Day: June 21, 2015

Trusted Trader: choosing contractors with confidence

Trusted Trader

A new online directory, Edinburgh Trusted Trader, has been launched to help residents choose contractors with confidence.

Thirty-six traders and businesses have already signed up to Trusted Trader, creating a new ‘go-to list’ for people looking for services such as home repairs. After being checked by the Council’s Trading Standards team to ensure that they are compatible with the principles of the scheme, contractors are then accepted as members and their details added to the website. Customers can use the directory to find local contractors’ details with the reassurance that they are reliable and have been fully vetted.

Community Safety Leader, Councillor Cammy Day, was joined at the launch by representatives from Trusted Directory Services, who will manage the scheme along with Trading Standards, Police Scotland and trade members to mark the new site going live.

Cllr Day said: “Edinburgh Trusted Trader is an excellent resource for people who need work carried out on their home or communal area but want to make sure they are hiring reputable, reliable contractors. It’s not only good news for residents but also the businesses and traders listed who can promote themselves as members of the scheme and receive expert advice from our Trading Standards team.

“I am confident that this scheme will help build on consumer confidence in trades across the city and look forward to seeing more businesses and individuals signing up to be a Trusted Trader.”

Edinburgh Trusted Trader could reach more than 225,000 households and all members will be able to use the scheme’s logo on materials and vehicles. Residents who use the services can rate them afterwards and leave comments on the site for other users to read. The scheme also includes a dispute resolution process should there be any disagreements between customers and member businesses.

Similar directories have been successfully introduced in Dundee, West Lothian, East Lothian and Fife.

Edinburgh’s scheme was created after a public consultation found that many home owners are hesitant about organising shared repairs in common areas as that they don’t know how to find a trustworthy trader.

Any businesses or individuals interested in being listed with Edinburgh Trusted Trader can sign up online.

Crumbs, it’s Cakefest!

Can you handle twelve hours of cake?

timetoeatcake

Cake lover? The Botanics is the place to be from 10am today as Cake Fest Edinburgh comes to town!

Lots of food-related fun, entertainment and activities for all the family from 10am all the way through to 10pm tonight – including the building, unveiling (and ultimately the demolishing and eating) of the unique Edinburgh cake map!

For further info visit: http://edinburgh.cakefest.org.uk/

streetfood

A poem for Father’s Day

father-and-child
THE GIFT by Li-Young Lee
To pull the metal splinter from my palm
my father recited a story in a low voice.
I watched his lovely face and not the blade.
Before the story ended, he’d removed
the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.
I can’t remember the tale,
but hear his voice still, a well
of dark water, a prayer.
And I recall his hands,
two measures of tenderness
he laid against my face,
the flames of discipline
he raised above my head.
Had you entered that afternoon
you would have thought you saw a man
planting something in a boy’s palm,
a silver tear, a tiny flame.
Had you followed that boy
you would have arrived here,
where I bend over my wife’s right hand.
Look how I shave her thumbnail down
so carefully she feels no pain.
Watch as I lift the splinter out.
I was seven when my father
took my hand like this,
and I did not hold that shard
between my fingers and think,
Metal that will bury me,
christen it Little Assassin,
Ore Going Deep for My Heart.
And I did not lift up my wound and cry,
Death visited here!
I did what a child does
when he’s given something to keep.
I kissed my father.

Meningitis B vaccinations from 1 September

Meningitis B jag to be offered to all babies

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The meningitis B vaccine will be introduced to the routine childhood vaccination programme in Scotland from 1 September, the Scottish Government has announced. 

The vaccination will offer protection against the life-threatening strain of meningitis to all infants. The scheme, which was delayed by cost disputes, is the first national and publicly-funded programme against the deadly infection in the world.

The vaccination will be given in three doses at two, four and 12 months, with all infants in Scotland who are aged two months when the vaccine is introduced 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 infants aged three and four months of age who will be attending for their routine vaccinations.

Additionally, in response to an increase in the number of cases of meningitis W, and based on advice from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation, a MenACWY vaccine will be introduced to replace the MenC vaccine used in the adolescents and freshers vaccination programmes.

From 1 August that vaccine will be offered to students under the age of 25 attending university for the first time this Autumn, along with a catch-up programme for all 14 to 18 year olds.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “These two new vaccination programmes will offer families in Scotland extra peace of mind.

“We’re delighted to be one of the first countries in the world to introduce a nationwide MenB vaccination programme to help tackle the effects of this disease, which can be devastating for children and their families.

“The Scottish Government has been consistent in its support for the introduction of this vaccine and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children.

“Around 1,200 people – mainly babies and children – get meningitis B each year in the UK, and around one in 10 die from the infection.

“I am also very pleased to see the expedited launch of the MenW vaccine prevention programme for teenagers. This vaccine also protects against MenA, MenC and MenY, making sure young people are protected at such an important time in their academic lives.”

Chief Executive of Meningitis Now, Sue Davie said: “We’re delighted to see these vaccination programmes moving forward and offering protection to new babies and young people across Scotland. Today’s announcement is a tribute to the tireless and selfless efforts of our supporters, for many of whom sadly these vaccines come too late. We are ready to support the introductions in any way we can.”

Scotland Manager of Meningitis Research Foundation, Mary Millar said: “On behalf of our Scottish members of Meningitis Research Foundation who have been affected by this deadly disease, we are delighted to welcome the MenB vaccine for babies and MenACWY vaccine for teenagers and students. These two programmes are the culmination of years of research which will spare countless families the trauma of seeing a loved one die or left seriously disabled by meningitis and septicaemia.”

One mum remembers all too well the horror of her baby contracting meningitis, and Gemma Lessells from Inverkeithing has welcomed the announcement of the immunisation programme.

She said: “My son Matthew contracted meningitis B in 2010 when he was 13 months old. He was quiet and had a temperature at 4pm. He started being sick at 6 pm and by 10 pm he was in hospital fighting for his life. He had cannulas everywhere, they were taking his blood pressure every 15 minutes. His heart rate was 210 and his temperature on admission was 40.9.

“We were incredibly lucky – Matthew survived, though has delayed expressive speech and suffered night terrors following his hospital stay. We are also in the process of discussing possible behavioural side effects with his Health Visitor, but other than that we have a gorgeous healthy happy boy with a laugh that lights up a room.

“I would not want any parent or child to go through what we did, and welcome news of the implementation of these two new vaccines in Scotland.”