This week, the pictures of traffic queues and desperate people trying to flee Ukraine reminded us all that, when you are fleeing for safety, you have no time to apply for a visa.
We know that, as someone who supports refugees and people seeking asylum, you will be concerned for the citizens of Ukraine. And for the millions of families who may be forced to make the heart-breaking decision to leave their homes in search of safety.
The Prime Minister has promised to welcome Ukrainian’s fleeing war and persecution. But we are deeply concerned that the Nationality and Borders Bill currently going through Parliament is in stark contrast to this promise.
We are calling on the UK Government to respond by strengthening safe and legal routes including a well-resourced resettlement program, expanding family reunion routes and creating humanitarian visas.
The Bill will undermine our obligation to give all who seek asylum a fair hearing on our soil by and uphold discriminating against refugees depending on how they reach our shores.
As a country with a proud heritage of supporting people seeking protection, this is an opportunity for the United Kingdom to play a leading role in the international efforts to help those desperately in need.
Together we will continue to fight for the UK to become a more welcoming place for refugees and people seeking safety.
Students facing financial hardship due to the cost of living crisis and rising energy costs can apply for more support.
This week more than £5 million has been distributed to help Higher Education students in financial hardship with basics like heating and other household costs. This is part of a £37 million hardship funding provided by the Scottish Government since June 2021.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will meet colleges’ Further Education student support funding requirements, and have also provided a further £6 million for financial support for FE students, in this academic year.
Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn has written to college and university principals, asking them to encourage students most in need to apply and to prioritise allocation of funding.
To further support students, Mr Hepburn has announced:
a £350 loan uplift for 2022-23 in higher education. This means that the most disadvantaged students can access £8,100 per year through bursary and loan
the introduction of a new 12 monthly payment option in 2022-23 for higher education students receiving the Care Experienced Bursary, so support is also available over the summer months
Mr Hepburn said: “Many students are facing higher energy bills and increased financial hardship as a result of the cost of living crisis.
“I have written to university and college principals asking them to ensure that discretionary funds remain accessible for students most in need and that in distributing funds, they should take account of the impact rising energy prices will be having on students, particularly those in private rented accommodation.
“I have also asked them to add students facing rising energy bills to the priority groups so they can access the funds. Students can also apply for support through the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which is distributed through third sector organisations.”
Charity calls for support to help more children affected by conflict
Mary’s Meals has launched an appeal to provide more school meals for desperately hungry children in South Sudan – the country with the world’s highest rate of children out of education.
Learning across South Sudan has been drastically hindered by years of violence and upheaval, with survival often taking priority over children attending school. Internal displacement, deep poverty and hunger mean that life for families is a real struggle.
Over 70% (2.2 million) of primary school aged children are not in education, with girls more likely to miss school.[1]
More than half (55%) of people have insufficient food intake.[2]
A third (31.3%) of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.[3]
Mary’s Meals is already feeding around 70,000 hungry children every school day in South Sudan. Now, the charity founded in a shed in Argyll, is appealing for support to reach even more hungry children with a nutritious meal at school.
Daniel Adams, executive director of Mary’s Meals, says: “Our nutritious meals are giving children in South Sudan the energy to learn, hope for a better future and some respite from the immense difficulty of everyday life.
“Mary’s Meals is one of very few organisations delivering desperately needed food to schools in this country. We are already feeding around 70,000 children every school day – and we are determined to reach even more little ones with our life-changing meals. To do this, we need your support.”
Mary’s Meals provides school meals for children living in some of the world’s poorest countries – including Malawi, Haiti, Ethiopia, Syria and Yemen. The promise of a daily meal attracts hungry children to the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.
In South Sudan, the charity works in partnership with local organisations, Diocese of Rumbek and Mary Help Association, to serve maize and beans to pupils at 114 schools in the Warrap and Lakes States regions, where thousands of people have fled to seeking refuge.
Moses, who works for Mary’s Meals’ partner Diocese of Rumbek, says: “Many schools were destroyed by the conflict. I have visited new primary schools that have been built far away from the towns, in make-shift sheds and under trees.
“I was there when we took the food to these communities. Words are not enough to describe the happiness of the children. They jumped with joy – dancing, singing and shouting. They were so eager to learn and attendance at the schools is rising because of the promise of a good meal.”
Abak and Aping’s story
Sisters Abak and Aping enrolled at school last year when Mary’s Meals set up a school feeding programme.
Aping (12) is in primary two. She says: “The only food we get in a day is from Mary’s Meals. That is what made us join the school since we don’t have food at home.”
