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Don’t be shallow. A tale of subsurface microplastics and the processes that transport them.

One thing you should know about me is that I am from New York and I am half Italian. That means when I like something,…




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What to Do With Your Extra Cash From Staying at Home

One positive side effect of this period of social distancing is that, over the past two months or so, many people who have found themselves working from home and unable to go out — teachers, computer programmers, professors, accountants, office workers, engineers, managers and many others — have found themselves saving a ton of money. I’ve had several friends express quite a bit of pleasure at the amount of money building up in their checking accounts since they can’t go […]

The post What to Do With Your Extra Cash From Staying at Home appeared first on The Simple Dollar.





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This Floor Plan of Buckingham Palace Shows All 775 Rooms

Including 19 staterooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. READ MORE...




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Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

Michael McEwan speaks to Richard Warden, the film lead, about the 2017 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (10-29 October).

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free




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Leadership and professional identity

Building the future: shaping our social work identity newly qualified social worker conference was held on 31 May 2018 in Edinburgh. Delivered with the University of Edinburgh (in partnership with the Higher Education Heads of Social Work Group), Iriss, Scottish Social Services Council, the Scottish Association of Social Work, Social Work Scotland and the Scottish Government, it provided an opportunity for newly qualified social workers to come together to connect and reconnect.

In this episode, Susan Taylor, past President of Social Work Scotland, provides the keynote on leadership and professional identity, focusing particularly on the post-qualifying period.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Building the future; shaping our social work identity

Building the future; shaping our social work identity newly qualified social worker conference was held on 31 May 2018 in Edinburgh.

Delivered with the University of Edinburgh (in partnership with the Higher Education Heads of Social Work Group), Iriss, SSSC, SASW, Social Work Scotland and the Scottish Government, it provided an opportunity for newly qualified social workers to come together to connect and reconnect.

Viviene Cree introduces the conference, and is followed by a presentation by Jane Johnstone who provides some thought provoking asks of attendees.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Iona Colvin

We hear how and why they are working in social services, what motivates them, and the people, books and music that inspire them. They also offer some golden nuggets of advice.

To kick the series off, Michelle Drumm spoke to Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Adviser for Scotland.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Tommy Whitelaw

In this episode, Michelle from Iriss speaks to Tommy Whitelaw, who was a full-time carer for his late mother Joan who had vascular dementia. In 2011, he embarked on a walk around Scotland's towns and cities to collect hundreds of life story letters detailing the experiences of individuals caring for a loved one living with dementia.

Since then, Tommy has engaged with thousands of carers through his 'Tommy on Tour' blog and as UK Project Engagement Lead with the Alliance's Dementia Carer Voices Project. He gives talks to health and social care professionals and carer organisations across Scotland, to raise awareness of the impact of dementia on families and the importance of empowering carers in carrying out their difficult but vital role.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Viv Cree

Michelle Drumm from Iriss 'squeezes' Viv Cree, Professor of Social Work Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Viv has conducted research in a number of social work-related fields over the last 20 years, focusing mainly on qualitative research that aims to improve social work services, and hence, the lives of those who use services.

Within this, she specialised in research on social work history, feminism and gender in social work, HIV and children and young people affected by parental illness.

Before coming to the university, Viv worked for 16 years as a professional social worker and community worker in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. She is an accredited practice teacher.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Donald Macaskill

In this episode Michelle from Iriss interviews Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care.

Donald worked for many years in the health and social care sectors across the United Kingdom specialising in learning disability and older people's work. A particular professional focus has been issues related to bereavement, palliative care and individual rights.

For thirteen years he ran his own equality and human rights consultancy focusing on adult protection, risk and personalisation. From 2012-2015 he managed Scottish Care's self-directed support project, People as Partners, then worked as Scottish Care's Joint National Workforce Lead. From 1st April 2016 he became the CEO of Scottish Care, the representative body for care providers in the independent sector.

We hear about the people, projects, books, music and much more that inspire him.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Trisha Hall

In this episode, Michelle from Iriss interviews Trisha Hall, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW).

Since coming to Britain from the Netherlands in 1987, Trisha has worked in residential child care in West Yorkshire. After completing a degree in social work in 1993, she then worked in statutory social work services in the North East of Scotland as social worker, Team and Area Manager, and subsequently from 2003, in the voluntary sector as Regional Director and Head of Evaluation and Research. Throughout her career Trisha's main role has been the leadership and management of workers and service managers providing services.

