, providing them with much-needed stability in their housing costs and additional eviction protections.
“As the social housing sector have agreed their rents in consultation with their tenants, the focus of this temporary legislation is on providing private renters with similar protection. We know some landlords are impacted by rising costs too.
“The option of increasing rents by 6% in specified circumstances ensures landlords who may be impacted by the cost of living crisis can recover some increased costs associated with their let property.
“The final date of 31 March 2024 would be as long as the rent cap and eviction protections could run if approved by Parliament. The necessity of these measures is being kept under review and we will continue to assess whether they remain justified, balanced and proportionate based on the financial pressures rented households and landlords are facing.
“We are also looking at how to transition out of the emergency measures, and we continue to listen to and work hard with stakeholders to develop and deliver rental sector reform.”
Improving the lives of people with dementia is at the heart of a new 10 year strategy announced by the Scottish Government yesterday.
The strategy, Everyone’s Story, outlines a vision for dementia policy over the next decade and identifies a number of priorities which would improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers.
These include support pre and post diagnosis, actions to enable more people to live well in their communities, involving those affected in the design and delivery of their own support and access to care from a skilled and trauma-informed workforce when appropriate
The strategy commits to tackling stigma as a priority and aims to do this by making sure two-year delivery plans will be agreed to ensure progress is made. The first plan is to be published at the end of this year.
The strategy, launched during Dementia Awareness Week, is a joint publication by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “Dementia is a brain health condition which impacts at least 90,000 people across Scotland, as well as their families and their communities. This strategy sets out what we want to achieve and the difference we want to make to people’s lives.
“Diagnosis can bring significant mental health and wellbeing challenges that need to be acknowledged and addressed to ensure a person’s rights are upheld. That’s why the strategy was developed in collaboration with the National Dementia Lived Experience Panel. We want everyone affected to be involved in its delivery.”
COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: “We welcome this strategy as it rightly challenges us to do more and go even further, to continue to improve the care and support for people living with dementia and their care partners.
“Delivering it will require us all to continue to work collaboratively in a positive and proactive manner, while respecting each other’s different experiences of dementia.”
Findings from the biggest listening exercise ever undertaken on Scottish education have been published.
The National Discussion asked the public for their views and reached 38,000 people, including 26,000 pupils and students. Key findings from the report All Learners in Scotland Matter: Our National Discussion include:
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: ““The National Discussion has prompted around 38,000 people across Scotland to make their voices heard about the future of education. The engagement was wide-ranging and encompassed views that can too often be overlooked.
“The central message of the report, that all learners in Scotland matter, will now be the guiding vision that underpins our programme of education reform.
“I am grateful to everyone who took part, including the schools, community groups, local authorities and third sector organisations that hosted events. This vision is the starting point as we look to the future. The challenge for all of us in Scottish education now is to work together to make this vision a reality.”
The independent report was commissioned by the Scottish Government and COSLA and facilitated by Professor Carol Campbell and Professor Alma Harris, who are both members of the International Council of Education Advisers.
Professor Campbell: “It has been a great privilege to facilitate the National Discussion.
“I am delighted that the vision for All Learners in Scotland Matter will be central to ensuring an ambitious, supportive, and inclusive Scottish education system.”
Professor Harris said: “I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the National Discussion.
“Every single contribution has been hugely valuable and has enabled us to develop the vision, values, and Call to Action that will shape the future landscape of education in Scotland.”
Councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson said: “I am delighted so many got involved in the discussion and would like to thank Professor Harris, Professor Campbell and all the children, young people, parents/carers and school staff who took part.
“COSLA’s Children and Young People Board are set to consider the findings of this discussion when they meet this week, and we are looking forward to working with our partners across the education system as we respond.”
All Learners in Scotland Matter: Our National Discussion on Education
Wardie Bay in Edinburgh has become Scotland’s newest bathing water, following a decision by Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Mairi McAllan to designate it for the 2023 season.
This decision, along with Fisherrow Sands in East Lothian becoming the first bathing water to be re-designated, is a real boost for the shore along the south of the Forth – and brings the total number of Scottish bathing waters to 89.
The Scottish bathing water season begins on 1st June and runs until 15th September, with 1,500 water samples taken by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) staff at bathing waters around the country. These are analysed in its accredited laboratories, and the results posted online. Once the season is finished each bathing water will receive an official classification for 2024.
Application for designation
The application for bathing water status was submitted by Wardie Bay Beachwatch and The Wild Ones who demonstrated that a large number of bathers use the water and there was community support for designation. The city council supported the designation, accepting required duties around signage and beach cleaning.
Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition said: “As a result of our investment in protecting and improving bathing waters across Scotland we now have the highest number of designated Bathing Water sites ever, with 98% passing bathing water quality standards and more rated as ‘excellent’ than ever before.
“However, we are not complacent. We continue to work closely with SEPA and Scottish Water to monitor and improve water quality on our designated beaches and in our designated lochs, to ensure that as many people as possible are able to enjoy them throughout this summer and beyond.”
