Searching for Stacey

Can you help trace missing woman?

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information in an effort to trace a 33-year-old woman who has been reported missing. Stacey Ann Ellis was last seen leaving work in St John’s Road, Corstorphine, at around 7:45pm last night.

Since then she has not made contact with friends or family and police are growing increasingly concerned for her wellbeing.

Stacey is described as around 5ft 6in tall, medium build with long dark brown hair. She has tattoos on both wrists and was last seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans and black boots.

She drives a grey-coloured Vauxhall Zafira with the registration DY11 ZGD, which was seen in Dundee on Tuesday night.

Inspector James Sinclair of Police Scotland said: “Stacey’s disappearance has come as a shock to her friends and family and we are keen to find her as quickly as possible.

“We believe Stacey has driven to Dundee and may still be in the city however we are keeping an open mind to the possibility that she may have moved on.
“I would urge members of the public in the city and wider Tayside area to contact police immediately if they have seen Stacey or the grey-coloured Vauxhall Zafira.

“Anyone who can assist us with our investigation is asked to contact police on the 101 or, alternatively via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Sick kids ‘sew’ happy with new bead bags!

Cancer patients at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children got a big surprise recently thanks to the generosity of local volunteers. Hundreds of ‘bead-bags’ hand-sewn by well-wishers have arrived for youngsters on Ward 2 following a call for donations!

The children are taking part in the ‘Beads of Courage’ scheme, an initiative which allows young patients to create a unique record of all the treatments and procedures they’ve been through during their time in hospital, using colourful beads.

In order to keep the beads safe, each child is also given a bead-bag but supplies had been running low.

Jenny Tomes, Clinical Psychologist, explained: “The children like to thread all their beads on to strings to represent all the experiences they have been through in hospital. To give the children somewhere to keep their precious beads safely, they are given a bead bag, a little cloth draw-string bag. We were getting low on supplies and so we put the word out to see if anyone could help.”

Jenny contacted the hospital’s Voluntary Services Manager, Denise Claxton, who set about recruiting some sewing volunteers.

Denise said: “We couldn’t believe it when parcels kept arriving! In the space of a few weeks around 150 bead bags in all different colours and patterns had been sewn and not just by our loyal NHS Lothian volunteers – but also by their friends and families, who were keen to help too.

“We’re really grateful to all those kind people who spent time making the bags so lovingly for the children on Ward 2.”

The ‘Beads of Courage’ programme is run by the charity Be Child Cancer Aware. To find out more visit http://www.bechildcanceraware.org/

We need your help, say fire chiefs

SFRS asks for public’s help after 28th fire death in five months

People will die in fires that could be prevented unless their friends, relatives and neighbours help them get the support they need to stay safe in their homes. The stark warning from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) makes clear firefighters across the country need the public to put them in touch with those who are at greatest risk.

It comes after confirmation that a man firefighters removed from a blaze at a flat in East Renfrewshire last Thursday later succumbed to his injuries. He was the 28th person in Scotland to die as a result of a fire this year.

Among the factors identified as having contributed to the fatalities were age, living alone, physical and mental health conditions, chaotic lifestyles, smoking, alcohol and drugs use.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “To lose someone through fire is utterly devastating and it always leaves a lasting impact on the families, friends and communities touched by the tragedy.

“The sad reality is many fatal fires could be prevented. We know very simple steps are often the difference between life and death.

“Every one of us can make that difference just by talking to people we know who might be vulnerable and putting them in touch with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“Fire threatens every home – we all need to understand it can happen to us and the people around us, consider the risks and live up to our responsibility to do what we can to save lives.”

Older people, those with physical or mental health issues and others with issues involving the misuse of alcohol or drugs are all at increased risk of experiencing a fire in their homes and suffering injury or death as a result.

Firefighters throughout Scotland actively work to help individual householders stay safe but many of those most at risk can be reluctant to contact SFRS for support.

