An innovative reading project for accommodated and looked after children won a prestigious achievement award at a glittering ceremony at The Hub in Edinburgh last night (Tuesday, 27 November 2007). Only six months ago the same project won the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) Scottish Executive Delivering Excellence Award.

The Reading Champions Project won the Partnership in Practice category of the Standard Life Edinburgh Achievement Awards.  Reaching out to accommodated and looked after children and young people, the project provides access to a ‘Reading Champion’, Colm Linnane, who speaks to the young people about books and gives them encouragement to read. The Reading Champion also liaises with staff in different units, organises staff training and gives them ideas and advice on how books and reading can be incorporated into young people’s lives.

The project aims to give vulnerable young people the chance to enjoy books and reading for pleasure while improving their literacy skills. It also ensures that the units have books that are easily accessible. The aim is for looked after and accommodated children to have the same access to books as they might have if they were living in a family home and for reading to become a daily part of their lives.

For details of all the winners see the official Achievement Awards booklet (PDF, 1.8MB)

Also view photos of the event in the official gallery.

Achievement Awards

The project has been rolled out successfully to 10 units. As well as encouraging the children to read themselves the Reading Champion also encourages staff to read to the young people. The staff also provide links to other useful resources such as local libraries. In addition the Book Bus, a mobile library, is now making regular visits to secure units, Howdenhall and St Katharine’s, and Wellington Residential School outside Edinburgh .

Partnership working is central to the project and an inter-agency Advisory Group provides guidance, direction and support to the Reading Champion. Project partners are the City of Edinburgh Council Children and Families and Services for Communities Departments, the Scottish Book Trust, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, NCH Scotland, Who Cares? Scotland and Barnardos.

As a result of the success of the Reading Champion project, the Advisory Group has secured additional funding from the National Literacy Trust for another reading initiative, Reading is Fundamental. This grant will give every looked after child who is accommodated the opportunity to choose and own their own books.

Councillor Mrs Marilyne MacLaren , Convener of the Education and Children and Families, said: “The Standard Life Achievement Awards are a stunning example of the private sector working closely with the local authority to recognise and reward outstanding projects in all aspects of the Department’s work. It is so important to praise innovation and initiative that improve and enhance people’s lives.

This year there were a high number of entries and the standard was extremely high. The panel members, who are drawn from all walks of life including young people, had to make some very tough choices. I am delighted that through the award programme the hard working and dedicated staff behind these projects are getting the recognition they deserve.”

Tina Livingston, Education, Investment Manager, Standard Life, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Standard Life Edinburgh Achievement Awards again – a partnership event with the City of Edinburgh Council that is now in its eighth year. It has been a privilege to hear about and meet with the people who work so hard on such exemplary projects in our community, and we’re extremely proud to play a part in recognising them and to support the sharing of best practice across education and social work.”

The Standard Life Edinburgh Achievement Awards celebrate success, best practice, and innovation in all aspects of Children and Families work. They also give public recognition to achievements and provide a clear mechanism to gather and share good practice throughout the Children and Families Department in Edinburgh .

For further information please contact Sara Dunbar , Communications Officer, tel: 0131 469 3356, email: sara.dunbar@edinburgh.gov.uk

Notes to Editors       

Creative Approaches

Winner

The Dyslexia Club

Longstone Primary School

The Dyslexia Club has now been running successfully in Longstone for 3 years. The school created the club to recognise the needs of dyslexic pupils and give them a forum to talk about the strength and weaknesses associated with having dyslexia. Over the years the group have written stories, used computers and given presentations to others. They have also produced animations and a movie and showcased these to the rest of the school. The cross class initiative leaves pupils feeling more confident and with the knowledge that they are not alone and have a place to go meet others in their situation. Tel 0131 443 4743

Judges comments – An excellent project that raises the self-esteem and confidence of pupils with dyslexia in an open, creative and fun way.

