Farzan Dalal, a Design for Change student from Midlothian is running 22 miles to raise money for refugees this June.
Edinburgh resident Farzan, age 30, has set himself the goal of covering 22 miles as part of the British Red Cross Miles for Refugees challenge, which is the equivalent of a journey across the English Channel.
For the month of June, anyone can take on one of six distances that highlight the life-risking journeys refugees are forced to take to reach safety.
Farzan, says he is taking part in Miles for Refugees for very personal reasons: “The refugee crisis is very close to my heart. People forced to leave everything they know to be home, in search of safety is heartbreaking but at the same time unfathomably courageous!
“In my home country, as a queer person in a closeted society, I have experienced continuous inner conflict. A fear of rejection, and a constant effort to maintain a front that hides my queer identity.
“It is exhausting, emotionally unfulfilling, and a looming fear for my safety.”
Farzan, who moved to the UK just before the coronavirus pandemic, added: “My experience does not at all equate to people fleeing homelands on account of conflict, oppression or climate change., I am highly privileged to be moving countries at my will, but I can still empathise.
“All I want is for more and more people to empathise and understand that home is not something we can take for granted. Some of us have to fight hard to find and make our own. Let us support and welcome those who need to do exactly that.”
Alex Fraser, Director of Refugee Support & Restoring Family Links for the British Red Cross, said: “People who have had to leave their countries due to war, persecution, extreme famine or devastating natural disasters have experienced the worst things in life. We have seen just how heart-breaking these journeys have been for families arriving in the UK.
“The British Red Cross has been calling for a kinder, more compassionate asylum system to support people who have been forced to leave their home behind and take dangerous journeys. We believe every refugee matters.
“A wave of people in the UK clearly care about people seeking refuge and asylum in the UK. Remarkably, we are seeing so many eager to help personally. By taking part in Miles for Refugees this June, you are showing the very best of humankind.”
The money raised will go towards the charity’s work supporting refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.
With more than 6 million people forced to leave their homes in Ukraine this year, and ongoing crises in Syria and Afghanistan and around the world, standing with refugees is more important than ever.
British Red Cross teams are supporting people from Ukraine arriving at ports and airports in Scotland and throughout the UK.
Staff and volunteers are providing support through things like food, water, hygiene items, nappies, a hot cup or tea or coffee, and essentials to help people keep in touch, like SIM cards, mobile phones and chargers.
A welcome pack with essential information available in English, Ukrainian and Russian, about life in the UK, and one-off cash sum, provided via a debit card, to help people buy what they need when they arrive. We are also providing people with mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, if and when they need them.
To download our Spotify playlist created by some of the nation’s most loved celebrities in support of refugees, visit:
Muirhouse Library staff are delighted to welcome some of the team from Speech & Language Therapy to our Bookbug session at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre this coming Tuesday.
They’ll be around afterwards for an informal chat, should you want to discuss anything with them – and on the last Tuesday of the month thereafter.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is highlighting how businesses are playing their part to protect Scotland’s water environment as part of Water Saving Week 2022.
The annual event has been created by Waterwise to raise awareness of the issues around water use and takes place between Monday 23 May and Friday 27 May. Today, the final day of the campaign, focuses on water and the natural environment.
Scotland’s climate is changing, and communities are coming to terms with the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events like water scarcity. Climate change is likely to bring more uncertainty and cause problems in new areas.
Many rivers and watercourses require groundwater to supplement rainfall during the summer months. However, due to a drier than average winter, we are already seeing lower groundwater storage and this could result in water scarcity.
The latest water situation report, published this week, continues to show an east-west split in the risk of water scarcity:
Conditions in the west remain at Normal level and there has been some recovery in the south. However, without above-average rainfall in the next few months, the risk of impacts from water scarcity will increase and therefore most of this area stays at Early Warning.
In the east, despite some rainfall over the last week, this has not been enough for recovery and these areas also remain at Early Warning.
Groundwater levels at monitoring sites in the east and south-west remain low for the time of year, while the north and north-east are within normal range.
