Dear all,
I hope everyone is well and are starting to enjoy the lighter days as we get closer to the start of Spring.
As you know, the focus over the last month as been on budget proposals and I would like to thank everyone who has supported this work. On Thursday this week, Council will meet to agree the budget and set the Council Tax for 2026/2027. You can read the papers on our Modern.Gov site and you can also watch the meeting live on our YouTube channel.
After completing work to remove all RAAC from the roof of Bearsden Hub we’re delighted that it will be re-opening on Monday 16 March. A huge thank you to everyone who was both impacted and worked on this over the last couple of years. I know the local community will be pleased to have both customer services and the library back up and running.
This week is Scottish Apprenticeship Week and I would like to say a big well done and thank you to all our apprentices, both past and present, for their fantastic contribution to the Council. A special shout out must go to Madilyn Wilson who will attend the Association for Public Sector Excellence (APSE) Apprentice of the Year awards as a finalist in the non-trade category.
You can read more about Madilyn and another of our current apprentices, Owen, on our website.
Local History Month
East Dunbartonshire’s heritage will be brought to life this month through a series of events to celebrate Local History Month. The programme, organised by East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust in partnership with East Dunbartonshire’s heritage, history and community groups, will run until Tuesday 31 March. Exhibitions and activities celebrating the area’s rich history, including walks, talks and exhibitions, have been organised at venues across the area.
Find out more by reading our Local History Month news release.
Mentors Wanted
Would you be interested in becoming a school-based mentor for one of our secondary pupils? We work in partnership with MCR Pathways who have a school based mentoring programme all over the UK. Many of you are already involved but there is an urgent need for more volunteers here.
By you simply being there and offering support, young people are more likely to stay on at school, achieve their qualifications and go onto a positive post-school destination. All it takes is one hour a week during the school term. All mentors receive full training and ongoing support, enabling them to draw on their own life experiences and personal qualities to make a meaningful difference.
To find out more read Employee News 6.
Time for Thriving
The free 24-hour confidential helpline/support service that all Council employees have access to is rebranding from TimeforTalking to TimeforThriving. TimeforThriving offers a wide range of support on a variety of topics to meet individual employee needs including access to self-help resources and sign posting.
While talking therapy remains a core part of the service, TimeforThriving signals broader support, including guidance, signposting, coaching, and practical wellbeing resources.
Monthly Wellbeing Focus
As usual, our Monthly Wellbeing Focus is updated each month with key campaigns and details of support all employees can access.
And Finally
Over 300 teachers and education partners recently came together at Woodland View School to focus on the importance of relationships when supporting children and young people with additional support needs.
At the Additional Support Needs (ASN) Showcase event educators met to collaborate, share practice and engage in a wide range of inspiring workshops focused on inclusion, wellbeing, communication and trauma informed approaches. The feedback has been excellent, and it is wonderful to see such support for ASN in East Dunbartonshire. A big well done to everyone involved.
Thanks,
Ann
