Pupils at Leith Academy have received a major boost, with Tesco donating £1,500 to ensure young people have access to a healthy breakfast before they start their school day.
The Leith Academy Breakfast Cafe project was established 12 years ago to make sure pupils attending school can set themselves up for the day ahead, providing healthy breakfast snacks such as cereals, yogurts, juices and slices of toast.
To bolster the service, the school applied to Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme, which awards funds to charities and community organisations that make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.
The school’s application was successful, earning it the special £1,500 grant, and teacher Sheila Ralston said the money will go towards giving young people further support at the beginning of the day, allowing the school to provide food products and new kitchen equipment for the café sessions.
Sheila said: “When a child arrives at school, they sometimes haven’t been able to have access to a full, healthy breakfast, which makes focusing during school even more challenging for them.
“Our experience has shown that a breakfast club plays an integral role for pupils from all backgrounds, ensuring that every pupil has a positive start to their day.
“With a wide range of students from a variety of backgrounds, we strongly agree that no child should be hungry, so with our free breakfast café, we’re providing an opportunity for them to start the day right. Also, to prevent any food going to waste, any leftovers are also provided to our Community Fridge to provide support to further others in our community.
“With this Tesco funding, we can continue to purchase healthy food items such as cereals and yogurts to support more pupils looking to start the day in the right way. We’d like to thank everyone who voted for our school and helped us to receive this grant to further boost our breakfast café project.”
The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many community projects and good causes in the coming years, with thousands of pounds to give away. The scheme typically gives shoppers a chance on voting for local good causes to receive a £500, £1,000 or £1,500 grant.
Since Tesco launched its Community Grants programme in 2016, more than £100million has been given to more than 50,000 local schools and community groups.
Shoppers can support their local school and children’s groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.
Gilmerton Primary School on Moredun Dykes Road, has received a donation of £1,000 worth of equipment from Amazon in Edinburgh.
The donation from Amazon went towards updating the school’s library to promote reading to pupils. The donation included bookshelves, beanbags and technology, and followed a £500 donation of books made to the school by Amazon earlier in the year.
To mark the donation of equipment, the team from Amazon in Edinburgh visited staff at Gilmerton Primary School to donate the items.
Megan Malone from Amazon in Edinburgh said: “I’m so pleased Amazon is supporting pupils at Gilmerton Primary School with this donation.
“It was great to see how far the library has come along from being just an empty classroom and getting to meet members of staff at the school to help them develop this, and I hope this donation inspires pupils to read more and spend time in the library.”
Catriona Webster at Gilmerton Primary School, added: “Thank you to Megan and the team at Amazon for this donation.
“This equipment means a lot to our pupils and will have such a positive impact on their learning. We look forward to making use of our updated library!”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.
Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 5 million surplus goods to over 500,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, and Tees Valley.
Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
All 31 Health and Social Care Partnerships have now signed up to a programme which supports people experiencing distress.
The Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) service was first launched as a pilot seven years ago and provides support to people who present to emergency services or in primary care settings in a distressed state. Since then, more than 75,000 people have been helped.
The programme can offer people an initial call within 24 hours. They are then provided with up to two weeks of one-to-one support with a specially trained practitioner to help address issues which might be contributing to their distress, such as money worries and relationship problems.
Frontline staff in Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, Accident and Emergency Depts, Primary Care and NHS24 can refer people who present to them in emotional distress – and if assessed as appropriate – to third sector organisations which provide compassionate and personalised support.
People in distress who speak to a call handler at NHS24, Police Scotland or the Scottish Ambulance Service can also be referred for DBI support, from anywhere in Scotland.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “In developing our world leading DBI programme over 75,000 people across Scotland have received the right support at the right time and in the right place.
“This innovative referral pathway and collaborative approach has helped reduce pressures in the Scottish Ambulance Service, A&E and Police Scotland, allowing frontline staff to focus on other responsibilities.
“By investing £24 million in the programme since 2016, the Scottish Government has ensured a Scotland-wide approach has been taken to help people cope when they are in a distressed state. It is clear that this help provided to people is invaluable.”
Professor Rory O’Connor, Professor of Health Psychology at University of Glasgow, President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and co-lead for the intervention and training components of DBI, said: “DBI is an incredible achievement.
“Tens of thousands of people in distress have received immediate, compassionate support since its launch in 2017. DBI is a remarkable team effort by colleagues up and down the country, driven by the shared purpose of delivering compassionate, connected support to people when they need it.
“I am so proud to be involved in this world-leading mental health intervention.”
