Headteachers and Depute Headteachers from across Scotland have shared their extreme disappointment at the Scottish Government’s decision not to allow schools to move to remote learning as a means of protecting the health of staff, pupils and their families in the final week before Christmas.
A meeting of the EIS Headteacher (HT) and Depute Headteacher (DHT) Network, held on Friday, heard first-hand testimony from HTs and DHTs over the severe additional workload pressure that has been placed on school management teams as a result of COVID contact tracing requirements whenever a pupil or staff member tests positive for the virus.
Headteacher and Network Convener Lorraine McBride said, “The COVID pandemic has had a severe impact in our schools and has created huge stresses on everyone within our communities.
“Quite apart from the impact on the physical health of many teachers and students, there has also been a severe impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Added to this has been the huge additional workload burden generated by the demands of the contract tracing system, which frequently interrupts weekend and evenings on top of taking up swathes of time during the school day that should be being spent on other essential priorities.”
“Whenever there is a positive case linked to a school, this creates a demand on SMTs to quickly track, trace and isolate every pupil and staff member who has come into close contact with the infected person. This is additional workload, over and above the many usual demands on SMT’s time, and it has been imposed upon us with little or nothing in the way of tangible support.”
Ms McBride continued, “It is concrete support that we need – not just fine words from the Scottish Government or our employers telling us how much they appreciate us. Many HTs and DHTs have been left absolutely devastated by the Scottish Government’s decision not to allow schools to close their buildings early and move to remote learning in the final week before Christmas.
“This decision means that, where positive cases are identified late, SMTs may be expected to deliver or support contact tracing work over the Christmas period. The Scottish Government’s decision also significantly increases the risk of pupils and staff taking the virus into their homes, or into the homes of potentially vulnerable family members, during the festive period.”
Ms McBride added, “All we we’re asking for was for school buildings to close a few days early, in order to protect us all and our families. Education would have continued via remote learning and we were absolutely not asking for extra holidays, as has been falsely claimed elsewhere.
“In failing to take a small, common sense, step to protect teachers, pupils and their families, the Scottish Government is risking what little goodwill remains amongst a teaching profession that has been worn down to the point of physical and mental exhaustion over this past year.”
A new report has calculated that churches across Scotland have delivered 212,214 acts of support during lockdown.
The Stories of Hope report, which was requested by the Scottish government and produced by the Evangelical Alliance and Serve Scotland, found that these acts were delivered by 3,212 volunteers and impacted 55,671 beneficiaries.
The study details how churches in over 180 locations, often in partnership with others, developed support networks and established projects to support the most vulnerable and isolated in their communities.
Projects were active across the country from the Highlands to the Borders, across the breadth of denominations and in partnership with a number of charities including CAP Scotland, the Bethany Trust, and Glasgow City Mission.
Kieran Turner, Public Policy Officer for the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland said: “2020 has been a year of disruption for all of us and churches, like many other essential services have had to adapt.
“This report has highlighted the significant impact churches up and down the country have had in supporting the most vulnerable in society.”
The report also highlighted the importance of churches partnering with local businesses and other agencies as more than two-thirds of the projects identified were delivered in partnership to provide support to those in need.
Supermarkets, community councils, businesses, NHS boards, housing associations, voluntary support groups, and food banks have all worked with churches on the ground in these projects. In addition, 11 local authorities were identified, sometimes by multiple projects, as providing emergency funding for weekly support costs.
Kieran Turner continued: “Churches have re-purposed existing services and staff and volunteers have been quickly redeployed. New projects have been set up to deliver food, phone the elderly and isolated, support those homeless or claiming asylum, and connect with children and young people who were struggling with their mental health.
“For many, these services were literally a lifeline – often the only contact in a day when all other normal support networks and buildings were closed.”
Case study: MARIE
Marie is a young mum who lives with her partner and four children in a two bedroom flat in a tower block in Aberdeen.
She first connected with Seaton Community Church through the Mums & toddlers group. When lockdown happened as she faced real financial hardship with a young baby she turned to the church’s packed lunch project for help.
The church provided daily meals and also supported the family through this daily connection with mental, emotional and spiritual support. This lifted a huge financial and emotional pressure off her shoulders and Marie has now become part of the wider church community, watching church online as well building deeper friendships with others locally.
The online survey was gathered data from May 2020 to July 2020 by the Evangelical Alliance with the aim of understanding the range and focus of church-based projects taking place across Scotland during the pandemic.
Today, on this UN Day of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the TUC is standing side by side with our sisters and brothers in their struggle for peace, justice, equality and an end to the illegal occupation of their land.
