Four schools and nurseriesin Edinburgh recognised with Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is delighted to award four schools and nurseries in Edinburgh with an Eco-Schools Green Flag.
The international award recognises nurseries and schools which have demonstrated a commitment to the Eco-Schools Scotland programme and over two years have engaged their whole school community in local climate action.
The schools and nurseries are: Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools, Leith Primary School and Nursery Class, Nether Currie Primary School and Smilechildcare.
All the schools took part in a variety of fantastic litter-busting and climate action activities including litter picks, litter surveys, recycling and community clean ups.
Through the Eco-Schools Scotland programme, Keep Scotland Beautiful aims to make action to tackle climate change and environmental awareness an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of schools, for both pupils and for staff. The programme provides a framework to engage the wider school community in climate action aligned with the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability.
To complete the Green Flag journey each school has a choice of ten topics to engage with, from climate action, to food and the environment, to litter, to energy. The schools also choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to link their Eco-Schools work to.
Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Eco-Committee, pupils and staff at each of these schools, who have stepped up to play their part in combatting climate change and achieve their Green Flag Award.
“It’s great to hear about the progress schools have made towards their Green Flags – up and down the country, pupils and staff are working hard growing, litter picking and learning. Thousands have also engaged with our live lessons recently and the next, on Water, is coming up on 6 and 10 June.
“Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children, young people and educators through our Climate Action Schools activities to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required to protect our planet and work towards our goal of a Net Zero future.”
Scotland’s biggest and best display of food, farming & rural life celebrates 200 years
The Royal Highland Show is set to return this year, with the first full Show since 2019 taking place at Ingliston from Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th June.
2022 is a significant milestone in the Royal Highland Show’s history. With celebrations planned to mark the 200th anniversary since the very first Show was held way back in 1822, this year Scotland’s biggest and best outdoor event is truly back with a bang!
The four-day event provides a unique opportunity for visitors to get up close to prize livestock, taste an amazing array of premium food & drink, and experience rural life at its most vibrant.
With a big wheel, newly redesigned food & drink hall, Scotland’s Larder, a bustling Countryside Area, tons of activities for the kids, huge exhibits of machinery, exciting displays of farriery & forestry and shopping opportunities aplenty – there’s something for everyone!
Changes for 2022
In a change for this year, all tickets, including car parking, must be booked in advance with no tickets available on the gate. As always, kids aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult (free tickets must also be booked in advance).
This is to allow the effective management of numbers on each day, ensuring the safety of visitors and staff. The benefit of purchasing in advance will ensure visitors can secure their spot for their preferred day as it is expected that the Show will sell out due to pent-up demand.
The sights and sounds of the bustling show rings will be a welcome experience for competitors and visitors alike this year – with many having not witnessed them for three years.
This year, two new sheep classes for Valais Blacknose and Dutch Spotted will feature – widely acknowledged as one of the cutest sheep in the world, the Valais Blacknose are famed for their curly coats and spiralling horns.
Two new equestrian classes will also make an appearance – Maxi Cob of the Year Championship and Mountain & Moorland Junior 122cm Working Hunter Pony of the Year. This is in addition to a number of classes being upgraded to Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) qualifier status, which will add an extra element of excitement to the show rings!
To celebrate the Show’s bicentenary, a range of special commemorative rosettes, prize cards, sashes and medals will be awarded this year – including medals with gold finishing, a change from the usual bronze version awarded in other years. The magnificent Fletcher McDiarmid Trophy, an incredibly ornate and historic award, will also return this year to be presented to the Overall Beef Champion.
Entertainment like never before
2022 will see an exciting addition to the Showground – a big wheel be taking centre stage for visitors to marvel at the view of the Show from above! The ‘Ingliston Eye’ as it’s being called will be located in the Lifestyle Village and offer a bird’s eye view of all the action.
And as if the Royal Highland Show wasn’t enough to entertain – The Big Top is coming to Ingliston and visitors this year will have the chance to extend their stay to attend an evening concert.
The concerts will take place outwith the main showground on the west side, well away from all areas where livestock and horses are stabled, penned or stalled.
Of course, there will also be the usual entertainment offerings across the Royal Highland Show itself – expect everything from pipe bands and ceilidhs to choirs and pop music!
