“Trafficking and exploitation can take place in any community and does not only affect people from overseas. It is essential that if we see or suspect something then we contact the appropriate authorities.”
The number of potential human trafficking victims identified and given help in Scotland has risen over the last year. There were 213 referrals to Police Scotland in 2017, a 42% increase from 2016. The greatest increase was in labour exploitation referrals, and over half of reports referred to a male victim, a rise of 64% from the previous year.Continue reading Significant rise in human trafficking numbers
Owners of the 5,300 convenience stores across Scotland will be the focus of a new awareness-raising campaign on the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol. This is the first stage in a large-scale campaign to ensure retailers and customers are ready for the implementation of the new legislation on 1st May.
It comes as the Scottish Government is set to recommend a minimum unit price to the Scottish Parliament.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Minimum unit pricing will tackle the scourge of cheap, high-strength drink that causes so much damage to so many families and is going to save the lives of thousands of Scots.
“Retailers are the key to ensuring the legislation is implemented, which is why it is crucial we raise awareness of this change in the law early and give people time to get prepared.
“These materials will allow shop-owners to access a valuable bank of information to educate themselves and their staff ahead of the change on 1 May.
“Our consultation on the price of a unit of alcohol recently closed, and I am looking forward to presenting our recommendation to the Scottish Parliament next week.”
Posters, leaflets and adverts in trade magazines will be distributed from next week highlighting the changes to alcohol licences from 1 May.
Online resources will be available shortly after to provide guidance for retailers on issues like calculating the minimum unit price of a product, enforcement, and money-off vouchers.
Young people will help create a 10 year plan for volunteering in Scotland
As part of the Year of Young People, Communities Secretary Angela Constance has confirmed investment of up to £172,380 to develop a National Youth Volunteering Design Team in partnership with ProjectScotland and Young Scot.
Up to 25 young volunteers from a variety of backgrounds across Scotland will lead work to develop recommendations to help the Scottish Government ensure that by 2028, more people volunteer than do not.
Making the announcement at the Gathering 2018, Ms Constance said: “Volunteering is such a rewarding experience both for the volunteer and for our communities.
“This is an innovative and dynamic approach to increasing volunteering opportunities, especially for young people. Our commitment to equality and diversity underpins our approach to promoting volunteering and we want to increase such opportunities.
“Our Programme for Government promises to be bold in our vision for volunteering and to work with young people to better understand their aims and motivations. There’s no better time to do that than the Year of Young People.”
Dured Alhalabe, Founder of the Amal Project, volunteer from Aberdeenshire, and Young Scot Award winner said: “Volunteering has been so important to me. Volunteering brings people together, helps to develop new skills and makes our communities stronger. I think it’s great that other young people, like me, will have a direct say in developing the new strategy, so we can find new ways to encourage more young people get involved in volunteering.”
The number of hours nursery children spend outdoors is set to increase, Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, has announced. Inspiring Scotland will receive £862,550 to encourage and support greater use of outdoor learning in the early years. Continue reading Funding boost for outdoor learning
The Joint Programme Board overseeing the integration of British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland into Police Scotland has agreed to review the timetable. A longer timetable will allow for enhanced engagement with officers, staff and their representatives on key issues, including pay and conditions. Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has expressed disappointment at the delay, but the news has been welcomed by opposition parties at Holyrood. Continue reading Transport Police plan hits the buffers
The public spending watchdog has questioned government plans to fund increased nursery provision in Scotland. The Accounts Commission says in a new report (below) there is a “significant risk” councils will not be able to resource the government’s ambitious plan to double early learning and childcare hours by August 2020.Continue reading Question mark over government’s nursery places plan
Following allegations of abuse and misconduct by staff in the international development sector, Holyrood’s International Development Minister Dr Alasdair Allan has written to all non-governmental organisations working overseas and funded by the Scottish Government. Continue reading Ministers act following aid abuse allegations
A record number of early years apprenticeships are expected to start this year as part of the expansion of free nursery and childcare, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said yesterday. The Scottish Government is almost doubling funded childcare from 600 to 1,140 hours by 2020, backed by £243 million in the 2018-19 draft budget alone.Continue reading Double your money: cash boost fuels roll-out of funded childcare
