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REPAIR (Edinburgh) Network @repair-edinburgh.bsky.social · 2d

(1/3) Dear Edinburgh Holiday Hub users - past, present and future, We (REPAIR) have been working hard to pull together a list of shortcomings and key questions/discussion points regarding the Holiday Hubs management and processes since the June Committee paper was approved.

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Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 9d

How many across Scotland not just Edinburgh. There really needs to be a national investigation. The amount of families impacted by this is a national scandal. Hidden by poor or no recording of data. It’s getting worse year on year.

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 9d

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Questions over Edinburgh Live's 'ghost children' investigation raised with government

MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton warned the Scottish Government they risked being taken to court by parents for a failure to deliver an education for the capital's children.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

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Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 18d

Thanks to @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social for letting more parents tell their families stories. @natalie-jade.bsky.social 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 how many more children and young people have to suffer like this?

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 18d

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2548126...

Why the closure of a specialist autism school is 'devastating'

The parent of an autistic child explains why specialist schools are so vital, and calls on the Scottish Government to take action.

www.heraldscotland.com

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Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 14d

A national investigation should happen. Thousands of children and young people are “ ghost children” . Failed completely by education.

Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 14d

www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...

Edinburgh city leader calls for investigation into capital's 'ghost children'

SNP councillor Euan Hyslop, who sits on the education, children and families committee, said he is ‘incredibly concerned’ about the revelations on the use of reduced timetables.

www.edinburghlive.co.uk

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

This is not just about local government performance. It’s about whether our democracy at the most local level still works for the people it’s supposed to serve.

This survey suggests it doesn't.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

There are so many examples of what *should* be a wake up call for decision makers and leaders. This is another one.

If they ignore it, the erosion of trust in local democracy will only worsen and outcomes for people in Scotland will continue to suffer.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Scotland deserves better.

We need:

✅ Councils involving and responding to communities
✅ Leaders who are accountable & transparent
✅ Real focus on the issues that impact people’s lives

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Where’s the spotlight on this?

Outcomes thadon’t match people’s needs.

Communities left unheard.

A culture of finger-pointing instead of accountability.

Trust is the foundation of democracy.

Without it, people disengage, feel powerless and turn away from the system entirely.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

When half of survey participants feel disrespected by their council, that’s not a comms problem. That’s a legitimacy and democratic problem.

There's a clear disconnect between power and people’s priorities in their local communities.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Barely 1/3 of people believe councils deal with the issues that affect their quality of life & neighbourhood.

These are not just poor satisfaction scores. They are a warning sign of something deeper, reflecting a failure of democratic accountability at the local level.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Scotland’s crisis in local democracy rarely gets any spotlight.

The latest Household Survey shines a harsh light that trust in local councils is collapsing.

Only 51% of people feel their council treats them with dignity & respect.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Our campaign was founded on the basis of local democracy failures across Scotland regarding parent and children's rights, education and local decision making.

Seven years on, still talking about this.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 14d

Only half of Scots feel their council treats them with dignity. Just a third think councils address issues that matter in their lives. These numbers should alarm everyone- but probably not surprise anyone ...

www.gov.scot/publications...

Scottish Household Survey: Perceptions of Local Councils, 2024

Key findings on perceptions of local councils from the Scottish Household Survey, Scotland

www.gov.scot

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Neil Mackay @neilmackay.bsky.social · 22d

A Muslim child was racially attacked in my neighbourhood on her way home from school … What on Earth have we become as a society?

My column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social

www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

'I struggle to understand what’s gone wrong with this country', says Neil Mackay

A schoolgirl in Newton Mearns has been assaulted in a reported race hate incident. Columnist Neil Mackay says this is evidence that bigoted violence…

www.heraldscotland.com

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

Families deserve timely, consistent, legally compliant support, accountability, transparency and real change. But who is brave enough to push to achieve this?
#ASN #ChildrensRights #GIRFEC #UNCRC #EducationForAll #LocalAuthorityAccountability #EqualAccess #AccountabilityMatters #InclusiveEducation

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

Too many families in Scotland continue to face inconsistent support, involvement and failures from local authorities despite clear duties under policy and law.

What will it take to see local authorities held to the same scrutiny as other people and organisations in positions of power?

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

Children and families face:

⏳ Long delays for assessment and support
📝 Poorly implemented or no CSPs
📉 Inconsistent access to resources
❌ A lack of paren/child involvement

All highlighting a serious accountability gap in local authorities.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

Scotland also committed to the UNCRC

📚 Every child has the right to education
🗣 Children’s voices must be heard in decisions affecting them
⚖ Authorities must protect and promote rights

But not all children can access their legal right to education ...

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

The Equality Act 2010 is supposed to ensure

✅ Disabled children are not discriminated against
✅ Schools & authorities make reasonable adjustments
✅ Equal access to education and school life

But Tribunals and complaints increasingly show it doesnt ensure this ...

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

The Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

👤 Assigns a named person as a point of contact to coordinate support for children
🌱 Embeds GIRFEC to ensure wellbeing was the centre of all decisions impacting children
📊 Promotes early intervention and prevention

But ... this doesnt happen for all

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 LAs should

✅ Identify children with ASN
✅ Provide appropriate support
✅ Involve parents/guardians in decisions
✅ Prepare Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs)

But this doesnt always happen ...

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 22d

❌ Local authorities have significant devolved powers over education but too often, families are left fighting for support they should receive.

It's a story we've heard repeatedly and part of the reason our campaign started.

Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 22d

Huge thanks to Gráinne from STV for covering this story and helping to raise awareness about the huge challenges ASN families are facing across education in Scotland.

Proud to work with @empoweredscotland.bsky.social to continue advocating and pushing for change on a national level.

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Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 22d

Please watch and share. How many more stories like this do we need to see?

Natalie Jade Pinnell @natalie-jade.bsky.social · 22d

Huge thanks to Gráinne from STV for covering this story and helping to raise awareness about the huge challenges ASN families are facing across education in Scotland.

Proud to work with @empoweredscotland.bsky.social to continue advocating and pushing for change on a national level.

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Give Them Time @givetimescot.bsky.social · 23d

The rhetoric and spin in NLC has done 360 on the safety issues and decision making on 'acceptable' routes but noone cares ...

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Empower:ED Scotland @empoweredscotland.bsky.social · 23d

We need new standards in politics and local government. They are supposed to problem solve based on facts, verifiable evidence. Cherry picking data for political gain shouldn’t be allowed. It’s dishonest and harmful to the entire population. It’s time for honesty and transparency or communities

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