Tag: Scottish Government

Support for students in hardship

Students experiencing hardship as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) will be supported by £20 million of Scottish Government funding. A further £10 million has also been allocated to universities and colleges for income lost in providing rent rebates.

To complement the additional £30 million, the Scottish Funding Council is also repurposing £5 million of student support funding towards discretionary funding for FE students in the college sector.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The impact of the pandemic on students has been significant. Not only has there been disruption to their education, we know that many students face financial difficulties with accommodation, associated costs or challenges in getting jobs. This additional £20 million will help to alleviate the financial pressure and stress facing many of our students.

“We are also supporting institutions, many of which have lost revenue by giving students rent refunds or rebates, with an additional £10 million.

“This announcement builds on the £37 million package of support the Scottish Government has already provided to support students during the pandemic.”

Matt Crilly, President of NUS Scotland, said: “NUS Scotland welcomes this crucial support from the Scottish Government at a time when students are struggling. We know many of the traditional sources of student income have been decimated during the pandemic, so it is a relief to know there will be additional funding for those experiencing hardship.

“This support is essential in helping Scotland uphold its commitment to fair access to education. While Scotland has made important advances in recent years towards widening access to further and higher education, the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and threatens to erode this progress. This funding helps ensure we are not only supporting students from all backgrounds into education, but also helping them stay in education.”

Shona Struthers, chief executive officer of Colleges Scotland, said: “We welcome any additional funding to support college students across Scotland at this incredibly difficult time.

“Many of our students are learning from home and with additional financial hardship caused by the pandemic – we are sure that the much-needed additional funds from Scottish Government will prove beneficial to students during this lockdown period. Colleges Scotland will work on behalf of the sector to highlight ongoing challenges.”

Details on how this £20 million assistance for students will be distributed will be confirmed shortly.

More information on the support available for students is available online.

Scottish Budget to ‘prioritise sustainable economic revival’

Measures promoting recovery and renewal will be at the heart of the Scottish Budget tomorrow.

New initiatives to drive economic growth, create jobs and tackle inequality will be included alongside further support for business, public services and families.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1354006419763302402

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “The budget on Thursday will create the conditions for Scotland to recover and renew.

“We remain in the grip of a pandemic which continues to put pressure on our economy, health services and each of us as individuals. But the vaccine is providing a route back to normality and we must now sharpen our focus on rebuilding for the future.

“The budget will include innovative, targeted measures to help businesses and families get back on their feet and bolster our vital public services. I have already ruled out following the UK Government’s public sector pay freeze and will set out details of a pay settlement that is both fair and affordable.

“It is vital that we rebuild our economy in a way that provides equal opportunities for all, delivers on our green commitments and creates the kind of Scotland we all want to see.”

“This process has already started. For instance we have established a National Transition Training Fund providing targeted support for up to 10,000 people, set out our £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee and committed £2 billion in low carbon funding. The budget will set out how we intend to further these ambitions.

“Ahead of the budget we sought views on the role of Scotland’s devolved taxes and our fiscal framework in supporting the recovery. There was clear feedback regarding the need for stability and targeted support and that has also been a particularly strong message in my meetings with businesses and their representative organisations. The budget will deliver on those priorities

“Despite the UK Government’s budget being delayed until March, and the uncertainty that causes, the Scottish Budget 2021-22 will confirm funding allocations for local government. It will also detail how, within our limited resources, we will go as far as we can to support businesses in receipt of non-domestic rates relief.

“The global pandemic and the problems arising from Brexit combine to make these uniquely challenging times. This budget will help Scotland emerge as a globally competitive, fairer and greener country and I urge all parties to work in the national interest to ensure it is passed by the Scottish Parliament.”

Council plea for fair funding following Accounts Commission report

Local councils have seen greater reductions in funding over the last seven years than other areas of the Scottish Government budget.

Funding received by councils from the Scottish Government increased by £500 million in 2019/20, but Covid-19 will drive large rises in costs and spending, combined with falling income.

An overview of local government finances in Scotland, published today by the Accounts Commission, reports that councils received higher revenue and capital funding than in previous years and many were able to increase their financial reserves. However much of the additional funding councils received from the Scottish Government must be used for specific purposes, including over £200 million for expanding early learning and childcare. And capital finance funding will drop by 30 per cent in 2020/21.

Looking ahead, Scotland’s councils face significant additional pressures due to Covid-19. This includes substantial and ongoing reductions in income, increased costs and the administration of business support grants and other measures of support to their communities during Covid-19.