As part of the Join Scotland’s Fight Against Fire campaign, SFRS has called on anyone who looks out for the well-being of a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbour to discuss fire safety with them.

Mr Ramsay explained: “Our crews always do everything they can but unfortunately their courage and professionalism in responding to a fire won’t always be enough. Even where a fire has remained small, the smoke and heat produced can very quickly spread through a home and threaten the life of anyone inside.

“We would much rather take the time to do a free home fire safety visit and help someone prevent a fire than respond to a blaze where they may have already suffered life-changing, or even life-ending, injuries.”

He added: “Protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities isn’t something we can do alone. Reaching people who need some help to stay safe is always a challenge and we need the public’s help to meet it.”

Free home fire safety visits are available from SFRS by calling the freephone number 0800 073 1999, by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or by filling in an online form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

Conducted by local crews at times convenient for the householder, the visits also see firefighters provide and install free smoke alarms where these are found to be needed.

Mr Ramsay added: “We’ll probably never know just how many lives have been saved because someone had the presence of mind to arrange a free home fire safety visit, whether for their self or for someone close to them.

“It doesn’t take long for a local firefighter to show someone the common hazards that many people just don’t realise are in their home.

“Our crews help residents take very easy steps to address these risks and they also make sure the property has working smoke alarms and that everyone knows what to do if a fire does start.

“It’s a service that can make all the difference. I’d urge anyone who thinks they or someone they know could benefit from it to get in touch with us today – before another tragedy happens.”

The Tattoo’s heading down under

‘If I had to name one world event that I wanted to attract to Melbourne it would be The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’ – Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will take place in Australia and New Zealand next February.

The Tattoo is a major fixture in the global events calendar providing upwards of £100m into the UK economy every year. Last year marked the Tattoo’s sixteenth successive sell-out season at Edinburgh Castle, generating approximately £10 million in box office receipts.

The news that the Tattoo will be on the road next year has already received an overwhelmingly positive reaction in Australia and New Zealand. Ticket sales for Melbourne and Wellington are already breaking expected targets, with 50% of tickets sold in the first week and an additional Melbourne show announced yesterday. These two offshore Tattoos are expected to draw millions into their respective local economies.

Brigadier David Allfrey MBE, Chief Executive and Producer, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “The Tattoo provides a wonderful excuse for people to come together for an enjoyable and inspirational evening and to reflect on where their interests and influence might coincide. We are so proud to play our part in these international endeavours.

“Our project to take the Tattoo to Wellington and Melbourne has been more than three years in the planning. It has involved a huge number of partners across all three countries, never mind in those nations getting ready to contribute to the Show. It is, however, a much wider story than us doing a show. The Tattoo’s integrated approach provides our wide ranging stakeholders with an exciting, high profile platform which can deliver a plethora of interesting and beneficial opportunities.”

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “The UK enjoys a very close international relationship with Australia and New Zealand across a wide range of areas including an extraordinary shared heritage in culture, history and military alliance. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo overseas programme represents an exciting platform in this rich relationship.

“It brings together a unique blend of music, ceremony and entertainment that showcases a stunning array of Scottish heritage & culture and the precision and expertise of the British Military combined with a colourful mix military and cultural groups from around the world.”

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: “This is great news for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and for Scotland. The Tattoo is a firm favourite in Edinburgh’s world famous festivals and I am sure the Australian and New Zealand audiences will be delighted by the unique blend of music and entertainment that only The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo can provide. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a world renowned Scottish brand and reaching out to people who are interested in Scotland and our heritage is important to tourism and our image overseas.

Kerry Prendergast, Executive Chair, New Zealand Festival, said: “The New Zealand Festival and the Tattoo, with the support of the New Zealand government, sought to bring this iconic event back to Wellington because we were sure Kiwis would come out in force to support it. We’re thrilled that audiences have responded so enthusiastically, and can’t wait to welcome the Tattoo to what’s on track to be a sell-out season in Wellington.”

