Through Spartans and Social Bite, one hundred free packed lunches a day are on offer to people living in Drylaw. This service will start on Monday (30th March) and will be available Monday – Friday every week.
If you know an individual or family who might benefit from this offer please get in touch with Allan.Hosey@ea.edin.sch.uk
NB: Please discuss this offer with the individual or family before nominating them.
The packed lunches will be delivered with appropriate social distancing in place.
Unfortunately, due to the limited number of packed lunches available, we will not be able to meet all demands for this service.
This initiative is part of a North Edinburgh-wide effort which has swung into action over the last ten days. Staff and volunteers from a host of community organisations have joined forces to ensure that our area’s most vulnerable people don’t go without essentials during these most difficult of times.
Would you like to play your part and help out? More volunteers would be warmly welcomed – to find out what’s involved contact Allan (email above)
Some security advice to help protect British shoppers against cyber-crime has been released as we head online for the basics:
Internet shopping specialists from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed their 13 top tips to help UK consumers stay safe when shopping on the web in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
From using a credit card and keeping software up to date, to writing down complicated passwords and making up answers to security questions, online shoppers could avoid becoming a cyber criminal’s next victim by following the guidance.
A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “With more and more Britons heading online to shop for the essentials, it’s important to take online security even more seriously.
“Browsing the web can be a security minefield for consumers – a computer virus, hacker or fraud could be just one click away.
“So to help Brits shop online with greater peace of mind, we’ve revealed the different measures you can take to stay safe when buying something on the internet.”
If you purchase online using a debit card and it turns out to be a scam there’s usually no way to retrieve your money, but fraudulent charges must be reimbursed by credit card companies.
Check your statements regularly, just in case a purchase you didn’t make gets through the card provider’s safety net and you need to dispute it. This could also help if a purchase is shows up different to what you ordered, damaged or doesn’t arrive at all.
2. Make up security answers
When creating an account with online shopping sites, you might be asked to set up password reset security questions to confirm your identity.
Rather than entering the real town you were born in or mother’s maiden name, enter false answers and write them down if you can’t remember. This makes it much harder for cyber criminals who might be trying to gather information on you.
3. Only fill out required fields
Don’t offer up any more personal information that is necessary to complete an online purchase.
The required fields are usually starred or highlighted when checking out – it’s usually wise to leave the rest blank.
4. Never save information
Allowing even the most reputable of websites to store your payment or address information is unnecessary.
Don’t say yes when your browser suggests saving any passwords either and always log out when you’ve finished shopping.
5. Change passwords often
Regularly change between complicated, hard to guess, alphanumeric passwords that also contain symbols, even if you have to write them all down somewhere secure at home. Keep them different for each site you use too.
Using the same, simple but memorable password for every website for years, such as a pet’s name, is asking for trouble when online shopping.
6. Look for security indicators
A web address (or URL) that begins with ‘HTTPS’ are secure – those without the ‘S’, ‘HTTP’, may not be.
Other signs of shopping site security to look out for could include a closed padlock or complete key, possibly green, alongside the URL, next to the search bar or elsewhere around the screen.
7. Avoid public Wi-Fi
Entering personal information such as credit card details, passwords or home address while using free public Wi-Fi hotspots is dangerous as your data won’t be protected by encryption and could vulnerable to hackers.
8. Update your computer
Using an older version of a popular internet browser, operating system or anti-virus software on your computer means that you’ll be missing out on important security updates, which could leave you exposed when browsing the web.
9. Be extra careful on mobiles
Most mobile phones won’t have the same level of anti-virus protection as laptop or desktop computers so extra vigilance is required, particularly around shortened mobile-friendly URLs.
Mobile devices are also more likely to be stolen, so make sure any payment details are passcode or fingerprint protected.
10. Avoid email links
Rather than clicking on potentially suspect links to shopping sites that you see on social media, other websites or in emails, search for the website yourself.
