And apologies if it seems a long one: it’s just an indicator of how much is happening!
Well, we’re open for business! All right, perhaps not fully open, but we have held our first public events in the Anchor Building and they’ve been great successes. We will build on them as we approach opening in the old Victoria Building.
Enliven was a taster event supported by the Edinburgh Wellbeing PACT, held on Saturday 24th September to allow members of the community to see what HONC and some of their partners will be offering once the whole of the Heart is open. Over 100 visitors of all ages came through the Heart’s gate to investigate.
Some of our Partners demonstrated their wares, including Ink on Mesh with screen printing and the Victorian Schoolroom with Victorian crafts and toys inside and gird and cleek races in the playground, while Men’s Shed showed off their new workshop in the Creel Building. The Newhaven Community Choir and Men’s Shed members contributed to some musical offerings.
Hannah Watt, the Learning Community teacher for the Trinity Academy cluster was also on hand to help youngsters make their own keyrings while the planters in the playground were refreshed as volunteers leant a hand with new planting.
“The weather was very kind, the biscuits all eaten and all of the partners and volunteers felt that the day had been a success and worthwhile,” reports Community Projects Coordinator and Trustee Norma Johnston.
Calling all volunteers, registered or not
Have you already volunteered to help out in some way? Please note that we have revamped our call for volunteers on the website where there is now an updated form. If you have already volunteered you will be contacted by our Volunteer Coordinator Bryan with a link to the new form. After all, you may have moved away or found other things to do with your time since you first contacted us. If so, please let us know so that we can take you off the list.
If you would like to volunteer now, then please go to the website and follow the links. We are currently looking in particular for volunteers to help with DIY skills such as painting & decorating, pulling up carpets, cleaning windows, upholstery, as well as minute takers for sub-group meetings. Please go to:
We are also planning a volunteer meeting some time in November so that you can meet each other. If you’re registered, you will be contacted with the details. Hope you can make it!
If you can’t volunteer your time, you may be able to contribute in kind. Are there any local businesses out there who feel they could sponsor us in any way or contribute practical necessities?
On 5th September, the Conservative party elected a new prime minister of the United Kingdom. Scotland has not voted for a conservative government since 1955, and Liz Truss marks the twelfth prime minister in the last hundred years elected without majority support in Scotland (writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s ALLISON CATALANO).
The last time Scotland’s vote mirrored the majority was in 2005 – the last time that a general election resulted in a Labour majority.
The Brexit vote in 2016 is another good example of how far Scotland’s opinion differs from that of the UK majority – less than 40% of Scottish voters approved the referendum to leave the EU, compared to more than 50% from Wales and England.
Scotland’s status as a minority among the UK electorate isn’t so surprising from a population standpoint – Scotland only accounts for about 9% of the total UK electorate. England, by contrast, claims 84% of all voters.
The vast difference between Scotland’s opinion and UK electoral outcomes may result in worsened well-being for the Scottish population. People derive a sense of satisfaction from having the ability to participate in and impact politics and governmental structures. This satisfaction, termed “democratic well-being,” is weakened by perceived or structural inequalities.
Participatory inequality stems from any situation in which a particular group is unlikely to or discouraged from some form of civic participation, which includes behaviours like voting, interacting with political campaigns, activism, or volunteering.
Examining voting in particular, Scottish voters may feel disenfranchised from the political sphere in the UK because of the perceived lack of political power on a national level, and may be less likely to choose to vote or express an interest in politics.
Certain groups in Scotland may also be more or less inclined to participate in national or local elections.
Income levels, health, and educational attainment may all result in different levels of participation both within Scotland and when comparing Scottish participation to the rest of the UK. In this sense, there may be participatory inequalities within the Scottish population and when comparing Scotland to the UK as a whole.
Using Understanding Society: the UK Longitudinal Household Survey, we determined that age, income, health, education, and employment statuses are correlated with an individual’s level of interest in politics, and the likelihood that they voted or volunteered recently. Understanding Society is a yearly panel survey, with yearly data available from 2009 to 2021.
Does participation differ in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK?
Scotland has a high level of average engagement across all survey years relative to Northern Ireland and Wales, but a lower level than England.
Scottish residents are more likelyto have volunteered in the past year than residents of Northern Ireland or Wales, but less likely to have volunteered than English residents.
Scottish voting habits vary. Scotland had the lowest turnout in 2001 and 2005, and the highest turnout in 2015 and 2019. Scotland generally has higher turnout than Northern Ireland but lower turnout than England or Wales (Figure 1).
Scottish residents are more likely to express aninterest in politics than in Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland’s responses are roughly similar to England. Interest in politics across the UK increased in 2016 following the EU referendum vote, particularly in Northern Ireland, and peaked in Scotland in 2018 (Figure 2).
Figure 1: General election voter participation by constituent country
Figure 2: Interest in politics by constituent country
Despite Scottish residents being relatively politically engaged, Scotland experiences substantial gaps in participation based on health, income, education, and employment.
Scotland has the largest gap in participation between individuals that considered themselves in good health and individuals that considered themselves in poor health in the United Kingdom (Figure 3).
The lowest income quintile in Scotland is more engaged than the lowest income quintile in Wales or Northern Ireland. However, Scotland experiences larger gaps between the highest and lowest income quintile than the national average in political interest. Notably, the bottom income quintile in Scotland was more likely to have voted than in any other part of the UK. Political interest was also higher than the national average for the lowest earners.
Individuals with no qualifications in Scotland are less likely to volunteer than anywhere else in the UK, although they are more likely to have voted in a general election than the UK average. Unqualified individuals in Scotland are less likely to express an interest in politics than in England or Wales.
Scotland experiences a greater gap in participation based on work-related benefits compared to the rest of the UK. Individuals receiving in-work income or unemployment benefits are less likely to have voted, volunteer, or express a political interest in Scotland than anywhere else in Great Britain.
Figure 3: The gap in civic participation between self-reported good health and bad health is wider for each behaviour in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK
How do inequalities impact civic engagement in Scotland?
Health and income inequality are consistent predictors of voter turnout in Scotland. Scotland’s wide range of participatory behaviour based on health is particularly interesting.
Scotland has a unique relationship with health inequalities, and a history of unusually poor health outcomes based on region, education, and income. Although health inequality takes many forms, life expectancies provide a good frame of reference.
In general, higher incomes beget longer lives. Scotland is a complete anomaly in this regard – despite having the highest average income in the United Kingdom, Scottish people have the shortest life expectancy.
Life expectancies also vary widely within Scotland, and even within cities and neighbourhoods. For instance, a male born in Glasgow between 2018-2020 has a life expectancy that is 7.5 years shorter than one born in the Shetland Islands.
Within Glasgow neighbourhoods, the difference in life expectancies is striking – males born in the least deprived areas can expect to live 15 years longer than males born in the most deprived areas.
I examined the health impacts on voting, volunteering, and political interest based on individual’s self-perceived general health, mental health, long-term illness or disability, and receipt of any illness or disability benefits.
Individuals that consider themselves in poor health are less likely to engage in civic behaviour compared to those that considered themselves in generally good health (Figure 4). Overall, self-perceived general health was the most significant health predictor of civic behaviour.
Figure 4: Inequalities in civic participation by self-reported health status
Surprisingly, claiming a long-term illness or disability did not impact an individual’s ability to participate. This is largely because of the broadness of the term “disability” – a person can be disabled in a way that limits their ability to vote, but many disabilities are easier to manage and would have no impact on someone’s ability to understand politics or volunteer. Receiving disability benefits, however, indicates that a person’s circumstance is difficult enough that it interferes with regular work and income.
The Understanding Society Survey has 41 different benefit classifications. Using their descriptions as illness or disability benefits, I looked into people who received at least one of the following benefits: severe disablement allowance, industrial industry disablement allowance, disability living allowance, war disablement pension, incapacity benefit, received working tax credit (including disabled person’s tax credit), and any other disability benefit or payment.
Scottish residents receiving some form of disability benefit were:
10% less likely to have voted in the most recent election than Scottish residents that did not receive disability benefits
19% less likely to report an interest in politics
41% less likely to have volunteered in the past year
Receiving work or income benefits is another way of looking into the degree to which income inequality affects participation. I considered the following benefit classifications to be low income or unemployment benefits: income support, job seeker’s allowance, national insurance credit, housing benefit, rent rebate, universal credit.
Receiving work or income benefits affected participation more substantially than those receiving disability benefits (Table 1).
Table 1: Proportion of each population which participated in the following civic behaviours
Voted in a recent election
Interested in politics
Volunteered in the past year
Receiving unemployment or income benefits
66%
20%
8%
Receiving illness or disability benefits
72%
26%
10%
Total Scottish population
80%
32%
17%
Income inequality is also closely related to civic participation. By dividing household income into five quartiles of the population, we found that the highest-earning 20% of the Scottish population was significantly more likely to participate in civic behaviours (Figure 5). This is a clear example of participatory inequalities based on income.
Figure 5: Civic participation inequalities based on income quintile
Education also has a significant impact on all aspects of civic participation. Volunteering is the most notably impacted behaviour by education; only 4.4% of Scottish residents without educational qualifications reported volunteering in the past year, compared to over 27% of Scots with university degrees.
Table 2: Percentage of each population which participated in the following civic behaviours
Voted in a recent election
Interested in politics
Volunteered in the past year
No educational qualifications
73.5%
21.3%
4.4%
Scottish average
80%
32%
17%
Has a university degree
87.6%
38.4%
27.1%
Scotland suffers from unequal participation across a number of metrics, most notably education, income, health, and benefit receipt status. Poorer, less educated, and less healthy Scottish residents are less likely to have participated in voting and volunteering. The differences in participation are also larger within Scotland than any other constituent country in the United Kingdom.
Civic participation – whether by voting or by selecting causes to volunteer for – ultimately shapes political agendas. Values that are important to low-income, unqualified, or unhealthy members of society may be overlooked on a national scale due to disproportionately low levels of participation among these individuals.
The more equality in participation among all levels of society, the more that any particular group is able to better their circumstances.
Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) has launched its’ autumn campaign to recruit new Panel Members to support infants, children and young people in their local communities.
Across Scotland, the organisation are looking to recruit volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds aged 18 and over who can listen, show empathy, build trust and show compassion to support this group of young people.
Panel Members are volunteers from local communities who take part in children’s hearings. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people. They are there to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision made – because every decision, no matter how big or small, has an impact on the life of the child or young person in the hearing.
All Panel Members, once selected, all take part in the CHS dedicated Learning Academy, in partnership with West Lothian College. In addition to the training the Panel Member will also gain a Professional Development Award for ‘Children’s Hearings in Scotland: Panel Members’, a verified award by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Children’s Hearings Scotland National Convener and Chief Executive, Elliot Jackson, says: “Scotland has an ambition to be the best place in the world to grow up, to make sure all children are loved, safe, respected and able to fulfil their full potential.
“For some children and families, the Children’s Hearings System has a significant role to play in this ambition. Children’s Hearings couldn’t operate without volunteer Panel Members making decisions with and for children and young people.
“To do this, we are committed to having children at the heart of everything we do – including recruitment.
“This campaign comes at an exciting time of growth and change at CHS and is totally centred on what young people who have experience of children’s hearings, are telling us they want to see in their Panel Members.
“Qualities like being caring, compassionate, open minded, empathetic and a good listener. If you want to make a difference in your local community, I encourage you to take the opportunity this year to apply to join our unique volunteer community.”
Clare Haughey MSP, Minister for Children and Young People, said: “Panel Members play a critical role in ensuring children and young people’s views are heard by placing them at the heart of their hearing and, in the current challenging climate, it is vital now more than ever that we recruit new volunteers to continue this.
“This is a unique opportunity to join a diverse, empathetic, caring panel who will listen to children and young people.”
Children’s Hearings Scotland is the organisation responsible for recruiting, training and supporting volunteer Panel Members.
There are 2,500 volunteer Panel Members across Scotland who take part in children’s hearings and make decisions with and for infants, children and young people in their local community.
In 2020/21 16,2481 children’s hearings were held across Scotland supporting 8,9771 children and young people. The majority of hearings during the pandemic have been held virtually which was a massive undertaking for our volunteers who managed to continue providing their support throughout.
There are a range of reasons that a child or young person may be referred to attend a children’s hearing; in the last year, approximately 85%¹ of all referrals were on care and protection grounds.
Applications for new Panel Members open on 01 September to midnight 6th October 2022 and you can apply by going online to: https://chscotland.gov.uk/
Bield Housing and Care, a specialist provider for older people, has launched a new volunteer initiative to bring together its diverse community.
Coinciding with Pride Day, Bield‘s ‘Rainbow Network’ initiative will see tenants invited to join a volunteer-led group focused on inclusivity and fostering a safe and social environment for members of the LGBT community.
It is hoped that bringing together like-minded tenants will not only create a social space but also actively engage and encourage tenants to share ideas for enhancing inclusivity.
The group is part of Bield’s efforts to highlight the importance of the nine legally protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Zhan McIntyre, Head of Policy and Customer Standards at Bield, said: “The Rainbow Network has been set up to create an inclusive space for our diverse community to come together.
“We’re delighted to be launching during Pride Month and to host the first meeting on 28th June – Pride Day. Tenant opinions and feedback form the baseline for our entire business, so we are always looking for ways to improve communication and engagement with our customers.”
One of the tenants already involved in the Rainbow Network said: “The LGBT scene is very oriented around younger folk but many of us older ones have been active and ‘out’ for decades, it’s just as we get older we can become marginalised and lonely.”
Anyone interested in attending the virtual group should contact feedback@bield.co.uk in order to receive a link to the meeting.
The Rainbow Network is one of many initiatives recently introduced to get feedback from the people who know and use Bield’s services.
It comes just days after Bield held its first major customer engagement event since the pandemic, which saw the important annual fixture on hold for more than two years, enabling the organisation’s CEO and Directors to meet face-to-face with customers.
The engagement event gave tenants the opportunity to influence Bield’s strategy for the next five years at a time when the sector faces numerous challenges including soaring energy prices, the introduction of new legislation and climate change.
Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people with around 180 developments and over 5000 customers across Scotland.
The Royal Highland Show is urging visitors to snap up remaining tickets as demand soars for the event, which takes place next week from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June.
There are only a few hundred tickets remaining for the Friday and Saturday of the event, which this year is celebrating 200 years since the very first Highland Show took place back in 1822 – the first time in it’s 200 years that two days will sell out ahead of the event.
With huge demand for Friday and Saturday tickets, the only way to guarantee entry now is to buy in advance. There are still car parking tickets available to purchase for every day of the Show.
Mark Currie, Director of Operations at the Royal Highland Show, said: “We are delighted that Show goers are clearly as excited as we are about the return of Scotland’s biggest outdoor event. With Friday and Saturday looking like sell-out days, we’re encouraging people who might be holding off to book Friday or Saturday now, or to consider a Thursday or Sunday visit.
“If for any reason you can’t attend this year, luckily you can still catch the action through RHS TV – it will be broadcast live from the Showground over the four days and available to watch for free on the Royal Highland Show website.”
The Royal Highland Show, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, will take place 23-26th June 2022. Tickets, including for car parking, must be pre-purchased online this year and no tickets will be available to buy on the gate.
The Show will be broadcast online this year via RHS TV, funded by the Scottish Government.
For further information and to purchase tickets please visit:
Volunteer Edinburgh are pleased to be working with the RHASS to deliver the Volunteer Showmakers programme at the Royal Highland Show 2022.
The volunteering programme for the RHS has been completely renewed for 2022 which is the 200th anniversary of the show.
Volunteer Edinburgh are recruiting Volunteer Showmakers, who will welcome visitors to the event, providing information to the public and helping to ensure that every visitor has a fantastic time.
The four day event runs from the 23rd June to the 26th June and Volunteer Showmakers will be deployed throughout.
