Tag: support

Clubbing together to support Ukraine’s journey to Homeless World Cup

Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers, five of Scotland’s biggest and most successful football clubs have joined together to support and aid Homeless World Cup Member Country Ukraine’s journey to the Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup.

Working alongside the Homeless World Cup Foundation, a recent donation from the five clubs has meant that Ukraine can send a team to this year’s tournament under difficult and challenging circumstances.

The donation will cover travel for Ukraine to compete in the 18th edition of the Homeless World Cup, being held in the US for the first time in its 20-year history.

‘The Way home’ has been a partner and worked alongside the Homeless World Cup for many years and have been an inaugural part of the tournament since 2004 and were winners of the Homeless World Cup in Milan 2009.

The Sacramento 2023 Homeless World Cup will take place from Saturday 8th July – Saturday 15th July 2023 at California State University, Sacramento. As well as the venue for the games, being played at the Hornet Stadium, the university will also accommodate the visiting countries from across the globe and their players on campus.

From Paris to Cardiff, Glasgow to Milan, Edinburgh to Mexico City and Melbourne to Cape Town, this world class tournament has been played in some exceptional cities and venues to bring awareness and understanding to this global issue – homelessness.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, world-class, international football tournament. Every year, teams of men and women who are homeless or have experienced homelessness get the chance to represent their country during the tournament.

Mel Young, co-founder, and Homeless World Cup President, said: “It’s fantastic news that the five Scottish clubs have come together to ensure Ukraine, one of our key partners can get to and compete in Sacramento, The Way Home has continued to work in extremely difficult conditions in Odessa.

“The Homeless World Cup always look to support our Member Countries however we can, and we look forward to welcoming Ukraine, who have fielded a team every year at the tournament since 2004 to Sacramento and the US for the 18th edition of the Homeless World Cup.

“All five clubs didn’t hesitate when asked to help our Ukrainian partner with their journey and we are incredibly grateful for their support in making this dream a reality to those players who will represent Ukraine on the international stage in Sacramento this July.

“I’m proud of the five Scottish clubs and the generosity they have shown by coming together to support Ukraine. This demonstrates how impactful football and sport can be in making a difference to the lives of so many.”

Aberdeen’s Chief Executive, Alan Burrows. said: “Football is a game for all and as a club we were delighted to play our part in supporting Ukraine’s journey to Sacramento to participate in the 2023 Homeless World Cup.

“The ongoing conflict in Ukraine shouldn’t be a barrier for those looking to participate in sport and the Homeless World Cup is the perfect example of how football can inspire and change lives for the better.

“We wish them all the best in the tournament.” 

Chief Executive of Hearts, Andrew McKinlay, said: “We’re delighted to have supported the Ukrainian team at this year’s Homeless World Cup. Everyone connected with Hearts knows well the power of football and how it can be a truly positive force in our lives.

“The conflict in Ukraine, and the widespread homelessness seen across the planet, affects us all. Initiatives like the Homeless World Cup are vital in raising awareness and supporting this global issue. 

“Everyone at Heart of Midlothian wishes the teams, organisers and all participants the very best when the tournament begins in California next month.”

Hibernian FC’s Non-Executive Chairman Malcolm McPherson, said: “The relationship that our club and supporters have with Ukraine is quite unique.

“Whether that’s through the work done by the Hibernian Community Foundation or through Dnipro Kids, we have all been committed to helping Ukrainian people through this incredible difficult time.

“We’re proud to be able to continue that support by backing the Ukrainian team at this year’s Homeless World Cup, which shines a light on two great issues that affect everyone worldwide; the conflict in Ukraine and global homelessness.

“Football is an incredibly powerful sport, and initiatives like the Homeless World Cup can inspire, enforce change, and raise awareness of these global issues.

“Everyone at Hibernian FC wishes everyone taking part in the tournament great success.”

Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, said: “Working with the homeless community is a regular feature of what we do here, and we are delighted that we can assist with this in some small way. 

“Football is universal and the Homeless World Cup is everything good about the game that we all love. I hope this year’s event in the USA is a great success for everyone involved.”

Connal Cochrane, Rangers Charity Foundation Chief Executive, said: “What a wonderful way to come together for a common cause. I hope the Ukrainian team create powerful memories and many new friendships in Sacramento.”

