UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun.
From left, Kayleigh and Diezel Lewis with Sandra Ringland.
The team from Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline hosted a fancy dress party and haunted house experience on site to celebrate Halloween with the local community.
The occasion, planned as a thank you the Dunfermline team for the work they do fulfilling orders for customers all across the UK, involved a dress up day, doughnuts and treats, and a ‘haunted’ house for staff to bring their families along to. Families from the areas around the Dunfermline fulfilment centre were also invited to get involved with the festivities.
UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. The McShane Family, from left, Stephen, Murray, Martha and Conall.
Alasdair Head, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “The Halloween party on site was so enjoyable.
“From the decorations to the costumes, and best of all, the ‘haunted’ house, which was my daughter’s personal favourite activity, the whole event was brilliant. Thank you to our colleagues for organising such a wonderful event.”
UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. From left, Autunm Morton, Calum Scouller with Zara and Leo.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, added: “Coming together as a team to celebrate our successes is very important to us and being able to enjoy it with our loved ones and the local community always makes it even more enjoyable.
“The Halloween party at Dunfermline was a well-deserved treat for our team and a way to say thank you for all their hard work this year. It was also a way for us to join with our neighbours and have a bit of fun during Halloween. It was a wonderful event.”
The ‘fa-boo-lous’ team at one of Scotland’s largest shopping malls, The Centre, Livingston lifted shoppers ‘spirits’ on Halloween, leaving them ‘under their spell’ with ‘pumpkin’ to talk about!
Donned in different scary outfits they embarked on a walkabout during their lunch hour handing out sweets to shoppers en route.
They also popped into to their retailers, with many of them joining in the dressing up fun.
The team re-fueled halfway around the mall at the recently opened Dnisi café for a well-earned witches brew.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We had such great fun with our shoppers on our Halloween tour of the mall.
“It really brought a smile to people of all generations and our retailers too!
We’re a nation of cat lovers with an estimated 11 million living as pets in the UK*. However, sometimes certain characteristics mean pets can be a little overlooked and sadly, black cats are one of them.
Not only do rehoming charities often have black cats waiting longer to find homes than other cats, but in a world dominated by social media, black cats are also often said to be ‘less photogenic’ than other more ‘colourful’ cats.
PDSA vets together with PDSA Pet Insurance have debunked some of the most common myths about black cats.
“Good luck, bad luck, a witch’s pet… there’s a lot of myths around our mysterious feline friends and we’ll admit that not all of them are great,” explains PDSA Vet Lynne James.
“We, however, think black cats are wonderful and there’s loads of reasons they can make brilliant pets.”
Lynne has debunked some of the biggest myths surrounding black cats:
We don’t live in the middle ages.
“It’s thought that the black cats and witches myth started sometime in the middle ages. We’re talking a thousand years ago here. They’ve gotten a whole negative reputation based on myth, when really they’re no different to any other cat.
Black cats are actually good luck!
“Sailors used to take black cats aboard ships not only to catch mice but also because they believed they brought them good luck. In Scotland, a black cat turning up at your door is a sign of prosperity!
They *might* live longer.
“According to researchers at the National Institute of Health, the gene that causes their fur to be black could also protect them against certain diseases. So your black cat may be scientifically less likely to fall ill with certain diseases.
Black cats can help your love life.
“Believe it or not, in some parts of the world black cats are considered ‘matchmakers’ and are thought to help their owners find true love! They’re even believed to be the perfect wedding gift in some areas of the UK as they are thought to bring luck and happiness to the bride.
They were worshipped.
“In Ancient Egypt, all cats were worshipped – including black cats. All cats were seen as sacred. In fact, the Egyptian goddess Bastet (who protected the home from evil spirits and disease) is often portrayed as having the body of a woman and the head of a black cat. Bastet is still worshipped today and her protection is believed by some to be cast over modern cats.”
PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
The charity’s insurance arm, PDSA Pet Insurance, offers a range of policies to cover cats and dogs for accidents and illness, as well as providing access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s life-saving veterinary work.
When two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who’s been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.
Saw X
Set between the events of SAW I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable.
A Haunting in Venice
In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.
Five Nights At Freddy’s
The film follows a troubled security guard as he begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realises the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through.
St James Quarter prepares to cast a bewitching spell on guests in the run up to Halloween, with fun-filled activities, live entertainment, and wickedly good offers from the Quarter’s eateries.
On Saturday, 28th October from 12pm to 4pm, local DJ, Mairi B Pots, will provide the perfect soundtrack to this year’s celebrations with a Halloween themed DJ set. The Quarter is set to be filled with spooky classics including Ghostbusters, Time Warp and Monster Mash.
For those looking to reveal their inner ghost or ghoul, there’ll also be Halloween face painting on this date, from 11am to 4pm on Level 4. From witches and wolves to friendly pumpkins, the Quarter’s talented artist will be on hand to transform the faces of guests.
