Holyrood’s Social Security Committee has this morning (1st February) voted at Stage 2 to enshrine a commitment to inclusive communication in the Social Security (Scotland) Bill. Inclusive communication means communicating in a way which is inclusive of the largest number of people in the population. People have a range of different communication needs due to... Continue Reading →

North Ayrshire Council will receive an extra £4.278 million pounds of funding under the revised budget proposals unveiled by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. The budget boost comes as the Scottish Government confirmed that local government will receive an above inflation increase in resource funding. The SNP budget will give Scots the best deal in the... Continue Reading →

OVER 275,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN SCOTLAND ACCESS SCOTTISH WELFARE FUND SINCE 2013  Over £148 million has been granted to hard-up households since 2013 through the Scottish Welfare Fund, according to latest Scottish Government figures – including over £5 million in North Ayrshire.  The latest stats show that 275,000 households have benefited from the Scottish Welfare Fund... Continue Reading →

INVESTMENT AIMED AT CLOSING THE POVERTY-RELATED ATTAINMENT GAP A Scottish Government fund aimed at boosting the attainment levels of the most deprived pupils is set to pay out £4,413,960 to schools across North Ayrshire next year. More than 2,300 schools across Scotland are set to benefit from the funding – including 60 in North Ayrshire.... Continue Reading →

A commitment to inclusive communication, which means communicating in a way which is inclusive of the largest number of people in the population, is set to be included in the new Social Security (Scotland) Bill. People have a range of different communication needs due to factors such as learning and physical disabilities, sensory impairment such... Continue Reading →

The Scottish Government’s recently published draft national strategy to combat social isolation and loneliness places great emphasis on the role that the third sector has to play – as well the importance of ensuring that communities themselves are at the forefront in driving change. During General Questions on Thursday 25th January, SNP MSP for Cunninghame... Continue Reading →

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE OUTRIGHT BAN ON USE Following the Scottish Government’s announcement that it will ban the use of electric shock collars, pressure is mounting on the UK Government to use its powers to ban their sale and supply across the UK. The Scottish Government’s move has been warmly welcomed by stakeholders such as... Continue Reading →

On Tuesday 23rd January, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, joined with MSPs from across the Chamber – with the exception of some Scottish Tories – to condemn exploitative unpaid trial shifts and support calls for a ban at Westminster. The SNP’s Stewart McDonald has introduced a Private Members Bill at Westminster to ban... Continue Reading →