Ruth Stidson, SEPA’s Principal Scientist for bathing waters, said: “It’s great news, especially for the local community, that Wardie Bay has been designated for the 2023 season by the Cabinet Secretary – and with Fisherrow re-designated, Scotland now has 89 bathing waters, more than any previous year.
“Designation of waters large numbers of people use for bathing over the summer months means they can be monitored, protected and, if necessary, improved.
“We’ve seen huge improvements in water quality at bathing waters over the years, and SEPA will continue this journey – through targeted regulation and working with others to achieve significant investment. This way we’ll ensure that visitors to our bathing waters, especially the thousands that live within a short walk or bike ride of our urban bathing waters, can continue to enjoy Scotland’s stunning blue spaces.”
Win for Wardie Bay
During 2022, SEPA sampled and reported water quality at Wardie Bay due to high community usage of the beach and an active application for bathing water designation.
Our evidence indicates that Wardie Bay is expected to meet bathing water standards. Now designated by the Cabinet Secretary, the beach will be formally monitored and receive an official classification for 2024.
Karen Bates, Wardie Bay Beachwatch, said: “It has taken much time and effort to achieve this result for the #wardiebay4bathingwater campaign. We can finally be delighted that Wardie Bay is to be a protected bathing water.
“We are grateful to Cabinet Secretary Mairi McAllan for her progressive decision and for support from Council members who surmounted the obstacles to designation at this complex site. We are grateful too that SEPA published the essential information for Wardie swimmers in 2022. Thanks particularly to all those who help protect Wardie Bay, who signed the petition, took part in the campaign film and contributed to the applications.”
Cllr Scott Arthur Environment Convener, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is great news for the wellbeing of our residents and visitors who enjoy taking a dip in this great stretch of Edinburgh’s coastline. I’d like to thank the users of Wardie Bay for helping it join Portobello on Edinburgh’s riviera as a bathing water beach.
“The water will continue to be monitored by SEPA, and I’d encourage you all to do your bit to keep it and the beach clean and protect nature there by taking your litter home with you, or use a local bin. Please also, remember to pick up after dog too, if you have one.
“Of course, you can also enjoy the beaches and support local traders along our coast at Portobello, Silverknowes and Cramond.”
Local outdoor spaces are integral to our physical and mental health and managing them well can improve well-being and other social and cultural benefits for local communities and visitors alike.
SEPA takes water samples over the full three and half months of Scotland’s official bathing water season, and after analysis the results are posted online. Pre-season sampling is carried out during May.
Congratulations to Karen and all involved with the Wardie Bay campaign – you have worked so hard and so long for this success. Well done! – Ed.
Seventeen projects across Scotland have been awarded funds totalling £500,000 to help ex-service personnel access support for physical and mental health, financial, employment and cost of living challenges.
The grant awards for 2023-24 are from the Scottish Veterans Fund, which has now provided more than £2.8 million to nearly 220 projects since 2008.
Veterans Minister Graeme Dey announced the funding awards while visiting Community Veterans Support in Glasgow. The organisation has been awarded £18,536 for its Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans project which is providing food, peer support and financial advice to veterans facing challenges as a result of the cost of living crisis.
Mr Dey said: “Scotland has a long and proud military tradition and we must ensure our veterans and their families continue to be supported during this cost of living crisis.
“I am grateful for the close-knit charity sector here in Scotland, and I’m continually impressed by the level, and quality, of support charities are providing. The excellent work of Community Veterans Support is a great example of what can be achieved.
“Each of the seventeen projects awarded funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund this year will make a real difference and will mean our veterans can get the help they need, when they need it.”
The Scottish Veterans Fund (SVF) was set up in 2008-2009 as the Scottish Government’s main means of directly supporting veterans in Scotland.
From 2022-2023 the fund has been increased to £500,000 annually, with organisations able to bid for up to £50,000 per project.