RHS TV & app
The Royal Highland Show will take to the small screen to livestream this year’s 200th anniversary event across the globe.
In what has been described as a ‘game changer’ for the Royal Highland Show, organisers have successfully secured £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government to drive this ground-breaking initiative.
The free-to-view RHS TV will see a dynamic mix of live and pre-recorded content broadcast throughout the four days, featuring the perfect balance of livestock judging, equestrian classes, culture, interviews, food & drink and of course, the grand parade.
Not only beamed across the globe, RHS TV will also be transmitted across the showground on giant screens throughout the four days. The content captured will be available to watch back on the Royal Highland Show YouTube channel.
In another move taking the Show experience digital, this year will also see the launch of the Royal Highland Show app, which will enhance the experience for showgoers – more details on this will be revealed in the run up to the event.
These innovative additions to the Royal Highland Show ensure that not only Show exhibitors and competitors, but Scotland at large is put on the map as the Show experience is broadcast to an international audience.
Showcasing Scotland’s food & drink
This year sees some exciting developments for food and drink at the Show.
The food hall experience has been completely re-designed – ‘Scotland’s Larder’ as it’s now known, will offer an unrivalled showcase for the very best produce from Scotland and around the UK.
There is a focus on Scottish produce of course, with over 75% of exhibitors in Scotland’s Larder based in Scotland.
Tying in with the Highland & Islands Presidential Team initiative, there will be a Bothy placed in the centre of the hall. This will house a café hosted by the team at Mimi’s Bakehouse, serving delicious cakes and coffees.
This new area has been designed to completely enhance the food and drink experience at the Show, with congestion eased and more opportunities to stop and savour the variety of tastes on offer.
And with the Scottish Championships taking place, expect to see lovely loaves, beautiful butter, and heavenly honey on display, with well-known names and artisanal producers alike competing for the most prestigious produce awards in Scotland.
Winners of the 2021 Scottish Championships for Dairy, Bread and Honey products will be celebrated at the Show in the Champions Corner, providing a lunch menu using Championship ingredients. Winners from this year’s Scottish Championships will also be announced and celebrated!
Brand-new Kids Zone
Another exciting new feature for 2022 is the introduction of a dedicated Kids Zone in the Countryside Area.
This interactive experience is sure to delight kids and parents alike and will feature activities like a nature trail, featuring outdoor play equipment and John Deere mini tractors!
Children will be able to take part in activities and find out more about the history of the Royal Highland Show in a fun, interactive way.
This is in addition to the ever-popular Discovery Centre, run by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and designed to help curious young minds learn more about the countryside and where their food comes from!
To help celebrate the 200th show this year, RHET is producing the ‘Great Big A-Z of Food and Farming’ story.
A page a day will be released throughout June, with the whole digital book being released on the 26th of June. This story will cover a wide range of topics in a user-friendly way and be linked to various activities to get involved with.
RHET will also be offering digital engagement via its Showtime Discovery Trail. The trail will take young visitors around several points on the showground to learn more about food and farming.
The RHET Discovery Centre will also host a grand finale for the charity’s ‘Year of Beef’ project, creating several interactive experiences for families and school pupils around beef farming.
Getting there
As usual, there is a comprehensive travel plan in place to ensure visitors can get to and from the Show as efficiently as possible.
Hopping on public transport remains the easiest and most sustainable option for getting to the Showground. Travel by tram or get dropped off right at the gates by the bus.
If visitors do want to take the car, booking your parking tickets in advance is required – there will be no parking tickets available on the day!
Be sure to visit the Royal Highland Show website to view the full public transport travel plan.
RHASS Chairman Bill Gray commented: “To be able to celebrate the 200th anniversary of that first Show is really special – not just for us as directors, staff and members of the Society but also for the wider communities that have missed the opportunity to get out and about and meet one other.
“The absolute highlight of this year’s Show will be the chance to show off our new pavilion to our members and guests. It is a wonderful building and fitting to be at the heart of our showground at Ingliston. Let’s meet there, celebrate and be proud to be a part of this wonderful event.”
Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, the Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, on 23-26 June 2022.
Edinburgh College has been confirmed as one of six venues across the UK, and the only Scottish college, to host WorldSkills UK 2022 National Competition Finals in November.
WorldSkills UK sees the country’s top students and apprentices compete in a wide range of competitions for medals and a potential place at a global WorldSkills finals event in France in 2024.
