I have just received the following information about support for families which may be of interest to you:

Machan Trust are delighted to be working in partnership with Save the Children
If you:-

• Live in South Lanarkshire
• Have at least one child aged 6 or under or are 28 weeks or more pregnant
• Are on a Low income*

You may be eligible to automatically receive
1 Early Learning Pack and select a combination of items and resources, up to the value of £340.
• Choice of 24 Early learning packs across 3 tailored to ages and stages (0-2 years old, 3-4 & 4-6).
• Select from a range of household products such as a highchair, bedding, dining table and chairs etc.
• Supermarket vouchers to buy essential Items and food for their family.
• Argos vouchers to choose additional, smaller household goods and essentials that have added benefit to their children and the home environment.

Get in touch in confidence by emailing your name and a contact number to – alan@themachantrust.co.uk
A member of staff will get in touch by phone to check that you meet the eligibility criteria and complete an application form on your behalf.
This will take around 15 minutes.

*Qualifying Income Criteria
Recent financial hardships as direct impact of the coronavirus, such as:
• Change to employment and reduction in income (job terminated or on pause, including self-employed work
• Child/caring responsibilities impact ability to work
• Bereavement impact ability to work or income
One or more of the child’s parents/carers meet the low-income threshold and are receiving at least one of these specified benefits:
• Universal Credit (including pending applications)
• Child Tax Credit
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Job Seekers Allowance
• National Asylum Support Service (NASS)
• No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)
• Working Tax Credit
• Income support

Due to the current pandemic we are being asked to monitor absences and the reason for these.  I would be grateful if, when you phone to report your child’s absence, you give us as much information as possible about the reason they are absent.  If their absence is linked to symptoms of coronavirus (continuous cough, high temperature, change in taste or smell) we would suggest getting a test.  This can be arranged online (www.nhsinform.scot) or by phoning 0800 028 2816.  Please do not send your child to school if they or someone in your household has symptoms or is awaiting test results.

We would also ask that you contact us daily while your child is absent in order for us to update the information we have about their condition.

Level 1 Bikeability
If your child is in Primary 5 they will bring home a letter about Level 1 Bikeability. If your child wishes to take part you should sign and return this by Friday 28th August. Sessions will take part in September.

Due to the school closing in March the now P7 unfortunately didn’t complete Bikeability Level 2.

We would now like to offer them the chance to complete it this term.
If your child took part last term and would like to continue we will be running sessions on a Tuesday for 4 weeks from Tuesday 1st September until Tuesday 22nd September. After September weekend we will organise another 4 weeks and give you the dates as soon as possible.

A  bike check, check list will be sent home I  would appreciate if you could check your child’s bike before they start the sessions.

Unfortunately if the bike is not road worthy they will not be allowed to continue.

A consent form has been sent home with your child, we would appreciate it if you could complete it and return if your child would like to take part.

Many thanks

As you are aware we have run our ‘Little Bank of Treasures’ with the Credit Union for a number of years now.  Unfortunately I have received a letter from the Credit Union to say that they are stopping schools collections.

They have suggested that parents send their child’s books into them for audit purposes and then they will deal directly with you.

The address for correspondence is:
Lanarkshire Credit Union
252 Glasgow Road
Blantyre
Glasgow
G7 20HY
Tel: 01698 711112

I am sorry we were unable to give you more notice of this.  Thank you for supporting our collections over the years.