Tag: Scottish Government

Innovation Fund to tackle child poverty

Multi-million pound fund is open for applications.

Communities and charities with new ideas to tackle child poverty will be given the opportunity to bid for part of a new £7.5 million Innovation Fund. Announced as part of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, the fund, financed by the Scottish Government and the Hunter Foundation, is now open for applications from communities, local charities, health boards and councils.

A panel with membership from across the sector will judge the applications, which will support new or existing projects that will have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030.

Communities Secretary Angela Constance said: “We want to tackle child poverty and ensure the very best outcomes for children today, and generations to come.  As a government, we are taking bold action through our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, but we need to work together to make a difference.  

“We want to ensure that if actions to tackle poverty are working well in some communities, they can be shared elsewhere so more children and families can benefit.  Government can’t end child poverty on our own – so partnerships are vital to make change happen.”

Sir Tom Hunter, chairman of the Hunter Foundation added: “This is about engaging with local communities and people who can make a real difference. The fund’s priority is to meet the needs of families and carers and up to £100,000 per organisation can make a real difference. It is time Scotland changed the dynamic on poverty and set about leading the world in its eradication.”

 

Applications can be made online.

The Innovation Fund will support both new and the expansion of existing approaches that will have an impact on reducing child poverty by 2030 in a way that helps families to remain out of poverty for a minimum three year period and are viable and sustainable practices for public sector/third sector.

A scrutiny panel from across the public, private and third sector will provide advice on applications, members of the panel will include:

  • Jim McCormick (JRF)
  • Anna Fowlie (SCVO)
  • Sarah Gadsden (Improvement Service)
  • Gerry McLaughlin (NHS Health Scotland)
  • Fraser McKinlay (Audit Scotland)

Applications are now open and will close at midnight on 29 June 2018 with awards being made, subject to final diligence and shortlisted interviews/project visits, no later than 17 August 2018.

Applications can be made online.

 

Hospital Parking: Something needs to be done, says Briggs

They are not heeding my warnings, says Lothian Tory MSP

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative & Unionist MSP for Lothian, has received a written response from Shona Robison on his call for a national review of parking at all Scottish Hospitals (see below). Continue reading Hospital Parking: Something needs to be done, says Briggs

More people to get funeral support

New funeral benefit available to 50% more people

An extra 2,000 people will be eligible for financial support to help pay for a funeral, under Scottish Government plans. Improvements to Funeral Expense Assistance will also see an annual increase to the contribution for other funeral costs as well as quicker processing times – within 10 working days.

A public consultation is now open, seeking views on proposals including how to consider difficult family circumstances.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said:  “Arranging a funeral can be a daunting, stressful and painful process and if you are struggling financially it can make matters even worse. By extending eligibility we will reach more people who would have previously received nothing under the UK government system.

“We are taking action to support more people who are struggling with these costs and will invest more than £3 million each year, over and above the existing funding that will be transferred from the UK Government.

“We have listened carefully to the views of stakeholders and those with direct experience of the current DWP payment. I am keen to hear from as many people as possible during this consultation so we can continue to build a service that treats everyone with dignity, fairness and respect.”

 

LIFTing the lid on Scotland’s new social security system

LIFT (Low Income Families Together) organised an event to give local people an opportunity to learn more about the ongoing changes to the welfare and benefits system yesterday. Around sixty people attended the Scotland’s New Social Security System: What Does It Mean for You? conference in Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre yesterday. Continue reading LIFTing the lid on Scotland’s new social security system

UK Government welfare policies having ‘devasating impact’ on housing

 

Households renting in the private and social sector have been severely affected by UK Government welfare policies, according to a new report released by the Scottish Government.

The Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Housing report (below) highlights the negative effect of Universal Credit on both tenants and landlords, due to the major increase in rent arrears. In East Lothian for example, 72% of social housing tenants claiming Universal Credit were in arrears, compared to 30% of all tenants.

In addition, the UK Government’s freeze on local housing allowance rates – a benefit paid to private rental tenants  – has also substantially limited households ability to afford rent on properties.