The Commission has also repeated its serious concerns about the financial stability and leadership of Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), the bodies set-up to manage local health and social care services. Most IJBs couldn’t deliver services within their budgets and needed extra money from health boards and councils. There were also changes of chief officer in 12 IJBs, and this leadership instability makes it harder to manage both finances and the major changes needed in health and social care.

Elma Murray, Interim Chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “Councils and Integration Joint Boards play a vital role in supporting Scotland’s communities. Even before Covid-19 the pressures and demands on council services had intensified. At the same time reductions in local government funding over the past seven years have been greater than in other areas of the Scottish Government budget.

“Covid-19 has fundamentally affected local government services, increasing their reliance on working with their partners and communities. The financial impact of the pandemic on our public services is extreme and creates increased uncertainty of how those services will be provided in the future.

“Good governance, strong financial management and transparency of decision making will be critical as councils and IJBs deal with the impact and consequences of the pandemic.

Councils have seen greater reductions in funding over the last seven years than other areas of the Scottish Government budget a report from the Accounts Commission states today (Tuesday).

The report also highlights that Scotland’s councils face significant additional pressures due to Covid-19. This includes substantial and ongoing reductions in income, increased costs and the administration of business support grants and other measures of support to their communities during Covid-19.

Commenting on the report today and ahead of the Scottish Government’s Budget on Thursday, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor said:  The messages in today’s Accounts Commission report paint a full picture – on the face of it, there looked to be increases in Local Government funding in 19/20 but much of this was for Scottish Government’s OWN commitments, and came after years of reductions.  

“These messages should be listened to AND ACTED UPON as they come from an independent, well respected non Local Government body.

“This report lays out why we need fair funding for Local Government in Thursday’s Budget.  The trend of recent settlements for Local Government needs to change because on top of existing pressures, the COVID pandemic – as the Accounts Commission report recognises – has placed unprecedented strain on the finances of Scotland’s Councils this year.

“This year, across every community in Scotland, Local Government’s essential role has been magnified and once again we have delivered for our communities.

“Nobody in Scotland has been unaffected by this pandemic and the financial impacts of COVID-19 are severe. Individuals, families and businesses have all felt the effects and continue to look to Councils for support every day.

“Sustaining this lifeline support is placing extreme pressure on already strained budgets and without fair funding for Local Government this year, the consequences for the most vulnerable in our communities would be unacceptable.

“That is why we need fair funding for 2021/22 that respects our communities. Without this, there will be further cuts to services, reductions in spending locally, increases in the inequalities exposed by the pandemic and a much slower recovery.”

Further support for Scottish grassroots music venues

  • Grants of between £10K and £70K available for grassroots music venues
  • Deadline for applications: Wednesday 3 February 2021

In response to the impact that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is having on art and culture in Scotland, on December 20, 2020 the Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, announced an additional £4m in emergency funding for the Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund, delivered through Creative Scotland.

The purpose of the fund is to provide grassroots live music venues that were financially sustainable before Covid-19 with the funds to prevent permanent closure and stabilise until end June 2021.

Full eligibility criteria and further details are available on the Creative Scotland website.

Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: “In these extremely challenging times, this additional £4m in support of Scotland’s grassroots music venues is enormously welcome.

“Grassroots music venues are a vital part of Scotland’s cultural ecology, developing music and audiences as well as supporting talent. They will play a vital role in Scotland’s cultural recovery as and when we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The awards for the first round of the Grassroots Music Venue Stabilisation Fund were announced on Tuesday 22 September, when £2.2m in emergency support was provided to 68 venues across Scotland.

Look out for your blue envelope – although the first ones are white!

Appointments scheduled for next groups on the priority list

Blue envelopes containing an invitation to a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine appointment for people aged 70 -79 will start to land on doormats in several health board areas from tomorrow (Monday 25 January) – but, confusingly, the first batch will be WHITE!

A new booking system is being used by health boards in Lothian, Fife, Forth Valley, Ayrshire & Arran, Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Lanarkshire to schedule appointments for patients in order of priority. More boards are expected to make use of the technology as the vaccination programme expands.

The distinctive coloured envelopes will be delivered to households as the programme progresses though the different groups on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list. The letters will include information on how to reschedule an appointment if it is not suitable.

We are on track for all those aged over 80 to have received their first dose of the vaccine by the end of the first week in February.

No-one aged 80 or over should expect a blue envelope because they will be contacted directly by phone or letter.  

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We all know how easy it is to ignore some of the mail which comes through our letterboxes but these blue envelopes will be very distinctive and they will contain details of your vaccine appointment so please open them.