Highly Commended

Young Mums’ Unit: Photography Project

Young Mums’ Unit based at WHEC: Hospital & Outreach Teaching

The project was set up to enable pupils attending the Young Mums’ Unit at WHEC to learn a range of Photographic skills and find a creative medium. Resources within WHEC were used to support the project through the provision of studio space. The programme was out over seven sessions, starting with the group learning to use professional photographic equipment to photographing their children and finally printing and arranging their artwork to an accompanying soundtrack.  The experience allowed the group to work collaboratively and share their work with a wider audience. Tel 0131 442 2201

Highly Commended

Co-researching: Life in a YPC

Psychological Services and Oxgangs YPC

The project addresses two important issues: the need to consult with children and young people over the services the City provides; and the need to achieve the best outcomes possible for young people who are looked after by the local authority. The idea was to find out more about the day-to-day experiences of young people who live in Young People’s Centres. The work culminated in the production of a ‘Top Ten Tips’ leaflet, which is now being used as part of a training programme for YPC staff. Tel 0131 469 2800

Quality of Life

Winner

Creating Confident Kids Writing Team

Creating Confident Kids Resource

         The project objective was to write a whole school curriculum (Nursery – P7) in Emotional Literacy skills of self awareness, self management, empathy and relationship management. This included training staff to deliver the programme and communicating the project to parents and carers using leaflets, sessions and emotional literacy courses. The aim of all this was to develop children’s language and provide them with the opportunity to describe their feelings and also how others around them were feeling. Tel 0131 664 2351

Judges comments – This was a very strong application which encompassed many of our objectives, including promoting quality of life and healthy mind and bodies.

Highly Commended

Castlebrae’s Up For It Project

Castlebrae Community High School

         The projects aim to improve student’s educational, physical, social and emotional fitness by establishing an early morning healthy breakfast and exercise culture among the school community. Students and staff who attend the Friday morning breakfast club can enjoy fruit juice, fresh fruit, healthy cereals and wholemeal bread. The project pays for itself with customers making a donation of 50p each. A consistent healthy eating and exercise culture now exists within the school and Castle brae is now in a stronger position to achieve health Promotion School status. Tel 0131 659 5959

Highly Commended

Place2Be in Edinburgh Schools

Place2Be

The Place2Be aims to help children from 10 primary schools across Edinburgh to understand, address and cope with their emotional reactions to the difficulties and/or challenging circumstances they face in a supportive and therapeutic place in their own primary school. A qualified therapist leads a team of dedicated volunteer counsellors who work with the children in a dedicated space within the school. They address emotional issues that may be leading to behavioural problems with a focus on early intervention/prevention. Tel 0131 332 2468

Global Citizens

Winner

Drummond Muthambi Partnership

Drummond Community High School

The inspiration for the project was to raise awareness of the G8 Summit in 2005. All students had the opportunity to work with Kakatsitsi , Ghana ’s premier drumming ensemble. The school also worked with a group of young people from Rwanda and South Africa at the Usher Hall, as part of the Make Trade fair concert. A school working group was established to represent staff, students and community users. The partnership plans to coordinate group exchanges on an annual basis with the purpose to enhance the true partnership and allow students from different cultures to live, work and learn together. Tel 0131 556 2651

Judges comments – This is a wonderful example of children getting involved in global issues and making a real difference.

Highly Commended

World Family

Cowgate Under 5's Centre

The original idea was to teach the children character strengths and virtues including humanity, justice, fairness, temperance and transcendence. The nursery discussed the possibility of sponsoring a child from PLAN international – an organisation with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. The nursery then sponsored a nine year old girl called Kadi Moussa from Niger . Through sponsoring Kadi the children learned about a culture very different from their own and gained an insight into the lives of children growing up in the developing world. The sponsorship money raised also helped Kadi to continue her schooling. 0131 225 7251

Highly Commended

Westburn's Malawian & Citizenship Exhibition

Westburn Primary School

The school developed a Citizenship Club with the main objective to educate members of both the immediate and wider school community on everything Malawian. The project involved a study visit to Malawi with The League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers (L.E.C.T.) with the objective to produce a citizenship exhibition. The children were the main resource of the exhibition and in addition to helping and organising it they also took on roles including tour guides, seeking sponsorship and making an Eco Friendly Mud Hut. The project nurtured a belief and outlook that ‘We can make a difference’. Tel 0131 442 2997

Opportunities for All

Winner

Making Connections - celebrating diversity

GO4IT Project

         This is a new project, initiated and developed to work with children and young people across the City, which addresses and celebrates cultural diversity, highlights the effects of racism, prejudice and explores the theme of migration as a two way process. The project created and delivered a wide range of events in schools and communities, which focused on ‘identity’ and celebrated the cultural diversity of twenty first century Scotland . Almost three thousand children, young people and adults from all social backgrounds, abilities and ethnic communities participated in the events. Tel 0131 550 6824

Judges comments – A very well constructed application that highlighted Edinburgh ’s rich cultural diversity and a project we should be proud of.

