May 2023

3 May - City Building help donate Easter underwear packs

The Joint Trade Union Committee at City Building, have shown their support for Glasgow's No. 1 Baby and Family Support Servicethis Easter by donating over 1,000 Easter packs to the charity's annual donation drive last month.

The Springburn-based charity supports people in financial hardship and working poverty by supplying a variety of everyday goods needed to meet their most basic daily needs.

After consulting with local parents, Glasgow's No. 1 Baby and Family Support Servicerecognised that this year, underwear and socks are increasingly sought after by struggling families.

Traditional donations of Easter Eggs received at this time of year were less important to families as local schools often ensure that pupils receive a chocolate treat as an end of term gift.

Thomas Glavin, Chair, City Building's Joint Trade Union Committee said: "The donations collected by employees of City Building serve a practical need in our local community, taking the pressure off struggling families under increasingly difficult circumstances.

"Our goal at City Building is to build a sustainable future and that is not limited to our construction practices. Our support and dedication to the local communities in which we work is equally as important to us as we work towards this goal."

Audrey Dempsey Founder of for Glasgow's No. 1 Baby and Family Support Service said: "As a charity that depends on donations from businesses and individuals, the support from City Building's Joint Trade Union Committee is appreciated beyond words.

"Necessities like underwear and socks are things most take for granted, but to know that there are children out there whose parent's finances cannot provide such a basic thing in 2023 is heart breaking.

"The families we support will be delighted with their Easter underwear packs and we are absolutely thrilled that City Building's Joint Trade Union Committee have chosen to support this cause. Together we can ensure these children feel equal to their peers."

3 May - Meet Alan: bonding over humour and banter!

Alan Speirs, Corporate Policy Officer in the Chief Executive's Department started mentoring five years ago and is now a Glasgow City Council ambassador for MCR Pathways. He says "I decided to get involved with mentoring because I could see the benefit of sharing my time and experience to help nurture a young person.

"The team at MCR are really supportive and I felt well equipped with the training they delivered before I was matched with a young person. They are there for me throughout my journey with advice and support. My own manager was supportive too and encouraged me to get involved.

"I'm currently mentoring my third young person. He is a refugee and while his English isn't the most fluent, we have still managed to bond over humour in our lack of cultural references. We have a lot of banter; I feel like we both learn from each other, and I enjoy my weekly visits with him.

"I'd say if you are considering getting involved then don't let anything hold you back. We all have the ability to connect with a young person and by becoming a mentor you can help change their life. If you have any questions or want to learn more, speak to your service's MCR ambassador who can tell you about their experience as a mentor and what you can expect on your own mentoring journey."

Find out more...

Alan and his colleagues John and Ruairi recently featured in a promotional video for MCR Pathways, to watch it and find out more about mentoring a young person more visit our staff page.

MCR are also hosting a number of staff information sessions in May, to join them

please email laura.mckechnie@mcrpathways.org at least 2 days in advance to book your place.

• Live Information Session on Wednesday 10 May, 1-1.30pm, City Chambers East, 40 John St, G1 1JL (please report to reception before the session starts)
• Live Information Session on Monday 15 May, 9.30-10am, City Chambers East, 40 John St, G1 1JL (please report to reception before the session starts)
• Virtual Information Session on Tuesday 23 May, 11-11.45am (book in with laura.mckechnie@mcrpathways.org  in advance, Laura will then send over joining link)

3 May - Seeking young people to help Trading Standards

The council, through our Trading Standards team, have the responsibility to make sure retailers are selling age restricted goods in accordance with current guidelines/guidance and regulations.

To assist the council in ensuring compliance from retailers, we are looking to recruit young people to act as 'Test Purchasers'.  These young people, once recruited will undertake training to allow them to attend premises to attempt to buy age restricted products such as:

• Fireworks
• Tobacco products
• Nicotine Vapour products
• Solvents
• Spray Paints etc.

This can be a fun and rewarding opportunity.  During any period of training or carrying out test purchasing, refreshments will also be provided. Those who are recruited will also receive gift vouchers in recognition of their role in assisting the council's Tobacco Control Team.  Participants will also receive a Certificate of Participation and a reference which can be used for future employers or further / higher education.

To apply, young people must be:

• Aged between 13 and 16 years old
• Permission from their Parent / Guardian

Gary Walker, Head of Community Safety and Regulatory Services, NRS said, "This is an excellent opportunity for young people to volunteer for a very worthwhile cause. We are looking to recruit several young people who can assist the council in test purchasing and will be looking for new recruits on a regular basis."

If you know a young person who would be interested in getting involved, please fill out the form at: www.glasgow.gov.uk/testpurchasing

3 May - Home Carer Giri reaches for the stars!

Hard work, and dedication has paid off for talented Home Carer Giri Yaduvashni, who recently found out she has been accepted by Jordell Bank Research Centre to study for a PHD.