Supporting Palestinian rights is a priority for the TUC.
The ITUC rates Palestine as one of the worst countries in the world for workers, with no guarantee of rights due to a breakdown in the rule of law.
Our work and policies in support of Palestinian rights and decent work are set out in an evidence-based report, ‘Justice for Palestine’ published today.
The TUC calls on the UK government to:
publicly support ending the illegal military occupation of Palestine;
take firm action to ensure annexation does not go ahead;
speak out in support of protecting all Palestinian human rights, including the right to collective self-determination and the right of refugees to return;
recognise the State of Palestine and support genuine efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution, with Palestinians and Israelis participating as equals in talks.
Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land has lasted for over 50 years, in violation of international law.
The human rights situation “deteriorates day-by-day”, according to the UN’s Special Rapporteur. Human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) include labour exploitation, home demolitions, forcible population transfer, excessive use of force and torture, and restrictions on freedom of movement.
In the first six months of 2020, 21 Palestinians were killed by Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) with at least half being shot.
The nation-state law, passed by Israel’s Knesset in 2018 enshrines discrimination, and the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on Israel to repeal the law or bring it into line with the relevant Covenant.
Israel has been allowed to act with impunity for decades, and it is now threatening to annex more Palestinian land.
Despite claims by outgoing President Trump and others that annexation is off the table as part of Israel’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that “There is no change in my plan to apply sovereignty, our sovereignty, in Judea and Samaria, in full coordination with the US. I’m committed to it, this hasn’t changed… This issue remains on the table”.
But arguably, annexation is happening on the ground anyway with, for example, Israel’s construction of the 700km-plus wall mainly built on Palestinian land.
We’ve written to the UK government stating our concerns about the annexation threat and called on it to publicly state that annexation would be met with serious consequences.
The occupation has suffocated the Palestinian economy.
According to the ILO, the occupation, settlements and restrictions such as checkpoints, roadblocks, the wall, metal gates, being unable to access natural resources and infrastructure “severely affect Palestinians’… right to non-discrimination, with regard to pursuing an adequate standard of living and decent work”.
The economy in Gaza, blockaded by air, sea and land for over a decade is near collapse. Poverty rates in Gaza are over 50 per cent.
Young Palestinian women face particularly bleak employment prospects, with 66 per cent out of the labour force in quarter two (April-June) of 2020.
Despite business having an obligation to respect human rights under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, many are complicit and profit from the occupation and violations of Palestinian human rights – with some of these listed in the UN’s database.
This complicity must end.
Faced with little alternative, around 130,000 Palestinians work in the illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and in Israel, in exploitative conditions characterised by discrimination, low pay, insecurity, poor health and safety and few rights at work (see report for more details).
It’s good to hear that the Israeli government will finally make improvements to the exploitative permit system for construction workers in Israel, so that they will receive permits directly, rather than through their employer.
This looks like a step forward and should establish a direct relationship between workers and employers, rather than via profiteering labour brokers – but enforcement will be vital.
We’re still waiting for more information about this policy change, but we’d want to see all workers treated fairly and have their rights respected.
The Covid-19 pandemic has added further hardship and uncertainty for Palestinian workers and their families.
Despite a tripartite agreement being signed with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), 52 per cent of workers did not receive their salary/wages during the lockdown period. The PGFTU has been supporting incomes and providing food aid.
Meanwhile, the illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian territory continue to expand – a move recently jointly condemned by the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain as being in violation of international law and imperilling the viability of a two-state solution. Around 600,000 Israeli settlers now live in the occupied West Bank, with about one-third in East Jerusalem, in approximately 250 settlements.
The extensive appropriation of land and the appropriation and destruction of property required to build and expand settlements breaches international humanitarian law.
This injustice cannot continue
In solidarity with Palestinian people, the TUC supports a ban on trade with the illegal settlements, an end to arms trading with Israel, and suspension of the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement until Palestinian rights are respected.
We encourage affiliates, employers and pension funds to disinvest from, and boycott the goods of, companies who profit from illegal settlements, the occupation and the construction of the wall.
We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
For more information about the TUC’s policies and work on Palestine see:
Still Game star highlights valued work of carers in new campaign
Carers across Edinburgh are being urged to seek emotional and practical support through a new national campaign, delivered in partnership with Still Game’s Jane McCarry.
Jane, who plays Isa Drennan in the BBC Scotland sitcom, is a ‘sandwich’ carer – that means she cares for her mother while juggling childcare and work responsibilities. Jane marked the launch of the campaign by addressing carers from across Scotland at this year’s virtual Carers Parliament event.
