The Tory Government announced their legislative plans in the Queen’s Speech at Westminster today – but the Scottish Government says it will withhold consent motions until the UK Goverment gives Brexit assurances. Continue reading Queen’s Speech: getting on with governing?
Granton Autumn Festival event
on Saturday 26th October 11am – 4pm.
The one day event includes live music, dancing, arts workshops, food tasters. The event kicks off in Granton Community Gardens with the Barrow Band singing songs about eating your fruit and vegetables, is very child/family friendly!
From 1pm -4pm in Royston Wardieburn Community Centre we have fantastic live music and dance line such as the Dr Reelgood Ceilidh Band, One Tribe African dance and more….
We have lots of arts and crafts taster workshops.
The library bus and a chill-out room in the centre for young people to drop-in by the Granton Youth Project.
The Food tasters will have a multicultural influence from Chinese noodles, Indian savouries, Polish dumplings, Italian focaccia and a fruity selection of Mock cocktails by Granton Youth Project volunteers.
The event is being delivered in partnership by Royston Wardiburn Community Centre, Pilton Community HealthProject, Granton Comunity Gardeners, Granton Youth Project and City of Einburgh Council.
We want to make it a great day FREE out for the whole community !
SUNDAY 20th OCTOBER 10am – 2pm
THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed double the number of firefighter applications from women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community compared to previous years, latest figures reveal.
The Service launched a wholetime firefighter recruitment campaign in April which saw the overall number of applicants rise by almost 25 per cent – from 4,373 previously to a total of 6,075.
And this included 771 applications from women compared to just 360 previously.
It also saw 403 people from the LGBTQ+ community submit applications compared to the previous 168 with 157 applications from those within the ethnic community compared to the previous 69.
As a result, almost a quarter of the 84 new firefighters who began their exhaustive 14-week training course last month are female.
The applications were shortlisted “blindly” by hand – meaning no identifying data was made available such as names, gender, age, ethnicity or sexuality.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, Liz Barnes congratulated all of the success recruits. She said: “We received a very high volume of applications and we were clear from the outset that there were no quotas here and that no one had any advantage.
“It was vital that applicants hit a very high standard for their applications to be accepted. Those who were successful should be thoroughly proud of themselves.
“We also encouraged under-represented groups to apply and the figures show that we have taken another step forward as an organisation in reflecting the very rich and diverse communities we serve.”
She added: “Our process is designed to ensure a level playing field from the outset.
“Our standards have never changed, and they are high – but if you have what it takes, then we will help you get there.”
At present less than five per cent of Scotland’s firefighters identify as women, and less than one per cent identify as belonging to an ethnic minority.
Ms Barnes added: “We are committed to ensuring that this Service is as open and inclusive as possible and we will continue to take all available steps to ensure our current workforce is supported to be who they truly are in the workplace.
“For example, we are very proud to be a Stonewall Diversity Champion in Scotland.”
A total of 304 applicants were successful and will undergo training in batches over the next year.
The first intake of 84 new firefighters, including 31 women, began their 14-week course at SFRS’ dedicated training centres in Cambuslang and Thornton this month.
During the course they will not only learn how to tackle fires effectively and safely, they will also learn essential skills such as trauma management, road traffic collisions, safe working at height and ladder skills.
And after passing out, they will have the opportunity to move forwards and specialise in areas such as water and rope rescue, HAZMAT and community safety.
Ms Barnes added: “My congratulations go out to everyone who has been successful in their application – this is an extremely rewarding career and they are joining the Service at an exciting time.
“Not only will they learn how to fight fires and respond to incidents such as road traffic collisions, we are also seeking to train our firefighters to meet the risks a modern Scotland faces.
“This includes the impacts of climate change – such as severe flooding – and helping to keep the most vulnerable members of our communities safe in their homes.
“This community work is vital to how we intend to continue protecting Scotland, and as such it incredibly important that we properly represent our incredibly diverse culture.”
Ms Barnes continued: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each person who applied – and I would ask them not to be discouraged from applying again in future.”
While recruitment for wholetime firefighters is currently closed, the Service continues to recruit for retained and volunteer firefighters across Scotland, as well as positions for support staff.
For more information, visit: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.
I hope you had a great summer. Autumn is here and with it comes
weeding, tree pruning and, of course, Community Council sessions!
Monday’s meeting will be particularly significant as we say goodbye to
several faces who have done sterling service for the community of
Trinity over many years. We will miss your selfless efforts on all our
behalfs but hope that you will never be far away and will keep popping
in to keep us right.
However, like the passing of the seasons, this also presents
opportunities. TCC now has no fewer than 6 vacancies. We have loads of
great ideas and some huge projects inside and nearby our area but need
help to carry them out and to engage. Without that, they will never
move from ideas to real improvements in all our lives. So why not come
along on Monday and get involved? Agenda attached (below).
And as a bonus, Monday’s meeting will hear directly from Edinburgh
Council’s Head of Finance about how Edinburgh gets that £1bn every year
and the challenges that brings. Don’t start pruning that magic money
tree just yet!
I hope to see you on Monday.
Best wishes,
BILL RODGER
Trinity Community Council
This Black History Month, Education Vice Convener Councillor Alison Dickie writes about the need for change:
You could have heard a pin drop. The young black man, there to tell his story, looked up from his speech notes and commented on the sea of white faces of the 63 councillors who sat before him. ‘That doesn’t sit well with me’, he said.
I say it shouldn’t sit well with any of us! Continue reading Black History Month: a lesson for everyone
Fabulous LifeCare Ceilidh
Saturday 26th October 2019
8pm (doors open at 7.30) until midnight
LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street Stockbridge EH4 1JB
Ticket prices: Adult – £12, Conc – £8 and Under 12s – £4
Available here: ctzn.tk/lifecareceilidh19
Come along to the LifeCare Ceilidh for an evening of fabulous music and dancing from the Science Ceilidh Band.
There are hot snacks and a fully stocked bar. We will also be holding a raffle with fabulous prizes.
All proceeds of the ceilidh and raffle will go towards providing the best expert care for older people and those with dementia in Edinburgh.
Pay for the top 1% of earners has increased faster than for any other income group over the past two years, according to new TUC analysis,
The analysis shows that pay for Britain’s highest earners (those earning £63 an hour or more – or £2,300 and above for a full-time week) increased by 7.6% in real terms between 2016 and 2018.
By contrast, real wage growth for the typical worker increased by just 0.1% over the same period.
The TUC warned that the gap between those at the top and average workers would get worse under plans floated by Boris Johnson for tax cuts for higher earners – that would cost the Treasury around £9.6bn a year.
The union body says no serious attempt has been made this decade to rein in excessive pay, with Theresa May rowing back on her promise to put workers on company boards.
Average pay is still worth less in real terms than before the financial crisis, with UK workers suffering the longest pay squeeze since Napoleonic times.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “While millions struggle with Britain’s cost of living crisis, pay for those at top is back in the fast lane.
“We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the richest 1%.
“Boris Johnson’s promised tax giveaway to high earners would only make things worse. The prime minister is focused on helping his wealthy mates and donors – not working people.”
Vulnerable families fleeing conflict in north-west Syria are to receive essential items such as blankets and mattresses thanks to £100,000 in Scottish Government funding. Continue reading Scottish humanitarian aid for Syria: £100,000 for displaced families
