Tag: support

UK medical aid donations to Ukraine reaches 11 million items

  • 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.”

Chancellor sets out further economic support for Ukraine at G7 meeting

  • Chancellor confirms that the UK stands ready to guarantee up to $50 million for further financing to Ukraine to continue electricity provision during latest G7 meeting in Germany.
  • Rishi Sunak also discussed how global partners can continue to work together to soften the war’s impact on the global economy
  • He will also urge G7 counterparts to maintain momentum behind and deliver the historic agreement on global tax reform – ensuring companies pay their fair share of tax in the countries in which they operate.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the UK stands ready to guarantee up to $50 million for further financing to Ukraine, to help ensure the continued provision of electricity to its citizens.

The Chancellor attended meetings with G7 partners yesterday and will continue to do so today, alongside the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.

They discussed efforts to support Ukraine and the ways in which the war is adding to pressures on the global economy, including impacts on the cost of living in the UK.

Yesterday Rishi Sunak announced the UK’s commitment to guarantee $50million, of further financing to Ukraine from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, which is headquartered in London.

This comes on top of the $950m in loan guarantees that the UK has already committed to significantly scale up World Bank lending to the Government of Ukraine to help meet urgent fiscal needs.

This guarantee will be used by the EBRD to provide further financing to the Ukrainian electricity grid operator, Ukrenergo to support continued provision of electricity to the brave Ukrainian people, subject to approval by Parliament.

This funding forms part of the significant economic, humanitarian and military support the UK has committed to Ukraine, totalling well over $3 billion.

The Chancellor also discussed the shared challenges facing the global economy, including the rising cost of living globally, and the acute challenges faced by developing economies including heightened food insecurity.

He pushed his partners in the G7 to ensure that the sanctions announced so far are being urgently implemented and strongly enforced to exert maximum cost on Putin and his regime.

Ahead of the meetings, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “I remain steadfast with my G7 partners in standing with Ukraine. I am pleased to confirm up to $50million in UK guarantees for EBRD critical support in Ukraine. This will help Ukraine continue to provide electricity to its citizens as they fight for their freedom.

“It’s clear that Putin’s barbaric and illegal invasion of Ukraine has not only had a devastating humanitarian impact on Ukraine; it is also causing significant disruption to the global economy, the impacts of which are being felt across the G7, including here at home in the UK.”

“I am determined to work with my G7 partners to confront these shared challenges.”

Today, the Chancellor will also call for progress on the implementation of the international tax agreement that was struck last year during the UK’s presidency of the G7.

This historic global tax reform will ensure companies pay their fair share of tax in the countries in which they operate. In Bonn, the Chancellor will encourage his partners to maintain momentum and collaborate to deliver on the agreement as swiftly as possible.

Letters: Exam Stress

Dear Editor,

This academic year has seen the return of National exams and Highers in Scotland after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. For many children and their parents and carers, the exam period can be an anxious and stressful time.

A return to normality in September has seen Childline provide more support to anxious students as end-of-year tests loomed on the horizon.

In the year between April 2021 and March 2022, Childline practitioners delivered 1,734 counselling sessions to children and young people across Scotland and the rest of the UK with concerns about exam stress and revision, which is a 62% rise on the previous year.

When talking to Childline counsellors about their upcoming exams this month, children shared that their worries were affecting their mental health, anxiety levels and ability to sleep.

It is important for young people to know that they aren’t alone if they are feeling like this. Instead, that they are encouraged to share any concerns or worries with their friends or a trusted adult.

Parents and carers can help by reassuring their child that they are there to listen to what they might be feeling and to help them to take the time to think about what to do next.

There are lots of places young people can get support, including the Childline website where they can get advice on dealing with exam stress, visit our message boards or even use an art box to draw through what they want to happen and look at potential next steps.