Douglas Ross visits Sight Scotland’s Hawkhead Centre

The Scottish Conservative Party leader, Douglas Ross MP MSP, has praised Sight Scotland Veterans for all the outstanding help and support it provides to veterans living with sight loss across the country.

Douglas Ross, MP for Moray and MSP for Highlands and Islands, recently visited Sight Scotland Veterans’ Hawkhead Centre in Paisley to see first-hand the great help and support the charity provides.

He was joined on the visit by local Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland Russell Findlay. Sight Scotland Veterans provides free support to armed forces veterans affected by sight loss throughout Scotland to help them regain confidence, restore independence, and make new connections.

During his visit, Douglas Ross was given a tour of the Hawkhead Centre and met many of the staff and volunteers who work there. He also spent time and chatted with some of the veterans the charity helps, discussing the issues they have and what support they require.

Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross said: “I was delighted to visit Hawkhead Centre in Paisley and learn more about the fantastic work they are doing to support veterans.

“It was truly inspiring to meet many of veterans and hear directly from them about how Sight Scotland is helping them cope with feelings of isolation and loneliness. Many of those being supported at the Hawkhead Centre have overcome many challenges thanks to Sight Scotland and I applaud them for bettering the lives of many.”

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Russell Findlay said: “We must always go the extra mile to support our veterans and those at the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley doing exactly that by empowering veterans to live as independently as possible.

“The spirit of comradeship is uplifting and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of activities. It was great to join Douglas Ross at the centre and I hope to return soon for another chat with the incredible veterans.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Communications at Sight Scotland, comments: “We were delighted to welcome Douglas Ross MSP to our Hawkhead Centre in Paisley.

“As a society we need to look after our vulnerable veterans and Sight Scotland Veterans plays such an important role in combatting social isolation, seclusion, and loneliness.

“We are hoping that having such a high-profile visitor to one of our centres can shine a brighter spotlight on the charity and all great things it does, plus provide a platform to discuss many of the issues facing the vision impaired community, such as increased ophthalmology waiting times, public transport cuts and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

“In simple terms, people living with sight loss across Scotland need more help.”

Sight Scotland Veterans provides support to all veterans in Scotland who are experiencing changes to their sight.

The Hawkhead Centre in Renfrewshire is an activity hub for ex-servicemen and women with sight loss. It’s a warm, welcoming place that brings veterans together. With a variety of activities and outings, the activity hub offers the means and support to adapt to life with sight loss and try new things.

Many veterans who attend the centre say the things they do there and the connections they have made have transformed their lives.

For more information on Sight Scotland Veterans please visit 

sightscotlandveterans.org.uk 

or call our support line on 0800 035 6409.

UK to give Ukraine major boost to mount counteroffensive

  • Up to £25 million expansion to harden Ukraine’s cyber defences as Russia continues its callous attacks
  • Funding will protect critical national infrastructure and vital services through bolstered cyber defence capabilities to Ukraine, enabling them to detect, respond and prevent Russian cyber-attacks.
  • Cyber defence funding comes as the Prime Minister prepares to make the case for the private sector to join the fight to push back Russia by investing in Ukraine

The UK will roll out a major expansion to its cyber defence programme in Ukraine, protecting the country’s critical national infrastructure from crippling Russian attacks.

The programme, which supports Ukraine’s Government to rapidly respond to and defend vital government services against debilitating cyber-attacks, will be boosted by an injection of up to £25 million and a two-year expansion.

The package will include £16 million in UK funding and potential for a further £9 million contribution from international allies.

It is the latest tranche of UK support to Ukraine as the country mounts its counteroffensive against Russian forces that have brutally invaded the country, using all domains to sow instability and attempt to destroy Ukraine’s rightful sovereignty.

The Prime Minister, who will this week make the case for the private sector to join the counteroffensive against Russia by supporting Ukraine through investment, will say that it is vital the international community hardens Ukraine’s defences to enable it to protect and grow investment into the country.

Ukraine has successfully fought back a number of cyber-attacks by Russian forces, including destructive wiper-ware attacks and covert espionage-ware attacks.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Russia’s appalling attacks on Ukraine are not limited to their barbaric land invasion, but also involve sickening attempts to attack their cyber infrastructure that provides vital services, from banking to energy supplies, to innocent Ukrainian people.

