Campaign to recruit special constables

Want to discover a new side of you in 2020 and make a difference? Police Scotland’s Special Constabulary needs you …

A nationwide campaign to recruit new special constables has been launched by Police Scotland.

The Special Constabulary is a part-time volunteer body consisting of officers with identical powers to that of police officers. The role is diverse, from policing football matches to assisting at road accidents, from patrolling the streets of your local community to investigating crime. No two shifts are the same and volunteers play an integral role in providing an important link between the police service and the public.

Following a steady decrease in the number of special constables since the formation of Police Scotland, with a significant number of recruits using the opportunity as a route to becoming a regular police officer, the campaign focuses on encouraging people to give back to their local community by signing up in their spare time and enhancing local policing with their life experience.

From today, social media posts and campaign posters will feature on numerous channels including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, promoting the role of a special constable and why their skills and talent could be crucial to local policing.

Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said: “There are thousands of people living in Scotland who could bring the skills and talents from their own jobs into the role of a volunteer police officer and in support of their local community.

“Joining the Special Constabulary can also be a fantastic opportunity to consider whether policing is the job for you. It provides excellent experience and training for those who would like to become a full-time police officer.

“Police Scotland undoubtedly benefits from the experience volunteers bring, but it’s also an opportunity unlike any other where you gain confidence, new skills and get the chance to help people in need or make their life better.

“Anyone is eligible to apply to become a special constable as long as they satisfy some basic requirements for the role but ultimately we are looking for people who want to make a real difference to their communities and can bring a fresh perspective to the team they work in. The more varied your background, the more diverse our workforce will be. “Don’t miss the opportunity to do something great.”

For more information on becoming a Special Constable and to find out more about eligibility, visit – https://www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment/special-constables/

I Think We Are Alone at King’s Theatre

Frantic Assembly (movement directors for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) present I Think We Are Alone, a major new play by Sally Abbott (The Coroner, Vera), co-directed by Kathy Burke (Lady Windermere’s Fan, The Retreat) and Scott Graham (Fatherland, Things I Know to be True).

Two sisters are estranged and bicker over text. Their brittle and aggressive language is pushing them further apart when what they really want is to meet, clear the air and talk about the events that happened when they were young girls and haunt them still.

Josie is not allowing grief to get in the way. All of her focus is on what is best for her son, Manny. She desperately wants him to fly but can she let him go?

There is a person shaped hole in Graham’s heart and it is driving him to some dark places. When a stranger returns an act of kindness both find themselves opening up and connecting in a way that might just bring a bit of light in.

I Think We Are Alone is a bittersweet and funny take on our ache to connect with those voices we need to hear again, those arms we need to feel around us and those faces we need to see again. It is about letting go and holding on to what we love the most.

Kings Theatre, Edinburgh from 18 – 22 February.

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Facebook not safe for kids, says charity poll

Poll shows majority of adults believe Facebook is failing in its duty of care to protect children
Three out of four don’t think Facebook is safe for children
NSPCC urges Facebook to rethink encryption plans or face tough sanctions from new regulator

The NSPCC has slammed Facebook’s encryption plans after three out of four adults polled in Scotland said they didn’t think the site was safe for children.

Out of 180 adults in Scotland, just one in five (22%) said the tech giant took the safety of children using the site seriously and two thirds (66%) believed the platform was failing in its duty of care to protect children.

The results for Scotland were similar to those of the whole Great Britain sample, which consisted of 2,070 adults.

The claims came in an NSPCC/ Savanta ComRes poll following the tech giant’s announcement that they will encrypt messages on Facebook and Instagram.

The charity previously revealed that one in 25 young people (11 to 17 year olds) who used Facebook or Facebook Messenger had sent, received or been asked to send sexual content to an adult.

It is now warning the tech giant not to create hiding places for abusers by pressing ahead with encryption plans that don’t have strong safeguards in place.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who admitted that his plans would protect the “privacy of people doing bad things”, has failed to give any clear answers in how he intends to stop groomers preying on children on his site.

