Keep cats cool as temperatures soar, charity warns

Extreme temperatures and unprotected exposure to the sun can be dangerous to pets, the UK’s leading cat charity has warned as the country experiences scorching hot weather.

Cats Protection is keen to remind cat owners of the health risks of sun exposure, such as dehydration, exhaustion and sunburn. In the worst cases, sun-related cancer can be a problem for cats, especially on their ears and noses.

The charity has issued warm weather advice for cat owners:

  • Keep pet cats indoors when the sun is at its hottest, typically between 10am and 3pm.
  • Speak to a vet about suitable sunscreen for pet cats.
  • Provide opportunities for shade outdoors, such as cat hides, large cardboard boxes, or plant plots placed close together.
  • There is a risk of your cat becoming dehydrated in the heat, so always provide an outdoor water source.
  • To stop cats feeling overheated, place a plastic bottle with frozen water inside a towel and place it in an area that the cat frequently visits.

Sarah Elliott, Central Veterinary Officer for Cats Protection, said: “White and pale-coloured cats don’t have a pigment called melanin in their skin, which is what protects humans from sunlight. This can leave them vulnerable to sun damage – usually around the ears.

“Over time, the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of developing skin damage and cancer. Cats with unpigmented noses or ears are also much more susceptible to sun damage and require additional sun protection.”

For advice to avoid sunburn, download Cats Protection’s guidance: https://www.cats.org.uk/media/10837/vet_7701-sunburn-information-sheet-web.pdf 

Dehydration is a particular risk during warm weather. Cats need to remain well hydrated to maintain a normal body temperature, remove waste products and maintain proper circulation, and it is important to ensure that fresh water is always available.

To check if your cat is at risk of dehydration, try some of these tips:

  • Look at their gums. If they are tacky, this may be a first sign of dehydration.
  • Check their eyes. Severely sunken, dry eyes could indicate significant dehydration.
  • Feel their paws. If the paws feel cool or cold, this could be a sign of dehydration
  • Test skin elasticity. In a well-hydrated cat, the skin should snap back into place immediately. If it doesn’t, it could well be dehydrated.

Cats Protection’s tips on keeping cats safe in warm weather can be found at www.cats.org.uk/cats-and-warm-weather

Falklands 40: How one veteran keeps the story of the conflict alive

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Manny Manfred was 30 years old, married with a young son and living in Warminster when the telephone rang and the codeword for recall came through. At the time he was a Sergeant in ‘A’ Company of 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment.

Immediately he packed his bags and headed for the barracks in Tidworth, Hampshire, where his unit was based. Within 72 hours the unit had moved to Southampton to board a P&O cruise ship to set sail south to play their part in the Falklands War. Lasting 74 days, the conflict was the first military action since the Second World War that utilised all elements of the Armed Forces, with 255 British personnel losing their lives.

As a Platoon Sergeant with 3 PARA, Manny was at the centre of the conflict and has been drawing on his first-hand experiences to deliver his Falkland’s presentation to audiences since 1986. His largest audience to date was 700 schoolchildren in Brecon during Armed Forces Week and his most far-flung was on a cruise ship having just left the Falkland Islands. HM Tower of London before a formal dinner in such splendid surroundings is Manny’s most memorable.

Manny, who is a member of RFCA for Wales, estimates that between 12,000 to 15,000 people have heard his presentation, which he delivers around 12 times a year. He regularly presents to regular and reserve personnel at the Infantry Battle School in Brecon.

Manny said: “This year is the 40th anniversary and there are some very poignant lessons that are still valuable for today’s generation of soldiers. It’s the physical hardship that requires our soldiers to be robust and well trained and the ability to project force some distance away under challenging weather conditions. More importantly, the anniversary brings the chance for veterans to join together and relive shared experiences.”

One of his first memories was of walking up the gangway on a requisitioned luxury cruiser – while pot plants and deckchairs which had been used by holidaymakers only days earlier were being taken off on another gangway. The military bands were parading up and down the quayside and there was an unreal sense of occasion.

“Well, it was a bit Rolls Royce. Some people go in aircraft, some people go in military ships but we had a luxury cruise liner that was requisitioned from trade.

“Three major units and attached arms were to travel on the SS Canberra, over 2,000 army, navy and Royal Marine personnel. Ammunition and other supplies were being loaded onto the ship before we sailed”, said Manny.

