People across Scotland are being urged to get their sweat on this September in aid of firefighters and their families
Last year, the SFRS Family Support Trust (FST) launched its maiden StepTember exercise challenge, laying down the gauntlet to participants by asking them to complete either 26, 50 or 100-mile journeys within the 30 days of September.
The event proved to be hugely popular, with more than 180 people clocking up a staggering 14,400 miles – a distance that would (approximately) take the average person 201,628 days to walk.
The tenacious trekkers even dreamt up some unusual ways to complete their miles, with participants opting to walk, run, cycle and even row their miles.
This year, the Family Support Trust is hoping the event can prove to be even more successful.
The FST help support firefighters and their families across Scotland by offering financial assistance and respite accommodation.
SFRS Area Commander Garry Mackay helped organise the event and is a Family Support Trust Board Member. He said: “Last year’s event captured the imagination of people and this year, given the restrictions we have seen on so many events, we hope that more than ever people will get behind StepTember and support the incredible work of the Family Support Trust.
“We have worked with the event provider to ensure that participants are able to donate as large a proportion of the entry fee as they choose and this goes straight to the Trust.
“In addition, through the generosity of our partners Breaking Strain Events, we have kept the entry fee and costs to the charity exactly the same as last year.”
Participants can decide how much of their registration fee goes straight to the charity, with options for some of the entry costs to go towards a medal or joining gift.
The North Edinburgh and East Edinburgh Save Our Services campaigns are calling an online meeting on 10th September at 6.30pm.
The meeting will discuss how to mobilise opposition to the latest round of cuts in jobs and services. Edinburgh City Council meets on Thursday 17th September.
To join this event register in advance via this link
and you will then be sent a link to the Zoom meeting.
It is time to end the cycle of cuts to vital local services in our city. Austerity, outsourcing and privatisation has been pushed down from Westminster via Holyrood and implemented by the City Council for too long. But we need a powerful campaign if we are to be successful.
Since 2012/13, Edinburgh City Council budget cuts have amounted to £320 million. Prior to Covid19 the estimate was that there would be further cuts of £87.3 million by 2023.
These cuts have had a terrible effect on essential services. The most vulnerable, who have also been hit by cuts in social security benefits, have suffered most. Edinburgh has the lowest expenditure per capita on local services in Scotland.
The City Council’s press releases fail to reflect the reality of life for many of Edinburgh’s citizens. Wrapped in the language of ‘savings’, ‘inclusion’, ‘progress’, ‘just recovery’ and sustainability, they accept that there is no alternative to an ideology that supports a relentless increase in inequality.
Covid19 has added to an already bleak picture with increases in unemployment, child poverty and mental distress. The pandemic has shone a harsh light on the gaps in local services and underlined the importance of key workers and health, social care, housing and education.
Edinburgh Council argues that falling revenues and increased costs as a result of Covid19 now mean that further cuts are required. The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, through which the Council and the NHS administer integrated health and social care, has already agreed cuts of £8 million.
At the Council meeting on September 17th the City Council will discuss further cuts.
Drylaw Telford Community Council held their first meeting since lockdown last week.
Social distancing has made it impossible to hold normal public meetings, so Wednesday’s Zoom meeting was an opportunity to catch up and discuss the most pressing issues affecting the area.
Top of the agenda was fly tipping: illegal dumping is blighting the area, with hotspots in Wester Drylaw particularly affected. The community council plans to work with the local Neighbourhood team to address the issue over the coming weeks.
Problems associated with parking at Drylaw Shopping Centre were also discussed.
Zoom meetings are not to everyone’s taste, and it’s hoped that further relaxation in social distancing rules could see September’s community council meeting being a ‘new normal’ one in a community facility!
Edinburgh Leisure announces further venues to reopen and new ‘what to expect’ video
Edinburgh Leisure has added a further two venues, Leith Victoria and Gracemount Leisure Centre to its list of venues that will reopen on Monday, 14 September 2020.
These will join the already announced venues of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre, and Ainslie Park.
Edinburgh Leisure’s other venues will be opening up on an incremental basis over the next few weeks after this. Their six golf courses and outdoor tennis courts at the Meadows and Craiglockhart are already open too.
In preparation for helping customers understand what to expect when Edinburgh Leisure reopens its venues, they have produced a helpful ‘walk-through’ video, which is now live on the Edinburgh Leisure website.
There are also some helpful guidelines for each of the activities: swim, gym, fitness class and tennis and badminton booking.
An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “We’ve missed our customers and are really looking forward to reopening our doors and welcoming our customers back. Over the last five months, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received and have loved seeing the creative ways our customers have found to continue keeping active while in lockdown.
“All our efforts are focused on making our venues as safe as possible and we hope the guidelines and our video, showing customers what their fitness experience will look like in a post-lockdown world, will be helpful.
“Edinburgh Leisure is committed to ‘building back better’ to a sustainable Edinburgh Leisure and to continue making a positive impact to the citizens of Edinburgh’s health and wellbeing – as we have done for the last 22 years.”
Find out more about Edinburgh Leisure’s reopening plans:
While some leisure venues have reopened their venues on Monday, Edinburgh Leisure is different from some organisations/companies who might operate just one or two venues, which might make it easier for them to open yesterday.
However, Edinburgh Leisure has such a diverse range of venues and bringing venues and services back to life in a new Covid-19 environment, after being closed for five months, is a big and complex task.
It is, unfortunately, not just a case of reopening doors again. Whilst properties and pools have been maintained during the course of lockdown, we furloughed over 900 staff during this time. We only kept a small cohort of staff working throughout the lockdown, in a bid to manage costs. In the main, this has been senior operations management, finance, and our maintenance team.
To ensure the safety of our customers and staff, and before we can reopen our doors, we need to ensure that our staff’s compliance training is refreshed and any qualifications are current.
We also need to prepare each venue individually, with the necessary signage, sanitisation stations, and ensure they comply with any Covid guidelines. Pools also need to be cleaned and heated to an acceptable level, which can take up to a week and gyms, fitness studios and courts prepared to allow for social distancing.
Perhaps more than ever before there is recognition of the importance and value of good health. Edinburgh Leisure remains committed to supporting and enabling the citizens of Edinburgh to live active and healthy lives, working with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver on our shared goals to achieve this.
In summary:
When we do re-open (as per our golf courses) – venues will look different, services will change, the activity programme will be different, the Edinburgh Leisure experience will be different. In short, everything will have to adapt and change to ensure a safe operating environment for customers and employees. For example: all activities will be bookable to allow for track and trace and we will be cashless. However, we will continue to provide an enjoyable experience for our customers.
The senior management team at “Edinburgh Leisure is committed to ‘building back better’ to a sustainable Edinburgh Leisure and to continue making a positive impact to the citizens of Edinburgh’s health and wellbeing – as we have done for the last 22 years.”
Since opening on 4th June Edinburgh Leisure golf has been performing very well. We have undoubtedly benefited from the good (in the main) weather, people having more time, a lack of alternative activities and, also the 5 mile travel restrictions that were in place for the first three months of lockdown. The gradual relaxation of lockdown measures has of course changed things e.g. more people are returning to work and golfers can travel freely to other courses but golf has continued to perform well. So, the golf income has been a big positive amidst all the financial challenges and uncertainties facing Edinburgh Leisure and has helped to reduce our monthly financial deficit.
Public Health Scotland would like to understand more about how communities have responded to the impact of Covid-19 on the way we live our lives, right now and in the next few months, and how local community groups and organisations have supported this.
We are looking for examples in two areas:
Firstly, how communities have adapted to the challenge of how we get around – has the way you travel changed as a result of Covid-19? Perhaps by walking, wheeling and cycling more, or as a result of changes to public and community transport services. What impact has this had?
Secondly, we are looking for examples of how communities and organisations have used their local areas differently by adapting streets and spaces, for example for children’s outdoor play or for leisure and relaxation, or how they have used or changed existing spaces for example parks, areas with trees or grass.
Police are appealing for information following a number of reports of a man acting suspiciously in the Wardieburn area over the past several days.
The man in question is described as being black, around 5ft 7, with short dark hair and a scruffy beard. He has been seen wearing a green waterproof jacket.
Inspector Claire Masterton said: “We have had several reports of this man approaching women in the street and behaving in a strange manner, as well as knocking on doors in the local area.
“In addition to those individuals who have reported concerns to Police Scotland, we are aware that there have been a number of posts on social media about this man’s activities.
“I would firstly like to reassure residents that we are investigating the matter thoroughly and there will be a police presence in the area. I’d also ask anyone with information to please contact police, quoting incident 2699 of 30 August.
Following our earlier appeal about a man acting suspiciously and approaching woman in the Wardieburn area over the past several days, we can confirm a 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Wednesday, 2 September, 2020).
Sergeant Aaron Chadha said: “We continue to carry out enquiries and would ask anyone with information to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 2699 of 30 August.”
Education Secretary John Swinney has asked council Directors of Education and Head Teachers to assist in sharing more information on coronavirus to parents and carers.
In addition, Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch has written an open letter for parents with answers about when children need to be tested for coronavirus.
Cold-like Symptoms
We recommend testing only for those with a continuous cough, fever, or loss of or change in the sense of taste or smell. The UK senior clinicians continue to keep the symptoms for case definition under review and will continue to use evidence to adjust these if it becomes necessary.
COVID-19 Symptoms
The key symptoms to be aware of are:
A new continuous cough
fever/high temperature
loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste
If a young person or a child in your care develops any of the above symptoms, they should self-isolate and you should book them a test as soon as possible using the online portal at NHSinform.scot/test-and-protect, or by calling 0800 028 2816.
Education Secretary John Swinney said: “We know that many concerned parents, acting in their children’s best interests, have been keeping children off school. Parents, carers and schools need clear and simple national information, and that is why we are providing further advice today.
“It is critical that we remain vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19 and this information explains the actions that we should take if someone develops signs of COVID-19 symptoms, either at school or at home.
“We will ensure that pupils, teachers and other school staff get the support they need to remain safe and feel comfortable in the school environment.”
Read National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch, letter here.
Clear information has also been published on the Parent Club website.
Guidance on how COVID-19 symptoms differ from those of other infections circulating at this time of year, from Scotland’s National Clinical Director:
Common cold and COVID-19 symptoms
To parents/carers
I understand these last few months have often been challenging, particularly for parents and carers. Now that schools and nurseries have returned I am writing to provide some advice where a child or young person in your care presents with symptoms of the common cold or similar bugs during this pandemic.
Following the return of schools after a prolonged break, it is common for colds and similar viral infections to circulate. In many cases, children will be well enough to attend school and continue their learning with little or no interruption to their education. In other cases, for instance where they have quite a heavy cold, they may need to take a day or two off to recover.
This is not the case for children and young people with potential COVID-19 symptoms, they are required to self-isolate and seek a test through www.NHSinform.scot/test-and-protect or by calling 0800 028 2816.
In order to ensure your children do not miss out on their education, it is important to be clear about how COVID-19 symptoms differ from those of other infections that we normally see circulating at this time of year.
COVID-19 symptoms
It is important that all of us – including those who make up the community around a school – are vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19 and understand what actions we should take if someone develops them, either at school or at home.
The main symptoms to be aware of are:
new continuous cough
fever/high temperature
loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste
If a young person or a child in your care develops any of the above symptoms, they should self-isolate and you should book them a test as soon as possible at www.NHSinform.scot/test-and-protect, or by calling 0800 028 2816.
We recommend testing only for those with a continuous cough, fever, or loss of or change in the sense of taste or smell. The UK senior clinicians continue to keep the symptoms for case definition under review and will continue to use evidence to adjust these if it becomes necessary.
It is essential that people who have COVID-19 symptoms, or who share a household with someone who has symptoms, do not attend school, nursery or other childcare settings, and must self-isolate along with all members of their household. If the test is negative, self-isolation can end for everyone. If the test is positive, Test and Protect will give you further advice.
Cold-like symptoms
If, however, your child does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, they do not need to be tested and they and you do not need to self-isolate. Your child can go to school if fit to do so.
The Scottish Government appreciates the huge effort being made by parents, carers and school staff to ensure the risk of COVID-19 is minimised and to support children’s education.
