The Actimel campaign to “Give Communities Their Best Shot” * has got off to a hugely successful start. With 339,080 Actimel bottles already donated to Fareshare and Foodcloud in the UK and Ireland, it’s clear that the willingness to help local people is still very much alive in lockdown 3.
Central & South East Scotland is smashing it as 8,770 bottles have already been donated to Edinburgh Fareshare distribution centre.
Recent research ** found that as many as 1 in 2 people are concerned about their community’s immunity. In fact over half of British people place the same importance on the health of their community as they do on their own family and 78% of people are concerned about the health of the most vulnerable people in their communities.
Lindsay Boswell, CEO Fareshare says: Lindsay Boswell, CEO Fareshare says: “It’s great to see so many packs donated through the Actimel campaign so far, but there is still more that people can do.
“FareShare has more than doubled the amount of food we distribute in response to the Covid-19 crisis, now supplying frontline charities with enough food to create 2 million meals each week – with two thirds being accessed by children and families.
“Now more than ever it’s vital to ensure vulnerable people can access a balanced diet, which is why the support from Actimel is so important. This campaign gives shoppers a means to support the most vulnerable people in their communities, by simply buying a pack*.”
Sarah Dossett, Marketing Director Actimel says: “We’re delighted with the success of our campaign so far and really inspired by the community spirit of the Scottish public.
“Helping those that need it most, such as the people helped by FareShare, is what we believe in as a company. As a certified B Corp it’s very much a part of what drives us every day.”
Small but mighty: Each shot of Actimel*** is packed with 10 billion L. casei cultures along with 1/3 of the recommended daily intake in vitamin D, as well as vitamin B6 which support the normal function of the immune system. Just one shot a day and you can take on whatever the day throws at you.
● Actimel contains Vitamins B6 & D to help support the normal function of the immune system.
* Give Communities Your Best shot” T&Cs: 18+. UK & Republic of Ireland. Start date 00:01 on 01/01/21. Closing date 23:59 on 30/04/21. Promotional packs. To participate, visit www.actimel.com, enter the unique code on the lid and select your community. Selection to be made from a list of different pre-defined regions that you can discover on our website.
Limited to 100,000 packs donated in UK and 10,000 in ROI to food related charities, in the UK: FareShare (Charity No: 1100051), in ROI: FoodCloud (Charity No: CHY21177). Full T&Cs see www.actimel.com.
** Danone General Health Attitudes Survey of 1000 adults in UK & Ireland
Lorna Brown is seeking your support to turn her dream of a creating a community arts and design resource in Newhaven into a reality.
Lorna explained: “Creative Scotland selected my business plan for their crowdmatch funding support in February this year.
“I’m looking to achieve my goal of establishing INK on MESH, a community print space that offers classes, courses and tuition in screen printing and stitched textiles.
“Post – pandemic, INK on MESH will become a space that promotes and encourages creative expression, community connections, confidence building and well being through hand craft and heritage skills education.
“I can continue to develop my own textiles brand, Blessed Unrest and also provide affordable space and specialized equipment for developing, emerging and graduate practitioners.”
INK on MESH is an interest partner with The Heart of Newhaven Community, one of the first dedicated intergenerational centres in the UK and will potentially open there in Autumn 2021 or in another local retail space.
Lorna added: “Individuality prevails! You can give people the same instructions and access to the same materials & equipment but how they explore that, interpret and express that is entirely UNIQUE … this is one of the fascinating and constant motivating experiences for me as a craft educator.
“Ink on Mesh will become that dedicated space where people at all ages and stages can come to explore their unique ideas through the craft of screen printing and textiles. Let’s make this happen!”
The crowdfunder launches at 9am this morning (Monday 22 March).
Linda’s friend and colleague Lisa Arnott said: “I can not express how super delighted for my amazing best friend Lorna Brown of BlessedUnrest and her Crowdfunding launch for the new and amazing dedicated print studio INK on MESH.
“Her Crowdfunding starts at 9am on Monday 22nd March. It’s an amazing way to become part of her story, show your support for a well-needed resource for our community and support the arts and design industries.
“Set your watches and phone alarms for 9am on Monday 22nd March!”
Gillespie Macandrew announces new charity partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
Leading Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew has begun a three year charity partnership with Alzheimer Scotland and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC). Alzheimer Scotland provides support for those living with dementia and the ECHC supports children and their families in a variety of healthcare settings.