Designed by industry experts, WorldSkills UK competitions help young people grow personally and professionally by developing their technical and employability skills, as well as shining a light on the skills potential across the UK.
The finals are the culmination of a seven-month process including regional heats and intensive training.
The College is hosting eleven finals at its Granton Campus, including Forthside building, during the week commencing Monday 14 November.
Students and apprentices will descend on Scotland’s capital to participate in the following finals: Bricklaying, Carpentry, Foundation Skills: Woodworking, Furniture and Cabinet Making, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plastering, Plastering and Drywall Systems, Roofing and Tiling, Stonemasonry, Wall and Floor Tiling.
The week culminates with a live medal ceremony broadcast presented by Steph McGovern who will reveal who winners are from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 25 November.
Young people across the region will be able to attend competitions and experience the spectacle of the finals at Granton Campus, and drop-in to events showcasing what the college offers as well as gain careers advice and the opportunity to talk to employers and industry experts.
People who cannot attend local events will get the chance to follow things online through a special broadcast featuring live finals action, as well as interviews and advice from previous winners, experts and career advisors.
Other venues across the UK hosting finals are as follows: Barking and Dagenham, Belfast Metropolitan, Blackpool and the Fylde, Cardiff and Vale, and Middlesbrough colleges.
Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “We’re thrilled to have been selected as one of six venues to host finals of WorldSkills UK. We’re looking forward to welcoming students, apprentices, visitors and other stakeholders to our Granton Campus in November.
“Skills competitions like WorldSkills UK are enormous spectacles and provide a platform for skilled students to thrive, and for other young people and those perhaps looking to change jobs to learn more about careers which these highly-skilled disciplines provide. WorldSkills sets the bar extremely high with globally recognised standards and businesses increasingly looking to employ students reaching the heights the standards set.
“More than that, in the context of plugging future skills gaps and the requirement for more skilled workers to be produced to meet national targets across a range of issues including house-building, sustainability, digital infrastructure, to name a few – it is vital that we continue to highlight skills training with events like these.”
WorldSkills UK Deputy CEO Ben Blackledge said: “We are really excited to be taking the show on the road with finals hosted by colleges across the UK. We hope witnessing the drama of the finals live will inspire young people to keep developing their technical and employability skills.
“With 62 finals spread over six venues there should be something for everyone, but we will also be providing loads of online content for people who are unable to get to one of the host venues that week.
“We are looking forward to producing our special broadcast with live action and top tips from industry experts and careers advisors. We are also delighted to confirm that Steph McGovern will be doing the duties on awards night and revealing the winners live from her Packed Lunch studio.
“With skills at the heart of UK government plans to level up and rebuild the economy, we are delighted to be playing our part and giving more young people the opportunity to explore the many opportunities and careers that high-quality skills offer.”
Around a third of children and young people in Scotland’s publicly-funded schools (that’s around 233,000 pupils) need additional support. And that number has been increasing for years (writes STEPHEN MOORE, a Member of the Accounts Commission) .
There are many reasons why a child might need additional support. These can be as varied as having a life-threatening physical condition to being a young carer. Most children and young people who need additional support go to a mainstream school, with a much smaller number going to special schools.
The Scottish Government’s stated ambition is for all children and young people in Scotland to have the opportunity to grow up loved, safe and respected, enabling them to reach their full potential.
Every child has the same rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to an education that develops their personality, talents and abilities to the full, and the right for their parents to get the support they need. Schools, councils and other public bodies are required to work together to provide the right type of support for all children and their families. But this isn’t always happening as it should.
The needs of children and young people vary considerably. Some children only have a short-term identified need. Others have complex needs that will require ongoing support throughout their lives. Some children and young people need help involving specialist educational support as well as social work services, health services and the voluntary sector.
At their best, these multidisciplinary teams work together, enabling children and young people to get the support they need, empowering them to reach their full potential and live the life they choose.
These ambitions aren’t, however, consistently being delivered in practice. In 2020, an independent review found that not all pupils in Scotland are always getting the additional support they need, when they need it. In many cases, individuals’ needs are not given the focus they should be. Numerous aspects of additional support therefore need to be improved.