Belonging to a regiment with parachute in the title, it might be assumed that your expected entry to a battlefield would be from the air. But Manny and his companions found themselves on the Canberra near Ascension Island, practicing a new skill – beach landings from landing craft, ahead of their assault onto the Falklands.

“It was really strange for the first time in my career to undertake beach landings using assault craft which we’d seen in films for many, many years. Effectively, it felt like it was the battle of Normandy in the Second World War all over again.

“I find that the lessons that come from the Falklands are mainly about the men themselves and the need to have well trained, robust individuals.

“People often ask me, weren’t you frightened? Well …you undergo comprehensive, rigorous training and the fear is there; it’s ever-present. When you are in a situation like that it’s how you manage that fear and how you control it and how it’s affecting your subordinates – those in your platoon.

“We move forward and the training kicks in and you just get the job done. It’s a common phrase but getting the job done was so important, overcoming the elements, overcoming the enemy and taking our objectives.”

As a member of RFCA for Wales, Manny believes it’s important that people who have experiences that are of value to today’s generation, use them wherever possible. After 20 years of fighting in desert type conditions, the army are still transitioning their training to fight in a more conventional environment. To quote an Instructor from Brecon – “getting the mindset out of the desert and back into the trees. Manny’s experiences are valuable in achieving this“.

Manny said: “I take every opportunity to deliver my Falkland’s presentation and my experiences of the conflict to RFCA for Wales organisations … and I will keep doing them as long as I am able to and while the feedback is still positive.

“After almost 45 years in uniform, I feel it is time to give something back!!

It’s Clean Air Day!

The evidence base behind Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign on air pollution by Global Action Plan, today reveals the weight of scientific evidence has strengthened, thereby allowing the organisation to publicly confirm for the first time that air pollution can impact every organ in the body. 

The relationship between air pollution and our health has been studied for decades. However, 2022 is the first year Global Action Plan’s review of the evidence base, which is approved by a number of expert bodies, has been able to confirm that air pollution can have health impacts on every major organ in the body, can shorten our lives, contribute towards chronic illness and put us more at risk from COVID-19.

When we breathe polluted air, it can inflame the lining of our lungs, moving into our bloodstream ending up in the heart and brain, causing lung disease, heart disease, dementia, strokes, and cancer.   

As part of Global Action Plan’s ongoing measurement of public attitudes and behaviours around air pollution in partnership with Opinium, survey data (conducted in June 2022) shows the lack of public awareness on the extent of the health impacts of air pollution.

Poor air quality dirties every organ in the body, but Brits only connect it with lung related health issues. 

  • Nearly half (49%) of people think air pollution is connected to worsening of asthma symptoms and 46% to development of asthma.  
  • 44% also rightly connect it to poor lung function development, 42% bronchitis, and 35% lung cancer. 
  • Only 12% of Brits associate it with strokes, 10% with dementia, and 18% poor brain development. 

While public understanding on the health impacts of air pollution is imperative, it is also important that people understand there are actions they can take to decrease air pollution.  

Global Action Plan’s Clean Air Day campaign explains the health impacts, but also showcases the simple steps we can all take to reduce the air pollution we cause and the positive impact that taking action will have for us and our wider community. Whilst these actions are important to give people the agency to tackle air pollution, the campaign also recognises the crucial role that decision makers play in creating clean air communities for all.  

In line with the evidence and this year’s Clean Air Day theme “Air pollution dirties every organ in your body. Take steps to improve your health and the planet this Clean Air Day”, Global Action Plan is promoting the primary action of walking for shorter journeys, for those who can.

A quarter (25%) of journeys in England are under one mile, so for those who are able, swapping the car to walk can make a difference. The charity has also launched its first ever Clean Air Day Walking Playlist and walking toolkit to motivate Brits whilst out walking. 

The key actions for Clean Air Day 2022 include:  

  • Talking to someone about the harms of air pollution. 
  • Walking those short distance trips and leaving the car at home, where you can. 
  • Asking local and national decision makers to make it easier to walk more and have clean air in your community.   

The public can also access free resources on the Clean Air Day website, learn more about air pollution on the Clean Air Hub and calculate their air pollution footprint with suggested actions to reduce it using the Air Pollution Calculator. 

Ahead of Clean Air Day, Global Action Plan has also launched The ICS Framework, a free healthcare resource in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim and Newcastle Hospitals, designed to help NHS leaders tackle air pollution. 

