Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a series of fires in Silverknowes and Davidson’s Mains early this morning
A number of incidents were reported to Police Scotland in the area between 4.55am and 5.55am.
These included four vehicles on Silverknowes Eastway, Silverknowes Avenue and Cramond Road South as well as within a property of Main Street, Davidson’s Mains and a post box on Silverknowes Road.
Nobody was injured in any of the incidents. Each of the fires is being treated as deliberate and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
Detective Sergeant Dougal Begg of Edinburgh CID said: “Our enquiries into this series of incidents are ongoing and we are working to establish the full circumstances.
“We would urge anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity to come forward as soon as possible.
“In particular we would be keen to speak to anyone with dashcam footage or private CCTV in the area.
“If you have any information which help our investigation please call 101, quoting incident 0341 of 27 January, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) says there is now “overwhelming industry support” for regulation of the electrical industry and is urging more professionals to make their voices heard.
The leading construction body insists protection of title is vital to protect consumers across Scotland – and points to a recent consultation in which 90% of respondents said they were in favour of the measure.
The consultation by MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, which closed in November, received 141 submissions, 121 of which were fully supportive, 10 partially supportive, one neutral, three partially opposed and only three opposed.
Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, said: “It was heartening to see such a high level of responses from a wide cross-section of the industry and to see so many organisations and individual electricians taking a real interest in the future of our industry.
“It was equally pleasing to see that the vast majority of the responses have been positive about the need for some form of regulation, and that there is overwhelming support for protection of title for the profession of electrician.
“The responses show that there is a real appetite to deliver a bill through the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible to secure the safety of consumers and the integrity of the electrical sector in Scotland.”
Ms Harper, who is also Director of Employment & Skills at SELECT, the trade association, also urged electrician to take part in a second consultation on regulation, launched by Jamie Hepburn, MSP, the Minister for Business, Fair work and Skills, which closes on 12 February.
She added: “These consultations are a major step towards a safer industry and we look forward to welcoming a new dawn for electricians and their customers in Scotland.
“At present, anyone can claim to be an electrician and work on an electrical installation. It cannot be right that those who have completed a full apprenticeship and who work in the industry in a safe and competent manner, can be compromised by those who call themselves electricians but who have no or inadequate qualifications.
“Industry research suggests that the net benefits to Scotland from proper regulation of electricians will total around £58million. We would also benefit from higher electrical standards, a reduction in the number of injuries and deaths, better functioning installations, less need for call backs or for poor/unsafe work to be repaired, leading to improved customer satisfaction.”
The first consultation was set up by Highland and Islands MSP Mr Halcro Johnston in a bid to present a case for regulation in advance of a proposed Holyrood Member’s Bill.
The Bill would be the culmination of a long-running campaign by the SJIB, SELECT and other leading industry bodies to make sure that those who work in the industry do so in a safe and competent manner.
SELECT has spent the past few years campaigning with other leading trade bodies for the introduction of regulation, with its many supporters listed on the online Wall of Support.
In its own response to the consultation, the SJIB said regulation would “significantly enhance consumer, client and public protection and safety while deterring unqualified individuals”.
The body, which sets the standards for employment and apprentice training in the electrical contracting sector, also said any new scheme would bring significant economic benefits and would assist in the drive for a “sustainable skills base”.
In the response, Ms Harper said: “The promotion and utilisation of registered electrical contractors with industry-recognised qualifications would address the scale of poorly installed, defective and unsafe electrical work.
“The SJIB already administers the ECS [Electrotechnical Certification Scheme] which accommodates and recognises the diverse array of electricians operating within the electrotechnical industry. With some additional safeguards, the SJIB could develop a very robust scheme at little additional cost.”
Founded in 1969 by SELECT and Unite the Union, the SJIB’s duties include regulating between employers and employees, providing benefits for people engaged in the industry, and stimulating industry progress. In addition, it has oversight of employment, skills and proficiency, health and safety competence, wages and welfare benefits across the electrical industry in Scotland.
Wester Craiglockhart Hill and Little France Park are both set to become nature reserves after plans were approved by the Culture and Communities Committee yesterday.
A Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is an area of land declared by a local authority because of its special nature interest and/or educational value. It is hoped the status, which is already held by seven sites across the Capital, will add more weight to funding bids and offer extra protection from future development.
The two sites, which cover over 55 hectares of land between them, are owned and run by the Council and managed by the Parks, Greenspace and Cemeteries Service in partnership with Friends of Parks groups and other partner organisations.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: “Edinburgh is already a wonderfully green city and we want to ensure it remains that way for generations to come.
“There are many benefits that come with designating these parks as LNRs and there is no doubt that the ongoing pandemic has reinforced how vital access to greenspaces is to us all. The declaration of these as LNRs means that they are not just protected but they will be managed and improved with the conservation of nature as a priority.”
Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “I’m delighted that we are able to designate these two new sites as local nature reserves. These are areas of natural beauty, rich in wildlife habitats and eco systems, and it is important that we recognise these and look after them for everyone to enjoy.
“We will be working closely with a range of partners and enthusiastic friends groups to preserve these important areas for the benefit of our future generations.”
The selection and designation of LNRs is in accordance with the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan. The Scottish Biodiversity Duty section of the plan contains an action to ‘Continue a programme of developing and designating Local Sites’.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival, which takes place this year from Saturday 14 to Monday 30 August, will do so in the beautiful indoor and open, grassy outdoor spaces of the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art on Lauriston Place.
Full programme details will be announced in June, but Book Festival fans can expect a range of live online author talks, workshops and readings as well as, if circumstances permit, some events for live socially-distanced audiences.
This new strategic partnership with the University of Edinburgh gives us use of the ECA’s buildings and grounds in August. The University will operate catering and bar provisions if permitted by the Government’s Covid19 guidelines during the Festival.
EIBF Director, Nick Barley, explains this important move: “While we are now experiencing a full lockdown in Scotland which is challenging for so many people on so many levels, we very much hope that the combination of this, together with the ongoing vaccination programme, will bring the virus under control by August.
“While 2020 proved extremely challenging for the Book Festival it also opened up some extraordinarily exciting opportunities. Building on the success of our online Book Festival we can now announce that we will be entering into a new strategic partnership with the University of Edinburgh that will enable us to inhabit this innovative space in 2021 with facilities to create events for both digital and, if circumstances permit, physical audiences.
“Covid19 has created a huge tectonic shift in the way that live events, ourselves included, can reach their audiences. With in-person ticket sales impossible to forecast this August, we simply can’t justify incurring the costs of the tents and infrastructure we’d normally put into Charlotte Square Gardens. It is highly probable that most events will take place online, and the need for broadcast studios is more likely than large venues for an audience.
“In the grassy courtyard of Edinburgh College of Art we will, if rules allow, recreate the elements of the Book Festival that our audiences love – bookshops, cafes and open spaces in which to come together safely offering the ‘oasis of calm’ for which the Book Festival is renowned. The College offers excellent studio and theatre facilities for both online broadcasting and potential events with a socially distanced audience.
“We intend that this strategic partnership with the University will be a long-term arrangement, and the Book Festival will continue to occupy their spaces when a Covid-free Festival, with audiences able to enjoy live events in person, can be staged.
“However digital events will continue to be a key part of future Book Festivals, enabling us to reach truly global audiences as well as those closer to home who face barriers to attending the event. We are excited that our hybrid festivals of the future will engage with authors and audiences around the world in a more environmentally responsible way.”
It’s a new chapter for the Book Festival. Look out for more announcements in the coming months, with full programme details to be revealed at the end of June.
Students experiencing hardship as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) will be supported by £20 million of Scottish Government funding. A further £10 million has also been allocated to universities and colleges for income lost in providing rent rebates.
To complement the additional £30 million, the Scottish Funding Council is also repurposing £5 million of student support funding towards discretionary funding for FE students in the college sector.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The impact of the pandemic on students has been significant. Not only has there been disruption to their education, we know that many students face financial difficulties with accommodation, associated costs or challenges in getting jobs. This additional £20 million will help to alleviate the financial pressure and stress facing many of our students.
