New social security service is flying high
SOCIAL Security Scotland now has more than 100 staff working across the country to set up a local service.
The new public service set up by the Scottish Government was created to deliver a number of benefits across the country for people on low incomes, disabled people, carers, those suffering fuel poverty and those entering the workplace.
The service has announced that it will be recruiting up to 150 more people this year for its 32 local authority areas and aims to provide face-to-face support to local communities across Scotland.
Employees will work in tandem with organisations and groups in local communities, as well as local authorities, to promote the benefits available through Social Security Scotland.
Speaking at a visit to a local delivery location within Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, said:“This is another step forward in growing our new social security service in communities across Scotland and shows how we are doing things differently based on our principles of dignity, fairness and respect.
“The introduction of this direct application support in local communities is a first for access to social security in Scotland. It gives people the option to apply in the way that is right for them – be it by post, phone, online or face-toface.
“I am delighted to be able to visit Barrhead. It is great to see the how we will be located side by side with other vital community services – making it easier for people to access a range of support in a single place and right in the heart of their community.
“It is also great to meet some of our new recruits who will be working from here and will be the real face of this new public service.”
MORE than £12million of taxpayers’ money has been spent on school taxi journeys in just three years. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted to Glasgow City Council has revealed that in 2017/18, £4.2m was spent on taxis for school pupils, £4.5m in 2018/19 and £3.3m in 2019/2020.
Over the three-year period, the longest journey was 107 miles, there and back, and the shortest was just one mile.
In some cases, children will need to travel to schools outwith Glasgow in order to meet their learning needs.
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FOI confirmed that pupil transport is required for a number of reasons, including transporting children and young people across the city to and from additional support for learning schools, which very often are not within the pupil’s school catchment area.
Pupils often need to travel to different schools to study subjects not available at their own educational establishment and to the advanced higher hub at Glasgow Caledonian University.
The university offers sixth years the opportunity to study advanced higher subjects, as well as experience first-hand some of the opportunities and challenges that come with student life.
They work in partnership with the council and local schools to offer English, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Modern Studies, Business Management, History and Physics to