SEPA works with businesses all over Scotland to help manage the range of conditions they face and to avoid water scarcity issues where possible. This includes key sectors such as food and drink production, energy, farming and golf.
Royal Troon in Ayrshire, a world-famous golf club which has hosted several Open Championship tournaments, has demonstrated its commitment to protecting water resources and the environment by investing in more efficient equipment.
Club Secretary, Stephen Anthony, said: “A reliable clean water source is essential for care and maintenance of the course. The environment and use of water is one of our primary concerns and over watering can actually have a detrimental impact on the species of grass and the playability of the course.
“Over the past three years, the club has made a major investment in a state-of-the-art replacement irrigation system on all courses, from abstraction from a burn that discharges into the sea after passing through the course, to storage, and to delivery via the sprinkler heads.
“Unlike our previous system that was virtually all on or all off, this one enables us to target water to where it is needed. We could have one single sprinkler working and all others off. This allows us to use water more efficiently.”
Head of Water and Planning at SEPA, Nathan Critchlow-Watton, said: “Our aim is to work with businesses to do the right thing and help protect our water environment.
“Golf is just one industry that is fundamental to that, and it is great to see a club like Royal Troon making such an investment in their irrigation system. This not only ensures the best possible outcome for their own operations but eases pressure on nearby burns and rivers when they are at risk of drought.
“It is vitally important that Scotland is prepared to deal with water scarcity both now and in the future. SEPA is here to help plan and can advise on a series of straight forward steps for businesses to take such as monitoring water usage and equipment and avoiding any unnecessary leakage. We encourage them to work together and stagger their abstractions to minimise any potential impacts.”
Business can find out more information about water scarcity and how to prepare on our website.
Dementia series kick starts with industry expert event at Edinburgh home
A SCOTTISH care home is bringing together some of the country’s leading dementia care experts to launch its bumper calendar of activities to raise awareness of the disease.
With an estimated 90,000 people living with Dementia in Scotland1, Cramond Residence is launching ‘Let’s talk about…Dementia’ to build support and connections within the community while sharing important knowledge.
The home will open its doors to members of the public on 18 June to host the informal event with experts from Alzheimer’s Scotland and Home Help Me Care in attendance, alongside the Dementia care team from Cramond Residence.
Informative stalls will be set up in the garden for the duration of the afternoon event with three expert presentations covering what the world looks like for those with dementia, how to care for someone living with Dementia at home and when it’s the right time to consider residential care.
Rickie Tank, Registered Manager with local support service, Home Help Me Care which specialises in at-home care, said: “We believe that bringing dementia support services that support people in the community enables them a greater chance of experiencing quality care in later years.
“Every day we hear the stressful experiences of people trying to secure the right support for loved ones but no one really guides them through the process or explains the timescales involved and this often means people have to get to a crisis stage before they secure care.
“By coming together with like-minded community support groups and companies like Cramond Residence we want to share our knowledge to make the journey easier.”
The event hopes to raise awareness through educational sessions and discussions for those living or caring for someone with the condition or generally worried about dementia.
Ross Bijak, General Manager at Cramond Residence with more than 10 years of expertise in the healthcare sector and recently completed a master’s degree in Dementia studies, said: “I have lived with a passion for making tiny changes to people’s lives since I started my career in care and in particular for people living with Dementia.
“I aspire to support and educate people who are affected by the condition and have provided 97% of the 123 members of staff at Cramond with some level of dementia training.
“Being part of such an event as the General Manager at the home is a privilege to which I hope to lead by example in explaining how Cramond Residence helps people living with the condition to enjoy a fulfilling and dignified life.”
Alzheimer’s Scotland will also be in attended to provide information and support to make sure nobody faces dementia alone with the charity hosting an interactive session on its isolation prevention initiative, Dementia Friends.
The event starts at 12:30 and refreshments will be provided. To book a seat for the expert presentations, please contact enquiries@cramondresidence.co.uk (please note spaces are limited).
Cramond Residence strives to ensure that those living with dementia live a fulfilled life. The home offers a dedicated dementia floor, specially designed for those living with dementia to allowing them to live a richer and more satisfying life with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support and relief.