“We are also supporting institutions, many of which have lost revenue by giving students rent refunds or rebates, with an additional £10 million.
“This announcement builds on the £37 million package of support the Scottish Government has already provided to support students during the pandemic.”
Matt Crilly, President of NUS Scotland, said: “NUS Scotland welcomes this crucial support from the Scottish Government at a time when students are struggling. We know many of the traditional sources of student income have been decimated during the pandemic, so it is a relief to know there will be additional funding for those experiencing hardship.
“This support is essential in helping Scotland uphold its commitment to fair access to education. While Scotland has made important advances in recent years towards widening access to further and higher education, the pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and threatens to erode this progress. This funding helps ensure we are not only supporting students from all backgrounds into education, but also helping them stay in education.”
Shona Struthers, chief executive officer of Colleges Scotland, said: “We welcome any additional funding to support college students across Scotland at this incredibly difficult time.
“Many of our students are learning from home and with additional financial hardship caused by the pandemic – we are sure that the much-needed additional funds from Scottish Government will prove beneficial to students during this lockdown period. Colleges Scotland will work on behalf of the sector to highlight ongoing challenges.”
Details on how this £20 million assistance for students will be distributed will be confirmed shortly.
More information on the support available for students is available online.
The RVC is calling for students from Years 10, 11 and 12 to apply for its 2021 Summer Schools
Applications for the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) 2021 Summer Schools, including the RVC Sutton Trust Summer School, are now open for students in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12.
The outreach team is calling for those who meet the Widening Participation eligibility criteria to apply for the opportunity of gaining experience of what it is like to study animal science careers including Veterinary Medicine, Biosciences and Veterinary Nursing.
Taking place between July and August 2021, the three RVC Summer Schools offer students first-hand insight into what it is like to study at the internationally renowned RVC. As part of this, participants will get involved with online lectures, virtual practical demonstrations, and question and answer sessions with world-leading researchers.
This year, the RVC also hopes to be able to welcome each of the participants to campus for at least one day to gain hands-on experiences across its animal hospitals, Clinical Skills Centre, laboratories, and farm.
Following the success of last year’s Summer School, which was the first to be hosted online due to the pandemic, 91 per cent of participants surveyed either agreed or strongly agreed that the Summer School made them feel more confident about applying to university. Additionally, 91 per cent of respondents felt like they would fit in at the RVC after taking part.
Varying from two to five days experience, students were able to meet current RVC students and professionals, take part in online lectures, virtual dissection demonstrations, team projects and social activities led by RVC Student Ambassadors including a pet show and tell, an escape room and lockdown Zoom quizzes.
Reflecting on the 2020 Summer School, one student, Kaya, said:“I found the lectures and videos fascinating and enjoyed learning about new topics such as animal handling.
“I also feel much more confident in my career goals, as before the summer school started, I was unsure if I wanted to be a vet or vet nurse, but now I have decided on veterinary nursing.”
Reflecting on their child’s experience of the 2020 Summer School, one parent said:“My daughter has really enjoyed attending. This is the start of her childhood dream to be a vet and I can see her enthusiasm has grown this week thanks to you. Even before she started you sent her some items to help her in the sessions, she was over the moon.
“I’d like to extend my utter gratitude to you and take this opportunity just to say thank you all so very much.”
Both the RVC Summer Schools (for Years 10 and 11) and RVC 2021 Sutton Trust Summer School (Year 12) are part of the RVC’s Widening Participation Scheme which was established to support young people who are under-represented at the RVC on their journey to studying animal science.
The RVC runs a range of programmes for young people from low-income backgrounds, areas with low participation in Higher Education, and targeted groups such as care experienced young people, asylum seekers, or young people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Nina Davies, Director of RVC Access and International Engagement, said:“We are so proud of the success our Summer Schools have had in engaging students from the widest possible range of backgrounds and providing them with an experience that may encourage them to study with us.
“We work hard to ensure students from underrepresented backgrounds have equal access to the RVC, feel welcome here and able to achieve their goals.
“I would like to encourage any young budding animal enthusiasts and prospective vets out there, to take part in one of our Summer Schools this year; it is a wonderful experience for young people seriously considering a future in animal sciences.”
The RVC has a long history of running Summer Schools and has hosted the RVC Sutton Trust Summer School since 2013. This year it will offer 60 young people from underrepresented backgrounds the chance to take part.
Measures promoting recovery and renewal will be at the heart of the Scottish Budget tomorrow.
New initiatives to drive economic growth, create jobs and tackle inequality will be included alongside further support for business, public services and families.
This Thursday 28 January, we’ll be sharing our plans for the Scottish Budget.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “The budget on Thursday will create the conditions for Scotland to recover and renew.
“We remain in the grip of a pandemic which continues to put pressure on our economy, health services and each of us as individuals. But the vaccine is providing a route back to normality and we must now sharpen our focus on rebuilding for the future.
“The budget will include innovative, targeted measures to help businesses and families get back on their feet and bolster our vital public services. I have already ruled out following the UK Government’s public sector pay freeze and will set out details of a pay settlement that is both fair and affordable.
“It is vital that we rebuild our economy in a way that provides equal opportunities for all, delivers on our green commitments and creates the kind of Scotland we all want to see.”
“This process has already started. For instance we have established a National Transition Training Fund providing targeted support for up to 10,000 people, set out our £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee and committed £2 billion in low carbon funding. The budget will set out how we intend to further these ambitions.
“Ahead of the budget we sought views on the role of Scotland’s devolved taxes and our fiscal framework in supporting the recovery. There was clear feedback regarding the need for stability and targeted support and that has also been a particularly strong message in my meetings with businesses and their representative organisations. The budget will deliver on those priorities
“Despite the UK Government’s budget being delayed until March, and the uncertainty that causes, the Scottish Budget 2021-22 will confirm funding allocations for local government. It will also detail how, within our limited resources, we will go as far as we can to support businesses in receipt of non-domestic rates relief.
“The global pandemic and the problems arising from Brexit combine to make these uniquely challenging times. This budget will help Scotland emerge as a globally competitive, fairer and greener country and I urge all parties to work in the national interest to ensure it is passed by the Scottish Parliament.”
PROJECTS supporting young Scots with their physical and mental health and are today sharing in almost £1 million of dormant bank account funding.
The cash from the Young Start fund goes to 12 groups across the country including West of Scotland based Able2Sail which offers sailing voyages and qualifications for young people of all abilities, Feeling Strong, a youth mental health charity giving a voice to young people in Dundee and to three Edinburgh projects.
There’s £100,000 for Friends of the Award in Edinburgh & The Lothians. The group will use the funding to support young people with mental health issues in partnership with NHS Lothian.
Young people age 14 – 24 years will build their confidence, learn new skills and gain accredited awards using the Duke of Edinburgh Award structure. The project will involve 140 young people and 15 volunteers over 3 years.
Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspace Trust receives £60,474 to develop and deliver ten woodland activities and skills programmes across three years for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians, beginning in Craigmillar but expanding to other areas in subsequent years.
The programme is for 16-24 year olds who have left mainstream education and will lead to a Saltire Award. The project will work with around 120 young people and involve 5 volunteers.
Last but not least, Edinburgh-based Love Learning Scotland receives £25,000 to support young people facing challenging circumstances, those excluded from mainstream education and those with limited support networks.
This will be achieved by providing young people with the opportunity to design, develop, and deliver farm and food activities and through personalised learning pathways where young people can achieve accredited qualifications through online learning. 150 young people will take part, supported by 15 volunteers.
Young Start, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, awards dormant bank account funding to projects that help young people reach their full potential.
Originally set up in 2006 for people and families affected by disability, Able2Sail runs a Youth Forum where young people develop their sailing and teamwor kingskills while working together towards a sailing qualification.
Today the group receives an award of £51,448 to enable members of its youth forum to take part in yacht, dinghy and powerboating sessions when restrictions allow.
Welcoming the news, Gordon Tatnell, Chair of Able2Sail, said: “This Young Start award is wonderful news.
It means we can continue our Youth Forum project over the next three years. Our young people are absolutely delighted and cannot wait to get back on the water and into training.”
With an award of £99,911, Feeling Strongwill deliver a recovery-focused mental health service for young people in Dundee.