It’s distressing and frustrating that we repeatedly hear of the barriers that some families fight against to get the right support to help their child to learn. Too often, families are worn down by a prolonged search for the right support, and by having to manage a crisis that could have and should have been avoided. Families are partners with public services and should be regarded as such.
On top of that, transitions between school stages – and how they are managed – can have a big influence on the success or otherwise of someone’s journey through the education system.
A child’s needs can evolve over time, from pre-school until after they have left school. Not getting the right support both at these different stages and to make moving between the stages as seamless as possible can have a lasting impact on learning, wellbeing and happiness. Public services are required to anticipate these changing needs and plan accordingly.
Councils provide support in different ways, with a wide variation in spending on pupils who need additional support. This partly reflects the different ways services are provided and the varying costs of supporting individuals – but may also reflect local decisions by councils to prioritise between a wide range of services.
Education aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people, supporting wider outcomes such as life skills, apprenticeships and employment. This is set out in the National Improvement Framework and is embedded across the education system. School education and success shouldn’t just focus on exam results. It’s vital to monitor the outcomes that matter most to individuals who need additional support but, as we’ve said previously, information to allow this to happen isn’t always available.
From the information that is available, even the current measures show wide disparity. We know that children and young people who need additional support don’t always get the opportunities they deserve. Overall, a smaller proportion of school leavers with additional support needs progress to a ‘positive destination’ such as college, university, training or employment. This potentially affects their life chances and personal fulfilment.
And the proportion of children who achieve expected Curriculum for Excellence Levels for their stage at school is significantly lower for pupils who need additional support compared to those who don’t.
Across so many areas, Covid-19 has exacerbated and deepened risks and inequalities. School closures and reductions in vital support services have intensified inequalities for children and young people who need additional support. We know that individuals who have disabilities and complex needs, along with their families, were particularly affected.
The impact on the mental health of children and young people who need additional support has also been significant. Some families have asked if their child can repeat a year at school due to the difficulties they’ve experienced, or because there was insufficient planning to move from one stage of learning to another.
However, it must be recognised that for some children who need additional support, learning at home rather than in a school environment was a more positive experience.
The Scottish Government and councils are already working to implement changes following the independent review in 2020. These changes need to consider the wide range of services that should work together to put the child/young person and their family at the centre. Public services need to improve how they’re joining up, across professions, to plan and provide the right support to meet individuals’ needs.
We’ve seen that many public services responded quickly to the challenges presented by the pandemic, showing that change can happen quickly and effectively to support individuals and communities. And councils have the power to improve services as they ‘build back better’. Children and young people must be given the support and access to the right services that enable them to flourish and thrive. It will be crucial to make improvements to services and staffing that ensure continuity as someone moves through the education system.
Central to the Accounts Commission’s priorities is emphasising and reporting on the debilitating and life-impacting inequalities faced by too many across Scotland’s communities. The lack of the right support, at the right time, for children and young people who need additional support – and their families – can exacerbate and intensify these inequalities. So we will continue to focus on this important area as part of our ongoing work.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “The blog raises issues that we have been highlighting for several years, reiterating our concerns that children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) and their families, are on many occasions not receiving the care and support that they need when they it.
“There are still too far many barriers faced by families seeking support, often leaving them in a crisis situation that could easily have been avoided with prompt access to the appropriate services.
“While we have witnessed a more than doubling in the number of those with ASN, such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems over the last decade, putting an immense strain on services, there has been a cut in spending on additional support for learning and a slashing in specialist educational support.
“Covid-19 has had a further major impact on those with ASN, for whom exclusion from school and lack of vital support proved devastating. This however exacerbated a situation that existed long before that and we are potentially facing a ‘lost generation’ of vulnerable children and young people, not able to access the support that they need, with a resultant impact on the economy and society.
“We would urge the Scottish Government and newly elected local authorities to work together to ensure that those children and young people with ASN are a priority and that they can access the necessary support to allow them to reach their full potential.”
Rocketing fuel and energy bills, forecasts of double-digit inflation, and rising interest rates mean misery for many families. And unless there is urgent action from Government, the situation is only going to get worse (writes NASUWT’s Dr.PATRICK ROACH).
Teachers and schools leaders do not need to be reminded of the stark effects of this crisis on their pupils and in their own lives.
They see it every day in their schools and in their classrooms.
