Month: July 2014

Police appeal following Pier Place attack

PolicePolice are appealing for witnesses after a woman was injured during a break-in at her Newhaven home. The incident happened last Friday at around 12.15pm at an address in Pier Place.

The 19-year-old victim was in the house when she became aware of a male’s presence, and a short struggle between the pair resulted in the young woman sustaining a dislocated elbow and an injury to her face.

She managed to get away from the suspect and ran to a neighbour who contacted emergency services.

Police are now conducting local enquiries to trace the male responsible and anyone who can assist in identifying him is asked to come forward.

He is described as white, just under 6ft tall with a skinny build. He was wearing a black tracksuit with the hood up and spoke with a local accent.

Detective Sergeant Mike Leask said: “The victim sustained painful injuries to her arm and face, which required medical attention and left her incredibly shaken.

“Anyone who was in or around Pier Place on Friday afternoon and remembers seeing anything suspicious is asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Mikaeel: mother due in Court today

High Court plaqueRosdeep Kular, the mother charged with murdering her three-year old son Mikaeel, will appear for a preliminary hearing at Edinburgh’s High Court this morning.

Kular, who is 34 and has four other children, is accused of beating him to death before putting his body in a suitcase and dumping him, STV  News reported last night. She is also accused of failing to seek medical attention for Mikaeel.

Rosdeep Kular – who is appearing in court under her married name of Rosdeep Adekoya – is said to have punched her son Mikaeel on the head and body, hit his body against a hard object and caused blunt-force trauma injuries to his head and body at the family’s flat in Muirhouse.

She is then said to have put him in the boot of her car and driven his body first to his school, Flora Stevenson Primary, and then on to a relative’s home in Kirkcaldy where she is said to have hidden the suitcase under a bush in woodland behind the house.

Ms Kular is further accused of reporting Mikaeel missing from their home in Ferry Gait Crescent in Muirhouse on 16 January, allegedly saying her son had disappeared from the home.

Thousands of members of the public turned out to help search for Mikaeel when he was reported missing earlier this year, but the toddler’s body was discovered in Fife late on Friday 17 January.

 

Gypsy Brae goes techno-colour!

Holi One Colour FestivalSpot the strange goings-on on Gypsy Brae on Saturday? It was Scotland’s first Holi One Colour Festival – (no, I don’t know either!)

Apparently the festival is inspired by the ancient Indian spring festival of colours, but has nothing to do with religion – instead, it’s about music, performance arts and a very colourful – and messy -party!

Festivalgoers are encouraged to wear white – and each hour a countdown gives revellers an opportunity to release and throw coloured powder (available for purchase as part of the pre-event ticket sale and on-site).

As my old mate on Jazz Club used to say: ‘crazy … but nice!’ 

Holi One Ed

Dads and kids to keep on rocking at Prentice Centre

DadsrockA unique playgroup for dads and their kids will ‘keep on rocking’ in North Edinburgh thanks to support from the Weir Charitable Trust. The funding will enable Dads Rock, the multi-award network of free playgroups for dads and kids, to continue to run their Prentice Centre playgroup.

The playgroup. which started in October 2012 and runs every Saturday, is open to all dads/male carers and their children; and is the only preschool playgroup specifically for dads in North Edinburgh.

Dads and male carers can often be excluded or marginalised from other early years settings. Dads Rock was set up by dads, for dads, with the aim of being a fun, positive and rocking place for dads and children to come.

The playgroup gives dads and their children invaluable one to one time, there is free play, including instruments, a healthy snack, story and song time. There is a regular attendance of between 15-25 dads and kids.

The funding will also contribute to a trip later on this year for the dads and children.

Thomas Lynch, co-founder of Dads Rock, said: ‘It’s amazing to have the backing of the Weir Charitable Trust – without this funding the group would have had to stop, so this allows us to continue to be there for dads, kids and to rock out each week!’

PrenticeCentre

 

Still time to donate food at Tesco

There’s still time to donate food items to support Tesco’s Neighbourhood Food Challenge.

food collectionTesco is hosting a nationwide food collection from 3 – 5 July with foodbank charity  Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare, and the group hopes that customers and colleagues will collect five million meals for people in need.

