Pupils from Edinburgh’s Holy Rood RC High School met with the Presiding Officer and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner yesterday to discuss their views on how to tackle the climate emergency ahead of the COP26 summit taking place in Glasgow.
Ten S3 pupils led the roundtable discussion, which is taking place as part of an initiative called The Moment, which is being organised in partnership with the Children’s Parliament, the Scottish Youth Parliament and GLOBE International.
This meeting was one of many taking place across the country, with The Moment bringing together hundreds of children and young people with their elected representatives to make their voices heard on one of the most important issues for their future.
Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP said: “There has rightly been a lot of focus on how we tackle the climate emergency in the run up to COP26. As part of this, it’s essential that children and young people can explore the issues and develop their own thoughts and ideas to articulate their hopes for their future.
“It was inspiring to hear the solutions proposed by young people and to learn more from their perspective about what needs to be done to tackle the climate emergency.”
Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland said: “It was significant to be with children today, sharing their views on climate justice and challenging power.
“The Scottish Parliament’s commitment to hear from, and listen to children and young people on such issues is an important part of its role as human rights guarantor. Children have shown incredible leadership on the issue of climate justice, acting as human rights defenders for everyone’s rights across Scotland and internationally, and we should be thanking them.”
The outcomes of The Moment will be presented by children and young people to MSPs and international parliamentarians at a Summit being organised by GLOBE International and hosted by the Scottish Parliament on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November.
Young people will be the conscience of COP and world leaders must act on their demand for urgent action to tackle climate change, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to say today when she launches the 16th UN Climate Change Conference of Youth.
Addressing 400 delegates from 120 countries, Ms Sturgeon is set to praise children and young people’s activism across the globe which had “spurred on, challenged, and inspired governments around the world”.
The First Minister will say: “It is important that young people are represented at this Summit. It is only right that you have a say in the decisions which affect you most – that’s a simple matter of fairness – but your presence also gives the Summit its very best chance of success.
“Your activism in recent years has spurred on, challenged, and inspired governments around the world. I can honestly say that you are the reason why, in 2019, Scotland became one of the first countries to declare a climate emergency.
“And your efforts are continuing to put this issue front and centre – in your own communities, in your home countries, and on the international stage.
“The idealism, creativity and sense of perspective that young people bring to this issue is a huge asset and I think it will help to ensure a successful outcome to COP. You should not have had to become the conscience of decision-makers around the world, but we will reach a better outcome if you are.
“We are determined that your voices will be heard.”
We’d like to support Care Experienced Week by reaffirming our commitment and sharing our Care Experienced Pledge which was developed following discussions with the Edinburgh Champions Board on what we can do to better support those with care experience.
The Edinburgh City Division Care Experienced Pledge will guarantee the following:
Where it is identified to police that a care experienced young person has concern for their personal safety at home, we will guarantee a meeting to discuss a safety plan and offer advice should they wish to accept such an offer.
Where a care experienced young person is identified as wanting to join the police (as a constable, special constable or member of police staff) and meets the minimum criteria for application, we will: • facilitate a meeting with a serving probationer constable or member of police staff to discuss the practicalities and demands of the role, and • offer support with the recruitment process via the Divisional Training Sergeant or police staff equivalent, and • guarantee them a meeting with a member of the Local Area Command team should they wish support in the application process
Where it is identified that a care experienced young person has been successful in the recruitment process and wishes additional support, we will identify a mentor for them for the length of their probationary period.
We will actively promote the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers programme to care experienced young people.
Chancellor expected to confirm £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs.
Up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches to be built or improved across the UK to ensure every young person has a chance to take up sport.
Hundreds of youth facilities to be built or refurbished across England and the National Citizen Service to continue helping young people to build confidence and leadership skills outside of school.
As part of the government’s drive to level up the country, local communities will benefit from a £700 million wave of investment in football pitches, tennis courts, and youth facilities to help build the next generation of young talent, the Chancellor is expected to announce next week.
Following on from England’s roaring success at the Euros (Eh? – Ed.) and Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory, Rishi Sunak is set to announce new funding to build or improve up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches in villages, towns, and cities across the UK, as well as supporting a range of projects, including new clubhouses and community buildings.
This sits alongside the government’s commitment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain.
Up to 300 youth facilities, which could include scout huts, youth centres and activity centres, will also be built or refurbished in the most deprived areas, and funding will be committed to continue the National Citizen Service until 2024/25 – which provides 16-17 years olds from all backgrounds the opportunity to mix with their peers outside of school.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said:“We’re backing the next generation of Ward-Prowses and Raducanus, not just sporting stars, but inspiring young leaders. Sports can be a fantastic way for young people to make friends and learn skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives – leadership, teamwork, and determination.