Childline is here for every child and young person and our specially trained counsellors are also ready 24/7 to discuss exam worries and other concerns free on 0800 1111 or www.childline.org.uk

Paul Johnson,

Childline Team Manager for Aberdeen

£1.5 Million National Lottery funding boost for refugee communities

The Scottish Refugee council has joined forces with The National Lottery Community Fund to distribute £1.5 million in National Lottery funding for projects that help New Scots feel at home in their communities.

The Participating in the Funding Process Project will award grants to grassroots groups and organisations that are refugee led, or provide support for people seeking safety in Scotland. 

The funding is for organisations that missed out on grants awarded through the New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Project due to the incredibly high demand.

We’ll approach groups directly about this funding opportunity. All projects will be assessed by a panel made up of funding staff from The National Lottery Community Fund and representatives from refugee communities.

This collaborative approach is an opportunity for funders and refugee communities to share expertise, build capacity and learn from each other. It aims to help raise awareness and increase understanding of the challenges that small, volunteer-led groups face when approaching funders.

Kate Still, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland, said: “We value lived experience in our grant making, and believe that people know best what is needed to help their communities thrive.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Refugee Council to ensure that £1.5 million of funding raised by National Lottery players goes to grassroots groups and organisations that are refugee led or provide support for people seeking safety in Scotland.”

Scottish Refugee Council Communities Manager, Jewels Lang said: “We’re delighted to partner with The National Lottery Community Fund on this exciting new project.

“The funding will make a wide variety of integration projects possible. Projects that will make a real difference to the both the organisations delivering them and the many people set to benefit from them.”

Equality Network volunteers help shape housing service of the future

A GROUP of volunteers is being assembled to shape a leading housing provider’s future equality framework and policy.

Leading housing provider, Bield has committed to putting its tenants and community members at the forefront of decisions on equality, launching its bespoke ‘Equality Network’ group.

The network will be made up of tenants and Bield officers who will work together with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of the needs of people with protected characteristics and while working to ensure the necessary services are provided to them.

This is one of many tenant-led initiatives at Bield as it focuses on achieving more participation and engagement amongst service users.

Head of Policy at Bield, Zhan McIntyre, who has been overseeing the launch said: “The need for an equality group was identified as part of the last tenant engagement strategy. We’ve since placed a greater focus on people with protected characteristics to ensure there is a safe space to voice needs and opinions.

“The network hopes to engage people to both discuss their needs and also identify what we could do differently to further develop the inclusive features that already exist.

“The volunteers who take part are absolutely essential as they will shape how our equality framework will look and work here out, so we’d love to hear from anyone interested in joining.”

Anyone who is currently a customer of Bield and is passionate about improving the services is welcome to join. Members are required to attend quarterly meetings but do not need any particular skill sets or knowledge.

The principal idea behind the network is to diversify the body of people at Bield who are in charge of influencing and implementing policy with a hope that a variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences will lend itself to a more holistic and representative committee. 

To join contact: feedback@bield.co.uk or visit https://www.bield.co.uk/tenant-engagement-and-participation for more information.

Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ ethos is also promoted with this project through encouraging older people across its 180 developments to live independent, social lives by working with their peers and sharing their own ideas.

To find out more about Bield, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services or follow them on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Extra support for 30,000 families

Best Start Foods eligibility to widen 

Plans to remove all income thresholds from Best Start Foods by 2023-24 have been announced as part of the second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’.

This will increase eligibility to all people in receipt of a qualifying benefit. As a result, an additional 30,000 people are expected to benefit from Best Start Foods.

Best Start Foods is delivered via a prepaid card and provides £18 every four weeks throughout pregnancy, £36 every four weeks from birth until a child turns one, then £18 every four weeks from one until a child turns three. 

The implementation of this change will be part of the successful delivery in the coming years of our significant, wider benefits programme.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said:  “Tackling child poverty is a national mission for us. We continue to take the necessary steps to reach the ambitious targets set out in our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. Social security is one of the main pillars of this plan and will help us to  deliver support directly into the pockets of those families who need it the most.

