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Going Forward We hope this Bulletin has provided useful and relevant information over the last 12 weeks. As the national and local situation changes and some organisations are returning to their regular activities, this Bulletin will now be every two weeks rather than weekly.
Keep sending your stories on what you are up to and if there is anything you would like covered, please get in touch through your Local Co-ordination Team or by emailing us at [email protected]
Originally set up for Community Response Groups, this Bulletin is now available to the wider public to share important information.
Issue 12
Changes to Support
A huge thank you for all of the work group and volunteers have undertaken since the start of the COVID 19 lockdown. Everyone has played a critical role in ensuring vulnerable citizens have access to support during this pandemic.
As the country moves through the phases of the Route Map and restrictions are lifted, the requests to the Support Programme have been reducing. This welcome trend is very much down to everyone continuing to follow the national guidance. However, the virus has not gone away, and there is still be a need to support citizens. Therefore the Community Support Programme will continue but on a reducing scale in line with the reducing demand.
For the month of July we will operate two Local Coordination Teams, one for the Urban and one for the Rural area - see opposite box for details.
Over the month of July, if the country continues to make progress, there hopefully will be less need for the type of immediate support currently being offered. We know however that we will need to continue to work together in community recovery, and discussions on this next stage will begin shortly.
New
Local Co-ordination Teams
From Monday 6 July there will now
be two Local Co-ordination Teams
operating in the Stirling Council
area.
Support to groups will continue as
previously, contact the Team for
the area.
Local Co-ordination Team 1
(Urban) - Covers Electoral Wards
4,5,6 & 7)
Lead Officers: Chris Burns, Wilma
Comrie and Sharon McGrouther
Local Co-ordination Team 2
(Rural & Dunblane) - Covers
Electoral Wards 1, 2 & 3)
Lead Officers: Michelle Flynn and
Pam Campbell
Support Helpline
Face Coverings
As guidance is issued about wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces and on public transport, there are some people who are unable to wear one for specific medical reasons.
One charity, Euan’s Guide has started producing badges to quickly signal to people why that person is not wearing a face covering. This will, they hope, alleviate the fear or embarrassment which people may feel of being challenged about not wearing a face covering.
The charity Euan’s Guide is a disabled access review site where disabled people, their family, friends and carers can find and share reviews on the accessibility of venues around the UK and beyond.
The charity has a limited amount of free badges but are asking people to donate and support the charity’s work in issuing the badges. To order or donate visit their website.
Stirling Council Money Advice and Support
Stirling Council Advice Services remains fully operational at this time; and continues to deliver full money, debt, benefit and digital inclusion advice by telephone and email.
Advice Stirling (Money, Debt & Benefits Advice)
Advice Stirling offers free, confidential and impartial money, debt and benefit advice to citizens within the Stirling area. Trained advisers can help with: maximising income by doing a benefits check, applying for benefits or appealing; applying for a crisis grant, free school meals and clothing grant; making food bank referrals; support with debt management, and bankruptcy.
Referrals can be made by emailing or 01786 233528.
Digital Inclusion Project
Getting online is especially relevant at the moment and makes it much easier to get information, keep in touch, find a new job and save money. Stirling Council Digital Inclusion project offers free and tailored help to complete beginners or those looking to improve their digital skills.
Although the team are not currently able to provide face-to-face advice and support, they are able to talk clients through how to use and best access IT, either over the phone or by using digital platforms (e.g. Google Classrooms, Skype). They can support people to: complete Universal Credit claims online; and do a variety of online tasks such as shopping and keeping in touch.
Referrals can be made by emailing or 01786 233958.
Macmillan Money Matters Project:
Living with cancer can be a daily challenge and may cause financial difficulties. Diagnosis can have a huge impact on life, and the benefits system can seem complicated. The Team can help those living in the Forth Valley area and who have received a Cancer
diagnosis, to complete a benefits check and support them to maximise their income.
Referrals can be made by emailing or 01786 233525.
Online Support
BetterOff is a service for people who live in Stirling and is accessible from the Council website. BetterOff will show people the benefits they are entitled to and will help them apply online. BetterOff also provides information on how to find and apply for jobs.
