Month: February 2020

Join Strictly couple for Havana Nights

Strictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima is preparing to dazzle and delight audiences with stunning new dance show Havana Nights which tours the UK in 2020 – including dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The 25-year-old will be joined by fellow Strictly professional and fiancée Giada Lini on this first solo UK tour which opens in Chelmsford on 3 March.

Havana Nights promises an exciting mix of Latin dances with individual performances from Graziano and Giada, as well as entertaining group numbers with their supporting dancers.

After opening in Chelmsford, Havana Nights will tour the UK visiting Stevenage, Milton Keynes, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, Hayes, Bury St Edmunds, St Albans, Kettering, Leamington Spa, Cambridge, Exmouth, Redruth, Cheltenham, Swindon, Yeovil, High Wycombe, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Whitley Bay, Fleetwood, Warrington, Guildford, Reading, Shrewsbury, Southport, and Lichfield. 

The show will be fantastic and fast paced and is guaranteed to be fresh and innovative with amazing routines to dazzle and wow its audience.

And along with the spectacular sizzling performances on stage, there will also be opportunities for a special pre-show meet and greet with Graziano and Giada.

Graziano Di Prima was born in Sicily and started dancing at the age of six when his mother enrolled him in classes. He is an Italian Latin Champion, as well as representing Belgium at the World Championships, and made the top 24 at the under 21s Latin World Championships.

He went on to spend three years performing with the world-famous Burn the Floor dance company, where he met his future wife 28-year-old Venetian Giada, romantically proposing to her live on stage between performances.

Graziano joined the Strictly team in 2018, partnering DJ Vick Hope through a series of sparkling and high-energy routines. He recently made Strictly history when he performed the first same sex couple dance with fellow professional Johannes Radebe.

Giada is ranked in the top 25 in the world in the Latin-American style. She won the Italian Showdance Championship nine times and represented Italy at the World Showdance Championships, where she was a finalist and won the Show Dance World Cup in 2014. She was also a finalist in Freestyle Latin representing Italy at the World Champions in China in 2013 and 2014.

She worked as a professional Latin American dancer on a high-profile Italian TV show called Amici di Maria De Filippi for three years, and toured Australia, the UK and Japan with Burn the Floor. Giada joined Strictly as a pro dancer in 2018. 

Graziano said: “I’m so excited to be able to bring Havana Nights to the many dance fans we know there are across the UK.

“Giada and I have worked closely together on the choreography and content for the show and we’re really proud of it. Now I can’t wait to visit so many venues around the country, meeting fans and performing all my favourite routines for them live on stage.” 

Website:         www.havananightstour.co.uk

Twitter:           @_HavanaNights

 

HAVANA NIGHTS TOUR 2020 – SCOTTISH DATES

 GLASGOW

Royal Concert Hall

25 March 2020

0141 353 8000

https://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com

ON SALE NOW

 

EDINBURGH

Assembly Rooms

26 March 2020

0131 228 1155

http://www.usherhall.co.uk/

ON SALE NOW

The Great Tapestry of Scotland: Welcome Panel Tour

Visitors and residents across Scotland are being given a unique opportunity to become part of Scotland’s history, heritage and culture for generations to come through The Great Tapestry of Scotland: Welcome Panel Tour.

The programme of events will give people the chance to work with some of the country’s leading textile artists and add a stitch or two to the new welcome panels for the major new national visitor attraction housing the Great Tapestry of Scotland (one of the world’s most significant pieces of modern textile artistry).

The tour will take place across Scotland throughout 2020 at a variety of iconic historic properties, leading cultural venues, care homes and other venues that promote social inclusion in Scotland.

A range of venues for the tour have already been revealed in Aberdeen, Glasgow and the Scottish Borders and more will be confirmed later in the year.

When complete, the new Welcome to Scotland’s Story panels will be permanently displayed at the entrance to the Great Tapestry of Scotland’s £6.7 million purpose built interactive visitor centre, which opens in 2021 in the historic town of Galashiels (in the heart of Scotland’s premier textile region, the Scottish Borders).

Those who contribute a stitch will also be given the chance to have their names recorded in history as a contributor to the Tapestry’s visitor centre.

