MONDAY 24th OCTOBER 9am – 5pm at MEGGETLAND
Coaching Recruitment Day Reminder!
We are hosting a coaching recruitment open day at Meggetland Sports Complex this Monday 24th October between 9am – 5pm and are looking for enthusiastic people to join our swimming and gymnastics teams.
See our website https://edinburghleisure.co.uk/careers/open-days
MORE than two million people are being prevented from seeing their grandchildren, a new survey reveals.
It found a million have been completely locked out of their lives and 250,000 nans and grandads have never been allowed to see their children’s offspring.
And at least 150,000 have been warned by police to stop attempting to contact their grandkids.
Family lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt, whose firm Lloyd Platt & Co commissioned the survey by Savanta which spoke to 1,000 grandparents, said: “The survey bore out our concerns about the rights of grandchildren to have grandparents in their life.
“The system is failing grandparents up and down the country. It is a scandal.”
The survey also revealed the youngest grandparent in the UK is 32-years-old.
Savanta also found it is either the grandparents’ son’s wife or partner stopping access, with 40% responding with that reason.
And a personal disagreement was the main cause, 32%, behind being locked out.
Campaigners are now demanding a law change and say it could have avoided such tragic deaths as Arthur Labingo-Hughes and Star Hobson who were killed by their parents.
They want an amendment to the Children’s Act 1989 to enshrine in law the child’s right to have a relationship with their grandparents.
One of them, Jasvinder Sanghera, told GB News: “Grandparents are significant in the lives of children, including those at risk. It is clear grandparents raised alarm bells in both cases and I have to ask the question: would it have made a difference if grandparents were given significant status in The Children Act?
“Arthur and Star were let down by the system. And these survey results prove our worst fears.
“Desperate grandparents up and down the country and being refused access to their grandchildren.
“I have an 86-year-old law-abiding grandmother come to me who has been reported to the police for sending presents to their grandchildren. She was interviewed in a police station and told to accept a caution for her behaviour.
“People are getting police knocking at their door after being reported for harassment just for sending a birthday card.
“It is ruining lives and something needs to be done to help these good people.”
Arthur died aged six during the pandemic in 2020 at the hands of his evil father and his girlfriend.
His grandparents had reported fears of abuse to social services but were told by authorities there was no safeguarding issues.
Star was killed aged one by her mother’s girlfriend in the same year.
Suspected abuse was repeatedly reported to social services by her grandparents but cases were closed.
Campaigners calling for the law change say if adults are given “significant people” rights then they have more power to act as a guardian for their grandchildren.
They also blasted the Ministry of Justice over lack of action after then Minister Lucy Frazer QC said in 2018 she would consider a change in the law to establish a “presumption” that grandparents can see their grandchildren after parents split up.
One of Scotland’s most celebrated photographers Stew Bryden is set to host his debut solo showcase at lifestyle aparthotel, Native Edinburgh this November.
This new creative collaboration will see ten striking pieces shot by Bryden and displayed in Counter by Native Edinburgh, for all to enjoy. Running from Thursday, November 3rd, the exhibit is free to attend, and whilst there guests can discover their hidden coffee and cocktail speakeasy – Counter. The perfect backdrop for the stunning exhibition.
Bryden, who is known for his celebrity, fashion and portrait shots, will launch the boutique hotel’s Artist in Residence series that seeks out programming to ignite creative imagination, with an ethos to create great places, with great people, in great areas.
Native Aparthotels are spaces to entertain and be entertained and this new initiative is sure to impress with a ten piece collection that will be on display from Thursday, November 3rd until the end of the year.
At the Edge of Things is in homage to Virginia Woolf’s most experimental work, The Waves: an exploration of the trinity shared between individuality, the self and community.
An iridescent display of eclectic suits, sequin-adorned cocktail dresses and layered outerwear, the visual captures each look within its own habitat — far removed from each other and yet merged into one singular narrative.
As spoken word plucked straight from Woolf’s novel plays over a psychedelic harmony, the images and film flawlessly exudes the themes of its muse: portraying multiple stories merged into one, a unity between the self and other.
Much like fashion itself, the work(s) bear a compelling power that celebrates our limited time on earth.
Stewart Bryden gained his Hons Degree in Glasgow, Scotland before moving to New York City, working within the Chinatown based studio of world-renowned American photographer and artist Ryan Mcginley.
