Month: September 2014

Places still available for PEP’s minibus training

Accredited Minibus Training (MiDAS)

limited places still available for Thursday 16 October

PEPvanPilton Equalities Project (PEP) is registered with the Community Transport Association funded through the City of Edinburgh Council and recognised as the community transport operator for the North Edinburgh quadrant. We are a partner of the Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group (ECTOG)   PEP, Dove Transport, SEAG, LCTS, & Handicabs.

MiDAS is the nationally recognised Minibus Driver Awareness training Scheme, organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. (CTA) which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. It is a membership based scheme that is designed to enhance minibus driving standards and promote the safer operation of minibuses.

It comprises low cost classroom-based training, plus an on-road driving assessment, as well as optional Passenger Assistance training (PAT’s) for drivers who will be transporting passengers with disabilities.

Criteria: a) Aged over 21 years, and (b) Held a full Driving Licence for 2 years. 

As places are limited, for further information on any of our courses call our trainer

Theodora Hidalgo on 0131 315 4466 or email:

pepequalities@btconnect.com

theopepequalities@hotmail.co.uk    

PEP ahas ten accessible minibuses and applies a good practice model ensuring the Health & Safety of its passengers

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Community Connecting …

… and coffee in Corstorphine!

help

What is Community Connecting?

Community Connecting is a free service for anyone aged over 65 living in the South East or North West areas of Edinburgh. Normally lasting for up to 16 weeks, Community Connecting could help you get out of the house more, take up a new activity or hobby, or even rekindle an interest in an old pastime.

There are many things which can make us less confident about going out or keeping involved in activities. Periods of ill health, changes in circumstance or bereavement can affect our self confidence and cause us to stop doing things we once enjoyed. Sometimes all it takes is a helping and encouraging hand to get back out there and enjoy activities and interests. Community Connecting can help you do this.

We take referrals from health professionals, social workers and community organisations, as well as family, friends, neighbours and self-referrals.

How does it work?

A Community Connector will visit you where you feel comfortable and help you plan what you would like to do in the community.  It might be joining a new group, regaining the confidence to use public transport, a walking aid or wheelchair, to access local facilities or to take up a new interest – anything that you feel you can achieve in 16 weeks.

Your Community Connector will then match you with a fully-trained volunteer who will help support you to meet your personal goals for up to 16 weeks. Your volunteer will visit at least once a week and your Community Connector will be in regular contact to offer guidance on achieving your goals.

Offering a personalised service, Community Connecting emphasises independence and control over your own life. This is proven to help maintain a person’s physical and mental health – as well as that of their family, friends and carers.

Contact us

If you feel that you or anyone you know could benefit from this free service, please contact 0131 558 3728 or email: 

community.connecting@placesforpeople.co.uk

friends

 Community Connecting is a partnership between Places for People Scotland Care and Support and Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

 And that coffee in Corstorphine …

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Opponents must put differences aside to tackle poverty

Whatever the result of Thursday’s vote, Scotland will still have deep social problems to address and campaigners are urging both sides in the referendum debate to unite to tackle poverty.

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As the referendum campaign enters its final few days the Poverty Alliance has called on all sides to maintain the passion and commitment that has been shown through the campaign and to turn it to finding lasting solutions to poverty and inequality in Scotland.

Throughout the referendum campaign issues of poverty and social justice have been central to the debates. Whether on issues of food poverty, low pay, unemployment or child poverty, all sides have stated that they are committed to making real change to create a more socially just Scotland.

On 19 September politicians and activists from both campaigns must begin to find ways of working together to bring people together and tackle poverty.

The referendum has shown that not only is there an appetite for social change, but that more people than ever want their voices to be heard. With more than 100,000 people registering to vote in the last month alone, we need to find ways to ensure that the democratic impulse that many people have experienced for the first time is sustained and turned into genuine grassroots democratic politics, regardless of the outcome of the referendum.

Whatever changes over the coming months and years we are calling now for all political leaders to commit to ensuring that the voices of those who are living in poverty, those who have been the subject of so much debate during the campaign, are genuinely involved and actively shape the new Scotland that will emerge.

A little over three weeks after the referendum the Poverty Alliance will be coordinating Challenge Poverty Week, which will take place from the 12 -18 October.

