Latest news with #IndexofMultipleDeprivation
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Glasgow Clyde College creates children's book
Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) rolls out wide range of support for parents returning to education including many new on-campus services. It has worked with a former student illustrator to create a children's book telling the story of a mum going back to college with her child and what the little one can expect when they're on campus. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) is supporting parents in Scotland to return to studies with a hand-illustrated children's book as it launches a series of initiatives to become one of the nation's most parent and child friendly educational institutions. The college has implemented a range of baby friendly measures to have everything families need to balance education and parenting – while also being able to bring young children into different parts of the three campuses so they can be together between classes and nursery. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To support parents or carers across the nation and prepare their children for a day in further education, GCC has created a beautiful and informative children's book designed to be read to little ones to explain what a day at college is like. Student Jamie- Lee ad daughter at Glasgow Clyde College Across Scotland, research shows that parents face an ongoing struggle of choosing between children and their own education, with Glasgow Clyde College often witnessing this firsthand in the communities it serves. The college's campuses serve areas which rank highly in Scotland's Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), with 28.7% of enrolments from SIMD10 and 44.9% from SIMD20. Pressures such as uncertainty about returning to education after starting a family, balancing childcare with studies and not knowing what support will be available can all be barriers for parents – often preventing them from applying completely. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The college has made positive steps to support parents to come to college, including a bottle warming facility at each campus, highchairs in campus canteen spaces and baby changing tables in toilets. GCC will also give parents access to finance workshops, so they can understand funding options for their chosen course alongside funded nursery education during teaching hours where available. Health and Wellbeing students' welfare services are also on-hand to support parents. Parents will be able to learn more about their campus and its surroundings through an engaging online guide which showcases local family friendly activities, restaurants and groups in the area. Children will also have plenty to read as well with a dedicated kid's section in the library, enabling parents to take out books for children of all ages – including the new illustrated storybook. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Little Life Changing Stuff' tells the story of a mum and her son starting college together and the journey showcases all the initiatives that the college has put in place for them to both enjoy life on campus. The book has been illustrated by alumni, Esmé Boyle, who has worked in collaboration with GCC to bring the diverse characters and college buzz through her experiences as a student. David Marshall, Assistant Principal for Student Experience, at Glasgow Clyde College said:' We understand that for any parent, and particularly new parents, returning to or starting education can be daunting. 'There are many concerns such as juggling parenting and studying, nerves around returning to education, and the expense of childcare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That's why we've taken these important steps to support parents returning to education to make the transition as smooth as possible for parents and their children. 'We strive as a college to create an inclusive, welcoming and nurturing supportive environment where everyone can thrive and believe these plans will ensure that new parents will be in an environment where they can experience and create life changing stuff.' Student-parent, Jamie-Lee, (19), has recently returned to education as a new mother with her daughter, Lily (2), and is studying Access to Social Care at Glasgow Clyde College's Anniesland Campus. Lily attends the campus's Treasure Trove Nursery, which was recently awarded a standout 'excellent' rating following an unannounced inspection by the Care Inspectorate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a parent and a student, Jamie-Lee believes that GCC provides a supportive environment for both her and her two-year-old daughter to grow and succeed. She added: 'I picked Glasgow Clyde College as I don't really know people in the area, and I felt it was the right environment for me to meet new people and create friendships throughout my course. 'When choosing a college, I had to consider childcare and learn how it worked but it was easy to locate information into childcare at the college via the Glasgow Clyde website. She said:' I would recommend the nursery as the staff are really helpful, friendly and my daughter loves them too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They always meet my child's needs and are really supportive about personal matters too.' 'I would highly recommend Glasgow Clyde College to a friend or family member as the college suits everyone's needs and overall is a nice place to be.
