A report by Samaritans Scotland has shown that deaths by suicide increased by 6% in 2019, at 833 deaths by suicide registered in Scotland, an increase from 784 in 2018. While suicide rates for both men and women peak among those aged 45-54, the rate among young people aged 14-25 increased for the second consecutive … Continue reading Equality News Update: Third Force News: Stark warning as data shows suicide in Scotland rising
Equality News Update: Fife Today: Fife libraries close to browsers as ‘click and collect’ service relaunched
Browsing in Fife Libraries ended yesterday, however OnFife will be providing it's "Connect and Collect" service - allowing people to choose from a range of books online and pick them up at their local library. Read more about the scheme here: https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/fife-libraries-close-browsers-click-and-collect-service-relaunched-3047784 #EqNews #LocalServices #Libraries #CommunitySafety
Equality News Update: The Courier: Free school meals payments for eligible children self-isolating due to coronavirus
Fife Council are offering a lifeline to children eligible for free school meals currently in isolation due to COVID-19, due to changes this hopes to take away some of the extra strain placed on families due to isolating. Read more at: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/schools/1758169/free-school-meals-payments-for-eligible-children-self-isolating-due-to-coronavirus/ #EqNews #LocalServices #Families #SchoolMeals
Equality News Update: Sky News: MSPs to vote on providing free sanitary products to end period poverty
MSPs are to vote to extend the right to free period products to everyone, in 2018 students were granted free access to period products. This would make Scotland the first country in the world to make period products free to anyone who needs them. Keep updated with the story here: https://news.sky.com/story/msps-to-vote-on-providing-free-sanitary-products-to-end-period-poverty-12140656 #EqNews #LocalServices #PeriodPoverty … Continue reading Equality News Update: Sky News: MSPs to vote on providing free sanitary products to end period poverty
Equality News Update: Herald Scotland: Coronavirus Scotland: Demand for young people counselling services increases
Increase in demand for Inverness-based Scottish Counselling Services has increased by 250%, with young people looking for support with the impact of lockdown on their mental health and anxieties about the future. “We were concerned that all of a sudden we had been seeing a steady number of adults and young people being referred to … Continue reading Equality News Update: Herald Scotland: Coronavirus Scotland: Demand for young people counselling services increases
Equality News Update: The Herald: Christmas in Scotland: Number of elderly Scots eating alone this Christmas set to rise ‘exponentially’
Age Scotland have estimated that around 100,000 elderly people spent Christmas alone last year, with the figure expected to rise this year with the impact of COVID-19. The charity are calling for an "action plan for winter" to ensure that older people suffering from social isolation are supported properly. Read more here: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18881114.christmas-scotland-number-elderly-scots-eating-alone-christmas-set-rise-exponentially/ #EqNews … Continue reading Equality News Update: The Herald: Christmas in Scotland: Number of elderly Scots eating alone this Christmas set to rise ‘exponentially’
Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: Coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools
A new summary of the latest evidence of the impact of COVID-19 in schools has been published. This paper was created by the COVID-19 Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues, it examines the risks posed by the virus to both pupils and staff as well as the benefits of schools remaining open. To … Continue reading Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: Coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools
Equality News Update: Trans Awareness Week 2020
This week is Transgender Awareness Week! Running from 13-19 Nov 2020, this week aims to raise awareness of the issues faced by trans people across the world and encourage people to stand up and help address these issues and barriers. Allies can do this by taking action, educating communities and sharing stories and experiences of … Continue reading Equality News Update: Trans Awareness Week 2020
Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: £1m fund to keep care home residents connected
A new funding scheme has been launched to provide 1,400 care homes in Scotland with digital devices to help residents connect with their families and loved ones. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Digital devices can never replace human interaction and we continue both to actively review what more we can do to support visiting with … Continue reading Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: £1m fund to keep care home residents connected
Equality News Update: Fife Today: People with learning disabilities are up to 6 times more likely to die from coronavirus
A study by Public Health England (PHE) has found that people with learning disabilities were up to 6 times more likely to die from COVID-19 during the initial wave of the virus. Some explanations for this higher death rate included difficulty identifying symptoms, lack of clarity with the general advice and social distancing procedures being … Continue reading Equality News Update: Fife Today: People with learning disabilities are up to 6 times more likely to die from coronavirus
Equality News Update: Herald Scotland: Police Scotland bid to address lack of LGBTI officers
Next month, Police Scotland will be hosting a recruitment drive to try and increase the number of officers from the LGBTI community. This will be an opportunity to learn more about what's involved when joining the Police, as well as officers sharing their own experiences with potential recruits. Learn more here: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18868045.police-scotland-bid-address-lack-lgbti-officers/ #EqNews #LocalServices … Continue reading Equality News Update: Herald Scotland: Police Scotland bid to address lack of LGBTI officers
Equality News Update: Third Force News: Covid-19 leads to huge rise in need for foodbanks
More than 1.2 million food parcels have been handed out by the Trussell Trust across the UK, with 2,600 provided every day for the first 6 months of the pandemic. To help address this, they are launching a campaign to create a Hunger Free Future, encouraging people to continue supporting others even after the pandemic … Continue reading Equality News Update: Third Force News: Covid-19 leads to huge rise in need for foodbanks
Equality News Update: The Courier: Tier three guide to school, work, exercise, shielding and hospitality in Angus, Fife, and Perth and Kinross
The Courier has released a handy guide to the Tier 3 restrictions coming into place in Fife, Angus and Perth and Kinross from this Friday. It covers a range of topics including: Childcare and Primary Schools / Nurseries College and University Employment Travelling from Tier 1/2 areas Meeting Family and Friends Read more about the … Continue reading Equality News Update: The Courier: Tier three guide to school, work, exercise, shielding and hospitality in Angus, Fife, and Perth and Kinross
Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: Helping women return to work
The Scottish Government have announced new support systems being put in place for women returning to work after a career break, to help reduce gender inequality in the workplace. £850,000 of the fund will be available through the Workplace Equality Fund, to help organisations adopt more inclusive workplace practices. Read more here: https://www.gov.scot/news/helping-women-return-to-work/ #EqNews … Continue reading Equality News Update: Scottish Government News: Helping women return to work
Equality News Update: The Independent: Social isolation: Majority of disabled people feel their needs have been overlooked during pandemic, figures show
Campaigners have warned that the majority of disabled people feel that their needs have been overlooked during the COVID-19 pandemic. 65% felt that their rights have been negatively impacted due to the pandemic and lockdown, often leaving them without support and access to crucial services. Read more here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/covid-uk-disabled-people-disability-act-b1695795.html #EqNews #Disabilities #LocalServices #Rights