Now based between London, Berlin and Scotland, Stewart has gained commissions and continues to work with some of the world’s most up and coming and leading brands, publications and agencies. He’s shot for the likes of Fendi, Gucci, Max Mara, LV, and editorial clients include Wonderland, Man about town and Clash Magazine.
Olivia Immesi, Managing Director of Native Places, said: “Stewart is a true visual tastemaker and it’s such a pleasure to have him as our first Artist in Residence at Native Edinburgh.
“We’re excited to champion his work and host an exclusive celebration of creative photography here in Edinburgh.”
Stew Bryden, owner of Stewart Bryden said: “As a visual artist it’s always exciting to see your work exhibited, more so with this being my debut solo residency.
“These images and accompanying film were a true passion project and collaboration with some incredibly talented individuals, I’m very proud of the work and for Native places to approach me as their debut artist in residence is very exciting”
Stewart Bryden’s At The Edge of Things will be on display in Counter at Native Edinburgh from Thursday, November 3rd until the end of the year. It’s free to attend and Counter is open seven days a week from 8am – 1am.
To enjoy a stay, book directly with Native aparthotels, by heading to https://www.nativeplaces.com/
Although ghosts and ghouls might give us a scare, nothing frightens us more than our pets being in danger. From poisonous food to dangerous decorations, there are many things that could give our pets a fright this Halloween.
Luckily, PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has put together its top tips to help prevent any cat-astrophes this spooky season.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Nina Downing, said: “Between spooky costumes and an increase in visitors to the house, Halloween can bring lots of dangers and stressful situations for our four-legged friends.
However, by taking a few small steps, we can keep Halloween fun for everyone:
While chocolate may be a nice treat for us, it is a nasty trick for pets. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to pets, even in small amounts. The same goes for sweets, if they contain a sweetener called xylitol (sometimes called birch sugar). So, while you prepare for trick or treaters, be sure to store these goodies somewhere your pet won’t be able to reach them.
If your favourite tradition is carving out pumpkins, be sure to keep pets away from them to prevent them from eating the fruit, as it will go off or become mouldy.
A constant stream of unfamiliar people knocking on your door can make some pets feel anxious, especially if they’re not used to lots of visitors. So, why not place a ‘help yourself’ bucket outside your home so little heroes or villains can pick out their own sweets without upsetting your furry family members?
Many pets love playing with toys, and dangly decorations are a strong temptation for our furry friends to explore. However, if they get hold of them, they could end up chewing and swallowing something harmful. So, make sure you hang any decorations safely out of reach! Additionally, be sure to keep lit candles away from your furry friends to help prevent them from burning themselves.
Trick-or-treaters in creepy costumes, coupled with loud music from parties, can cause many pets to feel scared or overwhelmed, so it’s a good idea to take your pooch for a walk earlier in the day, before any spook-tastic celebrations begin.
You can also encourage your puss to come home by offering their dinner slightly earlier, before it gets dark outside. However, if you’re closing their cat flap for the evening, make sure you have a litter tray set up and a snuggly bed ready for them to settle down in.
While we may love to dress up as goblins and ghouls for Halloween, pets don’t share our enthusiasm. Costumes can make pets feel stressed and uncomfortable. Our four-legged friends are adorable just as they are, and there are other ways to get them involved this Halloween, such as a cuddling up for a spooky movie night together.
For more information on how to keep pets happy this Halloween you can visit:
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/halloween-survival-guide-for-pets
PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity. We’re on a mission to improve pet wellbeing through prevention, education and treatment.
Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information. www.pdsa.org.uk
New research from insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 reveals Scottish firms had almost 1.7 million overdue invoices on their books in the last quarter.
R3’s analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows 1,696,445 invoices were overdue in Scotland in Q3 – an increase of 7.1% from Q2’s total of 1,583,353.
Scotland and the West Midlands saw the biggest quarter-on-quarter rise in overdue invoices across the UK, followed by Northern Ireland (6.9% increase), the East Midlands (5.4%) and East Anglia (5.2%).
And Scottish businesses’ debt burden has been increasing steadily since the beginning of the year, rising from 552,897 unpaid bills in July, to 564,375 in August and 579,173 in September.
Almost 101,500 Scottish businesses reported that they had late payments on their books in Q3 2022 – a figure which peaked at 33,936 firms in September.