STV News
23-05-2025
- General
- STV News
New children's book to encourage parents to return to education
A children's book aimed at adults has been launched as part of a new initiative to encourage parents across Scotland to return to education. Glasgow Clyde College (GCC) has updated its campus facilities as part of a launch of support for parents returning to education, including baby changing facilities, highchairs and bottle warming stations, a children's section in the library, access to finance and wellbeing support, Also released is 'Little Life Changing Stuff' – an illustrated children's book created with GCC alumna Esmé Boyle, which is aimed at helping little ones understand the journey of returning to college. The book, which tells the story of a mum and her son starting college together, is designed to be read to children to explain what a day at college is like. The initiative comes after enrollment stats showed that Glasgow Clyde College serves areas which rank highly in Scotland's Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), with 28.7% of enrolments from SIMD10 and 44.9% from SIMD20. The college has said that new parents looking to return to education are affected by pressures such as uncertainty about returning, balancing childcare with studies and not knowing what support will be available can all be barriers for parents – factors that often can prevent them from applying completely. David Marshall, Assistant Principal for Student Experience, at Glasgow Clyde College said: 'We understand that for any parent, and particularly new parents, returning to or starting education can be daunting. 'There are many concerns such as juggling parenting and studying, nerves around returning to education, and the expense of childcare. 'That's why we've taken these important steps to support parents returning to education to make the transition as smooth as possible for parents and their children. 'We strive as a college to create an inclusive, welcoming and nurturing supportive environment where everyone can thrive and believe these plans will ensure that new parents will be in an environment where they can experience and create life changing stuff.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Our community deserves beauty': one man's mission to green a UK tree desert
Billy Dasein was born on Rutland Street, Grimsby, in the front room of the house where he still lives. His father was a fitter, and his mother a housewife who also worked in the Tickler's jam factory. He left school at 16 and wound up working at Courtauld's synthetic textiles factory. Rows of terrace houses, constructed for workers in the booming fish industry, are set out in a grid structure by the docks. Life was similar on all these streets: doors left unlocked, kids out playing. Everyone knew everyone. Yet, fishing dried up in the 1970s and Dasein says people's lives have been in decline ever since. East Marsh – the Grimsby suburb where Rutland Street lies – is one of the UK's 'tree deserts', with less than 3% tree coverage. Farnham, in 'leafy' Surrey – home to some of the UK's wealthiest neighbourhoods – has 45%. 'When I was about five I wanted trees on Rutland Street,' says Dasein. 'It was always bloody grey and bleak, there was a harshness to it.' Low tree cover is linked with other forms of deprivation. East Marsh is the 25th most deprived ward out of the 32,844 in England, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. More than two-thirds of people on the street live with at least one form of deprivation, related to either employment, education, health or overcrowding. Neighbourhoods with the most trees have 330% less air pollution and are 4C cooler during a heatwave than neighbourhoods where tree canopy is the lowest Woodland Trust research Dasein realised things had transformed on Rutland Street when he came back to look after his dad in 2013 having left Grimsby 15 years earlier, putting himself through university and earning a PhD. The place had 'drastically changed,' he says: people were dealing drugs in the street and everyone he knew had 'buggered off'. In the early 2000s, the council sold off the housing stock. Absentee landlords are now 'tearing the guts out of our community,' he says. There are more than 300 empty homes in East Marsh, half of which have been empty for at least two years, according to council data. Dasein decided to create a community-benefit society called East Marsh United (Emu). High on its list were the trees. 'They slow traffic, are associated with lower crime rates, increase desirability of an area, and foster community flourishing,' he says. 'Trees are just better for our streets and communities.' Over the past two years, he has worked with local people and charities to plant 30 trees in the local park, 96 trees in local schools, and thousands of saplings in woodland and hedgerows. 