The girls live with their grandmother. She is weak and ageing, but she does her best to provide modest shelter and love for the two girls who help tend a very small patch of land growing vegetables. When they are lucky enough to get a small harvest, they sell what they have to buy soap and salt.
To donate to the Mary’s Meals South Sudan Appeal, please visit:
Leading Scottish care home group, Renaissance Care, has set out plans to increase inclusivity and security among its workforce.
The Group, which operates 16 care homes throughout Scotland with over 1,200 staff, launched the initiative in January with a commitment to supplying sanitary items for female staff in all its facilities with the provision of sanitary towels and tampons in all staff bathrooms.
The move is part of the group’s efforts to create a safe and happy working environment and comes following calls from The British Medical Association for these essentials to be accessible to all healthcare staff throughout Scotland.
Corinne Morrison-Gillies, Interim People Services, said: “Sanitary items are not a luxury; they are a necessity and should be treated as such by employers. The nature of our job in the care sector means our staff do not have regular working patterns therefore can easily be caught off guard by their menstrual cycle, adding undue pressure to what can be a challenging job.
“Our staff work incredibly hard, and the last thing they should have to worry about is having access to, what we consider, bare essentials. By having free period products available in all our care homes we hope to remove barriers and create an open and safe working environment for our employees.”
Renaissance Care Group has a strong people service strategy which focuses on learning and development for individual staff members, as well as onus on creating a person-centered culture of inclusivity and care.
More than 40 young Indian women now equipped with new skills and regular income
Scotmid Co-operative has helped more than forty young women in India develop new skills and secure a regular income through a partnership with co-ops across the UK.
When the Delta variant hit India with devastating effect last year, Scotmid and a group of co-operative retailers collectively raised over £100,000 to support the crisis response, initially providing essential basic supplies, health kits and education.
The support evolved to helping young female workers to grow a sustainable future out of the pandemic through a two-year incubator programme to help them develop skills in journalism, graphic design, photography, new media, research methodology and report writing.
Pranaliben, a 20-year-old woman from Ahmedabad City, is one of the women who will benefit from this support. After completing her graduate studies from a local university, Pranaliben struggled to find sustained employment which was made worse by the pandemic.
Through her mother, a member of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), she got in touch with SEWA Cooperative Federation and learnt about cooperatives. Now she is eager to work together with young women like herself and lead her own cooperative.
Co-operatives UK worked with the Co-operative College and Co-op News to co-ordinate the appeal, partnering with SEWA in India who are delivering the programme.
Mirai Chatterjee, Chairperson SEWA Cooperative Federation said: “Women in India mainly work informally meaning their earnings can be unreliable and as soon as the crisis hit many lost their income overnight.
“Thanks to the vital support provided by our co-operative friends in the UK, we’re helping them to form two grassroots co-operatives to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves.
“As well as learning technical skills in communications and research, around forty young women will develop leadership and business management skills, and we’re developing market links to help them secure regular work and provide income security.”
Harry Cairney, Scotmid President, said: “This worthwhile partnership demonstrates the strength of co-operation. We’re proud to be a part of this initiative to grant young women in India, like Pranaliben, the necessary skills and opportunities needed to secure a regular income.”
During the initial crisis period, £70,000 of the donation from Scotmid and other UK co-ops was used to provide emergency support. This included the distribution of 4,000 household health kits, with masks, soap and immune boosters distributed across eight states of India.
Lifesaving information about the symptoms and spread of Covid was also provided to families in rural and low-income urban areas – to dispel myths and provide accurate health information.
The remaining £30,000 is now being used to deliver a two-year programme supporting the development of two young women’s incubator co-operatives.
A grassroots media co-operative will support young women to build capacity in media, journalism, graphic design, photography and new media, whilst a second grassroots co-operative will focus on research, conducting surveys, focus group discussion and report writing.
If you are struggling with problem debt and worried about how best to deal with it, you’re not alone. That’s the message from a new Scottish Government campaign, encouraging people in Edinburgh to get the help they need and are entitled to get their finances back on track.
Problem debt could come from credit card debt that has gotten out of control, overdraft fees or from unpaid bills. Anyone can run into debt problems, and it can quickly spiral to unaffordable costs. But there is a wide range of trusted organisations, free support and advice available to help Edinburgh locals take control of their debt and ease their money worries.
As a starting point to living and enjoying a healthier financial lifestyle, you can follow seven simple top tips and useful guides from the Scottish Government’s partners.
A new website, moneysupport.scot, from the Scottish Government includes information and links to free and impartial debt advice to help people take control and live a healthier financial life. There’s also information on other financial matters such as affordable credit options and eligibility for benefits.