“The letters are being posted First Class and we have been advised by the Royal Mail that the colour will allow them to prioritise delivery.

“The blue envelopes will contain information about the time and place of your appointment and details on how to reschedule it if you are unable to attend.

“I would urge everyone to take up their appointment when they are offered one.

“The vaccination programme is one of three key ways we are working to beat this virus, along with our expanded testing programme to identify cases and break chains of transmission and the important lockdown restrictions everyone in Scotland must follow. All these measures work to greatest effect when they work together.”

UPDATE: Sunday 24 January

The first tranche of letters will use NHS branded WHITE envelopes but distinctive coloured blue envelopes are planned to be used as soon as possible as the programme progresses though the different groups on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list.

The letters will include information on how to reschedule an appointment if it is not suitable.

Further funding to support the wellbeing of Scotland’s health and social care staff

Additional funding of £500,000 is being allocated to provide practical measures of support for health and social care staff working to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Following direct feedback from staff, this funding will support local provision of hot drinks and snacks and other measures to aid rest and recuperation during their shifts, which will support their wellbeing and ease some pressures they face at work.

Enhanced wellbeing support services, backed by £5 million, are already in place to support health and social care staff. This includes the National 24 hour helpline, staffed by trained psychological  practitioners, and the National Wellbeing Hub, which is helping staff cope with stress, anxiety and resilience.  

 Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I have set very clear expectations that all Health Boards should promote both the physical and psychological wellbeing of staff, whether they operate in a hospital or a community setting.

“As we approached this peak of the pandemic, I asked officials to seek feedback from Wellbeing Champions across Scotland on what additional support may benefit staff during this most challenging period.

“I have listened closely to their feedback which has emphasised that little things like access to hot drinks and snacks can mean a lot and go a long way to support staff wellbeing.

“I hope this additional funding will further support Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to put in place the extra practical support that can make shifts a little easier for staff.”

Staff can access the 24 hour National Helpline by calling 0800 111 4191.

Man found guilty of Pirniefield Bank murder

A 44-year-old man has been convicted of the murder of 77-year-old Jadwiga Szczygielska. Roman Frackiewicz was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

Police were called around 7.50am on Saturday, 18 April, 2020 to Pirniefield Bank in Edinburgh after the body of Jadwiga Szczygielska was found within her home.

Detective Inspector Bob Williamson of the Major Investigation Team in Edinburgh explained: “Jadwiga Szczygielska was a generous and caring woman who was well liked within the community. She allowed Roman Frackiewicz to stay in her home at a time when he had nowhere else to live.

“Frackiewicz repaid Jadwiga by taking advantage of her within her own home and abusing her kindness. We will never know why he chose to attack her that night but his actions were violent, brutal and cruel resulting in the catastrophic injuries suffered by Jadwiga.

“This guilty verdict will never bring Jadwiga back but I sincerely hope it will bring some sense of justice to her family.”

Keeping Kids Safe: RoSPA launches campaign to reduce domestic accidents involving under-5s

A new safety campaign to help reduce the number of domestic accidents involving under-5s in Scotland has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

During lockdown many people are spending more time at home than ever before. However, more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else – every year in the UK, about 6,000 accidental deaths are caused by home accidents.

In Scotland, there are an average each year of 1,856 children under five years old injured so severely that they require hospital admission due to injuries in the home.

Evidence shows that falls, poisonings, burns and scalds – many of which happen in the home – are the most common injuries leading to A&E attendance and hospital admission for pre-school children.

Liz Lumsden, RoSPA’s community safety manager for Scotland, said: “Due to their inquisitive nature, children under the age of five are among the most likely to end up in A&E because of a home accident.

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many of us have spent more time at home than we may otherwise have done which can increase the likelihood of little ones having a mishap.”

To help prevent home accidents among young children in Scotland, RoSPA will be coordinating an awareness-raising campaigning which promotes key home safety messages this week. The campaign is supported by Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership, Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government.

The campaign will include short videos which demonstrate how to avoid common accidents that occur in the kitchen, bedroom, living room and other parts of the home.

Commenting on the campaign Community Safety Minister, Ash Denham MSP,  said: “I am pleased to see the launch of this campaign which looks to help prevent accidents in the home among young children.

“With children spending more time indoors at home, and the added factor of many parents having to juggle childcare with working from home, we know there is an increased risk of potential accidents.

“I would like to thank the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for their continued dedication to help keep our children and young people in Scotland safe during these unprecedented times.”