“The cost of healthy food was already a pressure for parents and carers, and the cost of living increases are only making this more challenging. We will remove the income thresholds for Best Start Foods so that around 30,000 additional people who receive tax credits or certain benefits will be able to receive Best Start Foods by the end of financial year 2023-24.”

Sharon Hill, the Development Manager of Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust, which runs a community pantry in Midlothian serving local people, said:  “We have been operating the pantry for less than a year but it is clear that people from all walks of life and backgrounds are looking for ways to cut costs when it comes to doing their essential food shopping.

“We encourage people to ensure that they get all the benefits that are available to them and we welcome any move to open that support up to include more people.

“Like many people involved in community pantries and food banks our aim is to help people get to a place where they don’t require these services any more.”

Background

  • The Scottish Government replaced the UK Healthy Start Voucher scheme in Scotland with Best Start Foods on 12 August 2019
  • Best Start Foods aims to help tackle the impacts of child poverty by supporting low income families to buy healthy foods
  • Best Start Foods is delivered via a prepaid card and provides £18 every four weeks throughout pregnancy, £36 every four weeks from birth until a child turns one, then £18 every four weeks until a child turns three
  • The card can be used to buy healthy food, including eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables and pulses
  • Applicants under 18 will be eligible for Best Start Foods during pregnancy and up until their child turns one, without the need to be in receipt of benefits
  • Applicants over 18 need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. At present, income thresholds also apply for some of these qualifying benefits.  These income thresholds will be removed by 2023-24
  • Eligible families, and carers can find out more and apply at mygov.scot/beststart or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222
  • Best Start Foods is part of a package of Five Family Payments. By the end of 2022, the Scottish Government’s package of Five Family Payments for low income families will be worth up to a maximum of over £10,000 by the time a family’s first child turns 6, and £9,700 for second and subsequent children

ENTITLED: Gill Merton book launch at Gilmerton Community Centre

ENTITLED by Gill Merton

BOOK LAUNCH

Wednesday 18th May

Gilmerton Community Centre 7-9pm

“I was HOOKED after the third page! Literally even text my better half to say I wasn’t going to be able to put it down!” Review MorellisReads

In 1971, Nan Douglas and her toddler twins arrived on the remote island of Inniscuiilin, the long-lost family of the eccentric Miss Campbell.

For fifteen years, they all live quietly up at the Big House until the twins start planning their future – forcing Nan to confront their past.Because someone somewhere believes that the twins aren’t twins.

That they’re not even Nan’s children. And that Nan isn’t Nan.Only Nan herself can prove them wrong – but it’s a gamble. Win or lose, she’s still at risk of losing her beloved family …

Gill Merton is the collective pen name for five local writers, based at Gilmerton Community Centre on Drum Street in Edinburgh.

Please come along to hear readings from the novel and hear what it has been like to write collaboratively … copies of the book witll be available by donation, all proceeds to Ukraine.

Publication generously funded by the National Lottery Awards For All.

RSVP or turn up on the night!

WriteRight Editing Services at http://www.writerightediting.co.uk

Author of A Blonde Bengali Wifehttp://www.facebook.com/ablondebengaliwife

Twitter @AnneHamilton7

Dedicated Perinatal Mental Health Support Service for Edinburgh mums

Mums in the Neonatal unit in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh are to benefit from a dedicated Perinatal Mental Health Support Service which will match mothers with highly trained perinatal befrienders.

Aberlour Children’s Charity has secured funding which is enabling them to pilot an expansion of their successful Perinatal Mental Health Befriending Service with an experienced perinatal co-ordinator based at the hospital.  The support will be accessible to mums with premature and unwell babies in the unit from Monday 9th May. 

Three years ago, Aberlour recognised the need to support and improve the mental health of perinatal women and their children and set up a Perinatal Befriending Support Service for those who live within the East Lothian community.