Sharon Bell, Head of StepChange, said:“With many Scots worried about money and debt problems, it’s important that people don’t fear seeking support before they reach financial crisis.
“By getting in touch with us, it’s a small and vital first step to getting your finances back on track and dealing with your worries. We can help people access and utilise the resources they are entitled to and will be there to support for as long as they need.
“StepChange is proud to partner with the Scottish Government on this campaign to raise awareness of the free support and advice available. Our skilled team of debt experts will help people achieve long-term financial control.”
DEBT ADVICE TOP TIPS
DON’T IGNORE PROBLEM DEBT
It’s hard facing up to problem debt and it’s easy for it to spiral. From missing payments to not opening bills or checking your statements you can quickly run into trouble and be left feeling anxious. By facing up to the facts, you can get the support you need and take back control of your finances. Go to moneysupport.scot for help.
SEEK ADVICE
The sooner you ask for help, the sooner you can work towards tackling your debt and easing your money worries. Free and impartial advice is available from a range of trusted sources including Christians Against Poverty (CAP) who can advise you on practical solutions to a healthier financial life.
TALK TO A MONEY ADVISER
Everyone’s circumstances are different. By calling StepChange, you’ll be put straight through to an expert money advisor, who can provide free debt advice tailored specifically to your needs and they will be there for as long as you need them.
WORK OUT A BUDGET
Creating a budget detailing your income and what you spend each month, let’s you clearly track your finances. National Debtline’s, StepChange’s and Business Debtline all have useful planners available to download for free.
RECOGNISE YOUR PRIORITY DEBTS
Understanding your ‘priority debts’ including rent can stop you facing serious consequences like being evicted. Citizens Advice Scotland has a useful guide to identify different types of debt and which ones you need to handle first.
CONSIDER THE BEST OPTIONS TO PAY BACK YOUR DEBT
Various schemes can assist you in paying back your debt with step-by-step assistance available from StepChange and National Debtline.
CONSIDER TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS
If your circumstances change such as losing your job, temporary solutions are in place to help manage your debt in the short term. National Debtline offer a useful digital guide on the various schemes in place to support you in seeking the help you may be entitled to.
For local advice and support contact Granton Information Centre – telephone 0131 552 0458 or 0131 551 2459 or email info@gic.org.uk
Extra £1 million will help people shape the services they need
A £1 million investment over two years will fund work with people with dementia and their families to design and shape the support they need following diagnosis.
The funding, part of the £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal fund, will see the Scottish Government working with Age Scotland to enhance support giving people a bigger say in what works for them.
COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on people with dementia. Through this partnership with Age Scotland, the Scottish Government will grow the community support that have been so critical to people and their families during the pandemic.
Early investment will be focused on building community capacity with a small grant programme, with a broader community grant programme to follow in the second year.
Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: “During the latest phase of the pandemic I have listened to people with dementia and their families about the need for additional flexible support and investment to help address some of the particular challenges they are facing.
“COVID-19 has impacted all of us but I know just how challenging it has been for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
“Trying to reduce this impact is the basis of our Dementia and Covid Action Plan, which we have worked with a wide range of partners to implement, since its publication in December 2020.
“There is a lot of positive work to point to, and the pandemic has particularly highlighted the importance of community-led work, responding to local need. I want to build on this work and enable more local people and communities to design and shape the support they need.
“Through this partnership with Age Scotland we will invest an extra £1 million over two years to support local communities to do that.”
Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to deliver this funding, which will support the development of dementia-friendly communities across Scotland.
“The pandemic has compounded challenges faced by people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. This funding will help address some of these challenges by shaping communities that work for those who have lived experience of dementia.
“Our role is to bring the voices of carers and people living with dementia to the forefront as plans are developed, ensuring those voices are heard at every stage of the design and delivery process. By doing so, we can build communities that truly support and empower people living with dementia and those who care for them.”
Millions driven to harmful desperation borrowing as financial pressure on households deepens
The number of people finding it hard to keep up with bills and credit commitments has doubled since the start of the pandemic according to new research from StepChange Debt Charity.
The charity has found the proportion of people struggling is now nearly one in three (30%) GB adults – 15 million people – compared to 15% (7.5m people) who say they were struggling in March 2020.
The report finds 8.6 million people in financial difficulty in Britain borrowed £26 billion to cover their basic needs in the last year. This includes 3.5 million people who have used credit to pay essential bills.
The number of people resorting to credit is expected to increase as the cost-of-living crisis pushes up the price of basic household essentials.
StepChange’s research reveals a credit market that does not always work for people in financial difficulty, with two-thirds (65%) of those in difficulty having kept up with credit repayments by missing bills, borrowing from family and friends or being forced to cut back to the point of hardship.