“This funding is critical to stopping those onslaughts, hardening Ukraine’s cyber defences and increasing the country’s ability to detect and disable the malware targeted at them.”

The UK-funded Ukraine Cyber Programme (UCP) uses world-leading expertise, from both the private and public sector, to protect Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure and vital public services.

The support, which builds on the Foreign Secretary’s announcement of £6.35 million for the programme last year, will also fund and provide forensic capabilities to enable Ukrainian cyber experts to analyse system compromises, attribute attackers and build better evidence to prosecute these indiscriminate attacks.

In addition to boosting cyber defences, the UK has also stepped up its military support to Ukraine.

This week, the UK contributed a further £250 million to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), which announced it would provide a major package of air defence, including radars, guns and ammunition to Kyiv to protect Ukrainian cities from indiscriminate Russian attacks.

That announcement followed the delivery of the UK’s long-range missile strike capability Storm Shadow last month, which has provided Ukraine with game-changing capability to defend itself from Russian attacks and degrade the capability of invading Russian forces.

International charity Street Child launches ‘Education is Her Right’

International charity Street Child has launched a campaign called ‘Education Is Her Right’ which aims to fund primary school education for girls in Afghanistan.

The country faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and the gains made over the past two decades, particularly in advancing women’s rights, are now in jeopardy.

The children’s charity Street Child’s has made an unwavering commitment to continue working with local organisations in Afghanistan despite the monumental challenges.

The charity’s campaign will highlight that just £100 will fund a girl’s primary education for a whole year – that’s just 27p per day!

The reduction of international development assistance, which once played a pivotal role in maintaining public health and education systems, has dealt a severe blow to the ability to implement vital programmes. T

he economic downturn, skyrocketing hunger, malnutrition, and inflation triggered by global commodity shocks have further compounded the challenges faced by the Afghan people.

In July, as part of Street Child’s ‘Education is Her Right’ campaign, Street Child is delighted to announce they have an appeal on BBC Radio 4 in which will highlight the need for funding to support the charity’s work in girls’ primary education in Afghanistan. 

The appeal will be presented by Christina Lamb OBE, a British journalist and bestselling author of books such as ‘I am Malala’, ‘Farewell Kabul’, and ‘Our Bodies, Their Battlefield; What War Does to Women’. The funds raised will be channelled to our local Afghan partners who are on the ground and working hard to use every pound as effectively as possible to deliver education for young boys and girls. 

Outside of the radio appeal, Street Child’s campaign showcases its wider mission to operate in the hardest to reach areas of the world, educating girls across 25 countries. The charity’s dedicated local partners in Afghanistan are striving relentlessly to improve the lives of vulnerable communities – driven by a shared mission to provide education, protection, and livelihood support to children, women, and families caught in the grips of the longstanding conflict and recurrent natural disasters. 

Tom Dannatt, CEO and Founder of Street Child, said: “Our view, is that if you can read, write, add up and take away you have a chance in this world. If you can’t do those things, then you really don’t.

However, feeding minds is tough to think about if you haven’t put food in your mouth and you’re hungry, so every dimension of an Afghan child is under threat.

“We’re really calling on the international community, in all its manifestations to play its part in dramatically increasing quantities of aid, and for members of the public to consider how they can help. Charities like Street Child are on the ground in Afghanistan with Afghan staff and donations can and do make a difference.

“Keeping children and their families safe is the centre pillar of Street Child’s work: all children have a right to be safe and safeguarded from risks, especially those which impact their ability to attend school.”

For further information: https://street-child.org/

UK to provide £16 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine

  • In recognition of growing needs FCDO to provide £16 million to enable aid partners to help civilians, including 32,000 people directly affected by flooding, as well as at the frontlines and displaced communities.
  • UK funding will assist aid organisations with their response and includes £10 million to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and £1m to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
  • To bolster rescue efforts and manage impact of ongoing flooding the FCDO is sending boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to Ukraine.

The UK has today (10 June) set out an additional £16m in humanitarian support as Ukraine deals with the aftermath of flooding caused by the destruction of Nova Kakhova dam, which has affected 42,000 people in the Kherson area, and continuing Russian attacks.

This builds on our existing humanitarian support of £220 million which is allowing partners, such as the Ukraine Red Cross, to help evacuate civilians affected by the flooding.

Alongside this the UK-led Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine has already delivered two specialist rescue boats, search and rescue equipment, and trauma medicine to Kherson to assist the ongoing rescue operations by the State Emergency Services.

The additional £16 million is given in recognition of mounting needs across Ukraine, including in the areas affected by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam.

Funding will support aid organisations in the area who are currently assisting people affected by the flooding with rapid response equipment, shelter and essential supplies, as well as in areas affected by fighting and communities who have been displaced.

Beyond the immediate rescue efforts, this funding will help to respond to the ongoing impacts from flooding, including waterborne infectious diseases, loss of livelihoods and risks from landmines.

The funding will consist of £10 million of support to the Red Cross Movement, £5 million to OCHA and £1m to IOM.

The UK is also providing a package of rescue boats, community water filters, water pumps and waders to help State Emergency Services of Ukraine responders deal with the ongoing impact of the flooding. Equipment is expected to start arriving in Ukraine by next week.

Today’s announcement comes as water levels in Kherson continue to rise, with flooding spreading to other towns along the Dnipro River. The UK has moved quickly to bolster its support to Ukraine as it deals with severe flooding from the dam, which is expected to last for weeks and leave many in need of food, water and basic supplies.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary James Cleverly said: Flooding from the destruction of Kakhovka dam is having an untold impact on over 32,000 people living in Kherson, and thousands more in the surrounding area.

“The UK is leading the way in providing support to those desperately in need. Our funding is playing a vital role in helping Ukrainian services and aid organisations evacuate people and get help to those in need.

“We will continue to stand by Ukraine in dealing with this terrible incident.”

This aid package is part of the UK’s total support for Ukraine which so far totals £1.5billion in economic and humanitarian support, which has paid for the delivery of more than 11 million medical items as well as food supplies, ambulances and shelter kits.

Earlier this week the Foreign Secretary visited Ukraine to highlight the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its recovery. During his time there he met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv and discussed how best the UK will continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.

The UK is also set to host the Ukraine Recovery Conference later this month, which will bring together governments and industry leaders to develop a concerted multi-sector plan to help Ukraine to recover from Russia’s illegal invasion.

Ukrainian families supported into own homes with £150m funding

Ukrainians in the UK will be helped into their own homes as part of a £150 million funding allocation.

The funding will be divided across the UK according to the number of Ukrainians in each nation: c.£109 million for England, c.£30 million for Scotland, c.£8 million for Wales and around c.£2 million to Northern Ireland.

Funding can be used by councils to help Ukrainian families into the private rental sector, help them get jobs, and continue sponsorship for guests’ second year in the UK.

Local authorities are best placed to understand the support needed for local communities and, within England, this funding will be used to help people remain in their current accommodation or find alternative housing, including in the private rented sector.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme has welcomed over 124,000 Ukrainians to the UK, with almost half of working-age nationals now in employment and settled into their local areas, having had the right to work, receive benefits and access public services from day one.

The Department for Transport has also announced it will extend the length of time Ukrainian refugees can drive in the UK on their home country driving licence, from one year to three, in a move that will help many continue the lives and jobs they have forged since arriving here.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said: “The UK has an honourable tradition of offering shelter to those fleeing the horrors of war. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of hosts in this country, over 124,000 Ukrainians have now found safety in the UK.

“Sadly, the fighting in Ukraine shows no sign of ending soon, so we are appealing for more people to become hosts while providing councils with this additional funding to support guests into long-term housing.”

Petro Rewko from The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain said: “Ukrainians everywhere are grateful to the government and the British people for opening their homes and hearts to Ukrainians fleeing their homes as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“We welcome today’s announcement, which recognises the commitment of sponsors and local authorities during difficult economic times and will provide additional support and reassurance to Ukrainian families as they rebuild their lives and seek to overcome the trauma of war.”

The UK government will continue to work with the Ukrainian government, the devolved administrations, local authorities and charities and voluntary groups to support guests and sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

The government is keen to ensure that Ukrainian guests receive the support they are entitled to while they are in the UK, and are helped into employment and long-term suitable accommodation, as soon as possible.

Hosts in the UK will continue to receive a monthly £350 thank-you payment during guests’ first 12 months, rising to £500 a month during the following 12 months.

To check how to apply to be a host, visit https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine

Bilderlings launches a project to support Healthcare Clowning

The Warm June project aims to help children in hospitals and to create a caring community among financial services users.

For each customer who signs up for a Bilderlings account from June 1 to 30, the company will donate €5 to the award-winning Hearts & Minds (UK) and Dr. Klauns (Latvia) charities.

Both organizations work with Healthcare Clowning which is a special kind of emotional support for children in hospitals. Through play, humour, and improvisation, the Clowndoctors help young patients to cope with stress and get better faster.

“As a financial institution, we know the value of making the right investments. We want to remind people that emotional health, the smiles of our children, and a humane environment are investments too, no less valuable than financial ones. That is why we encourage people to join our campaign to support Healthcare Clowning,” Bilderlings Executive Director Dmitry Kuvshinov says.

To make signing up easier and more enjoyable, account opening and maintenance will be completely free throughout June 2023 for certain rates.

According to Bilderlings, one of the main campaign goals is not only to support Healthcare Clowning directly but also to foster a community of people with big hearts.

Sean Donnelly, Hearts & Minds Chief Executive said: “We believe that meaningful human connection is vital for health and wellbeing, and so our Clowndoctors connect with those with challenging health conditions or additional support needs to bring colour, light and laughter creating moments of pure joy. 

“We are very grateful for the support offered by Bilderlings and we hope that those signing up for this wonderful campaign will know that their contributions will spread even more joy and laughter to those who really need it most”.

Marianna Milovska, Dr.Klauns Chief Executive, said: “When Clowndoctors are coming to the hospitals, they bring joy to children, they help to relieve stress in parents, and support medical staff during procedures — and thus making hospital atmosphere warmer and more humane.

“But for Healthcare Clowning program to really work, visits should be regular, so children, parents, and medical staff could trust and rely on the Clowndoctors’ presence.

“As a charity we depend on private and corporate donations. Of course, we are thankful for any support given, but especially grateful we are to a more systemic and regular approach, which helps us to build long-term plans.

“This is why we highly appreciate this Bilderlings initiative to build one more caring and helping community with their clients”,

Ready, steady … GO! Local care home sponsors Blackhall sports day

Strachan House care home in Edinburgh recently sponsored the Blackhall Sports for Children sports day to show their support to such a good cause.

The care home supported the good cause by sponsoring 3 races at their annual sports day. Residents from the care home also attended the event on the day to give some encouragement to the younger generations and chat to them about why keeping active is so important. 

Audrey Ross, an ex-school teacher and a resident at Strachan House said: “What a wonderful day it was. We saw some familiar faces, and it was lovely to cheer all the children on and watch them have so much fun!”

Strachan House has built up excellent reputations within its local community, regularly holding events and activities for residents and surrounding neighbours.  

Gordon Philp, General Manager at Strachan House said: “We are always keen to show as much support as we can to local charities. And this event being in our local community was why we wanted to show our support back.

“Showing community support is close to our hearts and having the opportunity to give something back to the younger generation is important.”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for residents from respite care to long term stays.

Two-thirds of Scottish SMEs report skills shortages continue to impact business success

67% of Scotland’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) owners and managers have reported that skills shortages are impacting their business growth and profitability, according to new research by Censuswide, on behalf of The Open University (OU) in Scotland.

For businesses with 10-49 employees, this rocketed to 83%. 

The survey, completed by 200 owners and senior managers of Scottish SMEs, identified people management (25%), finance (24%), digital technologies (22%) and project management (20%) as the top areas in which respondents were experiencing skills shortages. 

Environmental concerns and their impact on business growth are also front and centre for Scottish SMEs, with 85% of organisations planning to invest in ‘green’ staff training. Priority training areas included developing innovative and sustainable ways of doing things (37%), making their business more sustainable (36%) and renewable energy (32%).   

The survey also highlighted a lack of awareness among SMEs of the access they have to Scottish Government-funded employee training support. Less than a third of businesses had heard of the Scottish Funding Council Upskilling Fund (31%) and the Part-Time Fee Grant (29%). 

32% of businesses surveyed also knew about the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF), which offers SMEs access to £5,000 of free and flexible online training with the OU in Scotland, supported by the Scottish Funding Council. However, more positively, 75% of respondents would be likely to consider accessing funds in the next 12 months.

David Allen – Partnerships Manager for Open University.

