Last weekend we saw large numbers of vehicles parking inconsiderately in and around certain areas in Edinburgh including Portobello, the Pentland Hills, Cramond Brig, Marine Drive and South Queensferry.
Chief Inspector Neil Wilson, from St Leonard’s Police Station, said: “We are fortunate to have so many wonderful parks and open spaces in the city, but please remember that several car parks which would usually accommodate these areas are currently closed to the public and some of our popular areas for exercising have limited parking available.
“I appreciate that people are keen to head out to exercise and enjoy what Edinburgh has to offer, but you should have a backup plan in the event that you can’t park your vehicle safely. Do not park irresponsibly, as you may restrict local residents and other road users or block access for emergency services.
“Parking your vehicle on a pavement or on a road in such a way as to cause an obstruction is not only an offence, but puts other road users and pedestrians at risk.
“We will be paying particular attention to key areas this coming weekend in response to the recent parking issues and officers will carry out enforcement action if necessary.
“People should also be mindful of the current guidelines in respect of meeting others outdoors.
“The Chief Constable has already made it clear that our approach throughout the pandemic has not changed. Police Scotland officers will continue to support people to follow the regulations and encourage them to take personal responsibility.
“People should not leave their home unless for essential purposes. The best way to stay safe is to stay at home.”
For the latest guidelines from the Scottish Government, visit its website here:
Significant new investment to drive economic recovery, bolster public services and support families underpins the Scottish Government’s spending and taxation plans for the coming year.
Presenting the Scottish Budget 2021-22 yesterday, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced support for jobs and skills totalling around £1.1 billion.
Job creation is a priority, with measures including a commitment to launch a new Green Workforce Academy to help people secure work in the low carbon economy, a £100 million Green Jobs Fund over the next parliament, £7 million towards making Scotland a world class hub for digital business and an additional £125 million for the Young Person’s Guarantee, employability and skills.
Health receives record funding of over £16 billion, an increase of 5.3% on 2020-21, along with a further £869 million to continue tackling coronavirus (COVID-19), including funding for the vaccination and test and trace programmes. This means that, over the course of this parliament, investment in health has increased by £1.8 billion in real terms – more than tripling the commitment to increase health funding by £500 million more than inflation.
To support family budgets, £90 million is being made available for local authorities to freeze council tax.
Public sector workers earning up to £25,000 can receive at least a 3% pay increase via a £750 cash underpin, while there is a 1% rise for those earning above that amount, capped at £800 above £80,000.
Economic recovery, supporting public services and helping families are at the heart of this year’s Scottish Budget.
£11.6 billion for local government, which represents a £335.6 million increase in core revenue funding, including the £90 million to compensate local authorities which choose to freeze Council Tax, plus £259 million in one-off funding
£1.9 billion for primary health care to help deliver more services in the community. A further £550 million is earmarked to build new Elective Care Centres and the Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Centre in Aberdeen
£98.2 million to improve Scotland’s digital infrastructure and deliver access to high quality broadband and mobile coverage.
£711.6 million for affordable housing and £68 million for the first full year of the Scottish Child Payment, tackling child poverty
a new £55 million programme to support town centres and community-led regeneration projects
more than £3.1 billion in resource and capital investment for education and skills, and £567 million to provide 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare, supporting implementation of the UK’s most ambitious childcare programme
£1.3 billion for the Scottish Police Authority, including a £60 million increase in Police Scotland’s revenue budget – exceeding an earlier pledge of a £100 million boost over five years
£1.6 billion for rail and bus services and £100.5 million for active travel to consolidate changes to healthy, green travel options seen during the pandemic
doubling the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, helping tourist attractions and local communities make improvements to cope with increased visitors
an additional £27 million to expand woodland creation and the associated infrastructure, supporting green jobs
Business support remains a priority and the Finance Secretary confirmed that the Local Authority Discretionary Fund will be doubled to £60 million in this financial year to allow councils to respond to local needs. In addition, businesses eligible for the Strategic Framework Business Fund will receive full Level 4 payments on 22 February, regardless of any future changes to local restrictions.
The Scottish Government will also increase a scheme which compensates councils for the loss of income from sales, fees and charges due to the pandemic from £90 million to £200 million in 2020-21.
Ms Forbes said: “This budget is being delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a pandemic that has shaken our society and economy to the core, and as we face the harmful impacts of Brexit.
“It promotes innovation and reform, new beginnings, new directions. And while it continues to target support in the immediate term, it also tracks a course over the next year to build a fairer, stronger and greener country.
“To help drive our green economic recovery I am providing the stability and certainty that businesses have asked for through the most competitive reliefs packages in the UK. There are innovative measures to promote sustainable growth and we are investing more than £1 billion in jobs and training.
