There’s another opportunity to have your say on creating a fairer Scotland this week. Pilton Community Health Project will be hosting a session at their office on Boswall Parkway this Thursday from 10 – 11.30am.
All welcome – come along and share your views!
‘Staffies are actually friendly, affectionate and loyal’ – Mike Flynn, Scottish SPCA
The Scottish SPCA is inviting dog lovers to visit its Balerno centre to meet its Staffordshire bull terriers in need of new homes.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity launches its annual Staffie Awareness Week today and is urging potential new owners to meet the “fantastic breed”.
Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said, “Last year our Balerno centre rehomed 21 staffies and have more looking for homes. However, we know many people still overlook them because they think they may be aggressive.
“Staffie Awareness Week is our opportunity to highlight that staffies are actually friendly, affectionate and loyal.
“Many people who visit our centres looking to rehome a dog tell us they have already discounted the breed. But when they meet a staffie their opinions often change once they have been showered with kisses and affection.
“Lots of our staffies have found new homes after people have got to know them and that’s why we are inviting anyone thinking of taking on a dog to visit our centres.
“We are sure if they spent just a small amount of time with a staffie, they’d see what a fantastic breed they are.
“Just like other dogs in our care, some of our staffies have been mistreated and need particular homes but we also have many who would suit a family home with children and pets.
“We are challenging the negative labels staffies have been given because it’s truly heart-breaking to see how many of them are living in our kennels instead of the loving homes they deserve.”
Those interested in giving a staffie a loving home can visit the charity’s Balerno centre which is open seven days a week between 10am and 4pm.
Trevor (above) has been in our care for nearly a year now and we can’t understand why he is overlooked as he is such a great, loving dog.
Trevor is very much a people dog who enjoys spending time with his human friends. He is looking for someone who can continue his training and socialisation and will require a home with an enclosed garden. He is a joy to walk on the lead and will give you heaps of affection!
Trevor would like to live in a home without any canine companions as he’s not keen on other dogs and can get very worked up when walking past them.
NOTE to Trevor:
Ditch the rugby ball – following yesterday’s heart-breaking defeat most Scots won’t want to see one of those things again for a long, long time!
New group will explore ways to reduce reliance on foodbanks
The scourge of food poverty and possible solutions to Scotland’s increasing reliance on foodbanks will be investigated by a new group when representatives from poverty organisations and charities convene for their first meeting today.
The short term working group will identify the issues which push people into food poverty and discuss how they can be addressed.
The group, chaired by the Secretary of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council Rev Dr Martin Johnstone, has been asked to make recommendations to the Scottish Government by February 2016 on the actions required to eradicate food poverty in Scotland.
The first meeting coincides with the Poverty Alliance’s annual Challenge Poverty Week which runs from October 17 to 23 and aims to challenge the stereotypes around poverty and increase public support to combat it.
The latest statistics from the Trussell Trust show that a total of 117,689 people picked up a three-day supply of groceries from their Scottish foodbanks in 2014-15. Of those, 36,114 were children. This is more than EIGHT TIMES the number helped just two years ago.
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said: “It is heart breaking that anyone should be left hungry and unable to afford to feed their families in a country as prosperous as Scotland.
“UK Government welfare cuts and benefit sanctions have continually pushed more and more people into food poverty and increased the demand and number of food banks in Scotland. This shocking trend has to stop.
“By bringing together a range of experts who support people in food poverty we hope the group will come up with a food strategy that will reduce the need for foodbanks over time.
“Food poverty cannot be solved overnight which is why the group will look at how we can address some of its long-term causes and whether we can take a more joined up approach to welfare benefits advice, health and employment support services.
“I look forward to hearing the group’s recommendations on how we can ease the pressure on food banks, tackle food poverty and create a fairer Scotland.”
The Scottish Government currently invests £1 million into the Emergency Food Action Plan which helps support 26 local emergency food aid projects and the charity Fareshare to redistribute surplus food from retailers to communities across Scotland.