Recently appointed Great Tapestry of Scotland Centre Director Sandy Maxwell-Forbes said: “Telling the people’s story of Scotland and making this story accessible to everyone has always been at the heart of the Great Tapestry of Scotland, so we’re incredibly excited to be giving those who live in Scotland, and those visitors who love our country so much, an opportunity to stitch their name in Scotland’s history through our new Welcome Panel Tour.

We would like to thank all the venues and event organisers throughout Scotland who are making this this possible.

“In keeping with the Great Tapestry of Scotland’s ethos, it is vital that as many people as possible have an opportunity to contribute to the panels. As part of the tour, we’re taking the Welcome Panels directly to venues, such care homes, to remove some of the barriers that some individuals face to accessing such significant cultural projects. We will add more venues throughout the year.”

Many of the stories told through the Great Tapestry of Scotland, which was completed in 2013, have strong ties to the history, heritage and culture that can be experienced first hand on a visit to Scotland.

Building on this and, continuing the Tapestry’s ethos to tell the people’s story of Scotland, the new Welcome to Scotland’s Story panels will tell some of the true stories linked to the visitor centre’s new home in Scotland’s premier textile region, The Scottish Borders.

The panels will feature a reiver, a shepherd, a monk, a mill worker and a fisher lass. By the time they are complete, it is hoped that over 1,000 different people from across Scotland and beyond will have contributed to them.

The 21st Lady of Traquair, Catherine Maxwell Stuart, who is hosting the Welcome Panel Tour on 9 and 10 May said: “We are looking forward to the Great Tapestry of Scotland having a permanent home in the Scottish Borders where we hope it will draw visitors from far and wide to appreciate this outstanding cultural achievement.

“Over 900 years Traquair has witnessed extraordinary events in Scotland’s history, so we know only too well how important it is to hear Scotland’s stories as told by Scotland’s people. With our own strong heritage of textile and embroideries it is wonderful to see these unique traditions being carried on to the 21st century.

“We are delighted to be part of the Welcome Panel tour with this wonderful team of textile artists giving residents and visitors to Scotland in 2020 an opportunity to part of this story.”

Linda Wigley, Operations Director at Floors Castle, which is hosting the tour on 2 and 3 May 2020, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Great Tapestry of Scotland’s Welcome Panel tour.

“It is an incredible opportunity for people visiting Scotland to learn first hand from some of Scotland’s greatest textile artists and to firmly root themselves in Scotland’s history, heritage and culture for generations to come.”

Giles Ingram, Chief Executive of Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott, which will host the panels on Saturday 30 May 2020, said: “We are really looking forward to the opening of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.  

“It’s a wonderful new attraction for the Borders that will engage visitors with its depiction of Scottish people, places and events, many of which were very important to Sir Walter Scott and his stories.

“Abbotsford is delighted to be a part of the tapestry’s story today and to give our visitors an opportunity to make their mark on an important piece of Scottish cultural history.”

Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, Councillor Mark Rowley, added: “I’m delighted the Welcome Panel Tour will take in some of the exceptional venues we have in the Scottish Borders, highlighting both the region’s significant textile heritage and the vibrancy of today’s artists, makers and manufacturers.

“Its tour of Scotland is an opportunity to remind people of this great artwork and alert people across the country to the fantastic new home for the Tapestry currently being created in Galashiels.”

For more information or to book tickets for the Great Tapestry of Scotland Welcome Panel Tour visit scottishtapestry.com or follow @GreatTapestrySc on Facebook or Twitter, and @GreatTapestryScotland on Instagram.

Pictures: Phil Wilkinson

Cost Of The School Day UK rollout

  • Child Poverty Action Group awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to remove barriers to learning for children from low-income backgrounds
  • Children in hard-up families are facing barriers to learning opportunities
  • Parents are increasingly asked to contribute to the costs of a school day

A £2 million National Lottery-backed project to support children’s learning and ease financial pressure on low-income parents has begun with 128 schools across the UK set to take action over the next three years.

Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), working with project partners Children North East, will use the National Lottery funding to help schools remove the financial barriers to learning and participation that hold low-income children back, alongside easing the pressure that school-related costs place on struggling families.

The project will draw on previous work by both organisations that has helped schools to explore and address the impact of poverty on education.

Now, thanks to the National Lottery funding, UK Cost of the School Day will roll out to schools in Coventry, Neath Port Talbot, the London boroughs of Greenwich, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, as well as expanding to Moray in Scotland.

Through a structured, pupil-led approach, UK Cost of the School Day project staff will work with children and young people, families, teachers, school staff and local authorities to identify ‘cost barriers’ in each school – and to co-design ‘action plans’ to remove them.

Inclusion levels and changes in pupils’ experiences of school will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention throughout the first two years of the project, with the final year focussing on spreading changes that have a positive impact for pupils, beyond the initial 128 schools.

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “School days are supposed to be the best days of a child’s life, but instead for some children and their families, they can be a source of anxiety if there are extra and unexpected costs for parents.

“Nine children in every class of 30 are growing up in poverty and although school is free, increasing costs are putting a great strain on families, causing some children to miss out on aspects of school life.

“This is why we’re delighted with the funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. This project will help schools work out what they can do differently to help to bridge these gaps – by making small changes to school life, they can make a huge difference to a child.”

Pupils and staff in schools which have been involved in the earlier Children North East and CPAG in Scotland projects reported a range of cost-barriers to learning, including:

  • Subject costs (e.g. materials for Art, Home Economics, IT, and the cost of theatre trips for Drama)
  • Not having IT at home for homework
  • Lack of money for school trips
  • Lack of money for travel-to-school fares (or travel home from after school activities which end after the free bus has left)
  • Cost of buying past exam papers and other revision materials
  • Cost of hiring and maintaining a musical instrument

A range of bespoke changes were recommended by these projects, to stop financial exclusion at school, including:

  • Choosing more affordable school trips, subsidising trips and/ or allowing parents to pay for trips in instalments
  • Providing sibling discounts for fun events and trips
  • Removing curriculum costs for subjects like home economics and technology
  • Providing a starter pack for entry level pupils of bag, pencil case and stationery and setting up homework clubs with resources such as IT
  • Reviewing school uniform policies, recycling school uniform items, buying plain blazers and ironing on badges
  • Improved promotion of school clothing grants and free school meals
  • Sharing bus hire with nearby schools
  • Setting up breakfast clubs and breakfast boxes for pupils
  • Reducing or removing costs for after school clubs and activities

John Knights, Senior Head of the UK Portfolio at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:“Thanks to National Lottery players this project will support school children to be able to fully and equally take part in all aspects of school life.

“Importantly the project is putting young people in the lead to create solutions that reduce the stigma that they can feel and enable them to thrive.”

Michele Deans, Operations Director at Children North East said: “Children North East is enormously proud of our Poverty Proofing the School Day initiative and we’re delighted to be partnering with Child Poverty Action Group on this important work.

“We’re looking forward to using our combined expertise to support more schools across the UK and ensure that every pupil can fully participate in school, regardless of family income.”

Funeral Support Payment to be increased

Extra support will be made available for people on low income benefits to pay for the cost of a funeral.

The Funeral Support Payment’s rate for expenses such as funeral director fees, a coffin, and flowers, is to be increased from £700 to £1,000 for all applications received from 1 April.

The Funeral Support Payment is made up of three separate parts: burial or cremation costs; travel costs; and a standard rate for other expenses – and it is this element which is being increased.

Introduced in September last year, the Funeral Support Payment replaced the UK Government’s Funeral Expense Payment in Scotland, greatly increasing eligibility. It is intended to help alleviate the burden of debt faced by those on low income benefits when paying for a funeral.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “At a time when families are struggling to come to terms with the death of a loved one, the last thing they need is extra financial stress.

“I am proud we are increasing the standard rate by 40% to £1,000 to support those paying for a funeral just months after introducing this important new payment.

“This increase, alongside the extended eligibility we have introduced, means the Funeral Support Payment is there to ease the pressures on up to 5,000 people annually at such a difficult time in their lives. So far the total average pay-out has been around £1,500.

“This benefit is part of the new Social Security system we are building from scratch for the Scottish people, with fairness, dignity and respect at its heart.”

The flat rate payment for other expenses may be used towards any other funeral expenses such as funeral director fees, a coffin, and flowers.

Those eligible for the Funeral Support Payment must be living in Scotland, have had the nearest relationship to the person who has died, be financially responsible for the funeral and be on a qualifying benefit or tax credit (e.g. Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, Disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit).

Around 5,000 people are expected to be supported annually by the payment.

For more information or to apply online go to: https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment/

Call for Scottish ‘Budget for Mental Health’ for children and young people

  • Figures show only 0.56 per cent of NHS expenditure on CAMHS and less than 7 per cent of the mental health budget
  • Varying figures across Scotland, with 0.75 per cent of NHS expenditure on CAMHS in Tayside and 0.08 per cent in NHS Orkney
  • Call comes as Children’s Mental Health Week takes place

A coalition of leading independent and third sector children and young people’s service providers has called on the Scottish Government to deliver a ‘Budget for Mental Health’ on Thursday (6th February).

The call from campaign group, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), comes in week which also marks Children’s Mental Health Week (3rd-9th February).  It has urged greatly increased investment in mental health services for children and young people to tackle a current mental health ‘crisis’.

In a letter to Finance Cabinet Secretary, Derek Mackay, it has called for a significant proportion of the Barnett consequentials coming to the Scottish Government from the additional £34 billion a year the UK Government has pledged to go to the NHS to be spent on mental health.

The letter highlights figures indicating that a mere 0.56 per cent of the NHS budget is spent on specialist child and adolescent mental health Sservices (CAMHS), amounting to £67.248 million. In addition to this, only 6.61 per cent of the overall mental health budget is spent on CAMHS, a drop from 6.68 per cent on the previous year.

This is equivalent to just over 50p in every £100 of the NHS budget being spent on CAMHS.

These figures vary considerably across Scotland, ranging from 0.75 per cent of expenditure in NHS Shetland on CAMHS, 7.44 per cent of total mental health expenditure, to 0.08 per cent in NHS Highland, 2.92 per cent of total mental health expenditure.

These very low figures are despite the fact that mental health services are literally ‘creaking at the seams’ due to greatly increasing demand. Research indicates that 10 per cent of children and young people (aged five to 16) has a clinically diagnosable mental health problem (around three in every classroom), with 50 per cent of mental health problems established by the age of 14 and 75 per cent by the age of 24.

The SCSC has also called for a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention for those with mental health problems. This includes on-demand counselling services in GP surgeries and greater community support generally, reducing the need for referral to under-pressure specialist CAMHS.

Latest figures on waiting times to access CAMHS, covering the period July to September 2019,  indicate that of the 3,901 children and young people who started their treatment, only 64.5 per cent had been treated within an 18-week waiting time period. This is short of the 90 per cent target set by the Scottish Government.

In addition, 204 children and young people have been waiting for over a year to be seen.

A spokesperson for the SCSC said: “As we mark Children’s Mental Health Week we are urging the Scottish Government to make the forthcoming Budget a ‘Budget for Mental Health’ for our children and young people.

“With three children in every classroom having a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, no longer can mental health be viewed as a ‘Cinderella’ service and we must put money behind the rhetoric to address the current crisis.

“There must be a radical transformation of our mental health services, with a focus on preventing such problems arising in the first place and intervening early, especially when we know that half of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14.

“With mental health and the issues associated with it representing one of the greatest public health challenges of our time, we must ensure that children and young people are able to get the care and support they need, when they need it. This includes investing in greater community support and support at school, reducing the need for referral to specialist CAMHS.”

Young people dealing with mental health issues are to be guaranteed access to high quality support wherever they live, Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey  announced yesterday.

Health boards will receive new Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) guidance which outlines the level of provision that children, young people and their families can expect to receive when they are referred for help within the NHS.

The first national CAMHS Service Specification, which has been developed in partnership with young people and their families, includes a number of aims such as reducing both the waiting time for a first assessment appointment and the waiting time for any subsequent treatment.

Ms Haughey said: “We are determined to ensure that any young person who is identified as needing support with mental health issues can get services that are appropriate to their needs.

