Month: January 2020

Streets of Shame

Friends of the Earth Scotland has ranked the country’s most polluted streets for 2019, and the results show Scotland is failing to improve air quality. Once again, Auld Reekie’s streets of shame include Nicholson Street, St John’s Road and Salamander Street.

Many areas across Scotland suffered from higher pollution levels in 2019 than in previous years.  Continue reading Streets of Shame

Vegetarian haggis launches in US for Burns Night

  • Macsween of Edinburgh is celebrating its first export to the US in half a century with the launch of its vegetarian haggis in time for Burns Night
  • Branded as “Scottish Veggie Crumble” in the US, the vegetarian haggis will be available in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
  • Latest figures show Scottish goods exports to the United States were worth £4.3 billion, an increase of 8% on the previous year

Macsween of Edinburgh has launched its vegetarian haggis for the US market in time for Burns Night, making this the company’s first export to America in nearly 50 years.

Branded in the US as “Scottish Veggie Crumble”, Macsween’s haggis is available in 14 Fairway Market stores across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Despite there still being a US import ban on traditional haggis, Macsween decided to export its award-winning vegetarian haggis for the free-from, planted-based and vegan market. The launch of the “Scottish Veggie Crumble” means there’s a seat at the table for everyone this Burns Night no matter your dietary requirements.

James Macsween, Managing Director of Macsween of Edinburgh, said: “We at Macsween are delighted to be exporting again to the USA after 49 years!  

“Finally, Americans and the expat community can enjoy the UK’s most loved haggis brand known for its award-winning taste and texture. This is a huge milestone for Macsween to be expanding internationally and leading the way in plant-based food exports.

 “My grandfather, Charlie, would be very proud to see how far we’ve come from his original butcher’s shop in Bruntsfield which he opened back in 1953. My father John Macsween would also be proud as he invented the world’s first vegetarian haggis in 1984.”

Macsween has already sent 360 cases of “Scottish Veggie Crumble” to the US this month, and the iconic haggis producer is currently in the process of appointing a sales agent in the US to support its international expansion.

The US remains the top destination for Scottish goods, and in the year to September 2019 Scottish goods exports to the country were worth £4.3 billion. This was an increase of 8% on the previous year, with food and drink accounting for 30% of exports.

Meanwhile in the UK, Macsween is the most loved haggis and vegetarian haggis brand with a 60% share of the vegan haggis market according to a ScotPulse survey in November 2019.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said: “It’s great to see Macsween enter the US market for the first time, giving Scots in America a taste of home this Burns Night. 

“The US is the second biggest export market for Scotland, and a new free trade agreement will make it easier for businesses to sell their goods in the US, which will encourage growth and create jobs for people in Scotland.”

In 2017, Macsween made history when it became the first company to export haggis to Canada since 1971, after developing a new recipe that meets the country’s food safety regulations.

Make friends through plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

A study commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has highlighted that more than half of adults consider themselves to be ‘lonely’ because they are too busy or shy to socialise with others. Continue reading Make friends through plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Make Blue Monday a new kind of Monday – get walking and boost your mental health

The organisers of The MoonWalk Scotland, health charity Walk the Walk, are urging women and men across the country to get walking – to boost their mental health. 

Blue Monday is traditionally the third Monday in January and is dubbed the most depressing day of the year. After the excesses of the festive season, money worries, failed New Year’s resolutions and the cold, dark winter weather can take their toll on the mental health of many people.

Whilst walking is recognised as a near perfect way to keep fit and maintain a healthy weight, benefits for our emotional well-being are often overlooked. When we exercise, we release feel-good hormones known as endorphins into our bloodstream.

This natural high helps reduce stress and anxiety, calming and relaxing both the body and mind. Particularly at a time of year when money is tight, walking is one of the most accessible types of exercise around. It costs nothing, and can be done at anytime and anywhere.

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Executive of Walk the Walk and organiser of The MoonWalk Scotland said: “Walking really is one of the most perfect forms of exercise there is – physically, it tones your body, strengthens your muscles and keeps your heart healthy.

“But it’s crucial for our mental health too. Going out for a daily walk can help reduce tension, stress and anxiety, which is an issue for so many of us, particularly at this time of the year. It sounds perverse, but this can be the best time of the year to get out walking, as the worse the weather is, the better it feels. It’s really empowering – as long as you’ve got the right clothes of course! Walking is a type of exercise which you can build up slowly – no matter your ability and it really is a cure for the January blues. Why not give yourself a goal and sign up for a walking challenge like The MoonWalk. Often having something to aim for can boost motivation and drive you to keep going!”

Lucie Joels has secondary breast cancer and completed The MoonWalk with a group of friends. She says that walking is incredibly important for her mental health: “For me, living with cancer, getting out of the house and walking is grounding. It’s an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.

“I’m in the fifth cycle of my latest round of chemotherapy, but when I am able, just walking the dog, watching the sunrise and seeing the clouds move across the sky is amazing. Yesterday I manage 4,000 steps and I was very happy with that – I feel like I’m winning!

“Being outside I am just a tiny part in a huge world whilst when I’m indoors I’m a big part of my small world and occasionally that can be overwhelming. I strongly believe that there is always something good in every day, no matter how small it seems. Sometimes it would be easy to get stuck in the gloom and have a pity-party, but I try not to stay there long enough to put the bunting up!”

The MoonWalk Scotland is an iconic night-time fundraising event, which sees women and men wearing brightly decorated bras as they walk 10K, 13.1 miles, 26.2 mile or 52.4 miles through the streets of Edinburgh at Midnight.

Walk the Walk makes grants to fund both research into breast cancer and to help improve the lives of those living with cancer now.

The MoonWalk Scotland 2020 takes places on Saturday 6th June.

Sign up at www.walkthewalk.org 

New Year, new career in childcare?

Interested in a job in Childcare? The Childcare Academy could be for you:                  

THE CHILDCARE ACADEMY IS AN EMPLOYABILITY FUND STAGE 3 PROGRAMME WHICH WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

  • Undertake free training requiring attendance of up to 30 hours weekly within a safe, friendly environment
  • Gain significant experience of working with children by undertaking a quality supported work experience placement within an early years care and education setting or an out of school care setting
  • Gain 2 Accredited SQA Units from the Social Services (Children and Young People) SVQ Level 2 Award
  • Gain employment in the childcare sector
  • Access a Young Persons Allowance of £55 per week for eligible 16 to 18 year olds (for a max of 26 weeks)
  • Progression onto our Modern Apprenticeship programme to gain the SVQ Level 3 Social Services Children and Young People Award.

Our next Childcare Academy starts on MONDAY 2nd March 2020

Why not come along to our Childcare Academy information session? This will last approx. 1 hour and will give you the opportunity to find out what is involved in our Academy programme, ask any questions and take away an application pack.

  • Monday, 27th January @ 1pm
  • Wednesday, 12th February @ 11am
  • Tuesday, 25th February @ 1pm

If you would like to find out more, please contact Audrey O’Neill (our Communications & Compliance Officer) on 0131 311 6931 or e-mail audrey.oneill@northedinburghchildcare.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter @NEChildcare

Like our Training Services on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Edinburgh-Childcare-Training-Services/664092880377307