Updates

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  GIN Admin Frankfield Loch flows into public ownership
  
  Taylor Wimpey has handed over the ownership of Frankfield Loch to North Lanarkshire Council, moving the loch into public...  moreFrankfield Loch flows into public ownership
  
  Taylor Wimpey has handed over the ownership of Frankfield Loch to North Lanarkshire Council, moving the loch into public ownership.
  
  The handover comes as Taylor Wimpey completes the legal obligations which formed part of the original planning consent for its local development of private new homes by the same name.
  
  Following the land transfer, the aim is to have the area designated as a new local nature reserve.
  
  This is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), and the loch itself is one of many ‘Kettle Ponds’ in Scotland, which were formed by glacial retreat after the last Ice Age.
  
  This body of natural water, which lies within Glasgow City Council constituency, is also made up of marshland wet woodland and wildflower meadows cover an incredible 120.8 acres (48.8 hectares) and the land falls within the boundary of both Local Authorities as part of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, which stretches from Hogganfield Park in Glasgow to Drumpellier...    less

  

  • 3 hours ago
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  GIN Admin Linstone Housing distributes £264k to Renfrewshire communities during pandemic
  
  Linstone Housing has announced it has completed distributing a cash amount of £264,500 to help Renfrewshire battle the coronavirus...  moreLinstone Housing distributes £264k to Renfrewshire communities during pandemic
  
  Linstone Housing has announced it has completed distributing a cash amount of £264,500 to help Renfrewshire battle the coronavirus pandemic
  
  The housing association was tasked with issuing the giant sum to scores of groups after being designated a “community anchor organisation” by the Scottish Government.
  
  The role was to forward money from the government’s “Supporting Communities Fund” – set up to combat the chaos inflicted by COVID-19.
  
  Linstone swung into action quickly - inviting organisations across Renfrewshire to apply for the vital funding.
  
  Now the association says it is proud to have been given the responsibility to make a difference to people’s lives during the unprecedented health emergency.
  
  Adele Fraser, chief executive of Linstone, said: “The last six months have undoubtedly been the most challenging many of us have ever lived through. The pandemic has touched so many people and thrown...    less

  

  • Oct 5
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  GIN Admin is now friends with Aniruddha Das.

  • Jul 29
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  GIN Admin joined the group SE AND FIREBASE

  • Jul 22
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  GIN Admin joined the group SE AND FIREBASE

  • Jul 22
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  GIN Admin Cloch wins funding to distribute cook books to tenants
  
  Tenants of Cloch Housing Association have been sent a pack with two cookbooks to encourage imagination, fun and nutrition with cheap healthy meals during these strange...  moreCloch wins funding to distribute cook books to tenants
  
  Tenants of Cloch Housing Association have been sent a pack with two cookbooks to encourage imagination, fun and nutrition with cheap healthy meals during these strange times.
  
  With just under 1,400 tenants, Cloch successfully applied for £14,000 of Supporting Communities funding to support this project.
  
  All tenants are receiving two cookbooks, The Tin Can Cook Book from award-winning Jack Monroe and The Ladybird Heard Cookbook by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.
  
  Initially the funding was in place to purchase the Tin Can Cook Book but, when the publisher Bluebird Books heard about where the books were going, it generously provided a discount which allowed Cloch to also purchase the children’s cookbook.
  
  Jack Monroe promotes cheap, healthy meals from cans, frozen foods and foodbank parcels. Tenants and staff are being encouraged to cook some of the recipes and post on social media using the hashtag #clochcookoff.
  
  Cloch director Paul McVey...    less

  

  Cloch wins funding to distribute cook books to tenants
  
  Tenants of Cloch Housing Association have been sent a pack with two cookbooks to encourage imagination, fun and nutrition with cheap healthy meals during these strange...  moreCloch wins funding to distribute cook books to tenants
  
  Tenants of Cloch Housing Association have been sent a pack with two cookbooks to encourage imagination, fun and nutrition with cheap healthy meals during these strange times.
  
  With just under 1,400 tenants, Cloch successfully applied for £14,000 of Supporting Communities funding to support this project.
  
  All tenants are receiving two cookbooks, The Tin Can Cook Book from award-winning Jack Monroe and The Ladybird Heard Cookbook by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.
  