Dementia training sits at the top of the care home’s agenda with 90% of their staff being provided with vital dementia training.
For over 76 years, we have been at the heart of theatre in the city, with several notable (and now famous) names working with us.
As a registered charity, we work hard to not only put on shows that our members and patrons love, but to safeguard the future of our club. This has been tricky over the years, with increasing maintenance of our club premises and higher production costs.
For the last two years, however, things became even more difficult as COVID-19 removed our main source of funding – the ability to put on shows and make a profit. Now, in May 2022, our latest production of The Odd Couple has been cancelled at the last minute due to COVID within the cast.
We love theatre and we love our club. We want, more than anything, to be around for the next 76 years to do what we do best.
Please please support us in protecting our future. Every small donation will help. Please help us spread the word.
MORE SUPPORT NEEDED, SAYS SCOTTISH FINANCE SECRETARY
The most vulnerable households across Scotland will receive support of over £1,000 this year, including a new one-off £650 cost of living payment
Universal support increases to £400 across Great Britain, as the October discount on energy bills is doubled and the requirement to repay it over 5 years scrapped
This new £15 billion support package is targeted towards millions of low-income households and brings the total cost of living support to £37 billion.
New temporary Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas firms will raise around £5 billion over the next year to help with cost of living, with a new investment allowance to encourage firms to invest in oil and gas extraction in the UK.
Millions of households across the UK will benefit from a new £15 billion package of targeted UK government support to help with the rising cost of living, the Chancellor announced yesterday.
The significant intervention includes a new, one-off £650 payment to more than 8 million low-income households on Universal Credit, Tax Credits and legacy benefits to be made in two tranches starting in the summer, with separate one-off payments of £300 to pensioner households and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits – groups who are most vulnerable to rising prices.
Rishi Sunak also announced that the energy bills discount due to come in from October is being doubled from £200 to £400, while the requirement to pay it back will be scrapped. This means the vast majority of households will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills from October.
The new Cost of Living Support package will mean that the most vulnerable households in Scotland will receive over £1,000 of extra support this year.
To ensure there is support for everyone who needs it, Mr Sunak also announced a £500 million increase for the Household Support Fund. This brings the total Household Support Fund to £1.5 billion.
To help pay for the extra support – which takes the total direct government cost of living support to £37 billion – Mr Sunak said a new temporary 25% Energy Profits Levy would be introduced for oil and gas companies, reflecting their extraordinary profits. At the same time, in order to increase the incentive to invest the new levy will include a generous new 80% investment allowance. This balanced approach allows the government to deliver support to families, while encouraging investment and growth.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: ““I know that people in Scotland are anxious about keeping up with rising energy bills, which is why today we have introduced measures which will take the support for millions of the lowest income households over £1,000.
“As a nation we have a responsibility to help the most vulnerable, which is why this support is mostly targeted at people on low incomes, pensioners and disabled people. But we understand that all households in Scotland will be concerned about the rise in energy costs this Autumn, so every household is set to get £400 off their energy bills from October, with no repayments necessary.
“It is right that companies making extraordinary windfall profits from rising energy prices should contribute, and I’m introducing a temporary energy profits levy to help pay for this support, while still encouraging the investment that generates jobs in Scotland.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “Global issues are causing real pressures in the cost of living for UK families. We understand how tough it is at the moment for many households, which is why the Chancellor has today announced a further £15 billion support package.
“A total of £400 per household towards fuel bills will help protect families from rising energy costs. Cash payments of £650 for low-income households on means tested benefits will target support at the most vulnerable in our society at this difficult time. This comes on top of our existing £22bn support package.
“Some of these measures will be paid for by a temporary levy on oil and gas companies – one which incentivises investment in the UK’s energy security.”
There is now more certainty that households will need further support, with inflation having risen faster than forecast and Ofgem expecting a further rise in the energy price cap in October.
So as part of the UK government’s targeted support, the Chancellor announced that around eight million of the lowest income households on Universal Credit, Tax Credits, and legacy benefits will receive an automatic £650 cost of living payment in two instalments via the welfare system this year.
Yesterday’s announcement is on top of the government’s existing £22 billion cost of living support which includes February’s energy bills intervention and action taken at this year’s Spring Statement including a £330 tax cut for millions of workers through the NICs threshold increase in July and 5p cut to fuel duty.
Energy Profits Levy
Surging commodity prices, driven in part by Russia’s war on Ukraine, has meant that the oil and gas sector have been making extraordinary profits. Ministers have been clear that they want to see the sector reinvest these profits in oil and gas extraction in the UK.
In order both to fairly tax the extraordinary profits and encourage investment, the Chancellor announced a temporary new Energy Profits Levy with a generous investment allowance built in. This nearly doubles the tax relief available and means the more investment a firm makes, the less tax it will pay.
The new Levy will be charged on oil and gas company profits at a rate of 25% and is expected to raise around £5 billion in its first 12 months, which will go towards easing the burden on families. It will be temporary, and if oil and gas prices return to historically more normal levels, will be phased out.
The new Investment Allowance, similar in style to the super-deduction, incentivises companies to invest through saving them 91p for every £1 they invest. This nearly doubles the tax relief available and means the more a company invests, the less tax they will pay.
The government expects the combination of the Levy and the new investment allowance to lead to an overall increase in investment, and the OBR will take account of this policy in their next forecast.
The Levy does not apply to the electricity generation sector – where extraordinary profits are also being made due to the impact that rising gas prices have on the price paid for electricity in the UK market, which has also been making extraordinary profits partly due to record gas prices but also due to how the market works.
As set out in the Energy Security Strategy the government is consulting with the power generation sector and investors to drive forward energy market reforms and ensure that the price paid for electricity is more reflective of the costs of production.
The Chancellor announced yesterday that the Treasury will urgently evaluate the scale of these extraordinary profits and the appropriate steps to take.
During the announcement, the Chancellor also set out the government’s strategy to control inflation through independent monetary policy, fiscal responsibility, and supply side activism – a plan he said that should see inflation come down and returning to its target over time.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has welcomed the short term action announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but warned more support is needed for households and businesses as the cost of living crisis worsens.
Following calls from the Scottish Government, the UK Government has taken steps to ensure that cash grants, rather than loans, are provided to those on lowest incomes. Ms Forbes has also cautiously welcomed the decision to introduce a Windfall Tax on energy companies benefiting from significant profits but commented that it means Scottish industry is disproportionately funding interventions across the UK.
Responding to the Chancellor’s statement, Ms Forbes has said UK Ministers should have acted earlier and gone further to provide more support that would make a real long term impact, including following the Scottish Government’s lead by doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per week – which is due to increase to £25 from late 2022 helping lift an estimated 50,000 children out of poverty in 2023-24.
Ms Forbes said: “Many households will be relieved to see the support belatedly announced today, but we still need a long term solution to the cost of living crisis and reassurance that the UK Government is going to tackle long term inequalities rather than provide one-off bursts of crisis support.
“Rather than listen to our plea for a comprehensive funding package that fully addresses the unprecedented rise in the cost of living and uses the full £30 billion of fiscal headroom, this piecemeal approach makes it highly likely that more support will be needed later when energy prices rise significantly in the autumn.
“There is also a severe lack of support for businesses – many of them are still struggling to recover from the pandemic and now face crippling increases in energy costs and the damaging impacts of Brexit on supply chains and the labour market. Without urgent economic support there is a real risk that the UK economy is heading for a recession.
“Inflation is at its highest levels in 40 years and the UK Government’s failure to fully invest in increasing incomes, tackling inequality and boosting economic competitiveness will only risk pushing households into further debt and poverty
“The UK Government has almost £30 billion of fiscal headroom, spending only half of this during a cost of living crisis does not go far enough, especially when a further £5 billion from the Windfall Tax will be raised.
“The introduction of a windfall tax is a start, but as a stand-alone measure this means Scottish industry is carrying the weight of UK-wide interventions.
“The removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift last year was a hammer blow to hard pressed families and the Chancellor’s failure to restore it and increase it to £25 only places a disproportionate burden on the shoulders of those who need help most. The statement was also worryingly silent on public-sector pay with no related consequential funding, when the lowest paid need urgent assurance in the face of rising inflation.
