Day: July 10, 2013

Walkathon support hotting up!

Support is hotting up – just like the weather!

North Edinburgh’s art, community and health centres are preparing to welcome walkers with open doors – despite the NEN Walkathon taking place on a Saturday there is a healthy interest in being part of this community event (writes Ann Confrey).
In addition to Edinburgh College Granton Campus who are kindly welcoming walkers and allowing The Hub to be used for the START and FINISH of the Walkathon on Saturday 20th July, we have confirmation that:
North Edinburgh Arts Centre
Muirhouse Library
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
and Pilton Community Health Project 
will also be OPEN and that management, staff and volunteers look forward to welcoming walkers with refreshments and information on the facilities, support and activities they offer.
Do your bit and join us – ask family, friends and neighbours to sponsor you to take part in the Walkathon. Download your sponsor form or collect one from Reception at Granton Campus.
Don’t want to ask for sponsors? That’s OK, simply turn up and join in – have fun and discover what’s on your doorstep and if you decide to donate a pound or two to your community newspaper there will be a collection box at the registration desk!
We look forward to seeing you at
10.00am on Saturday 20th July!
Ann Confrey
NEN Board
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£62million boost for homebuyers announced

People across Scotland are to be helped on to the housing ladder with a £62 million funding boost announced today by Housing Minister Margaret Burgess.

The funding for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme will be available over the next two years for eligible buyers on low to moderate incomes who are looking to buy their first home.  This increases the overall investment in the scheme over the next two years to £90 million.

Eligible buyers will be able to purchase a home by paying a majority share in it, while the Scottish Government provides the remaining amount which is secured under a security on the home.

The announcement comes after plans were unveiled last week to end the Right to Buy.  A decision which will safeguard social housing stock for future generations – protecting up to 15,000 social houses from sale over the next decade.

Speaking during a visit to a home in Cruden Estates’ Golspie Street development in Govan where the homeowner benefited from support from the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme, Mrs Burgess said: “People in Scotland who should rightly be able to afford a mortgage are still facing real challenges buying a home. This overall investment of £90 million over two years demonstrates our commitment to do all we can to help credit worthy buyers to buy their first home.

“Over the past four years this scheme has  helped over 2,700 people on low to moderate incomes buy a home.  And it has reduced pressure on the social rented sector through freeing up properties and reducing demand expressed through housing waiting lists.

“Last week we announced the end of Right to Buy – a decision that will help to protect social housing for future generations to enjoy.  This Government remains absolutely committed to helping people buy a home and our shared equity schemes are helping – and will continue to help – thousands of people get a foot on the property ladder.”

Link Group Chief Executive, Craig Sanderson said: “Having been involved in the administration of the OMSE scheme since its inception, we have considerable experience of the most positive effect this programme is having on the lives of so many who could otherwise have not been able to secure affordable home ownership. I therefore welcome and applaud this additional funding support from the Scottish Government.”

Managing director of Cruden Estates, John Gallacher, said: “Schemes like OMSE are beneficial for buyers and housebuilders alike.  At Cruden Homes we’ve made a point of advising potential buyers who are concerned about affording a mortgage that there are options open to them through such Scottish Government schemes.  This has allowed us to continue to build and sell homes for the First Time Buyer market as well as established buyers.”

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Nominate your First Aid hero

Scotland’s leading First Aid Charity, St Andrew’s First Aid, is calling for nominations for the Scottish First Aid Awards 2013.  The charity is appealing for people to recognise their First Aid Hero and come forward with their real-life stories of how a First Aider has helped them and/or how it has made a difference to their lives.

The Scottish First Aid Awards have been created to champion First Aid in Scotland and recognise those individuals and businesses that are leading the way in its provision. The charity is encouraging entries from as many people as possible and the awards are open to all, regardless of whether or not training has been provided with St Andrew’s First Aid or another provider. Nominations are welcomed from individuals, businesses, public sector organisations, shops, schools and many more. Entry to any of the award categories is free and nominations will remain open until Friday 30 August 2013.

Commenting on the Scottish First Aid Awards, previous winner Emma Nicholson who won Youth First Aider of the Year 2012 (pictured below) said: “The awards are an incredibly important event in St Andrew’s First Aid’s calendar and part of Scottish First Aid Week. They are a fantastic way to reward people for delivering excellent First Aid and also provide encouragement to all First Aiders. I can’t stress enough the difference that First Aid delivered with confidence can make in an emergency and believe that by highlighting examples of this we can stress the importance of learning vital First Aid skills.”

St Andrew’s First Aid, which teaches life-saving techniques to over 20,000 people each year and aids the public at thousands of events across the country, wants to hear how First Aid can save lives and make the difference in an emergency situation. This is the opportunity to nominate a Scottish First Aid Hero; anyone who, in your opinion, has delivered excellent First Aid in Scotland.

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Police reinforce drugs warning following teenager death

Officers from Police Scotland are reinforcing a drugs warning following the death of an 18 year-old woman in Alexandria in the early hours of Tuesday morning (9 July).

An investigation is underway and our enquiries have so far revealed that the woman, along with three friends, had taken what they thought were ecstasy tablets. The tablets were described as green with a Rolex crown logo stamped on them.  This is clearly a cause for concern.

Three men, aged 18, 21 and 25 have been admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.  The 18 year-old and 21 year old have since been discharged, however the 25 year old man remains within the hospital.

Superintendent Grahame Clarke said: “Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities.  Public warnings have been issued recently in relation to the dangers of taking ecstasy, or indeed tablets being passed off as ecstasy. They are illegal and could contain a cocktail of toxic ingredients. We have yet to establish if this particular pill is to blame for the death of this young woman, but the fact that she and her friends took pills described as green and with a Rolex stamp on it causes us real concern.

“The exact contents of the pills are unknown but they could contain dangerous chemicals and users need to be aware of the dangers and understand the devastating effect they can have.  Drugs are dangerous and illegal.  I would strongly advise people to avoid any such pills or drugs and report any information to police.”

At this time of year there are numerous music festivals, including T in the Park which runs from Friday this week. We would urge people to enjoy the festivals and keep themselves safe. Possession of controlled drugs and supplying anyone else with drugs is illegal. Festivals organisers adopt a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs and work alongside the police to tackle this criminal activity.

There will be drugs amnesty bins at the entrance to the campsites at T in the Park, where illegal substances can be disposed of without risk of exclusion or prosecution. Once inside the festival venue, drugs will not be tolerated and anyone caught dealing or carrying drugs will be arrested. Police Scotland’s specialist drugs dogs will also be operating at T in the Park.

Police Scotland is continuing work with its NHS partners in connection with this investigation.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary Senior Specialty Doctor in Emergency Medicine, Dr Richard Stevenson said: “We are deeply concerned about the number of drug related deaths.  Symptoms to look for include a high temperature, aggression and muscle pains as well as an extreme exaggerated expected effect of the drug such as hallucinations and excitability which would be very alarming and unpleasant to the person experiencing them.

“These symptoms are treatable if help is sought early I would urge anyone who begins to feel unwell or feels a more intense high than usual after taking any drug which they think is ecstasy or not to seek immediate medical help.”

If anyone has any information about the sale or supply of such tablets, please contact police on the non emergency number, 101, or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give information anonymously.

Green Rolex crown logo - PMA and MDMA