Poverty Week leaflet

This will be a week of debates and action designed to show what has been done to tackle poverty. It will be one of the first opportunities after the referendum for campaigners to come together to show what they intend to do to address poverty now. We hope campaigners from both sides will get involved in Challenge Poverty Week and show the same enthusiasm for tackling poverty as they have for our constitutional future.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: “This is an exciting time in Scottish politics and many people will consider the referendum to be the most important election of their lives.

“It is fantastic to see so many people registered to vote and I hope turnout will be high on the day.

“Poverty and social justice has been at the centre of the debate on independence and it been heartening to see so much debate about the type of Scotland we want to live.

“In 2012-13, 16 per cent of people in Scotland were living in poverty, more than 800,000. People on both sides of the debate have agreed that this is unacceptable and that we need to re-think our approach to tackling the problem, whether it is low benefit levels, unemployment or low pay. What the campaigns disagree on is how we best achieve this.

“It has become increasingly clear that the results will be close and it is important that people on both sides of the debate believe their voices will be heard regardless of the result. In particular we must ensure that the voices of those who are rarely heard, those people living in poverty, are taken seriously after the result of the referendum is known.

“Both campaigns must be prepared to set aside their differences and work together for a better Scotland, one where the blight of poverty is effectively tackled.”

Port of Leithers get on their bikes for charity

finishing-lineA team of eight from Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) took part in this year’s Pedal for Scotland event on 7 September.

The 47 mile cycling event from Glasgow to Edinburgh saw the team – John Murray, George McLeod, Ian Treger, Scott McAndrew, Neil Donald, Onder Ozdemir, Wendy Farmer and Stephen Allen – cross the finish line in 3 hours 45 minutes.

The PoLHA team raised money for Tartan Army Children’s Charity, which supports disadvantaged children in Scotland and will donate half of the proceeds (£200) to Homestart Leith which provides care to local families.

Neil Donald, ICT Manager at PoLHA who organised the team, said: “We have some keen cyclists at PoLHA so it made sense for us to jump on our bikes and raise money for a good cause.”

 

Feeling sheepish about the referendum!

Voters ‘flock’ to see referendum artwork!

sheep2With Thursday’s independence vote the only topic of conversation all around the country, Leith-based artist Elaine Forrest has created a timely ‘discussion piece’ – a referendum sheep’s skull!

The sculpture is studded with 20,5000 Swarovski crystals and features both a Saltire and Union Flag. The price? £3500 – a real baa-rgain!

The artwork was commissioned by George Pirie Antiques for a referendum window at their Howe Street showroom.

George Pirie said: “It only went up last week but I’ve already had lots of customers come in to say how much they like it. It’s not meant to be political at all – it’s about history and celebrating an event.”

The skull, alongside other referendum-themed pieces, will be on display until this Friday – the day we’ll find out where Scotland’s future lies.

So hurry – ewe don’t want to miss it!

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Health and travel advice for Hajj pilgrims

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office offers advice ahead of the Hajj

s300_J3110_Hajj_News_Story_ImageWith thousands of British Muslims expected to attend this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, predicted to fall between 2 – 7 October, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is urging those travelling to Saudi Arabia to be fully prepared and follow up-to-date travel advice before embarking on their trip.

The Hajjis or pilgrims are advised to take out fully comprehensive Shariah compliant travel insurance and travel with a reputable tour operator. Cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in people who have visited Saudi Arabia continue to be reported so getting the right vaccinations is critical as is travelling with the relevant vaccination card.

The Foreign Office, West Midlands Police and the Council of British Hajis are working together to support British Nationals undertaking the Hajj. Sher Houston from the Know Before You Go team at the FCO said: “The annual Hajj pilgrimage is one of the largest gatherings of Muslims in the world. Despite the vast numbers, there is relatively little disruption and most pilgrims travel trouble free.

“However, as with all overseas trips, we strongly recommend that the necessary precautions are taken and the trip is carefully planned. We advise all British pilgrims to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice and the requirements set out by the Saudi Government.”

Detective Sergeant Nadeem Hameed of West Midlands Police said: “We are pleased to support and promote this campaign and recognise the importance of this religious pilgrimage and seek to promote safety awareness and safer travel among all pilgrims.”

Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council of British Hajjis said: “It is imperative that pilgrims seek good travel tips before they embark on a Journey of a Lifetime. As a council, we are actively supporting and promoting the FCO’s Know Before You Go Campaign and urge travellers to consult its travel advice pages before travel.

“We wish the pilgrims a “Hajj Al-Mabroor – An Accepted Hajj” and would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the FCO’s Hajj support team who will be present in Jeddah and Makkah should anyone require consular support while in Saudi Arabia.”

The FCO will provide the full range of consular services and will be sending the British Hajj Team – a team made of regional FCO consular staff – to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.

Travellers’ checklist

In addition to the requirements from the Saudi government, the FCO recommends that all pilgrims use the following travellers’ checklist:

Check the FCO travel advice

Make sure that you are up to date with the current situation in Saudi Arabia atwww.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo.

Travel with a reputable tour operator

  • make sure that you book your tickets through an ATOL registered tour operator to avoid unnecessary difficulties – for more information please visit www.atol.org.uk
  • have contact details for your tour operator in the UK and their representatives in Makkah

Get comprehensive travel insurance

  • ensure it covers all aspects of your journey
  • check health requirements
  • which vaccines do I need?
  • when do I need to get them?
  • is there anything else I need to be aware of?
  • if you require medication check that you have adequate quantities

Check passport and visa are valid

  • do I need a visa, or to renew an existing one?
  • copy passport and travel documents
  • take a copy with you and store online using a secure storage site
  • leave copies with family and friends, along with your itinerary and contact details
  • research local laws and customs
  • country specific laws and customs can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Pack suitable footwear

You may have to walk long distances and make sure you have all the necessary clothing and items as advised by your Hajj tour operator.

Make a note of Hajj Delegations contact details

The Hajj Delegation and local consulate will be based at the Makkah Hilton between 4 – 18 Dhul-Hijjah:

  • Tel: 00966 125 34 0000 (Hilton switchboard and ask for British Hajj Team)
  • Mob: 00966 501 00 4268 (Available 24 hrs a day)

Freshers fire safety call

With students moving to study at universities and colleges throughout Scotland firefighters are calling on everyone to help keep themselves and their new communities safe from fire …

student_safetySeptember sees young people arrive in cities and towns across the country for Freshers’ Week and as students get familiar with their new surroundings, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) wants them to act to prevent tragedies.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “Many young people will be leaving home for the first time and it’s obviously an exciting point in their lives.

“When moving into halls of residence or rented accommodation there’s a lot for these students to take in, but it’s absolutely crucial everyone recognises the danger posed by fire and understands the steps needed to reduce the risk.

“Our message to students is that you’re responsible for your own safety and that of the people around you.

“We need you to help us protect the communities you’re now part of, so please take a minute to look at our student safety leaflet – it’s essential reading.”

Firefighters will visit universities and colleges across Scotland throughout September to offer advice and help raise awareness of fire safety as an issue.

Parents also have a role to play, and SFRS is eager for anyone who has a son or daughter moving away from home to discuss fire safety with them.

There can be a greater risk of fire within shared rented accommodation and people should check to ensure there are working smoke and heat alarms.

Everyone should also make sure there are no bars on the windows and that they can be easily opened from the inside, and check for fire resisting labels on the furniture. Furniture made before 1988 may not be match or fire-resistant.

ACO Ramsay added: “People’s actions have a big impact on the chances of a fire starting or causing injuries or deaths.

“We want students to recognise that if you have consumed alcohol then your decision-making and judgement will be impaired, putting you and other residents at higher risk from fire.

“Choosing never to cook while under the influence of alcohol is a key step that will significantly reduce the risk of a tragedy.

“Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of alcohol should avoid smoking while sitting down, as it’s too easy to nod off and start a fire with potentially horrific consequences.”

In halls of residence, false alarms are a particular concern. Most emergency fire calls to student accommodation are false alarms caused by carelessness and negligence.

Having to attend false alarms risks lives, as firefighters may be delayed in getting to a real emergency where every second is critical.

The SFRS student safety leaflet – which also contains simple tips to avoid false alarms caused by cooking, smoking materials, candles, steam from bathrooms and more – can be downloaded below:

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To join Scotland’s fight against fire and book a free home fire safety visit text ‘fire’ to 61611, call 0800 0731 999, or visit the SFRS website to complete an online form.