Below is a full list of projects which will receive SVF funding this year:
| Organisation | Project Title | Amount | Project Overview |
| Community Veterans Support | Warmer, Healthier, Safer Veterans | £18,536 | Extend “Warmer Spaces” provision for veterans into evenings and weekends, including food, peer support and financial advice. |
| Erskine | One-Stop-Shop | £13,450 | Extend provision of tailored financial advocacy, guidance and support to veterans through Erskine’s One Stop Shop. |
| Fighting with Pride | The Journey Home Project in Scotland | £49,042 | Fund the introduction and development of the Veterans Standard Manager role in Scotland to build the community of LGBT veterans in Scotland and support developing capacity in services that can support that community. |
| FirstLightTrust | Supporting the support | £25,000 | Introduce a new support worker for the Hawick Hub to help develop support pathways for veterans impaired by physical or psychological trauma. |
| Forces Children Scotland | Future Transitions | Financial Education for Civilian Life | £38,624 | Develop a bespoke financial education service to support children, young people and parents in making the transition from military to civilian life. |
| Forces Employment Charity | Early Service Leavers – Scotland Co-Ordinator | £50,000 | Continue pilot scheme from 2022-23, which introduced an Early Service Leavers co-ordinator for Scotland to provide dedicated employment support for this vulnerable cadre. |
| Lothian Veterans Centre | Warm Welcome for veterans and their families | £22,572 | Provide support in current cost of living crisis by opening warm hub for veterans and their families to provide food, heating and social interaction in a location that can provide onward access to other support. |
| Military Wives Choir | Supporting our Hidden Community | £40,000 | Enhance level of support given to members in Scotland and to reach and recruit more members amongst women whose lives are currently impacted by their connection to the military. |
| On Course Foundation | Golf skills and employment programme | £16,344 | Deliver a sustainable golf skills and employment programme with confidence building events, peer networking and employment experience and opportunities. |
| RAF Association | The Battle Ahead | £23,695 | Provide programme of support to ensure that no member of the RAF veterans community is left cold, hungry or lonely as a result of the cost of living crisis. |
| RAF Benevolent Fund | Scottish Welfare Support Executive | £17,032 | Provide welfare support to RAF veterans and their dependants with complex needs living in Scotland. Assess individual’s circumstances and create tailored support plans. |
| Salute my Job | Career Jumpstart Programme | £41,700 | The Career Jumpstart Project aims to reskill jobseekers from the Armed Forces community for employment in roles in greatest demand in public, private and third sector. |
| Scotland Bravest Manufacturing Company | Enhanced Manufacturing Traineeship | £50,000 | Provide opportunities for early service leavers and other veterans to obtain qualifications and sustainable employment with the support of a qualified trainer. |
| Scottish Veterans Residences | Occupational Therapy to Improve Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing | £43,150 | Employ a full time occupational therapist to support Veterans’ physical and mental health recovery and rehabilitation through the use of a holistic and biophysical approach. |
| SSAFA | Professional Support to Relieve the Cost of Living Crisis | £10,000 | Partly fund the employment of a Regional Casework manager to better manage workload of case workers in Scotland to provide a more agile and individualised response to veterans. |
| Thistle Health and Wellbeing | Meaningful Connections | £20,124 | Support 150 veterans and their families across Scotland who have been severely impacted by long term conditions, particularly early service leavers, medically discharged veterans and those with mental health needs. |
| Veterans Housing Scotland | Tenancy Sustainment Service | £20,000 | Expand pilot project to identify and support tenants at risk of tenancy failure. |
67% of Scotland’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) owners and managers have reported that skills shortages are impacting their business growth and profitability, according to new research by Censuswide, on behalf of The Open University (OU) in Scotland.
For businesses with 10-49 employees, this rocketed to 83%.
The survey, completed by 200 owners and senior managers of Scottish SMEs, identified people management (25%), finance (24%), digital technologies (22%) and project management (20%) as the top areas in which respondents were experiencing skills shortages.
Environmental concerns and their impact on business growth are also front and centre for Scottish SMEs, with 85% of organisations planning to invest in ‘green’ staff training. Priority training areas included developing innovative and sustainable ways of doing things (37%), making their business more sustainable (36%) and renewable energy (32%).
The survey also highlighted a lack of awareness among SMEs of the access they have to Scottish Government-funded employee training support. Less than a third of businesses had heard of the Scottish Funding Council Upskilling Fund (31%) and the Part-Time Fee Grant (29%).
32% of businesses surveyed also knew about the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF), which offers SMEs access to £5,000 of free and flexible online training with the OU in Scotland, supported by the Scottish Funding Council. However, more positively, 75% of respondents would be likely to consider accessing funds in the next 12 months.
David Allen, Senior Partnerships Manager, The Open University in Scotland, said: “Despite two-thirds of businesses overwhelmingly reporting skill shortages, current financial and economic pressures mean training budgets are often squeezed at the expense of skills development.
“This does not need to be the case. Through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, SMEs can access fully funded high quality, flexible online training that addresses many of the core skills shortages facing them.
“Two-thirds of SMEs surveyed were unfamiliar with the available Scottish Government funded support. This is a core reason why the Open University in Scotland is determined to raise awareness of initiatives such as FWDF.
“A positive outcome of our research is 75% of business owners surveyed are now likely to consider accessing Scottish Government-funded training in the next 12 months. It’s an opportunity for the taking.”
The survey findings also align with the experience of the Scottish charity Health in Mind, which recently undertook a training programme in partnership with the OU, utilising FWDF support.
Flora Henderson, Alliance Manager, Health in Mind commented: “The cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in a tremendous increase in demand for our services. At the same time, staff are affected by workload and a continued impact on staff absence levels.
“It was a priority to continue to offer genuinely valuable development opportunities, intended to help staff feel supported to grow and develop in their role. The FWDF has allowed scarce resources to have more impact and encouraged wider participation than would otherwise be possible.”
For more information on the OU’s flexible online training and the Flexible Workforce Development Fund visit: https://www.open.ac.uk/business/fwdf