Richard Bathgate, Chair of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 in Scotland, says: “This research highlights late payment is a growing issue in Scotland, and would suggest that businesses are facing ongoing cash-flow challenges, whether that’s supplier or client side …
“For small businesses that rely on regular income, even if just one client fails to pay or there is a delay in payment, that can have a serious effect – and in some cases, may mean they become financially distressed or insolvent.”
Richard, who is Restructuring Partner at Johnston Carmichael in Aberdeen continues: “I would urge the directors of any businesses who are worried about the impact of late payments or are worried about their ability to pay their invoices to seek professional advice.
“There are many steps that can be taken to support businesses, but they can only be taken if you move quickly and act early before the issue spirals.”
Brendan Michael Gaughan, 40, from Glasgow has been disqualified as a director for 12 years, after using his companies to take out Bounce Back Loans totalling £135,000 that the companies were not eligible for.
Gaughan was director of three separate property management companies, Gaughan Group Ltd, Gaughan Property Ltd, and Rentl Property Ltd. They were only incorporated in February 2020 and did no business until April 2020.
As a result, they were not eligible for funds through the Bounce Back Loan (BBL) scheme, which was available only to firms that had been doing business on 1 March 2020.
However in May 2020, Gaughan Group received a BBL of £50,000, Gaughan Property received a BBL also of £50,000, and Rentl Property Ltd received a BBL of £35,000.
Gaughan transferred all the funds into a single account and proceeded to use the money to buy a property worth nearly £160,000 in August 2020. He then sold the property in March 2021 for just over £140,000, and on the same day transferred £100,000 of the proceeds to his personal account.
All three companies were put into liquidation on 11 October 2021, which triggered an investigation by the Insolvency Service.
The Secretary of State accepted disqualification undertakings from Brendan Michael Gaughan, after he did not dispute that none of his companies had been eligible for Bounce Back Loans.
He has been banned for 12 years, effective from 27 October 2022.
The disqualification undertakings prevent him from directly, or indirectly, becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court.
Steven McGinty, Investigation Manager at the Insolvency Service said: “Bounce Back Loans were made available for trading companies adversely affected by the pandemic.
“Brendan Gaughan should have known his companies weren’t entitled to the loans yet he took them anyway and used the funds for personal gain.
“We will not hesitate to take action against directors who have abused Covid-19 financial support like this.”
Brendan Michael Gaughan is of Glasgow and his date of birth is November 1982.
Gaughan Group Ltd – SC655799
Gaughan Property Ltd – SC655896
Rentl Property Ltd – SC655897
Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.
Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.
Information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.
Thousands of victims of the historic infected blood scandal, which occurred in the 70’s and 80’s, are being contacted this week to confirm that interim compensation payments will be made by the end of October.
The payments deliver the government’s commitment to meet, in full, the recommendations set out by infected blood inquiry chairman Sir Brian Langstaff in his interim report.
Infected individuals and bereaved partners who are registered with any of the four UK infected blood support schemes will receive letters this week confirming the £100,000 alongside details of how the money will be paid.
This follows confirmation that payments will not be subject to any tax or national insurance deductions. Neither will they affect any financial benefits support an individual is receiving.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “I know from my own discussions with constituents who are victims of the infected blood scandal just how traumatic their heart-breaking experiences have been and I was proud to campaign as an MP on their behalf and continue that work as a government minister.
“No level of compensation will ever make up for the appalling treatment and circumstances that those affected by this scandal and their families have had to endure, but I hope that these interim payments go some way to demonstrate that we are, and always will be, on their side.”
Minister of State for Health, Will Quince, said: “The infected blood tragedy should never have happened. That’s why we’ve accepted Sir Brian Langstaff’s interim recommendations in full to help right this historic wrong for the thousands of people infected and bereaved partners left behind.
It’s right these interim compensation payments are being made as quickly as possible and I want to thank NHSBSA and the other UK scheme administrators for their relentless work on this. We’re continuing to listen and will be looking closely at any further recommendations as the Inquiry concludes.
The interim compensation payments will build on the support to those affected by the scandal already provided by the four UK infected blood support schemes.
The Government will respond to any further recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry and its Chair Sir Brian Langstaff when the Inquiry concludes next year.
These interim compensation payments are expected to reach around £400 million for the whole UK, with agreement also reached for payments to be made through schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as those in England.
