Alexander McCall Smith CBE has been getting ready to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2020.
Impressions of the internationally-admired author’s hands have been cast in clay, pictured, by Leigh Bradley of the Colin Braid Stone Workshop, ready to be carved into stone.
The handprints will be gilded and laid outside the City Chambers next to the prints of previous Edinburgh Award recipients including Doddie Weir, Ann Budge, Sir Chris Hoy, JK Rowling and Elizabeth Blackadder.
Writing four or five new books every year Mr McCall Smith’s career continues to go from strength to strength. The Edinburgh Award will go some way towards recognising his celebrated and thriving writing career, through which he often shares his love of Scotland’s capital city.
Alexander’s name will be inscribed onto the Edinburgh Award honour panel in the City Chambers and he will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup by the Lord Provost at a ceremony when restrictions around the ongoing pandemic allow.
Lord Provost Frank Ross said:“In many ways, a lasting tribute to Alexander McCall Smith in one of the Capital of Scotland’s Streets is long overdue.
“A true advocate of Edinburgh through his writing, it seems right to me that those famous hands will be immortalised in stone and given pride of place along our very own Edinburgh Award ‘walk of fame’.”
Alexander McCall Smith said: “I am deeply honoured to have been given this award by the city that means so much to me. Beyond that, all that I can say is thank you.”
Issues faced by protected and disadvantaged groups should be proactively addressed as the country navigates its post-Covid recovery to ensure that nobody is left behind, according to a report from the Equalities and Human Rights Committee.
MSPs on the Committee are calling on their successor Committee in the next Parliament to prioritise these issues to ensure that existing inequalities are not further exacerbated by the Covid pandemic.
Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, Ruth Maguire MSP, said: “As the country navigates its way out of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s vital that those who are already disadvantaged, should not face any further inequality.
“As this parliamentary term comes to a close, we need to ensure that these issues are given the utmost priority as we move forward to creating a more equal country after Covid.
“We need a strengthened approach that puts equalities and human rights at the core of what we do and urge our successor committee to play a key role in this by actively progressing the key issues highlighted in this report”.
In the report, published today, the Committee also called on all Scottish Parliament committees to prioritise equalities and human rights from the outset and to actively pursue and encourage participation from those least likely to engage to ensure their voices are heard.
MSPs also want to ensure the Scottish Parliament continues to develop as an effective human rights guarantor, demonstrating strong human rights leadership. The Committee has set out a number of actions to achieve in the new Session, building on the actions taken this Session.
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey has written to health boards setting out priority areas of investment from the Scottish Government’s recently announced £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund.
Ms Haughey said: “The lockdown has been difficult for us all, not least young people – affecting their work, social and family lives and job and learning opportunities. That is why we intend to make around £40 million available to take forward dedicated work to improve Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
“This will include capacity building to meet expected increases in demand, specialist neurodevelopmental assessments, and ensuring young people have access to intensive psychiatric inpatient care when they need it.
“An essential part of this investment will be funding for a clinical director for each CAMH service to drive forward change.
“Further to this, we will invest up to £15 million to help clear backlogs in CAMHS and Psychological Therapies waiting lists.
“However we recognise that not all children and young people need specialist services like CAMHS, and so we will also continue to support the expansion of community services at a local level.
“Our £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal Fund is the single largest investment in mental health in the history of devolution, and shows the priority we are placing on mental health. The Fund will be used to deliver our full agenda for mental health and wellbeing, as set out in our Transition and Recovery Plan.
“This will help to improve access to services across Scotland as well as ensuring good mental wellbeing at a population level, a comprehensive distress response, and the right help and support in our communities. We are carefully considering the potential for other investments over the course of 2021-22, and we will make further announcements in due course.”
Joanna Barrett, Associate head of Policy for the Devolved Nations, NSPCC Scotland, said: “The events of the last year have profoundly impacted the lives of children and young people in Scotland, with some suffering traumatic experiences including bereavement and abuse.
“Following the start of the pandemic last year, we saw a rise in referrals from our adult helpline about child abuse and an increase in contacts to Childline about emotional and mental health. Our counsellors heard from children struggling with loneliness and isolation, worries about education, increased parental stress and abusive home environments. Some young people talked about feeling suicidal.
“So this investment by the Scottish Government to address children and young people’s mental health is crucial for the recovery of our younger generation. But it is important we also remember and support our very youngest and most vulnerable members of society, those under five, whose wellbeing is closely attuned to that of their carers, and who cannot voice the harm they have experienced.”
A new, powerful collection of writing has highlighted the lived experiences of people living with, and tackling, poverty in their communities.