Trisha has been a British Association of Social Work member since 1991.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Talking Points in East Renfrewshire

Michael McEwan speaks to Gerry Tougher, Public Engagement Officer at East Renfrewshire Council about Talking Points, a new approach to providing information and support to people in their local communities.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Ian Welsh

In this episode, Michelle Drumm speaks to Ian Welsh, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Alliance.

Ian has been Director of UK Services for the Rehab Group, leading charities working in care, supported employment, rehabilitation and training.

In his time as Chief Executive and Board member of Kilmarnock Football Club, he led the club through business and footballing success, building a number of innovative community programmes. He also served as a non-executive Director of Glasgow Prestwick Airport and as Executive Director of Human Resources and Public Affairs.

He has spent time in politics as an elected member leading first Kyle and Carrick District Council and then South Ayrshire Council before serving briefly as MSP for Ayr.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Emma Scott

Michelle Drumm speaks to Emma Scott, who was the winner of the Bright Spark Award at the Scottish Social Services Awards in 2018. This award aims to recognise a young person who is excelling in the work they do in the sector.

Since leaving high school in 2014, Emma began an apprenticeship at Peartree Nursery in East Lothian. She has gained an SVQ Level 3 and has lots of hands-on experience with children of different ages and situations.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Shared Lives

On 18 October 2018, Iriss hosted a discussion about Shared Lives, a community based model of social care, where adults that need support move in with, or regularly visit, an approved Shared Lives carer. This is with the aim of supporting the individual to share family and community life. It also reduces social isolation and loneliness in adults.

In this discussion we hear what Shared Lives is, its outcomes and impact, and quality and sustainability. It involves Shared Lives carers, a user of the service, a family placement assessor and members of the development team.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Mairi O'Keefe

In this episode, Michelle Drumm speaks to Mairi O'Keefe, Chief Executive of Leuchie House national respite centre, based near North Berwick since 2003. The only facility of its kind in Scotland, Leuchie has specialised in providing short respite breaks for people and their families living with MS, Parkinson's and other long-term conditions.

In 2010, Mairi successfully led the Save Leuchie campaign, saving the centre from closure and setting it up as an independent charity in July 2011. In 2015, she received an MBE for services to people with disabilities.

Confirming that she will be leaving Leuchie House in November 2018 Mairi O'Keefe said:

Everyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about Leuchie House and the very special service we provide. It was always going to be difficult to step down, but I know I can do so feeling proud of everything we've achieved. I've been honoured to experience on a daily basis just how much of a difference Leuchie makes to all the hundreds of families we support every year.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Jennifer Davidson

Michelle Drumm interviews Professor Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director of Inspiring Children's Futures at the University of Strathclyde, which incorporates the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS).

Jennifer is driven by a commitment to ensuring children's rights have an impact on children's day-to-day lived experiences, and on the reality of international rights improving local children's services throughout the world. Her range of leadership positions in child and youth care, social work and professional education spans Canada, the United States and the UK. She has served on national and international committees related to children's services, and was a founding member of the US National Campaign for the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Lynn Williams

Michelle Drumm interviews Lynn Williams, an unpaid carer and activist, providing practical care and support to her husband Derek. Derek has a high level spinal injury and other linked, complex needs.

Lynn is on the board of Engender, a national woman's organisation and on the board of her local Carers Centre. She also works on a part-time basis in health and social care policy with Glasgow Centre for Voluntary Services.

Freshly Squeezed aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Ben Farrugia

Michelle Drumm interviews Ben Farrugia, Director of Social Work Scotland.

Ben held a variety of policy roles down in London (with a particular interest in education and children's services). In 2009, he moved up to Scotland to work in the government’s Looked After Children team and in 2011 moved to the University of Strathclyde to join the team that would soon after become CELCIS.

In his own words, he is 'now very proud to be leading Social Work Scotland’s small Edinburgh based team, which provides support to various committees and groups, and represents members in discussions with Parliament, Government and other partners'.

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: David Williams

On World Social Work Day, Michelle Drumm interviews David Williams, Chief Officer of Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership.

David qualified as a social worker in 1988 and worked for two years in Easterhouse and then for seven years in Drumchapel as a social worker and senior social worker.

He subsequently held various roles in charities over the years and was appointed formally to the chief officer position by Glasgow City Integration Joint Board at its first meeting on 8 February 2016

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Freshly Squeezed: Jackie Irvine

Michelle Drumm interviews Jackie Irvine, Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Safer and Stronger Communities in the City of Edinburgh Council. Jackie was appointed as the President of Social Work Scotland in May 2018 and her tenure as president comes to an end in May 2019. However, as Past President Jackie will stay on as a key member of the Executive Group at Social Work Scotland.

Jackie’s previous positions were predominantly in children’s services, but not exclusively, as she has been lead for criminal justice, community based health services, and adult hospital-based social work teams.

Freshly Squeezed is an Iriss podcast which aims to 'squeeze' information and inspiration from key influencers in social services in Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes




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Influencing policy: relationships matter

The newly qualified social worker conference titled, Shaping our future: relationships matter, was held on 31 May 2019 in at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. 

Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Adviser at Scottish Government, spoke about the importance of relationships at strategic level, within and across government, and how the role of social work has changed to be located within organisational partnerships with the aim of delivering more seamless services for people.

She also talks about the unique contribution of social work as a holistic relationship-based profession, what they are doing with others to raise its profile, plan for the future and support newly qualified social workers.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Calum Glasgow

Michelle Drumm interviews Calum Glasgow. Calum is currently studying social work at the University of Strathclyde and received an award for Student Social Worker of the Year at the SASW Social Work Awards 2019.

Calum's placement was with the British Red Cross, based in their psychosocial team, which provides holistic support for refugees and asylum seekers. The work ranged from completing initial assessments, providing emotional support, accompanying people to legal (and other) appointments and helping alleviate their levels of destitution. In his words, he describes the experience as 'a real eye-opener'.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Lorraine Ward

Michelle from Iriss interviews Lorraine Ward, a social worker who has worked with the children and families social work department in Glasgow for over 25 years and was awarded for Best Practice in Equality & Diversity at the SASW Awards 2019.
 
Lorraine started work within the Asylum and Roma team of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership in February 2017 and initiated the peer mentoring programme - New Young Peers Scotland - for unaccompanied asylum seeking young people soon after.
 
Lorraine enjoys developing new and innovative projects, working closely with partners but most of all enjoys listening to and learning from young people, and enabling them to find and share their voice and fulfil their aspirations.
 
Also watch Scotland: Our New Home films.
 
 
Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Influencing practice: relationships matter

The newly qualified social worker conference titled, Shaping our future: relationships matter, was held on 31 May 2019 in at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

Jackie Irvine, Chief Social Work Officer at Edinburgh City Council and past President of social work Scotland, takes some time to reflect on how the practice environment in which social work operates has changed. She provides advice on making the most of relationships at work, as well as self-care strategies.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Kathryn Lindsay

Michelle Drumm interviews Kathryn Lindsay, who is the Director of Children, Families and Justice / Chief Social Work Officer for Angus Council. She is also the President of Social Work Scotland.

Since qualifying as a social worker in 2000, Kathryn worked as a practitioner across Angus and Dundee City Council justice services and in residential services at Rossie Young People’s Trust. She held senior posts in Dundee City and Angus Council in both Children’s and Justice Services before becoming Chief Social Work Officer in 2016. Kathryn has experience leading services that serve more than one local authority area and has an interest in collaborative service design.

She has a longstanding commitment to post qualifying learning, most recently achieving the Chief Social Work Officer Post Graduate Diploma at Glasgow Caledonian University. She has Masters in both practice and leadership based subjects and a particular interest in developing the workforce, promoting relationship-based practice and public protection.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Viv Clelland

An interview with Viv Clelland, winner of the ’The untold story’ award at the Scottish Social Services Awards 2019. She is a support worker for looked after young people and families in East Ayrshire. 

Viv lived in a Kilmarnock children’s home from the age of 11 years until she was 17. She began her career doing a bit of everything: cleaning, working in bars, as well as volunteering for a horse riding school for disabled young people.

In 2000, she became a volunteer parent coach with Kilmarnock Harriers, which led to her being approached to volunteer with East Ayrshire Council. By 2006, she was employed as Sports Motivator – working in a variety of community coaching & children’s house sessions for the council.

As Viv developed, the job developed and her role became more focused on working with looked after and accommodated young people, based within the play and early intervention team. Her skills have also supported work in HMP Kilmarnock and with vulnerable families. 

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Peter Macleod

An interview with Peter Macleod, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate and Chair of Iriss.

Peter graduated from Robert Gordon University with a degree in social sciences and a qualification in social work and began a career as a social worker in Glasgow in 1987.