It takes a whole society to work together to help people who face homelessness and prevent families from losing their homes. This autumn and winter, we must all look out for those around us.
With the lowest proportion of social housing in the country and the biggest, most expensive, private rented sector, the current economic climate is worrying for Edinburgh. This is a rapidly growing city and we already face housing pressures like nowhere else in Scotland.
Our fundamental problem is that, in spite of all the council’s efforts to build new affordable homes, we simply do not have enough to fulfil the demand and we are calling on the Scottish Government to support Scotland’s capital city by providing the funding that will allow us to unlock the means to build warm and affordable homes like those we’re building in West Granton.
The cost of living crisis gives me grave concern that even more households in Edinburgh could be forced into debt, financial insecurity and ultimately feel unable to afford their own home. No one should have to experience the stress of not having a safe and permanent home and the daily pressures facing people experiencing homelessness are unimaginable for most.
Sadly, after the pandemic we’re starting to see numbers of homeless cases gradually rise again – highlighting just how important and urgent it is that people understand the help which exists.
We are focusing our efforts on prevention and helping people to stay in their current homes, putting plans in place to help those at risk of fuel poverty and creating a dedicated cost of living directory, and we’re working with Changeworks as we do every year to make homes warmer and more energy efficient.
Our Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan steps up activity to prevent homelessness, maximises our supply of and access to settled housing options, reduces the time people spend as homeless – especially in temporary accommodation – and helps us to provide tailored support as and when people need it. It is a five-year plan which prioritises prevention and directs every decision we make.
Council tenants’ rents have been frozen for two years running and we’re considering extending this for another year.
A dedicated team has been tasked with reducing the number of people who become homeless from the private rented sector, and I urge landlords to extend the freeze on their rents when government rules lift next year.
Landlords, including those with short-term lets, can also sign over to Private Sector Leasing – receiving market rates and guaranteed tenancies through the council and providing an essential home for someone in need.
We’re developing pathways to avoid homelessness for people at key transition points in their life – such as leaving hospital or prison or fleeing domestic abuse – and have specialist support in place for anyone at these junctures.
In 2020 we adopted a new Domestic Abuse Housing Policy which aims to give people affected by domestic abuse access a range of housing options. It prioritises, where possible, those subjected to abuse safely staying where they are or moving quickly and with strong support into a safer space.
I’m so grateful to the many officers, third sector organisations, partners and volunteers in our city who work day and night to help people in desperate need. As a Bethany soup kitchen volunteer I have seen first-hand the difference charity workers and local residents can make to improve – even save – lives.
Streetwork is a charity that supports people who are homeless in Edinburgh – please do contact them on 0808 178 2323 if you are worried about someone you think is homeless. We also have an emergency out of hours service which can be contacted at any time on 0800 032 5968.
For more information, advice and support on homelessness or helping someone in need, visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homeless-risk.
NHS staff in Scotland are set to receive a record pay rise of £2,205 – an average 7% pay uplift – to help tackle the cost of living crisis and retain staff during the tougher winter months.
This increased offer was made after constructive negotiations between the Scottish Government and NHS Unions, which lasted into the early hours of Friday morning (21 October).
The offer would mean the lowest paid seeing a rise of more than 11%, with qualified nursing staff receiving up to 8.45%, helping the lowest paid staff through the cost of living crisis.
If agreed, the pay uplift, which amounts to almost half a billion pounds (£480m), will benefit more than 160,000 employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals and healthcare support staff.
This is the largest pay offer given to NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff since devolution and will mean they remain the best paid in the UK. If accepted, the offer will be backdated to 1 April 2022, and could be added to pay cheques in time for Christmas.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am grateful to trade union colleagues and NHS employers for constructive discussions on pay.
“This has been another exceptionally challenging year for our health service and we have a difficult winter ahead, but I am pleased that we are able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare and support staff with this pay offer.
“We owe NHS staff a debt of gratitude for leading us through the greatest public health crisis in recent history.
“This improved pay offer – which is the largest of its kind since devolution – reflects their hard work and will go a long way to help them through the cost of living crisis. We are rightly focussing the biggest increases for those who are the lowest paid, as we know the cost crisis is impacting them disproportionately.”
However the Scottish government’s latest pay offer remains a real terms pay cut for the majority of nursing staff, according to the Royal College of Nursing.
The offer comes after discussions with the health trade unions, Cabinet Secretary, Deputy First Minister, Scottish government officials and employers.
