Siobhan McMahon MSP Meets Malawian Farmer at SCIAF’s 50th Anniversary Reception

With Mary Jackson and Mercy Glyn.

Central Scotland Labour MSP Siobhan McMahon attended the 50^th anniversary reception of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) at the Scottish Parliament last week.

At the event on September 16th, Ms McMahon met with Mary Jackson and Mercy Glyn, who were visiting SCIAF from Malawi.  Mary is a farmer who benefitted from a SCIAF project and featured in the charity’s record-breaking WEE BOX Lent appeal which raised over £3.4million for its work in some of the poorest countries in the world.  Mercy works with SCIAF to help poor families in Malawi to work their way out of poverty.

The changing climate has made life harder for Mary as she can no longer rely on predictable seasonal rains. SCIAF gave her farm training, seeds and tools to help her cope with the erratic weather. Now Mary can grow more food and earn money to support her family.  Mary is now visiting Scotland to say ‘thank you’ to all the schools, parishes and people who have helped her and many others to work their way out of poverty.

Siobhan McMahon MSP said:

“I was delighted to be able to attend the SCIAF event at Holyrood last week to celebrate their 50^th anniversary. It was fantastic to meet and speak with Mary and Mercy and find out about some of the fantastic work that SCIAF are doing in Malawi.

“I was lucky enough to visit Malawi, a country they call the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’, in the summer of 2012. It was a fantastic experience which I found both harrowing and inspiring and I’ll always retain an interest in the future of the country and its incredible people. I’ve been a keen supporter of SCIAF’s work during my time in Holyrood and I’d like to wish them all the best for the future.”

Mary Jackson said:

“I’m really proud to be here in Scotland representing women in Malawi. Before the SCIAF project, nobody helped us. Life was very hard. Sometimes my children couldn’t go to school because the walk is very far and they were too hungry. Now they have enough to eat and they’re doing really well in school. If they continue to study hard they will achieve great things and will have a good life. I won’t have to worry about their future.”

SCIAF’s mission is to create a more just world for all in which everyone can live life, and live it to the full.  SCIAF is a registered Scottish charity, no: SC012302.

SCIAF works with people in some of the poorest countries in the world, providing emergency aid and practical long term support to those affected by hunger, poverty, war and disasters. In Scotland it brings together people in parishes, schools and across Scotland to lobby governments and big business with campaigns to address the causes of global poverty and injustice.

Siobhan McMahon MSP Encourages Central Scotland Charities and Businesses to Come Together in Support of #GivingTuesday

Central Scotland Labour MSP Siobhan McMahon has thrown her support behind #GivingTuesday. After a very successful first year in the UK, the #GivingTuesday campaign is asking people to come together and give their time, money or voice to charity on one global day of giving.

This year, #GivingTuesday will take place on Tuesday 1^st December.

Last year was the first year that #GivingTuesday took place in the UK, which is consistently ranked as one of the most generous nations in the world. Over 800 charities and businesses signed up as partners of the campaign, including household names such as BT, Facebook, Argos, NSPCC and Cancer Research UK.

#GivingTuesday trended on twitter for 11 hours, with over 2,500 tweets sent each hour about the campaign. More than £2,500 was donated each minute, and JustGiving reported that donations were up by 46% compared to the previous year. The campaign also secured the backing of celebrities including Helen Mirren, David Tennant, Tom Daley and Lily Cole.

Partner organisations are encouraged to take the campaign and do something of their own with it. As a result of the great work of #GivingTuesday partners last year, Marie Curie had a successful day on social media with a reach of nearly 400,000 on Facebook and their thank you video was viewed nearly 20,000 times. Global Giving took nearly £26,000 this year compared to £3,819 last year, an increase of 580% as a result of #GivingTuesday.

Siobhan McMahon MSP said: “#GivingTuesday is an extremely exciting opportunity for charities and businesses in Central Scotland.

“It has immense potential to motivate and mobilise charities, businesses and the public in our local area and create a movement that will get more people engaged in charity giving.

“I am proud to support #GivingTuesday and look forward to celebrating the generosity of my constituents and the great work our local charities do.”

