October 2022

5 October 2022 - Payroll Giving

Together we can support each other,Together we can support our communities, Together we can support the vulnerable and Together we can support what is important to us.  

Payroll Giving is a tax effective way to support your favourite UK registered charities, saving you money. Find out how it costs less to give with payroll giving here . 

Charities need our help to support the most vulnerable during these challenging times so if you can, why not join the 1 million UK employees Giving more Together through Payroll Giving this October. 

Together we can help to Make a Difference. 

Click on the link below to complete a simple secure form.

5 October 2022 - World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is recognised by The World Health Organisation on the 10 October every year.  With 1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental condition, we must continue to break the barriers of stigma and discrimination and bridge the gap of treatment for mental health conditions.

The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.  It is vitally important to make sure that mental health is treated on par with physical health as mental health problems exist in our lives, families, workplaces and communities, impacting everyone.

World Mental Health Day is a chance to talk about mental health in general and how important it is to talk about things and reach for help if you are struggling.

Looking after your mental health:

With everything happening around us right now, it can be easy to feel powerless but there are things in our life that we can manage and control:

• Mindfulness - if we take time to be aware of ourselves and be in the present moment, noticing our own thoughts and feelings, we can gain a better perspective. 
• Reframe unhelpful thoughts - the way we think, feel, and behave are linked. Sometimes we develop unhelpful patterns of thoughts or behaviours recognising them and taking steps to think differently can improve our mental health.
• Get good sleep - getting good quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel mentally and physically, it is so important to get enough sleep that's right for you.
• Connecting with others - spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how you are feeling or finding ways to help others can stop you from feeling lonely and improve your mental wellbeing
• Live healthy - being active, enjoying the outdoors and having a balanced diet all impact how we feel.  Binning bad habits like smooth and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood.

More Information

• To find out more about the campaign, visit The World Health Organisation at: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2022
• Mind UK are using spoken words to show the different ways people talk about their mental health experiences, read more at: https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/

Staff Support

• Visit our Mindfulness page on Connect here
• Visit our online Health and Wellbeing Handbook for a wealth of related information, resources, and recommended pathways to support here

5 October 2022 - October is World Menopause Month

October is World Menopause Month, with Tuesday 18 October being World Menopause Day.

World Menopause Month was created to raise awareness of the stage in a woman's life when she stops menstruating. It helps women understand the possible health issues when approaching, during, and after menopause, and encourages open conversations about this natural part of the aging process.

There are 13 million menopausal women in the UK with symptoms varying between women. One in five will have no symptoms while one in four will have debilitating symptoms. For many symptoms, such as hormonal changes and hot flushes, it can affect life at home and at work.

Useful Menopause Support Information

• Supporting a colleague through the menopause is easy, read our Guide to the Menopause and the Workplace on our Menopause Connect page to find out more.
• As well as the NHS there are many charities and organisations that offer support and advice for those experiencing menopause, including Women's Health Concern; Menopause Matters; Daisy Network; Menopause Café; and Queermenopause, for people who identify as LGBT+.
• Watch Dr Kay McAllister Consultant Gynaecologist at NHS GGC Sandyford, provide an overview of the Menopause in her short video with Alliance Live
• NHS Inform have a new Women's Health Platform which includes extensive menopause and post menopause health information, guidance and resources.
• The CIPD 'Let's Talk Menopause' have a wealth of useful resources including line manager's guidance and re-recorded webinars you can watch here
• You can also find great resources on the ACAS have a resource Hub: Managing the effects of the menopause at work
• Check out the Pausitivity Menopause Poster Support packwhich is free to download and use to help promote and raise awareness of menopause support in the workplace.

5 October 2022 - Step Count Challenge - It's Free!

We are excited to announce that we are launching our first ever six-week Step Count Challenge in Partnership with Paths for All.

The benefits of walking and staying active during the working day are huge. Spending time outdoors can clear your head and boost your mood, helping you to feel more productive and focussed.

The challenge will run from Monday 24 October to Sunday 4 December 2022, and is completely free for all core council staff to take part in!

Walk more during your working day by logging steps in teams of up to 5 and setting mini challenges and targets each week.  This challenge is inclusive to all ages and fitness abilities.  If you're a wheelchair user, you can convert distance travelled to step count, and participants can also include activities such as swimming, yoga and cycling, converting your activity time or distance into steps to include in the challenge!