  Initially the funding was in place to purchase the Tin Can Cook Book but, when the publisher Bluebird Books heard about where the books were going, it generously provided a discount which allowed Cloch to also purchase the children’s cookbook.
  
  Jack Monroe promotes cheap, healthy meals from cans, frozen foods and foodbank parcels. Tenants and staff are being encouraged to cook some of the recipes and post on social media using the hashtag #clochcookoff.
  
  Cloch director Paul McVey...    less

  • Jun 29
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  GIN Admin Social landlord rent arrears increase by £8.5m in one month
  
  Rent owed to Scottish social landlords rose by 5.8% during May while the number of households living in temporary accommodation also increased, according to new data from the Scottish Housing...  moreSocial landlord rent arrears increase by £8.5m in one month
  
  Rent owed to Scottish social landlords rose by 5.8% during May while the number of households living in temporary accommodation also increased, according to new data from the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR).
  
  At the end of May, rent arrears stood at over £156 million, up by more than £8.5m from the previous month.
  
  The new figures also revealed there were 13,175 households in temporary accommodation at the end of May, up by 7.5% in April.
  
  The information has been published in the Regulator’s second monthly dashboard report, which it has launched to help understand the impact of the coronavirus on social landlords and to support the work of the Social Housing Resilience Group.
  
  Since April, all social landlords provide the Regulator with a monthly return of a small set of key measures that focus on the main areas of impact on landlords’ operations.
  
  Data for last month also found an increase in the number of social housing staff...    less

  

  • Jun 22
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  GIN Admin Scottish Government reports suburban homes as affordable rural housing
  
  Houses built in Burdiehouse on the outskirts of Edinburgh have been classed as ‘accessible rural’ under the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme, according to...  moreScottish Government reports suburban homes as affordable rural housing
  
  Houses built in Burdiehouse on the outskirts of Edinburgh have been classed as ‘accessible rural’ under the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme, according to data supplied to Rural Housing Scotland (RHS).
  
  RHS requested a breakdown of the 2018/19 figures after questioning why a large development at Dunbeg, three miles from the centre of Oban, had been classed as ‘remote rural’ in the 2017/18 statistics.
  
  The latest figures reveal that Burdiehouse had been classed as rural, alongside town such as Elgin, Inverurie and Troon.
  
  When the 283 homes built in suburban areas are removed from the government-reported statistics on affordable housing supply, only 907 out of 7,502 affordable homes built in 2018/19 were in rural areas, whereas a proportionate share would be 1,275.
  
  RHS said this means that just 12% of the funding was allocated to areas which are home to 17% of the country’s population and which...    less

  

  • Jun 15
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  GIN Admin wrote a new blog entry:

  

  Dr Lisa Garnham: Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic

  Dr Lisa Garnham from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) reflects on research around the importance of ‘home’ for mental health and how this evidence could shape our response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  The COVID-19 pandemic ha...

  • #COVID-19

  • Jun 8
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  GIN Admin Port Glasgow firms support Inverclyde Foodbank
  
  In light of the current coronavirus crisis, Port Glasgow-based firms McLaren Packaging and Interlok Divisions have engaged to help Inverclyde Foodbank provide essential services to the most vulnerable...  morePort Glasgow firms support Inverclyde Foodbank
  
  In light of the current coronavirus crisis, Port Glasgow-based firms McLaren Packaging and Interlok Divisions have engaged to help Inverclyde Foodbank provide essential services to the most vulnerable people in the area.
  
  Both companies have been matching employee donations and ensuring that Inverclyde Foodbank receive a minimum of £1,000 per week with a total commitment of at least £12,000.
  
  In addition, the firms have been releasing employees to help the running of the foodbank during company time at full pay on Monday, Wednesday or Friday afternoons until the lockdown is lifted.
  
  The firms’ management and staff have been supporting the foodbank since early April by making much needed financial donations and providing staff to work at the foodbank.
  
  Donald McLaren, managing director of McLaren Packaging, said: “As a family firm with long-established roots in the local community, we recognised the need to do what we could to help in a meaningful...    less

  

  • Jun 5
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  GIN Admin Hillcrest celebrates Investors in People gold reaccreditation
  
  Hillcrest has been re-awarded gold accreditation against the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) standard for the third time, placing the organisation amongst the best companies to work for...  moreHillcrest celebrates Investors in People gold reaccreditation
  
  Hillcrest has been re-awarded gold accreditation against the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) standard for the third time, placing the organisation amongst the best companies to work for in the UK.
  
