A charity set up to empower people to make informed decisions around funerals and end of life planning, is hosting a free afternoon tea event at 2pm next Wednesday at Life Care in Stockbridge.
Dying to Talk? is an informal and friendly chat about death, dying and loss over afternoon tea.
Caledonia Funeral Aid Funeral and Bereavement Advisor Emma Kelso explains: “Death is a subject that’s never been easy to talk about, and yet itaffects people every day.
“Life is finite and death is inevitable, so our aim is to encourage people to bring it out into the open, break the taboo and reduce the fear.
“We will invite people to share experiences, talk about things that they’ve discovered during their own journeys and maybe discuss their own personal end-of-life plans, all over a cuppa.
“By empowering people to talk in a friendly, safe space, we hope to move towards a Scotland where everyone is empowered to make the right choices for themselves and their loved ones. As a result, they will become aware that there are choices and consequently we can realise a Scotland without funeral poverty.”
Although the event is free, people are encouraged to pre-book at Caledonia Funeral Aid’s website www.funerals.scot
LifeCare Edinburgh and Hibernian Community Foundation announce partnership benefitting local older people
Hibernian Community Foundation have announced an exciting new partnership with local older people’s charity LifeCare.
The renowned charity provides positive care for hundreds of older people every day but is struggling to cope with unprecedented demand for its services. LifeCare launched an emergency appeal late last year to help reach more older people across the city and the Hibernian Community Foundation have added their support.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said “We are extremely worried about those in our community. Local older people are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the covid restrictions; abilities and mobility deteriorated rapidly and now with the new cost of living crisis, enquiries for our help are rising – up 250% for some services.
We are very grateful to receive new support from Hibernian Community Foundation. Thanks to their generosity, we have already been able to increase our care for those that need us most.
Together we delivered hot festive meals to clients who were alone at Christmas. Our clients enjoyed seeing a friendly face and having a chat with the delivery team. We are in the process of planning other positive initiatives which will allow us to reach more local older people with positive and caring support and activities.
We look forward to continuing our work together to help ensure that no older person is left alone or isolated.”
Lewis Melee, Head of Community at Hibernian Community Foundation, recently visited one of the charity’s registered daycentres on Cheyne Street to meet some of LifeCare’s clients and join in with the day’s activities.
He said “Supporting the members of the local community is so important to the foundation and club. It was lovely meeting LifeCare’s clients and hearing how they used to visit the stadium in years past.
This winter we’re organising two lunch clubs every week, and a memories and reminiscence group at the home of Hibernian FC, Easter Road Stadium. These services are open to everyone and with this partnership we hope to extend our offering – you don’t have to be a Hibee to come along!”
We are looking for new trustees to help LifeCare in its great work supporting local older people
LifeCare is at an exciting stage in its development and we are looking for Trustees who will passionately inform our services bringing new skills and experience to help lead the organisation.
We are particularly (but not exclusively) interested in individuals with experience in the following fields:
Health and Social Care
Finance
Fundraising
Marketing and Digital Innovation
Hospitality
Most of all, we are looking for people with lived experience of care, or as an unpaid carer, to help strengthen our capacity to better embed the voice of the people who use our services at Board level.
Can you help us?We are looking for people who share our values, that are passionate and committed about supporting local older people, who can be creative in building our profile and work closely with our team and stakeholders to deliver outstanding person-centred services to our clients.
The Board usually meets in the evenings (either in-person or via Zoom). The role is non-remunerated however reasonable expenses will be reimbursed and training / ongoing support will be provided. If you have any questions or would like a quick chat to find out more, please contact our chair beverleyfrancis@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.
To apply please send a CV and covering letter expressing your interest to beverleyfrancis@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk. Please contact us if you would prefer to submit an application in another format.
Did you know that Edinburgh is the loneliest city in the UK for older people?
@Vintage Vibes Edinburgh is a charity project that matches you with a wonderful older person who is local to you and has a shared interest, to create a fantastic friendship that meets once a week. It’s flexible, fun and fulfilling.
“You couldn’t have picked a better person, she is a great friend.” – Doreen
Following a campaign initiated by Edinburgh Central SNP MSP, Angus Robertson, the City of Edinburgh Council has agreed to pay for the installation of a Stolperstein or ‘stumbling stone’ memorial to Jane Haining.
90 years ago, Jane Haining left Edinburgh for Budapest to help Jewish children in the Hungarian capital. She was killed in Auschwitz in 1944 and subsequently recognised as ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ at Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Ms Haining is the only Scot to be given the honour.
The motion was passed by city councillors yesterday.
‘Stolpersteine’ or ‘stumbling stones’ are small brass plaques set in pavements with the inscription of the name and life details of victims murdered by the Nazis. Across Europe, there are now over 75,000 brass plate memorials outside the homes or places associated with victims of the Nazi Holocaust.
The proposals were welcomed by Councillor Vicky Nicolson and Professor Joe Goldblatt, Chair of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and prominent member of Scotland’s Jewish Community, who brought a motion to the City of Edinburgh Council to have the Stolperstein paid for and installed by the City.
Angus Robertson MSPsaid: ‘Jane Haining is Scotland’s most prominent Holocaust victim and is Righteous Amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem.
“A ‘Stolperstein’ to her memory would be fitting, perhaps outside Edinburgh’s St Stephen’s Church, where her mission to help Jewish children was dedicated. As well as being a proper commemoration, it will also serve as a warning to never forget the lessons of history.”
Professor Joe Goldblattsaid: “I hope that in the years to come when children and others pass the Stolperstein stone and plaque they will feel pride because of this daughter of Edinburgh whose courage and bravery saved so many Jewish lives.
“I hope that the Church of Scotland and Jewish community will work closely together to plan a meaningful and memorable unveiling of the stone.”
SNP Councillor for Inverleith Ward, Vicky Nicolson, said: “Before Jane Haining left for Budapest, a dedication service was held for her at St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge.It was presided over by the chair of the Jewish mission committee, Dr Stewart Thompson.
“Jane Haining left for Budapest the next day, seven months before Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933. She went to her dedication service as an everyday citizen and left as a missionary to Budapest where she looked after and saved many Jewish children’s lives until her extermination at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
“Edinburgh was the last place Jane Haining chose to be prior to her mission and it is time we, the Capital City of Scotland, commemorate her incredible humanity, bravery and kindness.
“Her Stolpestein will be a marker and a reminder of the Holocaust and what that did to the world. Jane Haining was an incredible woman and for Edinburgh not to have recognised her yet is wrong and we want to right that wrong.”
Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotlandsaid: “We are delighted that Edinburgh City councillors have voted in favour of buying and installing a ‘Stolperstein’ in memory of Jane Haining, who showed tremendous courage in the face of intolerable evil during a dark period of history.
“A woman of deep Christian faith, she was fully aware of the risks she was taking but repeatedly refused Church of Scotland pleas to leave Budapest and return home to Scotland as the war engulfed Europe.‘
“Jane was determined to continue doing her duty and stick to her post, saying ‘If these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?’.
“She was simultaneously an ordinary and extraordinary woman and her story is one of heroism and personal sacrifice and reminds us that when we feel powerless, there is always something that we can do.
‘Her story is moving, humbling, heart-breaking and inspirational and we hope that this honour will help keep her memory alive for generations to come.’
Are you an unpaid carer looking after a loved one? Or know someone who is? LifeCare is launching a series of classes and activities that are FREE for unpaid carers and the person they care for.
Starting on the 25th January at 11am in our Boardroom, come along to movement therapy designed to spark memories, have fun and boost your physical and mental wellbeing.
If you would like to attend, please submit your name on the following form:
Housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland has thanked shoppers for helping it raise a record breaking £24,000 at the 20th Anniversary of its Stockbridge January launch event.
The charity shop’s ever popular January extravaganza attracts excited bargain hunters from across Edinburgh and beyond.
This year saw queues out the door well in advance of the 10am opening time. Shopper patience was rewarded as they snapped up designer clothes from brands such as Prada and Ralph Lauren, early jazz records on shellac as well as beautiful antiques.
Shelter Scotland is gearing up for the rest of the year and keeping one eye on 2024’s launch event, by asking people to donate any high-quality goods and clothes to help support the fight for home.
Director of Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, said:“I’d like to thank everyone who donated items that were sold at our January launch and everyone who came along to grab a bargain on the day.
“Over its 20 years our Stockbridge January launch has become renowned across the Capital, so it was no surprise to see people queuing out the door before we’d even opened.
“Raising more than £24,000 from our launch is an incredible start to our year, but we want to keep that momentum going. If you have any good quality items or clothes that you no longer need then please consider them donating to your local Shelter Scotland shop.
“There is a housing emergency in Scotland that is causing misery in communities across the country. The incredible generosity of our donors and customers will help us in our fight to end that injustice.”
LifeCare are providing a warm space at weekends, 3:30 – 6:30pm at CafeLife, 2 Cheyne St, Stockbridge, with free soup & hot drinks, board games, books & free wi-fi.
Mix 1 Radio based in Stockbridge have been on air for just under a year and are attracting some big names to join them as guests on air.
The station which has a mixture of music and conversation is exploiting the gap in the local radio marketspace as the larger stations are consolidating shows across the whole country. With presenters giving regular updates on local news, traffic and weather along with promoting local business’s the station is pulling in listeners across the capital and beyond.
The special guest on this weeks Edinburgh Weekender Show on Friday 6 till 8pm is London’s First Lady of Soul, PP Arnold who made her breakthrough as backing singer with Ike and Tina Turner before carving out her own successful career with hits like Angel of The Morning and The First Cut Is The Deepest.
She has a fascinating story to tell and listeners of Mix 1 will enjoy a great conversation with PP Arnold and Mix! Presenters Big T and Clayton P.
PP Arnold talks about her audition in Tina Turners front room. Moving to London and becoming the Boyfriend of Mick Jagger and her bond with Bee Gee Barry Gibb.
Previous guests on Mix 1 recently have been Tim Hower, lead singer of Mike and The Mechanics, Steve Smiley Barnard who played drums in Robbie Williams band, Craig Eddie winner of The Voice 2021 and Paul McCarthy star of TV’s Grange Hill.
There are more exciting guest lined up over the next few months.
The interview will be broadcast on Friday from 6pm on The Edinburgh Weekender Show. You can listen to Mix 1 Radio on your Alexa, just ask Alexa to enable the Mix 1 Radio Skill then Alexa Play Mix 1 Radio or listen online via their website Mix1Radio.co.uk
In response to the rising cost of living, thanks to funding from The Edinburgh Wellbeing Pact ‘Coorie in for Winter’ fund, LifeCare is opening a Warm Space for the community this winter.
We will be welcoming people to join us in our cosy cafe space at the LifeCare Centre in Stockbridge on Saturdays and Sundays between 3.30pm and 6.30pm. We will be offering free soup and hot drinks as well as board games and books to enjoy.