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Clean Air at Global Action Plan says: “Air pollution puts the health of our whole body at risk, it is beyond just a lung health issue. With a growing evidence base, we are able to talk even more clearly about the health harms that air pollution causes for everyone, not just those who are vulnerable.

“But we want the public to know that there is hope – simple actions do have a positive impact on our health and our communities. By asking those who can, to ditch the car for short journeys this Clean Air Day, we hope to inspire and normalise walking and cycling for short trips.

“Not only will walking reduce your air pollution footprint and exposure, it is also the healthiest and cheapest way to get around. But it’s not always easy, so we also want people to ask local decision makers to make it easier for them to walk more and have cleaner air in their community.” 

Dr Karen Exley, UK Health Security Agency says: “Air pollution damages our health in a number of different ways and even shortens our life expectancy. Our understanding of the effects of pollution is increasing all the time and improving the quality of the air we breathe in could prevent thousands of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases over the next two decades.

“We must all make it a priority to reduce air pollution. Every one of us has a shared responsibility to take action and campaigns like Clean Air Day demonstrate how every action has a positive impact.’’ 

Professor Stephen Holgate, Air Quality Expert, says: “Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health from our first breath to our last. When we breathe polluted air, it can inflame the lining of our lungs and get into our bloodstream ending up in the heart and brain.

“It is the biggest environmental threat to our health, no matter who you are or where you live, as air pollution is toxic right down to zero. This growing body of evidence, however harrowing, provides an opportunity to showcase the health impact air pollution has on all of us. I hope this latest analysis highlights the need to act urgently – air pollution is a public health crisis.”  

Professor Frank Kelly, Air Quality Expert, says: “The health and planetary impacts of air pollution and where you are most exposed to poor air quality is still widely misunderstood by the public.

“Analysis like this, as well as public campaigns like Clean Air Day are imperative to raising awareness and further system level change. We need bolder clean air policies and regulation.” 

Upcycled piano sculptures hit perfect note at The Wee Hub

An enormous six-meter-high sculpture of three elephant tusks made entirely of upcycled pianos goes on display as part of a new exhibition marking the official launch of The Wee Hub at Ocean Terminal this Sunday (19 June 2022).

The sculpture, ‘The Elephant in the Room’, is a tripod of elephant tusks topped with more than 50 ‘ivories’ and is one of ten that can be seen in and around the Wee Hub’s community space, which has taken over the former Debenhams store at the waterfront centre in Leith.

Also on display is ‘Half of a Piano Cube’, a pyramid of three playable pianos, ‘Power to the People’, two grand pianos each boasting a large gramophone-like pentagonal horn made from lids and soundboards and ‘Piano Meant-A-Lot’, an allotment shed made entirely from old pianos and piano parts which houses a beautiful old playable upright piano. 

Legless grand piano planter boxes will be filled with vegetables and flowers to complete the bucolic idyll of this particular exhibit.

Each interactive sculpture, conceived and created in Leith by the Pianodrome Community Interest Company, uses locally sourced pianos and the exhibition is their first appearance in Scotland.

As part of The Wee Hub’s official launch, which includes a parade around the centre, circus performances and a series of free events, Tim Vincent -Smith, the artist who designed the sculptures, and Matthew Wright, the Pianodrome producer, will be there from 3pm – 4pm along with Danny McGeever, Edinburgh-based singer songwriter, and Nikki Hill of Dripping Tap Theatre, to give a tour of the sculptures, animating them with music and movement.

Expect music, clowning and a rendition of Sunshine on Leith from Danny.Sean Logan of Full Spectrum, will be there playing the sculptures all day.

Miles Tubb of the Living Memory Association which with the support of Ocean Terminal’s owners created The Wee Hub as a free collaborative space for local community groups in the heart of Leith, said: “Pianodrome’s sculptures are simply fantastic and opening their exhibition as part of our official launch day hits the perfect note.

“They are a community-led organisation, just as all the groups here at The Wee Hub, bringing people together to enjoy the arts, music and our heritage. The day will be a colourful and lively display of local people’s creativity and talents from dance through to circus performance.”

Tim Vincent-Smith and Matthew Wright who are also both musicians from the band S!nk set up Pianodrome in 2017 to build the world’s first amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos. Tim said:

“The sculptures were commissioned by the Leeds International Piano Competition and formed a piano trail around the city which was enjoyed by tens of thousands of people – many made the journey specifically to see them. Having set up in Leith and collecting and working with old pianos from the area, however, exhibiting our sculptures at Ocean Terminal could not be more perfect – it is a bit of a homecoming.

