People should ’know who to turn to’ for health advice ahead of the New Year weekend. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith says it’s really important to know where to go for help over New Year, with seasonal illnesses such as flu and norovirus rising and further weather warnings for snow and ice that can lead to road accidents, slips and falls. Continue reading Staying safe over Hogmanay
Around 14,000 Police Scotland officers and staff are to receive enhanced training to assess instances of psychological abuse and coercive control in domestic abuse settings. Continue reading Additional police training to help tackle domestic abuse
Health Secretary Shona Robison has praised NHS and community staff dealing with significant extra demand during the Christmas period. Continue reading Health Secretary praises NHS staff
More than £100 million is spent each year to help relieve the worst impact of UK Government welfare cuts and support those on low incomes, the Scottish Government has said. This includes mitigating the bedroom tax for over 70,000 people, saving them an average of £650 a year, and providing £33 million support through the Scottish Welfare Fund, which has helped over 265,000 households since 2013, providing goods such as nappies and food. Continue reading “Staggering”: £100 million a year to plug welfare gap
Scots are being urged to start their New Year’s resolutions early and pledge to walk for 15 minutes a day, as the country takes steps towards becoming the world’s first Daily Mile nation. Continue reading Put your best foot forward
Community projects from Argyll and Bute to Shetland will share around £312,000 to regenerate their neighbourhoods, Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart announced today. As part of the Making Places Initiative, 19 projects will receive funding to bring people together to agree priorities for their area and shape future planning and design. Projects from Leith, Portobello and Wester Hailes are among the successful bidders.
The funding will support events that bring local people together with design professionals to identify how their places and communities can be improved. The 19 projects awarded funding include workshops to develop physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow, creating a development plan for Scalloway in Shetland and a plan to improve a shopping centre in Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.
Three Edinburgh initiatives have received the green light:
Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative
To develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.
Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty
To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.
Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust
Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.
Minister for Local Government, Kevin Stewart said: “I am pleased we received so many applications from a mixture of local authorities and community groups, keen to get local people involved in plans to improve their area.
“This scheme and every project supported by it creates more opportunities for communities to choose what works for them.
“Each project has its own design challenge, whether it is a plan to regenerate an area of a city centre or looking at a smaller site in a rural community. All of these projects should lead to improvements that will create benefit for hundreds of people.”
Making Places expands on the Charette programme, offering end to end support for community capacity building, design events and project delivery. The successful projects sharing a total of £311,890 are:
Ayr North £25,000 Proposed by South Ayrshire Council
Design workshops to develop a community action plan and vision, including development of play space and community garden on site of Whitletts Primary schools.
New Cumnock £4,005 Proposed by New Cumnock Development Trust
Community design events to develop a regeneration masterplan within the New Cumnock Community Action Plan.
Carlibar Park, Barrhead £6,000 Proposed by East Renfrewshire Council
Design workshop to create a masterplan for the town centre greenspace.
Mayfield £13,400 Proposed by McSence Ltd for In It Together Partnership
Series of workshops to involve the community in developing a masterplan for Mayfield & Easthouses.
Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes £20,000 Proposed by Wester Hailes Community Trust
Charrette to develop a masterplan for Westside Plaza with the aim of creating a civic square at the heart of Wester Hailes town centre.
Woodside Improvements £30,000 Proposed by Queens Cross Housing Association
Workshops to develop an action plan for physical and environmental improvements to the Woodside area of North Glasgow.
Scalloway £15,000 Proposed by Shetland Islands Council
Design workshops to consider the future development of Scalloway and develop a Local Place Plan.
Foxbar £15,000 Proposed by Renfrewshire Council
Workshops to support the local community to develop a Local Place Plan.
Dunfermline £24,810 Proposed by Carnegie Dunfermline Trust
Community led event to develop a masterplan for a key area in Dunfermline town centre.
Maryhill & Ruchill £5,000 Proposed by Maryhill Housing Association
Walking events and place workshops to identify community priorities and improvement projects.
Leith £35,000 Proposed by Citizen Curator & Leith Creative
Develop and pilot a People’s Place Plan for Leith, following the successful Leith Blueprint which created a community report.