The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle said: “If I had to name one world event that I wanted to attract to Melbourne it would be The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and we are delighted to be hosting it for the first time in 2016. Melbourne is renowned for our world-class events calendar and I’m delighted that Melburnians have embraced the event and that it will have major flow-on effect for our tourism industry.”

Decisions, decisions: Time for truly local councils?

A meeting taking place in Oban this weekend might just change the way communities engage with politics and politicians. Local democracy needs to change – is it time for a People’s Council?

A grassroots movement created to transform local democracy is to hold an event in Oban this weekend. The People’s Council believes that local democracy in Scotland is broken – and it’s up to people and communities themselves to fix it.

The movement has it’s roots in the west of Scotland, where community activists in Argyll & Bute started the ball rolling. Frustrated by the way their local authority operates, campaigners aim to revolutionise decision-making, taking it back to the local communities themselves. They’ve had enough of the council’s ‘we know what’s good for you’ attitude and believe that decisions made about a community are best made by the people who are affected by them – the people who live there. Sound familiar?

Community campaigners were particularly aggrieved over their local authority’s lack of support for a community buy-out of Castle Toward, their council’s failure to challenge budget cuts and the subsequent cuts to services in their communities that inevitably followed.

Activists began chatting online – and an online community, the People’s Council movement, was formed. It soon became clear that people and communities across the country are also concerned about the state of local democracy, and the decision was made to widen the campaign and make the movement Scotland wide.

The group feels that the structure and ethos of councils, and not just their actions and decisions, must be challenged.

It is calling for fundamental reform of local government in Scotland and have called a People’s Council meeting to look at how this can be achieved.

A People’s Council spokesperson said: “This grassroots event in Argyll is set to challenge the nature of local democracy in Scotland. Scotland may be topping the UK charts in terms of voter turnout at the recent election but there’s still a huge local democratic deficit we need to tackle.

“Join us in Oban on 6 June for this one day event full of speakers, workshops, discussion and action to explore local democracy reform from a grassroots level organised by a collective of community activists from across Argyll.

“Speakers include writer and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, Common Weal’s Robin McAlpine, Paddy Bort of the University of Edinburgh, campaigner Cat Boyd, local MSP Mike Russell and Councillor Vivien Dance, among others.

“The aim of the event is to plan and organise how people can effect change in our local communities and across Scotland. Everyone knows that local democracy in Scotland is broken. The People’s Council wants to try and fix it.”

Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch has thrown her weight behind the campaign and is one of a number of high profile speakers who will address the People’s Council event on Saturday.

She said: “Scotland has Europe’s largest councils by population and physical size. That means distant decision-making, low levels of participation and constant battles between communities and councils.

“Argyll and Bute Council’s shameful failure to transfer Castle Toward to the local community as agreed was one of the lowest points in the history of Scottish local democracy. But now activists from across Argyll are demonstrating real leadership by deciding to get even – not angry.

“These campaigners have kick-started a process to devise a new workable template of truly local government in Scotland involving folk from all over Scotland – the People’s Councils.

“There’s been support for this novel, grassroots idea at every meeting I’ve spoken at during the election campaign from Assynt in the Highlands to Duns in the Borders. Truly local councils are an idea whose time has come – well done Argyll for getting the ball rolling.”

Independent MSP John Finnie, who will also speak at the Oban event, said: “In far too many local authorities decisions reached indicate just how far, both in terms of geography and mind-set, those charged with representing communities are from what really matters.

“That must and will change as the growing debate around the need to ensure meaningful local democracy, which reflects community aspirations, gathers momentum.”

The event takes place at Oban High School on Saturday 6 June from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Tickets are £10/£7 and can be purchased online from Ticket Tailor, or via www.thepeoplescouncil.org.

A number of free tickets are also available.