“Working with The Wee Hub also presents us with many opportunities for further collaborations. Here we are at the heart of a lively and creative community and with the likes of Tinderbox, who are also based at OT, we hope to bring piano-inspired workshops and events in the months ahead.”

The Wee Hub Launch also includes a laser sculpture workshop with the artist Jonathon Elder, a fencing demonstration from Salle Holyrood Fencing, Circus workshops from Think Circus, music workshops from Tinderbox, a model railway exhibit, and heritage exhibitions.

There is also a dance programme beginning at 11am with a children’s disco, jazz, a parade and a show from the International Dancers of the Edinburgh Festival Carnival.

The Wee Hub Launch Day Programme:

  • 11am Children’s disco
  • 1pm – Nouvelle Jukebox.  Edinburgh based duo. Jazzy vocals and swinging guitar.
  • 2pm – Cutting of ribbon and parade round the Centre
  • 2.30  – International Dancers from Edinburgh Festival Carnival
  • 3pm – Pianodrome tour with music and movement.
  • 3.15pm – Think Circus performance

Edinburgh Zoo is the People’s Choice!

The Royal Zoological Society scoops national charity award

Edinburgh charity, The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, scooped a top award last night (15 June) at the Scottish Charity Awards run by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

The organisation – a wildlife conservation charity – won the People’s Choice award at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by Sally Magnusson at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glasgow.

Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrates the best of the voluntary sector and this year’s shortlist included 44 individuals and organisations from charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups across the country.

The winner of each of the eight categories was decided by a judging panel, with the ninth People’s Choice category winner decided by the public with over 18,000 votes cast online.

Ben Supple, director of engagement and business development, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said: “I would like to thank everyone who voted for our charity and helped us win this prestigious award. We have been overwhelmed by the public support we have received during the pandemic and would like to dedicate this award to everyone who holds nature dear to their heart.”

The winner of each of the nine categories was decided by a judging panel, with the tenth People’s Choice category winner decided by the public with over 18,000 votes cast online. The winners for the Scottish Charity Awards 2022 are:

  • People’s Choice award: The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
  • Trustee of the Year award: Ian Monteague – Fare Scotland
  • Pioneering Project award: The Access Hub – Simon Community Scotland
  • Climate Conscious award: Sustainable Thinking Scotland
  • Employee of the Year award: Claire Wadsworth – Scottish Families Affected By Alcohol And Drugs
  • Community Action award: FeldyRoo
  • Volunteer of the Year award: Nan Fotheringham – Coatbridge Citizens Advice Bureau
  • Campaign of the Year award: The Big Hare Trail – Leuchie House
  • Pioneering Project award: The Access Hub – Simon Community Scotland
  • Digital Citizen award: Leuchie House
  • Charity of the Year award: S.M.I.L.E Counselling

Anna Fowlie, chief executive of SCVO, said: “At SCVO we know that every day, voluntary organisations across the country are working tirelessly to support the people and communities they help, and are making an incredible impact.

“We are thrilled to have been able to join together in person to celebrate the achievements of our finalists and winners, after hosting the previous two years’ ceremonies online due to the pandemic.

“This year’s finalists have all demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and commitment to their communities and it is a privilege to be able to celebrate their successes.

“Thanks to our sponsors, the team at the Crowne Plaza, our host Sally Magnusson and everyone who made the 2022 Scottish Charity Awards so wonderful. Congratulations to all winners!”

Green light for Forth Street aparthotel

The city council’s Development Management Sub-Committee yesterday granted approval, subject to conditions, for a new 55-room aparthotel on Forth Street and Broughton Street Lane.

This is to be undertaken by independent company, Supercity Aparthotels.

Its first operation in Edinburgh, the aparthotel will incorporate Forth House and Playfair House, current home to Radio Forth, with associated parking, landscaping, and ancillary works.

The stylish aparthotel will includea communal lounge/bar area, with reception facilities provided on a 24/7 basis, and a gym will also be provided. It is estimated that around 18 jobs will be created by the new operation, which lies in close proximity to the city centre, contributing to tourism, which is the city’s third biggest source of employment.

Supercity Aparthotel’s core clients are business travellers and extended stay guests attracted by the central locations. It offers long stay incentives through a higher level of discount for medium-long term bookings. These core client characteristics mean that movements to/from the property will be less than that of the existing use.

