A new online resource is being made available to help support people experiencing, or at risk of, domestic abuse. For professionals in the housing, social work, health, education and other sectors with an interest in the new domestic abuse legislation, the resource aims to improve understanding of coercive controlling behaviours, and where to direct people for further assistance.
In a report being presented to The Highland Council's Recovery Board on 24th August, Steve Walsh, High Life Highland's Chief Executive, has outlined the charity's road to financial recovery thanks to its bounceback campaign. Mr Walsh explained, "It now seems like an over-used phrase, but when the pandemic hit in March it was clear that High Life Highland, along with every other organisation was facing unprecedented challenges.
On Tuesday 11 August 2020, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, announced in the Scottish Parliament a change to the way that SQA results would be decided. In some cases, the moderation process carried out by the SQA during July and August had meant that candidates might be awarded a lower or higher grade than their teacher had estimated.
Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Property Committee have agreed a one-year capital investment plan of £15.667 million to be spent improving existing housing stock - £1 million of which will be specifically to fund aids and adaptations for disabled tenants. The money will be allocated on an area-by-area basis with local members making decisions on projects to be carried out during 2021-2022.
France and the Netherlands will be removed from the list of destinations exempt from quarantine requirements due to an increased number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Malta and Monaco will also be removed from the exemption list.
Borrowing money from loved ones dropped by almost a third (30%) in the last year, then a further 44% during lockdown. Lending money to friends and family also reduced by almost a third (29%) in the last year, then a further third (31%) during lockdown.
All Highland Council school lets will remain suspended to assist in the Government's goal in suppressing the coronavirus. We will review this position in October and will reopen the lets booking process, in line with national Covid-19 guidance, when it is deemed safe to do so.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 13th) sold 4,608 store lambs at an average of £62.63. Beltex (670) averaged £56.90 and sold to £83 gross from Fearn Farm, Fearn.
Members of The Highland Council's Housing and Property Committee have had the chance to discuss the progress made to implement a Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan aimed at tackling homelessness. In November 2018 the Scottish Government and COSLA published the "Ending Homelessness Together" Action Plan which included the recommendation that all local authorities produce Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans to document how they would tackle homelessness.
A new web-based tool, commissioned by the Scottish Government, will allow care homes to monitor coronavirus (COVID-19) trends and identify risks quicker. The Turas Care Management tool will launch on Friday (14 August) and will allow all private and public sector care homes across the country to record in one place information including COVID-19 infection rates, demand on services and staff testing.
Today (11 August 2020) saw the release of updated labour market data for the UK and Scotland. What do these data tell us? The immediate headline from these data is that employment in the UK dropped by the largest amount in a decade, 220,000, in the three months to the end of June.
A total of £60 million will be invested in a Youth Guarantee to give all young people access to work, training or education, Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop has confirmed. An implementation plan for Scotland's Youth Guarantee is currently being developed.
The Constitution Secretary has outlined to MSPs how the UK Government's plans for a post-Brexit internal market would threaten high standards and a range of devolved policies. Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee, Michael Russell said the Scottish Government has now published a detailed 21-page document setting out the damage to devolution that would be caused by the plans.
The Principal and Chief Executive of North Highland College UHI has announced his intention to the Board of Management to retire from his post on September 30th 2020. Mr Donald MacBeath, a native to Caithness, has held a number of positions across the college, starting as a lecturer in the mid 1980's and progressing to Assistant Principal and Vice Principal before accepting his post as College Principal in June 2014.
Dounreay is exploring ways of decommissioning with the help of robotics experts. The nuclear site at Dounreay, which was the centre of the UK's research into fast reactor technology in the last century, is being cleaned up and taken apart.
Pupils travelling by dedicated school transport. ‘Dedicated school transport' means transport which is only available to pupils.
As schools return in Scotland, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working parents they could save up to £2,000 per child per year to pay towards after-school clubs and other childcare services. Around 110,000 families in Scotland are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, which can cut thousands of pounds off childcare bills.
Members of today's postponed Corporate Resources Committee have supported recommendations contained in item 9 of today's report, regarding critical issues around COVID-19 school trip refunds. Those members who would have been in attendance at today's meeting were contacted by the Chair of the Committee, Cllr Alister Mackinnon, due to the importance of a decision being made on this item.
Today we've published the latest GDP figures for April to June 2020, assessing the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the UK economy. Some of the main points include: The UK economy has entered recession, with GDP falling by a record 20.4% in Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2020 (the second consecutive quarterly decline).
The economy is in a technical recession after Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2020 saw a record fall of 20.4%, following a significant shock since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; this follows a fall of 2.2% during Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020. Monthly gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 8.7% during June 2020 but is 17.2% below February 2020 levels.