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The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has been invited by the Cabinet Secretary for Scotland to lead on engagement work with people and communities across Scotland, to ensure remobilisation efforts across health and social care services have a core person-centred focus, post COVID-19. As part of this work, the ALLIANCE has launched an online survey, and (in partnership with Healthcare Improvement Scotland) organised free online discussion events taking place: Thursday 22nd October, 10am – 11:30am; Tuesday 27th October, 10 am – 11:30am; Thursday 29th October 10 am – 11:30am; Thursday 29th October 6pm – 7:30pm.

Unfortunately, over the weekend of Friday 2nd October – Monday 5th October, Stenhousemuir Primary School’s nursery garden was vandalised for the third time. Damage included broken equipment and the “wrecked” Gazebo, along with litter left. The area has now been thoroughly cleaned and children allowed to play there. The Parent Council is now fundraising to replace the damaged equipment and toys, and provide additional security measures; donations can be made through the GoFundMe page.

The Social Work Education Partnership is working to ensure that all final placement social work students across Scotland are able to access high quality placement opportunities. Along with Iona Colvin (the Chief Social Work Adviser to Scottish Government), the Partnership is reaching out to third sector organisations to create new and innovative placement opportunities for future social workers.

The free app from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect is now available to download through the Test and Protect website, and via the App Store and Google Play. The app has been designed to help keep Scotland safe from COVID-19.  The app is the next step in stopping the spread of COVID-19, and complements existing contact tracing measures, helping Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to determine contacts that may have otherwise been missed, and allows them to alert people at risk far more quickly, so they can steps to reduce the risk of infecting others. As we see the rate of infection increase, it’s important that we all download and use the Protect Scotland app. The more of us using the app, the better it will be.

Unfortunately, on Saturday night a fire was deliberately set at the Camelon Junior Football Club grounds, destroying one of the new containers. The container was to provide an expansion of the foodbank based at club’s grounds, as well as additional changing rooms, which would allow the club to restart games. The club is now fundraising to replace the container and its contents; donations can be made through the GoFundMe page.

Following on from our recent article highlighting the DWP Barriers to Employment Initiative and their invitation to receive partnership proposals, we have heard from some organisations who would be keen to meet and discuss further. We have arranged a Zoom meeting on Monday 10th August at 2pm – 4pm, with speakers from DWP and Partnership for Procurement (P4P), and time for you to discuss various aspects of the initiative with potential partnership organisations.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is looking for new, creative, unique and innovative proposals which will be delivered by organisations working together in partnership. Proposals should be aimed at improving the life and job prospects for people facing barriers to employment. The proposed programme should state how the partnership would address and overcome the specific needs, barriers and issues, include “soft skills” to employment, and focus on one of the claimant groups. The partnership must include at least 2 (preferably more) delivery partners. The deadline for applications to Round One is Friday 21st August.