October 2020 – Page 30 – The NEN

New poll shows majority of Scottish parents support traffic calming measures as Walk to School Week begins

New research from YouGov shows majority of parents want safer crossings and 20mph speed limits;

Living Streets Scotland, part of the UK charity for everyday walking, is encouraging families to ditch their cars for the school run for Walk to School Week

New research from Living Streets released for Walk to School Week (5 – 9 October 2020) reveals the majority of Scottish parents support measures to make walking safer and easier.

The YouGov survey[1] found support from Scottish parents for car-free zones outside schools (61%), safer crossings (54%) and20mph speed limits (51%).

In Scotland, 61 per cent of parents want to see a ban on pavement parking compared with 47 per cent of parents GB-wide, while 48 per cent support efforts to reduce rat-running.

The parents polled believed the biggest benefits of walking to school for their children were being physically fitter (90%), getting fresh air (88%), reducing congestion (68%) and being cost-free (61%). Respondents also commented that physical distancing “is easier when walking” and that walking to school allowed their children to learn road safety and independence skills.

Despite these benefits, less than half (41%) of primary school children in Scotland currently walk to school[2]. Living Streets is campaigning for action to encourage families to choose to walk, scoot or cycle to school.

Mary Creagh, Chief Executive, Living Streets, said: “Every child should be able to walk to school safely, and enjoy the fresh air, freedom, friendship and fun that it brings. It’s clear from our research that parents see the benefits, but concerns around rat runs and air pollution are putting them off.

“Across the country, there is a silent majority of parents in favour of safer crossings and slower speeds, but too often, their voices are drowned out by a vocal minority who often live outside the area.

“It’s vital that we scale up for walking, to protect children and families from the physical and social isolation the pandemic has brought, and to tackle the twin epidemics of loneliness and obesity.”

Stuart Hay, Director, Living Streets Scotland, said: “We need to put measures in place to make walking a viable option for families. We know from our work with schools across Scotland that families are put off walking to school by traffic, road danger and air pollution. By removing cars, we remove these barriers.

“We need to put our children’s health first, especially during the current pandemic, and we must address the problems caused by inactivity, air pollution and road danger.”

Walk to School Week is a five-day walking challenge in which children are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot every day of the week and share their experiences with classmates through interactive activity packs.

The challenge is a stepping stone to WOW – the year-round walk to school challenge from Living Streets which sees walk to school rates increase by 23 per cent on average, with a 30 per cent reduction in cars around the school gates.

To find out more, visit livingstreets.org.uk/wtsw or search #WalktoSchoolWeek

[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4223 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 16th – 18th September 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

[2] 41 per cent of children walk or cycle to primary school in Scotland, Hands Up Scotland Survey, Sustrans

Fore Play Crazy Golf Launches New Edinburgh Pop-Up

Scotland’s most Instagrammable golf course, Fore Play Crazy Golf, opened the doors to its new home in Edinburgh on Friday.

Taking up a yearly residence in the former Steak Restaurant on Picardy Place, the new, exciting over 18s venue has been completely transformed and puts the fun back into going out. Guests can enjoy two stunning bars, street food traders and tee off on a spectacular Auld-Reekie inspired crazy golf course aptly named – Wee Bobby.

Spread spaciously over two floors and packed with fun and bold Instagrammable features, the cool new space offers a safe, comfortable and socially distanced experience for friends or couples to get competitive on their course.

Seating up to 126 guests throughout the venue, guests will love the vivid and industrial interior of Fore Play Crazy Golf, teamed with the bright and colourful umbrella-covered ceiling installation in a nod to golf and Edinburgh’s dreich weather.

There’s also an impressive neon graffiti mural by the infamous Scottish artist Barry the Cat whose work is infamous across the country.

Nothing brings people together like competition, and Fore Play Crazy golf does not disappoint. Their Auld Reekie-inspired course has devious obstacles capturing the sights and sounds of some of Edinburgh’s most loved tourist attractions.

Try your luck on the steep hills, navigate the tricky terrain of the loop de loop and don’t forget to give Greyfriars Bobby’s nose a rub for good luck before tackling the Scott Monument installation.

Once you’ve completed the course, you can visit their photo booth to upload snaps to the gram for a memento of your un-fore-gettable night out. And of course, it wouldn’t be Fore Play Crazy Golf without a photo-friendly golf cart to end your game.