David Allen, Senior Partnerships Manager, The Open University in Scotland, said: “Despite two-thirds of businesses overwhelmingly reporting skill shortages, current financial and economic pressures mean training budgets are often squeezed at the expense of skills development. 

“This does not need to be the case. Through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, SMEs can access fully funded high quality, flexible online training that addresses many of the core skills shortages facing them.

“Two-thirds of SMEs surveyed were unfamiliar with the available Scottish Government funded support. This is a core reason why the Open University in Scotland is determined to raise awareness of initiatives such as FWDF. 

“A positive outcome of our research is 75% of business owners surveyed are now likely to consider accessing Scottish Government-funded training in the next 12 months. It’s an opportunity for the taking.”

The survey findings also align with the experience of the Scottish charity Health in Mind, which recently undertook a training programme in partnership with the OU, utilising FWDF support.

Flora Henderson, Alliance Manager, Health in Mind commented: “The cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in a tremendous increase in demand for our services. At the same time, staff are affected by workload and a continued impact on staff absence levels.

“It was a priority to continue to offer genuinely valuable development opportunities, intended to help staff feel supported to grow and develop in their role. The FWDF has allowed scarce resources to have more impact and encouraged wider participation than would otherwise be possible.”

For more information on the OU’s flexible online training and the Flexible Workforce Development Fund visit: https://www.open.ac.uk/business/fwdf  

Amazon Announces New Term-Time Contracts

  • Amazon offers new term-time contracts, providing its operations employees in Dunfermline and across the UK guaranteed time off during Summer, Easter and Christmas holidays, enabling more time with their children
  • The innovative contract is part of a wider flexibility boost which also includes a part-time pick-your-shift option

Amazon has launched an innovative new contract that offers parents, grandparents and guardians of school-age children the choice to work term-time only.

The new contracts, available at the Dunfermline fulfilment centre, guarantee time off for the six-week Summer break, as well as the two-week Easter and Christmas holiday periods, without affecting the comprehensive range of benefits they receive, including private medical insurance and life assurance.

The contracts, aimed at better supporting family needs, were successfully trialed at three sites following employee feedback, and are now being phased in for employees in Dunfermline and across all Amazon’s fulfilment centres – the places where Amazon store, pick and pack items for sale. They will be rolled out to sort centres and delivery stations across the UK later this year.

Amazon also announced a new flexible part-time contract for a minimum of 80 hours a month which lets employees pick and mix the shifts which suit their needs; part-day or full-day, day or night, weekday or weekend. The contract will support people who are unable to find work due to family or other commitments that require flexibility, return to the workplace.

As with all roles at Amazon, a current employee could refer a friend or family member to this option, which could also provide similar, required flexibility to a partner at home. The part-time contract, piloted at five fulfilment centres and now being expanded to a further seven sites, was also introduced as a result of employee feedback.

Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We’ve listened to our employees’ views on flexible working and I’m really proud that we’ve introduced new and innovative options based on their feedback.

“Both of these contracts put a really important emphasis on work-life balance and I’m certain they’re going to make a positive difference for many of our people.”

John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK Country Manager, said: “At Amazon, we’re always innovating for our employees and our customers. I’m delighted to announce these new flexible working initiatives that provide even more choice for current and future employees, enabling them to better manage their home and work commitments.

“Amazon already provides a four-day working week for our fulfilment centre employees in the UK, and term-time contracts are another great example of how we are using feedback from our people to support them with their childcare needs, giving families more time together.”

He added: “Providing a flexible part-time contract where people can pick the shifts that best suit their needs will support our employees’ partners and other job-seekers with family caring commitments a route back to the workplace, helping to boost household income.”

Amazon already offers multiple types of contract. A standard working week is 40 hours, with shift-swaps and part-time options.

Term-time contracts are now available to thousands of Amazon’s fulfilment centre employees. The part-time pick-your-shift option has been rolled out to seven fulfilment centres following a successful trial, with more sites soon to follow.

GRoW (Get Ready for Work) supports women back into the workplace. Director Liz Sewell is particularly interested in term-time contracts: “Term-time working has the potential to give a lot of people the support they need, so it’s an interesting and progressive change at Amazon.

“We know that many women want to work flexible hours and for those with younger children term-time working makes so much sense. We believe it’s a great way to support a widening of the workforce as well as providing valuable flexibility for parents.”