This helps to make sure you browse the authentic site. If you’re getting a lot of spam emails, consider setting up a dedicated online shopping only email address.
11. Leave badly designed websites
If a shopping site appears to be out of date, has a strange URL, comes with lots of pop ups, or is dominated by cheap, irrelevant or overseas adverts, the page could be dodgy and worth exiting before it’s too late.
12. Research and read reviews
When considering spending on a new site that you haven’t used before, it can be useful to browse forums and social media to see what experience others have had of shopping there.
If you can find a real physical address and verifiable contact details for the company you intend to make a purchase from, they’re probably legitimate.
13. Trust your instincts
Just as you would when shopping on the high street, if you feel like a website is requesting too much personal information or could harm your computer with viruses, close it.
If in any doubt, stick to shopping with sites you know and trust.
Remember, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Which? – Coronavirus email and text phishing scams
Phishing and smishing emails and SMS messages are already being sent out to trap the unwary into giving up login details.
One we’ve seen is an email that claims to come from the World Health Organization. It’s short and sweet, asking that you click on a link to what it says is a PDF offering advice on how to stay safe during the outbreak.
Security firm Sophos has a detailed breakdown of what happens if you click on that link, but broadly it shows you a pop-up in front of what looks like the WHO’s actual website asking you to input your email address and password so that you can receive the non-existent PDF.
Other phishing emails and SMS messages (known as ‘smishing’ texts) are also doing the rounds: Action Fraud has warned that emails purporting to be from organisations including the US Centers for Disease Control and the WHO are being sent with the aim of tricking you into opening malicious attachments or giving away your passwords.
The latest email and text phishing scams:
Fake lockdown fines
People have been warned not to fall for a bogus text message saying they have been fined for stepping outside during the coronavirus lockdown. The scam message claims to be from the Government, telling the recipient their movements have been monitored through their phone and they must pay a fine or face a more severe penalty.
HMRC goodwill payment
The MET police are warning of a fake message designed to steal your account details that says ‘As part of the NHS promise to battle the COV-19 virus, HMRC has issued a payment of £258 as a goodwill payment’.
Free school meals
The Department for Education has issued warnings about a scam email designed to steal your bank details saying: ‘As schools will be closing, if you’re entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we’ll make sure you’re supported.’
Conspiracy theories and misinformation
Another email we’ve seen is full of doom-laden warnings that ‘There is no vaccine for coronavirus’ and that ‘the US government, like the Chinese government, isn’t telling us the truth about how many are infected’. That email is full of links. While we’ve only seen screenshots of this, it seems likely that these links will lead you to either phishing sites or, worse, sites that can infect your computer with malware.
Sophos has also reported on emails that – for now – are targeting Italian email addresses and which include a Word document that purports to offer guidelines for preventing infection, but which in fact harbours a malicious script that infects Windows computers with a banking Trojan, i.e. malware that aims to steal online banking credentials.
So watch out for emails that include attachments.
Read the Which? guide on how to spot a phishing scam for more information:
Extra funding to develop mental health services to cope with further demand as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been confirmed by the Scottish Government.
Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey has announced a further £3.8 million to begin to increase the capacity of NHS 24’s telephone and online services.
This includes £2.6 million to expand the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub and Breathing Space telephone helpline and web support service and £1.2 million to provide extra capacity for Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CCBT). Information about these expanded services will come on line as they become active.
Ms Haughey said: “Dedicated mental health professionals provide high quality care across Scotland – but in these trying times they are needed more than ever.
“The current situation around COVID-19, including concerns around social distancing, is an understandable cause of anxiety for many people. NHS 24 has already begun to see an increase in calls, including to Breathing Space, in recent weeks and anticipate this will continue to grow.
“It is vital that during this period of uncertainty anyone who requires support for their mental health can receive it.”
The additional £3.8 million will support a two-strand approach to the health response to COVID-19, both increasing the capacity of existing services while aiming to reduce demand.