Together we can motivate each other to be more active and reverse the trend of sedentary behaviour at work.

Get involved for the chance to win some amazing prizes!

Challenge Information

• The challenge begins on Monday 24 October and lasts for 6 weeks
• Enter as a team of up to 5 people, create a team name and choose your Team Captain
• Record your steps using your pedometer, activity tracker, favourite app, or update manually on your step count challenge dashboard
• There will be regular updates, challenges, and prizes throughout to keep you and your team motivated.

Prize Information

1^st Place Team: £100 Glasgow Loves Voucher

2^nd Place Team: £75 Glasgow Loves Voucher

3^rd Place Team: £50 Glasgow Loves Voucher

There will also be opportunities to win fun prizes through mini challenges during the 6 week period, keep looking out for them!

Sign Up Now - Follow the steps below:

1. Create your core council team of up to 5 members and choose your Team Captain - remember to have fun creating your team name!

2. All team members must complete the Sign-Up Form by Thursday 20 October to make sure each member has signed up for the challenge. Please make sure to include the same team name as your fellow team members to be grouped correctly in the challenge.

3. Complete the Sign-Up Form here:https://forms.office.com/r/aGvKkr1B3b * Please use the council default browser Chrome to sign up using this Form - other browsers may not perfom as well. 

4. You will receive the next steps through email before the challenge begins.

Support Throughout the Challenge:

• For frequently asked questions such as recording steps, adding activities, and password resets, visit Path's for All FAQs at: https://www.stepcount.org.uk/faqs
• For any help or support during the challenge, please email: walkatwork@pathsforall.org.uk - this inbox is managed Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm

We want to hear from you:

• We hope you'll keep in touch throughout the challenge, sharing your pictures and stories!
• Please email: YourHealthandWellbeing@glasgow.gov.uk with your challenge updates.

5 October 2022 - Christmas Lights Switch-on returning to George Square

Glasgow's Christmas lights switch-on will return in 2022 as the city kicks off its festive celebrations in traditional style

Glasgow Loves Christmas is bringing the free event back to George Square for the first time since 2019.

The switch-on will take place on Sunday 20 November, with tickets information expected to be confirmed soon. The illumination of Glasgow's festive decorations will start the countdown to Christmas, with plenty of family favourite traditions to follow, including the Blessing of the Crib in George Square, Baby's First Christmas and the Glasgow Santa Dash.

While Glasgow Green won't host a fireworks display this year, there is a whole host of top-class activities and entertainment on offer in Glasgow over winter and in the run-up to Christmas for everyone to enjoy. 

Elfingrove presents a chance to skate under the stars at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (24 November-8 January 2023), while the city's concert venues will be packed full of family-friendly performances, from Elf The Musical at the OVO Hydro (10 and 11 December) to the Christmas Spectacular show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 20 December, among many more.

An accessibly priced pantomime performance of Mother Goose, presented by Glasgow Life Arts, will also tour round community venues in Glasgow from 30 November to 17 December.

The Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren, said:

"Christmas is a time for family and friends to be together and it's wonderful to be looking forward to the switch-on. It is a welcome return to the city's festive traditions after the challenges of the last two years."

5 October 2022 - National Hate Crime Awareness Week

National Hate Crime Awareness week takes place from 8 to 15 October 2022. This year the council  alongside our partners will be participating by bringing awareness to hate crime and how to report it online and at events throughout the city.

Hate Crime Policy Officer Danni Glover from NRS said: "According to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (OPFS) 28% of racist hate crime in Scotland takes place in Glasgow, along with 36% of religious hate crimes, 16.5% of disability hate crimes, 25.5% of homophobic hate crimes, and 20% of transphobic hate crimes. We also know that hate crime is one of the most underreported categories of crime, with an estimated 170,000 going unreported in the UK each year.

"This year, Glasgow's awareness raising campaign is focused on improving awareness among communities affected by hate crimes and increasing reports."

Look out for daily posts on our council social media profiles drawing attention to each of the protected characteristics in multiple languages as well as BSL, and a new video produced in collaboration with Interfaith Glasgow highlighting Glasgow's many faith communities and their commitment to tackling hate crime.

Council events

In addition to this, hate crime will be spotlighted at PARTIE22, a celebration of the anti-racism work done by Education Services.  