'No one else is going to do it,' he says, 'so we might as well crack on.' *** In the morning, a cold sea fog comes barrelling in off the North Sea. On Rutland Street some houses are boarded up and cracked paving slabs are strewn around. 'It's very Dickensian in a lot of these houses,' Dasein says. Terry Evans, who lives on Rutland Street, says many of the houses here are at the mercy of bitter cold in winter and brutal heat in summer. Evans used to live in a house 'with every inch covered in black mould' that made his daughter sick. Once, he says, his wife leant on a wall and her hand went through it. During hot summers, the houses heat up in the sun. 'You can put your hand on our windowsill on the inside and it will burn your hand it's that hot. A bit of shade would be good.' Evans says having trees on the street would be 'absolutely brilliant', and could slow the cars down, making the street safer. 'It's going to look better to the people coming into the road – you walk down it and it's dull at the moment, there is nothing to give it any colour, which is a massive shame'. Trees are a crucial part of urban wellbeing. People living in areas with fewer trees have a higher risk of health problems from poor air quality, according to Tree Equity research from the Woodland Trust. On average, richer neighbourhoods have more than double the tree cover per person than poorer ones. Neighbourhoods with the most trees have 330% less air pollution and are 4C cooler during a heatwave than neighbourhoods where tree canopy is the lowest, according to the Woodland Trust research. Modelling by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found doubling tree cover could cut heat-related deaths in European cities by nearly 40%. *** The government has listed East Marsh as a priority area for planting more trees owing to low tree cover, but some people have said trees would not last in the neighbourhood. In February 2023, Emu organised a planting day to get 36 trees into Grant Thorold Park at the end of Rutland Street, including maples, sweet chestnut and elm. Hundreds of volunteers turned up. 'Every single tree is still here,' says Dasein. 'Someone cycled past us, and said why are you bothering, they'll be ripped out tomorrow,' remembers Tom Noble from Create Streets, who is working with Emu. 'The community proved they could do it in the park and that has won a lot of trust.' Since then they have planted trees in seven schools and 4,500 young saplings in hedgerows with the help of schoolchildren. Related: 'Walking' forest of 1,000 trees transforms Dutch city 'The difference is incredible when you're around trees,' says Carolyn Doyley, who is a community outreach leader at Emu and works with schools. 'Some kids were naming trees. They know we need more trees and they understand the symbiotic relationship. In hot weather they're vital – you can feel the tension in the air as the heat rises.' Yet, planting trees is surprisingly expensive. The government's Urban Tree Challenge Fund provides up to £270 a tree, but the rest must be found from other sources. Planting in a park costs about £400 a tree, but planting in the street costs significantly more, as it means digging up concrete: 30 trees on Rutland Street would cost about £120,000 in total, says Noble. They still need to find about £100,000 to make this happen. In the next year or so, however, Dasein hopes to finally get the 30 trees he wanted on his street. 'For me, if this happens and we see a sweep of trees down here, I will simply think: we've really done something,' he says. 'Our community deserves beauty – arts, culture, the best that civilisation offers – and most of all, nature.' Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
The Guardian
20-02-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘Our community deserves beauty': one man's mission to green a UK tree desert
Billy Dasein was born on Rutland Street, Grimsby, in the front room of the house where he still lives. His father was a fitter, and his mother a housewife who also worked in the Tickler's jam factory. He left school at 16 and wound up working at Courtauld's synthetic textiles factory. Rows of terrace houses, constructed for workers in the booming fish industry, are set out in a grid structure by the docks. Life was similar on all these streets: doors left unlocked, kids out playing. Everyone knew everyone. Yet, fishing dried up in the 1970s and Dasein says people's lives have been in decline ever since. East Marsh – the Grimsby suburb where Rutland Street lies – is one of the UK's 'tree deserts', with less than 3% tree coverage. Farnham, in 'leafy' Surrey – home to some of the UK's wealthiest neighbourhoods – has 45%. 'When I was about five I wanted trees on Rutland Street,' says Dasein. 