The show, first held in 1822, is the pinnacle of the agricultural calendar. Each year over 1,000 trade exhibitors, over 2,000 livestock competitors entering into 900+competitions (with over 6,500 animals) and tens of thousands of visitors come to the Royal Highland Show to experience the best of farming, food, and rural life. You can see a short video from the 2015 edition here.
Some key information about volunteering as a Showmaker:
Dates: Thursday 23rd , Friday 24th , Saturday 25th, and Sunday 26th June
There are two shifts available per day (morning 7am-1pm and afternoon 1pm-7pm)
You can volunteer on as many days as you wish, but there is a maximum one shift per day
There is a dedicated Volunteer Hub where lunches, snacks and refreshments will be available during the during the shifts
Free travel to the Royal Highland Showground on dedicated Lothian Buses services is available to all Volunteer Showmakers
We have developed a streamlined on boarding process to ensure you have all the information and support that you need to volunteer with the 2022 Showmaker programme
You will need to complete a short online induction
You will be issued with a Yoti RHS volunteering card and this will allow you access and is separate from the CTV accreditation.
To sign up please follow this link and complete this short form. You will be asked to indicate the shift/s that you wish to volunteer for.
Please note that if you wish to volunteer with colleagues, you will each individually need to complete the form, but you may wish to coordinate and select the same shift times.
Sign up now using this link or by clicking the grey button below: www.voled.in/rhs22
Are you a fan of 80s music? Child Bereavement UK needs you! The charity is looking for music fans to give 4 hours of their time to volunteer at Let’s Rock Scotland selling wristbands and raffle tickets to raise funds to support its work. In return volunteers get to enjoy the rest of the event free of charge!
Child Bereavement UK helps families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. The charity supports children and young people (up to the age of 25) when someone important to them has died or is not expected to live, and parents and the wider family when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying.
The line-up for Let’s Rock Scotland, which takes place on Saturday 18 June 2022 at Dalkeith Country Park, Edinburgh, includes Squeeze, OMD, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Level 42 and Nick Heyward.
Lorna Murchie, Community Projects Manager for Child Bereavement UK said: ‘This year Child Bereavement UK is delighted to be the beneficiary charity of some of the UK’s most anticipated festivals and gigs.
“Our volunteers tell us they have a great time soaking up the festival atmosphere and seeing their favourite acts, in return for just a few hours of their time helping us raise much-needed funds. If you’re tempted to join in, please visit our website to find out how you can get involved .’
For more information on volunteering or to see a full list of events please visit:
Miles Briggs MSP has praised the invaluable role of volunteers during a visit to BHF Scotland’s shop in Dalry Road, Edinburgh – seeing at first-hand how their efforts help raise vital funds for the charity’s lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
The visit took place ahead of Volunteers’ Week, marking the annual contribution of volunteers up and down the country. In Scotland, around 14,000 volunteers regularly give up their time to help the BHF in its 75 Scottish shops.
During the visit, Miles heard more about the role of volunteers taking in donations from the local community and the incredible benefits of shopping preloved, preventing good quality items from going to landfill, creating a sustainable, circular economy and saving money, while also funding the BHF’s lifesaving research.
In a year, the BHF saves around 71,000 tonnes of goods going to waste and through the reuse and recycling of donated items, helps prevent 135,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions being released into the atmosphere. The charity will also sell over half a million pieces of living room furniture and 14,000 tonnes of preloved clothes from its stores.
Heart disease is a major cause of ill health in Scotland and the BHF is currently funding around £60 million worth of projects in ten Scottish universities. This work is only made possible thanks to the huge generosity of the Scottish public.
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said:“Volunteers are essential for the running of British Heart Foundation, raising money for such a worthwhile cause and reusing and recycling household goods, which is also beneficial for the environment.
“People donating their time his hugely valuable for the British Heart Foundation and I would encourage anyone who has been considering volunteering to offer their services.
“British Heart Foundation continue to pioneers lifesaving research, which would not be possible without the thousands of volunteers who give up their time.”
Kym Kestell, BHF Scotland’s Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator, said:“It was great to welcome Miles to our Dalry Road shop in Edinburgh and talk about the crucial support of our fantastic volunteers here and right across Scotland.
“It goes without saying that volunteers are the lifeblood of our shops. Every hour donated makes a difference. It helps us raise money to power lifesaving science to save and improve more lives. Across Scotland around 700,000 people are living with heart and circulatory diseases. Your gift of time can help us, help them.
“For more than 60 years, your support has helped the BHF turn research that once seemed like ‘science fiction’ into reality and we need your help now more than ever.”
DRYLAW/Telford Community Council is to introduced fortnightly litter picks across the area following the success of a recent cleanup on the cycle path near the Red Bridge.
The first one takes place this Sunday – location and meeting time will be confirmed when the community council meets at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre tonight.
To get involved, to suggest clean-up hot spots or for further information check out Drylaw Telford Community Council on Facebook or email CC secretary Pam Higgins at pamhigginsdtcc@gmail.com
SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
More than 1,300 people fleeing conflict in Ukraine have arrived through Edinburgh’s Welcome Hub, with the significant majority of all arrivals to Scotland coming in through the city.
Located in a peaceful and secluded area close to the Airport, the Welcome Hub offers some respite after long and difficult journeys reaching Edinburgh, with medical assistance from the NHS available.
Established with the support of the Scottish Government and other partner agencies in Gogarburn at the RBS/NatWest campus, it involves a huge, combined effort – from both volunteers and Council officers – to welcome around 40 new refugees a day, which is approximately four times that of the national average.
Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Kerr, said:“I am truly proud of the incredible response Edinburgh has provided to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary here in Edinburgh.
“The support we’ve provided to over 1,300 refugees to date wouldn’t be possible without the time of volunteers, the donations we’ve received or the generosity of residents. The number of local people giving over their hearts and their homes to become host families has been nothing short of remarkable. I want to thank everyone involved – from Council colleagues and partners, to every volunteer who has been working tirelessly.
“We are starting to see up to 90% of all arrivals to Scotland enter through Edinburgh’s Hub, which demonstrates the scale of responsibility we now face. I’m pleased that the feedback from those using our services has been very positive and other cities have been turning to Edinburgh as an example of best practice.
“There is a significant ongoing effort to ensure every refugee settling in the city receives a warm welcome and access to vital support. It remains an extensive piece of work which involves a great deal of resource, but we are committed to supporting every person who settles in Edinburgh, as far as we possibly can.
“This includes everything from arranging accommodation, transport, interpreters, access to GPs and healthcare, counselling, education, employment support, host checks and other vital services.”
Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, the Holova (Chair) of the Association of Ukrainians in Edinburgh, said: “We have come full circle from the Association being set up. We were beginning to become quite a quiet community here in Edinburgh, but now we are using the community centre for the reasons that our fathers set it up. We are supporting newly-arrived Ukrainians and their families in Edinburgh, until they choose to go home.
“We’ve been giving out SIM cards and bus passes. We’ve also got laptops and iPads so that the students who have arrived can continue their studies and stay connected to Ukraine.
“Edinburgh has been amazing. I can’t say anything other than that.”
Paul Wilson Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh said: “Once again our Community Taskforce Volunteers have been amazing. For almost two months we have been deploying volunteers seven days a week at the airport to welcome people from Ukraine and help guide them to the Welcome Hub.
“Our volunteers have done Edinburgh proud, often going beyond the call of duty. They have stayed until the early hours of the morning at the airport to make sure passengers arriving on late-night flights are supported.”
“I am so proud of all our Community Taskforce Volunteers who not just helped at the airport but have provided informal language support, sorted donations, and packed hundreds of back packs with basic supplies.
Things are only getting busier, and with Edinburgh increasingly becoming the hub for arrivals to Scotland it is the partnership approach the Edinburgh has taken that is ensuring that displaced Ukrainians are receiving the help and support that they need.”
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive, EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) said: “Our hope for the Ukrainian people is peace in the very near future, but in the meantime it is vital that we at EVOC, and the community and voluntary sector, collaborate with partners across the City (and at a national level) to offer a warm welcome to those who are arriving in Scotland.
