The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 23 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

NHS Lothian: East Lothian Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub

A hub is available for people in East Lothian to access information, advice and practical support about mental health and wellbeing. Set up in East Lothian Community Hospital, it aims to help people find out about the wide range of services that are available in the local community.

Any adult who is concerned about their own mental health and wellbeing, or supporting someone else’s, can drop in to pick up information or speak to an advisor.

The Hub is run by a team of psychologists at the hospital who are regularly joined by representatives from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, East Lothian Works, Changes East Lothian, and Community Link Workers from Penumbra.

Dr Alison Wells, Consultant Clinical Psychologist for NHS Lothian, explains: “We started this hub to help signpost patients and visitors to the wide range of therapeutic, wellbeing, practical or social support available.

“Anyone can struggle with their mental health and wellbeing, feel anxious, low or down, particularly during these challenging times. There’s an abundance of services which can help so we encourage anyone who is worried to pop along for a private chat or just to pick up some information.”

The Hub runs every Wednesday between 12noon and 2pm in the foyer just off the main entrance to East Lothian Community Hospital.

It provides access to a range of materials including those from the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership and local third-party organisations.

NHS clinicians are on hand to help direct people to the information and support available. A Citizen’s Advice Bureau Adviser is also available to help with queries about housing, finances and benefits and other questions.

Fiona Wilson, Chief Officer and Joint Director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, added: “We are really pleased to be able to offer this open-door mental health support to the people of East Lothian.

“Taking the first step and seeking advice can often be the hardest. We hope this resource will encourage people to come forward, no matter how big or small they think the problem may be, and look after their mental health, just as they would their physical health.”

People can also access information about mental health and wellbeing advice and support online at wellbeinglothian.scot and nhsinform.scot

Thanks for the lift, dad!

Edinburgh father to fly son’s Pipe Band to New York

A group of gifted young pipers will enjoy first-class treatment as they travel to the Big Apple to perform in the 26^th Tartan Day Parade aboard a plane piloted by a father to one of the youngsters.

Captain Simon Rankin from Edinburgh is thrilled to be flying the boys to New York for the big event. He said: “It’s a privilege to be flying The Merchiston Castle School Pipe Band to New York, particularly as I am a dad to one of the students!

“All of us at Virgin Atlantic are delighted to be part of creating such great experiences and memories for all of the boys. Enjoy Tartan Week and the magic of NYC!”

Merchiston Castle School’s Pipe Band is performing at the ceremony on the 6^{th of} April, joining over 3000 bagpipers, highland dancers, clan organisations and Scottish dog breeds marching proudly up Sixth Avenue to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture.

Scotland’s leading independent all-boys school, Merchiston boasts an impressive Pipe Band, directed by the 5-time Champion bagpiper and composer Kyle Warren. Under Kyle’s tutelage, the music group has competed at local, national and international level, recently taking first prize in the Junior B Grade at the Glasgow Highland Club competition.

Kyle Warren, Director of Pipe and Drums at Merchiston, said: “It is a privilege to be attending the 26^th anniversary of the NYC Tartan Day Parade with Merchiston’s Pipe Band to celebrate Scottish heritage and culture.

“I am incredibly proud of the boy’s dedication and commitment to rehearsals and practice to ensure the band performs at its best on the international stage.

“I’m confident this will be a trip the boys will remember forever and can look back on with incredible memories – starting with a flight expertly piloted by Simon Rankin!”

TUC: Office workers at risk of being “cheated” out of minimum wage as new rate comes into force

Salaried workers could be paid illegally low wages as minimum wage set to go up tomorrow

The TUC has warned that office workers and other salaried workers could be at risk of being “cheated” out of the minimum wage by their employer.

The warning comes ahead of the introduction of the new rate of the minimum wage from Monday 1 April.

A salaried worker – many of whom are office workers – is paid an annual salary which stays the same regardless of fluctuations in the hours they work. This is paid in equal payments, usually monthly or 4-weekly.

The TUC analysis shows that for an employer to be minimum wage compliant as of 1 April:

Workers doing 35 hours per week will have to be paid at least £20,821 a year
Workers doing 37.5 hours per week will have to be paid at least £22,308 a year
Workers doing 40 hours per week will have to be paid at least £23,795 a year
Workers doing 42.5 hours per week will have to be paid at least £25,282 a year

The TUC was easily able to find online adverts for salaried jobs still advertised below the incoming minimum wage in roles.

Minimum wage non-compliance is usually associated with jobs paid at an hourly rate where non-compliance is more prevalent.

The Low Pay Commission estimates that over 430,000 salaried workers are on the minimum wage or less. But as the minimum wage rises, many more salaried workers may be within scope – and will find that they are being illegally underpaid if their salaries do not rise.