'It was always bloody grey and bleak, there was a harshness to it.' Low tree cover is linked with other forms of deprivation. East Marsh is the 25th most deprived ward out of the 32,844 in England, according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. More than two-thirds of people on the street live with at least one form of deprivation, related to either employment, education, health or overcrowding. Dasein realised things had transformed on Rutland Street when he came back to look after his dad in 2013 having left Grimsby 15 years earlier, putting himself through university and earning a PhD. The place had 'drastically changed,' he says: people were dealing drugs in the street and everyone he knew had 'buggered off'. In the early 2000s, the council sold off the housing stock. Absentee landlords are now 'tearing the guts out of our community,' he says. There are more than 300 empty homes in East Marsh, half of which have been empty for at least two years, according to council data. Dasein decided to create a community-benefit society called East Marsh United (Emu). High on its list were the trees. 'They slow traffic, are associated with lower crime rates, increase desirability of an area, and foster community flourishing,' he says. 'Trees are just better for our streets and communities.' Over the past two years, he has worked with local people and charities to plant 30 trees in the local park, 96 trees in local schools, and thousands of saplings in woodland and hedgerows. 'No one else is going to do it,' he says, 'so we might as well crack on.' In the morning, a cold sea fog comes barrelling in off the North Sea. On Rutland Street some houses are boarded up and cracked paving slabs are strewn around. 'It's very Dickensian in a lot of these houses,' Dasein says. Terry Evans, who lives on Rutland Street, says many of the houses here are at the mercy of bitter cold in winter and brutal heat in summer. Evans used to live in a house 'with every inch covered in black mould' that made his daughter sick. Once, he says, his wife leant on a wall and her hand went through it. During hot summers, the houses heat up in the sun. 'You can put your hand on our windowsill on the inside and it will burn your hand it's that hot. A bit of shade would be good.' Evans says having trees on the street would be 'absolutely brilliant', and could slow the cars down, making the street safer. 'It's going to look better to the people coming into the road – you walk down it and it's dull at the moment, there is nothing to give it any colour, which is a massive shame'. Trees are a crucial part of urban wellbeing. People living in areas with fewer trees have a higher risk of health problems from poor air quality, according to Tree Equity research from the Woodland Trust. On average, richer neighbourhoods have more than double the tree cover per person than poorer ones. Neighbourhoods with the most trees have 330% less air pollution and are 4C cooler during a heatwave than neighbourhoods where tree canopy is the lowest, according to the Woodland Trust research. Modelling by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found doubling tree cover could cut heat-related deaths in European cities by nearly 40%. The government has listed East Marsh as a priority area for planting more trees owing to low tree cover, but some people have said trees would not last in the neighbourhood. In February 2023, Emu organised a planting day to get 36 trees into Grant Thorold Park at the end of Rutland Street, including maples, sweet chestnut and elm. Hundreds of volunteers turned up. 'Every single tree is still here,' says Dasein. 'Someone cycled past us, and said why are you bothering, they'll be ripped out tomorrow,' remembers Tom Noble from Create Streets, who is working with Emu. 'The community proved they could do it in the park and that has won a lot of trust.' Since then they have planted trees in seven schools and 4,500 young saplings in hedgerows with the help of schoolchildren. 'The difference is incredible when you're around trees,' says Carolyn Doyley, who is a community outreach leader at Emu and works with schools. 'Some kids were naming trees. They know we need more trees and they understand the symbiotic relationship. In hot weather they're vital – you can feel the tension in the air as the heat rises.' Yet, planting trees is surprisingly expensive. The government's Urban Tree Challenge Fund provides up to £270 a tree, but the rest must be found from other sources. Planting in a park costs about £400 a tree, but planting in the street costs significantly more, as it means digging up concrete: 30 trees on Rutland Street would cost about £120,000 in total, says Noble. They still need to find about £100,000 to make this happen. In the next year or so, however, Dasein hopes to finally get the 30 trees he wanted on his street. 'For me, if this happens and we see a sweep of trees down here, I will simply think: we've really done something,' he says. 'Our community deserves beauty – arts, culture, the best that civilisation offers – and most of all, nature.' Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