With more caution about going out, as well as services being under pressure because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, even more people have taken on a caring role.
Before the pandemic, there were an estimated 690,000 carers in Scotland, however recent polling by YouGov suggests this figure could have increased by an additional 390,000[1] during COVID-19 and lockdown, taking the potential total number of carers in Scotland to around 1.1 million.
The campaign aims to make sure that all who are new to caring, as well as those who were before, are aware there is support out there for them and can come forward to access it.
Although most support is being provided remotely, services are still open and ready to welcome carers. There’s a range of support measures available nationally and locally to help improve carers’ quality of life, with local carer centres across Scotland offering sessions such as virtual support groups, information, advice and online relaxation sessions.
Local carer centres in Edinburgh can help all carers prepare their own personalised support plans.
Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing Joe FitzPatrick attended the virtual Carers Parliament event. He said: “Carers are juggling a lot between work, family, friends and their caring duties – it’s crucial for their own wellbeing that they get the support they deserve.
“They may not be aware of what’s available to them, or they may not even recognise themselves as carers, but there is support available nationally and locally to help improve their quality of life.
“Crucially, we want carers to recognise that they’re not alone. There is a community of carers on every doorstep and every street. Together, it’s important to connect them with emotional and practical support that works for them.”
Jane said: “I know first-hand how challenging it is to be a carer for a close friend, neighbour or family member. The working day doesn’t end yet you never view your responsibility as a burden because you’re ‘just’ looking after someone you love.
“The reality, however, is hard – both mentally and physically – and sometimes we all need some support, be it counselling, peer support sessions or even just sitting down for a virtual cuppa with someone who knows what you’re going through.
“I’d encourage anyone in a caring role to seek out the support that’s on offer to them.”
Jill Franklin, 51, from Edinburgh, is a carer for her two autistic sons and has experienced the benefits of taking advantage of the support on offer.
She said: “It’s crucial that carers take advantage of the support available to them and take some time back for themselves. In my own personal situation, I was referred to the carers’ allowance which helped me financially.
“I’ve also received help from VOCAL, an organisation supporting unpaid carers in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
“Their support helped me to pay a childminder which allowed me to take some time to study for a masters in playwriting. It’s so important to take time too for yourself which helps ensure you can continue to provide care to your loved ones when they need it most.”
The annual Carers Parliament is organised by Carers Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government and in partnership with national carer organisations, with this year’s virtual event including seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities for those in a caring role.
For more information on the support available to carers, please visit nhsinform.scot/caring or call 0800 011 3200.
Profits from purchases will directly support people who have previously experienced homelessness
2020 will, for many, have been one of the toughest years of our lives, and for those who are currently experiencing homeless or those who have found themselves without a roof over their heads in the past, this Christmas could perhaps be one of their most challenging times.
Social enterprise Invisible Cities are inviting you to support them by purchasing from a carefully curated selection of unique gifts, available for sale via their website.
All profits from purchases will go directly towards supporting some of those most in need of support this winter:
Scotland Map (Unframed, £7 or Framed black, £12) –
This unique design of Scotland has been created exclusively for Invisible Cities, by their very own artist in residence – Nicola Boon! Full of intricate illustrations, this makes a great gift, on its own or framed.
City of Edinburgh Hand Drawn Illustrated Map Print (£15) –
Crammed with tiny details, this map displays many of the famous landmarks and is the perfect way to celebrate your local pride, as a souvenir of your time in Edinburgh or as a gift for a loved one. The map was also created for Invisible (Edinburgh), by Nicola Boon, a local artist based in the capital (Print comes unframed and signed by the artist).
Invisible Cities Kids Bundle (£12) –
This is THE perfect gift for the little people around you. Each kit includes: Invisible Cities Sticker Set with a map of the UK where you can stick them all, stickers of each of the guides, a set of 5 colouring sheets, each representing the Invisible Cities, a set of mini colouring pencils and a Scotland Memory Game for the whole family to enjoy!
Invisible Cities World Tour Subscription Box – Yearly Subscription (£105) –
Want your children to discover the world from the comfort of your home? This box is for you: with a different activity book each time, it has games, gifts and unique items to collect. Each box is themed on a different country and for each box purchased, Invisible Cities distribute free books, activities and games to children in temporary accommodation.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, Founder & CEO of Invisible Cities CICcomments, “This has been such a tough year for so many people and we are doing everything that we can to support some people who may have been hit harder than others as a result of this pandemic.
“Through purchasing out gifts online, people can show they care for a loved one whilst also paying it forward and supporting those who really need it.”
Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that doesn’t believe in labels or stereotypes. They want to show that everyone has great potential.
They train people affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city and offer these alternative tours to tourists and locals.
Training focuses on confidence building, public speaking and customer service.
They partner with professional tour guides to build bespoke tours and practice their routes.
Refreshed ‘Ready Scotland’ website to help communities work together
Communities are being encouraged to continue to support each other as the country moves into winter.
The Scottish Government’s recently refreshed Ready Scotland website (ready.scot) provides a range of information for anyone looking for support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as advice on preparing for winter weather.
It also provides guidance for those who wish to help out those around them, whether on an individual basis or through volunteering with local community groups or charities.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1326608249685151745
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “In any year, winter weather can be a challenge for many of us, and this year it will come while we are already managing the effects that COVID-19 is having on so many aspects of our lives.
“As we have seen in previous winters, and as we saw so clearly during our lockdown in the spring and in the months since, the strength and kindness of our communities and our desire to look out for our neighbours is one of our greatest resources.
“These support networks are no less important now than they were in the spring, especially to older, disabled and at risk people, and those who are on their own or feeling lonely. While we can’t visit each other as we might have done in previous years, a phone call or a text can go a long way, and there are a wide range of services standing ready to provide support.
“I would encourage people to continue to take time to check in with those around you and offer any help that you are able.”
Guidance on giving and finding help during the coronavirus pandemic, preparing for winter weather, and forming community groups is available on the Ready Scotland website.
For those without digital access, coronavirus support can be sought from the National Assistance Helpline by telephoning 0800 111 4000.
Clearyourhead.scot has a range of advice and resources, also offering practical assistance for anyone feeling low or needing to speak to someone for emotional support.
Economy Secretary confirms eligibility for more licensed businesses required by law to close or operate with specific restrictions
Hardship and closure grants will be paid to bowling and other sports clubhouses which are licensed to serve alcohol.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Earlier this month, we announced a £40 million Fund to support specific businesses currently required to close or operate with restrictions. Some sporting and other clubs have asked for explicit confirmation that they are eligible and I am pleased to confirm that we will be supporting those businesses.
Scottish Government has also confirmed that hardship grants can be paid to sports clubs, gyms and others in the central belt that operate from their own non-domestic premises and are have not been allowed to run or charge for group exercise classes since 9th October.
Applications for these funds close at 5 pm on 3rd November.
They will be replaced by a new form of support – linked to the new Strategic Framework – which will provide eligible businesses with grants of up to £3,000 every four weeks.
“As we move into the new Framework next week, I want to again recognise the sacrifices that businesses have made during this period.
“By continuing to work together to suppress this virus we can come through the other side with a fair, sustainable and wellbeing economy that will benefit us all.”
Details of current £40 million Fund and how to apply can be found at:
Last week the Scottish Government announced support for businesses which are required to close or are constrained by measures in place from 2 November.
Extra money for more than 14,000 disabled children
Families of disabled children will receive a new heating benefit by Christmas.
The Child Winter Heating Assistance is a new £200 payment to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes. There are more than 14,000 children expected to be eligible.
Payments will arrive with people from Friday 27 November and these are expected to be complete by Friday 11 December.
People do not need to apply for this payment. It will be made automatically by Social Security Scotland using information provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. Families will get a letter in advance to confirm that they will be getting this payment.
This is the first form of disability assistance to be introduced by the Scottish Government using its new social security powers.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley Anne Somerville said: “As the nights draw in and the temperature starts to drop we will all be conscious of the extra cost to heat our homes. For families of the most seriously disabled children and young people, who may need to heat their homes for longer periods, this can bring even more pressure in what is already a challenging circumstance.
“I am so pleased that we have been able to introduce this payment before Christmas, ensuring people will have this money ahead of the coldest of the winter months. I hope this helps these families plan their finances and that they can turn the heating on without as much worry about how they are going to afford it.
“I am delighted that despite the impact of COVID-19, we’ve been able to move forward with three new benefits this year – Job Start Payment, Scottish Child Payment and now Child Winter Heating Assistance. This is the first disability assistance that we will deliver using our new social security powers.
“We are continuing to work with delivery partners to review the timeline for introduction of our remaining benefits and we will do everything we can to start these as soon as we can practically and safely do so.”