The new partnerships are a key part of the Firm’s overall Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which includes donating 1% of pre-tax profits each year to the nominated charities. The firm has an established and active CSR committee which includes representatives from all four of Gillespie Macandrew’s offices.
As well as financial support, staff are given a day off each year to take part in charitable activities and as a result of this commitment to the nominated charities, the Firm has donated a total of over £130,000 in the past five years.
Chief Executive Officer Robert Graham Campbell commented: “We have a long and proud history of supporting charitable causes, whether it is engagement though volunteering, providing funding and pro-bono legal advice or partnering to host training opportunities.
“We look forward to working with our two new charity partners to support the excellent and valuable work they do.”
Stakeholder Engagement Lead from Alzheimer Scotland, Caroline Miller said: “The incredible commitment from Gillespie Macandrew will help us provide a range of person-centred support for people living with dementia and their families, who have been devastated by the pandemic.
Money raised will also go towards our exciting project to build the UK’s first Virtual Dementia Resource Centre so we can offer support no matter where you are and what time of the day it is.”
ECHC’s Fundraiser Amy Ford added: “Gillespie Macandrew’s support over the next three years means that we can continue transforming the experiences of every child and young person in hospital and healthcare throughout the duration of the pandemic and beyond.
When the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People opens on Tuesday 23 March, ECHC will be there to support children, young people and families in many ways and we simply could not do this without the generosity and kindness of our charity partners like Gillespie Macandrew.”
Alzheimer Scotland and ECHC were nominated and voted for by staff and Gillespie Macandrew is pleased to be able to offer our support, particularly at a time of increased pressure on the services they provide.
The firm has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth and advises on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes.
Author celebrates ‘Covid hard work and kindness’ in a commemorative charity book
Inspired by Shakespeare’s “and so shines a good deed in a weary world”, an author has donated her time to produce a commemorative book celebrating the hard work and kindness seen across the UK during the Covid pandemic.
Anna James spent more than 6 months interviewing key workers, everyday heroes and familiar faces as well as charities and organisations and collating the stories and photos of their ‘good deeds’.
She has self-published the 350+ page coffee-table style book to celebrate their efforts and to raise money for the NHS and other good causes.
Amongst many others, the book includes contributions from NHS workers, dustbin men, cleaners and farmers; home-schooling families, isolating couples and Covid survivors; Her Majesty the Queen, Captain Tom, Ian Broudie, Banksy and Charlie Mackesy; Fareshare, Samaritans, NSPCC and Age UK; M&S, The Royal Mint, Chester Zoo and even a loo roll manufacturer!
The book also features hundreds of photos of some of the things we’ve all been seeing and experiencing over the past 12 months.
Anna said: “I desperately wanted to do something to help but didn’t know how to be useful – I’m a bit squeamish with anything medical and always get lost, even with satnav, so I’d have been no good at volunteering to help people or deliver things.
“After a few sleepless nights, I decided to stick with what I’m good at and to create a special compilation of this most unusual moment in our history. I would make one of my commemorative books as my small gift to the national effort.
“2020 was an unprecedented year with monumental challenges and heart-breaking sadnesses but amongst that, there was also exceptional hard work, adaptability and kindness. Our humanity and community spirit shone in the darkness and I thought it was important to celebrate that, so we’ve got something to look back on and be proud of.
“I also thought it was important to record some of the things we were all seeing and experiencing – in years to come, when this is hopefully far behind us, will we remember the rainbows? That people joined forces in their thousands to make masks and scrubs for the NHS?
“Will we remember that we clapped outside, every Thursday night? That whole towns and cities were deserted and that shops ran out of toilet roll? I wanted to document some of that to help us remember; as a social history record for us to show our grandchildren, and for them to show theirs.
“I am humbled to have become the caretaker of this most amazing collection of stories from all these everyday heroes who share what they did to help the country and each other, which are heart-warming and heart-wrenching in equal measures.
“It’s probably the book none of us would ever have wanted but perhaps the one we all need, to remind ourselves what a kind and generous bunch we can be.”
Many of us are spending more time at home due to COVID-19 and this can mean reaching for the comfort foods when we feel bored, stressed or need cheering up.
On busy days, it is easy to pop to the kitchen and grab a quick lunch without thinking too much about whether it is good for you.
We have some tips for planning and preparing healthier lunches at home:
Include plenty of fruit and veg
Fruit and vegetables are packed with nutrients and fibre to help keep your heart healthy. Find healthy salad or vegetable soup recipes online or in recipe books to include in your lunch plan. Finish off your lunches with a portion of fruit and a low-calorie yoghurt.
Increase your fibre intake
A diet that is high in fibre can reduce your risk of heart disease. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses and wholegrain foods. Try to regularly include a portion of wholegrain food in your lunches, such as brown bread, wholemeal pita, wholemeal pasta or brown rice.
Include lean sources of protein in your lunches
Foods that are high in protein can help you to feel full for longer and this can prevent you from snacking on less healthy foods during the day. Lean sources of protein include grilled skinless chicken or turkey, canned tuna, soybeans, tofu and low-fat dairy products.
Plan your lunches in advance
Planning your lunches in advance will allow you to put a little more thought into what you are eating as well as saving you time and money. Try creating a weekly lunch plan before the start of the week and shop for ingredients in advance.
Prepare your lunches the night before to save time during busy days or try cooking large quantities of home-made soups and store single portions in the freezer.
Detectives are continuing their enquiries and appealing for any assistance to establish the identity of a young man who was recovered from the Firth of Forth at Burntisland on Friday (19 March).
Around 10.20am on Friday morning, officers were called to the shore near to Aberdour Road, Burntisland where the body of a man had been found in the water. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a full report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.
The man is described as white, aged in his late teens to early twenties. He is between 5ft 7ins to 5ft 9ins in height of very slim build with short blond to light brown hair. He was wearing grey Lonsdale jogging trousers, a grey hooded ‘Saltrock’ jumper and blue Adidas high-top trainers.
Detective Sergeant Conrad Musgrave from Dunfermline Police Station said: “We are carrying out extensive enquiries to find out who this young man is and trace his family.
“We are also working to establish if he is the same person who we previously appealed for information on, after being seen acting in a concerning manner on the Forth Road Bridge in the early hours of Tuesday, 9 March.
“I would urge anyone who may recognise this description, or who has any information that may assist us to please contact Dunfermline Police Station through 101 quoting reference 0898 of 19 March.”
Women, families and children are among those who will benefit from separate funds worth a total of £18 million to improve drugs services.
Four schemes are planned for May with the funds coming from the additional £250 million announced by the First Minister to tackle the drug deaths emergency over the next five years.
The four projects will aim to develop consistent treatment standards around the country and ensure more people can get access to services that can reduce harm, provide treatment and ultimately save their lives.
The four funds are:
a £5 million Communities Fund to provide resources to community and third sector organisations to increase capacity
a £5 million Improvement Fund to support improvements to services for outreach, treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare, with dedicated support for women
a £3 million Families and Children Fund to support the families of those affected by drug misuse during treatment
a £5 million Recovery Fund for additional residential rehabilitation capacity
Minister for Drugs Policy Angela Constance said: “We have said a national mission is needed to tackle the drug deaths emergency and this coming year will see funding for alcohol and drugs support increasing to £140.7 million.
“This latest round of funding sees us build on the £1 million Communities Fund and £1 million Improvement Fund we launched in February. We want to make additional resources available to more community and third sector organisations so that we can support more people into treatment and offer support to their families.
“I am pleased we are also able to direct more funding to develop services specifically for women and children. We want to make it easier for women to access treatment by removing any barriers such as a lack of childcare.
“I have already committed to taking action on the recommendations from the Residential Rehabilitation Working Group and this will be backed by £100 million over the next five years.
“We recognise residential rehabilitation may not be for everyone which is why we are determined, as part of our national mission, to make sure that people can access whatever treatment is right for them in the right place at the right time.”
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs CEO Justina Murray said: “There is an urgent need to improve support for children, young people and adult family members – all of whom are harmed by others’ alcohol and drug use, and all of whom have faced even bigger harms during the COVID pandemic.
“We know most family members remain hidden due to the stigma, shame and secrecy of substance use in the family, along with the lack of visible, high quality family support across Scotland.
“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and with families to transform this situation, so that every family member in Scotland can reach the support they need, regardless of their situation or location.”
A sneak peek of the restoration of Edinburgh’s much-loved Elm Row pigeons has been revealed ahead of their reinstatement in the street later this year.
