• ScotRail Alliance in three-year link up with MND Scotland
• MND Awareness week running from 19-25 June
• MND patients and their families urged to make use of assisted travel scheme to access rail services
Abseils and skydives are just two exploits that will see ScotRail Alliance staff go off the rails this year in aid of their nominated charity, MND Scotland.
Awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) will be raised from 19-25 June at some stations and on social media as the ScotRail Alliance and MND take part in a series of events to fund-raise for the disease which has such a devastating impact on patients and their families and friends.
This coincides with a global MND Awareness Day on 21 June.
To find out more, MND patient Alison McDonald joined ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes and MND Scotland CEO Craig Stockton at Glasgow Central Station, to hear how 7500 ScotRail Alliance staff will be raising money.
The partnership between the ScotRail Alliance and MND Scotland will last for three years. As well as the high-octane events for only the bravest, more sedate dress down days, a concert with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and bake sales will also play their part in raising cash for the charity.
Alex Hynes also took the opportunity to discuss with Alison – who is a wheelchair user – the customer assist programme which is in place to help customers access rail services.
• Last year, the ScotRail Alliance provided just under 85,000 assisted journeys, booked through its website
• Many more unbooked customer assistances are also given by railway staff every day, from helping with luggage, to local directions and support to board or alight trains.
Alex Hynes said: “I admire and support MND Scotland’s work and give my full backing to our three-year partnership which has already started delivering for the charity and its work.
“Part of this support is making our rail services accessible for as many customers as possible and this includes those who may need a bit more help to travel on our trains. I want Scotland’s railway to be the best it’s ever had and making it accessible for all is a big part in delivering that excellence.”
Craig Stockton, CEO of MND Scotland, added: “It’s fantastic to be working so closely with the ScotRail Alliance and to have the opportunity to improve and promote accessible train travel across Scotland.
“Losing your independence can be one of the most difficult things to come to terms with after a diagnosis of MND and we will continue to do what we can to enable people with the illness to maintain their independence and ability to travel for as long as possible.
“We are very excited about the partnership and all of the different activities ScotRail Alliance staff and customers will be able to get involved in over the next three years, as well as the awareness we can raise across the country.”
For more information, please contact ScotRail Alliance Communications on 0141 555 4105 or email communications@scotrail.co.uk
Charities must deal with issues around National Minimum Wage and on-call workers, writes Ben Doherty, Head of Employment at Lindsays
A recent legal case has spotlighted a vexed question around National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the obligations of charities: when does sleep count as work?
Like so many issues around NMW, the regulations seem to read clearly, but in practice employers face a host of pitfalls. And for social care charities, which often require to have workers on call overnight, sleep has been the cause of much legal uncertainty and insomnia.
This latest case highlights the importance of getting to grips with – and getting advice on – this area. It also reinforces the need for employment contracts to be completely clear on what duties workers have when they are on call or asleep, and to reflect the reality of each situation. If a worker’s duties change, contracts may need to be updated.
The details of this particular case (Focus Care Agency v Roberts) will strike a chord with charities of all sizes, which is why it’s so important. The charity in question ran supported living facilities for vulnerable adults. At night, it usually had two workers available – one carrying out duties and the other doing a sleep shift, just in case they were needed to help out.
The ‘sleep-in’ workers were paid a flat rate of £25 per shift, rather than receiving hourly pay. This was on the basis they were usually asleep, and the Minimum Wage Regulations provide that ‘time work’ attracting the NMW only applies when workers are actually awake and available to work.
It may sound cut and dried, but it’s not. The worker argued he was entitled to hourly pay since he was actually doing ‘time work’ even when sleeping. And he won.
On a typical eight-hour shift and with minimum wage now up to £7.50 per hour, we’re looking in such situations at a potential additional wage liability per worker per night of £35. So the issue carries huge financial significance for both social care employers and staff.
However, while the case has starkly highlighted the issue, the judge also emphasised that each case will depend on its own circumstances and facts. Factors that came into play in deciding whether sleeping time is working time included:
• Would workers be disciplined if they left the premises during the shift, or were they free to come and go?