“The budget sets out a distinctive Scottish pay policy that again supports the lowest paid, charting a different course to the ill-judged pay freeze announced by the UK Government. It also bolsters our health service, delivers more affordable homes, provides additional childcare places and helps young people into work.
“Throughout these dark times we have never given up hope. This budget seeks to build on that hope and, by focusing on how we rebuild and renew our country, make the light at the end of the tunnel shine that bit brighter.”
Our budget helps to deliver stability now, but it also looks forward to the future.
Watch Finance Secretary @KateForbesMSP explain our priorities for the coming year ⬇
The STUC has expressed its disappointment at what effectively amounts to a real-terms pay freeze for thousands of public sector workers as the Budget offers 1% for those earning pay above £25,000 per year including most teaching staff, firefighter and civil servants.
The STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer pointed to the real terms increase in the Scottish Budget of nearly 4% and contrasted that with today’s pay offer.
“Whilst it is right and proper that the pay of low paid workers should be underpinned, for most workers this increase is still below the budget uplift received by Holyrood from Westminster. Far too many of our key workers have been left out in the cold.
While supporting Scottish Government calls for greater borrowing powers, Foyer also questioned whether tax cuts for high earners were the right priority and whether funding for Local Government was sufficient.
“We strongly support the Scottish Government’s calls for greater borrowing powers. However, the Cabinet Secretary has managed to find wiggle room to provide £125 million in blanket tax cuts. She has also reduced income taxes for high earners – a policy that raised £51 million last year. Given this, it is deeply disappointing that she hasn’t been able to better reward key workers.
“While the Cabinet Secretary spoke about an increase in funding for Local Government, it appears this amounts to less than a 1% increase, a level that is nowhere near sufficient to cover gaping cuts to services from years of austerity.”
Responding to the Budget announcement, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:“The position of Scottish businesses has never been so precarious. The Scottish Government’s announcements today are welcome but do not go nearly as far enough to avoid risk of widespread business collapse and job losses.
“Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination programme but restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus have been devastating. We understand that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance faces difficult choices in setting the budget particularly ahead of that of the UK, in a time when the country faces extraordinary challenges.
“Business will be disappointed that further details on an economic route map on how we will exit this crisis aligned with the roll out of the vaccine were not provided today. This is a critical component if businesses are to unleash the investment our country so desperately needs.”
On Non-Domestic Rates:
“The Cabinet Secretary has listened to us and has delivered a reduction in the Non-Domestic Rate (NDR) poundage rate. However, longer-term, we believe the system is unfair and needs significant reform.
“Plans for a three months extension of rates relief is a too short a reprieve. We need commitment to a 12-month reliefs package to provide the certainty business needs. Clearly there is more to do, and we await further announcements from the Chancellor to see what further support can be made available and expect Scottish Government to pass on the equivalent consequential funding to businesses.”
On Business Support:
“The doubling of the discretionary fund is good news particularly for those businesses who have fallen through the gaps of other support packages. However, it is imperative that the process for businesses is clear, transparent and quick across all local authorities to ensure funding is available for businesses quickly and immediately.
“Now is the time to pull out the stops and redouble efforts to ensure business support comes through. We need to see a significant ramping up to get those funds that have been promised out the door and to businesses.”
On Infrastructure:
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to infrastructure investment is absolutely necessary for Scotland and the UK to be in a position to build back better and meet net zero ambitions. Now is the time for a vision driven by ambition and a willingness to collaborate like never before. This must be put first and foremost ahead of any political point scoring this year.”
On skills and training:
“SCC welcomes these important steps to support jobs, employment and training. We called for training academies and we are pleased to see the Cabinet Secretary has acted on our recommendations, particularly the focus on green jobs. It is now critical that the government and academia works in partnership with the private sector to ensure benefits are fully realised.”
On Protecting Jobs:
“We maintain our call to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to extend the furlough scheme beyond April 2021 and outline further initiatives to protect business and jobs at the UK Budget in March.”
On mental health support:
“Business will welcome this as we understand the toll the pandemic has taken on our customers, employees and communities.
“Recovery of our wellbeing is just as important as economic recovery, with many employers investing in their own employee support programmes. This commitment from the Scottish Government will enhance these efforts.”
Responding to Kate Forbes’ announcement that public sector workers on salaries up to £25,000 a year will receive a 3 per cent increase, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “This will be met with fury among the lowest paid in Scotland’s public sector.
“Kate Forbes was among the many politicians applauding our frontline heroes, now she is saying ‘thank you’ with a rise that won’t amount to more than a tenner a week for most.
“There is no value here, and it’s an insulting response from the Scottish Government to the ongoing struggles of our key workers in this pandemic.”
Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said:“The Finance Secretary is right to put business support and economic recovery front and centre of this year’s draft Budget. With jobs, firms and livelihoods still hanging by a thread, Scotland can’t afford to wait until the pandemic is over before initiating plans for a sustained recovery.
“Health must come first and lowering transmission rates remains the priority. Yet with so many struggling companies across Scotland, it’s only right that proper consideration is given to reopening the economy when it is safe to do so. This should be driven by data and done in dialogue with business.
“The private sector is critical to a successful recovery and moves to protect firms’ immediate futures are welcome. Continuing rates reliefs for the hard-hit hospitality, retail and tourism sectors is welcome, however a three-month window remains a challenging timetable for firms under real pressure. Companies will also be relieved to see a continued commitment to Covid business support and no further changes on income tax.
“The UK and Scottish governments must now work together to provide certainty over business support, ensuring that the firms we need to drive economic recovery survive the tough weeks and months ahead.
“Longer term, the figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission paint a worrying picture and highlight the scale of the challenge ahead. Maintaining a laser focus on boosting productivity and protecting competitiveness are key.”
Responding to the Scottish Government’s Budget statement delivered today by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes MSP, Director of CAMRA Scotland Joe Crawford said: “Extending the business rates holiday for pubs and social clubs for a further three months into the next financial year is a desperately-needed lifeline for pubs who have struggled for almost a year now.
“But three months won’t be enough. CAMRA will be joining the Scottish Government in calling on the Chancellor to use his Budget on 3rd March to give the Scottish Government enough money to extend this Business Rates holiday for the entire 2021/22 financial year.
“Pub-goers and licensees will now want to see the Scottish and UK Governments work together to make sure pubs and breweries get enough long-term financial support to thrive when they can reopen. This must include grants, furlough support as long as there are restrictions on trading, extending the VAT cut on beer to help pubs that don’t serve food, and cutting tax on beer served in pubs to help them compete with supermarket booze.
“Pubs and social clubs are a force for good in our communities, bringing people together and tackling loneliness and social isolation. They will be a crucial part of our national healing process after COVID and deserve to be supported until they can trade again.”
SLTA Managing Director, Colin Wilkinson said:“The Scottish Licensed Trade Association welcomes today’s announcement by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes that the Scottish Government will extend 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure for at least the first three months of the new financial year. However, it doesn’t go far enough.
“Today’s announcement is good news, as is the promise of further ongoing business support and it gives us a much-needed stay of execution. The reduction in the poundage rate, from 49.8 pence to 49 pence, is also very welcomed.
“Further support from the Westminster Government is crucial and our hope is that UK Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, steps up to the mark by extending the current furlough scheme, committing to retain the Commercial Rates Relief and the temporary 5% reduced rate of VAT for hospitality beyond March 31 and well in to 2022.
“Our sector is battered and bruised and the sooner both the Scottish and UK Governments can provide clarity on support and an indication of an exit strategy out of this pandemic the better.”
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has welcomed the Scottish Government’s Budget announcement.
Mr Livingstone said: “I welcome the announcement to eliminate the structural deficit in policing’s funding.
“The reform of policing in Scotland has brought many benefits to all communities across the country, while £200m has been returned to the public purse every year compared to legacy arrangements.
“The last 12 months have demonstrated the relentless nature of policing. Our mission to prevent harm, support communities and keep people safe has been evident throughout the pandemic.
“We will continue to enhance capacity and capability to protect the people of Scotland in the public, private and virtual spaces.
“Responsive and accessible local policing is deeply valued by our fellow citizens and will always lie at the heart of Police Scotland’s purpose and approach.”
The first mass COVID-19 vaccination centres are preparing to go live in Lothian, starting from next week. Centres in Edinburgh and West Lothian will begin vaccinating patients on Monday February 1st as part of Wave Two of the national vaccination programme.
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) will play host to a centre capable of vaccinating more than 21,000 people a week through 45 stations.
Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn, West Lothian, will also open for vaccinations on Monday with six stations, capable of vaccinating 2352 people every week, before the centre moves to Pyramids Business Park on February 15, which will provide 14,280 vaccinations every week at 34 stations.
A drive-through vaccination centre will follow when it is launched on February 10 at Queen Margaret University in East Lothian. It will have 16 stations and be capable of vaccinating 8,000 people a week.
David Small, Director of Primary Care Transformation and executive lead for the vaccination programme, NHS Lothian, said: “NHS Lothian has already vaccinated the vast majority of the first cohort to be prioritised.
“NHS Lothian is right on track with Phase One of the vaccination programme. During that first phase, a total of 3564 residents in care homes across Lothian have been given the vaccine. A further 47,742 health and social care workers and care home staff have also been vaccinated, as well as over 800 hospital inpatients over the age of 80.
“GP practices continue to deliver the injections as fast as their vaccine supplies allow. Thousands of doses of the vaccine have been distributed directly to GP practices across all four regions and they are on track to ensure that over 80% of people over the age of 80 are vaccinated as a priority by 31st January with the rest of this age group completed by 5th February.
“Our teams have done a fantastic job to bring us to this point and I’m really proud of the hard work and effort that has been achieved.
“This is a significant moment as we embark on Wave Two of the largest vaccination programme that has ever been undertaken.
“We need to vaccinate as many people as we possibly can to help save lives and provide protection to help communities get back to normal. We therefore urge people to attend their appointment once they are notified of the details.
“The vaccination programme is one of three critical ways we are all working together to beat this virus, along with the testing programme which helps prevent its spread and the rules in place that we all know to follow. These three planks form our route out of this pandemic.”
NHS Lothian has been working with councils, health and social care partnerships and other partners in recent weeks to ensure the sites are ready.
A team of around 350 volunteer vaccinators, with a vast array of experience from a huge number of clinical roles in Lothian, has also been created to work in the mass vaccination sites. They will be supported by around 100 administrative staff.
The centres are the first of a total of 15 to be rolled out across Lothian.
On February 15, a vaccination centre with 32 stations will be created at Edinburgh Park in the former Royal Bank of Scotland building, as well as another venue at the Royal Highland Showground, near Edinburgh Airport will open in March.
Centres will be run on smaller scale in more community hubs in Midlothian Community Hospital and East Lothian Community Hospital as well as health and partnership centres in Sighthill, Pennywell, Craigmillar, Leith and Gracemount in Edinburgh, and Strathbrock and Howden in West Lothian.
People aged between 75-79 and those most clinically vulnerable will be given appointments to be vaccinated by their GP, while those aged between 70-74 and 65 to 69 will be invited into mass vaccination sites and smaller community venues for their injections.
Patients are being urged to keep their first appointment in order to provide protection to as many people, as quickly as possible even if their appointment venue may not be the one that is closest to where they live
Smaller community clinics will deliver vaccinations in the local area for people with complex needs or who, for other reasons, absolutely cannot and would not be expected to travel to a mass centre.
If patients absolutely cannot keep the appointment they have been given, they are being asked to call the COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 to rearrange their appointment. If they are aged 75 and over, they should phone their GP practice to rearrange your appointment.
Mr Small added: “A vaccination appointment, like any other medical appointment, is considered essential during the COVID-19 global pandemic. When patients receive an appointment, we really would urge them to keep it, even if it is at a centre which is not closest to their home. We need to move fast.
“I would also ask patients to stay safe by following the Scottish Government guidance currently in place, by wearing a mask and maintaining physical distancing as they travel to and from vaccination centres across Lothian.
“Parking will be available around some venues and public transport operators are all following Scottish Government transport guidance for safe travel.
“When you arrive at your appointment, make sure to wear a mask and bring your appointment letter with you to avoid any unnecessary delays.”
First to Demonstrate Clinical Efficacy Against COVID-19 and Both UK and South Africa Variants
Strong efficacy in Phase 3 UK trial with over 50% of cases attributable to the now-predominant UK variant and the remainder attributable to COVID-19 virus
Clinical efficacy demonstrated in Phase 2b South Africa trial with over 90% of sequenced cases attributable to prevalent South Africa escape variant
Novavax, Inc. , a biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, yesterday announced that NVX-CoV2373, its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, met the primary endpoint, with a vaccine efficacy of 89.3%, in its Phase 3 clinical trial conducted in the UK.
The study assessed efficacy during a period with high transmission and with a new UK variant strain of the virus emerging and circulating widely.
It was conducted in partnership with the UK Government’s Vaccines Taskforce.
Novavax also announced successful results of its Phase 2b study conducted in South Africa.
Stanley C. Erck, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, said: “With today’s results from our UK Phase 3 and South Africa Phase 2b clinical trials, we have now reported data on our COVID-19 vaccine from Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials involving over 20,000 participants.
“In addition, our PREVENT-19 US and and Mexico clinical trial has randomized over 16,000 participants toward our enrollment goal of 30,000. NVX-CoV2373 is the first vaccine to demonstrate not only high clinical efficacy against COVID-19 but also significant clinical efficacy against both the rapidly emerging UK and South Africa variants.”
“NVX-CoV2373 has the potential to play an important role in solving this global public health crisis. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, collaborators, investigators and regulators around the world to make the vaccine available as quickly as possible.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Good news that the @Novavax vaccine has proved effective in UK trials. Thank you to all the volunteers who made these results possible.
“Our medicines regulator will now assess the vaccine, which will be made in Teesside. If approved, we have 60m doses on order.”
The UK has so far approved three coronavirus vaccines for emergency use – one from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, another by Pfizer and BioNTech, and a third from Moderna.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The results from the UK trial of Novavax’s vaccine look extremely promising, and I welcome the news that the company is planning to submit its data to the regulators.
“The UK moved quickly to procure 60 million doses from Novavax and I’m pleased to confirm the bulk of the vaccine will be manufactured on Teesside and delivered during this year, if approved for use.
“From the scientists and researchers to the thousands of UK trial volunteers, I am enormously grateful to everyone who is playing their part in this truly national effort to defeat this virus once and for all.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: This is positive news and, if approved by the medicines regulator, the Novavax vaccine will be a significant boost to our vaccination programme and another weapon in our arsenal to beat this awful virus.
“I’m proud the UK is at the forefront of another medical breakthrough and I want to thank the brilliant scientists and researchers, as well as the tens of thousands of selfless volunteers who took park in clinical trials.
“The NHS stands ready to roll this vaccine out as quickly as possible to those most at risk if it is authorised.”
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Having taken part in Novavax’s vaccine trial myself, I am particularly thrilled to see such positive results. I want to thank the thousands of trial volunteers, without whom these results would not have been possible.
“It will now be for the regulator to do its crucial work in assessing the efficacy and safety of this vaccine, but if approved it will be a further boost to our vaccination programme.”
Novavax’s candidate differs from those currently being used in the UK, combining an engineered protein from the virus that causes COVID-19 with a plant-based ingredient to help generate a stronger immune response.
Having a diverse portfolio of vaccines increases the chances of ensuring there is a vaccine available for everyone across the UK.
The data published yesterday come from more than 15,000 people who were recruited through the National Institute of Health Research vaccine registry, which was launched in July 2020 to support the UK’s efforts to deliver vaccines for COVID-19. Nearly 4,000 people in the study were over the age of 65.
Through the Vaccines Taskforce, the UK has secured early access to 367 million doses of 7 of the most promising vaccines so far. To date, the UK government has invested over £230 million into manufacturing a successful vaccine.
The UK was the first country in the world to procure, authorise and then deploy both the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.
Production of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine started last autumn where the bulk of the vaccine for the UK is being made in Oxfordshire and Staffordshire, with filling into vials taking place in North Wales.
In total, more than 7.4 million people across the UK have now had a least one dose of the vaccine.
104 projects are sharing in over £1.7m of National Lottery and Scottish Government funding through Creative Scotland in the latest round of Open Fund awards.
These funds are supporting creative people, projects and organisations across Scotland to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about by COVID-19 and helping to sustain creative development at this challenging time.
With the live music scene paused due to lockdown restrictions, Glasgow-based music platform Tenement TV has received £14,954 to create TTV COLLECTIVE; an online space to support and showcase emerging Scottish musicians. Allowing artists to create new recorded live experiences for music fans, the project will provide a paid platform for musicians in the absence of live gigs and concerts.
Chae Houston, Director, Tenement TVsaid: “After almost a year without live music, TTV are delighted to launch this brand-new project which will allow artists in Scotland to collaborate and create, in line with current guidelines.
“We’ve curated a fresh live recorded content programme featuring new combinations and collaborations from up-and-coming Scottish musical talent across the country and we cannot wait to share it with our audience.”
The Scottish BAME Writers Network has received £49,837 for its 2021 programme, ‘Staying Connected’. Founded in 2018 to engage, validate and connect Black writers and writers of colour, the network advocates for inclusive publishing and promotes diverse voices within Scotland’s literary sector.
The ‘Staying Connected’ programme will sustain community connection at a time when many are living in isolation, and create paid opportunities for BAME voices across publishing, mentoring and editorial roles.
Jeda Pearl Lewis, Co-Director, Scottish BAME Writers Networksaid: “This year we plan to provide writing workshops, paid work, submission opportunities and writer development initiatives for our community and integrate more accessibility into our programming. Taking a nuanced, inclusive and intersectional approach to our work will continue to be at the heart of our organisation.”
Community art project Fun A Day Dundee has also received £6,963 to help children, hobbyists and ‘non-artists’ to get creative by making art or doing something fun every day throughout the month of January. This free initiative will culminate in an online group exhibition, showcasing work by participants of all ages and abilities.
Samantha Sherriff, Co-ordinator, Fun A Day Dundee said: “By supporting artists and non-artists, we hope to encourage new patterns and habits of playful making that will improve mental health, grow small businesses and support artistic development.
“We welcome all skills and art mediums, and it’s a delight to see this wide variety of artists and makers encouraging each other, as well as sharing ideas and techniques.”
Other initiatives supported by the latest round of Open Fund awards include William Letford’s Unexpected Poetry project, which will bring poetry installations to the streets of Stirling, and writer Elspeth Lewis’s memoir ‘The Sun on My Skin’, which aims to explore nature writing through the lens of disability and identity.
Joan Parr, Arts and Engagement Director, Creative Scotlandsaid: “As we begin 2021, the Open Fund continues to support Scotland’s arts and creative community to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances brought about as a result of Covid-19.
“From championing Scottish BAME writers to reimagining live music for digital audiences, these projects are testament to the determination, resilience and imagination of creative individuals and organisations in the face of extremely challenging circumstances.
“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every week, and funding from the Scottish Government, these awards are helping to sustain the great value that creativity brings to our lives.”
Scottish Hockey has launched the BRAVE Performance Blueprint. The document is designed to clearly set out a distinct Scottish playing philosophy and principles – and further develop a culture of excellence for hockey in Scotland that is based on our values and characteristics.
BRAVE will build on the good work already being done across the country to support hockey athletes. The aim is to bring consistent international success for Scotland – playing in FIH World Cups; competing for medals at Commonwealth Games; senior and junior teams regularly competing amongst the top six in Europe; and a high representation of Scottish athletes in GB programmes.
In the drive to deliver sustainable success on the world stage, four elements have been identified that are key to the success of the blueprint. These relate directly to our characteristics and culture as a nation, the style of hockey we wish to play, how we optimise athlete development, and our priorities for delivering quality coaching to support our best athletes.
Scottish Hockey’s Head of Performance, Andy Tennant, said, “There’s clearly a lot of good work already happening across Scotland, so the idea is to build on this and align our system to create an identity for ourselves as a high performing performance hockey nation.
“In consultation with our national high performance and pathway coaches, we have identified a distinctly Scottish style, and our vision is very much about being the best we can be – and a good “us” rather than a poor imitation of someone else. Ultimately, we want Scotland teams to play a dynamic attacking style of hockey built on efficient defence.
“So BRAVE helps define who we are; how we want to play; how we best develop talent, and what our key coaching priorities are. If we can align all these key elements, it will give us the best chance to be successful on the world stage.”
Using BRAVE as a mnemonic, the blueprint has identified five key characteristics in players that will help deliver consistent and sustainable success on the world stage.
These are Bold; Relentless; Accountable; Versatile; Excellent decision making.
Andy Tennant explained, “Generally in performance sport as coaches we tend to be relatively strong on the X’s and O’s of the game and have traditionally focussed on technical and tactical elements.
“More recently with the support of sports science and technology, we have also found physical skills much easier to measure. But for us the biggest gains to be made are in developing psychological characteristics and promoting positive performance behaviours that help develop excellence in our players.
“We’ve captured this in a simple memorable and distinctly Scottish mnemonic, BRAVE, and we’re looking for our players to display five key characteristics – bold, in terms of the way they approach the game in a fearless and positive way; relentless in their pursuit of excellence; accountable to themselves, teammates and the way we want to play hockey; versatile, so they’re able to adapt and play in a number of different ways; and we also need excellent decision makers – having good technical and physical skills is important but they are worthless unless backed up by good decisions.
“We want to build a system that helps players be those five things.”
The BRAVE blueprint also recognises the principles included within the GB Hockey Talent Development Framework, which was developed in partnership with the two other home nations.
While the BRAVE characteristics are articulated to recognise our priorities as a nation, they are inherently similar to those articulated within the GB Framework. We are committed to Scotland remaining aligned with the GB Hockey performance system, while still producing athletes with distinctly Scottish characteristics. Ultimately, we believe this will help us develop successful Scotland teams and GB athletes with medal winning potential.
The BRAVE Performance Blueprint has been designed to be a living breathing document that will continue to evolve and develop over time as the game at international level requires and coaches across Scotland can help contribute to this.
Andy Tennant added, “BRAVE is not about being prescriptive – there’s a philosophy and a number of key principles in the blueprint, but it’s about principles not prescription.
“Coaches need to be given the freedom to put their own stamp on things, and the last thing we’re looking to do is stifle creativity for our coaches or our players. We want to build a system that’s free and flexible enough for people to explore what’s within it and to develop a culture of continuous improvement.
“This isn’t about us telling anyone how they should coach, it’s about us identifying the things that are most important and discussing how we can do these things better collectively. We have dozens of high-quality coaches working along the pathway so it’s about engaging all of those who want be involved in this process, having strong coaching conversations and collectively moving the game forward.”
Scottish Hockey’s performance team, including its high performance coaches and pathway coaches, have all engaged with the BRAVE development process in a collective effort, and now it’s time for coaches across the country to get involved and have their say.
The council has installed new advanced green lights for cyclists in the city centre to help improve cycle safety around tram tracks.
The lights, which have been introduced at a number of locations around Princes Street, St Andrew Square and the West End, give cyclists more space and time at key junctions.
This is the latest in a series of measures to improve safety for people cycling near the city centre tram route over recent years. These include red-surfaced cycle lanes at key points to make it easier to cross the tram tracks, more advance stop boxes and additional warning signs for drivers and cyclists.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “Cycle safety is of utmost importance to us, and in recent years we have worked to introduce several changes to help protect cyclists travelling near the tram tracks.
“By introducing early release green lights for cyclists we are giving anyone travelling by bike more space at a number of busy junctions around the city centre.”
Drivers are being advised to look out for the early release green lights for cyclists. Drivers must wait for their own green light and are encouraged to give people cycling a lot of extra space around tram tracks.
The council has recently introduced several measures to create safer spaces for walking and cycling in the city centre as part of the Spaces for People programme.
Amongst these are temporary segregated cycle lanes between Forrest Road and the Mound, the closure of Waverley Bridge to motor traffic at the junction with Princes Street and widened pavements on East Princes Street and South St David Street.
Advanced green lights for people cycling have been installed on specific approach arms at the following junctions:
LifeCare Edinburgh, the older people’s support charity, is today announcing it is extending its ‘meals on wheels’ service launched last year as increased support for the elderly through the crisis.
The charity set up the new service in September thanks to securing significant funding from Barclays 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Fund.
The hot food delivery programme has rapidly become an integral part of the charity’s service plan supporting those most in need through the pandemic. In just over three months, LifeCare has provided over 2,000 fresh and nutritious two-course meals delivered safely, hot and ready to eat.
Meals are prepared in the charity’s community café on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge and delivered by their Help at Home service.
Meal deliveries have been hailed as ‘lifesaving’ by those accessing the service. In particular, the programme is proving to be a huge help for those struggling with mobility issues which may be worsening through the crisis as people remain in the home.
Others lack the energy to cater for themselves, for those who live alone it is something to look forward to, and it provides comfort and assurance for friends and family members who live elsewhere and are unable to visit to care for their loved ones.
An additional benefit is that delivering the meals to those most vulnerable acts as an important regular ‘check-in’ service where the trained team can safely make sure that the individual is coping OK and assess/refer any new needs.
Damian McGown CEO of LifeCare, (above) said: “We are hugely proud of our vital new meals on wheels service which has already provided positive, practical support to over 100 local older people who are truly suffering through this difficult time.
“The colder, darker months have always been a challenge for older people, but this is a winter like no other. The elderly have been disproportionately affected by the virus and as restrictions increase once again those in our communities remain very worried, fearful, often lonely and chronically isolated. Family and friends can no longer visit, activities are cancelled, and day services closed. The most vulnerable are shielding once again.
“We are therefore announcing that, thanks to the support from Barclays, LifeCare will be extending our meals on wheels service to offer double the existing support – we are now able to reach 200 local older people most in need.
“Those eligible will receive a fresh, nutritious two-course meal delivered hot and ready to eat. Please contact us if you or someone you know could benefit from LifeCare’s free meals on wheels service.”
Scott Stewart, Head of Barclays Scotland, said: “LifeCare is playing a vital role in this crisis. The charity has amplified its offering to elderly people with the donation provided by Barclays and we are delighted to support their work.”
Meals are delivered at lunchtime and there is a choice of two main courses each day with one choice always being vegetarian. All special dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for.
If you, or someone you know, would like to benefit from the meals on wheels service please call 0131 343 0940 to discuss.
The report was published yesterday, a day ahead of today’s planned announcement by the Scottish Government of the 2021/22 Local Government Financial Settlement.
Financial flexibilities already agreed with the Scottish Government have contributed to the balanced budget position for 2021/22, with an acknowledgement that more fundamental service reform, improvement and prioritisation will be required in future years.
At their meeting on 2 February the Finance and Resources Committee will also consider the Council’s new three-year Business Plan, titled ‘Our Future Council, Our Future City‘, which brings together the Council’s strategic priorities in a single plan responding to the need for change and seeks to shape a fair and green post-pandemic recovery for the Capital over the years ahead.
The Business Plan aims to deliver a sustainable, fair and thriving future for Edinburgh, responding directly to the aspirations tens of thousands of residents have shared for their home city as part of the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision process and guided by the Council’s three key priorities of tackling poverty and inequality, boosting sustainability and enhancing wellbeing.
As well as reporting a balanced budget position for 2021/22, the Revenue Budget report sets out a budget framework for the following four years.
During this time, due to a combination of rising demand, inflationary pressures, legislative reform and a level of funding that is not expected to keep pace, the Council will be required to save more than £100m whilst maintaining an appropriate level of reserves.
Difficult decisions on where to prioritise investment will therefore be unavoidable.
Finance and Resources Convener Councillor Rob Munn said: “Like all Scottish local authorities, we find ourselves in a difficult situation, both in terms of how long Covid restrictions will be in place and what further pressures the pandemic will place on our budgets in the months to come. We’ve already faced budget pressures of around £85m through increased expenditure and lost income.
“That’s why it’s entirely pragmatic to set a balanced one-year budget for the next financial year while preparing for broader reforms from 2022 onwards.