Ben Russell, Director of Communications at the Charities Aid Foundation, said: “After a very successful first year of #GivingTuesday, it’s fantastic to see so much enthusiasm for the #GivingTuesday movement from so many amazing organisations – including some of the top businesses and charities in the country.

“#GivingTuesday is an opportunity to give something back, we hope that with the support of politicians, businesses and charities, we can get the whole nation thinking about charity at the start of the festive season.

“We want to encourage businesses, charities and individuals to take up #GivingTuesday really run with it – and make the second year of the campaign even more successful than the first.”

Visit the #GivingTuesday website to see the complete list of partners.

To follow the campaign and find out more information please email givingtuesday@cafonline.org or follow on Twitter @givingtuesdayuk

Siobhan McMahon MSP Learns of Challenges Facing Young Deaf People Seeking Employment

With Abigail Matheson

Central Scotland MSP, Siobhan McMahon, is supporting Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s new ‘Moving On’ service supporting young deaf people into work, after sponsoring the charity’s reception in the Scottish Parliament last week.

MSPs and guests heard from Abigail Matheson, 25, that employers’ lack of understanding of communication support, poor deaf awareness, and not knowing about the Access to Work scheme are creating barriers preventing deaf people from having the chance to get into their preferred careers.

Abigail also raised the problems deaf people often face at Job Centre Plus where staff won’t always book British Sign Language interpreters, or use the correct terminology when talking about deaf people and their individual communication needs.

Abigail found employment as a support worker for a deaf charity following specialist support from Action on Hearing Loss Scotland’s ‘Moving On’ service which advised Abigail on her CV, gave her mock interview training and ensured that potential employers booked interpreters for her job interviews. Moving On is funded by The Big Lottery Fund Scotland and supports young deaf or hard of hearing people aged 16-25 into employment, training and education opportunities.

Siobhan McMahon MSP said: “Abigail’s story is a real inspiration for young deaf people who use British Sign Language but it really drives home the challenges that deaf people face when seeking employment – unnecessary barriers that simply should not be in their way. I urge employers across Central Scotland to contact Action on Hearing Loss Scotland to find out how they can make their recruitment processes accessible and ensure talented employees who are deaf or have hearing loss are supported to progress in the workplace.”

Abigail Matheson said: “Employers need to understand that all deaf people are different and we may have different communication needs. I have had a lot of support from my mum and from the team at Action on Hearing Loss Scotland. Having people who are prepared to support me has meant that I’m now doing a job I want to do as I work towards my long-term goal of becoming a Social Worker. If employers continue to turn their backs on deaf people, it reduces our work options and means we face having to claim benefits.”

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland is a charity which helps people to confront deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose. Action on Hearing Loss Scotland enables people who are deaf or hearing loss to take control of their lives and remove the barriers in their way. Action on Hearing Loss gives people support and care, develop technology and treatments, and campaign for equality.

For further information about Action on Hearing Loss Scotland or to become a member, visit www.hearingloss.org.uk/Scotland, contact Action on Hearing Loss’s Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email: informationline@hearingloss.org.uk.

 

 

 

 

40 up for Lanarkshire Samaritans

Siobhan (3rd from left) with, from left to right, Samaritans volunteers Esther Dailly, Margaret McLaughlin, Charlene Crawford, Chairman of Lanarkshire Samaritans Dan Russell, and volunteer Joyce Gillies

I was delighted to be invited to Lanarkshire Samaritans in Hamilton to help them celebrate their 40th birthday.

The Samaritans opened their first Scottish branch in Edinburgh in 1959, with the Lanarkshire branch opening 13 years later, in November 1972.

The Samaritans offers confidantial, compassionate and non-judgemental advice and guidance to those in distress. Whether you are clinically depressed, weighed down by health or money worries, or just having a bit of a bad time: the Samaritans is here to help.

On average, Lanarkshire Samaritans fields between 6-8000 calls, 150 face-to-face meetings, and around 400 emails every year.

Their volunteers go through a rigorous training program and are highly committed to the organisation. Many have been Samaritans for between 10 and 20 years.