Children whose parents find themselves in insecure jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Many relying on food banks and struggling to pay their bills. Hungry pupils can’t concentrate on their learning and the knock-on effects on behaviour are making a challenging job even more stressful.
Schools are struggling as they find themselves taking on more to try and support children, work which was often supported by local authorities but is no longer provided due to austerity.
Teaching has become even more challenging because of deep cuts to school budgets, the loss of vital support for children and families and a crisis of teacher and headteacher recruitment and retention.
Despite ministers’ promises to protect education, in the last decade education spending has fallen by 10%. And the salaries of teachers has fallen too – across the board, teachers’ pay has been slashed by at least 19% since 2010.
Many teachers are relying on credit cards, overdrafts and some are even using the same foodbanks their pupils’ families rely on as well. Around one in ten teachers work second jobs and many more are worried about their financial situation.
And in addition to the cost of living crisis, there is a wellbeing crisis caused by extreme workload pressures.
However, at the Department for Education, ministers are presiding over a system where teachers and headteachers are at breaking point. Unless action is taken now, a desperate situation is set to become even worse.
Already, one in three student teachers choose not to enter the profession after they’ve qualified because of the stress of the job and 40% of new teachers leave within five years.
The latest data from our own ‘Big Question’ survey found that two-thirds of teachers are seriously considering quitting the profession – citing workload, wellbeing and pay as key reasons.
More headteachers are leaving and fewer and fewer teachers are wanting to take their place.
Perhaps not surprisingly, nine in ten teachers we surveyed report that their job has adversely impacted their mental health in the last year and a disturbing 3% have self-harmed and are experiencing a severe mental health crisis because of the job.
And on top of that we have the growing problem of Long Covid which is a ticking time-bomb in our schools.
As part of our campaign, we’re calling on the Government to recognise that a world-class education system needs highly motivated teachers working in world-class schools and colleges.
To that end, we want to see:
a substantial real-terms pay rise for every teacher,
an enforceable contractual working time limit for teachers,
the right to switch off and disconnect from work at the end of the day and at weekends,
the ending of fire and rehire practices,
banning zero-hours contracts,
equal rights for supply teachers
scrapping the link between performance and teachers’ pay,
and safer workplaces underpinned by safe and respectful working practices.
We will be highlighting these demands at the national demonstration that takes place in London on 18th June, where teachers and workers from across the public and private sectors will be demanding action on the cost of living crisis, a decent pay rise for workers and a better deal for all working people.
It’s time for the Government to understand that the situation needs to change. Teachers are demanding change and so are parents and the general public.
Spread the word: be there on June 18th – join us, join in, and help win a better deal for teachers.
More information about the national demonstration can be found here.
You may already be in planning mode for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but have you considered insuring your street party?
Between the 2nd and 5th of June, it’s estimated that there will be 10 million Britons hosting street parties organised across the UK, according to Country Living.
It’s no surprise to see how huge an occasion this is! Not only is this a great celebration of the Queen’s 70-year reign, but it’s also a welcome opportunity to reconnect with our community after COVID. We could all do with some good news after all.
There are so many things to think about when it comes to party-planning, and no more so than when it involves an entire street or community.
A-Plan Insurance have revealed their top tips to throw a Jubilee Street Party:
Planning a Jubilee Street Party?
The official Big Jubilee Lunch is planned for Sunday 5th June. Here are some helpful pointers to help you decide on whether to plan a street party:
1. What type of Jubilee Party do you want to hold?
If you are planning a Street Party, you will need to contact your local council. You can do this here or simply give your Council a call if it isn’t listed on their website.
If you don’t need to close the road, you can run a ‘Street Meet’ – if you live in a cul de sac, councils are generally happy for this to go ahead without permission. Otherwise, use driveways, parking areas and front gardens – none of these will require council permission. Ensure you don’t obstruct pavements.
Another option is a ‘Neighbour’s Picnic’, which can be held in the local park, the only caveat is that you cannot have music or a barbecue, but it may work well for sandwiches and cake!
2. Get your community involved from the start
Get your neighbours involved – and make sure everyone meets to discuss the Big Day beforehand.
Ask everyone to bring a dish and drink, and don’t forget to include vegetarian/vegan type options.
Consider whether you will buy plastic cutlery, or reduce waste and encourage neighbours to bring their own cutlery.