In 1996 he joined Renfrewshire council as an area manager, responsible for adult, children’s and criminal justice social work, and in early 2007 was appointed head of children’s services and criminal justice for social work and the community health partnership.

In 2015, he was appointed Renfrewshire’s first director of a new children’s services directorate, bringing together children’s social work, education and criminal justice services.

He sits on the boards of MacMillan Cancer Support TCAT Programme and Scottish Government’s Re-aligning Children’s Services programme.

In his own words, he says, "I am ambitious for social care; I want people in Scotland to experience transformational, world-class care that makes a real and positive difference to their lives."

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Freshly Squeezed: Alistair Brown

An interview with Alistair Brown, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW)

Alistair grew up in Falkirk and has been practising in Scotland in statutory roles and as a Mental Health Officer and independent social worker over the last 10 years. Prior to this he practised in and managed youth mental health services in New Zealand for nine years.

He has had many voluntary roles at SASW over recent years as a member/practitioner including chair of MHO Forum, Chair of SASW governance committee and SASW representative on the British Association of Social Work board of directors. He remains on shift duty occasionally as an emergency social worker and is a member of the Mental Health Tribunals for Scotland.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Rashielee Care Home: Covid-19 response

On 22 April 2020, Michelle from Iriss spoke to Jennifer Carruthers, Deputy manager at Rashielee Care Home in Erskine.

Jennifer tells us how both staff and residents are managing in the current circumstances and how they’ve had to change and adapt services to cope in the crisis.

Transcript of episode

Music Credit: Make your dream a reality by Scott Holmes.




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Open COVID Pledge: Removing Obstacles to Sharing IP in the Fight Against COVID-19

Creative Commons has joined forces with other legal experts and leading scientists to offer a simple way for universities, companies, and other holders of intellectual property rights to support the development of medicines, test kits, vaccines, and other scientific discoveries related to COVID-19 for the duration of the pandemic. The Open COVID Pledge grants the … Read More "Open COVID Pledge: Removing Obstacles to Sharing IP in the Fight Against COVID-19"

The post Open COVID Pledge: Removing Obstacles to Sharing IP in the Fight Against COVID-19 appeared first on Creative Commons.




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Open-Source Medical Hardware: What You Should Know and What You Can Do

You’ve heard the stories: engineers 3D printing face shields in their basements; do-it-yourself hobbyists sewing face masks; and fashion designers crafting personal protection gowns.  Globally, people are trying to help fill the medical supply gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through open-source medical hardware. It’s a heartwarming display of global ingenuity, innovation, and collaboration. In this … Read More "Open-Source Medical Hardware: What You Should Know and What You Can Do"

The post Open-Source Medical Hardware: What You Should Know and What You Can Do appeared first on Creative Commons.




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Does WIPO’s New Leadership Have the Vision to Shake Up Global Copyright Policy-Making?

New beginnings at WIPO  On March 4, Daren Tang was nominated director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations agency dealing with intellectual property matters. Tang is currently the chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and his six-year term as top WIPO official will start on October … Read More "Does WIPO’s New Leadership Have the Vision to Shake Up Global Copyright Policy-Making?"

The post Does WIPO’s New Leadership Have the Vision to Shake Up Global Copyright Policy-Making? appeared first on Creative Commons.




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Why Sharing Academic Publications Under “No Derivatives” Licenses is Misguided

The benefits of open access (OA) are undeniable and increasingly evident across all academic disciplines and scientific research: making academic publications1 freely and openly accessible and reusable provides broad visibility for authors, a better return on investment for funders, and greater access to knowledge for other researchers and the general public. And yet, despite OA’s obvious … Read More "Why Sharing Academic Publications Under “No Derivatives” Licenses is Misguided"

The post Why Sharing Academic Publications Under “No Derivatives” Licenses is Misguided appeared first on Creative Commons.



  • Education / OER
  • Legal tools / licenses
  • CC BY-NC-ND
  • CC BY-ND
  • OER
  • open educational resources

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Using CC Licenses and Tools to Share and Preserve Cultural Heritage in the Face of Climate Change

On the occasion of both Earth Day and World Intellectual Property Day, which this year centers on the theme of Innovation for a Green Future, we’d like to underline the importance of cultural heritage preservation as a response to the threats posed by climate change. In this post, we’ll also share some insights on how … Read More "Using CC Licenses and Tools to Share and Preserve Cultural Heritage in the Face of Climate Change"

The post Using CC Licenses and Tools to Share and Preserve Cultural Heritage in the Face of Climate Change appeared first on Creative Commons.