The competitive socialising venue also has a heated outdoor beer garden that seats up to 40 guests. Allowing you to enjoy a bevy inside or outside at one of the venue’s bars, you can wet your whistle both on and off the green.

With table service throughout the venue, you can sample local craft beers from the Edinburgh Beer Factory, a mouth-watering new cocktail menu and a curated selection of gin tipples from Edinburgh favourite – Pickering’s. If you’re hungry, street food superstar The Pitt is on hand to get those taste buds tingling.

With everything you need for fun under one roof, the year-long pop up promises to be one of the best nights out you’ll ever have.

Craig Neilson, Chief Greenkeeper at Fore Play Crazy Golf said: “Our team has worked hard to ensure we create a safe and comfortable environment to give our guests the best experience possible, and we’re so excited to swing open our doors at our new venue!

“Edinburgh is known for its tourist attractions, Instagrammable spots and great foodie finds. At Fore Play Crazy golf we’ve brought together the best bits of Edinburgh all under one roof to make it an un-fore-gettable night.”

Fore Play Crazy Golf Edinburgh is now open every Thursday (5-10pm), Friday (4-10pm), Saturday (12-12) and Sunday (12:30 -10pm).

Tickets are on sale now. Visit their website to book your experience:

https://foreplaycrazygolf.co.uk/edinburgh

Health Research UK Healthy Tips: reduce time spent sitting

Unless you are a wheelchair user, there is evidence to show that prolonged periods of sitting can increase your risk of developing heart disease. Modern technology has changed how we spend our work and leisure time. It is not uncommon for people to spend several hours every day sitting behind a desk, watching TV, playing computer games or sitting at the wheel of a car.

We have some tips to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting.

The NHS provides advice on activities that are suitable for wheelchair users with different physical abilities: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/wheelchair-users-fitness-advice/

Take regular breaks from your seat

Whenever you are going to be sitting for prolonged periods of time, set an alarm to remind yourself to get up and move around regularly. If you are sitting watching TV, why not use the advert breaks to prompt you to get moving. You could use this time to run up and down the stairs, dance around the living room or do some star jumps.

Step away from your desk

The government has recently advised us to work from home over the winter if we can. As a result of this, many people are missing out on their active commute to work, such as walking or cycling.

If you are working from home without moving much, you could set a timer to remind yourself to get up and move at regular intervals. Why not set yourself a 5 to 10 minute chore to complete once an hour that will get you moving, such as hanging laundry, hoovering or cleaning windows.

Active phone calls

Avoid staying seated during phone calls. Use the opportunity to walk around or do some squats and lunges.

If you own exercise equipment, such as a stationary bike or treadmill, you could hop on for the duration of your phone call. Be careful not to get too out of breath during your phone call. You could pump up the pace for a few minutes after the call ends.

Choose hobbies that will get you moving

If your hobbies involve lots of time sitting, such as needlework, computer games, board games, reading or painting, try to get up and move around at regular intervals.

You could set a timer to remind yourself to move more often. You could also look for new hobbies that will get you moving more, such as gardening, walking and DIY. If you enjoy reading, why not listen to an audio book through headphones while you take a walk or read while you pedal on a stationary bike.

Is online shopping keeping you in your seat?

Unless you are shielding or self-isolating due to COVID-19, you could switch from sitting in front of a screen to do online food shopping and start walking or cycling to the shops instead.

Not only will this increase your physical activity, but it will also free up supermarket delivery slots for vulnerable people who need them the most.

You can find more healthy tips, recipes and advice at heartresearch.org.uk.

Fire Station celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Lauder Fire Station has celebrated its 20th Anniversary and firefighters have been reflecting on what it means to serve their community.

When the Borders station opened in 2000, there were 45 applicants to become firefighters, and 15 were successful. Still serving from that very first crew are Watch Commander (WC) John Connell and Crew Commander (CC) Dougie Scott.

Both are retained firefighters and balance being on call for their local community with holding down full-time jobs.

CC Scott is a postal worker. He was a leading firefighter at the crew’s first call out, which was to a horse transporter alight.

CC Scott said: “The first incident was the day after the station officially opened, and I drove to this call, as I was a selected driver. My heart was racing. We were supervised by a full-time Sub Officer, everything went to plan and our training kicked in.

“It was the start of 20 years enjoyable service with great highs and the inevitable lows.

“The camaraderie and team work of my colleagues help to lift you when times are hard, and I always remember that no matter what, I am helping our community at their time of need.”