The front of B-listed Forth House will remain mostly unchanged, serving to preserve the historic building. Minor changes are proposed on the rear elevation, such as changing an existing opening to a door.

Modern Playfair House, fronting Broughton Street Lane, will be stripped back to its superstructure and a new facade of natural stone and precast concrete built to align with adjacent buildings, reinstating the mews street frontage.

The site benefits from excellent transport links and as such, the existing parking provision is being reduced from 24 spaces to seven. There is some demand for parking associated with the business which will be located within the building undercroft and will not be visible from the street.

Five of the car parking spaces will include electric vehicle charging points. Ten secure cycle parking spaces will be located internally with an additional four external spaces located in the car park.

Roger Walters, Chairman of Supercity Aparthotels commented: “We are delighted that our aparthotel operation has been approved by the committee, which will preserve the fabulous Forth House.

“This is an excellent location for our first operation in Edinburgh, lying close to the busy city centre and will also serve to benefit the community through reducing movements to and from the building than is currently the case.

“We look forward to working commencing onsite and will continue to engage with the community to ensure that it is kept updated as works progress.”

Operating in London, Manchester and Brighton, Supercity Aparthotels is primarily aimed at extended stay guests and business travellers, have led the way in superior and stylish serviced apartment hotels. Its signature personalised and flexible service has established a level of comfort, convenience, and attention to detail that only true independently owned and operated companies can achieve.

It currently has six properties with two new locations in city centre York and Leeds opening by 2023, with strong aspirations to expand into more key locations across the UK.

IT’S SCRADUATION DAY!

Scran Academy AGM this evening

We have our AGM/Graduation at Fetlor Youth Club today and it would be great if some of our local partner were able to attend to help us celebrate what the young people have achieved and some of the plans for the future.

Ian Midwinter

Chief Executive, Scran Academy

www.scranacademy.com

@Scranacademy

Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan launched at The Gathering

Increasing opportunities across Scotland’s communities

People, places and communities are at the heart of a new Volunteering Action Plan, launched in Glasgow yesterday at The Gathering, SCVO’s celebration of Scotland’s voluntary sector.

The plan aims to create an environment where everyone can volunteer, more often, and throughout their lives, with a specific focus on tackling inequality within volunteering, so that those who would traditionally experience barriers to volunteering can benefit and contribute.

Led by Volunteer Scotland and the Scottish Government, the plan was developed with over 100 participants, who have brought integral themes to the action plan including building knowledge and developing skills, supporting local communities and promoting the value of volunteers.

It will be boosted by £100,000 investment from the Scottish Government in the Make Your Mark Heritage volunteering campaign, which will help develop training and guidance to support inclusive volunteering.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “The value of volunteering has hit a high over the last two years, when nearly three million people stepped up during the pandemic to help in our communities. Volunteers continue to be critical to Scotland’s Covid recovery and renewal.

“Across Scotland, volunteers make absolutely vital contributions every day to their families, communities and society as a whole. They do it because they care and want to help and support others. Throughout Scotland, people are volunteering and contributing on the issues that matter to them.

“Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan will increase awareness of the vital role of volunteers in the delivery of services across Scotland from health and social care, children and families and sport. Volunteering is powerful and it matters.” 

Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland, said: “Volunteering is the heartbeat of our communities. ‘Everyday’ volunteering touches all of our lives, in our local places and spaces. Volunteering is good for you; with proven health and wellbeing benefits, greater social connections, providing skills, confidence, experience, and enjoyment!

“Volunteering should be available to anyone from any background, throughout their lives. This Action Plan will maximise the impact of volunteering and with co-production at its core, it’ll create an environment and a community of practice in which volunteering is truly ‘for all’. It’ll establish accountability for ensuring that the needs of volunteers are at the heart of future decision-making.”

Craig, who is registered disabled, volunteers with Easthall Residents’ Association in Glasgow, organising discos every Friday. He said: “I love the feeling of being part of a team I am made to feel so welcome and I have a purpose. It gives me such a lift when I’m volunteering and helping others. I feel ten feet tall.”

Charley and Anna were matched through the befriending project Mearns Kirk Helping Hands in March 2021. Charley said: “Without the volunteering programme many older people would suffer from much greater loneliness and be far less stimulated.

“Anna allows me to learn from her every time we chat, has a passion for life and is great company. I think she really looks forward to our calls and meetings as she is such an enthusiastic person.”