“Our recent Best Value audit by the Accounts Commission found that we’re managing our finances well but recommended that we set out longer-term financial plans and that we pull together our ambitious strategies into a single plan.
“Both the Business Plan and the five-year budget framework we’re proposing respond directly to this recommendation and, taken together, they will help us reprioritise and, where required, redesign services to address budget gaps and progress our core priorities over the coming years.”
Vice Convener Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “In setting out a balanced budget position for 2021/22, I am particularly pleased to note that, through careful financial management, we’re able to sustain vital frontline services; the services our communities have so depended upon during the incredibly difficult and challenging situation we’ve all faced since the pandemic began.
“We remain fully committed to our established priorities of tackling poverty and inequality, boosting sustainability and promoting wellbeing – all of which were set based on direct public feedback on what is most important to the people of Edinburgh.
There’s no doubt some very challenging times lie ahead but we’re determined to maintain our focus on investing in attractive, safe and sustainable places to live, building thousands more affordable homes and high-quality modern schools and early years settings to give our children the best possible start in life. The residents of Edinburgh deserve nothing less.”
The Business Plan sets out three core priorities for the city:
(i) ending poverty and preventing adverse outcomes such as homelessness and unemployment; (ii) becoming a net-zero city; and (iii) ensuring wellbeing and equalities are enhanced for all.
These will be aligned with the priorities set out in the Edinburgh Partnership Community Plan which were developed based on feedback from communities.
The priorities, shared by all members of the Edinburgh Partnership, are to ensure all citizens have:
Enough money to live on
Access to work, learning and training
A good place to live.
An update to the budget proposals will be reported to councillors once the implications for Edinburgh of the Scottish Government’s LGFS are known.
Thousands of people across the UK and Ireland will walk 10,000 steps a day for eight days starting this March, raising vital funds for people with autism and their families as part of the fourth annual Walk for Autism campaign.
Registrations are now officially open, giving everyone time to fundraise ahead of the walk which will begin on March 26 ending on World Autism Awareness Day on 2nd April.
Despite a challenging year in 2020 with a number of Covid related restrictions in place, the charity initiative raised over £90,000, which supported hundreds of individuals and funded more than 20 projects that improve quality of life, promote physical activity and help autistic adults and children learn and develop every single day.
Fundraising Manager at Autism Initiatives Group, Liz Oakley said: “Typically we would encourage our walkers to become part of a community that would meet up and take on the challenge together. Although last year this wasn’t possible, we were blown away by the comradery that we saw among participants on a virtual level.
“This inspirational team spirit is something that we are passionate about bringing into our 2021 campaign and we want to reassure people that they can still take part safely in line with the current lockdown measures.
“Although the challenge can be done solo, anywhere at any time within those eight days, it’s the message behind it that links us all and has the power to create lasting bonds and ultimately make a real difference to autistic people alongside their families and support networks.
“Now in its fourth year, we’re encouraging people to sign up to Walk for Autism and support us in raising funds that will help us to change lives one step at a time. Autism affects more than 700,000 people in the UK and Ireland and it’s so important that we help as many of those people as we can through the projects undertaken by Autism Initiatives.
“As we all continue to adjust to a ‘new normal’, the change is especially difficult for people with autism and for their families to comprehend and manage. With that in mind, we hope that by collectively taking part in Walk for Autism we can contribute to something positive among the disruption and help to secure support where it’s needed.”
The team are encouraging walkers to raise £10 a day across the eight-day challenge although greater donations will really help to make a difference.
Once registered, walkers will be able to set up their own unique fundraising page and connect with others online via a dedicated Facebook group. After an initial donation, participants will receive their very own Walk for Autism t-shirt.
Liz added: “This campaign is especially important to us as we have seen first-hand how much it can improve people’s lives. It’s also an opportunity for us to don our trainers and get outdoors.
“The last year has been tough for everyone and walking has been proven to help with mental wellbeing – just another positive reason to get involved. As we face the prospect of continued lockdown restrictions in the months ahead, we hope that this challenge will keep people motivated to put their physical and mental health first, whether that’s by stepping outside for fresh air or simply using it to help build a routine that adds some structure to our day-to-day lives.
“Walkers can complete their steps at any time and in whatever way suits them, whether it’s walking the dog or stepping on the treadmill. Participants can use their walking time to reflect, de-stress or to catch up with friends and loved ones via call or video chat.
“It’s important to remember that each and every step counts so even if you can’t get out and about, steps around the garden or even around your home will all contribute. You can track your steps easily using a pedometer or smart phone apps to make sure you’re hitting your target. The concept is simple, but the rewards are huge.”
Walk for Autism is a fundraising campaign led by charity Autism Initiatives Group (registered charity number 1170634) who have been working to improve the lives of autistic people and their families across the UK and Ireland for almost 50 years.