“An important step towards ensuring consistent high standards is the development of agreed referral criteria and definitions and this Service Specification, developed in partnership with young people and their families, will help to ensure everyone gets the right treatment, at the right time and in the right place.

“All health boards are being provided with this specification and will be expected to set out plans on how they will implement it, with a formal review of how it is working across Scotland to take place after six months.

“In 2018/19 our investment in mental health reached £1.1 billion and over the life of this Parliament will exceed £5 billion – investment which will help deliver the best support available for children and young people dealing with mental health issues.”

Development of the service specification has been overseen by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme Board, which is jointly chaired by the Scottish Government and COSLA.

COSLA Children and Young People spokesperson, Cllr Stephen McCabe said: “We are grateful to the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme Board for their work on the specification.

“This is part of a whole system approach and COSLA will continue working with partners to drive a national conversation on prevention and early support for children, young people and their families.”

Coronavirus: public information campaign launched

A UK-wide public information campaign has been launched to advise the public on how to slow the spread of coronavirus and reduce the impact on NHS services.

The government-funded campaign will include public health advice on how people can protect themselves from infection.

Similar to the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ campaign used for flu and norovirus, it will promote important hygiene practices, such as regularly washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue, to stem the spread of viruses.

HM Government and NHS-branded information will appear in radio and print media, as well as social media.

The campaign will advise the public to:

  • always carry tissues and use them to catch coughs and sneezes, and bin the tissue
  • wash hands with soap and water, or use sanitiser gel, to kill germs

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Our highly trained and experienced clinicians are working round the clock to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the UK. The government has detailed plans for how to deal with an outbreak like this. We can all play our part.

“Basic hygiene such as washing our hands regularly and using tissues when we cough and sneeze can play an important role in minimising the spread of viruses like this. Today we have launched a UK-wide public information campaign to help the public protect themselves and each other.

“Our world-class NHS is well prepared and we are doing everything we can to protect the public.”

Coronavirus public information video

People who have travelled back from the Hubei province in China within the last 14 days are being asked to:

  • stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
  • call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city
  • if you are in Northern Ireland, call your GP

Anyone who has travelled from anywhere else in China (not including Macao or Hong Kong) to the UK in the last 14 days and develops symptoms of cough, fever or shortness of breath should immediately self-isolate, even if symptoms are minor, and call NHS 111.

The UK is extremely well prepared for any potential outbreak of an infectious disease – we are one of the first countries in the world to have developed a test for the new virus.

On Friday 31 January 2020, 2 patients in England, who are members of the same family, tested positive for coronavirus. They are receiving specialist NHS care and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.

The government is already working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had to prevent further spread, and are in close contact with the World Health Organization and the international community as the outbreak in China develops to ensure the UK is ready for all eventualities.

Coronavirus presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough or difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild.

For further information on coronavirus, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

UPDATE

The UK Government has pledged £20 million to develop new vaccines to combat the world’s deadliest diseases, amid concerns over the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

When visiting the Public Health England’s Porton Down laboratory last week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the UK will ramp up efforts to fund ground-breaking research into vaccines, diagnostics and cures to fight against the threat of future viruses.

The new funding will support work developing new vaccines for epidemics, including their three new programmes to develop vaccines against the novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV. These projects aim to advance 2019-nCoV vaccine candidates into clinical testing as quickly as possible.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Vaccines are our best defense against a host of deadly diseases, including coronavirus. The UK is a hub of world-leading and pioneering research, and it is vital that we lead the way in developing new vaccines to target global threats with scientists from across the world.

“The £20 million announced today will help our globally recognised vaccine development capabilities continue to develop new defences against emerging diseases including coronavirus. It’s paramount we invest in vital research about infectious diseases, keeping the UK at the forefront of modern-day science so we can share this knowledge globally.”

The £20m in new funding will go to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) – an innovative global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations launched in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.

CEPI was originally formed in response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.

Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said: CEPI welcomes the UK’s continued support and funding for our vital work, which comes at a crucial moment as the world races to respond to the emergence of a novel coronavirus. The rapid global spread and unique epidemiological characteristics of the virus are deeply concerning.