• PARTIE22takes place on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 October at the City Chambers
• Finishing with a celebration event on Wednesday 12 October during which the winners of the Glasgow schools' hate crime awareness poster competition will be revealed - the lucky winners of which (one primary and one secondary) will receive tickets to any home basketball game generously provided by Glasgow Rocks.
• Glasgow Disability Alliance, a member of Glasgow's working group on hate crime, are co-producing an event at the Mitchell library that will be streamed online for those who can't make it along  - sign up here This event will be aimed at tackling the myth that hate crime is just some people's lot in life and will educate people on the various ways they can report as a victim or witness. This event will be co-delivered with our Police Scotland community safety partners.
• GOLD training for staff - As well as the events aimed at engaging the public, this hate crime awareness week we aim to engage all staff across the council family. Our hate crime training on GOLD will relaunch during this week with new content and an updated format. All staff are encouraged to take this course to refresh their understanding.
• Seeking hate crime council ambassadors - to support the hate crime working group on key tasks. If you are interested please email danni.glover@glasgow.gov.uk  

More information:

• Report hate crime at www.hatecrimescotland.org
• On hate crime awareness week at www.nationalhcaw.uk

5 October 2022 - Baby Loss Awareness Week (9-15 October)

Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually to mark the lives of babies lost in pregnancy, at, or soon after birth and to raise awareness of the key issues that affect bereaved parents - both men and women.

This year's theme is 'Stepping Stones' as after pregnancy loss life can take an unexpected path.

During the week, the Miscarriage Association will be showing how the pregnancy and baby loss community is there for people every step of the way, during and after loss. They'll also be sharing information and resources and featuring other groups and organisations that can help so that nobody has to navigate pregnancy loss alone.

Support for staff

Last month, the council extended its Parental Bereavement arrangements of two weeks paid leave for employees who lose their baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy or a child before age 18, to include employees who suffer a miscarriage or loss of their baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy.

The council has also signed the Miscarriage Association's Workplace Pregnancy Loss Pledge - going beyond just offering paid leave by providing thoughtful and considerate support to staff, both during leave and on their return to work.

As part of this commitment, and to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, we are promoting the Miscarriage Association's Miscarriage and the workplace resources which contain a wealth of information and support for employers and managers, HR, employees and colleagues.

Further Wellbeing Support is available on our Workforce Wellbeing Support pages here

5 October 2022 - Take part and track the baton as record breaking climate relay from Scotland to COP27 begins

On 30th September the first of several thousand runners set off from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host city) in Running Out of Time, a record-breaking relay to pass a baton 7,767km through 18 countries containing a climate message from young people to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host city). 

Taking 38 days and nights it's the longest non-stop relay ever attempted. 

The Glasgow opening stage coincided with Scotland's Climate Week 2022. The Running Out of Time organisers, together with Glasgow City Council, Great Scottish Run, Education Services PEPASS Team, Keep Scotland Beautiful and GlasgowLife launched the relay at Sunnyside Primary School (Nature Champions of the Decade and an Eco-School) where the message was read out by three students before being sealed inside the baton for its 7,767km journey. 

Carried by runners, cyclists and sailors, the baton will journey on a route through Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 5th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 6th-18th November 2022.

Leader of Glasgow City Council, Councillor Susan Aitken, said: "COP26 shone a light on just how dire the situation facing our planet is and that collective and accelerated action is the only option to save humanity from a global catastrophe. While nation states make pledges, it is cities, like Glasgow,  that are delivering on a low carbon and climate resilient future and must remain central to future policy decisions and action. Now we must keep up the pressure on world leaders and governments to make sure that commitments of the Glasgow Climate Pact are delivered. The messages contained within the relay baton will, I'm sure, continue to convey that strength of feeling that we saw here in Glasgow last year. Participating in the Running Out of Time relay to COP27 is another opportunity for Glaswegians to have their voices heard and to show their continued commitment to fighting climate change."

Runners will carry the baton in 5-10km stages of the route which crosses seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, villages, towns and capital cities. It will visit hundreds of schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects to inspire and champion local climate action including 27 in the UK alone starting in Scotland with a baton exchange at the Whitelee Wind Farm, the UK's largest onshore wind farm, and Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. 

The official relay baton has been created by award-winning Glasgow-based designers 4c Design whose many accolades include the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton. The iconic spiral design of the Running Out of Time baton represents the four essential layers of climate action -  international, national, local and individual. 

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won't miss out. They're invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay on November 5th 2022 which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in the name of climate action.

Learn more, take part and track the baton at www.running-out-of-time.com