Dear Parents and Carers
Well done – we’ve made it through January and possibly the darkest month of the year. I am now looking forward to, hopefully, enjoying more hours of daylight as we head through February.
As mentioned last week please do take a few minutes to complete our survey about learning from home. The survey closes this evening (1.2.21).
We are aware that for many families the last few weeks and months have been, and continue to be, extremely challenging for many reasons. We hope that the learning from home that we are providing is helpful and that your child is able to complete what they can. Please do email admin@trinity-pri.edin.sch.uk if you need any support or have any questions.
Many families also require support for other reasons. I have attached a leaflet outlining various supports available as well as detailing further information below. We are all in this together and school is here to help in any way that it can.
Information from City of Edinburgh council
Supporting families in need : All families entitled to free school meals are continuing to have these payments made. These have also been made during the school holidays. The Council does have other support available to families in financial difficulty, information about this can be found here; https://newsbeat-edinburgh.tfemagazine.co.uk/winter-202021/latest-news/food-support-for-citizens
In addition our Parent & Carer Support booklets contain lots of information and advice for families, including how to access financial support in each locality. The link to this booklet is here; https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/13779/parent-and-carer-support-resources
As part of the 1 in 5 Child Poverty work, the Health & Wellbeing Team are contacting schools with names of children and young people whose families are experiencing homelessness and living in temporary accommodation. They will provide additional signposting to resources and help.
The Discover programme will also be running in the February break. Families can be recommended at any time by going to Discover Recommendation Form.
The Advice Shop – https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/benefits-grants/advice-shop We provide
- help with welfare rights including income maximisation through welfare benefits, tax credits and grants
- debt advice to resolve personal debt including credit cards, bank loans, rent arrears, personal loans, store cards, catalogues and mortgage arrears
- help for people affected by cancer through information, advice and advocacy to access entitlements arising as a result of a cancer diagnosis and the extra costs of cancer.
Maximise! – We can help with: Income maximisation, Employability support, Family support, Money advice, Welfare rights, Housing advice. You can contact Maximise via: CHAI – Email: chai@chaiedinburgh.org.uk Tel: 0131 442 2100 www.chaiedinburgh.org.uk
or
Children 1st: Children 1st, 83 Whitehouse Loan, Tel: 0131 446 2300 www.children1st.org.uk
I appreciate that this is a lot of information. Our family support worker Sandra@citadelyouthcentre.org.uk is available to help and support.
This week will see the next decision being made about when schools will return. I will be in touch later in the week with further information. In the meantime please continue to be kind, do what you can and hold onto the fact that we are getting there!
Best wishes
Jacqueline Scott
Trinity Primary School 