Helensburgh £15,000 Proposed by Argyll & Bute Council
Community consultation to create a vision and masterplan to inform the future planning process.
Inverkeithing £15,000 Proposed by Fife Council
Community activities to deliver a Master Plan for Inverkeithing, focusing on community assets, strengths, interests and values.
Kirriemuir £10,000 Proposed by Kirriemuir Community Council
Develop an architectural plan for the Gairie Works site, a key priority identified in the Kirriemuir Charrette funded by Angus Council.
Clydebank £20,000 Proposed by West Dunbartonshire Council
Design-led project concentrating on Forth & Clyde canal and connection to Clydebank town centre.
Falkland £25,175 Proposed by Falkland & Newton of Falkland Community Council
Charrette to develop a vision and design statement for Falkland and its immediate environs which will combine spatial, social and economic strategies and solutions.
Glasgow, Phoenix Nursery, Test Unit £9,500 Proposed by Agile City Community Interest Company
Project to progress ideas generated by Charrettes into physical prototypes that test assumptions and engage with local audiences.
Pollokshields: Mark Makers, £12,000 Proposed by The Pollokshields Trust
Develop plans for the creation of the ‘East Pollokshields Urban Common’ on the site of a derelict bowling green.
Portobello: Westbank Street Placemaking Project, £12,000 Proposed by Action Porty
To produce a community led, mixed use development masterplan for council owned land at Westbank Street, Portobello.
Further details of the Making Places Initiative and how to apply for support is available online
More than £14 million of funding will support the work of 117 charities helping children and young people throughout Scotland. The money, from the 2018/19 Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund, will enable a wide range of projects aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people and supporting adult learning to be delivered. Continue reading £14 million for young people and communities
Additional capacity for night shelters and extra staff to help get more people into accommodation are among the actions being taken to tackle rough sleeping this winter. Continue reading All I want for Christmas? A safe and warm place to sleep
Primary pupils across Scotland received a series of festive-themed maths puzzles to take home for the school holiday as part of a drive to encourage more positive attitudes towards numeracy and maths. The five puzzles are aimed at Primary Six pupils and their families to complete over the holidays as a fun way of exploring maths outside the classroom. Continue reading Making maths fun: John Swinney launches Christmas Maths Challenge
Help available for low mood, depression and anxiety
People experiencing depression, low mood or anxiety should be encouraged to seek help this Christmas, the Mental Health Minister has said. Maureen Watt also thanked those who provide help and support to those dealing with mental health problems associated with stress and loneliness at this time of year.
Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone line offering advice to people experiencing anxiety, depression or low mood. Also available is Living Life, which offers more in depth telephone-based and online therapy.
Samaritans provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day, for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Ms Watt said: “I think our much greater awareness of mental health issues in recent years has highlighted that this can be a difficult time of year for many people. Hopefully that increased knowledge also means that people know that they do not need to suffer alone, that support is available and that no-one should ever feel afraid to speak up and ask for help if they feel depressed or anxious.
“I would urge anyone who is feeling low or anxious to reach out to Breathing Space, Samaritans or other services to make sure they get help. This time of year can be overwhelming and we should all aim to be more aware of the toll that can sometimes take and do what we need to reduce unnecessary stress and anxiety.
“I also want thank everyone across the country – in the NHS, social services, the third sector and in local communities – who is working to ensure that people in distress have someone to help them.”
There are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce stress and anxiety over the festive period:
Tony McLaren, National Coordinator of Breathing Space, said: “Remember, if you are experiencing emotional distress during the festive season and feel you can’t talk to your family or friends, then call a phone line such as Breathing Space. Our advisors are available every day of the year to listen and offer you support. Call them in confidence on freephone 0800 83 85 87 to talk about what you’re going through.”
Executive Director of Samaritans in Scotland, James Jopling, said: “If you’re dealing with difficult thoughts and feelings, the festive season can make everything seem worse. Whether you’re on your own or feeling alone in a crowd, we don’t want anyone to struggle. So, remember you can call Samaritans for free from any phone and, if you’re expecting to have a good Christmas this year yourself, have a think about those around you who may not be as lucky and give them the gift of listening.”
Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123.