Kirstie McCulloch, who received support and now works for DBI said: “I was experiencing severe panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, due to the Covid lockdowns. NHS 24 helped me when I had a severe panic attack, and I came off the call feeling less distressed. I still needed some support, so I was referred to the DBI service, which in my local area is run by SAMH.
“I was a little unsure initially, but the support was invaluable. By the end of the two-week service, I felt I had a better perspective on how to move forward. I asked my practitioner how they came into the role, and I knew this was something I would like to do for others.
“In the 18 months I have worked here, I have delivered compassionate support and helped people get back on their feet. I get huge satisfaction from this role.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “Policing is often the first response when people need help. Our mission is to keep people safe and we’ll always respond to threat, harm and risk to ensure public safety.
“Our involvement in mental health incidents and supporting vulnerable people has a significant impact on this organisation and is beyond where policing should be. That’s not the best support for those who need help and it’s not delivering best value for the public.
“DBI enables trained officers to identify when someone needs support and signpost them to the right service, allowing them to redirect to tackling threat, harm and risk and preventing crime.”
With your help we can support survivors this Christmas
We are collecting donations to provide vouchers to the women and children we support throughout the festive period. The provision of vouchers allows those we support to celebrate Christmas however they would like without the financial burden this time of year often brings.
£10 would contribute to the cost of a Christmas meal for a woman and her children living in refuge.
£25 would contribute to the cost of presents, activities, and trips over the holiday period to ensure that a child in refuge has a more enjoyable Christmas.
£50 would contribute to the cost of food, presents, and essentials for a woman and her children living in refuge over the Christmas holidays.
£75 would contribute to the cost of food and essentials over the holidays and beyond for women and children who have access to no other funds.
We have had extraordinary success in providing those we support with vouchers at Christmas for the past three years. The women who received these vouchers were thrilled that they were able to make choices about what gifts they and their children most needed or wanted.
Women told us:
‘Today I am going shopping and am excited to be able to choose presents for my children.
“I want to say a big thank you for your kindness, love, and the gift vouchers we received. I cannot express our joy and gratitude to you all.
“From our hearts we say a big thank you and know that we appreciate all your love and care so much.“
We’re also happy to support you in your own fundraising campaign for EWA. We’ve been so honoured by the heartfelt fundraisers our supporters have organised in the past.
An initiative to provide free after school and holiday clubs for families on low incomes has helped more than 3,500 children to attend football and other sport sessions, increasing access to sports and improving their mental health during its first year.
An impact report published by the Scottish FA shows a £4 million investment from the Scottish Government is helping efforts to end child poverty by supporting parents and carers to increase their working hours, thereby maximising the effect of any financial savings, and has been especially successful in supporting lone parent families.
The report also shows that the number of parents and carers benefitting from the Extra Time initiative rose by 80% in the first six months of the programme, with increased funding helping thousands of children attend regular services which provide childcare options for their parents.
Extra Time is a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish FA that provides funding for 31 local football clubs and trusts to provide free access to before school, after school and holiday clubs for targeted primary school children from families on low incomes.
Attending the first anniversary celebration of the launch of the project at Hampden Park, with Extra Time Ambassadors and former professional players Stephen O’Donnell and Suzanne Winters, Minister for Sport Maree Todd said: “Extra Time is having a positive impact right across Scotland by providing affordable and accessible childcare options in local communities for thousands of families.
“The First Minister has made clear we will continue to prioritise action to end child poverty by removing barriers to affordable and accessible childcare. This initiative will contribute to this.
”We know it is working for those most at risk of living in poverty, supporting parents to maintain their current employment or gain new employment.
“It is making a real difference for children and young people too, with mental health benefits for participants – improved confidence, happiness, and social skills – and the provision of food at sessions is helping to tackle food insecurity and to promote healthy food choices.”
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “At the Scottish FA we regularly speak of the power that football has to positively benefit society and the Extra Time programme is a shining example of the social benefits that football is able to provide off the pitch.
“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for their support in delivering this programme over the past twelve months and look forward to continuing our work on the programme to deliver tangible benefits to families and communities across the nation.”
Former Scotland Women’s International and Extra Time Ambassador Suzanne Winters said: “Through my work with Queens Park Football Club I have witnessed first-hand the incredible impact that this programme has had on the families involved with it.
“It is a fantastic example of football making a difference off the pitch.”
Former Scotland Men’s International and Extra Time Ambassador Stephen O’Donnell said: “It is heart warming to see the children in this programme enjoying their access to football through this programme while also benefitting them and their families through the free childcare.”