The NSPCC is calling for supporters to sign an open letter to Facebook demanding they put children first as part of its Wild West Web campaign.

Andy Burrows, NSPCC head of child safety online policy, said: “Facebook has been called out for its abject failure to make their platforms safe, yet their encryption plans will give offenders a free pass to abuse children while they look the other way.

“This cavalier approach risks creating a one stop grooming shop if Facebook don’t include strong safeguards that protect children in their encryption plan.

“Boris Johnson must make it clear that upcoming regulation will force Facebook to guarantee children’s safety on its messaging services or be hit hard in the pocket for failing in its duty of care.”

The NSPCC is calling for:

No end-to-end encryption for messages going to or coming from children’s accounts on Facebook apps
Adults accounts not to be encrypted until and unless Facebook has solutions to ensure child abuse can be detected and that children safety won’t be compromised
The Government to push ahead with introducing an independent Duty of Care regulator to keep children safe online
The Government to warn Facebook that encryption breaches the incoming Duty of Care and pressing ahead will mean tough consequences

Creating a community at Canonmills Gardens

Dozens of homeowners at a new Edinburgh development got the chance to meet their future neighbours at the best venue possible – the pub that will become their ‘local’.

Property developer Artisan Real Estate hosted an innovative “Meet Your Neighbours” event for buyers of properties at Canonmills Gardens to encourage the creation of a close-knit community ahead of the development’s completion later this year.

Buyers and their friends turned out for an evening of drinks and canapés at their new local, One Canonmills, as well as the chance to chat and get to know each other.

Jointly-sold by Gilson Gray and Savills, Canonmills Gardens is situated within Edinburgh’s vibrant Canonmills area – a short distance from Stockbridge and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Charlotte Swanson, Regional Development Manager for the North at Artisan, said: “After the success of our summer “Meet the Neighbours” garden party we decided to host another event at what is effectively the local pub in Canonmills.

“We’ve had some really nice, positive feedback from buyers and their friends which is always lovely to hear. Many of the guests remarked on how rare it is to meet and get to know your neighbours before you move into a new home.”

The development comprises 180 one, two, three and four-bedroom properties and has already attracted a variety of diverse buyers – from upsizers and first-time buyers to empty-nesters.

The first two phases have almost sold out – with only a limited range of one- and two-bedroom apartments and a luxury three-bedroom colony home overlooking Canonmills Gardens left to purchase.

Rob McGregor, Associate Director of Property Sales at Gilson Gray, said, “As well as the perfect opportunity for new owners to meet the neighbours, the event was also an opportunity for friends and family to experience more of the Canonmills area before they move.

“It represented a genuine feeling of people coming together to create a new community in the area. I’m sure that there were friendships already being formed and people talking about meeting up for walks, events and sporting activities.”

Charlotte added: “As an added incentive, we gifted £500 John Lewis vouchers to both buyers and friends if a friend also registered to buy a property at Canonmills Gardens.”

Artisan Real Estate focuses on delivering sustainable, mixed-use developments, to create vibrant, high-quality environments.

For more information on Canonmillls Gardens, please visit https://www.canonmillsgarden.com/

Pictures: Chris Watt Photography

Two opportunities in one on March 11: Funding Fair and Open House

EVOC is hosting a Funding Fair on the 11th March 2020. The event is free and open to organisations of all sizes.

The half-day will include:

– Stalls from funding providers across Scotland and the UK providing information and advice on their opportunities

– 10 minute Funding surgeries with a select number of funders – perfect if you have a specific project in mind as you’ll have the opportunity for a more in-depth chat.

– Free Training session from The Robertson Trust on writing grant applications.

– Free Training session from The Charity Bank on social investment – if you want to know more about how loans to charities and social enterprises work, this is for you!

– Get to know your local Third Sector Interface: EVOC, Volunteer Edinburgh, and Edinburgh Social Enterprise will be there to let you know what support is available to your organisation

– An opportunity to network and meet other trustees and voluntary sector colleagues from across Edinburgh!

Funders confirmed so far:

– Bank of Scotland Foundation

– BBC Children in Need

– Cattanach Trust – stand and surgeries

– Charity Bank – Stand and free training session

– Community Shares Scotland – stand and surgeries

– Corra Foundation

– Edinburgh University: Edinburgh Local grants

– Firstport

– Funding Scotland

– National Lottery Community Fund – stand and surgeries

– Paths for All

– RBS Social & Community Capital

– Robertson Trust – Free training session.

Please note: Sign up for training and funding surgeries will be on the day on a first come basis.

Spaces are limited so please arrive on time if you wish to guarantee a place!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/edinburgh-funding-fair-tickets-88675385465

Also on the day: Are you looking for office, studio or desk space? During your visit to 525 Ferry Road, why not pop in to People Know How’s Open House?

They will be hosting tours and providing information about the building, a modern 100,000 sq foot office building with open plan and single unit studio spaces available now.

https://open-house-525-ferry-road.eventbrite.co.uk

Credit Card firms told to review their approach to persistent debt customers

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has written to credit card firms telling them to review their approach to borrowers who are stuck in persistent debt, where they are paying more in interest, fees and charges than they are paying of their balance.

The FCA require firms to help people who have been caught in a cycle of persistent debt for three years, by proposing and agreeing plans with customers to resolve the situation.

Ahead of firms issuing letters setting out proposals to customers who have been in persistent debt for three years, and to make sure the firms’ approaches to the rules are working in the best interest of consumers, the FCA is outlining a number of areas firms need to review and ensure their approach is in line with expectations.

This includes:

a concern that customers may not respond to letters from their credit card provider, advising that they have been in persistent debt for three years. Firms must encourage customers to speak with them to discuss potential repayment arrangements. If customers can’t afford the options proposed by the firm, they must be treated with forbearance and due consideration, for example, by reducing, waiving or cancelling any interest or charges.
a concern that firms may cancel or suspend credit cards for everyone in persistent debt, including those willing to engage and come to an agreement. In these circumstances, firms are not allowed to suspend a credit card without having an objectively justifiable reason.

Jonathan Davidson, Executive Director of Supervision for Retail and Authorisations at the FCA, said: ‘Under our rules, firms must help customers to reduce the level of debt they have on their credit card more quickly.

“If a customer cannot afford the firm’s proposals for how to do this, the firm must offer forbearance, potentially including reducing, waiving or cancelling any interest, fees or charges.

‘My advice to consumers is don’t bury your head in the sand. If you can’t afford to meet the repayment schedule that the credit card firm is suggesting, don’t be afraid to tell them. If we find firms are not offering their customers the appropriate level of help, we will not hesitate to take action.

‘If the firms do this right, we estimate that this could save customers up to £1.3bn a year in lower interest charges.’

Gareth Shaw, Head of Money, Which?, said: “Millions of people across the UK are trapped in persistent debt, so it’s right that the regulator is taking steps to encourage banks to help their customers break this cycle.

“It’s crucial that the industry properly engages with all those identified as needing help and offers manageable plans that include reductions, waivers and even the cancellation of charges and interest.

“The effects of living in persistent debt can be devastating, so it’s important that those who are likely to be impacted by the new rules take notice of how these new measures could affect their finances.”

Consumers concerned about persistent credit card debt and/or multiple credit cards they are dealing with, can get free debt advice from a range of support organisations including Granton Information Centre and Money Advice Service.

EIGHT MILLION hours of community payback

Scotland’s communities have benefitted from around 8 million hours of unpaid work carried out by people serving community sentences since 2011.

New figures also show the number of people given supervised bail rather than being remanded in custody increased 26% between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Unpaid work by people serving community payback orders (CPOs) supports a wide range of local needs including maintaining footpaths and clearing drains, making furniture for foodbanks and schools, work to preserve natural landscapes and redecorating community halls.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “While prison is necessary for offenders who pose a significant public safety risk, short-term custodial sentences are an ineffective means of rehabilitation. Imprisonment, including remand, disrupts families and communities, employment and housing – the very factors that deter offending and keep crime down.

“Unpaid work completed by people serving CPOs benefits local projects and helps them to become active and responsible contributors to their community. We recognise that some individuals will require sustained support and we are investing £9.5 million a year more in community justice services compared to 2015-16 as part of more than £100 million funding for justice social work.

“Many people in the justice system have chaotic backgrounds and struggle with addiction and mental health problems – issues that won’t be solved by a short period in prison, where hard-working staff should be focused on the most serious offenders.

“Community sentences, with supervision and other conditions where necessary, add structure and help people make the positive changes needed to tackle the causes of their behaviour.”

Side by Side: North West Carers programme

Side by Side programme launched

Humans of The Walk

THE FIRST Minister and a host of high-profile politicians have pledged to champion everyday walking – after seeing a powerful photography exhibition about its benefits for ordinary Scots.

Nicola Sturgeon was among dozens of MSPs who backed Scotland’s walking charity Paths for All, after viewing the acclaimed Humans of The Walk exhibition at The Scottish Parliament.

Delighted staff of the charity, which aims to create a happier, healthier and greener nation, say they have been blown away with the positive response from Scotland’s national politicians, many of whom penned supportive messages after viewing the uplifting portraits and their accompanying stories.

The First Minister proudly posed for photographs with her pledge, which read: “I will champion walking by encouraging and supporting it – and trying to lead by example.”

Ian Findlay CBE, Chief Officer at Paths for All, was thrilled when invited to exhibit in the Members’ Lobby from January 21-23 after linking up with a collective of female photographers from Edinburgh College of Art with the simple idea of capturing how walking can improve lives.

The resulting series of portraits celebrates the many ways in which walking benefits physical, mental and social health, regardless of age or ability. Its aim was to inspire the public to fall in love with walking and to incorporate it into everyday life.

Ian Findlay said: “It’s been a truly remarkable opportunity to be able to take the exhibition to the Scottish Parliament and share our messages and initiatives with the country’s leaders.

“Humans of the Walk has been received incredibly well and provoked many important conversations around the benefits of walking. We’ve had great discussions with numerous MSPs on the importance of walking and active travel and how it can positively impact not only the physical and mental health of the nation but also the environment.

“The response has been extremely positive and many of the politicians discussed the different ways in which they can help to encourage people in their own constituencies to walk more.

“We are very grateful to Alison Johnstone MSP for sponsoring the exhibition in the Parliament.”

Images captured by the talented young photographers of CollectiveF8 bring to life individual stories of love, strength, friendship and age – all connected by walking. They include a portrait of married couple Karine and Sarah Mather, who shared their story about how getting outdoors helped Karine following her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis.

Such stories struck a chord with politicians of all parties with dozens of them posing for photos while sharing supportive messages.

Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian Scottish Green Party, said: “It’s a privilege hosting an exhibition like Humans of the Walk in Parliament, and even more so working with an organisation like Paths for All who are relentless in their work to share the positive impact and evidence about walking and why it’s so good for all of us.

“In the face of the climate emergency and the obesity epidemic, walking is a sociable, affordable, health-enhancing way to get about. We can’t take it for granted though, we need to invest in making walking safe and attractive for all”.

Such was the positive reception that the exhibition has now been invited to go on show at the Scottish Government’s Victoria Quay building in Leith later this month.

Ian Findlay added: “What this proves beyond any doubt is that the simple act of walking on a daily basis strikes a very powerful chord even with the most influential people in our society. We are delighted that Humans of the Walk is helping us spread the message far and wide.”

First launched in May 2019, the exhibition was part of the first Open Streets event in Edinburgh – a ground-breaking initiative which saw large parts of the city centre closed to motorised vehicles.

Paths for All’s aim is to significantly increase the number of people who choose to walk in Scotland, whether it’s walking for leisure or walking to work, school or to the shops. The charity works to create more opportunities and better environments not just for walking, but also for cycling and other activities to help make Scotland a more active, more prosperous and greener country.

For more information on Paths for All, visit: https://www.pathsforall.org.uk/

Parents more concerned about their children online

More parents than ever feel children’s online use now carries more risks than benefits, according to Ofcom’s latest research into children’s media and online lives.

Ofcom’s Children’s Media Use and Attitudes report 2019 is based on around 3,500 interviews with children and parents. Children’s Media Lives is a qualitative report looking at how children aged eight to 18 think about and use digital media.

Parents and carers are becoming more likely to trust their children with greater digital independence at a younger age. But far fewer believe the benefits of their child being online outweigh the risks than five years ago. And around two million parents now feel the internet does their children more harm than good.

This comes as children are now more likely to see hateful content online. Half of 12-15s who go online had seen hateful content in the last year, up from a third in 2016.

Parents are increasingly concerned about their child seeing something online which might encourage them to harm themselves. Similarly, two gaming-related problems are increasingly concerning parents: the pressure on their child to make in-game purchases of things like ‘loot boxes’, a virtual item containing rewards; and the possibility of their child being bullied via online games.

However, parents are now more likely than in 2018 to speak to their children about staying safe online, and are nearly twice as likely to go online themselves for support and information about keeping their children safe.

Influencers, online activism and girl gamers

Looking at what today’s children are doing online, Ofcom uncovered three big trends over the past year.

The ‘Greta effect’. There is increased online social activism among children. Almost a fifth of 12-15s use social media to express support for causes and organisations by sharing or commenting on posts. One in 10 signed petitions on social media.
Rise of the ‘vlogger next door’. While high-profile YouTube stars remain popular, children are now increasingly drawn to so-called ‘micro’ or ‘nano’ influencers. These often have fewer followers, but might be local to a child’s area or share a niche interest.
Girl gamers on the increase. Almost half of girls aged five to 15 now play games online – up from 39% in 2018. The proportion of boy gamers is unchanged at 71%, but boys spend twice as long playing online each week as girls.

Social Media use more fragmented

Older children are using a wider range of social media platforms than ever before. WhatsApp in particular has grown in popularity among 12-15 year-olds since last year, despite having a minimum age limit of 16.

WhatsApp is now used by almost two thirds of older children – up from 43% in 2018. For the first time, it rivals Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram as one of the top social media platforms for older children.

Newer platforms are also becoming more popular. Around one in seven older children use TikTok, which enables users to create and upload lip-sync, comedy and talent videos, while one in 20 older children uses Twitch, a live streaming platform for gamers.

Children’s viewing habits are changing radically too. Almost twice as many children watch streaming content than they did five years ago.

In 2019, fewer children watched traditional broadcast TV than streaming content, with a quarter not watching it at all.

But YouTube is as popular as ever, remaining children’s firm favourite for video ahead of Netflix, Amazon Prime, the BBC and ITV.

The age of digital independence

When it comes to going online, children are most likely to use a tablet but mobiles are becoming increasingly popular and children are now as likely to use a mobile as they are a laptop.

This move to mobile is being driven by older children, for whom 10 is becoming the age of digital independence. Between age nine and 10, the proportion of children who own a smartphone doubles to 50% – giving them greater digital freedom as they prepare to move to secondary school. By the time they are 15, almost all children have one.

“Today’s children have never known life without the internet, but two million parents now feel the internet causes them more harm than good, said Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s Strategy and Research Group Director.

“So it’s encouraging that parents, carers and teachers are now having more conversations than ever before with children about online safety. Education and stronger regulation will also help children to embrace their digital independence, while protecting them from the risks”.

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