Consider classic British recipes, such as Scotch Eggs, sausage rolls, Bakewell Tart and Victoria Sponge cake.
If you are using private land, you could consider a barbecue.
If you need crockery, consider buying some mismatched plates from a charity shop, they appear much more authentic, cause less waste and the charity will benefit from your purchase. You could even clean them up and return them for resale.
To keep decoration costs down, get the local children involved in creating bunting, paper waving flags on (paper) straws, and paper chains.
Consider setting up a Spotify playlist and sharing the link with your neighbour’s who can add their music to it as well. Add a few of the Queen’s favourites, such as ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ by Vera Lynn, and ‘Leaning on a Lamp-post’ by George Formby.
And remind everyone to bring their favourite mug for a cup of tea!
3. Do I need Jubilee Street Party Insurance?
As a Platinum Jubilee Street Party is a one-off event, you won’t need a risk assessment or licence for the consumption of alcohol. That doesn’t mean that there is no risk.
We would encourage anyone organizing a Jubilee party to have street party insurance cover in place. The main risks are:
Burns from barbecues
Food and drink
Trips and falls
Damage to vehicles
Breakages
Some councils will require proof of insurance, while others won’t.
A spokesperson for A-Plan Insurance stated: “The Queen’s Jubilee is to celebrate her 70 years of service. Her Majesty The Queen is extremely well respected by many and is well-loved for her oath to duty, love of the people and even her sense of humour.
“Millions of people want to celebrate this milestone with her and we want to ensure that people are aware of the guidelines before throwing their party.
“To reiterate, as a Platinum Jubilee Street Party is a one-off event, you won’t need a risk assessment or licence for the consumption of alcohol. That doesn’t mean that there is no risk.
“We would encourage anyone organizing a Jubilee party to have street party insurance cover in place. We look forward to this huge, worldwide celebration.”
New funding to help public bodies unlock and realise further investment in measures to improve energy efficiency and install low and zero carbon heat systems in buildings has been launched.
The Scottish Central Government Energy Efficiency Grant scheme will make £100 million available during this parliamentary session.
The funding launch coincides with the publication of the latest analysis of public bodies’ emissions, which shows a 5.8% reduction in reported emissions in 2020/21 compared to the previous year.
Overall public bodies’ reported emissions have now fallen by a third since reporting began six years ago. Over the same period, emissions generated by electricity use have more than halved across public bodies.
There has been a 64% cut in NHS buildings emissions since 1990, with the £10 billion, 10-year NHS capital programme supporting its net zero commitment. Scotland’s first net-zero hospital, NHS Balfour Hospital, opened in 2019.
Zero Carbon Buildings Minister Patrick Harvie said: “The ongoing cost of living crisis and energy security issues caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine make the case for pursuing our vision to improve energy efficiency across Scotland’s homes and buildings, and transition away from high-carbon heating systems, even more compelling.
“Our heat in buildings strategy sets our plans for more than 1 million homes and 50,000 non-domestic buildings to be running on low or zero carbon heating systems by 2030. Our support to help property owners and tenants to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and buildings will help to reduce both domestic and non-domestic energy bills while also tackling climate change.
“It is imperative that every sector across Scotland, including public bodies, takes action to meet our climate obligations. The latest analysis shows further positive steps being taken by the public sector, and this funding will help accelerate action in the crucial years ahead while also realising energy savings that can be reinvested into important public services.”
Sustainable workshop for National Children’s Gardening Week
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, is hosting a free sustainable workshop on Sunday 5 June in Edinburgh specially created for kids in celebration of Peter Rabbit’s 120th birthday.
Taking place during National Children’s Gardening Week, children are invited to join a Grow with Peter Rabbit™ workshop at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, which will include a range of exciting gardening-themed activities for children aged 4-10.
This special workshop marks the 120th birthday of Peter Rabbit and Dobbies is the official garden centre partner for the anniversary year. Children will delve into the world of Beatrix Potter, have the chance to explore Mr McGregor’s vegetable patch, learn how to keep their own fruit and vegetables safe in a sustainable way, and how to welcome wildlife into their garden.
Sarah Murray, Partnership and Events Manager said: “We’re hosting a very special Little Seedlings Club for National Children’s Gardening Week, which celebrates our partnership with The World of Peter Rabbit™ and shares ways in which children can be more sustainable.
