Consultation to look at allotments

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Claudia

Last month, the Scottish Government launched a consultation to discuss possible changes to laws governing allotments in Scotland.

The  consultation is the latest step in the Government’s stated aim to support allotments and community growing spaces in Scotland.

With the horse meat scandal still fresh in the memory and with people being more aware than ever of where their food comes from, a discussion of allotments and so called ‘grow your own’ is timely.

Allotments are good for our health in a whole range of ways.  The activity of keeping an allotment has been shown to provide benefits in terms of social interaction, reduced stress and positive mental health while there are more direct benefits from a healthy diet of locally grown fruit and veg.  The benefits also come to our communities, providing natural spaces and to the environment and biodiversity more generally. However, whilst the benefits of allotments are well-known, across the country demand vastly outstrips supply.

The Scottish Government stated its commitment to allotments and community growing in the National Food and Drink policy published in 2009.  This work was taken forward through the Grow Your Own Working Group which produced a very useful website offering information and advice on allotments.

One of the key recommendations of the working group was to look at legislation governing allotments which this consultation seeks to address. I have been in contact with the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society (SAGS) who are keen to spread word of the consultation to encourage people to respond.

SAGS have pointed out that there has been relatively little research conducted on allotments with much of the work in this area relying on case studies of local groups.  Individual experiences will therefore be important to shaping the outcome of the consultation to deliver the changes that are needed.

In support of the consultation, SAGS has produced a discussion document of key issues and draft responses to the questions posed to encourage people to take part.  If you have any interest in allotments, I hope you will consider taking part in the consultation.  The full document can be accessed here, responses will be accepted until Friday 24 May and you can respond to allotmentconsultation2013@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Posted in Biodiversity, Community Ownership, Consultations, Environment, Food, Health | Leave a comment

TV Programming in South of Scotland

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Claudia

Ofcom have recently launched a consultation to allow people in the South of Scotland to voice their views on the future programming obligations for the ITV, STV, UTV and Channel 5 television broadcast licences. This is an ideal opportunity to play a part in the future structure of your local TV programming.

If you would like to contribute to the consultation on the proposed programming obligations for Channel 3 & 5, be sure to visit Ofcom’s website at:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/c3-c5-obligations/ 

Posted in Culture, Local Issues | Leave a comment

Just Listen. You Could Change A Life

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Claudia

‘See Me…’ Scotland’s national campaign to end the stigma associated with mental ill-health has launched its latest campaign – ‘Just Listen. You Could Change A Life’.

The campaign aims to help people to speak more openly about mental ill-health and to be able to listen to people who want to talk about it.

The campaign was prompted by findings from ‘See Me…’ showing that despite one in four Scots experiencing mental ill-health, 40% of people would find it hard, or be unsure, of how to talk to someone about their problems.

People mainly said this was because they were nervous about saying the wrong thing or making things worse.  They were also worried about having a lack of information about what support is available.

These are issues that ‘See Me…’ is directly working to address.  If you are interested in finding out more, are worried about mental ill-health or know of someone you think needs support, you can find out more from the See Me… website.

Posted in Health | Leave a comment

Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Claudia

VASLanI recently got the opportunity to attend the AGM of Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire (VASLan).

VASLan is an organisation dedicated to supporting the voluntary and community sectors in South Lanarkshire by providing help to groups and individuals who want to get involved.

The organisation seeks out volunteering opportunities in South Lanarkshire through a wide variety of groups and advertises these opportunities to find suitable volunteers. 

VASLan is also committed to promoting the value of volunteering both to the communities who benefit from voluntary work and to the volunteers who gain valuable experience and skills.

Alongside work to support the voluntary sector, VASLan provides a range of services to assist organisations to meet their goals.  They offer training is areas such as funding, recruitment and membership and assist groups to come together in thematic networks that allow similar organisations to share ideas.

To find out more about the work of VASLan, visit their website here.

Posted in Voluntary Sector | Leave a comment

Scottish Kinship Care Alliance to launch

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Claudia

Later this month a new umbrella group will officially launch, bringing together Kinship Care groups from across Scotland.

The Scottish Kinship Care Alliance will campaign for better support for kinship carers and the young people they care for.

Kinship Care is when family members or friends take long term or permanent care of children unable to live with their parents.  There are a variety of reasons why kinship care arrangements occur including family illness, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health problems, domestic violence and neglect.

The new alliance will campaign on a range of issues identified as challenges for kinship carers.  They want to see:

  • greater availability of psychological support and counselling to help young people to talk about the issues that have led to them being in kinship care
  • improved financial support that treats kinship carers in the same way as foster carers to ensure that they have adequate support to look after children
  • an end to the distinction between formal and informal care arrangements that prevent many young people from accessing support
  • better integration between services such as health, education and social work that have a role in the future of kinship kids
  • better recognition of the contribution of kinship carers

The campaign will officially launch on 15 April with an event at the City Chambers in Glasgow running from 11am to 12:30pm.  To register your interest for the launch event click here.

The Alliance’s website has more detail about the campaign and also has an excellent section where kinship carers share their experiences.  I would like to wish the Alliance every success in taking its campaign forward.

 

Posted in Carers, Equal Opportunities, Young People | Leave a comment

Coastal Communities Fund launched

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Claudia

BIG Lottery Fund have recently launched the latest round of the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF), a UK-wide programme of funding to promote economic growth in coastal communities.

