Recommendations to transform temporary accommodation, including getting the right support in place from day one and giving more power to front-line workers, have been accepted by the Scottish Government. Continue reading Tackling temporary accommodation
A package of measures, including £50 million extra funding, is to be made available to health boards this year to reduce long waits for treatment. Continue reading £50 million additional funding to improve NHS performance
People across Scotland are being invited to join a conversation about community decision-making to help make public services more locally focused. The Democracy Matters conversation will identify new legal rights for communities which would place them at the heart of decision-making.
As part of the conversation people are being invited to consider a short set of questions on shaping local democracy. Community groups can also apply for grants of up to £300 to host their own events related to the project.
Communities Secretary Angela Constance said: “The start of the Democracy Matters conversation is an important moment for community decision-making in Scotland. We believe that more decisions about public services should be taken locally, and that communities should be able to influence those decisions.
“We want to hear from people across Scotland about the issues they want decisions on in their neighbourhood, town or village, and the kind of arrangements that would help that happen.”
COSLA President Alison Evison said: “Across the country, it is widely recognised that Scotland needs local solutions to the opportunities and challenges it faces.
“The conversation is a vital contribution to the change that is needed across all spheres of government to make Scotland a more democratic place, and to ensure that Scotland’s public services are built around the communities they serve.”
Scottish Community Alliance Director Angus Hardie said: “As things stand, communities often find that the really important issues that affect them the most are decided without their involvement and in faraway places.
“But if democracy is working well, most of those decisions would be taken much closer to these communities and often by local people themselves. Democracy Matters is a rare opportunity for communities everywhere – especially for those groups whose voice doesn’t always get heard – to become involved and to re-imagine how democracy can be made to work for everyone.”
The Democracy Matters conversation is a joint venture between the Scottish Government, COSLA and the community sector and will run over the next six months.
More information on how to take part in the conversation and how to apply for funding to run an event is available online.
You can also contact the organisers via: democracymatters@gov.scot
A new way of monitoring and recording bullying in Scottish schools will be introduced this autumn. The standardised approach will make it easier for teachers to identify trends and address the problem. Continue reading Beating the bullies: improved measures to be introduced
Scotland will become one of the first countries to achieve a 100% reduction in carbon emissions, Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced last week. Continue reading World leaders: Scotland’s Climate Change legislation set to be ‘toughest in the world’
An estimated 120,000 families will benefit from a new £100 national minimum school clothing grant in Scotland as a result of partnership working between Scotland’s Local Authorities and the Scottish Government. It means for the first time all eligible families, regardless of their local authority area, will have access to the same minimum level of financial support for school clothing. Continue reading New national school clothing grant
Schools across Edinburgh will receive £925,243 from the Scottish Attainment Challenge fund in 2018/19 to help boost attainment levels. This will be used by local schools to help those who need it most. Continue reading Funding boost for Edinburgh schools
Health Secretary encourages Scots to share their stories
Health Secretary Shona Robison is encouraging people across the Scotland to share their stories and memories of health care throughout the years at the launch of the celebrations to mark the run up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Continue reading Marking 70 years of the NHS
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:
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.
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
