Edinburgh International Science Festival, powered by EDF Energy, visited St David’s R.C. Primary School on Monday to give a hand in launching the school’s Science Week to show how much fun learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) can be. It involved some thrilling experiments that saw the pupils learn how rockets work by launching their own made from balloons and bottles! Continue reading Science Festival gets off to an explosive start at St David’s!
Royal Voluntary Service, the volunteering charity, is looking for local volunteer co-ordinators and leaders to set up and run new social activities for older people in the community in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas, and volunteers to help support them. Continue reading Volunteer Co-ordinators needed to set up social activities for older people
For those who can’t commit to a monthly membership, Edinburgh Leisure’s 10 for 8 card might be just the thing for you. Continue reading A workout feels even better when it’s free!
The Scottish Affairs Committee has written to Ross McEwan, CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland, with a final request to set a date to appear the Committee. The Committee has raised a number of questions that remain unanswered in relation to plans to close 62 RBS branches in Scotland, and subsequent announcement of a partial reprieve for ten branches. Continue reading Set a date, Scottish Affairs Committee tells RBS chief
8,400 apprenticeships positions currently waiting to be filled 
8,400 apprenticeship vacancies currently advertised, but long way to go to meet UK government target of 3 million vacancies by 2020
Opportunities around the UK far from equal, with London and the South East having most vacancies
Average advertised salary for apprenticeships positions of £14,759 across UK
Law apprenticeships most lucrative, offering average salary of £23,900, the highest of any sector, followed by Engineering at £22,500
IT apprentices most widely advertised with 1,100 openings currently on offer, followed by Hospitality & Catering (1,050) and Teaching (740)
With National Apprenticeship Week in full swing, almost 8,400 apprenticeship positions are currently up for grabs, according to new research by job search-engine Adzuna. Continue reading 8400 apprenticeship vacancies across the UK
AN AMBITIOUS pilot scheme with DVSA test centres has been launched in Edinburgh in a bid to reduce the staggering numbers of young drivers and passengers involved in major incidents. Continue reading Devastating stats jump-start pilot scheme For Edinburgh’s learner drivers
Youth work service 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café has been awarded a £15,000 grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery. Continue reading Edinburgh City Youth Cafe awarded £15,000 by Scottish Children’s Lottery
An Edinburgh Napier entrepreneur is making a big bang in the healthy foods market with her new alternative to popcorn. Sydney Chasin – founder of The Healthy Crop – officially launched her lil’POP snack this week. Continue reading lil’POP makes big bang in healthy snack market
Do you know somebody aged 26 and under who is doing exceptional things in Scotland’s thriving food and drink industry?
Organisers of the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards are calling for people to embrace the Year of Young People 2018 and enter those demonstrating passion and talent in the food and drink industry for the prestigious Young Talent award before entries close this Friday (9 March). Continue reading The search is on for the food and drink industry’s best Young Talent
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has paid tribute to MP Jo Cox’s humanitarian work and called for everyone to “raise their game” to make gender equality a reality, ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Speaking today at the headquarters of mobile technology industry association the GSMA, in the City of London, Ms Mordaunt will announce new UK aid support to help grassroots organisations working on issues that were close to Jo’s heart.
Ms Mordaunt will also call for everyone to step up and make gender equality a reality, as part of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) new vision to make sure the voices of women and girls in the world’s poorest countries are heard.
The International Development Secretary will say that if progress on gender equality is not sped up, the Global Goals will not be met by 2030.
Speaking ahead of her speech, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: “Jo (pictured above) was a dedicated humanitarian who fought for gender equality at home and in developing countries and her passion and commitment will continue to support the world’s most disadvantaged and disenfranchised women through these new UK aid grants.
“The MeToo movement has sent shockwaves around the world and given a voice to millions of women, but the majority of women and girls in the poorest countries are still not heard.
“We all have the power to change this injustice and that’s why UK aid is keeping girls in school, stamping out violence and giving a voice to women both at home and in shaping the future of their countries. It is only by everyone raising their game and making gender equality a reality that we will build a more peaceful, safe and prosperous world for us all.”
The Jo Cox Memorial Grants will be given to projects in developing countries that are working to get the voices of girls and women heard when holding power-holders to account, helping them find jobs and become financially independent and making access to family planning services easier. The fund will also help strengthen grassroots organisations’ capacity for predicting identity-based violence earlier.
Jo Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater said: “It’s wonderful to have the Jo Cox Memorial Grants being launched today – for every life that is touched by these grants, they will make a real difference and they will be money well spent.
“It’s so fitting to have these grants created in Jo’s name, which will reach a range of different countries and projects that encompass Jo’s passion for both women’s empowerment and bringing local communities together.
“Jo spent 20 years working in the voluntary sector and working overseas. These grants are a reminder of that and a reminder of her passion and her determination to hopefully inspire others with similar desires. Jo would be over the moon.”
In her speech, Ms Mordaunt will set out that DFID has taken the lead in tackling sexual abuse and exploitation within the aid sector and acknowledge that these incidents would not be so widespread if women and girls had an equal place at the table.
There are three areas in Ms Mordaunt’s call to action that DFID will focus on through the new Strategic Vision for Gender Equality:
Ms Mordaunt will deliver her speech at GSMA to highlight that technology will be vital in making sure the voices of women and girls in the world’s poorest countries are heard.
DFID is supporting the GSMA to narrow the gender gap on mobile phone ownership in order to unlock the benefits that mobile and internet can bring, for example giving women access to financial services, educational resources and digital health services.
You can celebrate International Women’s Day at a free event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre today. The celebration kicks off from 10am – all welcome