After completing Masters' Degrees in both Astronomy and Astrophysics Giri secured a place at the research centre to undertake a PHD. She will specifically be researching 'expoplanets', which are planets beyond our solar system.

Giri said "I am thrilled and can't wait to execute my idea into a full project. It is amazing to think I will be working as an astronomer by next year.

"I intend to continue doing shifts in home care at the weekend while I study during the week as I will still be based in Glasgow initially. I love being a home carer, it feels great to help people and lots of our service users don't have anyone else which I can empathise with, as I am originally from India which is where all my family are. My team mean the world to me, they are like my family in Glasgow and have been so supportive of me pursuing my goals. I'm sure their motivation and encouragement will spur me on through my PHD studies.

Giri's manager Angela Currie said "Giri has worked as a Home Carer since 2020, she is a fantastic asset to the service and gets on well with everyone she meets- both colleagues and service users.

"We are so proud of her achievements and that she will soon be an astronomer proving that you can literally 'reach for the stars.'"

3 May - "The allowed me to be me!" : First Domestic Abuse Strategy Launched in Glasgow

The Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's (HSCP) have recently launched the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023 - 2028.

This Strategy is the first of its kind in Glasgow and it describes what we'll do over the next five years to ensure people affected by domestic abuse receive the best possible care, and how we'll continue to seek the involvement of people with lived experience in the design and evaluation of domestic abuse services. 

Pat Togher, our HSCP's Assistant Chief Officer Public Protection and Complex Needs said: "The need for the Strategy was first identified during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when domestic abuse emerged as a risk factor across multiple care groups prompting a need for strategic planning and engagement. We realised that we needed to sharpen our focus on ensuring better outcomes for people affected by domestic abuse and to work in partnership in order to achieve those goals."

Pat continued: "Glasgow City HSCP are delighted to have been able to work together with Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council, third sector partners and leading academics to create the first Domestic Abuse Strategy in Glasgow."

"This Strategy aims to improve the knowledge and confidence of our own staff to be able to identify people at risk using evidence-based approaches, but it also ensures that victims of domestic abuse are supported for their whole journey.

Once implemented, the Strategy will make a difference for our service users and patients, for our own staff who provide services and support, and it will also make a difference to the way we engage and work with our partners in statutory and non-statutory sectors. All of this will ensure a more joined up, consistent, compassionate and timely approach to domestic abuse across the HSCP. 

As part of the launch of the Domestic Abuse Strategy, a short video has also been developed. The video showcases the need for this Strategy by telling the story of domestic abuse victims and perpetrators, highlighting some of the services that are available to those affected by domestic abuse. You can view the video on the HSCP's Youtube Channel.

If you think you're suffering from domestic abuse or feel scared of your partner or if you are worried about someone you know, then get in touch with Scotland's 24-hour Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline on 0800 027 1234 or visit sdafmh.org.uk for more support.

For information or more detail on the Strategy please visit Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023 - 2028.
 

3 May - One month to go : Glasgow's Low Emission Zone 

With enforcement of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone just one month away, people are being urged to prepare ahead.

Glasgow's LEZ will protect public health by tackling unacceptably high levels of harmful air pollution that has long persisted in the city centre.

From 1 June, all vehicles entering the city centre zone must meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge.

There are some exemptions, such as for blue badge holders and emergency vehicles - and zone residents have an extra year to prepare.

Generally, diesel vehicles registered after September 2015, and petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards will meet LEZ standards. To be certain however, you can enter your vehicle registration number into the national online vehicle checker hosted by Transport Scotland.

Glasgow's Low Emission Zone will operate continuously. It will cover an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

ANPR cameras will be used to enforce Glasgow's LEZ. When a non-compliant vehicle is detected in the zone, a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued to the registered keeper. 

In addition to reducing levels of harmful vehicle emissions, Glasgow's LEZ is also expected to accelerate the uptake of more sustainable forms of transport and increase the attractiveness of our city centre.

You can find out more by visiting www.glasgow.gov.uk/LEZ

3 May - Changes to requesting Security Services: from 1 May

Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability's Security Team, are the main providers of security services to all council family premises across Glasgow - this includes over 500 properties such as schools, libraries, museums, community facilities and sports venues.

They are supported by our Alarm Receiving Centre and Glasgow Operations Centre and their services include:

• Mobile patrols - visible deterrent to high profile sites
• Static guards - to protect individual properties or construction sites
• Key holding and incident response - to out of hours alarm activations
• Security site surveys - reviewing current risks and solutions available.

Current process

The current process for requesting security services, for your council location, is to complete a request form and email this to a dedicated team based within Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability for processing.

New process

From Monday 1 May 2023 this process is changing and you will need to complete an online form to request this service instead.

The online form can be accessed at Security Services Request Online Form.

You should note that all mandatory fields will need to be completed for the form to be submitted - for example details of the cost centre.

For continuity, the current process will remain in place for a period of four weeks before being phased out and replaced solely by the online form at the end of May.

More information at Security Services