The UK’s first children and young people’s bereavement charity, Winston’s Wish, is delighted to announce its new partnership with cancer care charity Maggie’s. These two national charities are pleased to work together to help ensure that children and young people receive true wraparound support when someone in the family or friend circle is living with advanced cancer.
Winston’s Wish is the UK’s first charity established especially for bereaved young people. Estimates suggest that, devastatingly, each day, more than 100 children in the UK are bereaved of a parent and that figure doesn’t equate how many young people are coping with the death of a sibling, grandparent, friend, or another significant individual in their lives.
Maggie’s has 24 cancer centres built in the grounds of NHS hospitals throughout the UK. The charity provides expert support from diagnosis onwards for the person with cancer as well as family and friends.
Maggie’s Chief Executive Dame Laura Lee said: “Our experts are there for people at possibly the hardest time of their lives, offering free practical and psychological care and support when they need it most. We are here for people with cancer and those who love them for every stage which includes pre bereavement or when bereaved.
“In 2023 we supported people living with cancer more than 300,000 times and we know that number will only rise as more people find themselves living with cancer.”
Each year Winston’s Wish supports and impacts the lives of more than 80,000 grieving children and young people when their lives are turned upside down by bereavement.
Winston’s Wish supports grieving young people up to the age of 25, offering offers a range of services designed to support children 12 and younger to explore grief through arts and play such as creative therapy. The charity also provides special support and content designed for 13–25-year-olds on the charity’s Talk Grief website which includes real life stories and articles regarding what it’s like to grow up with grief.
They also produce a special podcast entitled Grief in Common which features interviews from the charity’s dedicated Youth Ambassador Team, made up of those with lived experience of grief.
As well as providing support with bereavement, whether it is from traumatic circumstances, illness or other circumstances, the charity also provides advice for pre-bereavement when there is a terminal diagnosis including offering expert support surrounding how adults can talk to younger children about death and dying, the importance of using direct language and tips about how to remember their special person.
In a similar vein, Maggie’s supports the entire family when there is a cancer diagnosis and offers support to young people when somebody in their circle receives the news that someone they love has cancer.
Winston’s Wish vision is that no child is left to grieve alone and as such, Winston’s Wish is pleased to be joining forces with the national cancer charity, in order to be visible and accessible in relevant spaces. As part of the partnership, each charity’s services will be signposted to service-users to ensure that they know of the specialised support available to them.
Letizia Perna, Director of Services and Service Transformation at Winston’s Wish is pleased to officially announce the partnership between the two charities. She says, “As we publicly announce the partnership between Winston’s Wish and Maggie’s, we will be combining expertise in childhood bereavement and cancer support.
“This strategic partnership between our two charities demonstrates a profound commitment to supporting children, young people, and families impacted by cancer, particularly those navigating the challenges of bereavement. Together, we will offer a compassionate network that embraces bereaved children, young people, and families, ensuring they feel seen, understood, and supported through their grief journey.”
Maggie’s Chief Executive Dame Laura Lee said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Winstons’ Wish. By working together, we will ensure that thousands of children and young people experiencing bereavement through cancer get exactly the right support they need.
“We see and hear in our centres everyday how the impact of a cancer diagnosis ripples out through families.”
Together with Maggie’s, Winston’s Wish is keen to ensure that its services are visible and accessible to the countless children, young people and their families throughout the UK whose lives are turned upside down by grief. With support from Maggie’s and their expert cancer support, the charities are pleased to announce their partnership and work together to improve the accessibility of support for young people when cancer is close to home.
Winston’s Wish is keen to reassure bereaved young people and their families that they are welcome to chat online, email or call for free to speak to a bereavement support worker by calling 08088 020 021 between 8-8 weekdays, emailing ask@winstonswish.org or using the live chat at winstonswish.org.
Winston’s Wish is pleased to launch its Christmas appeal, entitled ‘Colour Their Christmas’. This heartwarming animated video serves to remind people that this winter there are children and young people facing the festive season without the special person they love.Winston’s Wish can’t take their grief away, but we can help grieving children and young people find glimmers of hope. And with your support, together, we can bring colour back into their world. To donate, please visit Colour their Christmas | Winston’s Wish.
This Carers Rights Day (Thursday 21 November 2024), unpaid carers across the country are being encouraged to check their eligibility for financial support from Social Security Scotland.
It is estimated that there are around 800,000 unpaid carers, including 30,000 under the age of 18, providing care for a family member, friend or neighbour in Scotland.
Research also suggests that many do not see themselves as a carer, meaning they do not take up support they are entitled to.
There are three payments delivered by Social Security Scotland dedicated to supporting unpaid carers.
Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland and is now available for new applications Scotland-wide.
Young Carer Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement are only available in Scotland. There has been a 26% increase in Young Carer Grant applications from those aged 16-18 in the 12 months to September 2024 compared to the same period the previous year.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government has supported around 164,000 unpaid carers through social security payments since 2018. We understand their important role and that many may be juggling caring with work, study or family commitments.
“That is why we’ve been working closely with carers and organisations that represent them, to develop a better social security system in Scotland. This includes improving the application process and providing two payments that are only available for carers here in Scotland.
“This Carers Rights Day, I urge everyone who carries out a caring role to find out more about the financial help available. And if you know an unpaid carer, whether a student, work colleague, friend or even someone caring for you, let them know support is available.”
As part of Carers Rights Day, Social Security Scotland has organised a pop-up event at South Lanarkshire College to help raise awareness amongst students about the financial support available and to support them with applying.
Head of Student Services, Rose Harkness, said: “South Lanarkshire College proudly support carers of all ages who provide unpaid assistance to loved ones facing illness, disability, mental health challenges, or addiction.
“Our inclusive environment enables carers to achieve qualifications without barriers through tailored guidance, course and funding advice, and support with completing applications.
“Working in partnership with Social Security Scotland has encouraged more of our carers to check eligibility and apply for funding to help in their caring role. We are committed to empowering carers for both academic success and personal growth.”
Carer Support Payment is available to people providing care for 35 hours or more a week, earning a maximum weekly income of £151 after tax, National Insurance and expenses, to someone who receives disability benefits. It replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland and is a payment of £81.90 per week. Carer Support Payment is also available to some carers in education. This includes full-time students aged 20 or over and students under 20 in advanced or higher education. Students aged 16-19 in non-advanced education e.g. studying for National Certificates, Highers and Advanced Highers, may also be eligible. Carers in Scotland who are already receiving Carer’s Allowance don’t need to apply for Carer Support Payment. Their benefits will be automatically transferred. This process is due to complete in spring 2025.
Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 and is available for carers age 16, 17 or 18 who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving certain benefits. The money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an automatic payment made twice a year to unpaid carers receiving Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland or Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The next payment of £288.60 will be paid on Friday 6 December for those who were paid Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 7 October 2024. The Scottish Government has committed to replace six monthly lump sum Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments with more regular payments alongside Carer Support Payment once case transfer is complete.
People affected by an eating disorder can expect higher and more consistent standards of care following the roll-out of new national guidance for services.
The publication of a national specification will support both the NHS and local services to deliver person-centred, safe and effective care. The new guidance was developed by a working group of experts with academic and clinical practice experience, alongside people affected and their families.
The blueprint aims to ensure that everyone has access to a high-quality standard of service regardless of what stage they are in their recovery and is for care across all stages of treatment, from primary care to specialist inpatient care.
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Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “We want to create a more supportive, accessible, and effective care system for everyone affected by eating disorders.
“This new guidance is another step on the way to delivering the recommendations from the National Review of Eating Disorder Services and I am grateful to all those involved in putting it together.
“The full implementation of this specification has been a long-term goal but by working alongside clinicians, patients and their families, we aim to build a brighter, healthier future for everyone affected by eating disorders in Scotland.”
Chair of the National Eating Disorder Network Professor Cathy Richards said: “I’m delighted that the national specification has now been published and want to recognise the hard work of all who have been involved in its development. It is a privilege to work with such a committed group of stakeholders.
“I want to recognise the dedication of those delivering vital care and treatment amidst real and pressing challenges.
“I look forward to working with everyone involved to develop local, regional and national improvements to ensure the new national standards are delivered consistently to benefit all those affected by eating disorders.”
Co-Chair of the National Eating Disorder Specification Working Group, Lived Experienced Peer Researcher, Ellen Maloney said: “The launch of new national guidance is important to make sure that everyone in Scotland who experiences an eating disorder can access the right help at the right time.
“I hope these standards will make a real difference for people with eating disorders, providing the care and support they need.”
Scotland’s Migration Service, which provides information and advice for people, employers and investors, has been expanded to offer support to a wider range of individuals.
The service will support newcomers to settle in Scotland, help more people and employers to navigate the immigration system, and attract more working-age people to Scotland – helping address skills shortages and curb population decline.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart launched the expanded service on a visit to iGii, a technology business in Stirling that benefitted from advice from the first phase of Scotland’s Migration Service on hiring skilled workers from abroad.