The Scottish Government funds the full mitigation of the bedroom tax, which would otherwise affect over 70,000 individuals who would lose an average of around £650 a year, as well as providing additional funding for direct mitigation of welfare reforms, wider direct support for those on low incomes and advice and other services.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Almost half a million Scottish households receive some form of financial support for their housing. It is clear that UK Government welfare cuts are having a devastating impact, with money taken from the pockets of people across the country, pushing them into crisis and debt.

“We are doing all we can, with the powers we have to protect those on low incomes from these devastating UK Government cuts – spending more than £125 million this year alone to do so. This includes £62 million to fully mitigate the ‘bedroom tax’, help for those impacted by the freeze in local housing allowance, as well as providing support for low-income households.

“This report builds on previously published evidence of the undue pressure on people that UK government changes to our welfare system are causing, including housing. We want to ensure everyone has access to a safe, warm place to call home – as part of that, the UK Government must urgently change course.”

Annual Report follow up paper – Housing and Social Security

The Impact of UK Welfare Policy on Housing report is the third in a series of reports looking at the impact of UK welfare reforms. The first report focused on the impact on families, and the second report on the impact on disabled people.

In the private sector there are limits in the maximum housing benefit payable against rent, set in relation to household size and local market rents – the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates. The LHA rate was reduced as part of the coalition government welfare reform, to the 30th percentile of market rents, and has remained frozen since 2015.

Annual Report follow up paper – Housing & Social Security

Personalised online careers support for Scottish pupils

Recommendations of Learner Journey Review published

Every pupil in Scotland will have access to an online account with personalised support in choosing courses and planning a career, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced. It is one of seventeen recommendations in a review, of the journey through the education system for 15-24 year olds.

From 2019, pupils will have their own learner account where they can record their skills and qualifications and receive help in planning next steps into further learning or work.

Other recommendations to be taken forward by the Scottish Government, its agencies and the wider sector include:

  • More joined-up advice and guidance on post-school options across the education sector.
  • Young people to receive a better balance of work-based and academic skills informed by employer engagement, building on the success of the Developing the Young Workforce programme.
  • Improved collaboration between schools, colleges and universities to enable, where appropriate, greater flexibility for young people to move from S5 to year one of a degree, from S6 to year 2, and from college into years 2 and 3 of university.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Our school leavers now have a widening range of opportunities available – from industry-led technical professional options to long standing well-established academic routes. But what is clear is there is no single route to success in life.

“With a record proportion of school leavers going on to a positive destination, there is much to celebrate already. This review will build on firm foundations and challenges all of us within the education and skills sector to go further.

“Ensuring the right advice, support and guidance fits seamlessly around a pupil is vital. Schools, colleges, universities and employers must work together to help young people navigate what is, rightly, a wide and varied range of post-school opportunities.

“Taking forward these recommendations will require strong leadership across the sector but will ensure all young people are supported to take the learner journey that is right for them.”

Rebecca Slater, 19, from Aberdeen is an enquiry officer at Student Awards Agency Scotland who joined in 2017 as a modern apprentice. She said: “I began my learner journey when I moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, to start studying veterinary medicine at Edinburgh University. I chose to study this as, being someone who puts animal care at the centre of their life, I thought I would very much enjoy this career path.

“However, by the end of the academic session, I discovered the course was not actually for me and I would rather be in employment, so I left after first year and started to look for Modern Apprenticeships, where I could gain a qualification through my employment. This was very attractive to me as it was great to be able to get a qualification whilst I worked.

“I was lucky enough to find a job at SAAS through the modern apprentice scheme and recently gained my qualification for my SVQ in customer service. I really recommend the modern apprentice route and think more could be done to promote apprenticeship opportunities at school as university is not for everyone.”

Learner Review report

Key facts:

  • In 2015/16, 37.3 per cent of all school leavers went on to higher education, 22.4 per cent into further education, 28.7 per cent into employment.
  • Between 2007 and 2017 there has been an 18 percentage point increase in young people staying on to S6. Of those progressing from S6 to university, only around 1.4 per cent enter at year two of university.
  • In 2014/15, 8,402 HNC/D  students progressed onto university. Of this 48% articulated with Advanced Standing (where their credit was fully recognised); 10% with Advanced Progression (only some of their credit was recognised) and 42% with Progression (their credit was not recognised).
  • In 2016, 91 per cent of completers of a Modern Apprenticeship were in work 6 months after the completion date.