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Creative Commons Welcomes Our 2020 CC Certificate Scholarship Recipients!

The CC Certificate aims to increase our global community’s expertise in open licensing and awareness of our shared, digital commons.  Our first goal is to train at least one person interested in open licensing in every country and territory, around the world. So far, we have CC Certificate graduates from 44 countries and counting! One … Read More "Creative Commons Welcomes Our 2020 CC Certificate Scholarship Recipients!"

The post Creative Commons Welcomes Our 2020 CC Certificate Scholarship Recipients! appeared first on Creative Commons.






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The story of Relationships Matter

Today, we've published the story of the Relationships Matter project. The two-year project was facilitated by Iriss and led by the Relationships Matter Collective, a group of inspirational practitioners and young people who were brave enough to challenge, and confident enough to promote, continued relationships between practitioners and young people as they leave care.

read more




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A snapshot of our work for 2015-16

We've published an annual activity review for 2015-16, which will give you a snapshot of all of our work for the year.

Introduced by Peter MacLeod, Iriss Chair, it includes a summary of our project work, lessons learned from it and what we aspire to going forward. 




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Staf to manage Relationships Matter website

Relationships Matter was a project led by the Relationships Matter Collective, a group of inspirational practitioners and young people who were brave enough to challenge, and confident enough to promote, continued relationships between practitioners and young people as they leave care.

read more



  • looked after children

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Understanding, celebrating, sharing. Be part of it!

Iriss is working to raise the profile of the social services workforce by sharing practitioner experiences of working in care and support. We know that often, research about the social services workforce fails to reach those who work most closely with those supported by services, so we need your help to make sure that your voice is heard.

read more




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British Team win Gordon Bennett

Some better and fantastic balloon news from the USA

Adventurer David Hempleman-Adams has told how he landed a balloon in pitch black darkness to avoid plunging into one of the planet's biggest lakes.

The explorer from Box has just won the world's oldest air race with an 1,100-mile flight across the USA which ended on his 52nd birthday.

He and his co-pilot Jon Mason, 35, had been forced to choose between a complete darkness landing or the risk of ending up in Lake Michigan as they scented success in the prestigious Gordon Bennett gas balloon race.

Father-of-three Mr Hempleman-Adams took the decision to land the balloon in the dark rather than risk flying over the Great Lake without enough ballast.

He said: "I know you should never land a balloon at night but we had to make that decision as we didn't have enough sand to go over the lake and the balloon was going down."


The pair made two attempts to land in the drama on Friday at the end of the race, in which the winner is the crew flying the furthest distance.

"It's hard to judge from the air at night what is on the ground. During our first attempt what we thought were small bushes turned out to be 45 ft trees so we had to try again. We flew over the trees and landed near a maize crop."

The pair had taken off on Monday from Albuquerque in New Mexico and landed north of Chicago at 5am on Friday in their balloon Lady Luck.

They did not discover they had become the first British team ever to win the competition named after the man who gave his name to the famous exclamation until they had had a few hours of sleep.

Mr Hempleman-Adams said: "The sheriff picked us up and took us to the local hotel where we collapsed.

"We'd been flying for 74 hours taking it in turns to sleep at two-hourly intervals curled up on the floor of the basket. When we woke there was a note under the door from our chase team which said, 'Well done boys, you've won!'

"We thought we'd come second so it was a very good birthday present."

There were 12 crews in the contest, the 52nd ever held.

Mr Hempleman-Adams said. "It was a very tactical race with everyone trying to outdo each other like a game of poker."

Co-pilot Mr Mason, a consultant clinical psychologist who works in Canterbury, said: "We are a great duo and a foil for one another. David needs someone to restrain him and I need someone to encourage and push me. We arrive at a middle ground. We also work well together because we have different skills. "David is excellent at looking at the bigger picture and navigating while I am good concentrating on the detail doing what we have to do there and then."

He said he accepted the risky decision his co-pilot had made.

"It's easy to highlight the dangers but people do things all the time that are risky that, in the end, become routine.

"Gas ballooning isn't rocket science. You fill the balloon with gas that's lighter than air and you take sand with you. The risk isn't flying a gas balloon - it is flying a balloon for four days in bad weather when you are tired and in the dark."

One of their scariest moment came when the duo were hit by a snowstorm.

Mr Hempleman-Adams said: "We had some difficult weather. During the day it reached 42 degrees but at night it crashed to about 8 degrees and we would shiver.