The programme will accept applications from a range of community groups, particularly those based in small and medium sized coastal communities with populations of around 60,000 or less.

Funding can be used for a range of activities that meet the main focus for this year – that communities will experience regeneration and economic growth through projects that directly or indirectly create sustainable jobs and safeguard existing jobs.

The first round of funding under the CCF attracted nearly 300 applications with a combined value of £66m.  Of these, 19 projects shared the budget of £3.9m to take their ideas forward.  You can view some of the successful projects here.

Application for the programme is done in two stages with initial proposals due in by 26 April.  Successful project will move forward to the second stage in mid-September before a final decision is made in December.

To find out more about the programme, and details of how to apply, visit http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/uk-wide/coastal-communities

Posted in Economy, Equal Opportunities, Local Issues | Leave a comment

BIG launch for the People’s Millions

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Claudia

People's MillionsThe Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has recently opened applications to the People’s Millions programme.

The programme, delivered by BIG in partnership with ITV, will award 76 community projects with up to £50,000 to deliver their proposals. 

The successful projects will be decided by a public vote in late November and applications are being encouraged from groups who are looking to inspire, involve and improve their communities.

If you are part of a community group which has ideas that could benefit from funding you should visit the People’s Millions website to find out more.

The site has examples of past winners that give a good idea of the types of project that have been successful.

The deadline for applications is noon on Monday 13 May 2013.

Posted in Community Events | Leave a comment

Free event offers advice on payday loan debt

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Claudia

Payday Loans PosterOn Friday 22 March I will be hosting a free event at my office in Lanark to help constituents worried about payday loans and debts.

Over the last few years, the number of companies offering payday loans has expanded rapidly.

These companies offer short-term loans – normally between £100 and £2,000 – at very high interest rates and often without making any credit checks.

People are taking these loans out to pay for the basics – food, energy bills, the rent -  but it is easy for this debt to quickly spiral out of control.

I’ve been working with the Clydesdale Citizens Advice Bureau and the Blantyre & South Lanarkshire Credit Union to promote responsible lending and to highlight alternatives for those who are struggling to manage their finances. 

The event will run on Friday 22 March from 3:30pm to 5:30pm in my regional office at 12 St Vincent Place, Lanark.

It will give constituents the chance to access a range of information on coping with debt and advisors will be on hand to offer free advice and support. In addition, information will also be available on affordable alternatives to payday lenders such as credit unions.

I hope that constituents who are worried about debt will come along or get in touch.  No appointments are necessary, just drop in.

Posted in Community Events, Economy | Leave a comment

New Lanark – Spinning New Lives

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Claudia

I was recently in New Lanark to attend the launch of a new book which takes its inspiration from the history of the famous village.

The novel, from local author C.A Hope, is an historical fiction set in the times of David Dale, the father-in-law of New Lanark founder Robert Owen.

Much has been written about the history of New Lanark and how the work of Robert Owen laid the foundations for the cooperative movement and fairer working practices.

However, what makes this book unique is the way that it takes that documented history and creates a narrative and characters that exist within it. By developing a handful of fictional characters and placing them in the middle of historical events, the book adds a more human element to the history giving it a new energy for the reader.

Listening to the author as she read from the book and talking to her afterwards, it is clear how much research and respect for the area has gone into the book.

I hope that as a fresh take on the New Lanark story, the book will help to introduce people both local and worldwide to the incredible history at New Lanark and in turn to encourage people to visit the World Heritage Site to find out more.

Posted in Co-operatives, Culture | Leave a comment

Fairtrade Fortnight

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Claudia

Fairtrade FortnightOver the last two weeks, events have been taking place the length and breadth of the country to mark Fairtrade Fortnight.

The annual celebrations, coordinated by the Fairtrade Foundation, highlight the range of products available and the benefits that they bring to producers and communities in the developing world.

As a backdrop to this year’s celebrations was the tremendous news that Scotland has become only the second country in the world to achieve Fair Trade Nation status (the only other is Wales).

This achievement recognises the work in communities across Scotland, including individuals, schools, community groups and local businesses to promote fair trade. 

On a more local level there was also welcome news with the announcement that South Lanarkshire has become the latest area to achieve Fair Trade Zone status.

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, Scotland was visited by a range of producers from around the world to share their stories.

I Parliament, I attended the Cross Party Group on Fairtrade where we heard about olive oil producers from Palestine.  The fair trade movement has allowed marginalised farmers in the region to secure a livelihood through the sale of their produce particularly in the UK.

I also met with Justine Watalunga, a fair trade coffee farmer from Uganda who toured the UK as part of the fortnight. Justine is part of the Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative which brings together over 3,000 coffee farmers in South East Uganda.

I caught up with Justine at Cream O’ Galloway in Castle Douglas where she gave an inspirational presentation highlighting how involvement in fair trade and the Gumutindo cooperative have helped to improve the lives not only of the farmers but their families and wider communities.

The additional income which fair trade has helped generate has allowed the women in Justine’s community to come together to start a nursery and primary school for local children – it is just an awe inspiring achievement in a way which is a real model of democratic local decision making.

Now that Fair Trade Nation status has been achieved in Scotland, the challenge is to continue to raise awareness of fair trade and to highlight the role it can play in the fight against poverty around the world while offering consumers a wide range of quality products which have been grown in an environmentally sustainable way.

Posted in Co-operatives, Fair Trade | Leave a comment