Highly Commended

Listen To Me, Learners Voices…Inclusive Communication

CLAN/Community Learning and Development Edinburgh South with Deaf Arts Forum Edinburgh

This is a publishing project with the aim of enabling the publication of a book written, designed and managed by adult learners. The publication ‘Listen to Me’ was intended to give a voice to learners who require extra support to make their voices heard. The book was intended to show the important partnership between learners and their support workers. The publication was launched to at the City Chambers which gave the learners an opportunity to speak with politicians and practitioners. Tel 0131 668 30 20

Integrated Service Delivery

Winner

Intensive Support and Monitoring Service

Edinburgh ISMS Partnership

The service is a partnership of agencies with a genuine commitment to delivering integrated services for vulnerable and troublesome children and young people, whilst at the same time meeting the legitimate expectations of local communities to feel safe, valued and protected. ISMS provides a holistic experience for young people and their families, offering persona, social, health, leisure and education services on an integrated basis. It aims to; serve as an alternative to secure care, provide meaningful interventions to improve quality of life for young people and families and improve the quality of life of communities affected by anti-social behaviour. Tel 0131 243 1118/7

Judges comments – A very worthy winner, which works on a truly integrated model and provides a marvellous service to some of the Cities most vulnerable citizens.

Highly Commended

PrePare - pregnancy support team for substance misusing women

PrePare Team

The team work with some of the most vulnerable women in Edinburgh who misuse drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. The team focus equally on the care of the baby from a child protection perspective and the care of the pregnant woman/parents from a substance use perspective. They provide antenatal and post natal care planning, intensive health care, social and practical support during and after the pregnancy and information, advice and support to other health and social care staff. This is the first project of its kind in Edinburgh with staff from different disciplines and agencies working within the same team, to help this particular client group. Tel 0131 455 7936

Partnerships in Practice

Winner

The Edinburgh Reading Champion Project for Looked After and Accommodated Children

Edinburgh Reading Champion Project

The project is an innovative city-wide initiative aimed at promoting reading activities for looked after children and young people in residential care in Edinburgh , to ensure that books and reading become part of their everyday experience. It aims to improve long term opportunities to access books, reading and library services. An interagency Advisory Group monitors, reviews and gives direction to the project. Using the partnership model has allowed the project team to identify existing resources, responding in very individual ways to the range of residential units in the City. Tel 0131 469 6102

Judges comments – A very commendable project that draws several partners together in developing, in some of our most vulnerable young people, an interest in, and love of, reading.

Highly Commended

Dads Club, Edinburgh Lone Fathers Project

Gilmerton Child and Family Centre

The project was created to support single and contact fathers with young children in Edinburgh .  A programme of sport, visits and outdoor activities was created so fathers could take part with their children. In less than a year the project has attracted over fourteen fathers and thirty children who take part in visits and outdoor activities each Saturday. The fathers are encouraged to allow their children time and space to talk and express their own opinions. This encouraged the children to set the agenda for the trips and with them deciding on venue, time, travel and even finance. Tel 0131 664 1202

Highly Commended

Family Learning South Edinburgh P1 Transition

South Edinburgh Family Learning Transition

The aim of the project is to support parental involvement in their child’s ‘journey to excellence’ to enhance the schools’ relationship with families and to ensure a positive transition from nursery for both parent and child. Ten department/agencies were involved in the South Transition, each contributing to the project with specialist knowledge from their area of expertise. The primary focus is on the family and positive experiences for them. The project engages with families, offering opportunities to learn together in an informal fun setting within the school. Tel 0131 672 2629

The Director’s Award

Edinburgh Connect

Edinburgh Connect – Children and Families and NHS Lothian

         Edinburgh Connect is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency specialist mental health team, jointly supported by the Council and NHS Lothian, who work to promote and enhance mental health of Looked After and Accommodated children (LAAC).It is a community based service, as opposed to a clinic based service, with staff fitting in with unit timetables, which means that time is used effectively and flexibly. The service can offer timely interventions that mean there is no longer a need for a waiting list for mental health input in residential care. Edinburgh Connect has helped to put mental health on the map in residential units in an inclusive and non-stigmatising way. Tel 0131 447 7971