“Edinburgh Community Food, Fresh Start, North Edinburgh Arts and Cyrenians are already on the ground, providing emergency food support and more organisations are coming together to deliver on a longer-term approach.
“The Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group are helping with onward travel from the Airport and other community and voluntary organisations are involved in delivering support for children and families, providing opportunities for Ukrainians to learn English and to build social connections.
“It’s so important that they settle into and feel part of the communities where they live… in Edinburgh or further afield.”
Welcome arrangements
Free transport is provided from the airport to the Hub and arranged from Edinburgh bus and train stations where required, 24 hours a day. We organise onward travel to, for example, hotel or host accommodation. The safety and wellbeing of refugees remains paramount and we are also coordinating home and host checks through our licensing team.
For people settling in Edinburgh on the Homes for Ukraine and Super Sponsor scheme, we provide the first part of their £200 resettlement grant at the Hub.
We’ve also set up a 24-hour helpline (in our customer contact team) for Ukraine arrivals in Edinburgh. To date the line has been very busy, averaging over 50 calls a day.
As an extension of the Welcome Hub, the customer contact team is providing a specialist drop-in facility at 249 High Street. This operates Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm and 2-4pm, with an interpreter present to help people settling in Edinburgh with benefit and grant payments.
Since opening in April, colleagues have supported 250 people, primarily with financial and employability support. Work is also underway to recruit Ukrainian-speaking customer contact advisors.
Volunteer efforts and donations
The response from residents and businesses has been typically generous. EVOC and Volunteer Edinburgh are leading on a strategic approach to co-ordinating this goodwill and the work of third sector groups in the city, focused around four main themes – food, translation, transport, and the volunteer ‘taskforce’.
The Ukrainian Club on Royal Terrace has become a point of community support and communications for people when they settle, with regular coffee mornings/events at which the Council, DWP and other partners attend to give advice and support. This is where many donated items are being collected under the Club’s direction.
Alongside resident and local community efforts, the Visitor Attractions Group (Capital Group) have provided free tickets to key Edinburgh attractions, including the Castle and the Zoo.
Edinburgh Leisure have provided passes for leisure centres, while Boots have donated toiletries, Clarks have donated shoes and NatWest is continuing to provide office space for the welcome hub. The Edinburgh Tattoo has also provided office space, for donations to be sorted.
The rucksacks we hand out at the Welcome Hub – filled with initial donations of essential items such as toiletries – are well received and special rucksacks with teddies are provided to children. We also have a supply of baby accessories including baby boxes, buggies, prams, and car seats.
Education
We’re arranging places for early years and schools, with many children and young people already supported into education.
With support from charities, electronic devices such as laptops and iPads are being provided to student aged arrivals to ensure they can continue studies in Ukrainian. The Ukrainian Club has also funded a number of bus tickets and passes.
When children are enrolled in a school, families can apply for a National Entitlement Card through Travel.AllocationPanel@edinburgh.gov.uk. Ukrainian applications will be fast tracked.
We have also been working with partners to support the Dnipro Children’s charity, a Hibs Supporters Group, which has had a relationship with children’s homes in Dnipro since 2005. The charity arranged to bring 52 children and six house mothers to Scotland. We are providing provide ongoing support, including education and health, in partnership with the Dnipro Charity and Edinburgh College.
Twin City support
We are continuing to maintain supportive relationships with and respond to appeals from our counterparts in Edinburgh’s twin cities Kyiv and Krakow. Following an appeal to the Lord Provost from Kyiv to help protect their monuments and statues, and in a show of ingenuity and collaboration between ten different organisations, over 3,000 sandbags were sourced and transported on an easyJet flight from Edinburgh to Krakow.
We are now working with a Scottish charity, Sunflower Scotland, to send over 10,000 more sandbags – this time to Kharkiv – along with a ton of potatoes, on the city’s request. A shipment of shoes has also been made to Kyiv.
In an ongoing display of solidarity, the Ukrainian flag continues to fly above the City Chambers while the Granton gasholder remains illuminated in blue and yellow.
