Look OK…Feel Crap?

Give Blood, Save Lives!

Do you know that if you are over 17 and weigh more than 7st 12lbs (50kg) you may be eligible to give blood. Some people think that if they have had a tattoo or a piercing they cant give blood, but you can, you just have to wait 12 months.

There are lots of opportunities to give blood in your local area, click on the link below to find out where you can donate.

Please think about this because it really does save lives.

Grow Richer in 2012

Well it’s back to work after the Festive break for me, the Charleston Youth Project Co-ordinator, however as our project team don’t return to school until next week it’s up to little old me to update our blog with the first of what I’m sure will be many entries for 2012.

The title of this blog ‘Grow Richer’ is one that I feel is very much at the heart of our Youth Project.  Each of our amazing volunteers are giving up their time free of charge in turn they are growing richer by gaining valuable skills and experience, confidence AND their volunteering is helping their community grow richer because they are providing a really valuable service.

So as 2012 is now underway, as Project Co-ordinator, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to acknowledge how much I value what our volunteers bring to the project and the time that they give.  In no small way I continue to be impressed by the skills and confidence they gain through their work with this Citizens Advice Bureau project and how much of an impact their involvement has in both the development and delivery of our service in their community.

In working with our project team of Charleston pupils I see them using their ideas to make things happen, in doing so they see the positive impact of their actions and in turn receive recognition for their achievements.  So as we start a New Year  I thought I would just pose a question to our readers – is volunteering something you might think about?

Sure, volunteering means giving up some of your time, but it’s amazing how just a little of your time can help you and your community.  Volunteering really can make things happen in your community and perhaps even change the direction of your life.

The Citizens Advice Bureau is just one of many organisations out there depending on volunteers.  There are hundreds of opportunities to choose from, or, with organisations like Volunteering Scotland, you can work with them to look at the options for building your own volunteer placement.

Our Charleston Youth CAB are already seeing the benefit of being able to include the experience, skills and knowledge they have gained from their involvement in this project on applications for university, college or employment.  So, if you haven’t given much thought to volunteering why don’t you check out the link below….. you never know…….

If you’re a Charleston Academy pupil and would like to know more about becoming involved you will find us in the Community Complex.  We’d be happy to give you more information.

Jacqui MacLean (Charleston Youth CAB Project Co-ordinator)

References (Volunteering Development Scotland, Centre for Excellence)

Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!

We’d just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Sometimes Christmas is a difficult time for people. Please remember that Citizens Advice Bureaux are open over the festive period and check local websites for information.

Did you know…

In Scotland, there are certain restrictions according to your age that you are expected to respect, this is providing you are aware and have a good understanding of them.

• choose any religion to follow
• make a complaint under the equality act
• donate your organs when you die
• own property
• be employed as a performer
• have a passport
• receive advice about birth control

At the age of five you can:

• start full time education

At the age of seven you can:

• take money out of a national savings account
• buy and sell National Savings Certificates

At the age of eight you can:

• be found guilty of a criminal offence

At the age of twelve you can:

• make a will
• take a case to court
• watch a ’12A’ rated film
• have the right to decide your own adoption

At the age of thirteen you can:

• be employed doing occasional light work
• join a social networking sight

At the age of fourteen you can:

• get a job on saturday you can get a job on a saturday for up to 5 hours
• go into a bar accompanied by adults as long as the owner doesn’t object, but you can’t drink alcohol there
• vote and stand an election for Scottish Youth Parliament

At the age of fifteen you can:

• go to a ’15′ rated film
• if you are under 16 and have a child it is your decision whether or not to give the child up for adoption. Only your consent is required.
• work up to eight hours per day, and 35 hours per week during holidays

AT the age of sixteen you can:

• get married
• enter a civil partnership
• consent to lawful sexual intercourse
• leave home without your parents/guardians consent
• apply for your own home through your local council
• have access to many banking facilities, including all adult services, except overdrafts and credit
• buy wine, beer, cider or perry to drink in a restaurant only with a meal, but not in a bar
• change you name without the consent of a parent
• choose you own GP
• buy a national lottery ticket or scratch card
• if adopted, get information about your natural parents
• leave school
• drive a moped, invalid carriage, small agricultural tractor, or mowing machine
• joined the armed forces
• be legally responsible for babysitting
• get a piercing without parental consent