Art exhibition at St Columba’s this week

The 29th Annual Art Exhibition by the Art Friends of St Columba’s Hospice is an excellent opportunity to view and maybe even buy some excellent art for this excellent cause. It will take place at the St Columba’s Hospice Education Centre, Boswall Road on:

Friday 5 June 12 noon – 8pm (incl informal drinks reception from 6pm)
Saturday 6 June – 10am – 4pm
Sunday 7 June – 11am – 4pm

More details to be found here
http://www.stcolumbashospicefundraising.org.uk/events/art-exhibition-5-2423.aspx

Home, sweet home at Shortbread Court

Housing Convener Councillor Cammy Day opened the city’s newest affordable housing development at Shortbread Court in Granton earlier today.

The £2.9m construction of 27 homes used £767,000 funding from the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, which is managed by the City of Edinburgh Council on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Built by Queensberry Properties Ltd (Cruden Homes East Scotland), the properties consist of one-and two-bedroom flats and meet Link design standards for affordable housing.

Each home has gas central heating and hot water systems, high thermal insulation and double glazing to create warm, comfortable and energy-efficient homes that will be easy and economical to run.

Councillor Day said: “We were delighted to work with our housing partners to deliver this development of desirable, energy efficient homes in a regenerated area of the city, which hard working people can afford to live in. Joining forces with organisations such as Link is allowing the Council to build record numbers of much-needed affordable housing.”

Link Group Chairman, Roy Stirrat, said: “We are delighted to have been supported by the Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council to enable us to continue to provide new, high quality homes at rents affordable to people on low or limited fixed incomes. Since 2013, Link has built 138 new homes for social and intermediate rent in Edinburgh which have played a part in tackling the Capital’s shortage of affordable homes.”

Regeneration Fund open for business

Cumbernauld project points the way forward to regenerate deprived communities

A project to build a new community centre at the heart of Cumbernauld has been hailed as a success of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) which opens for new applications today.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) is planned as a £25m joint Scottish Government / COSLA fund, which contributes to the delivery of outcomes set out in the Regeneration Strategy.

It was developed in partnership with COSLA and local authorities. The initial agreement covered calls for projects over 2014/15 and 2015/2016 which has now been completed. The RCGF is open to all 32 local authorities, Urban Regeneration Companies and other regeneration Special Purpose Vehicles. It will primarily support areas which suffer from high levels of deprivation and disadvantage in both urban and rural areas.

The new Cumbernauld Community Centre, which was recommended support of £4 million, is helping to create and support jobs, training and community groups. Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Alex Neil visited the site of the new centre today, following an announcement that the RCGF is now open to support projects in 2016/17.

Meeting at the old community centre next to the building site, Mr Neil spoke to some of the groups who will use the centre, including Women’s Aid, the Alpha Project and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth Unemployed Workers Centre. The new centre will include space for small businesses and third sector groups, a nursery, hall and café space as well as multi-function rooms for local organisations.

Mr Neil said: “This is a wonderful example of the one of the many projects the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund is helping to deliver. This centre is expected to create 74 new jobs, as well as supporting 59 in the construction sector and 60 existing jobs in the community centre, showing the grant will deliver social and economic benefits beyond the new building itself.

“Investment in regeneration projects like this new community centre is absolutely key for stimulating economic growth throughout Scotland, whilst at the same time tackling inequality in disadvantaged communities – an approach which is now at the core of Scotland’s economic strategy.

“It’s also a great example of how Scotland’s public bodies can work in partnership to deliver initiatives that revitalise our communities, but more importantly ensuring communities themselves are at the heart of the regeneration of their areas.

“I’m delighted that COSLA has agreed to work with us for a third term on this initiative and would encourage local authorities and eligible organisations to apply to the third round of this fund.”

Councillor Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability, added:

“The RCGF really is the reality behind the rhetoric. We hear all the talk about outcomes and delivering for communities, well this fund really does do just that and that is why for the third year in a row COSLA is happy to fully support the government in its delivery

“I’m heartened to see the progress on the projects which have received funding from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to date; the difference this is making within local communities across Scotland; and the strong physical, social and economic outcomes that these projects are demonstrating. I look forward to seeing the projects that come forward within this next round of the RCGF announced today.

“This fund is of crucial importance in ensuring transformational change in areas of deprivation across Scotland, and I’m glad that COSLA and Scottish Government continue to work together proactively on this area of policy which is so crucial for improving the outcomes for communities across the country.”

North Lanarkshire Council’s regeneration convener, Cllr David Fagan, said: “The Cumbernauld Community Enterprise Centre is an innovative scheme to provide modern up-to-date office facilities for voluntary and social enterprise groups, new business start-ups and other local companies combined with high quality meeting and activity space for use by communities and community groups.

“When completed and landscaped, it will be a real showpiece for the residents in Cumbernauld and a superb successor to the Muirfield Centre, which served the community well for many years but was ripe for closure and replacement.”

Brian McQuade, Scotland and north-east England managing director of Kier Construction, which is building the new centre in Cumbernauld, said: “This vibrant mix of community, business and play facilities in the heart of the town centre will benefit thousands of people in Cumbernauld and the surrounding areas.

“The development will also generate a valuable boost to the local economy by providing employment opportunities for local construction businesses and apprentices throughout the build period.”

Michael McBrearty, Chief Executive of Hub South West, which is managing the construction, added: “The transformation of Muirfield Community Centre will make a significant difference to the community in Cumbernauld and the surrounding areas, whilst creating local employment opportunities.”

The RCGF was developed in partnership with local authorities, and provides financial support for projects which deliver large scale positive improvements to deprived areas. After an agreement approved by COSLA in May, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess and Cllr Stephen Hagan, COSLA’s Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability announced at the Holyrood Regeneration Conference today that the fund will be open for a third round of applications for projects which will get underway during 2016.

Pauline makes it work at Millennium Centre!

JAMES McGINTY reports on a popular new activity at Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre …

Pauline Nicol-Bowie( Making it Work) had a fantastic response from the community as a total of 13 children & 10 mums. The mums took part in a dough-making session (substitute for Plasticine) for play with their children at home.

The day was deemed such a success Pauline now has the choice of staying in the cafe or an expansion to this service forces her to use the big hall. Congratulations Pauline!

James McGinty

What will Pauline choose: move or stay? I just dough-no … !

East meets West in titanic struggle

It’s an age-old rivalry that stretches back as far as anyone can remember – and the latest in a long line of sporting battles between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be fought out at Meadowbank later this month. LUCY GLENNIE explains …

The ‘derby derby’ rolls back into the capital in an all-Scottish battle of all-female fitness, strength, and speed on skates later this month when Edinburgh’s Auld Reekie Roller Girls (ARRG) will take on their greatest Scottish rivals Glasgow Roller Derby (GRD) at Meadowbank Stadium.

The latest roller derby game will see ARRG fighting to regain their crown from GRD, who came out on top in their last battle.

GRD are the finest they’ve ever been right now, having swept to the top spot in the latest UK Roller Derby Association rankings for the first time too. The slip from #1 ranking for ARRG has seen them training harder and smarter than ever in the last few weeks to be on peak form to snatch back the gold.

Will the mighty ARRG be able to reclaim their top spot, or will the Glaswegians opposition be too strong and hold the lead?

It’s sure to be a fiercely-fought battle between the two highest-ranking teams in the UK. This is an incredible chance to see the love-hate rivalry of these Scottish opponents – come and see why people are getting so excited about the fastest-growing women’s sport in the world!

Auld Reekie Roller Girls v Glasgow Roller Derby

2pm, Sunday 28 June: Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road

Tickets:

Tickets available from: http://www.brownpapertickets.com

Advance tickets – £5.00

On the door tickets – £7.00

Free for children aged 14 and under.