When the Station opened, full-time farmer, WC Connell was Lauder Fire Station’s Sub Officer.

WC Connell said: “I was honoured to join the crew at Lauder and to lead them as Sub Officer. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, and it’s been a rollercoaster.

“We have served our Community on over 2,000 occasions, but it’s only a small part of the picture. We are available for them 24/7, working around our families and main jobs as well.

“There’s great satisfaction in talking to a member of the community about joining and their journey to become part of the crew, which is like a family.

“I continue to be honoured and proud to be part of the Lauder crew, to serve our community, and I intend to do so for many years to come.”

Lauder Fire Station was officially opened on September 1, 2000 by HRH The Princess Royal.

Retained firefighter Christine Jaffray was part of the first crew. She’s since left the Service and she’s also the aunt of current Scottish Borders Group Commander (GC) Michael Jaffray.

She met Princess Anne at the official opening which was reported in the Border Telegraph newspaper on September 5, that year.

She said: “The Princess asked me how my family felt about me being a firefighter and what I did as my main job? I told her my family are fine with what I do and I’m a registered nurse, which can come in handy when I’m called out.

“I decided to become a firefighter because it was a challenge for me and it was something for the community that I could be involved in. They had an open day and I thought I would give it a go, I never thought for a minute that I would actually make it, but here I am.”

Lauder Fire Station celebrated the milestone occasion with a socially distanced ceremony.

This was attended by Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) John Dickie, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer (DACO) David Lockhart, Local Senior Officer (LSO) Steve Gourlay, GC Michael Jaffray, Station Commander (SC) Don MacNeil, and the Lauder crew.

ACO, John Dickie was involved in the initial and continuous training of the Lauder crew for their first three years.

He said: “It was very satisfying to observe the team develop from limited knowledge and experience as trainee firefighters to being signed off as ready to go on the run protecting the community of Lauder. Now 20 years on, it was good to meet and chat with some of the original crew again on the anniversary of the station going on the run.”

The SFRS is currently on the look-out for retained firefighters in areas across Scotland.

Retained firefighters must be aged 18 or over, live within five to eight minutes’ drive of their local station and have the permission of their primary employer before joining the SFRS.

For more on what it takes to join our retained ranks visit /work-with-us/retained-firefighters.aspx

To view current opportunities, visit https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/emergency-services/scottish-fire-and-rescue-service/jobs

Meningitis charity warns: there’s no room for complacency

National charity, Meningitis Now has warned parents not to be complacent about meningitis after quarterly data released by Public Health England (PHE) show that cases of the disease be at their lowest since records began.

During the quarter April to June 2020, all cases of meningitis dropped to 29 compared to 121 for the same period in 2019; a drop of 76%*.

Citing the lockdown period data as a ‘false dawn’, Meningitis Now, CEO, Dr Tom Nutt, urges parents and adults to remain vigilant and not to assume that meningitis has gone away.

“Whilst these numbers are good to see, we have some real concerns about people becoming complacent about meningitis. Let’s be clear, the disease has not gone away, and it is still a real and present threat, particularly MenB, which is most prevalent amongst those who are most at risk, babies, teenagers, and older adults.”

The data published by PHE reinforces Dr Nutt’s concerns, with MenB accounting for 59%* of the cases that did occur during the lockdown period being among those who are unlikely to have been vaccinated against this particular strain.

“Of greatest concern at this time is a potential increase in cases among young people who have just gone to university,” continues Dr Nutt. “With reported cases of Covid-19 rising significantly on campuses across the UK, it is very likely that there will be an increase in cases of meningitis amongst students.

“Whilst we would normally see an increase in cases at this time of year, the Covid dimension and the advice to self-isolate could be disastrous if the illness is due to meningitis, which can take a life in as little as 24 hours.

“Our advice, particularly those who are at risk, is to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and if you have concerns about yourself, a loved one or a friend call 111 immediately and get medical help.”

Lottery success for McDonald Road neighbours

Two people in Edinburgh are celebrating today after winning £1,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode. The McDonald Road neighbours netted the windfall when EH7 4NQ was announced as a Daily Prize winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Friday.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt sent her well-wishes to the winners. She said: “What a fantastic Friday for these lucky neighbours! Congratulations to our winners, I hope they have fun spending their winnings.”

A minimum of 32% of ticket sales goes directly to charities and players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £600 million to date for thousands of good causes in Britain and beyond.