The group’s recommendations will feed into the Scottish Government’s Social Justice Action Plan. This will be published in the new year with milestones to the next Parliament and beyond to help tackle poverty and create fairer opportunities for all.
The chair of the group, Rev Dr Martin Johnstone, said: “I am delighted to be chairing this independent Working Group on Food Poverty, whilst appalled that in a country as wealthy as Scotland the number of people going hungry is increasing by thousands each year.
“Our starting point will be that we need to reverse that trend. The group will bring together people with a wide variety of experiences of tackling food poverty including, critically, those with direct experience of what it means not to have enough for you and your family.
“I hope that together we can highlight what is working, what needs to change and what the Scottish Government and others can do to bring about a hunger free Scotland.”
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance said: “The growth of foodbanks in recent years is the surest sign that we need to do more to tackle poverty in Scotland.
“Challenge Poverty Week is aimed at highlighting that solutions to poverty do exist, and the work that volunteers across Scotland do week in and out providing emergency food aid shows that people are committed to tackling the scandal of food poverty.
“But it is necessary that we find longer term solutions to food poverty. So we welcome the Scottish Government convening this new group to find lasting solutions to the problem. Through it we will be able to draw on the experience and expertise of those volunteering in foodbanks, people using emergency food aid and those involved in community food projects to make a real difference in the future.”
University advice at Granton Campus tomorrow
Edinburgh College will be hosting a series of university open days to give students, school pupils and members of the public the opportunity to find out which routes to university would be best for them.
Representatives from universities across Scotland will be on hand to provide advice on the courses they have to offer. The Scottish Institute of Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland will also be there to talk about the support they provide for students. There will also be a chance to talk to SAAS about funding options.
The university open days will take place at 11am-2pm at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus (20 October), Milton Road Campus (21 October) and Sighthill Campus (22 October).
Attendees:
Granton: Tuesday 20 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, University of Stirling, University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian University, SAAS, Scottish Institute of Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Milton Road: Wednesday 21 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, SAAS, Scottish Institute for Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Sighthill: Thursday 22 October. 11am-2pm.
University of Edinburgh, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, University of Stirling, University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian, Glasgow School of Art, Robert Gordon University, Abertay Dundee University, University of Aberdeen, SAAS, Scottish Institute for Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Save a Life for Scotland, a national campaign which aims to train half a million people to carry out life-saving CPR, was launched on Friday – European Restart a Heart Day.
Save a Life for Scotland is the campaign behind Scotland’s new strategy to improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The aim is to train a further 500,000 people in CPR and save an additional 1,000 lives over the next five years.
The campaign was launched at an event on Princes Street organised by the Resuscitation Research Group at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
It was attended by Maureen Watt, Minister of Public Health, and representatives of the partners involved in the campaign, including Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, Defence Medical Services, Police Scotland, St Andrew’s First Aid, British Red Cross, British Heart Foundation, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS).
Ms Watt said: “When a person goes into cardiac arrest it means their heart has stopped completely. The only chance of saving their life is to restart the heart as soon as possible. If they aren’t in hospital the chance of a medical professional being close at hand is slim.
“That is why it’s so important that members of the public know how to do CPR and are confident enough to try it. The Scottish Government fully backs Save a Life for Scotland. Training an extra 500,000 people in this life-saving skill could save thousands of lives over the next few years.
“CPR is one of the most valuable skills anyone can have. There are many opportunities to learn, just visit savealife.scot or the Facebook page for more details.”
Dr. Gareth Clegg, NHS Lothian Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Resuscitation Research Group lead, said: “Across Scotland, around 3,500 people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest undergo attempted resuscitation but only 1 in 20 survive to hospital discharge.
“Receiving really good CPR from a bystander before paramedics arrive can more than double chances of recovery. That is why it is crucial that more people are made aware of how and where they can access CPR training and sign up to take part. Everyone has lifesaving equipment on them – but you need to know how to use it.”
The campaign is also being backed by East Lothian father-of-two Gregor Newton, 45, who received CPR from his wife after unexpectedly collapsing at home in April last year.
Gregor said: “It was totally out of the blue. I was fit with no health issues and no health concerns and never expected I would have a cardiac arrest. My son, Harry, found me on the floor and immediately called for his mum, Judy, who was able to start CPR.
“She continued with other bystanders until a local Community First Responder made it to the scene and took over, using a defibrillator to shock my heart back into rhythm. I’m very lucky to still be here and now know how crucial it was to have this early intervention. ”
Dave Boyle, Assistant Chief Officer and Director of Service Delivery, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is proud to be working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation in a bid to help train as many people as possible in the use of CPR across Scotland.
“This partnership is one part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s commitment to support the Scottish Government’s Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy and Save A Life for Scotland campaign. We want to contribute to saving an extra 1000 lives in Scotland by 2020.
“We have a network of fire stations across Scotland and each of them will house a CPR kit. Members of the public are encouraged to contact their local fire officer or fire station and arrange a visit and some training. The training will empower people and give them the skills they need to deliver life-saving assistance to anyone suffering from cardiac arrest.
“We are extremely grateful to the British Heart Foundation for providing the CPR kits and we hope this initiative will save hundreds of lives in the weeks, months and years to come.”
A number of events took place all over the country on Restart a Heart Day to mark the launch of Save a Life for Scotland. These included awareness days and free training stations taking place at fire stations, ambulance stations and events hosted by St Andrew’s First Aid.
Members of the public will be encouraged to learn the basic skills of CPR, and when to use them. It is estimated that improving knowledge of CPR techniques could more than double survival rates. Big screens around the marquee will show videos telling the stories of survivors, bystanders and also giving information and news from the relevant charities involved.
For more information visit savealife.scot
follow facebook.com/savealifeforscotland
and/or @savealifescot on Twitter.
granton:hub at The Madelvic
Saturday 24 October, 11am – 2.30pm
MY Adventure has teamed up with City of Edinburgh Council to deliver FREE guided cycle rides around our amazing city. Join us as part of the Smarter Choices, Smart Places initiative to explore the cycle network – a fantastic way to get around the city we love.
The paths are gentle and away from traffic, the perfect way to access so many of Edinburgh’s wonderful sights – the whole family is welcome. Our guides are experienced and friendly and even if you don’t have a bike that’s no problem. Just get in touch and we will loan you one for free!
Join us in Rodney Street Tunnel EH7 4EW 12 noon for a trip to the Forth Road Bridge or Portobello; alternatively there will be shorter cycle rides for the wee ones! We will also have displays in Rodney Street Tunnel about cycling in Edinburgh, tonnes of free information and even a smoothie making bike!
Check out our website www.myadventure.org.uk for more information and to book online, or phone 0131 629 3065 and receive a free gift on the day!
“Thank you for the very great honour today – Vive la France!” – Anthony Delahoy, Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur
Silverknowes man Tony Delahoy was among nine Scots veterans to receive France’s highest distinction of honour for their role during the liberation of France during the Second World War.
Eight of the former servicemen received the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur at a presentation ceremony on board the French navy destroyer Aquitaine docked at Leith yesterday.
Servicemen Thomas Cave (91), Cyril Deas (93), Anthony Delahoy (92), Alexander Govan (99), John Greig (90), Hugh Maguire (95) William Pritchard (94), Walter Sharp (101) and Aidan Sprott (96) risked their lives during the D Day landings and the subsequent furious conflict to drive the Nazis back and liberate France – bravery and comradeship that has never been forgotten by the French people.
A spokeswoman for the consul general said: “France will never forget the gallantry and bravery they showed in taking part in the liberation of France 70 years ago.
“The actions and sacrifice of these men, and that of so many who fell on the battlefield, was instrumental in bringing back freedom and peace in France and across Europe.”
Emmanuel Cocher, Consul General of France in Scotland and Rear Admiral Patrick Chevallereau, the French Embassy’s defence attaché presented the medals to the old soldiers.
Gunner Anthony ‘Tony’ Delahoy was a dispatch rider in the Royal Artillery. He undertook vital communication and reconnaissance operations between HQ and Anti-Tank Guns engaging Panzers. He saw action throughout Normandy during the campaign and was involved through the Caen Sector and in the Battle for Le Havre.
A proud Tony (pictured above, third left, back row) said: “On my many returns to Normandy over the years each succeeding generation of the people of France have welcomed Veterans with great kindness, dignity and honour, expressing their heartfelt feelings for the return of their freedom.
“We Veterans owe to the people of France admiration for their courage and
determination to survive the terrible times of the occupation, we pay tribute to them and particularly to the citizens of Normandy for their courage and
sacrifice during the battles for liberation.
“One personal incident I would like to mention, on the way over to France, June 1944, our ship was hit by a large electrically guided bomb but it failed to
explode. I have always believed that somewhere brave resistance workers
sabotaged that bomb. Thank you.
“Thank you for the very great honour today – Vive la France!”
It’s not too late to visit the Hold me Dear photography exhibition in Rodney Street Tunnel!
The ‘Four Cities, [Exta]ordinary Places’ exhibition, which is free, features images from Copenhagen, Hamburg, Istanbul and, of course, our very own Edinburgh!
Be quick, though: organisers will be dismantling the Hold Me Dear exhibition at Rodney St tunnel on Tuesday (20 October) before a move to its ‘new home for future local community exhibitions at the local community centre and school!’
Challenge Poverty Week
17 – 23 October
More than 900,000 people in Scotland live in low income households – in a rich country like ours this is unnecessary and unacceptable.
Challenge Poverty Week is an opportunity for you to raise you voice against poverty and show what is being done to tackle poverty across. Organisations large and small supported Challenge Poverty Week last year, and we hope even more get behind it this year.
To achieve this organisations across Scotland will be organising events, running community activities, meeting with politicians to discuss their concerns.
Through all these focused activities we want to show that there is nothing inevitable about poverty. Not only are many people and organisations addressing poverty right now, but there is far more that we can do in the future to make a bigger impact.
John Dickie, Head of Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, said: “If we are serious about ending poverty in Scotland its vital that we build the public support needed to make real change happen. Challenge Poverty Week is a great opportunity to work together to highlight the damage that poverty wreaks and create the pressure needed for real action to end it.”
The City of Edinburgh Council is supporting the week. In his Leader’s Report published yesterday, Council Leader Cllr Andrew Burns said: “Tomorrow, 17 October, marks the start of the national Challenge Poverty Week. A number of events and activities are being held locally to coincide with it.
“In September, the Council agreed to adopt a set of pledges to challenge the stigma that can so often be associated with living in poverty. Part of the ‘Stick Your Labels‘ campaign, these pledges reinforce that poverty is not inevitable and commit organisations to setting out what they will do to help.
“In shaping the deal, we want to build on our strengths across the region, whilst tackling persistent inequality and other constraints that threaten to hold us back. If successful, we could potentially unlock an additional £3.2bn worth of private sector investment.”
The city council, having just signed up to the Stick Your Labels anti-stigma pledges, will be highlighting its work on tackling poverty, and that of its partners, during Challenge Poverty Week 2015.
There is a varied programme of events over the week, including Councillor visits to food poverty projects, the launch of the Edinburgh Equalities and Rights Network, Fairer Scotland conversations being run through third sector organisations, additional welfare advice sessions and staff events.
The Lord Provost, as President of Edinburgh’s independent social justice charity, the OneCity Trust, will also visit Bridgend Inspiring Growth, a project grant-funded by a the Trust to tackle the impacts of poverty through learning, eating and exercise. It is hoped that these activities will raise awareness in the city, where one in five families are experiencing poverty right now.
For further information visit
http://povertyalliance.org/challenge_poverty
ChallengePovertyWeek_Leaflet_2015