As well as their listening and advisory service, Lanarkshire Samaritans runs outreach programmes in local schools, hospitals and prisons. Regardless of your circumstances and whatever your problem, they will listen and do their best to help.

I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered for Lanarkshire Samaritans over the past 4o years for doing their best to ensure that people in emotional pain and distress have someone to talk to. A little bit of sympathy and  kindness can make a world of difference.

The Samaritans’ national phone service can be contacted at any time of the day or night, and their Lanarkshire office is open from 9am-2am for four nights of the week, and 9am-5am for the remaining three. Individuals wishing to speak to someone in person can visit the office at 4 Selkirk Place, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ML3 6RQ, between 9am and 9pm.

We can all make a difference

Siobhan with staff and volunteers at Wishaw Barnado’s

It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to spend time working at the Wishaw Barnado’s shop to help promote Make a Difference Day 2012.

The staff and volunteers are enormously passionate, committed and hardworking, and I would like to thank them all for inviting me to volunteer and for being so kind and welcoming.  

Barnado’s counselling and support services provide invaluable advice and assistance to thousands of victims and potential victims of poverty, neglect, homelessness and abuse across the UK.

With government funding increasingly restricted, the money provided by its charity shops is crucial.  It is imperative, therefore, that people continue to support their local charity shops, either through volunteering, donating unwanted possessions or by shopping there whenever possible.

Barnado’s relies upon the generosity of local people, but in turn it provides fantastic products at very affordable prices.

Volunteering is a very rewarding experience; just a couple of hours a week can make a big difference.  I would encourage anyone else who has a bit of spare time to get in touch with Barnado’s to see what they can do to help.

Scottish Carers Week

I was delighted to give my support to carers across Scotland in recognition of Scottish Carers Week.

Running from the 18th-24th June, Carers Week is a UK-wide annual awareness campaign that aims to raise the profile of the UK’s legion – approximately 6 million – of unpaid carers.

It is a truism to state that, without the unstinting work and commitment of unpaid carers, society would cease to function. The ever-increasing demands of an ageing population, not to mention those suffering from long term physical and mental ailments, would place an unsustainable strain on the NHS.

Being a longterm carer to a relative or friend is a time-consuming, stressful, and, in many cases, utterly thankless task. Carers rarely receive the support and respite they need, and frequently find that their views and opinions are dismissed too readily by health professionals.

There are a range of national organisations, such as Carers Scotland, that give support to unpaid carers, and there are also many local organisations, such as North Lanarkshire Carers Together.

However, even with this support, carers are often left exhausted and isolated.

This year’s awareness campaign highlights the importance of the health and wellbeing of carers, especially in the context of cuts to local support services. It also underscores the positive influence of recognition from professionals.

One of the most important things to remember is that the issue of carers does not just effect carers themselves, or those they care for: it effects us all.

Over 80% of carers say they did not expect to be carers. It could happen to any of us, at any time. We owe it to carers, ourselves, and society to ensure that unpaid carers are afforded the respect they deserve, and have access to the advice, support and respite they need.

Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire

Siobhan with Kenny Moffat, VANL's Chief Executive Officer

I recently met with senior management at Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL), the Airdrie based development agency and membership network open to third sector organisations throughout North Lanarkshire.

Formed in 2010 following the amalgamation of the Council for Voluntary Services and the Voluntary Centre, VANL seeks to forge closer working links between third sector bodies in North Lanarkshire. It is the central point of contact for information, advice and support on voluntary action, and represents the sector in discussions with local community planning partnerships.

VANL currently supports between 350-400 voluntary organisations and in excess of 1800 volunteers in the local authority area, providing them with a comprehensive range of resources including organisational and financial support, advice on sourcing and obtaining funding, and bespoke training for volunteers.

The meeting was very informative, and I was favourably impressed by VANL’s role as an essential advice and support network for local volunteer and community groups. VANL staff and employees are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable, and I would advice all local volunteer groups to take advantage of their expertise.

With the coalition Governments programme of austerity measures cutting back on public services, the burden on the third sector will increase exponentially. It is imperative, therefore, that third sector funding is kept at a sustainable level, and that the role of volunteer groups is not diluted, but remains clearly defined.