Background
a client will qualify for Child Winter Heating Assistance if they live in Scotland and were in receipt of the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for children on at least one day between 21 September 2020 to 27 September 2020.
families will get letters in advance to confirm to expect this payment. Payments will be made in batches from Monday 23 November and arrive in people’s banks approximately four days later. It is expected to take two weeks to complete all payments. This payment will be made to the same account that they receive Disability Assistance Living Allowance for Children payments to.
families will get a payment for every child who receives the highest rate Disability Living Allowance for children. This is not a per household payment.
if a family believes that they are eligible for this payment and they haven’t had a letter or a payment, they should contact Social Security Scotland from Tuesday 8 December for further advice.
people can contact Social Security Scotland through web chat at mygov.scot/contact-social-security-scotland/ by calling the Freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222.
while the pandemic continues to have an impact on our operations and our delivery partners – including health and social care and the Department for Work and Pensions – we are doing what we can to progress policy, design and development work. We are still working through what the impacts of COVID-19 mean for our delivery timeline and holding conversations with partners to establish what we can introduce and when.
The Scottish Government will provide £2 million of funding to mitigate the financial challenges facing the residential outdoor education sector as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
The package will include funding to help centres provide safe, impactful outdoor learning experiences to support young people’s education and wellbeing through this challenging period.
Science Minister Richard Lochhead has written to MSPs to outline the package of support. He said: “I met representatives from the sector recently to discuss their concerns and request for funding. I am acutely aware of the challenges the sector has had to face in the wake of the restrictions imposed to supress the spread of COVID-19.
“Outdoor learning is an important aspect of Scotland’s curriculum. It can play a vital role in supporting children’s wellbeing and attainment and we are fully committed to supporting outdoor education providers. I hope this funding, along with third sector and youth work funding streams which are already available, alleviates some of the pressures facing the sector during these challenging times and allows them to offer meaningful experiences to young people.
“Funding on its own will not address all of the challenges that are faced at the current time. We will continue to engage with local authorities to support the important role that outdoor education centres and their staff can play during the period when overnight residential stays are not permitted for public health reasons.”
Discussions on administration of the package of support continue. Details of how to apply will be made available as soon as possible.
Alongside the new fund, the Scottish Government will produce a package of communication and support materials to local authorities and schools in order to publicise the opportunities for outdoor learning experiences in their area.
Guidance for schools and local authorities on the positive contribution made by outdoor education centres, developed by the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education, was published in August 2020.
Guidance for school visits and trips to outdoor education centres is here
Guidance on the educational value of outdoor education centres (published August 2020, funded by Scottish Government) is here
Scotland is facing crisis levels of ‘pet poverty’, according to figures released today by PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need.
The charity – which provides free and low cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets – said the financial impact of Covid-19 has led to an overwhelming number of enquiries from pet owners who have hit hard times since the start of lockdown.
More than 66,000 pets in Scotland have benefited from PDSA’s free and low-cost vet care since the initial Covid-19 lockdown began.
Susie Hermit, Senior Vet at the PDSA Pet Hospital on Shamrock Street in Glasgow, said: “From March to September this year, PDSA hospitals and clinics in Scotland carried out 62,873 remote consultations, 1,078 essential and emergency operations and 2,519 x-rays for pets whose owners can no longer afford vet’s fees. It’s clear we’re experiencing the start of a pet welfare crisis, as a result of Covid-19.
“For many sick and injured pets, whose owners are struggling financially, the PDSA Pet Hospitals in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow are their only emergency service.”
Jan McLoughlin, PDSA Director General, added: “This Winter, we’re facing the biggest challenge in our history. We’re experiencing unprecedented demand for our services.
“During this time, pets have become more important than ever for so many people – providing companionship and comfort and alleviating isolation. But the financial impact of the pandemic is starting to bite. No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. And no pet should suffer because of poverty.
“I’ve not known a pet care crisis like it in the 19 years I’ve been at PDSA. Without charitable support from the public, our PDSA Pet Hospitals in Scotland may not be able to meet this additional demand for our services.”
PDSA is launching a Pet Care Crisis Emergency Appeal to raise vital funds so it can continue to care for pets whose owners now find themselves unable to pay for vet treatment.
Susie stressed: “We never want to be in a position where we can’t be there for pets that need us; whether that’s today, tomorrow or in the future. Sadly, pets will continue to fall ill or get injured throughout this Coronavirus crisis and many owners will be in desperate need of our help due to changes in their financial circumstances.
“2020 has been a hard year for everyone and the pandemic has impacted on all our lives, but innocent pets shouldn’t suffer as a result of their owner’s hardship. I know that Scotland is a country of pet lovers and I hope people will support PDSA’s Emergency Appeal so that together we can reduce the impact of pet poverty caused by the pandemic.”
For more information on PDSA and the pet care crisis, please visit:
