Juniper Green and Baberton Mains Community Council
February 2022 Newsletter
1. Research
on Care in Later Life
2. 20-Minute
Neighbourhoods
3. Church
Reorganisation
4. Carer
Recovery Fund
5. Fairtrade
Fortnight, Monday 21st February to Sunday 6th March
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1. Research
on Care in Later Life
A team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh is
conducting a study about care in later life. It is interested in how
individuals, families, communities, and health and social care services can
manage care better in different community contexts. They want to learn from
people living in different places and with different social, economic, and
cultural backgrounds, to ensure that research covers the diversity of
experiences of care in later life. They aim to work with individuals aged 50+
(with no upper age limit) with views on caring.
If you are interested in participating please email careincontext@ed.ac.uk or call 0131
651 8882
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2. 20-Minute
Neighbourhoods
A representative of Edinburgh Council recently gave a
presentation to JGBMCC and provided the below statement. While it is still too early in the process to
detail how this will affect our area, we hope the below helps understand the
concept. We will continue to work with
the Council on local implementation.
“Cities across the world are adopting policies to promote
localism as a means of tackling key strategic issues such as poverty,
wellbeing, climate change and sustainability. In June 2021, The City of
Edinburgh Council agreed a strategy for implementing ’20-Minute Neighbourhood’
principles across the city.
The ‘20-Minute Neighbourhood’ approach is about living
well locally, giving residents the ability to meet most of their daily needs
from within their own community. This will mean something different to each
person, but schools, parks, housing, shops, health services, cultural
facilities, public transport links and workspaces are all important.
It means that the Council will work with public and
voluntary sector partners to make sure that communities have convenient access
to quality services. This might mean locating different services in the same
place to create ‘community hubs’. For example, in Pennywell there is a project
underway to deliver a new hub at the heart of the community - with a library,
early years, arts space and other support services all in one place. The new
Currie High School will have a range of facilities that will be available to
the community.
Successful ’20-minute neighbourhoods’ are not just about
what facilities and services are located there. It is also important for them
to be greener, safer and attractive local places that people want to visit. A
network of thriving and vibrant local centres can support local businesses.
People also need to be able to easily move round their
local neighbourhood by walking, wheeling cycling or using public transport. A
core principle of the Council’s 2030 Climate Strategy is the creation of
20-minute neighbourhoods because of the effect it can have on reducing local
car emissions.
The Council will develop its approach to implementing the
’20-Minute Neighbourhood Strategy’ throughout 2022. In a city like Edinburgh it
won’t happen overnight. It will be an ongoing process of change, with comprehensive
community and partner engagement key to its successful delivery. The Council
has already met with JGBMCC, and will continue to liaise with communities along
the Water of Leith to consider how the ’20 Minute Neighbourhood Strategy’ can
be progressed in the area.”
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3. Church
Reorganisation
Jim Dewar, Minister of Juniper Green Parish Church, has
given us the following update:
“The Churches of Edinburgh and West Lothian are going
through a process of reorganisation of ministers. We are tasked with reducing
the number of ministers in Edinburgh from 80 to 48.5 in the next 5 years. In
the consultation document that was sent out before Christmas that was the only
question being addressed. We recognise that this will mean changes, but we understand
that this will not involve major alterations to the provision of church
buildings in the city.
Locally, we recognise that our church buildings are huge
community assets, providing worship space as well as space for many community
groups to meet; we have made that argument over and over again to those who are
conducting the audit of church buildings as part of this planning process.
There is still more work to be done over the next few months, so watch this
space.”
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4. Carer
Recovery Fund
VOCAL, Voice of Carers Across Lothian, has received
£500,000 funding from the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council, to
improve carers’ wellbeing. Carers can apply for support with fuel payments,
food vouchers, or general costs associated with improving their financial
situation.
The Carer Recovery Fund will help those in greatest need
through the delivery of grants up to £500 per carer household. Carers can apply
for support with fuel payments, food vouchers, or general costs associated with
improving their financial situation. General grants cover wellbeing activities
to reduce stress, access breaks from caring, purchase basic furniture
(including white goods), support to seek employment and costs associated with
caring such as training, transport or equipment.
Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive at VOCAL said:
“Often as a result of the pandemic, some carers have had
to reduce their hours at work, or even stop working altogether. With the recent
cut to Universal Credit, increased inflation and rising fuel prices, carers are
being sucked further to the edge of poverty with their financial and emotional
resilience pushed to the limit.
If you’re supporting a family member, partner, relative
or friend, of any age, who needs help to manage a long-term condition,
disability, physical or mental health problem, or addiction, you are a carer
and could be eligible to access a grant.
We would urge carers who are facing financial
difficulties to get in touch with us and apply. We are also asking Edinburgh
citizens to spread the word with friends and family members. We want to see as
many carers as possible benefiting from this.”
To apply, visit the website: https://www.vocal.org.uk/carer-support/info-for-carers/practical-support/carer-recovery-fund/
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5. Fairtrade
Fortnight, Monday 21st February to Sunday 6th March
Edinburgh Fair Trade City Steering Group https://www.facebook.com/edinfairtrade
has reminded us that Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up shortly. Fairtrade Fortnight is an opportunity to
stand with farmers in low-income countries affected by the climate crisis; a
show of solidarity with communities on the frontline. Together we can help farmers benefit from
fairer prices and fairer trading practices, and obtain the resources they need
to tackle the climate emergency.
The climate crisis is the biggest threat to the
livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers and agricultural workers in
low-income countries. Without a fairer
income they are unable to invest in the mitigation and adaptation techniques
needed to protect the environment and their businesses.
Fairtrade communities play a key role in raising
awareness of the link between trade and poverty. Fairtrade fights the climate crisis:
Fairtrade Standards encourage producers to protect the environment by improving
soil, planting trees, conserving water and avoiding pesticides, while
Fairtrade’s climate academies help farmers share best practices and learn the
latest agricultural methods to adapt to conditions. Engage with Fairtrade Fortnight to protect
people and planet, and buy Fairtrade products to make trade fairer for those in
lower-income countries.
Global heating is already disastrous for the farmers and
workers who grow our food – they need cash to adapt. Poverty and environmental damage in food
supply chains will not end until exploited farmers are paid fairly and can plan
for the future. Only then can they
effectively fight the impacts of the climate crisis. This matters to you as climate change
threatens the survival and sustainability of supply chains behind some of the
UK’s best-loved imports, such as coffee, cocoa and bananas.
Being a farmer shouldn’t be a route to poverty, and the
Fairtrade Premium is vital to give farmers in low-income nations the tools to
tackle the climate crisis. For example,
without it cocoa farmers only earn 3% of the price of a chocolate bar.
Join us this Fairtrade Fortnight and act for climate
justice.