The public artworks, created by sculptor Shona Kinloch, were first removed during the original tram project in 2006. Now, as part of Trams to Newhaven, the seven bronze birds are being refurbished or completely recast before their grand return.
Specialists from Powderhall Bronze have been renovating, sandblasting and applying ‘patina’, which creates the familiar green colouring, to the existing statues, as well as casting three brand new pigeons. This has involved making wax replicas using the original moulds for the sculptures, before pouring in molten metal to produce a finished product.
It is intended to restore the pigeons on Elm Row during the summer, alongside the London Road Pillar Clock. This is being refurbished by clockmaker Smiths of Derby, involving the removal of any rust, preparing the surface for priming and repainting.
They’ve also constructed a new aluminium deer and repaired the Coat of Arms of Edinburgh, which both sit at the top of the clock.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: These pigeons are a little piece of Leith Walk history, so I’m delighted that they’ll soon be back in their rightful home as part of the Trams to Newhaven project.
Construction work is continuing apace on the tram line, with tracks being laid along the route. Now, as we begin to welcome some of Leith Walk’s public art back into place, we’re starting to build a picture of what the area will look like once this major project is complete.
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, said: Our seven bronze birds are looking beautiful in time for their return to Leith Walk, and it’s been fascinating to see the work that’s gone into their refurbishment.
“I know many people will join me in welcoming them back later this year.”
Kerry Hammond from Powderhall Bronze added: “We were delighted to work on Shona’s cast bronze Elm Row pigeons again after all this time. They have always been very popular and it will be great to see them sited back for the public to enjoy.
Construction on the Trams to Newhaven project continues to progress to schedule, with ongoing track-laying on sections of Leith Walk, Constitution Street and at Ocean Terminal.
Other work underway, or soon to commence, includes the rebuilding of the South Leith Parish Church wall, following a major excavation of the area, and surfacing and public realm works along parts of the route.
A protected cycle lane between the Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, which will complement the Trams to Newhaven project, is also being developed as well as pedestrianising Sandport Place Bridge and creating a bus-only section at the Shore.
Yesterdaymarked the one-year anniversary of the furlough scheme being introduced. TUC’s ALEX COLLISON takes stock
The scheme, a big win for the union movement, guarantees that employees working for businesses that have been closed due to social restrictions, who may have otherwise lost their jobs, receive at least 80 per cent of their wages while they’re unable to work.
Numbers using the scheme
The furlough scheme has undoubtedly protected millions of jobs throughout the pandemic, making it one of the few big successes in the government’s response to the pandemic.
Between the scheme’s introduction and the middle of February 2021, 11.2 million jobs have been furloughed at some point, with 1.3 million employers making use of it.
Use of the furlough scheme peaked in early May 2020, when 8.9 million jobs were furloughed. 4.7 million jobs were still furloughed at the end of January 2021, the latest available day that HMRC figures cover. A business survey from the ONS provides more up-to-date information, showing that 19% of the private sector workforce was furloughed in early March. This has been the same since January, and suggests the number of people furloughed has likely stayed around the same since January.
The number of people furloughed in January 2021 is the highest it’s been since July.
As you’d expect given the sectors most impacted by social restrictions, use of the scheme has been much higher in some industries than others. At the end of January, 44% of all furloughed jobs are within two industries: accommodation and food services (24%) and wholesale and retail (20%).
This equates to 1.1 million jobs in accommodation and food, and 940,000 jobs in wholesale and retail.
While the arts and entertainment sector has less jobs furloughed (315,000), this constitutes a large percentage of its workforce. 55% of the workforce was furloughed at the end of January 2021. This is a similar rate to accommodation and food (56%).
Across all industries, the number of jobs furloughed at the end of January was 47% lower than it was when furlough was at its peak. But, again, this varies by industry.
Construction and manufacturing, for example, both had large numbers of jobs furloughed in May 2020. While there’s still a significant number of jobs furloughed in these industries, the number has fallen by around two-thirds. In contrast, the number of employments furloughed in accommodation and food and arts and entertainment has fallen by 30%.
And it’s worth noting where these jobs may have gone. HMRC data on the number of payrolled employees shows that accommodation and food and arts and entertainment saw the most job losses between April 2020 and January 2021.
It therefore seems likely that some workers in these industries are losing their jobs rather than returning from furlough.
The scheme hasn’t been perfect
While the furlough scheme has undoubtedly saved millions of jobs, it hasn’t been perfect. A key flaw of the scheme is that there’s no protection to ensure no one is paid below the minimum wage while furloughed. While employers can choose to top up the wages of furloughed workers, not all do.
Low-paid workers are more likely to not to have their pay topped up. Because of this, in April 2020, around the peak of the scheme, just over two million employees were not being paid the legal minimum.
This means that the household finances of many low-paid workers, already being paid an insufficient minimum wage, have been hit hard.
Young workers, part-time workers and workers in the hospitality sector have also been more likely to be affected. Shockingly, a third of all accommodation and food workers were not earning the legal minimum wage in April 2020.
As well as this, the government’s attempts to wind down the scheme have often proved premature. The number of jobs furloughed hit its lowest point on October 31st, when it dropped to 2.4 million. The scheme was due to end on this day, but was extended at the last minute.
The number of employments furloughed went up to 3.7 million on November 1st, and then increased further a few days later due to stricter lockdown measures being introduced. This uncertainty around the future of the furlough scheme seems to have led to unnecessary job losses.
And the government has struggled to reach those in non-conventional work, whether self-employed forced to operate through companies, zero-hours workers, and those mixing employment and self-employment.
The government introduced the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) alongside the furlough scheme, but the two didn’t seamlessly interact to cover all workers, and the requirements of the scheme have meant that millions of workers have fallen between the cracks, unable to get support.
What next?
The government has committed to keeping the furlough scheme running until the end of September. The amount the government contributes to the wages of furloughed workers will begin to reduce before then, dropping to 70% in July and 60% in August and September.
The current roadmap out of lockdown provisionally plans for all areas of the economy to be up and running months before the end of furlough. However, the September end date creates a cliff edge, especially as it comes alongside the end of the Universal Credit uplift. The government must ensure it adapts the scheme to any changes of the roadmap. If business closures last longer than expected, so too should the scheme.
It’s also urgent that the government overhauls our broken social safety net so that it properly supports for those who need it. This includes raising both Universal Credit and legacy benefits to at least 80% of the national living wage (£260 per week), ending the five-week wait by converting advance payment loans to grants, and scrapping the two-child limit, benefits cap and no-recourse-to-public-funds rules.
Finally, it’s important that the government begins to look beyond the scheme. Investing now in good, well-paid jobs will help to replace any jobs lost when the scheme ends.
Fast tracking spending on projects such as broadband, green technology, transport and housing, for example, could deliver a 1.24 million jobs boost by 2022, and the TUC has set out plans to fill and create 600,000 jobs in the public sector.
We are abandoning our usual monthly newsletter schedule to send you this advice that there is little time remaining if you wish to become a member of HoNC before our first AGM.
The AGM has now been set for Thursday 29th April and because of the admin work required, you must apply for membership before the 1st April.
New member applications will then be verified and confirmed by the board at their next meeting on 7th April and official notice of the AGM and all that entails will be sent out by the 13th.
Do consider becoming a member. It costs nothing and if you live in our area of benefit it ensures you have a say in who runs the charity and what they do. There is a simple form to fill in on the website under JOIN US.
The AGM may well be rather strange this year because of Covid. Only a small number of people constituting the required quorum will be allowed to be present in person. Everyone else will be invited to an online meeting. It also means that those voting members not present in person will have to send in a proxy voting form, but all that will be explained in the notice of meeting which will be sent by email to members only.
In other news, we are so pleased to report that there was a tremendous response to our initial Crowdfunding appeal which has helped us pay for professional fees. The many supportive comments have also provided welcome proof that we are not working in vain.
Here are some of the things supporters said:
This is a brilliant project that will deliver huge community benefits. It’s well thought-out and is being impressively well-organised.
Amazing project to support the community and get everyone of all ages together!
Great to see this project making progress – all strength to your elbows for what will be a tremendous asset for the community.
Fantastic work, well done to all involved.
Meanwhile our volunteers are working away in the background on greening projects, lending a neighbourly hand in the community and spreading the word, while we deal with preparing for our very first AGM, a momentous stage in our progress.
The trustees are looking forward to seeing you there.
Don’t forget to keep checking the website. There’s always something new. April will see the addition of the first of a two-part blog by Bill Hall about fishing in the Forth.
There will be no April newsletter and the next communication will be with members only, by the 13th April. The next newsletter will be in May, after the AGM.
Monday 22nd at 9am.