“This funding will level up access to sport and social clubs for youngsters ensuring they can get together and play the games they love most.”
Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said:“I want every young person, no matter where they’re from, to have the chance to get the best start in life and achieve success.
“This £700 million investment is a downpayment on our commitment to open doors for those who have been shut out. It will give young people the pitches and clubhouses they deserve to reap the benefits of sport and youth groups and help level up the country for the next generation.”
Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Chief Executive Officer, said:“This investment is welcome news for all those involved in grassroots football across the country.
“We know that playing on good quality facilities helps people get fitter, improves mental wellbeing, grows confidence and builds stronger relationships. This is all essential for individuals and communities as we emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis.
“With the government, Premier League and The FA’s investment, we have made plenty of progress in the last two decades, but there is still lots of work to do to ensure all communities across England get the standard of local sports facilities they need and deserve.
“This new funding will unlock the power of even more pitches to help transform people’s lives.”
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of The FA said:“This investment into grassroots football pitches and multi-sport facilities is fantastic news for communities throughout the country.
“It will help the nation get active as we emerge from the impact of Covid. This is an important part of the Government’s £550m commitment to transform our grassroots football infrastructure, which will have a massive social and economic impact”.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said:‘We welcome the government’s decision to continue to invest in our young people and provide vital funding to support the facilities we need to enable sport in our communities.
‘There has never been a more important time to get the nation active and give people the opportunity to play sport, no matter their background.’
The government is investing £173 million to fund the continuation of the National Citizen Service in England; £368 million to fund up to 300 youth centres across England; and £155 million additional funding is being provided to invest in multi-use sports pitches and facilities throughout the UK.
DCMS will also receive a further £20 million to invest in youth services in England and the government will set out more detail in due course.
This builds on the government’s commitment to sport, having announced £50m of UK sports facility funding in July, as part of our ambition to ensure that you are never more than 15 minutes away from a high-quality pitch; and is in addition to the £30 million investment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain; and the £25 million provided by the Chancellor for grassroots sports facilities throughout the UK at Spring Budget 2021.
The UK Government’s Plan for Jobs is also helping young people find new opportunities and better paid work; the government recently announced a £500 million extension of its supported schemes – targeted at young workers – including extensions to the Kickstart scheme, Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme, and the £3,000 incentive payment for businesses to hire apprentices.
Seven out of ten young people want to see more train travel in the future
The inaugural Community Rail Week, 18-24 October, is involving hundreds of community rail partnerships and volunteer groups, including many in Scotland, running activities to promote their local railways, and giving communities and young people a voice on green transport.
Organised by Community Rail Network and sponsored by Rail Delivery Group, the Week is focusing on young people’s views, voices and futures, as a new survey is released exploring travel habits and attitudes to green travel among 1,000 16–24-year-olds: 1
Seven in ten (70%) young people are keen to see more people using trains in the future, with the vast majority (90%) saying the environment and climate emergency is an important issue to them;
Around half (48%) travel by train at least once a month, but one in six (17%) have rarely or never been on a train, or can’t remember when they last did;
While 94% have a station near enough for them to use, most (67%) admit there are factors getting in the way of them using trains, including practicalities with walking, cycling, or getting a bus to the station, being worried about cost, or driving or getting lifts being more convenient.
In Scotland, the region’s community rail partnerships and groups will be taking part in a range of activities to raise awareness of the difference that people can make by choosing to travel sustainably and encouraging people to make their own pledge to ‘Go Green by Train’.
They will also hold a series of events and activities including:
Today (Monday 18 October), members of 6VT, an Edinburgh Youth Cafe, will travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central on the 12.28 ScotRail service and complete activities on board highlighting the importance of going green by train as well as taking the ‘Going Green by Train’ pledge.
On Friday 22 October between 1-3, in South Lanarkshire, the Rail74 Community Rail Partnership are joining with local schools to give out ‘random acts of green love’ at Newton rail station and will launch the new green space at the station which has been adopted by St Charles Primary School.
On Sunday 24 October, the West Highland Community Rail Partnership will host a “Building the Mallaig Railway” exhibition at Glenfinnan station exploring the railway contractor’s ‘unwittingly green’ credentials.
With greener transport recognised as a fundamental part of the solution to the climate emergency, Community Rail Week and the ‘Go Green by Train’ campaign looks to drive change at community level through the efforts of 74 community rail partnerships and 1,000 station friends groups across Britain – including 9 partnerships and over 260 groups in Scotland – working to help people get out of their cars and onto trains and other sustainable modes.
Transport has a huge role to play if the UK is to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% of 1990 levels, or ‘net zero’, by 2050.