“The refusal to reverse the National Insurance increase implemented in April and temporarily suspend VAT on household energy bills will also cost families hundreds of pounds annually at a time when their budgets have never been more squeezed.
“The Scottish Government has already taken action to support people, communities and businesses as much as possible, with almost £770 million per year invested in cost of living support. We have increased eight Scottish benefits by 6%, closer to the rate of inflation, and introduced a range of family benefits not available elsewhere in the UK.”
Commenting on the government’s cost of living support package announced today (Thursday), TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Unions have repeatedly called for an Emergency Budget to help families, and a windfall tax on energy companies.
“The Chancellor should have acted far sooner after his inadequate Spring Statement. His dither and delay has caused unnecessary hardship and worry for millions.
“While today’s intervention is badly needed, we should have never been here in the first place.
“Years of attacks on wages and universal credit have left many households on the brink.
“The government still doesn’t have a plan for giving families long-term financial security.
“With energy bills rising 23 times faster than wages we urgently need to get pay packets rising and to pay universal credit at a permanently higher rate – not just a one-off boost.
“That’s the best way to protect livelihoods and to support the economy.”
More than 10,000 young mothers and their children have been helped by a decade-long programme since it began as a pilot in NHS Lothian.
An analysis report on the Family Nurse Partnership shows positive results for mothers and babies in areas such as breastfeeding rates and stopping smoking, with most children meeting all their milestones, and 95% receiving all their immunisations.
The Family Nurse Partnership supports young, first-time mothers to prepare for motherhood and throughout the first two years of their child’s life.
Women’s Health Minister Maree Todd met mothers and staff who have taken part. She said: “Over 10,000 young women have now received support through this programme since it started, which is a fantastic milestone.
“Family nurses help mothers to think about the future, what kind of parent they want to be and their goals and aspirations for other areas of their lives like education and employment.
“Earlier this year we committed to expanding the programme to all young first time mothers aged 21 and under by the end of 2024. Where possible, we will also target first time mothers under the age of 25 who are care experienced or from the most deprived communities. This expansion will mean we can support up to an additional 500 families per year by 2025.”
Val Alexander, service manager of the Family Nurse Partnership, who has been with the programme since it began, said: “We are so proud of the Family Nurse Partnership and everything our clients have achieved.
“The Family Nurse Partnership programme works to support young, first-time mothers to prepare for motherhood and continues that support for them and their child through the first two years.
“FNP was first delivered in NHS Lothian and to see it extended across Scotland to reach thousands more families is something very special for all of us.
“This 10-year analysis of the delivery of the service across Scotland will help us to see how far we have come and map out our goals and ambitions for the future of the programme and young families.”
Julie Sutherland praised as “beating heart of school”
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has announced today (Wednesday 25 May) that Julie Sutherland, Forrester High School Librarian has been recognised with the Learning Professional Award.
Julie has been praised by her colleagues for her unwavering enthusiasm and energy. In her role as Librarian, she has provided engaging and fun opportunities for all students, bridging both the attainment gap and the poverty gap.
The Learning Professional Award, now in its sixth year, recognises a teacher or librarian who has had a powerful impact on the reading culture of young people and adults in their community.
Julie Sutherland said:“I am absolutely thrilled to win the Learning Professional Award this year. It’s hard to imagine the effect you’ve had on a young person, but they are the ones that make my day. They challenge and invigorate me and there is no better way to start the day than chatting to a bunch of teenagers, and it’s thanks to them that I am receiving this award.
“No Librarian is an island, and everything I do is possible because I’m part of a team, working with pupils, teachers, and librarians from other schools. I can do the things I do in school because of that fantastic and supportive network and in my heart this award is for all of them.
“School Libraries and Librarians have been under threat from budget and job cuts across the UK for a long time, I hope that this award will illuminate the positive effect we can have on a young person’s life.
“It’s not just about developing literacy and a love for reading, it’s about the whole person and being there for every young person that needs your support.”
