Payment for care leavers – Financial support for young people leaving care

Young people transitioning from the care system into adulthood are to receive a one-off Care Leaver Payment of £2,000 to support them to move into more independent living under proposals being considered. See link for further information: Payment for care leavers – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

National Mission on Drugs Annual Report

Minister welcomes progress in key areas. The second annual report on the National Mission on Drugs has highlighted a wide range of initiatives and projects aimed at reducing deaths and improving the lives of people impacted by drugs. It sets out the progress made from April 2022 to March 2023 against the National Mission Plan. For more information please see link: National Mission on Drugs Annual Report – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Who is eligible for Winter Heating Payment

• How Winter Heating Payment works
• Who is eligible for Winter Heating Payment
• If you do not receive a Winter Heating Payment
• Check if you’re eligible for Winter Heating Payment

Winter Heating Payment is for people in Scotland who:

• get a particular benefit – this is the ‘qualifying benefit’
• get the qualifying benefit on at least one day between Monday 7 November to Sunday 13 November 2022 – this is the ‘qualifying week’
• meet one other specific requirement of their qualifying benefit

For more information click the link: Who is eligible for Winter Heating Payment – mygov.scot

Pension Age Winter Heating Consultation

The Scottish Government has committed to replacing Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) with Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) on a like-for-like basis. Given the significant number of clients who will be transferred to Social Security Scotland with this benefit and the need to ensure a safe and secure transition, the focus of this consultation is around gathering evidence on people’s views of the current benefit and considering how we could improve the system already in place.

SG are therefore consulting on the policy intention behind the delivery of PAWHP, building on the broader consultation on the Social Security Bill in 2016 which asked respondents for their views on WFP and Cold Weather Payment. This consultation aims to provide an overview of the payments aim, its key eligibility criteria and format. It will lay out how we intend to deliver this new benefit through Social Security Scotland to provide assistance to individuals to help towards meeting heating costs in winter. We also want to identify any unintended consequences of our proposals.

This consultation asks questions on whether the policy intent set out in the Scottish approach to replacing WFP will best meet the needs of those it is intended to help.

SG would like to gather views to ensure we have identified the impacts this policy will have, and provide the opportunity to make improvements to the benefit going forward.

Read the consultation paper: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – Scottish Government consultations – Citizen Space

Social Security Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government. They help the people of Scotland by delivering social security payments, for more information please click on the link: Social Security Scotland – Homepage

Partnership Engagement Officer |Planning & Performance|South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership | Elgin House | First Floor, Main Building  | Ailsa Hospital | Dalmellington Road | Ayr | KA6 6AB | Direct Line: 01292 612623| www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

South Ayrshire Community Transport – Out & About Winter 2023-2024 Programme

BonfireWatch, a multi-agency initiative to help people have fun, stay safe, avoid injury by bonfires and stop antisocial behaviour has been set up in the lead up to Bonfire Night each year since 2008.  

The BonfireWatch campaign is coordinated by the South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership Safer Places Joint Action Group. The group comprises of Police Scotland; the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service; Portland Janitorial; and Officers from South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety, Trading Standards and Environmental Health, and Waste Management teams. By removing illegal bonfires, the aim is to help to decrease the chances of people being injured, property being damaged, and reducing the likelihood of people getting involved in antisocial behaviour.  

This year, the partnership is tackling the issues of fireworks and illegal bonfires by encouraging the pubic to attend public displays, in a bid to deter private displays in gardens and local areas. Our Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers are also visiting local premises to discuss fireworks sales and legislation to help reduce illegal purchases.  

Local residents who see any waste being gathered for a bonfire are encouraged to contact South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Team on 0300 123 0900, to allow for its removal. 

Councillor Martin Kilbride, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment said: “I am pleased to see the BonfireWatch initiative continuing to play a vital role in ensuring that everyone can enjoy celebrations safely.  This time of year is a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together and enjoy spectacular professional displays, but it is also a challenging time for our emergency services. 

The efforts of those involved in this campaign are key in helping to reduce the number of illegal bonfires being constructed.  This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of people being injured or engaging in antisocial behaviour and frees up resources to ensure people are safe over this period.” 

ENDS

The above Temporary Notice, which comes into force on 30/10/2023, imposes restriction on the following roads:

• Queens Drive

Please find attached a copy of the Temporary Notice.

A copy of the plan relating to the Notice can be found online at https://www.tellmescotland.gov.uk/notices/south-ayrshire/traf

SAC10252_PlanSAC10252_TemporaryNotice

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Trading Standards teams across Ayrshire have issued warnings that residents should take additional steps if they receive phone calls from businesses offering free loft surveys. These calls may be from an Ayrshire 01292 number but the company may not be based locally.

Reports have been received that unacceptable sales tactics are potentially being used by some companies to encourage residents to enter into agreements.

If you receive a call of this nature, you should:

• Stop and think before signing any agreements, paying cash or transferring money for home improvements, such as loft insulation from companies you don’t know
• If you are shown pictures of mould in your roof space or are told about serious defects in your house, get a second opinion before starting any work
• If the visit is as a result of an unsolicited telephone call you will have a 14 day period to cancel. Do not sign away your rights to cancel the contract unless you are absolutely sure about the company you are dealing with
• If you have friends or family who might not see this information please let them know

Free impartial advice on energy matters can be obtained from Home Energy Scotland here https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/ or the Energy Agency here https://www.energyagency.org.uk/

Communities and Mental Health Fund for Adults (mailchi.mp) – click here to access information on Communities Mental Heath and Wellbeing Fund for Adults, deadline is 16^th November 2023.

Women’s Fund for Scotland is now open. This grant programme offers unrestricted grants up to £5k to sustain existing work with women and girls or to support new work. The closing date for applications is 16.11.23 and you can find out more here

These funds are currently open for applications. The Corra Foundation encourage you to read through the information for each fund and complete the eligibility checker to check you’re eligible before applying.

They are happy to chat with you before applying and you can get in touch via the contact details on each page. You can find out more here