News Archive

Educators To Address Attainment Gap With Equity Week

 Education specialists from across the North-east, North and West of Scotland are to deliver a week-long series of digital professional learning events for teachers and practitioners from the end of September as part of a drive to increase awareness about child poverty in Scotland and the impact this has on learning.   Led by the Northern Alliance (Regional lmprovement Collaborative for the area's eight local authorities) in collaboration with Education Scotland, Promoting Equity Week will run from Monday 28 September and will help schools across the region consider the barriers faced by young people living in poverty and investigate the pressures the pandemic has had on vulnerable and disadvantaged children.  

Coming Of Age: Labours Child Trust Funds - From 1st September Funds Payable

From the Institute for Fiscal Studies - Authors Rowena and Crawford and Carl Emmerson.   From tomorrow (1st September), the first 18-year-olds will be able to access Child Trust Funds (CTFs) set up over a decade ago by Tony Blair's Labour government.  

Space Hub Sutherland Application Submitted To Scottish Land Court

Plans to establish a vertical launch site for satellites in the north of Scotland have taken another step forward.   Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is applying to the Scottish Land Court for consent to build, operate and, ultimately, decommission Space Hub Sutherland on a crofting estate on the A'Mhoine peninsula.  

Aquaculture Vital For Coastal Communities

The aquaculture industry contributes to the long-term viability of many communities, according to a new report.   Commissioned by Marine Scotland, the report found the sector provides year-round, well-paid jobs and supports economic growth in rural, coastal and island areas.  

Free Debt Advice Expanded

£2.4 million of new funding to help households with money problems.   More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government.  

New Payment For People Self-isolating In Highest Risk Areas

People on low incomes who need to self-isolate and are unable to work from home in areas with high incidence of COVID-19 will benefit from a new payment scheme.   Government to implement new payment for people on low incomes in areas with high rates of COVID-19, who need to self-isolate and can't work from home.  

Home-testing Kits No Use For Some Remote, Rural Areas, Health Secretary Admits

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has discovered that in some remote areas of the region home-testing kits for Covid-19 are unviable due to the amount of time taken to get them to the laboratory.   Moreover, there is a question mark over what is happening to mobile testing units in Highland locations after the end of August.  

New Chief Executive Appointed To NHS Highland

NHS Highland is delighted to announce the appointment of Pam Dudek as its new Chief Executive.   Professor Boyd Robertson, Chair of NHS Highland said: "Pam was chosen from a strong field of experienced executive leaders from across the UK and beyond.  

Scottish Teenagers To Get Access To Pot Of Money Each, Over The Next Nine Years

Thousands of teenagers in Scotland are set to benefit for the first time from money in Child Trust Funds (CTFs) that has been waiting for them since they were young children.   Since 2002, around 6.3 million CTF accounts have been set up across the UK, roughly 4.5 million by parents or guardians and a further 1.8 million set up by HMRC where parents or guardians did not open an account.  

Pay Attention - Is Your Child Due A £2,000 Windfall?

Over a million Child Trust Funds lie forgotten, some with balances of over £2,000.  With the first accounts due to mature on Saturday, here's how you can check if your child is due a four-figure windfall.