A new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is set to be introduced next year, following a decision by the Scottish Government.
The universal winter heating payment for pensioners will begin in 2025/26. This support does not exist anywhere else in the UK and aims to alleviate financial stress facing pensioners ahead of the following Winter.
In terms of this year, the Scottish Government announced £20 million additional funding for the Scottish Welfare Fund and another £20 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme. This will aid councils in providing further support for those in crisis this winter, as well as helping people install efficient energy measures and heating systems, respectively.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.I spoke in The Scottish Parliament on the importance of listening to and supporting victims of crime, and the impactful role that the third sector plays in reducing reoffending when people are released from prison. These organisations make a real difference in our communities to rehabilitate and transform lives, like locally based Street Soccer Scotland and Fresh Start.
📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
We’d like to encourage constituents to participate in the ‘Future Libraries’ consultation, open until 25th December.
Edinburgh Libraries are in the process of developing a new Future Libraries Strategy to facilitate a framework for service delivery and to help shape public and school libraries over the next five years.
Libraries are integral to our communities and vital to educating future generations, so please take this is opportunity to add your voice to the consultation.
You can access the questionnaire here:
Edinburgh Future Libraries strategy 2024 to 2029
www.edinburgh.gov.uk
Edinburgh future libraries strategy
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Good to host a meeting this morning in The Scottish Parliament for ‘Financial Inclusion for Scotland’. Thank you to locally based organisations Castle Community Bank and Capital Credit Union for attending. Glad to be working to increase financial inclusion in my constituency and for all in Scotland. Lots to follow up on.
Social Investment Scotland
www.socialinvestmentscotland.com/media/1mthg45r/fis-strategy-2024-2026_final.pdf
Independence is our only way forward 🏴 we need to know when
Great to be invited to share ideas to improve Financial Inclusion For Scotland. Thank you Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
I was pleased to join charity OneKind outside The Scottish Parliament to mark Scotland’s ban on snaring - a meaningful step for animal welfare and something I’ve supported for some time.
The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 aligns Scotland with the majority of EU countries in eliminating the suffering caused by snare traps.
The ban comes into force from this week.
But what will happen to those who are found to snare animals. As often animal cruelty is not dealt with harshly enough
OneKind is part of Revive, the campaign for grouse moor reform. Go to revive.scot for information on snaring, white hare shooting for sport, burning of peatland, raptor persecution and much more.
No animals need to be managed or murdered.
Amazing go Scotland ❤️
Thank you !
📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
As we quickly approach the festive period, we’d like to urge constituents to be extra vigilant towards illegal moneylenders.
The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) has warned that the risk of falling victim to loan sharks often increases around Christmas time. Loan sharks tend to target individuals through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to exploit those in financial distress.
SIMLU, as part of Trading Standards Scotland, is in its 20th year and offers support through the following link: stopillegallending.co.uk/
Alternatively, their free and confidential helpline is open 24/7 throughout the festive period, on 0800 074 0878.
Home Page - Scottish Illegal Money lending Unit
stopillegallending.co.uk
The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit works with other agencies and organisations across Scotland to help to eradicate the scourge of loan sharksScotland’s Migration Service, which offers people who have moved to Scotland access to specialist advice, has recently expanded its services - it is now offering greater support for those seeking to come to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK and abroad.
Support will now also be available for those who have a job offer, have close family in Scotland, or who wish to stay here after completing their studies. This will assist new immigrants, international investors and Scottish businesses.
This scheme is something I helped to initiate when I was Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, to help attract talent and investment from across the world into Scotland.
Access support here: www.scotland.org/move-to-scotland/migration-service.
Scotland's NHS Dental Access Crisis is due in large part to a dentist recruitment crisis. Dental practices cannot recruit. It's not the fault of the NHS. These issues are not local, but nationwide and were caused, less by the pandemic and more by poor workforce planning. The Scottish Government needs to help overseas dentists get to work. There are thousands of underemployed overseas dentists. The Scottish Government should set up an independent Scottish training and examination route so that they don't have to wait for years to sit the Overseas Registration Exam. I have met overseas dentists working checkouts in Tesco, kitchen portering, delivering pizzas and working as trainee dental nurses. This is a blight on careers, a drain on the treasury and a terrible squandering of skills and talent. It would not cost much to stop this waste and the returns would be enormous.
Important work by locally based @Zero Tolerance: www.zerotolerance.org.uk/news/news-events/this-international-mens-day-lets-talk-about-how-the-man....
News and events | This international men’s day let’s talk about how the manosphere harms boys
www.zerotolerance.org.uk
As Scotland’s experts on preventing men’s violence against women and girls, Zero Tolerance is highlighting the harm the manosphere is having on boys, and the solution.Like many constituents, I am very concerned about the serious issues with youth crime in our area in recent times, and in the city more widely. A small minority of young people are engaging in totally unacceptable and alarming behaviour - the harm this is causing cannot go on! I am working with Police Scotland Edinburgh and other partners to help where I can, and using all opportunities available to raise concerns in The Scottish Parliament and press for more action.