Debt - Changes in Legislation
The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act came in to force on 27 May 2020. These are temporary changes to the Bankruptcy process, initially for five months, but with the possibility of extension. Some changes included in this act are:
The debt ceiling for a Minimal Asset Procedure (MAP) has increased from £17,000 to £25,000; student debt is now exempt from this calculation.
MAP application fees are removed for those in receipt of specified benefits, and reduced to £50 from the current £90 for all others.
Bankruptcy applications which do not satisfy MAP criteria are subject to the full administration procedure. Currently, the application fee for a full administration bankruptcy is £200, this will be reduced to £150 and is waived for those in receipt of specified benefits.
Evidence requirements have also been reduced.
More information is available here.
Benefits - Changes in Legislation
The standard allowance for Universal Credit (UC) for a single claimant has increased from £317.82 per month to £409.89.
If a claimant is currently getting Tax Credits and they cannot work, or are working reduced hours due to Coronavirus, they do not need to tell HMRC as long as they are still employed or self-employed.
If a claimant is waiting on a medical assessment for benefits – they will keep getting paid the same amount until their assessment has taken place. The Department for Work and Pension (DWP) may try and make an assessment without seeing them face to face.
If a benefit claim has an end date, the DWP should extend this for a period of 6 months.
If payment is being taken back for an overpayment or budgeting loan from the DWP, no further deductions would have been taken until at least 1 July 2020 – this includes payments to debt collection companies. This should stop automatically.
News From You
We’re eager to find out what is
happening in your community. Send
us your good news stories; good
practice examples to help others;
online resources you have found
which helped you; or anything you
think others might be interested in
or which might help them.
To contribute email us at
Loneliness
Recent research by the Santander Foundation shows almost three quarters (71%) of over-55s have struggled with the lockdown and older people are suffering more.
Many people fear they have lost friends because they haven’t been able to see them in person and there has been a deterioration in their general wellbeing during this crisis.
Many national organisation such as Age Scotland and Alzheimer's Scotland have been working on this issue for years and recognise that although this crisis has highlighted it, chronic loneliness has been and will still be an issue for many older people in the future.
The Campaign to End Loneliness, have advice for those experiencing loneliness and resources for those trying to tackle it in communities.
Age Scotland have also launched its Friendship Calls to listen, provide friendship and offer support. Anyone feeling lonely or who just fancies a blether can call them free on 0800 12 44 222, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
CARES Funding for a Green Recovery
The next funding round of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewables Energy Scheme (CARES) is now open.
Communities, public sector organisations and rural businesses looking to make long term environmental changes and play a part in the green recovery after COVID-19 are encouraged to apply.
As Scotland starts to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, there is an opportunity to focus on a green recovery by aiding economic activity that puts tackling climate change and our ambition to reach net zero at the heart of everything we do. The support that CARES offers to rural businesses, communities and third sector organisations is an integral part of this green recovery package.
Up to £4.5 million is available this year with priority given to community led development and capital stage projects; off-grid communities seeking capital investment to help maintain the security of their energy supply and rural businesses seeking development support to explore their renewable options.
CARES funding can be used to develop projects and to install renewable energy generation, such as solar panels on a community owned building, or support local energy projects working towards Scotland’s net zero ambition. Both urban and rural communities are encouraged to apply.
CARES recognises that many community organisations across Scotland are currently stretched supporting front line services and helping those at risk in their communities. There will be future CARES funding calls with similar themes.
Expressions of interest should be submitted by Wednesday 22 July. Feedback will be given, before a deadline for full applications on Wednesday 2 September. Find out more about CARES and how to apply by visiting Local Energy Scotland.
Restriction Lifted
Friday 3 July
Five mile travel distance limit is lifted. However, the public are encouraged to stay within their local area, and some areas still face restrictions.
Self-contained self-catering holiday accommodation, caravan and campervan parks, lodges and second homes can reopen following guidance.
Children aged 11 and under will be able to play outdoors, without physical distancing, in groups of up to eight and of no more than two other households.
Monday 6 July
Outdoor hospitality, such as pavement cafes and beer gardens, can re-open.
Friday 10 July
Mandatory face coverings is extended to include retail settings.
For more details of all guidance, visit the Scottish Government website.
