Tag: support

Help for vulnerable people to spot disinformation and boost online safety

Elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people will get better support to stay safe online and avoid being misled by disinformation thanks to a funding boost from the government to mark UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

  • Funding awarded to improve media literacy among vulnerable and ‘hard-to-reach’ groups
  • Will support projects across the UK to ensure everyone can protect themselves from online disinformation
  • Part of the government’s Online Media Literacy Strategy to help people be safe online

Elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people will get better support to stay safe online and avoid being misled by disinformation thanks to a funding boost from the government to mark UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week.

More than £1 million has been granted to 17 UK organisations to pilot new ways of boosting media literacy skills for people at risk of experiencing online abuse and being deceived into believing false information, such as vaccine disinformation, deepfake videos or propaganda created by hostile states.

Research shows some people struggle to engage and benefit from the range of media literacy education on offer, due to limited experience or overconfidence in using the internet, as well as a lack of awareness of how to access resources and their unavailability outside of schools and colleges.

The Media Literacy Taskforce Fund is one of two funding schemes created to target ‘hard-to-reach’ and vulnerable groups by investing in community-led projects to ensure everyone has the opportunity to improve their media literacy skills and protect themselves from online disinformation.

Social enterprise Freshrb will work with young people to develop their own podcasts exploring online dis- and misinformation to be aired on local radio. Another project run by charity Internet Matters will provide media literacy training for dozens of care workers and leavers in the Greater Manchester area.

Elderly people from diverse backgrounds in Leeds will have access to digital media skills training online and in community centres as part of the Leeds Older People’s Forum. Parent Zone is working with eight local councils including Calderdale, Luton and Middlesborough to deliver media literacy resources tailored to parents and carers of teenagers.

A separate scheme, the Media Literacy Programme Fund, will deliver training courses, online learning, tech solutions and mentoring schemes to vulnerable internet users.

Digital Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “With the rise of online disinformation, teaching people to identify fact from fiction has never been more important to public safety.

“As well as bringing forward new laws to tackle the root causes of these problems, we are funding organisations to give people the skills to stay safe online so everyone can benefit from all the internet has to offer.”

Winning projects in the Media Literacy Programme Fund to receive grants today include:

  • NewsGuard, which will work with ageing-focused charities to, deliver workshops to older adults to support them in spotting mis- and disinformation online;
  • The Economist Educational Foundation will work with disadvantaged schools and boost teachers’ skills through news literacy training and support students to engage with the news and think critically about what they’re consuming online;
  • Online Safety charity Glitch will deliver workshops and training to vulnerable and marginalised women to support their media literacy skills including tackling online abuse.

All the schemes are part of the government’s plans to deliver the Online Media Literacy Strategy, a national action plan to empower people to stay safe online by giving them the skills they need to think critically about what they see and read on the internet.

Launched in July 2021, the three-year strategy supports media literacy organisations to deliver education and initiatives in a more wide-reaching and effective way. The year two plan, published in April, is backed by more than £2 million in targeted funding, including today’s announcement.

This is in addition to the £250,000 grant funding delivered to five organisations working with schools to adapt media literacy resources for teachers working with disabled students in our year one action plan.

GMW_flyer_MEDIA_v3-1Download

The announcement coincides with the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week, a global initiative celebrating the progress countries have made toward making media literacy education more accessible to its citizens by implementing national media and information literacy policies.

The grant funding complements the measures in the groundbreaking Online Safety Bill, which supports a safer online environment by requiring tech firms to protect children from harmful content and tackle criminal activity on their platforms.

Children’s Hearings Scotland release Impact Report 2021-22

Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has released their annual Impact Report for 2021 – 2022.  In this Impact Report, we highlight some of the major achievements from the year and how we have delivered on our duty as a Corporate Parent. 

Key elements of this year’s Impact Report include:

–          Partnering with the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration, Scottish Government and The Promise Scotland to form the Hearings System Working Group, which delivered its Issues List in March,

–          Celebrating 50 years of Hearings in April 2021,

–          Launching our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy,

–          Launching the CHS Promise Programme, which is a cross-organisational project that includes all the work we are doing locally and nationally to improve the hearings experience for children, young people and families,

–          Adapting to various significant changes to the laws around children’s hearings, including the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 which ensures brothers, sisters, people with brother/sister-like relationships are given new rights in hearings,

And most importantly, despite the ongoing challenges brought by the pandemic, the provision of over 21,000 hearings which took place to support and protect nearly 11,000 children in Scotland. 