Salaried jobs have almost doubled as a proportion of minimum wage jobs since 2015. LPC analysis finds that 14.6% of minimum wage jobs were salaried in 2015 compared to 28.8% in 2023.

Unpaid overtime

Even where salaries do go up, the TUC says many salaried workers could still be facing an additional risk of underpayment. This is because many will also be putting in hours of unpaid overtime. Although they might be paid the minimum wage or above for their contracted hours, their unpaid overtime could mean they are working hourly for less than the minimum wage.

UK employers claimed £26billion of free labour last year because of workers doing unpaid overtime, according to TUC analysis. The average weekly unpaid overtime is just over 7 hours.

That means a British salaried worker who is contracted 35 hours per week who does the typical amount of overtime would need to be paid £25,000 to be paid the minimum wage at an hourly rate.

The law sets out that employers must pay at least the minimum wage for all hours actually worked, even if they are in addition to the hours in the worker’s contract.

The TUC warns desk-based office workers are often expected to put in hours of overtime as part of their job.

Underpayment in the first month

The TUC has today warned April will likely see more than a quarter of a million workers paid less than the minimum wage this month, as the new rate of the minimum wage comes into force.

The union body says the significant scale of underpayment when a new rate comes in underlines the “urgent need for investment in our enforcement system”.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The minimum wage is the very least employers should pay their workers. It’s their legal duty.

“But too many workers are cheated out of pay by bad bosses, who choose to pay staff illegally low rates.

“Minimum wage cheats exploit workers from a range of jobs – and desk-based office jobs are no exception.

“And to make matters worse, many desk-based workers are expected to put in hours of overtime for free. That’s not right.

“It’s time for a New Deal for Working People – like Labour is proposing – which will deliver a real living wage, boost wages across the board and beef up our enforcement system so that bad bosses can’t get away with failing to pay their staff the minimum wage.”

Police: Operation Springvalley

#Op Springvalley is the south-east response to youth disorder, anti-social-behaviour & criminal activity, targeting all categories of criminality via prevention, disruption, intelligence gathering and enforcement.

Community Sgt Jen Macgregor said: ‘Our officers will be out conducting high-viz patrols to provide reassurance, engage with the community, prevent offending, and gather intelligence.’

Wishing you all a happy Easter, stay safe!

#OpSpringvalley

Long term rent controls proposed

Housing Bill measure to help tenants stay in their homes

Long term rent controls would help keep homes affordable for tenants in future, under new legislation to create a fairer, better regulated rented sector.

The Housing (Scotland) Bill, introduced to Parliament last week, sets out how close working with councils will ensure rent controls are tailored to the local needs of tenants and landlords in different parts of the country.

Publication of the Bill, which will be scrutinised and voted on by MSPs, comes as temporary changes to the way rents are decided, through adjudication, come into force. From 1 April, these changes will ensure people are protected from very steep rent rises, following the end of the rent cap. Proposed rent increases after this date will still need to give three months’ notice.

Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie said: “Scotland has led the way within the UK in supporting and strengthening the rights of people who rent their homes.

“The Housing Bill sets out our next steps on the path towards a fairer, well-regulated private rented sector, which is good for both tenants and landlords and encourages investment.

“While the Parliament prepares to consider this legislation, we are also taking steps to support tenants with the pressures they are facing here and now.

“Our temporary changes to the ways that rents are decided will come into place from April 1 – to protect people who may be facing very steep increases as the temporary rent cap comes to the end of its final extension period.”

Gladiator victory ‘no surprise’

How SCOTS Military Training Forged Gladiators Champion

The Edinburgh based fitness trainer at the barracks of Gladiators winner Major Finlay Anderson has expressed his lack of surprise at the standout performance of his fellow soldier.

Sergeant John Fleming, who has trained over a thousand soldiers at Glencorse Barracks in the outskirts of Edinburgh, believes Finlay’s military training played a huge part in his success in the hit BBC show.

John, who helps soldiers of all ranks reach and maintain peak physical fitness, said: “I’m not surprised that a soldier from The Royal Regiment of Scotland was able to beat the Gladiators – our training is to the highest, most demanding standards and anyone who is capable of enduring it could really take on the challenge in terms of fitness and endurance.

“The way we train means it’s not just about physical strength and stamina – it’s the mental resilience that gives our soldiers the edge and the ability to take on any challenge.”

SCOTS soldiers under John’s training are required to have a minimum of three physical training sessions per week, at least 60 minutes dedicated to self-directed fitness. And, in the lead-up to operations, sessions significantly increase in intensity, becoming testing and uncomfortable as soldiers’ overall fitness and mental resilience is pushed to extremes.