Ms Stewart said: “Population decline is one of the biggest challenges for Scotland’s future, with all population growth projected to come from migration. Expanding Scotland’s Migration Service will help ensure that communities, public services and businesses can access the people and workforces they need to thrive into the future.
“Supporting migration also has significant potential to boost our economy. For example, attracting 1,000 higher rate taxpayers each year for five years could add £98 million to the Scottish Budget.
“Since launching its first phase earlier this year, Scotland’s Migration Service has provided free advice appointments to more than 150 individuals, employers and investors, and service website pages have been viewed by more than 14 thousand users.”
iGii CEO Jean-Christophe Granier said: “Access to world-class talent is essential for a scaling business like ours, which relies on highly skilled experts in technical scientific fields, often sourced from Scotland’s university network.
“We’re growing quickly, so anything that eases our path to hiring quality talent locally and internationally is helpful.
“We expect the new service to make hiring the talent we need to continue to grow easier and more transparent for both employers and employees.”
To deliver Scotland’s Migration Service, the Scottish Government has partnered with the immigration law firm Seraphus and with Citizens Advice Scotland.
Christopher Desira, Director at Seraphus said:“As a partner of Scotland’s Migration Service, we’ve seen firsthand how the partial launch has already provided essential support to employers and investors, simplifying the recruitment of international workers”.
“With the full launch, the expanded resources and webinars will enable even more effective access to crucial information, strengthening Scotland’s ability to attract and retain skilled professionals.”
Citizens Advice Scotland CEO Derek Mitchell said: “Since April, our advisers have supported almost 3,300 clients with immigration advice, a 20% increase on the same time last year. By working with Scotland’s Migration Service, we can provide better support for our network and make a meaningful impact to people’s lives.
“Whether you’re an overseas student navigating an extended stay or have recently moved to Scotland, our network of advisers are ready to help people thrive and settle into their new home.”
The introduction of rent controls has received support from the majority of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill aims to improve housing outcomes for people who live in private rented accommodation and ensure a fair balance between protection for tenants and the rights of landlords. It comes as the Scottish Government and an increasing number of councils have declared housing emergencies.
In its report, the majority of the Committee welcomes the ambition in the provisions to re-balance the private rental sector and improve affordability for tenants. However, despite recent announcements from the Scottish Government about how the rent cap would operate in practice, the Committee has called for further clarity noting that continued uncertainty could impact investment within the sector, in turn impacting on choice and affordability for tenants.
The report also recognises that, in isolation, the Bill in itself is not the answer to the housing emergency, which has been caused by a range of factors, including the shortage of affordable and social housing, increased rents in the private sector, high inflation, freeze of housing allowance rates, labour shortages linked to Brexit, and cuts in Scotland’s capital funding settlement from the UK Government.
However, the Bill does have a role to play in better balancing tenants’ rights with landlords’ needs.
Speaking as the report launched yesterday, Committee Convener Ariane Burgess MSP said:“We are currently in the midst of a housing emergency and this Bill is an important part of the solution to address that by redressing the imbalance in the relationship between tenants and landlords.
“For rent controls to be effective, however, there is a need for certainty for both tenants and landlords about measures within the Bill and how the proposals will work. It’s disappointing that it was only last week that the Housing Minister made an announcement about how rent controls might work.
“The Bill before us does not provide detail on many aspects of how the legislation will operate, and with consultation on some aspects of the Bill continuing until 2025, there will be little room for parliamentary scrutiny in an area which is critical to get right for the long-term sustainability of the private rental sector.”
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The Bill also puts in place requirements for the collection of data from private landlords in order to make a case for the creation of local rent control area . But with the onus on local authorities to collect and monitor the data, the Committee is concerned that there is a lack of resource to deliver that requirement which could hinder the effective use of rent control areas.
The Convener continued:“For rent controls to work, there must be accurate data but the Bill before us has no clear plans for robust data collection. This is why our report recommends that there is a national approach to data collection to help assess rental markets.
“We would also like to see the onus put on landlords by creating a requirement for them to routinely provide data rather than only respond to requests from local authorities.”
The Committee also welcomed measures within the Bill which support tenants’ rights to personalise their homes and their right to own pets.
It also makes recommendations for there to be more support for tenants in exercising their rights, and for landlords too to help them better understand their duties, saying that legislation is not enough on its own to achieve the necessary balance between tenants and landlords’ rights.