“We’re also proud to share the news that Peter Rabbit will become one of our Little Seedling Ambassadors, with blog posts being shared on dobbies.com
“Our Little Seedlings Club is always popular and we are looking forward to welcoming young gardeners to our Dobbies’ Edinburgh store.”
Advance booking is required to secure your space for this free event at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store.
For more information on how your little one can take part, visit dobbies.com/events
Families from across Edinburgh and the Lothians turned out in force at the Dalkeith Minis Rugby Festival 2022 on Sunday (15 May), which was supported by leading housebuilder Stewart Milne Homes.
Hosted at King’s Park by Dalkeith Rugby Club, more than 400 primary school children across six teams including Dalkeith, Falkirk, Lasswade, Leith, Penicuik, and Preston Lodge competed in the round robin festival of 12-minute matches throughout the day.
With a people-first ethos, Stewart Milne Homes was the main sponsor of the event and provided funding to support the organisation of the minis rugby festival which has been encouraging friendly community sport for over 15 years.
The award-winning housebuilder also provided a gazebo for the event which was the main hub for all attendees on the day and supplied re-usable water bottles for all the children to keep them hydrated throughout the event and take home for future use.
Rugby balls were also donated to the club for the kids to use when on the pitch and all participants proudly took home a competition medal as a keepsake of the action-packed day.
Dawn Lawrence, Sales Consultant at Stewart Milne Homes’ Shawfair development, said:“Events such as the Dalkeith Minis Rugby Festival are the foundation of thriving communities, and at Stewart Milne Homes we share the club’s passion in creating vibrant places and a sense of belonging that people want to call home.
“After virtual events have dominated the agenda for the last two years, it’s fantastic to see a huge number of youngsters get outdoors once again into green, natural space and participating in activities that promote healthy lifestyles.
“We’re very proud to work with community groups and sports clubs, and it is humbling to be able to offer a helping hand to an organisation which shares our people-first values. I’d like to say thank you to Dalkeith Rugby Club for collaborating with us on such a fun, family-orientated event.”
Christopher Boyle, Head of Minis Rugby at Dalkeith Rugby Club, said: “The Minis Rugby Festival is one of the highlights in our calendar and we are thrilled to see such a fantastic turn out for the 2022 event.
“The whole team shares a passion for enhancing sporting opportunities across the Midlothian region and beyond for our next generation and seeing these efforts culminate in events is incredibly rewarding.
“The funding support and gifted items from Stewart Milne Homes have been gratefully received by the Club and everyone who attended.”
Stewart Milne Homes is currently creating a number of new developments across Central Scotland, including Shawfair in Midlothian, which will feature 115 new homes as well as communal green space and excellent active travel links to the wider community.
The luxurious three-, four-, five- and six-bedroom homes on offer are from the housebuilder’s new ‘Villages’ range which has been expertly designed for modern-day lifestyles, creating the very best of contemporary and considered living for the whole family.
Shelter Scotland has said Councillors must stick to their promises and make social housebuilding the top priority for the next administration in Edinburgh as talks to decide who will head up the council continue.
Ahead of the election the housing charity’s petition demanding action on social homes attracted more than 3,300 signatures in Edinburgh, and in excess of 12,000 nationally.
Before voters went to the polls, councillors from the SNP and Labour, the two largest parties on the City of Edinburgh Council signed the Shelter Scotland social housing pledge to make social housing delivery a top priority for their term in office.
Shelter Scotland’s analysis of the council’s figures shows the city needs at least 7,000 social homes over the next five years.
Director of Shelter Scotland, Alison Watson, said: “Social housing ends homelessness. It protects against worsening child poverty and helps our communities thrive. It is easily one of the best things the new council can do to improve our city. Despite that, none of Edinburgh’s previous administrations have delivered the homes the council’s own figures say the city needs.
“Before this election, the parties now negotiating a new power sharing agreement promised the 3,360 citizens in Edinburgh who signed the social housing petition that they would make building at least 7,000 social homes a top priority. Now they need to deliver.”
Alison added: “Communities across Edinburgh are suffering as a direct result of the housing emergency. They will not easily forgive or forget if councillors do not deliver what they’ve promised.
This is one thing the parties can agree on and something the people of Edinburgh will expect to see on the first pages of their new plan for the city.”