The service helps mothers and mothers-to-be who are struggling with anxiety, isolation and depression in pregnancy, and after their baby is born up to the age of 12 months. It does this by matching mothers with highly-trained volunteer perinatal befrienders, who offer practical and emotional support to help tackle poor mental health and wellbeing.

Since it launched the service has supported 130 women, 134 babies and siblings and has recruited and delivered specialised perinatal befriending training to 67 befrienders in East Lothian. 

Having a new perinatal co-ordinator based at the hospital means that more mums from all over the Lothians and other health boards will be given additional emotional and practical support when they need it most. The co-ordinator will build positive relationships, provide an emotional listening ear and when necessary signpost to appropriate services within the mums’ own communities.  

Katy Ruggeri, Associate Director of Midwifery, Maternity, Gynaecology and Neonatal services at NHS Lothian, said: “We are thrilled that a Perinatal Mental Health Co-ordinator has been appointed and we welcome this innovative service from Aberlour.

“Mums who have babies in the Neonatal unit can be very fragile and having a dedicated Perinatal Co-ordinator who fully understands the challenges mums can face by providing additional support will be invaluable.”

Emma Cashmore-Gordon, Service Manager for Aberlour Perinatal Mental Health service said: “Having worked with women through their perinatal period for the past three years in East Lothian, we know what a difference our service makes to them as well as the lives of their families.

“We are so pleased that we can take this to the next level and provide support to mums throughout the whole of the Lothian region.

“This development is however a pilot, and we are seeking vital external funding to ensure continuity of our service to provide crucial support to families and secure employment for our staff. Any suggestions or assistance that can be given to help secure funding will be greatly appreciated.”

One mum who has received support from the service, said: “It’s a lifeline. Someone to listen to my crazy chat and have crazy normal chat with me!!!

“I’d be lost without my befriender. She is incredible, she juggles so much yet still has the time to speak with me and help me. She is amazing and she gets me through this difficult time.”

For more information about the service please contact Emma Cashmore Gordon, Service Manager, by calling 01875 632055 or email her at:  enquiries@aberlour.org.uk .

Intercontinental Edinburgh The George announces St Columba’s as it’s Charity Partner for the year

InterContinental Edinburgh The George has announced St Columba’s Hospice Care, a world-leading hospice providing services around Edinburgh and the Lothians, as its charity of the year.

Chosen by hotel staff, the year-long partnership launched on Wednesday (4th May), and will raise vital funds for the charity with the introduction of new ‘invisible’ items on the menu at the hotel’s food and beverage outlets.

Guests at the Printing Press Bar & Kitchen will be able to add invisible chips (£5) to their bill, while visitors at Burr & Co will be able to add an invisible coffee (£3) to their order, with all proceeds going directly to the charity. Guests visiting for corporate and business events will also have the option to add £5 to their package, which could pay an invisible coffee break for a nurse.

This support will help the independent charity’s efforts to provide palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families, across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

St Columba’s Hospice Care provides free, world-leading hospice care through dedicated support in homes and local communities, a state-of-the-art hospice in Scotland’s capital city, as well as working with partners on education and further research.

Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be chosen as InterContinental Edinburgh The George’s Charity of the Year.

“We rely on the generosity of our supporters to continue providing our vital services to patients and their families – so this partnership is really important.

“We’re excited to see what the year brings, not just in terms of fundraising, but the awareness this will help bring St Columba’s Hospice Care as we aim to deliver the best possible care and support to all the families across Edinburgh and the Lothians that need us.”

Stephanie Lee, Director of Sales, InterContinental Edinburgh The George, said: “We are so proud to partner with St Columba’s Hospice Care, a charity chosen by our staff because many have known the incredible services offered by the hospice and its team.

“Knowing that the funds raised will be used to reach more families gives us great motivation to raise as much money as we can, and we are proud to support such a deserving local cause.”