Figures show that:
Transport is now the largest emitting sector in the UK, making up 27% of domestic emissions in 2019; 1
Rail accounted for just 1% of domestic transport emissions in 2019, despite representing 10% of the total distance travelled, and is the greenest form of transport after walking and cycling; 2, 3
One train can remove up to 500 cars off our roads; 4
For a 30-mile journey, travelling by train instead of by car can reduce emissions by up to 86%. 5
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “As we approach the international climate talks in Glasgow, the community rail movement across Scotland is coming together to highlight the great importance of green travel at a local and global level.
“Transport is now the biggest contributor of UK greenhouse emissions, so we face a pressing challenge to decarbonise the way we get around, for the sake of future generations – plus Scotland’s communities can benefit now from reduced traffic and pollution. Rail, combined with buses, walking, cycling, and shared mobility, provides a huge part of the solution: shifting as many journeys as we can onto these modes, and reducing private car use, can help us forge a more sustainable, healthy, inclusive future.
“We’re excited to launch our first Community Rail Week with events and activities in communities across Britain, raising awareness and exploring how we can enable and empower more people to feel confident and able to go green by train.”
Andy Bagnall, director general at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “Trains are inherently green so when people go by rail it’s more than a journey – it’s literally helping to save the planet!
“In future, we want trains to be the backbone of a decarbonised transport network so, as well as supporting initiatives like Community Rail Week, we want to work with government to reform ticketing and fares – if it’s easier for people to find and buy a good value ticket, more people will use rail as a green alternative to other ways of travelling.”
Edinburgh College is delighted to be hosting #FIRSTLEGOLEAGUE at Sighthill Campus in December.
This is a wonderful occasion for teams of young people to represent their schools and take part in a highly interactive challenge, designed to develop their coding and programming skills.
Engage your team about designing creative solutions to tackle real-world problems by programming a robot in this year’s #FIRSTLEGOLEAGUE #CARGOCONNECT season.
Edinburgh School Uniform Bank has successfully secured £15,000 thanks to Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect award scheme.
Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, which distributes school uniform to families in Edinburgh who are facing financial hardship, was awarded the funding after being shortlisted by the convenience retailer as one of three good causes and charities in the East of Scotland to receive financial support from an £25,000 pot.
Other recipients of funding in the East include Canine Concern Scotland Trust, which provides therapy dogs for patients in hospital after a stroke or suffering traumatic brain injuries, and Scottish Huntington’s Association (see below).
Julia Grindley, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Edinburgh School Uniform Bank (above) said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a £15,000 Scotmid Community Connect Award.
“This award will allow us to provide school uniform and warm jackets to over 600 local children. This funding will make a huge difference to their confidence and their sense of belonging, as well as keeping them cosy through the winter.”
Since Scotmid’s Community Connect launched in 2017, more than £460,000 has been awarded to 42 good cause groups, enabling key projects to come to life in local areas.
Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Communities and Membership at Scotmid, said: “Community Connect is one of the main ways we can support those communities that we serve and we are delighted to provide Edinburgh School Uniform Bank with this funding, which will help them to continue providing vital services.
“Times remain challenging for many people; being able to help improve the lives of others across the country is one of the very reasons we exist.”
Scottish Huntington’s Association has successfully secured £5,000 thanks to Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect award scheme.
The Association, which provides 1-1 advice, peer group work sessions, youth mental health services for children with a parent living with Huntington’s Disease and have a 50% chance themselves of inheriting the condition, was awarded the funding after being shortlisted by the convenience retailer as one of three causes and charities in the East of Scotland to receive financial support from an £25,000 pot.
Gemma Powell, Senior Fundraiser from Scottish Huntington’s Association said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a £5,000 Scotmid Community Connect Award towards Scottish Huntington’s Association Youth Service.
“This funding will help us bring back our annual youth camp which is attended by young people growing up in families impacted by Huntington’s disease across Scotland.
“This camp offers young people the chance to make and catch up with friends, share experiences, learn more about Huntington’s disease and, for many, enjoy a break from caring responsibilities. We’re so grateful to Scotmid and their members.”
Mel Hughes, CEO of Canine Concern Scotland Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a £5,000 Scotmid Community Connect Award.
“This award will allow us to develop our Therapet® Visiting Service in the NHS Lothian area, starting with the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.
“This funding will make a huge difference to patients recovering from a stroke or neurological condition, who will benefit from a Therapet® visit which will aid their physical, mental and emotional recovery.”
Since Scotmid’s Community Connect launched in 2017, more than £460,000 has been awarded to 42 good cause groups, enabling key projects to come to life in local areas.