  Hillcrest also once again achieved silver level of Investors in Young People (IIYP) for their commitment to the training and development of young people, and received an additional accreditation for Health and Wellbeing.
  
  Lesley Don, Hillcrest’s director of corporate services, said: “Our staff are the most valuable part of Hillcrest so the gold reaccreditation is a real testament to the hard work and dedication our teams demonstrate on a daily basis.
  
  “When being measured against each of the frameworks, significant improvement has been made since our previous assessment in 2017 which is delightful to see.
  
  “Feedback from staff is vital to not only help us continue to perform at a high level, but to strive for continuous improvement...    less

  

  • Apr 29
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  GIN Admin Sinclair Watt Architects has resubmitted plans lodged in 2017 to demolish the former Fife Council offices in Rosyth in order to build 23 flats
  
  Located at Park Road, roughly three miles south of Dunfermline town centre, the development will require the...  moreSinclair Watt Architects has resubmitted plans lodged in 2017 to demolish the former Fife Council offices in Rosyth in order to build 23 flats
  
  Located at Park Road, roughly three miles south of Dunfermline town centre, the development will require the demolition of the 656 sq/m office building, vacated in a council drive to consolidate services.
  
  The 0.6-acre site will instead be put toward residential use, helping to meet the growing demand for affordable accommodation in the area.
  
  The non-material variation on behalf of the applicant ED Consilium constitutes a net loss of one home to meet the requirements of Kingdom Housing Association, Urban Realm reports.
  
  Kingdom Housing Association is currently building 189 new homes at a nearby development in Inverkeithing.
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  • Apr 16
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  GIN Admin Experts warn Scottish GDP could contract by 25% if lockdown lasts for three months
  
  Scotland’s GDP could contract by around 20-25% if the government-imposed coronavirus restrictions remain in place for three months, the University of Strathclyde’s...  moreExperts warn Scottish GDP could contract by 25% if lockdown lasts for three months
  
  Scotland’s GDP could contract by around 20-25% if the government-imposed coronavirus restrictions remain in place for three months, the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute has warned.
  
  As Scotland settles into its third week of lockdown measures, the Institute has tried to quantify the potential impact of the restrictions on the country’s economy.
  
  Severe changes are expected in terms of non-manufacturing production such as mining and quarrying, electricity and gas supply and water and waste.
  
  Electricity and gas supply has seen a decline in demand of roughly 10% in the last few weeks, as reduced industrial demand more than offsets increased domestic demand as people stay at home.
  
  Water and sewerage – measured by water supply – should see similar impacts to other utilities. In addition, the Insitute said it is clear that there is a suppression in demand for waste services, as recycling...    less

  

  • Apr 9
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  GIN Admin wrote a new blog entry:

  

  Coronavirus delays roll-out of devolved benefits

  Devolved benefits due to be rolled-out later this year have been delayed due to the impact of coronavirus on Scotland’s social security services.
  In an update to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, social security secretary Shirley Anne Somervi...

  • ##crona

  • Apr 7
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  GIN Admin Prof David Robinson: What staying at home can teach us about the housing experiences of many older people
  
  In the first of a series of outputs exploring the key issues raised by the coronavirus pandemic, Prof David Robinson considers whether the social...  moreProf David Robinson: What staying at home can teach us about the housing experiences of many older people
  
  In the first of a series of outputs exploring the key issues raised by the coronavirus pandemic, Prof David Robinson considers whether the social and economic constraints imposed by the ‘lockdown’ might make us all feel a little more empathy for those older people (and other fellow citizens) for whom being confined at home alone is the norm.
  
  The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is holding a mirror up to society and forcing us to confront some harsh realities. Increasing uncertainty in the world of work and the insecurities of the housing system are being laid bare for all to see. Stories of hardship that usually remain hidden and neglected are being exposed by sheer weight of numbers. Situations that provoke little more than a collective shrug of the shoulders in normal times – the fact that more than one in five million workers are in insecure work and could lose their job suddenly or that...    less

  

  • Apr 1