You can watch the full debate here: www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/members-business-s6m-15156-alex-cole-hamilton-protecting-commun....
That's what happens when a Government is foolish enough to state publicly that no offenders under the age of twenty-five can be jailed.
What a disgrace of a parliament. Where are all the MPs? Hardly anyone has bothered to turn up. These are important issues. I'm glad you take them seriously. I wish more of your colleagues would too.
The City of Edinburgh Council are currently consulting on their proposals for a Visitor Levy and what to spend the money raised on. I am strongly supportive of the idea of a levy and helped to progress the law to enable the Council to do this through The Scottish Parliament. Edinburgh SNP are rightly pushing for more of the money to be spend on affordable housing. Some of the cash raised will also be spent on public areas of significance for locals and tourists. Currently The Shore is not on the priority list - I will be writing to the Council to argue that is should be. The Shore needs to be re-cobbled properly ASAP. If you agree and/or want to have your say please contribute to the consultation which closes one month from today: consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/visitor-levy/.
FYI Friends of the Water of Leith Basin (FOWL.b), SOSLeith, Mimi's Bakehouse, Shore Deli, Toast Leith, The King's Wark.
Thanks Ben for all you do supporting Leith, it's more than we see from other parties 👍
Definitely agree the shore needs tidying up. Road repaired and stop the busses destroying it again. In any other European city the the shore would be a pedestrianised area by now, with the bars and Restaurants using the area. It needs landscaping properly, not just dropping a few rusty planters full of weeds in it. Perfect use for the tourist tax.
I totally agree with the tourist tax. We travel in Europe frequently. I feel the fee needs to be proportionate £5.00 is to expensive. I have included an bill from this year as example.
Good to be working with MEAction Scotland to help them raise issues with MSPs in The Scottish Parliament this week, building on correspondence undertaken over the years to represent constituents affected by ME and their families.❤️Our amazing team of volunteers had another busy day at the Scottish Parliament today talking to MSPs about the plight of people with ME throughout Scotland. It was great to see so many sign our pledge that everyone with ME in Scotland should have access to ME specialist services, a care plan and ongoing support as required.
Firstly, our gratitude to Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith for sponsoring the information stall which made today possible and for signing the pledge.
We also want to send out thanks to all the MPSs who took the time out of their busy day today and yesterday to come down in person to talk to us, find out more about our campaign and sign our pledge. Thank you Oliver Mundell MSP, Jackie Baillie , Paul Sweeney MSP, Colin Beattie MSP, Roz McCall MSP Ross Greer - Scottish Greens, Sue Webber MSP, Alexander Stewart MSP Siobhian Brown MSP, Douglas Ross MSP, Katy Clark MSP, Bill Kidd MSP, MaggieChapman MSP, Mark Ruskell MSP - Scottish Greens, Clare Adamson MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, Monica Lennon MSP
We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk to Neil Gray MSP Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Jenni Minto MSP Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health about our campaign for ME services in Scotland.
#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #VerySevereME
Good to catch up with the R2 collaborative yesterday at Spartans Community Foundation - proud work with them for the benefit of North Edinburgh.
On one of your breaks this week, please consider contributing this consultation The Scottish Government is undertaking on potentially charging 25p for each disposable coffee cup!💷 Personally, as a local MSP, I have concerns that - while this would be well intentioned, to reduce waste - it may well just mean that small businesses in this area sell less coffee.☕️ I think it’s unlikely that most people would carry about a refillable coffee cup, as that’d be more inconvenient than a bag which can easily fit in a pocket.♻️ What do you think?👀 The consultation closes in 10 days: consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/charging-for-single-use-disposable-beverage-cups/.💻
Read more in this STV News article: consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/charging-for-single-use-disposable-beverage-cups/.
FYI: Artisan Coffee Bam Coffee Café Praline QUPI Artisan Roast Coffee Roasters Printworks Coffee Rocksalt Café Oqo Little Fitzroy please spread the word if you’d like, with customers and other shops.
Pleased and proud to see this happen. Privilege to shape it when I was Minister for Social Security, including deciding and securing the funding so that, unlike UK Carers Allowance, Scotland’s payment is now available to some carers in education (supporting unpaid carers at College or University).
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.A reminder that my surgeries are tomorrow.
Stuart Dobbin, SNP Councillor for Forth Ward also has his at the same time as my first one.
Good to catch up with Community Land Scotland about the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Good to visit and catch up with the team & some of the small businesses based at The Biscuit Factory EDIN - a remarkable initiative, providing space for creativity, innovation and interesting events.
The consultation closes today on proposed new Scottish Parliament constituency boundaries, if you want to provide any feedback.
Due to significant increases in, and further predicted, population growth, proposals will split the current Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency into two new ones: Edinburgh Northern; Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith.
You can make a submission here: consult.boundaries.scot/reviews/sp_constituencies_further_proposals/consultation/intro/.
Which one will you represent, Ben?