Despite rules designed to ensure those in financial difficulty access support, fewer than one in four of those struggling with credit repayments are in contact with their bank or credit firm.
Strikingly, half of GB adults (53%) say that they would be reluctant to seek help with financial difficulty from a bank or credit firm due to concerns about credit reporting and the anxiety and stigma of talking about financial difficulty.
The report finds that rather than access help, people struggling with debt can instead experience steps that make their situation worse. Among Stepchange clients who responded to an online survey, 26% were offered further credit after they were in financial difficulty, 35% had a payment taken they could not afford and 51% had interest added to a debt.
The lack of effective early intervention to identify and provide those in financial difficulty with a safe, fair way out of unaffordable debt is causing social harms, with 6.4 million struggling GB adults saying credit has had a negative impact on their health, relationships or ability to work in the last 12 months.
The research, based on a national survey of GB adults and an online survey of StepChange clients, highlights poor practice in the credit market such as ineffective affordability checks and automatic credit limit increases that draw financially vulnerable households into unmanageable debt.
With the cost-of-living crisis now further squeezing budgets StepChange is warning that many more people are likely to use credit to pay for essentials in the coming months. Urgent action is needed to support households to meet essential costs without resorting to credit.
The Financial Conduct Authority recently announced proposals to implement a new Consumer Duty that will require firms to focus on delivering good outcomes for consumers. StepChange is calling for the FCA to ensure the Duty changes practices that are failing consumers, including:
Raising standards of lending and addressing unaffordable credit limit increases so that fewer stretched households build unaffordable credit card debt
Requiring firms to intervene proactively and provide a widely available and safe offer to customers unable to keep up with repayments, building on learning from payment deferrals offered during the pandemic.
StepChange is also calling on the Government and the FCA to do more to provide alternatives to borrowing for households that are struggling to meet unexpected expenses, through grants via the social security system and a government-supported no interest loan scheme.
StepChange Chief Executive Phil Andrew said:“The sharp rise in the number of people struggling to meet their financial commitments should raise alarm bells across Government, banks and regulators.
“We are two years into a financially damaging pandemic and going through the sharpest cost of living increase in a generation. While consumer credit can potentially play some part in helping people navigate short-term pinch points, this must not be at the cost of their long-term financial and personal wellbeing.
“For our clients, a cost-of-living crisis is not new – for years we have been seeing a steady rise in the number of households who experience debt simply through a prolonged period of not having enough income to meet their basic needs.
“However, the number of such households looks set to grow, and in the absence of public policy intervention the risk is that such households will have no other option but to turn to borrowing in the short term, which will only exacerbate and prolong their financial difficulties.
“Those responsible for the steering us through these choppy financial waters need to be attuned to the harm many credit products, made available to people on the cusp of financial difficulty, can cause.
“The new Consumer Duty is a crucial opportunity for firms to redesign products and change practices to ensure credit does not exploit financial difficulty and those in difficulty get effective help fast.
“To resist acting is to risk a rapidly escalating debt crisis, particularly among lower income households.”
Approximately 6.9 million people over the age of 18 are smokers. Smoking harms almost all organs in the body, including your heart and blood vessels, increasing your risk of having a heart attack.
Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult, but it is an important step in reducing your risk of heart disease. We provide some tips to help you stop smoking:.
Decide when to stop and make a plan
The sooner you decide to quit smoking, the better. Choose a date within the next two weeks. If you leave it too long, you will give yourself time to change your mind.
Identify triggers that make you want to smoke and work out how you will overcome them in advance. For example, if you usually smoke during your break at work, plan to go for a walk instead.
Notify friends and family of your intention to stop smoking and ask for their support.
Manage your cravings
Cigarette cravings are intense urges to smoke and they can last for 5 minutes.
Quitting smoking requires a huge amount of willpower. When you get a craving, try to distract yourself for 5-10 minutes until it passes. You could try planning a healthy dinner or plan a route for a cycle ride or a walk.
Once the craving has passed, you can give yourself a pat on the back.
Get support
Getting support to stop smoking can increase your chances of success. You could try contacting your local Stop Smoking Services or chatting to your GP.
You could also seek advice from a friend or family member who has successfully stopped smoking, or from someone who is also trying to quit.
Perhaps consider using a stop smoking aid, such as nicotine patches, gums, lozenges or nasal sprays to help stop the cravings.
As well as reducing your risk of developing serious diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, quitting smoking can also help to improve your mental wellbeing.
Why not reduce your risk by choosing a date to quit smoking today?
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