The service will include peer mentoring, advice and support with employment and training opportunities and access to therapeutic activities such as sports and arts sessions.
Brook Marshall, CEO of Feeling Strong, said: “We’re so excited to be running our new range of projects, enabled by the Young Start fund, for the benefit of some of Dundee’s most vulnerable young people.
“These projects will work with young people with mental health and wellbeing challenges to support their recovery journeys and give them the holistic, wraparound support that’s needed to make sure they’re able to move forward in a positive and meaningful way.”
Announcing today’s awards totalling £946,347, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “This funding will give a huge boost to hundreds of young people across Scotland who now more than ever need a focus and something to look forward to when restrictions allow.
“Whether it’s a project supporting young people with their mental health or a sports activity leading to a recognised qualification, each one will provide a fantastic opportunity for young Scots to build key skills and confidence for the future.
“We are always keen to support projects which put young people front and centre in the development and running of services. If your group has an idea for funding, then we’d love to hear from you.”
Groups wanting to know more about Young Start, and how it can support them during these unprecedented times should visit:
ENABLE Scotland, National Autistic Society Scotland and Scottish Autism have today launched the ‘Our Voice Our Rights’ Campaign calling on the major political parties to commit to a Commissioner for autistic people and people with a learning disability at the forthcoming Holyrood election.
The ‘Our Voice Our Rights’ campaign aims to make Scotland the best country in the world for the 56,000 autistic people, the 120,000 people with a learning disability and their families in Scotland. A country where human rights are respected and upheld; everyone has equal access to the services and support they need throughout their lives; and where autistic people and people with a learning disability are active citizens and fully supported to fulfil their potential.
While there have been many ambitious and well-intentioned strategies over the years from Government and partners, and an extensive regulatory framework, the charities hear day in day out how too many people are struggling to access their human rights to education, work, a family life, healthcare, to high quality social care services, and to be free from discrimination in their communities.
Many individuals and their families are exhausted from fighting tooth and nail to get the much-needed support and status as equal citizens. A fight that sadly, they often lose, leaving many in crisis, something brought into sharp focus by the pandemic and the pressures on the system.
In the lead up to the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in May 2021 the three charities are standing together with autistic people and people who have a learning disability to say ‘enough is enough’ and calling on all the major political parties in Scotland to commit to a Commissioner to ensure real change.
The Commissioner would be the first of its kind in the world, established in law to champion the human rights of autistic people and people with a learning disability.
They would be a powerful voice, improving access to services and advocating on people’s behalf when they cannot and importantly helping people have the choice and control to live a good life, free from discrimination.
They would close the current gap – between what the law says and what actually happens in reality. They would lead improvements and importantly people would also have recourse when the system falls short and fails to deliver for them.
The charities have launched the campaign alongside autistic people, people with a learning disability and families including the broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove.
A website is now live with a series of videos featuring people from across Scotland making the case for change. People are also being encouraged to get involved and to contact the party leaders to call for a Commissioner for autistic people and people with a learning disability to be included in their election manifestos.
Peter McMahon who has a learning disability and is a member of ENABLE Scotland said: “We need a Commissioner for Learning Disability and Autism so that people who have a learning disability like me aren’t put on the back burner or forgotten about.
“With a Commissioner working with us we can improve access to services and speak up for people when they cannot. Most importantly we can help people live good lives with choice and control and free from discrimination. People with learning disabilities feel invisible, we don’t want to be the invisible people any more and feel a Commissioner would help us.”
Broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove who has an autistic son said: “This campaign has the capacity for real positive change – As a family we’ve been lucky in that Jack got his autism diagnosis early on as a child but like all parents I worry about what happens when he grows up and leaves school.
“We of course want him to be independent, have his own place, a relationship, a job, all the usual things that parents hope for, but we also know those are likely to be challenging for him – he’s going to need that bit extra help and support.
“I believe by and large Scotland has a caring culture but establishing a Commissioner at a national level with a legal obligation to look into the different aspects of public life would make a huge difference. It would help Scotland lead the way to creating a society that fully includes and values autistic people.”