John said: “Our gym and training ground doesn’t exactly look like the Gladiators stadium, but it certainly is a space where soldiers learn physical discipline and, when necessary, push themselves to their limits.

“Soldiers are first put through the foundation phase, teaching correct movement and injury prevention. We then move onto the resilience phase, where soldiers’ cardio strengths are put to the test in full kit.

“The final phase is the ‘Specific Phase’, which puts soldiers through their paces by focusing on strength training through various testing exercises. This really is the toughest part.”

With seven years as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) under his belt, John has helped over a thousand SCOTS Soldiers develop and improve their own physical training, mental resilience, and overall strength.

Aged just 17, John started his army journey with six years as an Infantry soldier within the Royal Regiment of Scotland and two years as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer before joining the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC), igniting his passion for fitness into his career development.

Ahead of stepping into the official role of Physical Training Instructor (PTI), John endured a tough selection process in Aldershot, which tested his physical and mental strength to the limit. Within the grueling 19-weeks of training, John was taught how to develop advanced physical training techniques, leadership skills, instructional methods and widen his military understanding.

John said: “Being a PTI in the Army is a tough, but extremely rewarding job. Not only do I get to bolster the fittest soldier athletes, but I also get to train those who need some extra support, where Army levels of fitness may not come as naturally to them.”

The Prime Minister’s Easter message

Happy Easter everyone. This weekend, as people come together to celebrate and reflect on the message at the heart of the Easter festival, I want to pay tribute to the incredible work of Christians in this country.

To the churches, charities, volunteers and fundraisers who live the Christian values of compassion, charity and self-sacrifice, supporting those in need and demonstrating what it means to “love thy neighbour”.

Many, I know, will also be thinking of those in pain and suffering around the world and Christians, persecuted because of their faith, who are unable to celebrate Easter freely.

For many of us in the UK, Easter is a chance to pause and reflect, and an opportunity to spend some precious time with our families and a moment to enjoy the start of spring.

So this weekend, let me wish you all a very happy and peaceful Easter.

Whitehouse Road crash: man charged

A 50-year-old man has been charged in connection with road traffic offences following a two car crash on Whitehouse Road that happened around 6.30pm on Wednesday, 6 March.

A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Edinburgh International Film Festival announces collaboration with Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Out of Competition, Midnight Madness and Repertory strands will showcase the best in UK and World cinema

The newly relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has today announced a landmark collaboration with the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe which will open up the Film Festival programme in new venues across the city including non-traditional cinema spaces at Summerhall and the heart of the Fringe footprint.

From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will see film embedded in the August festival ecosystem, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF.

Spaces in Summerhall and others at the heart of the Fringe will serve as unique and unusual EIFF venues, creating a new EIFF footprint in close proximity to wider Fringe activity including theatre, music and comedy, ensuring audience engagement with Edinburgh’s summer festivals is easier than ever before.

This year’s cinema hub will be the Cameo Cinema on Home Street, one of the original venues for EIFF and home to some of its most iconic moments, including a speech from Orson Welles as part of the Festival in 1953.

This year’s EIFF programme will include a strand of Out of Competition films including international premieres, UK premieres and additional world premieres sitting alongside the 10 world-premiere feature films competing for The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence.

A Midnight Madness strand will showcase the best in genre cinema from around the world in a late night slot.

A repertory strand will champion retrospective and restored masterworks.

Innovative short film programmes will also run alongside this year’s EIFF Short Film Competition, which will award a cash prize of £15,000. The title of the Short Film Competition will be revealed soon.

Industry activity will run across the first weekend of the Festival with more announcements to follow in the next few weeks. Submissions to the 77th EIFF are currently open, with a final deadline of 19 April.

EIFF honours 70+ years of film festival history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking in a format rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. The Film Festival encourages general audiences, film fans and industry professionals to make the trip this summer to Edinburgh, which is universally recognised as a place of beauty, history, discovery and adventure.

EIFF Director, Paul Ridd said: “We are so excited by the possibilities of August in Edinburgh and the shape of our programme as it comes together.

“Our collaboration with the Fringe will grow a powerful relationship between audiences across artistic forms. We will tap into the creative energy that is everywhere in the city, encouraging critics, tastemakers and above all audiences to engage with each other and all that is on show.”

Recently announced, The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence is a £50,000 award given to a single filmmaker as part of a new features competition prize at the centre of the relaunched festival.

10 world-premiere feature films will compete for the cash prize, to be determined by audience vote. EIFF will also inaugurate a short film competition with a cash prize of £15,000. Submissions are now open. Criteria for submitting films to the Festival can be found at www.edfilmfest.org.

Helmed by Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.

Former Acquisitions Executive Ridd is supported by an expanding Board, including Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; and Amy Jackson, producer of last year’s BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun. EIFF 2024 is supported by Screen Scotland.