Funding of £2.6 million will provide additional capacity to the NHS Mental Health Hub of 27 full time equivalent (FTE) Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, five FTE Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, and two FTE Senior Charge Nurses to provide 24-hour cover. This service is currently only available out of hours during the week and over the weekend.
This will take the total staffing for the hub to 69 PWPs, 20 MHNPs and six SCNs (all FTE).
The number of Breathing Space advisors will increase by 10 FTE workers and two FTE supervisors to expand both the telephone and webchat facilities. NHS 24 will also adapt a number of self-help guides and online resources through the NHS Inform website.
Funding of £1.2 million in the financial year 2020-21 will provide additional capacity to meet the immediate COVID-19 challenge on digital therapies supporting the rise in demand and addressing the pressure on core NHS mental health services. This will give support to the public and also to the Health and Social Care workforce and their families.
The constant barrage of new developments regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus) can cause particular challenges for people living with anxiety, stress and/or anxiety-based depression especially those that have health anxiety and/or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – OCD.
Whilst there’s plenty of advice on how to protect yourself and limit the risk of exposing yourself to the virus, little has been said about the effect a problem of this nature- can have on our mental health and specifically those who have pre-existing mental health issues such as anxiety disorders.
It is well established that for many that live with anxiety, a common characteristic is that of having an ability to tolerate uncertainty. The current situation with coronavirus has clearly created a lot of uncertainty which might be difficult for those with pre-existing anxiety conditions such as health anxiety to manage.
For such individuals the whole situation may feel extra daunting and worrying and with the extensive media coverage that the subject has attracted, it’s understandable that some people may feel overwhelmed and begin to catastrophise – imagining the worst case scenario.
One thing that might be helpful for those experiencing anxiety to remember is that whilst no-one knows exactly what might happen, the good news is that most services and businesses will already have a contingency plan in place to ensure that they are able to continue operating as close to normal as possible.
Anxiety UK also has a robust business continuity plan in place which will allow us to keep supporting those that need our help.
Our services will not be disrupted and anyone who needs further assistance around any aspect of anxiety can contact us via our support email support@anxietyuk.org.uk or by calling the helpline on 03444 775 774 between the usual opening hours of 9.30am – 5.30pm.
Health anxiety can make any kind of symptom feel like the worst case scenario, however taking on board the below tips should help those experiencing health anxiety to feel in control and manage their anxiety:
Firstly, try to limit your exposure to news sources which are covering the coronavirus issue as this only serves to feed fear.
Ensure that you have some mental ‘downtime’ woven into your daily schedule. Mindfulness practice can be incredibly helpful with apps such as the Headspace app (available to all Anxiety UK members at no additional cost) assist with keeping us in the here and now as opposed to allowing our minds to think about future scenarios which might never happen.
If you are feeling concerned or overly worried about it there are some techniques you can use to help manage your anxiety such as simple breathing or (short-term) distraction exercises and mindfulness.
Try practising the APPLE technique which encourages you to Acknowledge, Pause, Pull back, Let go and Explore:
Acknowledge – Notice and acknowledge the uncertainty as it comes to mind.
Pause – Don’t react as you normally do. Don’t react at all. Just pause and breath.
Pull back – Tell yourself this is just the worry talking, and this apparent need for certainty is not helpful and not necessary. It is only a thought or feeling. Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are not statements or facts.
Let go – Let go of the thought or feeling. It will pass. You don’t have to respond to them. You might imagine them floating away in a bubble or cloud.
Explore – Explore the present moment, because right now, in this moment, all is well. Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing. Notice the ground beneath you. Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can touch, what you can smell. Right now. Then shift your focus of attention to something else – on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the worry, or do something else – mindfully with your full attention.
If you feel that you need more targeted and 1:1 support for your anxiety, here at Anxiety UK we have a range of services which you might find helpful including talking therapy support services: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling and clinical hypnotherapy – all accessible at reduced rates.
Our NHS is under extraordinary pressure and strain and I implore our government and people to help support our front line staff.
The front line workers are the only people who have to treat people infected with this virus on a personal level. The rest of us just have to stay two metres apart or at home.
We know that our front line staff do not have the protective facilities they need. It is wrong that they have to work in danger and compromise their health and safety while serving the public.
Therefore, I am pleading to the government to ensure our front line staff whether nurses, doctors, police or care workers, have protective masks, clothing and have access to testing kits.
We have seen in Italy and Spain the difficulties that staff have faced and many have lost their lives. This must not happen here, so please protect our front line staff and make sure they have the facilities they need to survive and do the invaluable work they are doing for the public.
#protectthefrontlinestaff
#coronavirus
Foysol Choudhury MBE
Chairman: Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council | Chairman: Bangladesh Samity Edinburgh. | Founder / Director: Edinburgh Mela. | President: The Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurateurs, Scotland. | General Secretary: Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost FRANK ROSS shares a message of thanks to Council staff, NHS workers and people of Edinburgh:
“This is an extremely unsettling time for everyone. Unprecedented is often the word on all of our lips as we find ourselves facing a global health and economic crisis. I send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and my best wishes to all who have been affected.
I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone in the city when I express our enormous gratitude to the staff of NHS and health workers, who are doing an incredible job in the most challenging of circumstances. Last night, Edinburgh joined communities across the country in a nationwide round of applause, paying tribute to the NHS staff working hard to treat coronavirus patients. It was a truly moving moment.
Edinburgh is now feeling the effects of the pandemic, but I believe if we take the right actions now, we will slow the spread, reduce the impact and save lives. I’d like to thank everyone who has followed the rules and stayed at home.
I’m aware that we all have serious concerns about the impacts of coronavirus and what it will mean for your family, your health, your job and your family finances.
I want to reassure you that the Council is completely focussed on preparing for what lies ahead over the next days, weeks and months. We’re doing everything we can to keep vital services running and keep residents informed and supported.
I would like to thank all local authority workers for their ongoing commitment and hard work at this difficult time. The attitude and willingness to adapt to make sure key services are delivered for the people of Edinburgh is humbling and won’t be forgotten.
As key workers and service providers across the city work to keep Edinburgh moving and help those who need it most – there are some important things that we can all do to make a big difference in our communities.
I implore you to listen to and act on the advice to stay at home, as far as possible. We must follow the advice from the experts. It helps us to protect those most vulnerable to the virus and those essential workers who continue to support the city. We must do everything possible to reduce the amount of people becoming ill and dying, or we risk our NHS being overwhelmed and unable to cope.
If you do go outside please practice social distancing, go on your own or with one or two others in a small family group. Parks and beaches should not be busy. And of course, if you believe you have any of the symptoms (high temperature or fever, cough, shortness of breath) please abide by the isolation guidance and stay indoors. I’m not exaggerating when I say, lives depend on it.
It’s important that we look out for our family, friends and neighbours, in particular, the elderly and the isolated. These are troubling times and a friendly word or help with a chore can go a long way. It has been fantastic to see some the great work of local people and projects rallying together in communities.
Misinformation is also a concern of mine – we often receive and share pieces of advice that we’ve heard from a friend of a friend who is in the know and I urge you to practice good information hygiene as well as personal hygiene.
Before sharing what you’ve heard, ask for a source of the information as this could easily be false or taken out of context. Get your information from recognised sources and the updates provided by NHS and Scottish Government.
This is undoubtedly the biggest challenge we’ve faced in a very long time as a nation, but we will get through this together.
There is a lot of information and support available to help you. Please visit our information pages and follow @Edinburgh_CC for up to date information.
Businesses and the public in Scotland are now required by law to follow necessary social distancing measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The Scottish Government is using powers from the UK Coronavirus Bill to make it a criminal offence to flout the strict public health guidance that is helping save lives.
To enforce social distancing, people in Scotland are being asked to only go outside if they have a ‘reasonable excuse’.
These include shopping for necessary food, household and medical supplies, travelling to and from work where working from home is not an option, and daily exercise that adheres to social distancing guidance.
Enforcement can be used against businesses and venues that have been told to close, including drinking establishments, entertainment venues, and indoor leisure and sports facilities.
Police Scotland can issue penalty notices of £30, rising to £60 if not paid within 28 days, where they have reason to believe there has been an offence under the regulations.
These penalties are doubled for each repeat offence up to a £960 cap, with no reduction for early payment. Due to the exceptional nature of these powers, the regulations will be reviewed at least every 21 days to ensure they are still necessary.
Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said: “There has been a huge effort by the people and businesses of Scotland to respond to the unprecedented situation we face dealing with the coronavirus.
“I would like to thank everyone who is playing their part by staying at home to ensure the social distancing measures we have introduced help stop the spread of the virus.
“While the majority of people are doing the right thing, these regulations provide the police with emergency powers to enforce social distancing where necessary.
“It is only because of the unprecedented crisis we are facing, and to save lives, that these powers are being introduced. They are temporary and will be kept under review.
“I urge the people of Scotland to continue their outstanding collective effort and follow the rules that have been laid down.”
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone QPM said: “I thank the overwhelming majority of people who are complying with very clear guidance to stay at home.
“I expect the public to continue to do their duty and contribute to the national effort to keep people safe from the spread of coronavirus.
“This is a challenging time for people who have to adjust their daily habits and everything we do will be done in a fair, reasonable and proportionate manner.
“Those who persistently and blatantly defy the law must know we will enforce the law.”
The Scottish Government has issued specific guidance on staying at home and away from others to help protect the NHS and save lives.
"For all of us the single most important way in which we can show our support for the NHS is by staying home wherever possible."
A non-exhaustive list of reasonable excuses for when people can leave their home includes:
shopping for food
essential household and medical supplies
exercise once a day
medical assistance
travel to work where work at home is not an option
attending a funeral of a member of their household, a close family member or in the event that no family or household member is attending the funeral, of a friend
providing care or assistance to others
and meeting legal obligations or accessing critical public services
The regulations include powers to enable Police Scotland to enforce restrictions on movement of people outside their place of residence and to disperse gatherings.
This includes the ability to remove people who are outside their home without a reasonable excuse if the police officer has reason to believe it is a necessary and proportionate means of ensuring compliance.
The charity Marie Curie is geared up to care for hundreds of additional dying patients requiring end of life care, in order to relieve the unprecedented pressure on the NHS during the Coronavirus crisis.
Marie Curie in Scotland needs to raise over a quarter of a million pounds a week (£2.5 million UK-wide) to continue to run its essential frontline services, at a time when its ability to generate this money has been seriously compromised.
Given the choice, people overwhelmingly say they would prefer to die in their own home, or in a hospice, rather than a hospital.
People who are dying are able to leave hospital quickly, if the right package of care is in place and it is safe to do so. Marie Curie are experts in providing that care.
Now more than ever, dying people who do not want to be in hospital need to be moved to a more appropriate setting, as precious beds in critical care units are urgently required for patients who need lifesaving treatment for Coronavirus.
Marie Curie can help, but only if it continues to raise the donations it needs to fund its vital work.
Marie Curie Head of Community Fundraising in Scotland Debbie Mooneysaid, “This is a stark warning that Marie Curie desperately needs more donations if it is to continue caring for dying people and help the NHS cope with the Coronavirus crisis.
“The people of Scotland are known for our generosity and kindness, which we’ve seen in abundance over the last few difficult weeks. We need the public to rally around our hospices and nurses now and give whatever they can. It has never been more critical.”
Marie Curie’s Chief Executive Matthew Reedsaid: “At this time of national emergency, Marie Curie Nurses and frontline staff are needed more than ever as the NHS is put under ever greater strain. We’re ready and geared up to help, with hospice beds and nurses on standby.
“Sadly, some people’s lives will be shortened by Coronavirus, so the need for end of life care will be greater. Marie Curie can meet this need, and in doing so will help free up intensive care beds needed for Coronavirus patients.
“But just as we want to help, our income has been decimated. We need donations urgently to keep our Nurses and Hospice staff on the frontline.
“Unlike other healthcare providers, Marie Curie is reliant on donations from the public to survive. Every week the charity needs to raise £2.5million to care for the tens of thousands of people who require nursing and hospice care.
“At the moment, our ability to fundraise is seriously compromised. Events are being cancelled, and we’ve had to close our Shops. That is why we have launched an emergency appeal to make up the shortfall, and ensure the charity can care for more dying patients, support the NHS and ultimately save lives in the weeks and months ahead.”
Matthew added: “We are all in this crisis together and already we are seeing how the public in this country is rising to support each other and the most vulnerable. Please donate now.”
Text NURSE to 70633 to help us reach the families who need us. Texts cost £5 plus 1 standard rate message. 98% is received by Marie Curie. To unsub text OUT to 78866. Thank you.
If you, or someone you know, is affected by a terminal illness and concerned about Coronavirus, our Support Line team are ready to help with the information you need when you need it. Call free 0800 090 2309*.
Due to increased demand, Marie Curie has extended its service to 7 days a week: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Your calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
The UK government has pledged an additional £210 million of support to accelerate work to find a coronavirus vaccine, in an announcement following a virtual summit of G20 leaders.
The UK has now pledged £544 million in total which makes it the biggest contributor to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) – the international coalition to find a vaccine.
Announcing the additional funding, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “While our brilliant doctors and nurses fight coronavirus at home, this record British funding will help to find a vaccine for the entire world. UK medics and researchers are at the forefront of this pioneering work.
Acting High Commissioner to India Jan Thompson said: “This important announcement demonstrates the UK’s continued commitment to finding a coronavirus vaccine alongside our key international partners.
“We already have a strong record of research collaboration with India; at a time like this, international collaboration is more important than ever.”
The additional package of funding will go towards producing rapid tests for coronavirus and testing and developing medicines to treat the disease, for use in the UK and around the world.
Quickly identifying those with coronavirus and having the means to treat those most affected will be pivotal in bringing down the number of people killed.
Few days are without incident for a Prime Minister in these turbulent times, but this was a particularly eventful day for Boris Johnson, who had earlier announced to the nation he had succumbed to the coronavirus.
In a video message, he said:
‘Hi folks.
I want to bring you up to speed on something that’s happening today which is that I’ve developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus. That’s to say – a temperature and a persistent cough.
And, on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, I’ve taken a test. That has come out positive.
So I am working from home. I’m self-isolating. And that’s entirely the right thing to do.
But be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus.
And I want to thank everybody who’s involved, I want to thank, above all, our amazing NHS staff. It was very moving last night to join in that national clap for the NHS.
But it’s not just the NHS, it’s our police, our social care workers, teachers, everybody who works in schools, DWP staff.
An amazing national effort by the public services. But also by every member of the British public who’s volunteering, an incredible response – 600,000 people have volunteered to take part in a great national effort to protect people from the consequences of coronavirus – I want to thank you.
I want to thank everybody who’s working to keep our country going through this epidemic.
And we will get through it.
And the way we’re going to get through it is, of course, by applying the measures that you’ll have heard so much about.
And the more effectively we all comply with those measures, the faster our country will come through this epidemic and the faster we’ll bounce back.
So thank you to everybody who’s doing what I’m doing, working from home, to stop the spread of the virus from household to household.
That’s the way we’re going to win, we’re going to beat it, and we’re going to beat it together.