Scottish government failed to take the opportunity to recognise the clinical skill, expertise and leadership of registered nurses.
When compared to the previous offer from May 2022, this offer sees a lower percentage increase for those higher up the Agenda for Change bandings. The RCN has called for an across the board pay increase that is 5% above inflation.
Julie Lamberth said: “Nurse staffing levels are dangerously low. We need fair pay to attract more people into nursing and to keep the skilled nurses we already have.
“We want to be able to provide the best possible care for our patients but too often, the lack of staff and demand on services is standing in our way. Too many of us are making the decision to walk away from the profession. The Scottish Government has the power to stop this. The people of Scotland deserve better, so do we. Please post you ballot back today.”
RCN Scotland Director Colin Poolman said: “Yet again the Scottish Government has failed to listen to our members concerns for the safety of their patients. They have failed to recognise the safety critical role of nursing staff and their essential contribution to our NHS and our nation’s health.
“Under this proposal, registered nurses continue to face a significant real terms pay cut. This is even more stark with the news that inflation reached a 40 year high. Many are making difficult decisions about how to heat their homes, feed their families and travel to work while carrying the burden of being unable to do the best for their patients due to severe staff shortages.
“Our ballot for strike action continues. Today’s offer will make our members more determined to have their voice heard. I would urge members to vote in favour of strike and to post back their ballot papers now.”
A projection by street artist Pegasus appeared across Scottish Cities this week.
Pegasus, who was close friends with Amy Winehouse, is renowned for his distinctive artwork that can be found across the capital.
Speaking on the project he said, “This campaign struck a chord with me as you need to be headstrong as an artist. It’s important to have integrity and honour your true self – by being bold with your personal style or expressing your creativity in other mediums – and not to fear what anyone else says.”
The projections of three headstrong icons – Harry Styles, Mylie Cyrus, and Munroe Bergdorf – could be seen across the city of Edinburgh with the message ‘Let Your Creativity Rule’ which encourages people to be unapologetically themselves in response to research that shows one in five Brits are told they’re not good enough.
Bed Head launches ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign that encourages individuals to let their creativity rule
Posters have appeared across the UK in all major cities
Original rebel hair brand, Bed Head, has launched ‘Stay Headstrong’, a campaign celebrating fearless self-expression and encouraging experimentation.
The ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign is a response to new research that shows that one in five (19%) Brits admit they’ve been told they’re not good enough, with one third (30%) being made to feel inadequate at some point in their lives with regards to how they look. Of those surveyed, more than half (60%) rely on their hair to give them confidence, with two fifths (40%) claiming their hair-do is the most important part of their appearance.
As part of Bed Head’s campaign, the brand has launched ‘Chats from the Chair’, a web content series on its native platform, that features interviews from headstrong queer Grime artist FFSYTHO, cutthroat comedian Lily Phillips, and trans pride activist and creator Lucia Blayke. The interviews shed light on why the ‘stay headstrong’ attitude is so important to each of the stars and illustrates the integral role products play as tools for self-expression, enabling people to be true unapologetic versions of themselves.
When it comes to role models, the consumer research revealed people admire creative challengers Miley Cyrus,Harry Styles and Vivienne Westwood for their bold fearless nature (42%), integrity (47%) and courage to stand up for what they believe in (44%).
The results also showed that half (51%) of Brits think their hair is an extension of their personality, changing their style on average every two or three years (32%).
Of those surveyed, adopting a headstrong attitude has helped people with:
Katie Westerby, Senior Marketing Manager at Bed Head, said: “At Bed Head, our purpose has always been to champion creativity by equipping artists with elevated professional hair care products and encouraging all consumers to push the boundaries of what they can do.
“Being headstrong is not only something we embody as a brand, but a belief we want to instil in everyone who buys our products. We hope that this campaign will spark conversation and motivate new and existing Bed Head devotees, and we can’t wait to see it.”
This year, Bed Head is supporting and donating to STONEWALL a charity that stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. In the UK, more than a third of employees don’t believe it’s appropriate for their LGBTQ+ colleagues to be out in the workplace.
In response to this, Bed Head and STONEWALL want to help create more equal opportunities in society so LGBTQ+ people feel safer in our modern society.
For more information about Bed Head’s ‘Stay Headstrong’ campaign, please visit bedhead.com