In addition to the campaign videos and graphics, you can find further home safety advice on the Keeping Kids Safe hub, at https://bit.ly/3iteczf

If Not Now, When?

Social Renewal Advisory Board report: January 2021

Tackling poverty and inequality can be central to Scotland’s recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a new report.

The Social Renewal Advisory Board has published 20 Calls to Action to help create a fairer country, with recommendations around the themes of Money and Work; People, Rights and Advancing Equality; and Communities and Collective Endeavour.

The report, If not now, when?, will now be considered by the Scottish Government.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “This ambitious report is a challenge to be bold as we recover from COVID-19.

“It recognises the strong response to the pandemic which has taken place across Scotland thanks to the collective efforts of local and national government, communities, organisations and individuals. The actions recommended build on work to tackle poverty and reduce inequality, taking a human-rights based approach.”

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Everyone has felt the impacts of the virus, but those who were already facing disadvantage have faced even greater challenges.

“We are committed to ensuring our renewal, alongside our response, ensures a Fairer Scotland for everyone no matter their circumstances.”

Sally Thomas, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Chief Executive and Joint Chair of the report’s Editorial Sub-Group said: “While there is no doubt the pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges, it has also re-energised work to tackle the inequalities that persist and stand in the way of Scotland becoming the inclusive, fair and progressive country we all want.”

Fellow Joint Chair and Chief Executive of Crisis Jon Sparkes said: “If accepted and implemented, the calls to action in this report will transform Scotland, building on firm foundations of social justice by continuing to tackle poverty and inequality, ensuring basic rights are realised and working towards fairer, healthier and empowered communities.

“We must seize this opportunity because if not now, when?”

If not now, when? – Social Renewal Advisory Board report: January 2021 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

The report calls for the Scottish Government to: 

  • commit to working towards a Minimum Income Guarantee for all
  • offer skills, training and qualifications programmes targeted to those most affected by the pandemic – including disabled people, minority ethnic communities and lone parents
  • commit to a new Affordable Housing Programme, delivering 53,000 affordable homes, including 37,100 homes for social rent
  • set a target to end digital exclusion in the next parliamentary term
  • work with local government and other partners to give more say to people and communities over the decisions which affect their lives
  • strengthen approaches to address and prevent hate crime and public sexual harassment.

Roll Your Sleeves Up: Scottish Government launches vaccination information campaign

A new campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as they are eligible launches today.

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will emphasise the importance of the vaccine and its safety, as well as the prioritisation list set out by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to ensure those most at risk are vaccinated first.

Vaccination will be offered to 4.5 million people in Scotland and is currently underway for residents of care homes for older people and their carers, frontline health and social care workers, and those aged 80 years and over. Local delivery is being led by NHS boards, who will contact those eligible to arrange their vaccination.

Those aged 70 and over and the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those on the shielding list will receive their first vaccine dose by mid-February, those aged over 65 will receive their first doses by the beginning of March, and vaccination of the wider adult population will commence once the remainder of the JCVI priority groups are complete by early May.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Vaccination offers us greater protection against COVID-19 and it offers us hope that this year will be a brighter one.

“It is another vital tool in our work to suppress the virus, but other measures including testing, and lockdown restrictions remain absolutely essential to suppress COVID to the lowest possible level in Scotland.

“These three critical actions will help us protect the NHS and save lives, towards a brighter year ahead. However, we don’t yet know how well vaccination stops people transmitting the virus to others – which is why it’s essential people protect the progress we’ve made, and continue to follow the restrictions currently in place, whether they have been vaccinated or not, while vaccine delivery is rolled out across the country.”

The ‘Roll your sleeves up’ campaign will run from today (21 January) to the end of March 2021 on TV, radio, press, outdoor and digital channels.

Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Dave Caesar said: “No matter which vaccine you receive, each has passed a rigorous three-phase testing process, reviewed by independent regulatory and advisory bodies to ensure it is safe and effective. 

“Your local NHS health board will be in touch with you to arrange your vaccination appointment when you are eligible, and I encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to do so.

“However, vaccination on its own it won’t be enough to win the race against this virus. 

“Each one of us needs to do all we can – following the guidance, abiding closely to the restrictions, washing our hands, wearing face coverings, maintaining 2m distance from each other – everything we can to slow down the spread of the virus and suppress its prevalence as low as we can, so that increasing vaccination can do the job we need it to do. 

“Doing all of that will help you protect yourself, protect the NHS and save lives.”  

For more information visit nhsinform.scot/rollupyoursleeves or call 0800 030 8013.

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