• How much responsibility was placed on sleep-in workers during the shift? For example, was it likely they may be needed to perform personal care for clients (thereby having a greater burden of responsibility) or less likely, such as only being required to act in the event of an emergency, such as a break-in?
• How immediately did sleep-in workers have to be available? Would they need to be woken by another worker or have to make the decision to intervene themselves?
These issues will clearly vary from situation to situation. There are still no easy answers to the question of when sleep constitutes work, but it should be clearer to charities that there’s an issue here, and one they now have to address.
They should also be aware this is by no means the only pressing issue they must address around NMW, there are wider employment law issues such as working time or transfers of contracts. The consequences of blundering on these points are not just limited to legal costs and possible fines, but could also lead to wider reputational, recruitment and sustainability issues.
It’s safe to say that no one comes into the social care sector because they want to grapple with employment law dilemmas, but it’s an area that really can’t be avoided.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s latest ‘Live Better Blog’ newsletter is packed with the tools your staff can use to eat better, feel better and work better.
Discover new and innovative workplace screening to detect Atrial Fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), how to avoid the 3pm slump and win a recipe book full of your favourite Scottish recipes (made healthier)!
Check it out here; https://chss.org.uk/supportus/emails/livebetterblog-newsletter/Health-Promotion-Newsletter-May-17.html
Don’t miss out on the latest workplace wellness tips – sign up for our next newsletter here: https://chssi.org.uk/livebetterblog-newsletter
Edinburgh-based charity the Sick Kids Friends Foundation has announced it is rebranding under the new name Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).
Although the charity – a much-loved Edinburgh institution – is to change its name, its mission to continue to raise money to buy vital equipment and services remains as important as ever.
Roslyn Neely, CEO of the ECHC, said: “Through the amazing support and fundraising of many, many people, we’ve supported the work of the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital for 25 years. But with the hospital changing to a new name, we felt this would be a positive opportunity to also update our own name.
“Aside from our name, nothing will change in terms of the work that we do. We continue to be a grant giving organisation which exists to transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital so that they can be a child first and a patient second.
“The clinical work of the hospital is world class and often ground-breaking. However, we rely completely on the public for all our donations and we still need support to help us provide the magical extras to benefit the hundreds of thousands of babies, children and young people who will be patients over future decades.”
For more information on Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, please visit: www.echccharity.org
That’s the question being asked by Royal Blind as part of its annual fundraising campaign, Royal Blind Week, which starts today 23 February and runs until 1 March 2015.
The week-long event encourages individuals, businesses and community groups to engage with the charity and take part in activities that will help to raise funds and increase awareness of the work Royal Blind does to help visually impaired children and adults across Scotland.
Davina Shiell, Marketing Manager for Royal Blind, said: “A very simple way to get involved in Royal Blind Week is through our text to donate social media campaign. We’re asking people to take a photograph of someone or something that they would miss seeing if they lost their sight, and share those images on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
It could be a picture of a loved one, a pet or a favourite place to visit. We would like to encourage everyone to take a photo and share it with us, then text BLIND£3 to 70660 to donate £3.”
As Scotland’s largest visual impairment organisation, Royal Blind operates five distinct services, one of which is the Royal Blind School based in Morningside in Edinburgh.
Please visit royalblind.org/royal-blind-week for more details on Royal Blind Week and the different fundraising activities you can get involved in.
Our Christmas Wish is… music!
The popular stage show, A Christmas Wish, returns to the Usher Hall with a full evening of music and entertainment in support of Barnardo’s Scotland.
The must-see event was launched in 2012 and brought warmth to winter when over 200 young people from the MGA Academy of Performing Arts sung and danced to Christmas-themed musical theatre and songs in a choreographed show. This year’s performers, from across Scotland, might be next year’s Broadway stars, so keep your Saturday free on 13 December 2014. Tickets are still available but selling fast.