The popular LEGO store will be bringing the Halloween fun, with activities for families to enjoy. There’s a spooktacular ghost hunt around the store with treats on offer until 31st October, and you can build your own LEGO Black Cat at set times on 28th and 29th October. In John Lewis, kids and families can challenge themselves to a spooky treasure hunt throughout the department store until 31st October.
And that’s not all! St James Quarter’s dining destinations will also be embracing the Halloween spirit with a range of exclusive offers available via the St James Quarter app. Bonnie & Wild is inviting families to partake in a fun-filled “dooking for apples” activity, where children can enjoy extra treats, while some of the Scottish Food Hall’s kitchens will be offering Halloween specials alongside their regular menus. Hotel Chocolat will tantalise taste buds with Halloween-themed chocolates, a chillingly delicious Cherry Scary Sundae and an exclusive competition via the St James Quarter App, offering the chance to win some tempting Halloween goodies.
For adults celebrating during the eerie festivities, The Alchemist is offering a special Halloween cocktail available from the 27th – 31st October as well as an exclusive 20% off food via the St James Quarter app. Meanwhile, Ka Pao is offering a complimentary cocktail or mocktail when diners book in advance using this link. Other dining destinations will offer exclusive Halloween deals including Gordon Ramsay Street Burger, The Real Greek and Maki & Ramen.
Download the St James Quarter App HERE to access the exclusive Halloween dining discounts and to stay updated on this Halloween event.
Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “This spooky season is the perfect opportunity for our guests to experience our impressive retail, hospitality and leisure offering as well as enjoying some Halloween themed entertainment and fun activities in the Quarter.
“This Saturday, the celebrations will be in full swing with Halloween inspired music filling the Galleria for all to enjoy and spooky themed face painting – you don’t want to miss out!”
As Halloween approaches, charity Guide Dogs is highlighting the importance of preparing puppies ahead of the big day, with Halloween festivities exposing young dogs to many potentially overwhelming new experiences.
Puppies are naturally curious but can become fearful when confronted with unfamiliar situations. Early socialisation helps dogs to build confidence and adapt to new situations, making them more able to handle situations calmly.
All guide dogs are carefully socialised throughout their time as puppies before undertaking comprehensive 6-month training programmes once fully grown. If they are successful in their training, they become trusted companions, helping people with sight loss live active, independent, and full lives.
The sight loss charity recently hosted a Halloween socialisation afternoon for a litter of seven five-week old prospective guide dog puppies, exposing them to new and unusual objects they might encounter during spooky season from pumpkins, to fancy dress and ghostly decorations.
As well as being alert to new and potentially scary experiences, the charity is also encouraging new puppy owners to be extra vigilant of what their four-legged pals are eating at this tempting time of year, as Halloween typically sees a surge in dogs getting hold of sweet treats, such as chocolate, which is poisonous to dogs.
To help get your puppy Halloween ready and avoid them getting spooked, tricked or freaked this Halloween, Hannah Wright, National Dog Training Lead from Guide Dogs reveals the charity’s top tips:
1. Walk your dog earlier in the day, before any trick-or-treaters are out on the streets. Plenty of exercise will also likely mean your dog is more relaxed and calmer in the evening if there are strange-looking visitors or noises outside.
2. If you know your dog may struggle when the areas around your house are busier, plan ahead and create some soothing enrichment activities you can do with them at home if they wish to.
3. If you have children coming to your home for sweets, make sure your dog has a cosy quiet den well away from the front door. You can always leave a bowl outside on your front step with a sign to stop people knocking or ringing the doorbell. If you are not open to trick-or-treaters, make sure the front of your house is dark.
4. If your dog is frightened by someone in a costume or mask or struggles to recognise a family member when they are dressed up, don’t force them to interact. Halloween can be confusing – it’s best to remove strange accessories if it makes your dog feel more comfortable.
5. And leave the costumes for the humans. Dogs should not be dressed up in Halloween outfits, as they may find this a stressful experience. Such costumes can be hot, irritating or limit your dog’s movement.
6. The candle inside a jack-o’-lantern can be very dangerous; never leave a lit candle alone, and never have them on the floor when you have children or dogs present.
7. Keep all Halloween sweets and chocolate well out of reach, and make sure any visiting children know they are not to share any of their treats with pets. Chocolate, raisins and the sweetener Xylitol are all toxic to dogs, and ingesting plastic wrappers or foil can cause issues too.
To support the charity, enrich your dog’s life and receive treats for you and your four-legged friend, subscribe to Good Dog! at:
Police Scotland will be deploying Public Order officers in support of community policing teams throughout the Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night period.
Since 2018, specialist resources have supported local officers across the country as part of Operation Moonbeam, following significant disorder and antisocial behaviour in 2017, which saw members of the emergency services, including police officers, attacked.
In 2022, parts of the country were subjected to unacceptable levels of firework-related criminality, which caused considerable distress to communities and resulted in high-value damage to property.
In response to this, an enhanced level of Public Order resource is being deployed during Operation Moonbeam 2023 to provide further support and protection to police officers, other emergency service workers and the general public.
In October last year, new legislation was introduced under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act This legislation makesthe proxy purchasing of fireworks for anyone under the age of 18 a criminal offence.
Those in breach of this legislation will be subject to a fine of £5,000, a six-month prison term, or both.
From this year, additional legislation under the Act has been introduced, which prohibits the carriage or use of a pyrotechnic article within a public place and allows officers to conduct stop and search activity on anyone they believe may be in possession of such items.
Operation Moonbeam was launched yesterday at a joint event in Edinburgh, alongside Crimestoppers, who launched their own campaign encouraging the public to report any intelligence they have on potential emergency service attacks, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “The overwhelming majority of the public wish to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly, but it is a small minority who intentionally use the festivities to cause fear and alarm within our communities and commit acts of damage and violence.
“I want to make it abundantly clear that such reckless behaviour, including targeting my officers and other emergency service personnel will not be tolerated and we will use all the powers at our disposal to bring offenders to justice.
“Last year saw an escalation in incidents in specific parts of the country and we are increasing the level of public order resource available to communities this year to deter and respond to any offences.
“The new powers we have in relation to proxy purchasing and stop and search capabilities for anyone suspected to be in possession of pyrotechnics in a public place are yet another tool at our disposal to address fireworks-related crime.
“We want Bonfire Night to be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone who choses to participate in it and a peaceful occasion for those who don’t. Please help us achieve this by ensuring your behaviour does not put yourself or others at risk.”
Halloween can be fun when you stay safe and avoid hazardous products, that’s the message from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) ahead of 31 October.
The warning comes after several Halloween costumes have been recalled over safety fears relating to serious chemical and fire risks and flagged by consumer champions Which?
When purchasing a costume, RoSPA advises:
Look for the appropriate safety marks
In England, Scotland and Wales only buy costumes or toys which carry UKCA or CE marks. In the case of Northern Ireland look for the UKNI symbol along with the UKCA or CE mark.
All parts of a Halloween costume, including wigs and face masks, should be flame-retardant in accordance with EN71 part 2 – the safety standard for flammability of toys.
Additionally, items sold in the UK by a member of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) are likely to have been made to a higher standard of fire safety and labelled with the words ‘This garment has undergone additional safety testing for flammability.’
Beware when purchasing from unknown brands
Unknown brands or brands you can only find online may not meet the strict regulations around costume and toy safety. This could put you or your child at greater fire risk, or at risk from dangerous chemicals. Therefore, we always advise you only purchase products from known brands.
Keep away from naked flames
As with all clothing, Halloween and fancy-dress outfits should always be kept away from fire, lit candles and all other naked flames. RoSPA advises not to have lit candles as part of Halloween celebrations, and consideration can be given to using battery-operated candles instead of real ones.
Be safe, be seen
Most Halloween costumes are dark, which can pose a risk to children when out and enjoying the festivities. If you can, provide them with a torch and add something reflective to their outfit so they can be seen by vehicles. For maximum safety, children should always be accompanied by an adult.
Phil Le Shirley, Public Safety Advisor at RoSPA,said: “Halloween can be an exciting time for children, and we want to ensure everyone can enjoy the time safely and without any accidents.
“That’s why when it comes to dressing up, we recommend checking a Halloween costume or toy for the appropriate safety marks such as a UKCA or CE mark in England, Scotland and Wales or the UKNI symbol with the UKCA or CE mark in Northern Ireland.
“We also recognise that the darker nights reduce visibility, so advise children out trick or treating carry a torch and piece of reflective clothing to ensure they remain seen and stay safe – and always keep away from naked flames, especially when visiting other people’s homes.”
Whether setting up spooky decorations, lighting up the home or arranging a haunted house, following electrical safety precautions this Halloween is essential.
To ensure no one receives a spooky electric shock, NICEIC – the UK’s leading body for certified electrical businesses – is warning homeowners to stay safe and mindful when dealing with electricals this eerie season.
As homeowners prepare for the most terrifying night of the year, Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC, shares his top five tips on avoiding a house of horrors this Halloween:
Set up Safely: before setting up a scary display, take into account the number of electrical socket-outlets needed and be sure to not overload them. Overloading can lead to overheating, which can cause electrical fires
Professional Help: if you’re planning an over-the-top display, extra socket-outlets may be required, therefore, it is vital that a certified electrical business is employed to complete the work safely and to required standards
Observe Decorations: when recovering ghostly decorations from storage, be sure to inspect them for any frayed or damaged cables. Play it safe and always replace any faulty items
Outdoor Safety: if planning to light up the garden or outdoor space, be sure to use weatherproof decorations that are specifically designed for outdoor use. It’s important to make sure all electrical equipment being used is protected by using a residual current device (RCD), which automatically cuts off the electricity if a fault is discovered
Keep Children Educated: teach children about the importance of electrical safety during Halloween. Make sure they understand not to touch or tamper with electrical decorations or cables
For further information or to search for your nearest NICEIC Certified electrical business, visit www.niceic.com.