“Our hope is that, with our partners, we can get an investigational vaccine from gene sequencing of the pathogen through to clinical testing in 16 weeks. The earliest stage of clinical trials (Phase I), to establish the safety of investigational vaccines, would take around two to four months.

“This is an extremely ambitious timeline – indeed, it would be unprecedented in the of field vaccine development. It is important to remember that even if we are successful – and there can be no guarantee – there will be further challenges to navigate before we can make vaccines more broadly available.”

The Government is also in initial stages of talks between NIHR and UKRI regarding plans to run a rapid research call to support the global response to 2019-nCoV.

Have your say on Council’s plans

Edinburgh residents are being asked to share their views on the draft City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy for creating accessible, affordable and environmentally-friendly travel in and around Edinburgh, and the Choices for City Plan 2030, which sets out options for the sustainable management of future development during a time of major change.

The two draft plans are closely linked and are being consulted on at the same time to ensure any new development helps people to make healthier choices, improving quality of life through enhanced provision for walking and cycling and better links to public transport.

Over the next eight weeks, the public can share comments and opinions on both by taking part in the consultations online, while they can meet the teams involved and find out more about plans at several drop-in events being held across the city.

Capital Coalition leaders call on residents to take part

SNP Council Leader Councillor Adam McVey said: “These ambitious plans to transform our approach to both transport and development in the Capital are essential to our ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030, to vastly improve the city’s environment and to create a healthier, fairer and more inclusive place for everyone.

“We’re about to embark upon a period of significant change, where we simply must meet the challenges posed by population growth and a climate emergency head-on. We have it within our power to drive our city forward, to adapt and thrive despite the pressures we face. If we act now, with pace, we will realise the future Edinburgh and its residents deserve.

Depute Council Leader, Labour’s  Councillor Cammy Day, said: “These proposed changes will affect everyone who lives in, works in and visits Edinburgh, so it’s only right that we continue to have a conversation with our residents, businesses and other stakeholders about how our city grows and changes to meet future needs.

We want everyone to play their part in these momentous decisions and I look forward to engaging with the public on these two, inextricably linked strategies, which will have a game-changing impact on Edinburgh’s development.

How the two plans have progressed to this stage

The draft City Mobility Plan was approved for consultation by the Transport and Environment Committee on 16 January and will replace the Council’s Local Transport Strategy 2014 – 2019. The plan sets out new policy measures over the next ten years focusing on public transport provision, improved cycling, walking and electric vehicle infrastructure and reducing the volume of polluting traffic in the city. These draw on feedback gathered during public engagement carried out in 2018.

On 22 January members of the Planning Committee agreed to consult on the Choices for City Plan 2030. The document sets out options for how to make the best use of land for future development while also addressing how the Council could tackle short term lets, planning for and building more affordable housing and managing the growth of student housing, amongst other issues.

Both strategies envision the Capital in a decade’s time, when residents will live in homes they can afford and won’t necessarily need a car to move around, with policies addressing Edinburgh’s rising population and the wider climate emergency while managing the growth and success of the city.

Take part in drop-in events to find out more

To help the public have their say on both sets of plans and to speak to experts, several drop-in events will be held on:

  • Monday, 3 February; 4pm – 7pm in Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street, EH17 8RG
  • Saturday, 8 February; 11am – 4pm in The Wash House, 3 Adelphi Grove, Portobello, EH15 1AP
  • Monday, 10 February; 1pm – 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG
  • Thursday, 13 February; 4pm – 7.30pm in Kirkliston Parish Hall, The Square, EH29 9AS
  • Wednesday, 26 February; 4pm – 7pm in YMCA, 1 Junction Place, EH6 5JA
  • Wednesday, 4 March; 4pm – 7pm in Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Rd, EH4 5EG
  • Thursday, 19 March; 1pm – 8.30pm in St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, EH11 2DZ

There will also be a series of consultation hub surgeries where help will be on offer, with one-to-one support to complete the online consultation for Choices for City Plan 2030 specifically. These will be on:

  • Monday, 10 February; 1pm – 7pm in the Urban Room, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, EH8 8BG
  • Monday, 24 February; 4pm – 7pm in Piershill Library, 30 Piersfield Terrace, EH8 7BQ
  • Monday, 2 March; 4pm – 7pm in Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street, EH11 1BG
  • Monday, 9 March; 4pm – 7pm in Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, EH6 4AE
  • Wednesday, 11 March; 4pm – 7pm in Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drum Brae Drive, EH4 7FE.