Volunteering Action Plan

Audit Scotland: Clarity on Covid spending remains vital

The Scottish Government moved at pace with its partners to respond financially to the pandemic – but public sector leaders need to be clearer about how one-off Covid-19 funding is being spent and what impact it has had, according to a new report by public spending watchdog Audit Scotland.

The Scottish Government worked with councils, NHS boards and other public sector bodies to direct billions of Covid-19 funding in difficult circumstances. However, they were not prepared for the scale or speed of the response required and lessons need to be learned.

Spending decisions were recorded differently across government departments, and it was not always clear how data was used to inform funding allocations. Decisions were not centrally collated, making it hard to see how some financial decisions were reached. So far, there has also been limited evaluation of the difference the financial response to the pandemic has made to people’s lives.

The Scottish Government managed its budget effectively over the last two years, but some Covid-19 funding remains unspent. At the end of 2020/21 over £2 billion was added to reserves by the Scottish Government, councils and integration authorities – but it is not possible to say how much of that is from Covid-19 funding.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government and public bodies worked well together to distribute money during the pandemic, but lessons should be learned to improve planning for any future large-scale disruptions.

“It is vital for transparency and financial planning that the Scottish Government and other public bodies are clear about how one-off Covid-19 funding is being spent, including money in reserves.

“More work is also needed by the Scottish Government to collect the data that will allow it to understand the difference its interventions have made and plan the country’s recovery from Covid.”

William Moyes, Chair of the Accounts Commission, said: “Councils played an important role in the financial response to Covid-19 because of their local knowledge and the systems they had in place to distribute money.

“Pandemic spending largely protected councils and other public bodies over the last two years. But the financial challenges they were facing pre-Covid remain, and council budgets are particularly under pressure.

“Many services relied on one-off Covid-19 funding to remain sustainable, and it’s important that there is clarity about how they will be paid for in the future.”

Evaluating the financial response to the Covid-19 pandemic – which saw the Scottish Government allocate £15.5 billion between 2020-2022 –  the report highlights the significant challenges faced across the country.  

The report acknowledges that despite these extraordinary difficulties:

  • existing Scottish Government systems were utilised efficiently to help deliver financial support as quickly as possible, whilst developing new, streamlined processes that minimised the risk of fraud
  • the Scottish Government maintained a balanced budget
  • short notice UK Government funding was directed quickly by the Scottish Government to tackle the wide ranging impacts of the pandemic
  • over £5 billion was allocated for health and social care to support vital services and public health infrastructure for testing and vaccinations programmes
  • more than £4.7 billion was allocated to businesses in lifeline support
  • local authorities were allocated £1.8 billion to fund vital general and targeted services, including £200 million to cover councils’ lost income

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges on a scale our economy and people have never faced in living memory. At every stage, the Scottish Government worked to safeguard lives, businesses, jobs and livelihoods, acting as quickly and efficiently as possible to support people and businesses.

“Despite the impacts of the pandemic, many of which are still being acutely felt, we worked collaboratively with all sectors of the economy to identify those most in need and then with local authorities and partners to utilise existing systems to ensure financial support was delivered swiftly and effectively.

“We also set up a number of new support streams, to make sure businesses were being paid as quickly as possible. My thanks go to all of our partners who worked with us to deliver support at pace.

“It is important to remember the severity of the pandemic and that decisions were taken at pace as we considered how best to allocate funding to support business and people through the necessary public health restrictions.

“We will now carefully consider the Audit Scotland report and engage with relevant sectors to ensure that future decision making is as informed as possible and best supports the people of Scotland.”

Join The Picnic in Victoria Park

The Heart of Newhaven Community, Friends of Victoria Park and The VP Allotment Holders invite you to The Picnic in the Park, at Victoria Park on Sunday 19 June from 12.30pm-3.30pm.

Bring a picnic and enjoy meeting your neighbours in the park

  • Children’s Races (including the world-famous 3-legged!) Fun Dog Parade
  • Plant Swap Table
  • Kids’ Books Swap Table
  • Live Music
  • Optional Fancy Dress for People and Pets!
  • Prizes for taking part for Children and Dogs!

Check the ‘Friends of Victoria Park’ and ‘Heart of Newhaven’ Facebook pages for updates

https://www.facebook.com/fovpedinburgh 

and 

https://www.facebook.com/TheHeartofNewhaven)

Inspired by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch