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Joanne Stewart
Edinburgh College dance students will present their annual showcase performance, Breaking Boundaries, at the Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) Theatre tomorrow.
The work on show has been created by talented final-year BA (Hons) Dance students, and the performance includes routines by students from each year of the three-year programme.
The dancers will mainly present original contemporary dance pieces on the theme of ‘new work for the 21st century’. The students have conceived their own choreography with the help of dance lecturers and have been in rehearsals for Breaking Boundaries for eight weeks.
Dance lecturer Ethelinda Lashley said: “This is a great opportunity to see fantastic new work by the new and emerging talent from the dance courses at Edinburgh College.”
The performance will take place at PASS Theatre at the college’s Granton Campus on 1 April at 7pm. Tickets are £10 (concessions £8) and can be booked through Ethelinda Lashley at ethelinda.lashley@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.
PASS provides training for students who want to follow a career in the performing arts, with courses in dance offered alongside acting, technical theatre, theatre costume and make-up artistry.
The BA (Hons) Dance programme includes a two-year HND followed by a one-year course to bring students to BA honours level.
Applications are now open for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by Edinburgh College and starting in August on its four campuses.
See www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information on how to apply.
Scots are being offered a final reminder to plan ahead as part of this year’s Be Health-Wise This Easter campaign …
With coughs and colds still common during Easter, NHS Scotland’s wise Dr Owl is urging people to take a few simple steps to look after their health.
By knowing when their GP surgery is open, re-stocking their medicine cabinet and ordering and collecting repeat prescriptions in plenty of time for Easter, people can ensure they make the most of the holiday weekend.
NHS 24 Medical Director Professor George Crooks, said: “With many GP surgeries across Scotland closed for up to four days over the Easter holiday weekend, it’s vital to plan ahead and ensure you and your family stay well this spring. Although we are seeing some signs of spring, there are still many coughs, colds and seasonal illnesses circulating within communities across Scotland.
“We are therefore advising people to keep remedies for common ailments available, especially for families with young children. If you take regular repeat medication, it is also important to make sure you have enough to last over the Easter holiday weekend.
“By following these simple steps, you can help keep yourself and your family well and make the most of the Easter holiday weekend.”
This year many GP surgeries across Scotland will close for four days from Good Friday (April 3th) to Easter Monday (April 6th), before re-opening on Tuesday 7th April.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk
or contact NHS inform on 0800 22 44 88.
Dunedin Canmore and Port of Leith Housing Associations among projects t0 receive People and Communities Fund awards
Projects which promote healthy eating, IT skills and household budgeting will receive more than £690,000 funding to tackle poverty and inequalities in Edinburgh, it was announced this morning.
Fourteen projects from across the city have secured a share of the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund (PCF) to change disadvantaged communities by providing advice, training or voluntary opportunities.
These include Port of Leith Housing Association’s Canny Budgeting which will receive £35,000 to offer advice to residents on tackling fuel poverty, more than £10,000 for Dunedin Canmore Housing Ltd’s Digital Skills for All for IT workshops and £23,000 for Broomhouse Health Strategy’s healthy eating classes.
The 20 More project, will receive £37,000 through PCF to empower local people and help households save £20 a week, through training opportunities which will allow them to gain skills and qualifications in community development, and benefits and energy advice, at the project’s community shop.
Speaking on a visit to the 20 More Community Shop and Serenity Café which is also operated by Comas, Community Empowerment Minister Marco Biagi said: “Every community in Scotland has different challenges and aspirations and there is no one-size fits all approach to tackling poverty.
“That’s why our People and Communities Fund is giving communities in Edinburgh the power and confidence to shape their own futures.
“With household budgets under pressure, it’s great to see a project like 20 More looking for ways to save 600 of the area’s most vulnerable families at least £20 a week and helping to ease some of the stress of paying their bills.”
Ruth Campbell, Chief Executive of Comas said: “We are so pleased that the Scottish Government is focusing on empowering communities, as sustainable change must be community-led and start from the grassroots. This grant enables us to put local people in the driving seat and builds their capacity for community-led action.
“Training local people in benefits advice and energy saving will directly impact on wellbeing in this community. It will also help some residents gain employment in these growing sectors, so the grant will have a strong ripple effect.”
See below for the full list of projects to receive PCF awards:
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/community/pcf/awards
Vaccine to be part of Scottish childhood immunisation programme
All infants in the UK are to be offered a vaccination against meningitis B following a deal struck between the Westminster government and drug manufacturing giant GlaxoSmithKline. The agreement was also reached on behalf of the Scottish Government and Scotland’s health secretary Shona Robison said the vaccine will be offered here ‘as quickly as possible’.
The NHS will now introduce the vaccine, Bexsero, to the immunisation programme for infants. Vaccination will prevent the life-threatening strain of meningitis to all infants – around 1,200 people, mainly babies and children, get meningitis caused by the meningococcal group B bacteria each year in the UK, with around one in 10 dying from the infection.
The vaccination will be given in three doses at two, four and 12 months, with all babies in Scotland aged two months at the point of introduction being eligible. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has also advised that when the programme starts there should be a one-off, catch-up programme for babies aged three and four months of age.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Government has been consistent in its support for the introduction of the Meningitis B vaccine, Bexsero. We will now work to roll out the vaccination programme as quickly as possible.
“The Meningitis B vaccine will now form part of the routine childhood immunisation programme in Scotland, underlining our commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children.
“Meningitis B is life-threatening and can affect people of any age, but is most common in babies and young children. By offering this vaccine as part of the routine programme we will be able prevent this and save lives. This disease can be devastating for children and their families and I’m very pleased we can now take the necessary steps to tackle its effects.”
Police seek witnesses to Ferry Road Drive knife attack but say #StrongerNorth initiative is producing ‘significant results’
Police are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated burglary in a Ferry Road Drive flat this morning. The attack comes just two days after community safety leaders hailed ‘significant results’ in the battle against crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
Two intruders, both brandishing knives, broke into the property at around 6am and threatened and assaulted three male occupants before making off with cash, phones and other items. The victims were take to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment but their injuries are not thought to be serious.
The first suspect is described as white, skinny build, malnourished appearance, 18 – 20 years old, 5ft 3 – 5ft 4in tall. He has short, dirty blonde hair and was wearing a light grey cotton Adidas tracksuit with blue stripes.
The second suspect is described as white, 24 – 26 years old and a heavier build. This man has a round face with short dark hair that is receding at the front. He has a Scottish accent and he was wearing a black Superdry style jacket with dark jeans.
Police are appealing for the local community to come forward with information to assist their investigation into a terrifying incident.
Detective Constable Ryan Lee said: “This was a very distressing incident for the victims, who were assaulted by the two suspects within their home. We are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the area of Ferry Road Drive at around 6am this morning to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
This morning’s incident is the latest in a series of acts of violence and antisocial behaviour that have blighted the area over recent months. It’s a setback to the #StrongerNorth initiative, which was established last October following the attempted murder of local takeaway restaurant owner Jie Yu during a car robbery.
The perpetrators of that vicious attack were jailed last week and on Friday it was announced that senior law officers will be invited to visit the area to see first-hand the effects of what many local residents see as ‘soft sentencing’.
Last Friday, the agencies behind #StrongerNorth – Police Scotland, the city council and local community organisations – said the initiative is making progress but more needs to be done.
In a statement, Police Scotland said: “Preventing crime and bringing those responsible to justice remains a top priority for Police Scotland. There have been significant results with violent crimes 16% lower than the five-year average which means that in North Edinburgh, 130 fewer people have been victims of violent crimes.
Additional CCTV has been added to the area with further plans to bring more cameras to West Pilton. There has also been a sustained drop in the level of anti-social behaviour in the local community.”
Community Safety Leader, Councillor Cammy Day – who is also a councillor in the Forth ward – said: “#StrongerNorth is making real progress and I continue to be very grateful to the local community, who have rallied round to help make the north of the city a safer place.
“Information from local residents is helping us, along with Police Scotland, to combat antisocial behaviour and they have led the way on community clear ups to create a more positive environment.
“I am confident that, based on the positive reaction so far from residents, we will reach our goal of reducing crime to build stronger, safer communities.”
National resources from Police Scotland continue to assist North Edinburgh officers, with additional support from local Violence Reduction Units and the police helicoptor. Police horses have also been frequently deployed.
Inspector David Happs said: “The message from Stronger North remains clear – criminality in the local community will not be tolerated. While we have made significant steps tackling crime, we accept that there is still more work to be done.
“Our aim remains the same as it was six months ago: to create a better community for the people of North Edinburgh.”
The City of Edinburgh Council has reached an in-principle agreement with the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) to lease Leith’s Custom House from next month. The final terms of the agreement between SHBT and the Council will be put to the Finance & Resources Committee for consideration in May.
The venture will see the Trust, which already operates Riddle’s Court, work in tandem with the Council and local community organisations to restore the building as a hub in the heart of the community.
Initial repairs and cleaning inside and out of the building will take place over the course of Spring 2015 to prepare the venue for public access. A feasibility study will be commissioned in due course to also consider the long-term use and development of Custom House.
Last month, the Council announced that it had successfully purchased the historic building, after submitting an offer to the National Museums Scotland late last year.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Convener of Culture and Sport for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is an important step in the journey to open up Custom House to the Leith community, as well as Edinburgh residents and visitors, and an exciting development as the Council edges closer to taking ownership of the building in April.
“It is such a significant historic building and I’m delighted we have been able to save it for the people of Leith and Edinburgh. It is the oldest of its kind in Scotland having been built in 1812, and we will continue to speak with potential partners about subletting the venue in the short-term, as bigger scale developments take shape, so that public can access and explore the venue as soon as possible.
“The next steps are for the Council to receive the keys and take ownership of Custom House in April and for missives to be signed by SHBT.”
Chair of the SHBT Board of Trustees John Campbell, said: “Although we are a small charity, we have a strong track record in saving important buildings at risk for communities across Scotland and we are delighted now to be involved in securing a future for the Customs House.
“Our first priority will be to make some repairs to the building and spruce it up so that pretty soon members of the public will be able access it. Its various rooms will be available for use whilst we develop the capital project from feasibility study through to completion.
“This is a very exciting project that will deliver a vibrant mixed use hub for the benefit of the people of Leith and beyond. A key element will be the presentation of selected artefacts and interpretation displays to highlight the historic importance of Leith as the gateway to Edinburgh and Scotland. Other uses may include offices, workshops and public rooms for meetings and events.”
Elected members and community representatives from 15 different Leith groups are being informed at each stage of the project, and an update on the long-term lease of the building is due in May when a report goes before the Council’s Finance & Resources Committee.
Strategy aims to save 1,000 lives from cardiac arrest by 2020
A new strategy has been launched which aims to save 1,000 lives from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) over the next five years. Scotland’s Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy is the first such comprehensive document produced on a national scale anywhere in the world.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, introduced the strategy at the Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium, an international gathering of leading experts, in Edinburgh yesterday. She also confirmed that £100,000 of health consequential spending resulting from last week’s budget will be used to support delivery of the strategy and improve access to defibrillators.
The strategy sets a goal of increasing survival rates from OHCA by 10 per cent at the end of the five year strategy. This would mean around 1,000 lives being saved by 2020.
Some of the aims include:
• Equipping a further 500,000 people with CPR skills by 2020
• Improved mapping of defibrillators so that emergency call handlers can quickly direct members of the public to them
• Ensure that patients are always taken to a place with appropriate post cardiac arrest care
• To provide better support to survivors and their families and ensure that any any bystanders and others impacted by OHCA are given support after the event
• To reduce inequalities in survival
• To increase people’s confidence to attempt CPR if they witness a cardiac arrest
When a person goes into cardiac arrest their heart and breathing stops, meaning they will die in minutes. Prompt resuscitation, by CPR or if needed, a defibrillator, is essential to improve chances of survival. CPR delivered quickly can increase chances of survival threefold.
The strategy has been jointly produced by a range of stakeholders including the Scottish Government, British Heart Foundation, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland
A key element of the strategy is for all these stakeholders to work together to improve the crucial ‘chain of survival’ from the moment of cardiac arrest, through to hospital admission and into aftercare.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “Currently around one in 20 people survive cardiac arrest. We want to greatly increase that number, and that is what this strategy is all about.
“The best way to ensure that more people survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is to increase the number of people who have CPR skills, and crucially, to make sure they are confident enough to attempt resuscitation if the need arises.
“If we succeed in our aims, there will be 1,000 lives saved by 2020. That is an ambitious target, but it is one that we believe is achievable and well worth aiming for. I am also pleased to be able to confirm that a further £100,000 of investment to support this strategy.”
Simon Gillespie, British Heart Foundation Chief Executive, said: “Scotland has already embraced the concept of creating a nation of lifesavers, and we’re now supporting around three quarters of secondary schools in teaching their pupils vital CPR skills.
“And today, we’re delighted to see the launch of the Scottish Government’s Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest strategy. This is a real commitment to ensuring Scotland leads the way in creating a nation of lifesavers, and improving outcomes for people who suffer a cardiac arrest.”
Jim Ward, Medical Director, Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “Ambulance staff play a pivotal role in saving lives and the focus on continuously developing and improving resuscitation efforts is key to this.
“Our 3RU initiative that specifically targets cardiac arrests with the most appropriate paramedic response has increased survival rates. Our ambulance teams provide bystander CPR advice and our community resilience teams deliver a wide range of initiatives around the country, including First Responder programmes, community CPR training and provision of public access defibrillators.
“The Scottish Ambulance Service will continue to develop partnerships with allied organisations and communities, saving lives across Scotland.”
Wendy Armitage, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Cardiac Manager, said: “We know that there is much more to be done for people who survive cardiac arrest. Survivors often have specific needs such as social and psychological, however these needs are not being identified and addressed. Family and peer support is crucial for these patients, so the charity supports a network of affiliated heart groups across Scotland where people can speak to other people in similar circumstances.”
Fred Lippet, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Chief Executive of the Ambulance Service in Denmark, and one of the world’s leading experts in OHCA, said: “This is a fantastic strategy and, although it is stretching, I believe Scotland will achieve its goals due to the commitments made in the strategy.”
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Strategy for Scotland can be found here:
TRINITY ACADEMY SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The inaugural Trinity Academy Sports Awards that took place on 25 March can be labelled a resounding success with over 170 pupils and parents turning out to celebrate sporting achievements at Trinity (writes S6 student Ryan Crombie).
Guests enjoyed a captivating evening during which a whole range of sports were recognised, ranging from Tae Kwon Do to Sailing! Those who attended were also treated to musical performances from Hayley Scott and Charlie West throughout the night.
A special thanks has to go to our guest, former boxer Alex Arthur MBE, (above) who was kind enough to present all of the awards to the respective winners and made what was already a great night that bit more special.
Carol Graham, Depute Head Teacher and Allan Spencer, Curriculum Leader for PE were also individually rewarded on the night for their many years of hard work and dedication to Hockey and Rugby respectively.
Congratulations goes to all of the winners for the various awards, the nominees and of course the winner of the Trinity Academy Sports Personality of the Year, Eartha Cummings for her achievements with the U-17 Scotland Football team (pictured top).
Article by Ryan Crombie (S6)
‘inventive, playful, life-enhancing and civil-minded. It is a worthy winner.’ – My Place Award judges
North Edinburgh Arts has won a prestigious national award. The Scottish Civic Trust has recognised the arts centre’s garden project North Edinburgh Grows with the My Place Award 2015 (writes Dave Pickering).
Kate Wimpress, Director at North Edinburgh Arts, and Lachlan Stewart, from Anta Architects who designed the garden, received the award from Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment Marco Biagi MSP at a ceremony at the Lighthouse in Glasgow on Thursday.
The Scottish Civic Trust is the national body for the civic movement in Scotland and the My Place Awards is a unique scheme that celebrates good local design and conservation as nominated and evaluated by local people. The Awards are supported by the Scottish Government.
The My Place Award project category recognises buildings, landscapes, public realm and civic projects that have had a positive impact in local neighbourhoods and delivered tangible benefits to their communities.
Judges said: “The North Edinburgh Grows project is both inspiring and humbling. In the face of many challenges the designers, client and local community have transformed an unloved bit of land into a remarkable resource for local residents and visitors. It is exactly the sort of project which the My Place Awards were set up to acknowledge – inventive, playful, life-enhancing and civil-minded. It is a worthy winner.”
North Edinburgh Arts Director Kate Wimpress was delighted to receive the award on behalf of the project. She said: “NEA and the North Edinburgh Grows team would like to thank all members of the community and local organisations who have contributed so much to the success of the garden.
“This award is a recognition of everybody’s hard work and enthusiasm. If you would like to be involved with the garden please contact Valla, our Community Growing Coordinator, directly at northedinburghgrows@gmail.com“
You can follow the North Edinburgh Grows blog here: northedinburghgrows.wordpress.
The My Place 2015 Exhibition celebrates Scotland’s places, people, community projects and civic champions. It runs at the Lighthouse until 6th May. For full details about the awards and exhibition go to: www.myplaceawards.org.uk