National Convener and CEO, Elliot Jackson, said: “The CHS Impact Report shows the work and reflection of the dedication and contribution of our Panel Member and Area Support Team volunteers and CHS National Team staff. 

“As we progress with our vision for the future of the Children’s Hearings System it has been a privilege to look back and see what we have achieved over the last 12 months and look forward to seeing how we shape the next phase especially our focus on improving the hearings system through the Hearings System Working Group”. 

Over the course of this year, we worked with our volunteers and partner organisations to listen to and help support and protect nearly 11,000 children. 

As we go forward, and look towards how we can further improve the Hearings System, we are committed to putting the voice of children and young people at the centre of everything we do, and to working together to make Scotland truly the best place to grow up in.

impact-report-2022Download

Boyack calls for urgent support for Scotland’s arts and culture sector

Following the news about the closure of the Modern Two art gallery in Edinburgh until next year due to rising energy bills, Sarah Boyack MSP, Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Culture and MSP for Lothian, highlighted the wider issues the sector is facing and called on the Scottish Government to deliver urgent action.

The Scottish Labour MSP commented: “Our arts and culture organisations are on the brink of collapse – many are fighting for survival, they are struggling to cope with the perfect storm of reduced incomes, skyrocketing energy bills and inflation.

“Earlier this month, we found out that Falkirk Town Hall, the Filmhouse in Edinburgh, the Belmont in Aberdeen and the Edinburgh International Film Festival have all gone under.

“The Scottish Government reassured us that Scotland’s National Collections will remain open to the public free of charge. However, the reality on the ground tells us a very different story.

“Instead of rhetoric and empty promises, we need the Government to deliver the urgent action the arts and culture sector needs at this moment of crisis.”

In his written response to Sarah Boyack MSP, on 30th September, Culture Secretary Neil Gray said: “the National Collections are an important part of Scotland’s culture.

!”As part of setting and reviewing annual budgets for grant in aid, the Scottish Government maintains close contact with National Museums Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland about their cost and revenue, in order to continue to ensure that their permanent collections remain open to the public free of charge.”

Healthy Tip: Exercise & Menstruation

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Exercise and Menstruation

In the UK there are 15 million women of menstrual age. The average woman will menstruate around 500 times throughout her lifetime. We know that exercising can improve our cardiovascular health, but should you exercise during your period, and is it beneficial?

We cover some FAQs here:

Can exercise reduce menstrual cramps?

More research is needed in this area to give us a definite answer on how exercise can reduce period pain. Given the overall health benefits of exercise, and the relatively low risk of side effects reported in the general population, women may consider using exercise, either alone or in conjunction with other modalities to manage menstrual pain.

Do my iron levels change during my period?

Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Exercise can lower the iron levels in your blood, especially if you exercise at a high intensity or for long periods of time. Heavy menstrual bleeding can make you more susceptible to iron deficiency anaemia.

In order to keep exercising, and maintain normal iron levels during your period, we recommend you look to consume iron rich foods (red meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit, fortified breakfast cereals) during menstruation.

Can over-exercising cause irregular or missed periods?

If you are over-training, and you’re burning far more calories than you are consuming, this can cause either irregular or missed periods. A regular period is a sign of good health. If you experience irregular or missed periods this can cause other serious health conditions, and therefore you are advised to speak to a nurse or doctor.

Exercise has many health benefits, and researchers have not been able to find any differences during the menstrual cycle in a woman’s ability to exercise. Consequently, it’s important to continue aiming to achieve 150 minutes of physical activity per week, even during your period.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Additional £10 million of UK aid for flood relief efforts in Pakistan

  • the UK will provide an additional £10 million of life-saving humanitarian support for Pakistan’s flood relief efforts
  • Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK Minister of State for South Asia (FCDO), arrives in Pakistan today [Friday 14 October]
  • the Minister will meet with key government counterparts, community leaders, and aid agencies to discuss the response to the humanitarian crisis and long-term recovery for the country

The UK is providing further humanitarian support to Pakistan following the devastating floods that have killed over a thousand people and affected more than 33 million.

As part of a visit to the country, FCDO Minister Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon has today announced a further £10 million of humanitarian aid, bringing the UK Government’s total contribution to £26.5 million.

The extra support will be spent on urgent life-saving needs such as providing shelter, water and sanitation to prevent waterborne diseases. It will focus on supporting people who are still displaced and those that are returning to their land, by helping re-establish communal water supplies.

During his visit to Pakistan, Lord Ahmad will meet the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other government counterparts to discuss the impact of the floods, visit the areas most affected and speak with key UK-funded aid agencies on the ground in Sindh.

UK Minister of State for South Asia, FCDO, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said: “The UK continues to help the people of Pakistan recover from the recent devastating floods.

“Our support will help to tackle the spread of waterborne diseases and to improve access to clean water, sanitation, medical care and shelter across the country.

“We are working night and day with Pakistan and our international partners to ensure that UK aid reaches the hardest hit areas.

“As well as helping with urgent life-saving needs, the UK is supporting Pakistan’s economic recovery and resilience against future climate disasters.

“The UK’s new Developing Countries Trading Scheme will help grow trade by giving duty-free access to 94% of goods exported from Pakistan to the UK.”

In addition to the UK’s £26.5 million donation in humanitarian funding, a UK Royal Air Force flight recently delivered eight boats and ten portable generators for use in flood relief operations.

As well as discussing the floods, the Minister will also use this visit to raise the need for strong international support for Ukraine following Russia’s illegal annexation of sovereign territory, and reaffirm the strong people-to-people links between the UK and Pakistan in the context of the 75 year anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

  • According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Agency, the flooding in Pakistan has destroyed or damaged 2 million houses, with 546,000 people now living in relief camps. The disaster has also damaged 12,716 km of roads and 22,000 schools. In total, 745 health centres have been damaged or destroyed
  • today’s announcement takes the total UK contribution to the floods response to £26.5 million. £21.5 million is going to the relief efforts in the areas worst-hit by the flooding. The remaining £5 million will go directly to the Disasters Emergency Committee Pakistan Floods Appeal, after the UK government match funded pound for pound the first £5 million of DEC donations by the UK public. Further donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0330 678 1000
  • British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are offering free relief shipments, in their cargo, of any aid goods being sent from the UK to Pakistan
  • the DEC appeal has notably been supported by the England men’s cricket team, who were touring Pakistan for the T20s last month, with the team making a personal donation which was then matched by the England Cricket Board
  • the UK pledged over £55 million to partner with Pakistan to fight climate change, manage water more sustainably and unlock climate investment in November 2021 during the COP26 Conference in Glasgow

Law firm raises more than £2,000 for St Columba’s Hospice Care

Six businesses lined the banks of the River Forth to compete in the annual Dragon Boat Race in aid of St Columba’s Hospice Care. Among those was full-service law firm Thorntons, who entered a team from its Edinburgh office at Citypoint, raising £2,100 for the charity.

St Columba’s Hospice Care, which has a state-of-the-art hospice facility in the capital, provides care through dedicated support in people’s homes and local communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as working with partners on education and further research.

The Dragon Boat Race is one of the highlights of the fundraising calendar which supports the organisation’s efforts to provide palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Thorntons Senior Solicitor and Dragon Boat Race competitor Hannah Dossett, said: “This was a new experience for our team with lots of nervous energy but also laughter as we stepped into the boat.

“We soon got into a rhythm and had a great time. It was the first event since the pandemic where we could do something as a team and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

“We didn’t win fastest or best dressed but our ‘Thorny Dragons’ team name did win us a prize. We are really proud of our efforts as a team, and the great sum raised – we’re already talking about taking part again next year.”

Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager at St Columba’s Hospice Care, said; “It was great to see all the teams, as well as members of the public, pull together to raise money and support the Hospice in such a unique way.

“I’m also excited that several of the competitors enjoyed it so much they have signed up for next year, which is already set to be bigger and better than ever! I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who helped or took part in what was a really fun event.

“We are very grateful for the donation from Thorntons, as £1,000 alone could fund a Hospice at Home service for a day, enabling the team to provide home visits to patients in the community.”

Headquartered in Dundee, Thorntons now has 13 offices ranging from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Montrose to St Andrews, Arbroath and Perth.

Big Swap Event

SATURDAY 29 OCTOBER 12 – 4pm at ST MARTINS CHURCH DALRY ROAD

We are very excited to be involved in another BIG SWAP event at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre, Edinburgh in partnership with our colleagues from Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) and NKS – Networking Key Services💚💚💚

Few key rules before the event:

-Big Swap is a FREE GIVEAWAY of second hand clothes, shoes, books, toys and household items,

-we DO NOT ACCEPT ANY DONATIONS ON THE DAY,

-the event is ABSOLUTELY FREE and everyone is welcome to attend,

-bring your own bags on the day and be respectful of others as all our Big Swaps are really busy and we are trying to accommodate all our service users

Any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk

Families urged to talk about social security payments

Support highlighted during Challenge Poverty Week

Families and friends have a crucial role to play in ensuring Scotland’s social security payments reach those who need them most.

On a visit to a Citizens Advice Bureau, as part of Challenge Poverty Week, Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said talking about benefits would help drive take-up and reduce stigma about accessing benefits. The Scottish Government urges people to make sure they get the benefits they are entitled to.

These payments provide support to people on low incomes, people with disabilities, carers, and young people entering the workplace.

During the visit to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Muirhouse, Mr Macpherson met staff and volunteers who provide information and advice about available financial assistance and wider support.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “We are urging as many people as possible to talk to family, friends and other people they know to encourage them to apply for benefits they may be entitled to. We want people to get any support that they are eligible for.

“We know that word of mouth helps to raise awareness of Social Security Scotland’s payments, and those provided by the UK Government which may be needed to access Scottish benefits. We also want anyone who thinks they might be eligible for payments to check what’s available to them.

“While several of our payments are designed for people on low incomes there are also others which provide support to disabled people, young people starting their careers after a period of unemployment, and carers including young carers.

“Social security is a shared investment in people and supports building a fairer, more equal society. The current cost of living crisis shows that any of us could need this support at some point in our lives. That is why it is right that we invest in social security together.

“The Scottish Government is grateful for the impactful role that Citizens Advice advisers play in promoting and supporting access to social security.”

The Scottish Government’s new website provides information on the wide range of advice and financial support available.

Find out more at http://gov.scot/costoflivingsupport…

Citizens Advice Edinburgh Chief Executive Benjamin Napier said: “The Citizens Advice network in Scotland encourages everyone to check that they are receiving the income they are entitled to.

“Every year, millions of pounds of welfare entitlement go unclaimed. At a time of increasing costs and pressures on household budgets, we strongly encourage people to get in touch with their local Citizens Advice Bureau or use our online tools like www.moneymap.scot to see if they could be receiving more money.

“Last year the CAB network across Scotland helped over 174,000 people and 2.4 million people checked our online advice pages. 

“Advice from CABs is free, impartial and confidential. We never charge people for advice and are for everyone regardless of background or circumstance. Social Security Scotland have 12 new benefits and we want to make sure everyone knows their rights of access them.”

#ChallengePovertyWeek

GRANTON Information Centre remains committed to tackling the injustice of poverty in Edinburgh. We do this by:

* Ensure that our service users are getting all the financial assistance they are entitled to by carrying out ‘benefit checks’ and ‘income maximisation’ appointments

* Assisting our clients to make benefits claims and apply for grants on their behalf

* Assisting our service users to challenge decisions if their benefit has been stopped/ sanctioned/ reduced/ refused or overpaid

* Discuss various options with our clients who are struggling to cope with debt, including liaising with lenders and arranging bankruptcies

* Organising food and clothing bank referrals.

We are here to help! Contact us: appointments@gic.org.uk / 0131 551 2459 / 0131 552 0458

#ChallengePovertyWeek

Job opportunity at Granton Information Centre

We are currently looking for a Welfare Rights Adviser to join our organisation.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about helping people and understands the importance of individuals having access to free and impartial advice, advocacy and representation on matters relating to benefits, welfare rights and debt issues.

Although experience in a similar role is preferred, full training will be provided and we are looking to hear from anyone who has useful transferable skills and an interest to work in this field (including graduates).

Apply at https://goodmoves.com/…/a4s3z000…/Welfare-Rights-Adviser

Local Sports Clubs in with a chance to bag £2,500 grant funding from Aldi

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its seventh year and local sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians can now apply for a share of £50,000.

The fund encourages people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical activity within their local communities by offering sports clubs the chance to secure essential funding. There are a range of funding tiers available, with one club in the area guaranteed to secure a £2,500 funding boost.

Since launching in 2016, nearly 500 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of £290,000 through Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, helping to improve community access to sports across the country.

From gymnastics to football and volleyball to bowling, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation that meets the application criteria. In 2021, Aldi supported a selection of sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians, including Lismore Rugby Football Club and trampolining club, PHD FUNdamentals. The additional funding helped both clubs fund training sessions and purchase new equipment.

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, our Scottish Sport Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help them invest in much needed equipment and resources.  

“Sports clubs across Scotland have had a really challenging time over the last two years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund gives these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities.

“Each year, we are blown away by the applications we receive, and I look forward to welcoming more in 2022. I’d encourage any sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of the retailer’s wider commitment to help local communities in Scotland, which it also does through its Neighbourly partnership and Supermarket Sweep.

Sports clubs located across Edinburgh and The Lothians have from Monday 22 August to Sunday 25 September to apply for funding. One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding towards their sports club.

Applications can be made via a form found on:

 https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. 

Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.