This month I wrote to City of Edinburgh Council again about the very poor state of the pavements on Crewe Road North. They have been due an upgrade for years. I have written several times over my period as an MSP and will keep pressing until it’s done. I am working with Stuart Dobbin, SNP Councillor for Forth Ward on this.
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre
Pilton Community Health Project
There are several other walkways in the Pilton, Granton and Royston areas that need upgraded too - if you have any thoughts please let us know.
FYI Forth SNP
I think you may as well tell them about 99 per cent of the other pavements in the city while you're on the subject Ben
Keep up the good work. It’s worse than the Soviet Union. Plus all the hedges overgrowing from homes and Ainslie Park. I often see people with wheel chairs and push chairs having to walk in the road.
Since the shock of hearing of the sad passing of #AlexSalmond last week I’ve been thinking about all the times he inspired others in Scotland to walk taller & lifted spirits to believe that more could be achieved: 11 years ago today, this was one of the best speeches he delivered!
The speech is aspirational (some may say idealistic) but a remarkable thing about #indyref was believing a fairer country & better world was achievable. I created this remix/video in 2013 as the words were very motivating & inspiring, especially when I heard AS deliver them live in Perth.
I felt it was right to help share this superb, stirring speech back then - & I feel the same again now.💙
RIP Mr Salmond & thank you for all the good you did for Scotland.🙏🏻
You pushed our nation forward in a remarkable way &, since that time, now we undoubtedly walk taller.🏴
Credits:
Delivered by Alex Salmond
Written (I think) by Geoff Aberdein
Music license bought from Audio Jungle
You can view & share the YouTube version here if you’d like: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU50JFlcTEY.
If you would like a copy of the audio (remix or the spoke word) let me know.
Such a memorable speech. x
Thank you. Cheered me up today x
⚽ 'Pitch to Plate: Multicultural Meal' 🍜
Hosted by Hibernian Community Foundation in Partnership with Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society - SABS!
We’re truly honoured to continue our partnership with the Hibernian Community Foundation to bring you our 6th Halal Multicultural Meal on Tuesday, November 5th, from 6PM to 8PM. ⚽🍜
Join us for an evening of delicious food, community spirit, and cultural exchange!
Free Entry | Family-Friendly Event
Please note: Some dishes may contain nuts.
For more information and to register, please contact us at info@sabs.org.uk
Please note address:
Hibernian Supporters Club, Sunnyside, 11 Sunnyside, Edinburgh, EH7 5RA ⚽
#NewScots #Scotland #Homelessness #Hibs #Leith #Edinburgh #Halal #Multicultural #Meal #HibernianCommunityFoundation #SABS Ben Macpherson MSP CEMVO Scotland Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees Scottish Refugee Council Edinburgh Direct Aid The Welcoming Edinburgh SCOREscotland Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees ⚽ 🍜
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Last week I raised issues with the Scottish Government affecting constituents in Granton. I also met with Police Scotland and had a call with National Galleries today. I will keep working constructively to improve the situation.
A number of constituents have contacted me in recent years about the eye hospital. As it is now closed for some time, I have asked for reassurances from The Scottish Government about support for those attending appointments at other facilities.
Surgeries today, if you’d like to chat about anything in person.A reminder that my drop-in help and advice surgeries are tomorrow.
A good amount of this is being utilised in Edinburgh.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Happening tomorrow.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.On Thursday at Leith Community Centre - a remarkable opportunity to bring many new, well-paid jobs to Leith.
Tenement repair, maintenance and retrofitting is an issue for many of my constituents - I have worked for several years now to try and improve the legal framework to assist people to undertake works together. Recently we debated progress in The Scottish Parliament.
www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/members-business-s6m-14024-graham-simpson-retrofitting-and-tene....
This evening The Scottish Parliament marked 50 years of FSB Scotland - there are so many remarkable small businesses in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and I’m here to support where I can and listen to any concerns or ideas I may be able to assist with.
Colony of Artists is this coming weekend - always a great community event with lots to see and do.
Thank you so much for sharing. Hope to see you over the weekend. 🐝
Hope to see you out and about there Ben! 🙂
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.In challenging financial circumstances, this week’s announcements included some excellent commitments that will positively impact our constituency. I will continue to work for investment in the local services we need.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.A reminder that my drop-in help and advice surgeries are tomorrow.
It was my pleasure to meet Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith. I hope that he can help with Scotland's NHS Dental Access Crisis.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.📢 Message from the Office of Ben Macpherson MSP 📢
The City of Edinburgh Council launched a consultation asking for views from residents, stakeholders and businesses on short-term lets to understand how the licensing scheme is working after two years of operation.
Since being elected, Ben has been contacted by a large number of constituents regarding short-term lets and he has been actively engaged on this issue.
Have your say on short-term lets at the link here: consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/short-term-lets-2024/
The consultation closes on Monday 14 October.
Short-Term Lets 2024 - City of Edinburgh Council - Citizen Space
consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk
Find and participate in consultations run by City of Edinburgh Council
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.