At the age of seventeen you can:

• hold a license to drive a car, small motorbike or tractor
• hold a private pilots licence
• train to be an officer in the Armed Forces
• it is possible for you to be adopted if you are under 18 and not married
• give blood

At the age of eighteen you can:

• buy cigarettes and tobacco
• buy or possess fireworks
• work behind a bar
• be tattooed
• place a bet
• see any film/hire any video
• buy alcohol in licensed premises and consume alcohol in a bar
• hire or buy a sun bed

There’s a great little leaflet about all of this, you’ll find it here

It’s happening on our doorstep

Our work with the CAB Youth Project has certainly got us thinking about proposed changes to the UK benefits system.  In the news today we noticed that the UK government has denied quite strongly that reforms are targeting disabled or vulnerable people instead promoting the message that cuts to spending in 2013 are aimed at encouraging people on benefits to find a job.

From the work we have done with clients who visit our bureau for advice and support there is no doubt that living on benefits is tough.  It is not hard to imagine that for many having a job would change their lives drastically.  However it is certainly clear from some clients who are already experiencing cuts to benefits that employment is sadly not an option.  Ill health and disability means that some are unable to work, leaving them no choice but to rely on the benefit system.  Working with clients in this position can be tough work to do. Often, as young advisers, we find it difficult to understand why the benefit system fails some of the vulnerable clients we see.

Interestingly in the Scottish Parliament MSP highlighted that other changes could impact claimants and have the potential to increase pressure on homelessness and social care services.

There has also been recognised concern from lots of children’s groups that the Welfare Reform Bill could result in between 50,000 and 100,000 children finding themselves in poverty.

So as Youth CAB advisers we will watch with interest as the changes.  We know for us, if our highland communities are impacted by changes, this will of course increase the demands for appointments and assistance from CAB projects like ours.

If you would like to read more of the article that stirred us up this morning you will find it here.

So what are your views?

Fuel Poverty

In the Highlands many people struggle to heat their homes.  You may have heard the term fuel poverty. Many people find it difficult to pay their electricity bills and get into arrears. Did you know that in the UK you may be eligible for a saving called social tariff. This means people pay less for their fuel.

Many people who have a qualifying benefit or who have a disability are unaware that they could qualify for a ‘social tariff’. According to the BBC, to be eligible people have to be in receipt of a means tested benefit, have a child under the age of 5 or in receipt of disability benefit.

The British Gas website says that the Warm Home Discount Scheme has replaced the social tariff for gas bills. This might not be relevant to you, but you may know someone who is affected by this. You could help spread the word about social tariffs and warm home scheme.

By making an appointment at your local CAB office we can check your entitlement and help you get any discount you may be entitled to.

The Home Heat Helpline is a free phone line set up to help British energy customers who are struggling to pay for their heating to keep themselves warm. Free phone on 0800 33 66 99 or click on the link below to see what the Home Heat Helpline can do for you.

(Directgov, BBC, AdviserNet, Home Heat Helpline)

Have your say!

Did  you know that when you turn 18, you can vote in European, Scottish or UK parliamentary and local elections.

Important things about being able to vote are:

• Age – 18 or over
• Citizenship
• Resident in the constituency
• Must have legal capacity to vote

To find answers to any questions you have about voting, click on the link below

Young Carers

A young carer is someone who is 18yrs or younger and helps to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug or alcohol problems. A young carer might also care for a grandparent or someone else from their extended family. It is believed that 1 in 12 schoolchildren have some form of caring roles in their homes and there may be as many as 700,000 young carers in the UK.

We believe that young carers are a very disadvantaged group who have little access to benefits. However there is projects out there to help young carers and hopefully the government will consider the difficulties young carers face.

People under the age of 16 don’t qualify for carers allowance yet regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person receiving a qualifying benefit. Carers allowance is currently £55.55 per week, so if you are caring for 35 hours per week that works out as £1.59 per hour. The minimum wage for 16-17 year olds is £3.68!

If you are a young carer or would just like to know more about caring this site is definitely for you.  Please follow the link below.

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