Co-Founder of MGA Academy Andrew Gowland, said: “The MGA Academy of Performing arts is once again extremely proud to be supporting Barnardo’s Scotland. As an organisation working for the development and empowerment of children and young people it’s clear to MGA that there is no better charity to support!
“A Christmas Wish is an evening of sparkling entertainment celebrating the festive season and we sincerely hope that the money raised for Barnardo’s Scotland will go some way to making sure that those children in need don’t get forgotten at this time of year.”
Barnardo’s Scotland Events Manager, Kara Gillies, said: “Over the last two years, the event has raised around £20,000 for specialist projects and services in local communities and with your support we hope to raise even more this year to help families struggling in winter.
Tickets are now on sale from the Usher Hall box office, and all proceeds donated to Barnardo’s Scotland go towards helping vulnerable children in Scotland.
Fundraising events enquiries to Jordyn Armstrong email jordyn.armstrong@barnardos.org.uk or call 0131 446 7021.
Come along to a Christmas themed shopping evening with a festive 20% off at Austin Reed, 102-104 George Street, Edinburgh, on Thursday 4 December. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and entertainment, browse Alzheimer Scotland’s selection of Christmas cards and learn more about our work making sure no one goes through dementia alone. RSVP to fundraising@alzscot.org or call 0131 243 1453.
Ebola is devastating communities in West Africa. It has already killed almost half of the people it has infected. We are stepping up our response to the disease to try to slow down the spread of infection
The Ebola outbreak started in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia and cases have spread to Nigeria and Senegal. More than 9,000 people have been infected with Ebola and almost 4,500 have already died.
Oxfam’s response to the Ebola crisis across the West Africa region is being led a Scot, David MacDonald.
David said: “The need to break the spread of Ebola is absolutely key. Right now infection rates are accelerating and we have no option but to rapidly increase our work. We work on prevention to stop the disease spreading. Oxfam has already helped over half a million people, but with your help we can reach many more.”
Our response
We are supplying water, hygiene equipment and sanitation to treatment and community care centres and boosting mass publication about the disease. We are also giving personal protective clothing to front line community health workers.
We are working in six districts in Sierra Leone and stepping up our prevention programs in Liberia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau. We have started a radio program advising people how to avoid catching Ebola and on what to do if it spreads in their community.
How you can help
We are appealing to Scottish companies support Oxfam’s Ebola Crisis. We need to treble the size of our programme and help 2.5 million people at risk of catching the disease. Your company could make a massive difference.
Please contact Kathryn Porteous for more information on how you and your company could make a massive difference to this crisis.
0141 285 8866
Image: Water tanks donated to Sierra Leone by Oxfam
The Scotland Office of When You Wish Upon a Star is delighted to announce that Scotmid Co-operative are now the official Sponsor for The Great Edinburgh Santa Family Fun Run and Walk! New for this year are collectable medals, Santa suits for children over 5 years and as it is our 10th Anniversary we have rolled back the prices to £10 per Adult and £5 for children! Let’s not forget the wee toddlers who will get an Elf hat for £2.50 and there will be a prize for the Best Dressed Dog and the Best Dressed Pram or Wheel Chair!
Malcolm Brown, Head of Corporate Communications for Scotmid Co-operative said: “Scotmid is delighted to be sponsoring the Santa Run this year. The Great Edinburgh Santa Run is a true Christmas spectacle that brings the whole community together. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of Mr and Mrs Claus’ taking part in the Santa Run on 14th December to raise money for this very good cause.”
Be a part of the Santa Run and raise some money for magical Wishes in 2015!
When You Wish Upon a Star are delighted to be hosting a Fashion Show to preview the latest Autumn & Winter Collection in Hobbs, George Street on Tuesday the 7th of October 6.00pm till 8.00pm.
In addition to a short film on the Charity’s Harry Potter Trip guests will receive a complimentary glass of Champagne, a fashion show by the staff and 20% discount on purchases on the night. Tickets are only £5 and pre booking is essential. Contact Stephanie Donaghey on 01357 529950.