"Once, we were up at 13,000 ft and it started to snow. The cooling on the balloon made it come down very quickly and we descended to 5,000 ft."

Another brush with death was when the team spotted two jets flying too close for comfort.

"At one stage we were over Albuquerque at 5,000 ft and two jets came in underneath us with only 500ft clearance and scared the daylights out of us," Mr Hempleman-Adams said.

The pair were due to fly back into Britain this morning.

The competition - founded by newspaper tycoon and adventurer Bennett - is described as the most prestigious event in aviation and the ultimate challenge for the balloon pilots and their equipment.

It was started in 1906, when 16 balloons were launched from Paris, but has never before been won by Britons.

It was put on ice at the outbreak of the Second World War and not revived until 1983.

The victory means the race will start from the UK in 2010.

Mr Hempleman-Adams turned to extreme and endurance ballooning after years of conquering mountains and polar regions.

He has climbed the tallest peaks on all seven continents, travelled to both the North and South Poles, completed the first balloon flight to the North Pole and the first flight across the Northwest Passage. He also completed the first balloon flight across the Atlantic in an open wicker basket in 2003. He holds the world altitude record for Roziere (a combination of gas and hot air) balloons at more than 41,000 ft.




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Bank Opens Fund To Help Balloon Crash Victims

For the second year in a row, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was marked by the tragic death of a person in a balloon. Now, Wells Fargo Bank is trying to help the families of those at the center of this year's accident.
Wells Fargo opened the account for the families of pilots Keith Sproul and Stephen Lachendro, who were in the "Wings Of Wind" balloon when it hit a power line last Friday morning.
The gondola caught fire and separated from the balloon envelope, crashing to the ground.

Thieves made off with radios, computers and other items.
Wells Fargo has already donated $1,000 into the account to help the families deal with expenses surrounding the funeral, medical care costs and the break-in .
Donors who want to give to the account can contact Wells Fargo and should ask about donating to the Debbie Sproul account.




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Well-known volunteers recover after balloon crash

THE Warrnambool husband and wife who were burnt in a freak hot air balloon accident yesterday are well-known community volunteers.
Stuart Prince, 65, and his wife, Heather Martin-Trigg, 51, were taking part in an early-morning joy flight when the terrifying incident occurred north of Bendigo.

It is believed the flight was a birthday present which had been postponed from earlier this year due to hazardous weather conditions.

Mr Prince, who suffered serious burns to his right arm and lower extremities, was in a stable condition in The Alfred hospital yesterday after being transported from the scene by helicopter.

Ms Martin-Trigg was taken by road ambulance to the Bendigo hospital and also transferred to The Alfred in a stable condition yesterday afternoon.

The couple are both life members of 3WAY-FM where Mr Prince is a founding member and presenter and Ms Martin-Trigg is the committee treasurer. She is also vice-president of the Friends of the Warrnambool Art Gallery.

They own and operate Henna Street Picture Framers and Ms Martin-Trigg also works with the Vision Radio Network.

The balloon, operated by the Goldrush Ballooning company, was on a regular flight from Bendigo with eight passengers ? two from Warrnambool, two from Rochester and four from Melbourne.

It was under the control of a Bendigo man who has 12 years experience as a pilot.

http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/wellknown-volunteers-recover-after-balloon-crash/1653659.aspx?storypage=1




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Lives sentenced. Experiences of repeated punishment

Little is known about the effects of repeated imprisonment. Very few research studies have examined how those who are punished by the criminal justice system experience and interpret their sentences. Research that does exist, like my PhD, has largely focused on one single sentence. But people who have served many sentences (in other words, who have long punishment careers), are likely not to experience criminal punishments in isolation, but in the context of their wider lives and previous sentences. The aim of the Lives Sentenced project is to address this gap in the knowledge base by examining the life stories of 35 people with long punishment careers




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Short breaks in 2015, an uncertain future

Short breaks are among the most fundamental services for supporting families with disabled children. By providing breaks from caring and positive experiences for children and young people, they allow parent carers to focus on relationships with other children, or to have time to themselves or with their partner, leading to lower levels of psychological distress, higher levels of life satisfaction and better health. As a result, fewer parent carers reach ‘breaking point’ and fewer children require access to emergency provision or enter the looked after system. This report, commissioned by Every Disabled Child Matters, looks at the current provision of short breaks to families of disabled children in England.




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Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR)

The core purpose of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) is to carry out high quality, internationally recognised research in relation to crime and criminal justice.