Additional £44 million allocated through the Dormant Assets Scheme, taking the total to almost £850 million over the past decade. Funding will help tackle youth unemployment, support communities in deprived areas and give people in need access to finance New Government Bill could unlock further £880 million for good causes Communities and good causes across England have been allocated an additional £44 million through the Dormant Assets Scheme.
Victims placed at the heart of ensuring just, safe, and resilient communities. A vision to transform Scotland's justice sector through the COVID-19 recovery period and beyond has been published.
Brora Primary and Helmsdale Primary and Nursery are now the proud new occupants of outdoor learning classrooms. A place where pupils can connect to their environment, with each other and have free space to be creative, shelter from inclement weather and play together outdoors all year round.
Legislation proposing the permanent adoption or temporary extension of some beneficial measures enacted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been published today. The Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill proposes changes in 30 specific legislative areas, which were modified by temporary provisions made under Scottish and UK coronavirus legislation.
Northern Alliance Research Assistant Grant Murray explained: "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the Data for Children Collaborative. It's a great example of how working together across council areas means we can look to address shared challenges.
Increase in fees paid to optometry practices for free examinations. The fees paid by the Scottish Government to optometrists for carrying out NHS-funded eye examinations will increase by 3% - helping to ensure everyone can continue to access high quality eye care.
This week (24-30 January 2022) is Welcome to Your Vote week which is the ideal time to start conversations with young people about democracy, politics, and all aspects of voting. The Electoral Commission has created a set of online resources for young people, and those who work with them, to get the discussion started and help young people find out how to get and use their vote.
Millions of customers are still to file their 2020 to 2021 Self Assessment tax return. Four million customers are yet to submit their completed Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax owed ahead of the deadline on 31 January, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned.
Projects delivering strong community climate themes across some of Scotland's islands will receive a share of almost £600,000 to support sustainability and provide more green travel options. The projects are delivered through the Scottish Government's Island Communities Fund, which provides investment for community-led projects that support employment, community resilience and contribute to Scotland’s just transition to net zero and climate resilient living on islands.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has been told that the health authority is planning to move the minor injuries unit at Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie to another area. NHS Highland's Chief Executive, Pam Dudek, confirmed the unit had been closed since March 2020 during the first lockdown.
Veterans' Strategy Action Plan launches, including more than 60 commitments to help veterans with employment and healthcare. New programmes to make better use of the unique skills and experience of military veterans, including as prison officers and the uniformed and health services, have been launched today.
A partnership providing free use of leisure facilities across Scotland - including Highland - now includes access to multiple leisure facilities across the Shetland Islands. The Leisure Link Partnership allows highlife card holders to access gym, public swimming and fitness classes at leisure centres across Aberdeen, Argyll and Bute, the Borders, Highland, Moray, Orkney, and The Western Isles - all at no extra cost.
UK motorists can expect big changes this new year according to research done by vehicle finance specialist Carvine. Later this month, from January 29th, a batch of new Highway Code rules will come into force that will significantly impact how motorists behave behind the wheel.
The TV licence fee has been frozen for two years as the government moves to support families in the face of rising living costs. Fee will remain at £159 until 2024 before rising in line with inflation for four years.
New research from Choose finds 87% of broadband and mobile customers are unaware prices may increase by as much as 10% by April 2022. With annual price rises linked to inflation set to come into force over the coming months, almost half of respondents (46%) did not know prices would be increasing at all.
On behalf of The Highland Council, High Life Highland this week announced Airborne Lens as the successful partner for the immersive input to Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project. Director of the Inverness Castle Project, Fiona Hampton, said: "This is a very exciting part of our project, allowing people to become immersed in the natural and cultural heritage of the Highlands and Islands through virtual and augmented reality.
Around 12,000 students will assist in the safe delivery of health and social care as services continue to respond to the pandemic. More than 3,000 nursing and midwifery students are heading out on placements this month.
The Stay in Scotland campaign has been relaunched with updated resources to help European Union (EU) citizens living in Scotland access and prove their immigration status online using the UK Government's ‘view and prove' service. Although the Scottish Government continues to push the UK Government to offer physical proof of immigration status, EU citizens currently have to use the Home Office’s digital-only system to prove their rights in the UK.
Crown Estate Scotland has today announced the outcome of its application process for ScotWind Leasing, the first Scottish offshore wind leasing round in over a decade and the first ever since the management of offshore wind rights were devolved to Scotland. The results coming just months after Glasgow hosted the global COP26 climate conference show the huge opportunity that Scotland has to transform its energy market and move towards a net zero economy.
The economic impact of the offshore wind industry in the Highlands and Islands could be similar to that of historic oil and gas developments, according to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The agency has welcomed today's ScotWind offshore wind leasing round announcement by Crown Estate Scotland.