Next steps for City Plan Mobility Plan and Choices for City Plan 2030

For the City Mobility Plan, the results of this public consultation, alongside a comprehensive travel behaviour survey to be completed by the end of February, will form the basis of a finalised plan to be brought to Transport and Environment Committee later this year supported by a delivery plan packaging and phasing the implementation of actions and policy measures.

Consultation responses to the Choices for City Plan 2030 will help inform the proposed City Plan 2030, which is due to be published by the Council in August. It will then be published to allow for representations to be made after which it will be formally examined by the Scottish Government before the Council can consider adopting it.

Pudgy Pug Peaches enters PDSA Pet Fit CLub

Peaches the Pug, whose love of cheese and crisps has left her struggling on walks, is hoping to shed the pounds by signing up for the UK’s largest pet slimming competition – PDSA Pet Fit Club.

The four-year-old roly-poly pooch weighs in at a whopping 10.6kg (1st 6lbs), having eaten her way to becoming 51% overweight. She needs to lose a colossal 3.6kg to reach her ideal weight of 7kg (approx.).

Percy’s owner, student nurse Danielle Porter from Livingston, says Peaches will eat anything she can get her paws on, including her favourites: cheese, ham and crisps.

“When we’re eating we dare not leave our plates unsupervised as Peaches will go for it!” says Danielle. “I find it really hard to say no to Peaches, especially when she looks at me with her puppy-dog eyes.

“My mum looks after her when I’m at uni and tends to feed Peaches big portions, which is definitely adding to her weight-gain.”

Despite daily walks, Peaches struggles to run and play like other dogs due to her weight, which is one of the main reasons her owner wants to help slim her down. Another vital reason is that, as a Pug, Peaches is at higher risk of breathing issues due to her flat face shape – issues which will be worsened by carrying extra weight.

Danielle added: “Peaches enjoys her walks, but she has slowed down quite a bit due to her size. She also has regular sessions at a local hydrotherapy pool to help her lose weight, but she finds it hard work and can only last a few minutes.”

“Peaches is a lovable dog but I want her to be happier, healthier and more energetic.”

Now in its 15th year, the competition aims to help tackle the UK’s pet obesity crisis – as the charity’s stats reveal up to half of UK pets (46% of dogs, 34% of cats and 30% of rabbits*) are believed to be overweight or obese.

The most common reasons given by UK vets and vet nurses for excess weight in pets are: owner’s lack of recognition that their pet is overweight, feeding ‘treats’ or human food, and inappropriate portion sizes* .  All of which could be leaving our four-legged friend’s health, happiness and life-expectancy at serious risk.

Since 2005 Pet Fit Club has helped 143 pets (89 dogs, 44 cats, eight rabbits and two rats) lose 513kg (80st 12lb) – equivalent to a polar bear! The 2015 Pet Fit Club Champ, Kayla the Mastiff from Glasgow, lost an impressive 17kg (2st 9lb) – 29% of her bodyweight!

The charity, which provides free and reduced cost veterinary care to pets in need, is urging owners to enter their pets for the slimming competition to help them battle the bulge at: pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub.

PDSA Vet Nurse, Nina Downing, said: “Pet obesity has been a huge problem in the UK for many years and sadly there is no sign of improvement, with nearly one in every two pets seen by vets and vet nurses overweight or obese. This is a serious health issue, one of the biggest currently threatening pet wellbeing across the UK.

“Pets who are overweight or obese are much more likely to develop health problems such as arthritis and diabetes. Being overweight can also seriously aggravate other health problems, such as heart disease. For example, Pugs and French Bulldogs already struggle to breathe because of their flat faces, but carrying excess inches can make this much worse.

“Research has also shown that carrying too much weight can reduce a dog’s life expectancy by up to 2 years and 6 months**.”

About PDSA Pet Fit Club

Since its launch, the 15 pets crowned ‘Pet Fit Club Champ’ have lost a total of 130.35kg (20st 8lb).

Up to 20 overweight pets (dogs, cats, rabbits and rats) from across the UK will be chosen to participate in PDSA Pet Fit Club.

Selected pets are placed on a six-month diet and exercise programme, individually tailored to their needs and overseen by vets and vet nurses at their local PDSA Pet Hospital.

Participants receive free diet pet food for the duration of the competition, and the overall Pet Fit Club Champ, crowned at the end of 2020, will win a year’s free pet food and a pet friendly holiday.

Owners can find out more and apply online at pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub or by calling the Pet Fit Club team on 01952 797246. The closing date is Sunday 8 March 2020.

  • Pet Fit Club has helped 143 pets lose 513kg (80st 12lb) – equivalent to a polar bear
  • 89 dogs, 44 cats, 8 rabbits and 2 rats have taken part in the diet
  • The 15 Pet Fit Club Champs have lost over 130.35kg (20st 8lb).
  • The biggest ever ‘loser’ Oscar lost 39% of his bodyweight. 

“We know that we are a nation of animal lovers,” continues Nina, “But unfortunately a lot of pet owners show their love and affection using food.  And as the waistlines of the pet population have expanded, our understanding of a ‘healthy shape’ has become distorted – seeing overweight pets becomes normal. Recognising a healthy body shape – and if there is a problem – is the first step to making a positive change for your pet’s health.

“Most pets would be just as happy with extra attention – an extra walk or playtime – than food. And ‘treats’ of human food or too-large portions can be very bad for them.

“They should be fed a complete pet food suitable for their age and weight, with only occasional healthy treats, such as a few slices of carrot for dogs and a small piece of white fish or meat for cats. Our pets also need regular, varied exercise, suitable for their age and health, to keep their bodies and minds stimulated.

Nina concludes: “Pet Fit Club helps transform the UK’s fattest pets into fit and healthy animals. Pets that could barely walk, climb stairs or fit through cat flaps will be given a new lease of life.

“Prevention is always better than cure, but it is never too late to make a change. With the right advice, a good diet, suitable exercise and a bit of willpower, owners have the ability to make a real difference to their pet’s lives.  So we’re urging owners who have overweight pets to enter today.”

Enter Pet Fit Club at: pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub

Sin in the City: Mercat offers Anti-Valentine tour

Recognising that around 40% of people in the UK are either sick of Valentine’s Day or don’t celebrate it because they’re single, a leading Scottish tourism business has revealed a risqué Sin in the City tour that offers the perfect remedy and delves into a hidden history that no other tour covers.

The special edition adults-only walking tour of Edinburgh, delivered by the award-winning storytellers at five star Mercat Tours, will explore the lanes that hid Scotland’s historical capital city’s darker establishments. Those on the tour will hear intimate secrets about some of the most iconic Scots, such as Mary Queen of Scots, and the city’s naughtiest residents, including the famous Scottish biographer and diarist James Boswell (who had a thing for bark!)

Speaking about the new tour, Lauren Ni Maoilmhichil, a tour guide at Mercat Tours said: “For some Valentine’s day is a tough reminder that they’re single or their marriage or relationship has broken down.

“Others are simply sick of Valentine’s Day and prefer to spend it with their friends instead. Indeed in recent years there has been a move towards a global Galetines trend, celebrating friendships among women.

“We invite all of those people to join us and break with slushy Valentine’s traditions on our new tour for an evening of sordid stories and hearty laughs as we keep the true risqué tales of Edinburgh’s most rampant historical residents alive. It’s the perfect Galentine’s or alternative Valentine’s night out.”

For the last 30 minutes of the tour, participants can curl up in the cosy Megget’s Cellar for candlelit storytelling and a complimentary glass of fizz.

Dates: Friday 14 February 9.15pm and Saturday 15 February 6.15pm

Location: Starts at Mercat Cross, Edinburgh

Cost: £18 per ticket

For more information or to book on a Mercat tour visit www.mercattours.com