This is Tesco’s fourth Neighbourhood Food Collection since the initiative was launched in December 2012. So far they have collected 10 million meals for people in need around the UK with the last collection in December 2013 achieving 4.3 million donated meals.

Tesco will also be topping up total donations by a further 30%.

This weekend has been chosen because Tesco research found that “people are usually less generous in the Summer months than at other times of the year”. Only 7% of people surveyed said that they were at their most charitable during the Summer – yet many low-income families find the summer particularly hard as children no longer benefit from free school meals.

In July and August last year Trussell Trust foodbanks alone gave emergency food to 133,539 people, including 47,639 children. The charity expects demand to be higher this Summer.

Thousands of volunteers from the Trussell Trust and the FareShare network are involved over the weekend campaign, as will hundreds of volunteers from the British Red Cross. FareShare will distribute some of the donated food to some of the other 1,290 charities that it supports.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare said: “As the research shows, people are more generous at Christmas when it’s easier to remember those in need. However, we are urging people to give generously once more and not forget that the summer is also a difficult time for many as they struggle to provide for their families during the long break”.

 

Some healthy advice for festivalgoers

T in the Park Health Advice

tinthepark

Scotland’s national telehealth and telecare service is urging music lovers going to T in the Park next week to think ahead and look after their health. NHS 24 is advising festival goers to be prepared by taking a few essential items in case they become unwell.

NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks said, “Summer festivals are great places to meet people and enjoy music with friends but try and remember to pack a few small items with you in case you do become unwell. Take some over the counter medication with you for stomach upsets or diarrhoea and take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is also really important to have sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and antiseptic hand gel is always handy to have at outdoor events.”

He added: “Plan ahead and take some condoms with you to protect you from sexually transmitted infections. Also, tampons, wet wipes and hay fever medication – if you are a sufferer – will always come in handy over the weekend. Don’t forget to take your asthma inhaler or any prescription medicine you need with you and keep it handy.”

Festival goers are reminded not to ruin the weekend for themselves and others by drinking far too much too quickly. Try alternating soft drinks or water for alcoholic ones on a regular basis over the day and don’t forget to eat regularly. You don’t want to miss out on seeing your favourite bands by feeling unwell with the effects of too much alcohol.

Professor Crooks advised: “If you do become ill, go with a friend to the nearest First Aid area. Remember there is safety in numbers. Never leave your drink unattended, never leave friends on their own and don’t wander off by yourself. Organise a meeting point if you get split up and stay with people you know. “

“By taking simple steps, you can help minimise or even prevent minor health problems from ruining your weekend. Stay safe and have a happy and healthy time at T in the Park.”

For further summer health advice go to www.nhsinform.co.uk

Simply the best! Students’ union scoops top award

Edinburgh College Students’ Association is best in UK

NUS 2Edinburgh College Students’ Association (ECSA) has won the Further Education Students’ Union of the Year Award 2014, beating off competition from across the UK.

Up against some of the best students’ unions and associations across the country, ECSA came out on top in the National Union of Students (NUS) annual awards. It was the only Scottish college students’ association to be nominated in any category at the awards.

ECSA trumped category rivals from English and Welsh counterparts, including Sheffield College Students’ Union, South Eastern Regional College Students’ Union, Burton and South Derbyshire College Students’ Union and Coleg Gwent in Wales.

Kelly Parry, ECSA president for 2013/14, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to win the NUS FE Students’ Union of the Year Award. It’s a huge credit to the work ethic, dedication and enthusiasm of everyone involved in making ECSA a success – students, student officers and staff – and it’s proof that college students’ associations can make a real and positive difference to the lives of thousands of students.

“Over the last year, Edinburgh College Students’ Association and Edinburgh College have been doing some fantastic work to empower students to give them the best possible learning experiences. Winning this award has been a brilliant note to end on as president and I’m very confident that the new president and student officers will be able to build on our successes in the next coming year.”

ECSA provides a strong and independent voice for students at the college, which has 26,000 student enrolments, and works closely with the college to ensure that all students have a life-changing educational experience.

The judging panel from the NUS – which recognises students and students’ unions who do incredible things for their colleges and universities – was impressed with several of the association’s initiatives. The judges were particularly impressed with ECSA’s efforts to ensure that the college is reaching, representing and supporting under-represented groups. For example, ECSA was praised for its support of students from care backgrounds, with an event to showcase the hard work and determination of young people in and leaving care and the great challenges they face.

ECSA was also recognised for successfully lobbying the Scottish Parliament on behalf of the student body. One of ECSA’s major achievements was getting MSP Kezia Dugdale to raise the question of discrepancies of further education childcare funding in the Scottish Parliament, ensuring that student support and funding is at the forefront of the political agenda. The ECSA president also met with MSP Mike Russell, cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning, to discuss this issue, and he subsequently committed to reviewing childcare funding for students.

The NUS FE Students’ Union of the Year award follows a recent partnership agreement with Edinburgh College, giving ECSA more influence over the college’s strategic direction. The partnership agreement – which strengthens ECSA’s ability to develop and meet students’ needs – breaks new ground for the further education sector in Scotland. Under the new agreement, ECSA will have a stronger voice at all decision-making levels of the college.

Pictured: Raphael Lehmann (ECSA Vice President Welfare and Activities) and Graham Smith (Student Liaison Officer).

Veterans charity urges: turn those lights out!

 Scotland urged to turn lights out to honour First World War heroes

poppies (2)Veterans’ charity Poppyscotland is calling for households in Scotland to join the rest of the UK in taking part in LIGHTS OUT, a new initiative to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Communities across the country are being invited to switch off their lights between 2200 and 2300hrs on 4th August, the date Britain entered the War 100 years ago, and illuminate their homes with a single candle or light.

LIGHTS OUT is being delivered in Scotland by Poppyscotland and in the rest of the UK by its parent charity The Royal British Legion. It is hoped that candles will be lit at war memorials, community centres and homes in every village, town and city. LIGHTS OUT takes inspiration from the famous words of wartime Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, who remarked on August 3rd 1914: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.”

A host of celebrities including Jeremy Paxman, Twiggy, David Gandy and Louis Smith feature alongside veterans in a video to promote the initiative, which will complement a national candlelight vigil on the evening of Monday 4th August at Westminster Abbey.

Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, Colin Flinn, said: “Scotland made a hugely significant contribution to the First World War and there was not a community left untouched by its devastating impact. LIGHTS OUT is a simple, yet powerful concept that will enable Scots to join the rest of the UK in a collective moment of commemoration to honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, while supporting those affected by the consequences of war today.”

To support LIGHTS OUT and as part of a special partnership with Marks & Spencer, limited edition Centenary candles will be available to purchase from Friday 4th July in stores and online. Profits from sales in Scotland will be donated to Poppyscotland to support the charity’s vital work with members of the Armed Forces, past and present, and their families.

Robert Swannell, Chairman of Marks & Spencer said: “The extraordinary work that The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland do to support serving and ex-Servicemen, women and their families across the UK is really important to M&S’s employees and customers, and we are very proud to be participating in this national moment of commemoration. Lighting a candle is a small but significant gesture to honour those who bravely served, and continue to serve, and we encourage all of our customers to take part. All the profit from the LIGHTS OUT candle will be used for the Legion and Poppyscotland grants initiatives, which assist current and former Service personnel and their families in need of support.”

Letter: Normandy and the lessons learned

letter (2)Dear Editor

So many important anniversaries occur in 2014, being recalled with differing emotions. As a Normandy veteran I hope the following words will contribute to a peaceful world …

To remember and celebrate is not to glorify militarism but to show the united will of people for a peaceful world.

It is so important that the events of the 1930s and 1940s are told to each generation so they can avoid the mistakes made during that period: the mistake of tolerating discrimination, the mistake of letting vested interests ignore the aspiration of Fascism to expand their domination over all, leading to World War.

It was the ordinary people of all lands who finally defeated evil: it is the ordinary people of all lands, armed with the knowledge of the past, that will safeguard our futures.

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens