The SNP launched their manifesto for next month’s General Election yesterday. Introducing the manifesto, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Welcome to the launch of the SNP manifesto for the 2019 general election. Continue reading Building A Better Scotland? SNP launch general election manifesto
Over 1,300 Scottish charities will share a “magnificent” £7 million raised after a record-breaking 25,000 heroes took part in this year’s Kiltwalks in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh.
The walkers raised £5 million in sponsorship, with a further £2 million donated by Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation. Continue reading Magnificent £7 million raised by Kiltwalk in 2019
Winter Windows is back!
This special creative project conceived by Underbelly in 2014 as part of Edinburgh’s Christmas encourages Edinburgh’s young and budding artists to showcase their talents to residents and visitors outside of the classroom and in our streets and community hubs. Continue reading A Festive Welcome: Winter Windows is back!
MOTORISTS WARNED OF ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH
The Justice Secretary and Police Scotland have launched this year’s festive campaign to tackle drink- and drug-driving.
This is the first festive enforcement and awareness campaign to include the use of the new drug-drive laws which came into force last month.
The campaign highlights the criminal and personal consequences of being found guilty of driving a vehicle while under the influence alcohol or with drugs in your system.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is totally unacceptable and puts not only the driver, but passengers and other road users, at risk of serious injury or even death.
“As well as such devastating consequences, drivers caught drink or drug-driving also face significant criminal penalties which could result in them losing their licence or their liberty.
“The new drug-driving law and Scotland’s low driver-alcohol limit are focused on making our roads safer for everyone.”
Superintendent Louise Blakelock, Police Scotland’s Deputy Head of Road Policing, said: “As we move into the festive party season, we are reminding motorists of the devastating consequences driving with alcohol or drugs in their system can have.
“New roadside testing for drugs was introduced on 21 October and disappointingly we have seen nearly 100 people provide positive tests in the first four weeks. Our Festive Drink Drug-Driving Campaign starts on 1 December and we will have dedicated resources on patrol, targeting motorists who choose to take the risk of taking drugs and driving or drinking and driving.
“I am urging people to plan ahead during the party season. Think about how you’re going to get home safely and don’t forget about the impact alcohol can still have the morning after.”
This is the first festive period when motorists face roadside drugs test, under a new law which came into force 21 October. This introduced drug-drive limits and a zero tolerance approach to the eight drugs most associated with illegal use, including cannabis, heroin and cocaine.
Police can now carry out testing using mouth swabs for any motorist they suspect of drug-driving or who has been involved in an accident or stopped for a traffic offence.
During the first four weeks of the new law coming into force (21 October-18 November) 96 people have provided positive roadside tests. Of the 96, six were women aged between 23 and 42. The 90 men were aged between 17 and 50.
Police Scotland is appealing for information following a serious road crash on Corstorphine Road last night. Continue reading Police seeks witnesses to Corstorphine Road crash
Edinburgh is now home to the best hairdresser in Scotland. Jason Hall from Jason Hall hairdressing was named Scottish Hairdresser of the Year at HJ’s renowned British Hairdressing Awards, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional. Continue reading Jason is Scottish Hairdresser of the Year 2019
Professional counselling services will be available to all secondary school pupils who require it by September next year.
Agreement has been reached between the Scottish Government and COSLA on the detailed allocation of £60 million over four years. This funding will build or expand high quality counselling services for children and young people.
Counselling services currently delivered by qualified and registered counsellors through Pupil Equity or Scottish Attainment funding will continue, enabling local authorities to reallocate those funds to other priorities to help close the attainment gap.
School counsellors help support young people’s emotional, behavioural and mental health. Importantly, pupils will also have access to counsellors during school holidays, providing vital continuity of care.
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: “Children and young people can face many issues growing up and must have the right support available at the right time.
“Providing every secondary school with access to at least one counsellor by next year is a significant step forward in our package of measures to improve the mental health support available for children and young people.”
Commenting on the announcement, a spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition said: “This is very welcome news and is a vital step in improving the mental health of our children and young people through early intervention.
“School counsellors help support young people’s emotional, behavioural and mental health. Importantly, pupils will also have access to counsellors during school holidays, providing vital continuity of care.
“It has been estimated that the cost of five sessions of counselling is equivalent to just one contact with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
“Therefore, investing a fraction of the mental health budget on school-based counselling services helps to keep the individual in school and avoid an unneccesary and often stigmatising mental health diagnoses, as well as reducing the burden on stretched and costly CAMHS provision.”
PARENTS in Edinburgh are being encouraged to send children with disabilities to swimming lessons as it is a life skill.
Scottish Swimming has launched its #SeeMyAbility campaign to get parents to talk more openly about their child’s disability and encourage them to put their children into mainstream swimming classes.
Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water – who are partners in Learn to Swim – provide a progressive pathway for children with physical, sensory and learning impairments.
The programme is delivered by aquatic providers across Scotland and locally by Edinburgh Leisure.
The Inclusion campaign was launched by Learn to Swim ambassador and multi-medal winning para-athlete Toni Shaw who came through a mainstream Learn to Swim programme before joining swimming club Cults Otters.
Paul Wilson, Disability Performance Development Manager, Scottish Swimming said: “Scottish Swimming’s vision is ‘everyone can swim’ and learning to swim is an activity for all regardless of ability or disability, and the whole swimming pathway can be taught in an inclusive way.
“Swimming is an important life skill and can be great fun in a group environment. This should be no different for a child with a disability.”
Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs, Scottish Water, said: “Children with disabilities should have the same opportunities in their lessons, as swimming can offer so much and is an important life skill.
“As we aim to roll the Learn to Swim programme out to 100,000 children across Scotland, we’re making sure that we’re offering inclusive opportunities for all children to become safe and competent in and around water.”
As part of the campaign, swimming teachers and coaches will be provided with a resource toolkit that will help them teach and coach in an inclusive way throughout the whole aquatic pathway from Learn to Swim through to clubs and at the performance level.
Angela McCowan, Aquatics Manager at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “We teach all children in an inclusive way at Edinburgh Leisure and it is great to get these additional resources to support our swimming teachers as we continue to grow our programme.”
Edinburgh Leisure delivers the Learn to Swim programme at 10 pools across the city, teaching children from birth upwards.
Toni said: “I’m really proud to be an ambassador for the Learn to Swim Framework and really pleased that children with a disability are taught in inclusive learn to swim environments. If there’s someone with a disability and the swimming teachers are aware of the impairment the lessons can be adapted.
“It’s great to develop as a swimmer and be seen beyond my disability. This has helped me integrate into a performance environment where I get to train alongside other world-class athletes.”
Scottish Swimming continue to work in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport to provide opportunities along the full aquatic pathway.
Gavin MacLeod, CEO at Scottish Disability Sport, said: “Scottish Swimming is a great example of a sport’s governing body that is committed to and actively delivering their sport in an inclusive way and this is particularly prominent with their work around the Learn to Swim Framework and engagement with local partners.”
The National Learn to Swim Framework aims to raise standards and achieve consistency in swimming programmes across Scotland.
More information on the National Learn to Swim Framework and #SeeMyAbility can be found on the dedicated website: www.learntoswim.scot
Scottish Water’s partnership with Scottish Swimming to promote the Learn to Swim programme, which aims to help 100,000 children across the country become confident swimmers.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham paid a visit to secure shredding and paper recycling firm Shredall SDS Group’s new Scotland depot. The Environment Secretary was given a tour of the site’s state-of-the-art recycling facilities to explore the potential to help develop Scotland’s circular economy. Continue reading Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham visits recycling depot to promote circular economy
Recorded child cruelty and neglect offences in Scotland rose by more than a quarter in the last year, the NSPCC reports. There were 818 child cruelty and neglect offences recorded in Scotland in 2018/19 and 640 recorded in 2017/18 – a 28 per cent increase. Continue reading Sharp rise in child cruelty and neglect crimes in last year