Lindsay Craik-Collins, Curricular Leader of English and Media at Forrester High School said:“Julie puts her heart and soul into everything that she does, with the pupils at the centre of all of her work. She is the beating heart of our school, reaching out to support all departments and areas within.
“Her relationships, creativity and determination open millions of doors and experiences for our students and our school community would be lost without her.”
Julie has been recognised for her hard work to encourage pupils to read, designing competitions within and across year groups, which has been hugely successful.
These competitions also linked with National level qualifications, allowing students to have fun while learning. Julie was also involved with the school’s Accelerated Reader Programme, which supported teachers to track and assess the reading of students.
Julie also worked with Advanced Higher pupils and secured an Author in Residence to support them in their course work.
Feedback from pupils describe Forrester High School library as a “safe space” before and after school.
Julie has been commended for treating pupils as individuals and taking the time to get to know their barriers to learning, their personal situations and their personalities, so as to provide a better service for them.
Her library is open for so many clubs that she runs herself, including Film Club, Animation Club and Gaming Club.
Julie’s never-ending enthusiasm and personal interest in the young people of Forrester High School has helped students feel part of the bigger school picture and that their opinions and ideas are important and heard.
Julie also supports her colleagues, having built a mini library in the staff room, so that all those working in the school have access to books at any time.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Many congratulations to Julie Sutherland on winning this year’s Learning Professional Award. It was clear from her nomination that Julie has worked tirelessly to build a reading for pleasure culture in Forrester High School.
“She has also created a safe, comforting environment for many pupils who need a place to escape into a book. Our thanks to Browns Books for making this important award possible.”
Claire Smith, Sales Manager for Browns Books, said:““Congratulations to Julie Sutherland on winning the prestigious Learning Professional award! With a supportive team, imagination and hard work, librarians like Julie, really do have the super-power to change young people’s lives for the better.
“Julie is a prime example of somebody works hard for the benefit of the young people she encounters and engagement with reading provides the foundations that allow young people to prosper and reach their goals. Well done from everyone at Browns Books, Julie. Keep up the excellent work!”
Run by national charity Scottish Book Trust, in partnership with Browns Books, the awardee will receive £500 worth of books to help continue their outstanding work.
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
More than 1,300 people fleeing conflict in Ukraine have arrived through Edinburgh’s Welcome Hub, with the significant majority of all arrivals to Scotland coming in through the city.
Located in a peaceful and secluded area close to the Airport, the Welcome Hub offers some respite after long and difficult journeys reaching Edinburgh, with medical assistance from the NHS available.
Established with the support of the Scottish Government and other partner agencies in Gogarburn at the RBS/NatWest campus, it involves a huge, combined effort – from both volunteers and Council officers – to welcome around 40 new refugees a day, which is approximately four times that of the national average.
Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Kerr, said:“I am truly proud of the incredible response Edinburgh has provided to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary here in Edinburgh.
“The support we’ve provided to over 1,300 refugees to date wouldn’t be possible without the time of volunteers, the donations we’ve received or the generosity of residents. The number of local people giving over their hearts and their homes to become host families has been nothing short of remarkable. I want to thank everyone involved – from Council colleagues and partners, to every volunteer who has been working tirelessly.
“We are starting to see up to 90% of all arrivals to Scotland enter through Edinburgh’s Hub, which demonstrates the scale of responsibility we now face. I’m pleased that the feedback from those using our services has been very positive and other cities have been turning to Edinburgh as an example of best practice.
“There is a significant ongoing effort to ensure every refugee settling in the city receives a warm welcome and access to vital support. It remains an extensive piece of work which involves a great deal of resource, but we are committed to supporting every person who settles in Edinburgh, as far as we possibly can.
“This includes everything from arranging accommodation, transport, interpreters, access to GPs and healthcare, counselling, education, employment support, host checks and other vital services.”
Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, the Holova (Chair) of the Association of Ukrainians in Edinburgh, said: “We have come full circle from the Association being set up. We were beginning to become quite a quiet community here in Edinburgh, but now we are using the community centre for the reasons that our fathers set it up. We are supporting newly-arrived Ukrainians and their families in Edinburgh, until they choose to go home.
“We’ve been giving out SIM cards and bus passes. We’ve also got laptops and iPads so that the students who have arrived can continue their studies and stay connected to Ukraine.
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
Paul Wilson Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh said: “Once again our Community Taskforce Volunteers have been amazing. For almost two months we have been deploying volunteers seven days a week at the airport to welcome people from Ukraine and help guide them to the Welcome Hub.
“Our volunteers have done Edinburgh proud, often going beyond the call of duty. They have stayed until the early hours of the morning at the airport to make sure passengers arriving on late-night flights are supported.”
“I am so proud of all our Community Taskforce Volunteers who not just helped at the airport but have provided informal language support, sorted donations, and packed hundreds of back packs with basic supplies.
Things are only getting busier, and with Edinburgh increasingly becoming the hub for arrivals to Scotland it is the partnership approach the Edinburgh has taken that is ensuring that displaced Ukrainians are receiving the help and support that they need.”
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive, EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) said: “Our hope for the Ukrainian people is peace in the very near future, but in the meantime it is vital that we at EVOC, and the community and voluntary sector, collaborate with partners across the City (and at a national level) to offer a warm welcome to those who are arriving in Scotland.
“Edinburgh Community Food, Fresh Start, North Edinburgh Arts and Cyrenians are already on the ground, providing emergency food support and more organisations are coming together to deliver on a longer-term approach.
“The Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group are helping with onward travel from the Airport and other community and voluntary organisations are involved in delivering support for children and families, providing opportunities for Ukrainians to learn English and to build social connections.
“It’s so important that they settle into and feel part of the communities where they live… in Edinburgh or further afield.”
Welcome arrangements
Free transport is provided from the airport to the Hub and arranged from Edinburgh bus and train stations where required, 24 hours a day. We organise onward travel to, for example, hotel or host accommodation. The safety and wellbeing of refugees remains paramount and we are also coordinating home and host checks through our licensing team.
For people settling in Edinburgh on the Homes for Ukraine and Super Sponsor scheme, we provide the first part of their £200 resettlement grant at the Hub.
We’ve also set up a 24-hour helpline (in our customer contact team) for Ukraine arrivals in Edinburgh. To date the line has been very busy, averaging over 50 calls a day.
As an extension of the Welcome Hub, the customer contact team is providing a specialist drop-in facility at 249 High Street. This operates Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm and 2-4pm, with an interpreter present to help people settling in Edinburgh with benefit and grant payments.
Since opening in April, colleagues have supported 250 people, primarily with financial and employability support. Work is also underway to recruit Ukrainian-speaking customer contact advisors.
Volunteer efforts and donations
The response from residents and businesses has been typically generous. EVOC and Volunteer Edinburgh are leading on a strategic approach to co-ordinating this goodwill and the work of third sector groups in the city, focused around four main themes – food, translation, transport, and the volunteer ‘taskforce’.
The Ukrainian Club on Royal Terrace has become a point of community support and communications for people when they settle, with regular coffee mornings/events at which the Council, DWP and other partners attend to give advice and support. This is where many donated items are being collected under the Club’s direction.
Alongside resident and local community efforts, the Visitor Attractions Group (Capital Group) have provided free tickets to key Edinburgh attractions, including the Castle and the Zoo.
Edinburgh Leisure have provided passes for leisure centres, while Boots have donated toiletries, Clarks have donated shoes and NatWest is continuing to provide office space for the welcome hub. The Edinburgh Tattoo has also provided office space, for donations to be sorted.
The rucksacks we hand out at the Welcome Hub – filled with initial donations of essential items such as toiletries – are well received and special rucksacks with teddies are provided to children. We also have a supply of baby accessories including baby boxes, buggies, prams, and car seats.
Education
We’re arranging places for early years and schools, with many children and young people already supported into education.
With support from charities, electronic devices such as laptops and iPads are being provided to student aged arrivals to ensure they can continue studies in Ukrainian. The Ukrainian Club has also funded a number of bus tickets and passes.
When children are enrolled in a school, families can apply for a National Entitlement Card through Travel.AllocationPanel@edinburgh.gov.uk. Ukrainian applications will be fast tracked.
We have also been working with partners to support the Dnipro Children’s charity, a Hibs Supporters Group, which has had a relationship with children’s homes in Dnipro since 2005. The charity arranged to bring 52 children and six house mothers to Scotland. We are providing provide ongoing support, including education and health, in partnership with the Dnipro Charity and Edinburgh College.
Twin City support
We are continuing to maintain supportive relationships with and respond to appeals from our counterparts in Edinburgh’s twin cities Kyiv and Krakow. Following an appeal to the Lord Provost from Kyiv to help protect their monuments and statues, and in a show of ingenuity and collaboration between ten different organisations, over 3,000 sandbags were sourced and transported on an easyJet flight from Edinburgh to Krakow.
We are now working with a Scottish charity, Sunflower Scotland, to send over 10,000 more sandbags – this time to Kharkiv – along with a ton of potatoes, on the city’s request. A shipment of shoes has also been made to Kyiv.
In an ongoing display of solidarity, the Ukrainian flag continues to fly above the City Chambers while the Granton gasholder remains illuminated in blue and yellow.
latest aid deliveries will double number of medical items donated by the UK
supplies including antibiotics, painkillers, dressings, and specialist medicines will help those injured by Russian attacks
specialist brain and spinal injury equipment will treat severely injured, with further deliveries of ambulances in the coming weeks
Medical aid donations from the UK to Ukraine will reach more than 11 million items in the coming days, helping save tens of thousands of lives.
A fourth tranche of aid left from across the UK during the last week, carrying:
4.2 million doses of medicines – including painkillers and antibiotics that are critical for treating infections caused by battlefield trauma and limited hygiene facilities
1.5 million items of other supplies – including PPE and respirators
The 5.78 million items in the latest deliveries more than double the 5.29 million items donated in the first 3 tranches, taking the total to 11.07 million.
Nearly 16 million people are reported to be in need of humanitarian assistance within Ukraine, with access to care badly needed for those in cities worst hit by Russian attacks like Mariupol and Irpin.
The latest supplies are being sent in direct response to a request from the government of Ukraine. They will provide treatment for people injured in the brutal and intentional Russian attacks on civilians across Ukraine, as well as help the government prepare for potential future threats.
The UK government will continue to work closely with Ukrainian government officials to tailor our support and target supplies to reach those most in need. This will include further donations of both new and NHS ambulances in the coming weeks to bolster frontline life-saving efforts in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with our Ukrainian friends. As the medical emergency inflicted by Russia escalates, we have responded with life-saving medical supplies where they are needed most.
“As one of the largest humanitarian donors, Britain will continue to help care for those bravely resisting Putin’s vile aggression until Ukraine succeeds.”
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Russia’s unprovoked and illegal attacks on Ukraine have created a medical emergency, with Putin targeting healthcare facilities like maternity units, hospitals, and ambulances.
“The UK’s support for our friends in Ukraine is unwavering, giving medicines and equipment they desperately need, which has saved tens of thousands of lives.
“Thank you to the NHS in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland for stepping up and donating vital medical supplies.
From the outset of the crisis the UK has helped Ukraine deal with its intensifying medical emergency. Earlier tranches of aid included items such as medical equipment, drugs for surgery, wound care packs and bandages.
The UK is also donating specialist equipment to treat spinal cord and brain injuries and help provide rehabilitation. This is donated from the UK Emergency Medical Team, which is on standby to deliver medical aid in global emergencies. It will help boost the capacity of a national rehabilitation centre in Ukraine, freeing up bed space in hospitals to accommodate other critical cases.
The additional shipments of medical aid have been drawn from donations from across the UK, including NHS England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with NHS Wales contributing more than 1 million items to the latest tranche of aid.
Health and Social Services Minister, Eluned Morgan for the Welsh government said: “Wales stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and we will continue to offer any practical support and humanitarian assistance that we can.
“In addition to the funding we have given to the Disaster Emergency Committee and medical supplies we previously sent to Ukraine, this latest tranche of medical supplies includes a further 49 pallets from Wales of respirators, gloves and dressings to directly help the medical response and life-saving efforts in Ukraine.”
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