This draw was promoted on behalf of Canal and River Trust which has received more than £10 million in funding thanks to players. It cares for over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England & Wales and believes waterways have the power to make a difference to people’s lives.

Many good causes close to the winners have also benefitted from players’ support, and local charities can apply for funding next year.

For more information onPeople’s Postcode Lottery, please visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk or Facebook and Twitter.

Edinburgh student provides ‘invaluable’ support for care residents during Lockdown

AN EDINBURGH student has been commended for her support after working at one of Scotland’s leading housing providers during the pandemic.

University of Edinburgh student, Ellen Kilgour, took on a care assistant role over the Summer providing personal care, social support and domestic assistance to help older people get through the pandemic.

The 19-year-old Medical Sciences student worked as part of the Bield at Home service team for over 60’s in Linlithgow and the surrounding area.

After universities were closed, Ellen took it upon herself to help those most vulnerable in her town, whilst gaining valuable work experience. She was passionate about taking on this role after her Gran had received care and support from the Bield at Home team.

Ellen, along with two other students from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Glasgow, were an invaluable asset to the Bield at Home team after members of the workforce had to self-isolate and shield over the course of lockdown.

Medical Sciences student, Ellen, said: “My Gran had received care from Bield at Home so I was fully aware of the services they provide and I wanted to be a part of that, to give something back. She received tremendous support from the carers and I could see how massive an impact it had on her life, and so I wanted to offer this quality of care to all the Bield customers.

“Although we are all lone workers when in the customers’ homes, our support network was fantastic. Whenever we were unsure of something, or had a question we got instant support from more experienced members of the Bield at Home team.

“Everyone looks out for each other which made it really easy to enjoy the work. All the carers have been so supportive.

“I love this job. Getting to know each and every one of the Bield customers was very enlightening. They all have different stories to tell, and can draw upon so many of their experiences through their lives, it was fascinating. It was a privilege to have built up a relationship with them all.”

Each of the students had to undergo rigorous training to meet the care standards of the Bield service as well as encapsulating the up-to-date Government guidelines on Covid-19.

Ellen was part of a care service team which operates between 7.30am – 9.30pm every day, and provided an additional emergency response service when necessary.

Bield Area Manager, Lorna Smith, thanked Ellen for her hard work and welcomed her back at any time. Lorna said: “Ellen provided an invaluable service to our hard working team. She approached this difficult, and in many ways vital role with enthusiasm and dedication.

“Everyone at the team were delighted how she fitted in and got on with the tasks. This has a very difficult and demanding period, and with Ellen’s support we have been able to continue providing a high quality service to all of our customers.

“We look forward to welcoming back Ellen in the near future.”

Bield at Home aim to improve the quality of life of older people by offering a diverse range of services. The service caters for those living within Bield’s West Port and Brae Court establishments, as well as offering support to those who live within a half mile radius of the housing developments.

Staff are not only SSSC certified, but they have also been equipped with sufficient PPE and relevant training.

In advance of using the service, a member of the Bield at Home management team will set up a meeting to discuss an individual’s needs, in order to outline a personal support plan.

Bield is committed to investing, changing and innovating its services and operations to address the needs of the next generation of older people.

For more information on Bield at Home call 01506 840846 or email homeedinburgh@bield.co.uk.

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit www.bield.co.uk or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland

Movie and TV buffs assemble!

Pop-culture retailer Lost Universe is recruiting a professional binge-watcher

● £300 cash payment to binge-watch geek movies or TV from your sofa

● One-year subscriptions to ALL the top streaming services up for grabs!

Lost Universe Binge-Watcher Dream Job_2.jpg

Pop-culture online retailer Lost Universe is recruiting for a seriously dreamy job, a geek movies and TV binge-watcher. All that’s required for the role is to rate three movies or TV episodes of choice from the latest superhero/Sci-Fi/fantasy releases.

The opportunity is a one-off project which will pay one talented movie or TV fanatic £300 for their binge-watching efforts, gift them a £30 voucher to spend at lostuniverse.com and will also offer the ultimate binge-watching bundle: ONE-YEAR subscriptions to ALL the top UK streaming platforms, from Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime and NOW TV Entertainment all the way to YouTube Premium.

Five runners-up will also win a £30 Lost Universe gift voucher each, giving pop-culture fans even more reasons to enter.

The dream job winner will enjoy best-in-class entertainment, including the latest from the Marvel or DC Universe, all the 11 Star Wars movies and TV show the Mandalorian (on Disney+), all seasons of Game of Thrones (on NOW TV), exclusive YouTube content with no ads, and much more.

Binge-Watcher Dream Job requirements

Lost Universe is the home of all things geek, offering a wide range of fan favourite licensed merch, including the most sought-after limited editions and exclusives, so they are looking for someone who lives and breathes pop-culture for the fun role. Job requirements list someone who obsesses over their favourite superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional characters, follows the latest movies and TV releases and reviews them with friends for fun, and even cite “owner of comfortable sofa/armchair for binge-watching preferred”, but the role is open to pop-culture newbies and veterans alike.

Sounds like a tough job indeed!

How to apply

It couldn’t be easier to apply, with the company asking applicants to upload a picture of themselves recreating a superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional character pose, either on Facebook or Instagram, mentioning the name of their chosen character in the description. They will need to tag @lostuniverse.club and use the competition hashtag #bingewatcherdreamjob.

Applicants are free to snap a fun pic using social media filters or improvising with stuff they have around the house – Lost Universe will judge entries based on creativity and following the superhero/Sci-Fi/fictional theme, and don’t require professional pictures, costumes or attire. The one-off binge-watcher job opportunity is encouraging all pop-culture fans to enter!

Applications are open until 28th October 11:59 PM and the winner will be announced on 2nd November on the Lost Universe website and social media. The one-off role is open to UK residents aged 18 and over.

For the full description of the role and the terms and conditions, please visit:

https://lostuniverse.com/blogs/lost-universe-blogs/binge-watcher-dream-job-applications-now-open

Council steps up customer contact to pre-Covid levels

Council officers handled over 250,000 inbound customer phone calls, 150,000 emails and 50,000 tweets at the height of the pandemic, as part of the city’s round the clock response to supporting residents in need.

The Contact Centre team has been thanked for their lockdown efforts – which have largely been from home – ahead of the Council’s move to re-instate all phone lines to pre-Covid levels.

From tomorrow (Monday 5 October) a full service will start to resume with 200 staff managing customer queries by social media, email and phone. This will take place remotely and from Council buildings, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Residents are being urged to keep going online where possible to save time and to keep phone lines free for those without digital access.

Councillor Rob Munn, interim Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “Our customer team has done an incredible job of supporting residents, with great care given to help some of our most vulnerable citizens during what has been a very challenging situation. I’d like to thank each one of them for this as they prepare to return to their usual roles.

“Over the last six months, we have seen more and more residents save time by going online to report an issue, request help or pay for services, and that’s something we want to see continue.

“We know increasing numbers of people would rather use their mobile phone, tablet or computer to contact us and the website is by far and away the quickest and simplest way to get in touch. The savings we make from digital service delivery can also be invested towards improving the city.

“That said, not everyone has the means, the ability or the want to go online. That’s why it’s also important that we start to reinstate our usual phone services again, and why we need people to help us keep these lines free and accessible for those who need them most.”

Councillor Joan Griffiths, Vice Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, added: “The ways in which we communicate in our day-to-day lives have evolved this year and our Contact Centre team has had to adapt to the changing demands of the Council, of residents and of course the pandemic.

“More than ever, residents and businesses want and need to contact us and receive information digitally, and our officers offer a responsive social media and email service.

“We recognise that the team has helped an unprecedented number of residents with questions and concerns at all hours of the day, and that they have done this from home. It has been an incredible effort and I’m pleased that we’re now seeing a return to more phone lines being open too.

“We recently extended our ICT contract with CGI which will help us to move more services online and invest in new technology, as this is all part of our commitment to making Edinburgh a Smart City. I’m sure we’ll continue to see a sea change in the way people want to interact with our services and the demand for quick, useful online services will only increase.”

An emergency only service was introduced during lockdown so that the most critical customer queries could be prioritised as well as new phone lines to support people who were vulnerable and shielding.

Many officers were also redirected to boost welfare and benefits advice services and to process tens of thousands of applications for the Coronavirus business support scheme, which has allowed over £112m to be paid out in grants to local business owners.

The Council’s website is designed for reporting issues such as problems with street lighting, potholes and litter and there are currently 70 services available, ranging from requesting a new recycling bin to parking and licensing transactions. It is also simpler and quicker than ever to report, request or pay online, with customers no longer needing to register or sign in to their mygovscot account to use online waste services.

Since the drive to move customer contact online was launched in 2015, the number of transactions being processed by the Council online has risen to over 80,000 a month with the website receiving close to 288,000 visits every week.