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LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
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HR
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SERVICE UPDATES
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FUNDING
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TRAINING & LEARNING
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RESEARCH & BLOGS
LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
UK Government Budget: Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled the contents of his Budget in the House of Commons. Some of the key highlights included:
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Furlough to be extended until the end of September. The Government to continue paying 80% of employees’ wages for hours they cannot work, with employers to be asked to contribute 10% in July and 20% in August and September;
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Minimum wage to increase to £8.91 an hour from April;
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The Universal Credit top-up of £20-per-week will continue for a further six months;
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Working Tax Credit claimants will get £500 one-off payment;
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600,000 more self-employed people will be eligible for help as access to grants is widened;
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Contactless payment limit will rise to £100 later this year.
Vaccine: From Monday 15 March, unpaid carers will be able to self-register for the COVID-19 vaccine either online or through the vaccination help line. A new page has been added on the NHS Lothian website for information on who qualifies as an unpaid carer and what the self-registration process is like. Please help to promote this to carers you work with. You can find more information here: UNPAID CARERS
Erasmus/Turing Scheme: More information is becoming available about the Turing Scheme, which replaces the Erasmus arrangements for student placements and exchanges in Europe. TURING SCHEME
HR
Minimum Wage: The national minimum and living wage rates and age bands are changing as of the 1st April 2021. See the ACAS guidance for the new rates and when they should be paid. MINIMUM WAGE
SERVICE UPDATES
Vaccine: ACAS has updated its guidance about how to support employees to get the vaccine, and testing staff for coronavirus. VACCINE TESTING
Trading Standards Scotland: Following an increase in the variety of phone scams being reported by Scottish consumers since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Trading Standards Scotland is launching the roll out of free call blocking devices to vulnerable individuals who are most at risk from scammers and rogue traders. The Scottish Government has provided £60,000 in addition to £20,000 funding from Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) to procure 725 trueCall call blocking devices which are available free of charge. CALL BLOCKING
MYPAS Kiltwalk: As a registered charity, MYPAS is inviting entries for the 2021 virtual Kiltwalk. Registration happens through the Kiltwalkwebsite: https://thekiltwalk.co.uk/scotlandsvirtual Fees are 12.80 per adult, 6.50 per child and under 5’s go free. Entrants can enter as a socially distanced team or as individuals. This year entrants can choose their own route, their own distance and their own date over the weekend of the 23rd-25thof April. MYPAS will provide each entrant with a MYPAS t shirt in time for their walk. All monies raised in 2021 go directly to service delivery forthe young people of East Lothian and Midlothian. 150% of the money you raise provides services for our young people. To opt to donate your sponsorship to MYPAS, search for Midlothian Young Peoples Advice Service MYPAS in the chosen charity box. This step is required so entrants cannot sign up without selecting a charity.
CAPS: CAPS are facilitating a conversation with Julie Huggan, Online Information Development Worker for Health in Mind, and people with their own lived experience of using Mental Health services about what’s important to include in the Eastspace and Midspace websites as they are redeveloped. This will take place on Zoom on the 5th of April at 2pm. If anybody would like more information or would like to attend they can contact Ele on 07948 740 158 or ele@capsadvocacy.org
SGN: The Scottish Gas Network has produced an information leaflet aimed at families. It includes a lot of information including details on the Priority Services Register and the Help to Heat scheme. SGN ESSENTIAL INFO FOR FAMILIES
Sight Scotland: Our Family Wellbeing Service offer emotional and practical support to individuals and their families, friends and carers who are affected by sight loss at any age or stage. Helpline 0800 024 8973 www.sightscotland.org.uk/supportline
Silver Sunday, the national day for older people, takes place on Sunday, 3rd October 2021. Silver Sunday was started as a response to social isolation and loneliness among our older population. The aim was to galvanise community action to do something about it. If you want to get involved you can find information here: SILVER SUNDAY
Scottish Child Payment: helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It’s a weekly payment of £10 that you can get for every child you look after who’s under 6 years of age. You’ll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful. WEBSITE, VIMEO
FUNDING
Applications Open for the Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Trade Up Programme: The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Trade Up Programme in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs and jointly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund is open for applications. Trade Up is for people running a social enterprise, charity or community business who want to increase their income from trading for greater impact and sustainability. The programme offers a year of support, including a free learning programme (14 days over a year), up to £4,000 Trade Back grant, a business mentor, and a support network of like-minded people in the same boat. You can find further information here, and register here to download the application guidance notes and access the application form. The deadline for applications is Friday 16 April 2021.
Adapt & Thrive Programme Extended: On 24 February, the Scottish Government confirmed additional investment for the Community and Third Sector Recovery Programme, which will allow Adapt and Thrive to continue to support the sector until the 21st of June 2021.
Visit the SCVO website for more information.
TRAINING & LEARNING
East Lothian Community Lottery – Good Causes launch: A weekly online lottery with the funds raised going to good causes that benefit the local communities in East Lothian. PRESENTATION
For more information and to sign up visit the East Lothian Lottery website. WEBSITE
RESEARCH & BLOGS
Transport: A report on ‘The Impacts of Covid 19 on Travel Patterns in the UK’ has just been published. TRAVEL PATTERNS