Disturbing yet timely, this collection of writing from students of the Health Issues in the Community course (HIIC) reveals the corrosive effect that poverty and inequality are having on a day-to-day basis in modern Scotland.
As a society that believes in compassion and justice, the writings act as a call to action to address inequalities and the increasing number of people being swept up in the wake of crushing poverty.
Public health specialists have drawn attention to the serious impact inequalities have – made even worse by the global health crisis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amidst the grim picture that is so minutely described, the writings are also witness to the power of community, of kindness, of the sense of ‘the commonweal’ that is alive in our communities.
Broadcaster and journalist Lesley Riddoch, who provided the publication’s foreword, said: “From all the grimness of lockdown and the staleness of news comes this wee gem of a collection – words from folk who live at the sharp end of life in Scotland.
“I’ve no doubt that the folk involved in this HIIC course will use the insights and comradeship they’ve gained to start moving mountains – while taking care of one another.”
Health Issues in the Community is an SQA-accredited course for adults and young people that helps students understand what affects their health and the health of their communities.
Running for more than 20 years, HIIC brings a community development approach to tackling health inequalities and reaches more than 300 participants each year.
While the HIIC course encourages participants to widen and deepen awareness of health issues in their communities and their involvement, we cannot solve this issue alone. Political action is required by governments to ensure Scotland is no longer defined by poverty and inequality in the 21st century.
These writings provide the voices of lived experience to help make that a reality.
Fiona Garven, Director of the Scottish Community Development Centre, said:“These students’ writings are a stark reminder of the impact of poverty in communities across Scotland – and the power of people coming together to take action on the things that are important to them.
“With a firm foundation in community development practice, HIIC has been tackling health and social issues for more than 20 years. These writings act as further evidence for community-led responses to health inequalities, enabling students to explore and take action to address their own health issues and the health of their communities.”
Bill Gray, Organisational Lead, Public Health Scotland said:“Public Health Scotland is proud to have supported the development of the HIIC course and recognises the need to listen to voices from our communities has never been more important.
“Our Strategic Plan sets out a clear ambition to embed engagement with communities across all of our programmes of work and the experiences of HIIC participants, set out in this powerful new publication is an invaluable resource for anyone working to address health inequalities in Scotland.”
A new Social Enterprise Action Plan will offer increased support to the sector – boosting its potential for growth and putting the social enterprise model at the heart of Scotland’s recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The three year action plan demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to social enterprise as a way of doing business for the common good and to building a wellbeing economy.
Key investments include:
£2 million over three years to ensure that by 2024 every school child will have the opportunity to engage with a social enterprise project in their school career, introducing the benefits of the social enterprise model to young people
investing an additional £1.5 million to build on the successful programme of support offered through Adapt and Thrive, which helps community organisations wanting to diversify their income streams
investing £1.5 million to create a clear pipeline for social enterprises from conception to the international market, with a focus on ethical opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa and South East Asia
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell said: “I am delighted that we have today launched our new Social Enterprise Action Plan.
“As we move forward from the effects of COVID-19, we need to ensure that we build back in a way that helps us rebalance our economy and enables us to create a society that is free from inequalities and disadvantage.
“The Scottish Government wants to create a wellbeing economy that works for everyone. Social enterprises will be central to this work, demonstrating this ethos through conducting business with social purpose. The social enterprise model can also help us to deliver on our aim to protect the environment, ensuring a just transition to a net zero future.”
After positive discussions over recent weeks with NHS Trade Unions and NHS Employers, the Scottish Government has offered a substantial pay rise for NHS Scotland Agenda for Change staff.
If accepted by staff, this deal will be most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK, and would represent the biggest single year increase in pay for NHS staff since devolution. The pay rises will benefit 154,000 NHS Agenda for Change employees – including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff, porters and other front line health workers.
The pay rise would ensure that staff on the pay bands 1 to 7 would receive at least a 4% pay rise compared to 2020/21, with the staff who earned less than £25,000 in 2020/21 getting a guaranteed minimum increase of over £1,000 in 2021/22.
This means that staff on the lowest Agenda for Change pay point would get a 5.4% increase. Those on the highest pay points will receive uplifts of £800.
While pay increases are usually effective from 1 April the 2021/22 pay settlement will be backdated to 1 December 2020 in recognition of an exceptional year of significant pressure for staff. This follows the £500 thank you payment for health and social care workers.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Following positive discussions with NHS unions and employees the Scottish Government has put forward an offer of the biggest single pay uplift since devolution for NHS Agenda for Change staff.
“Over 154,000 staff would benefit from this rise, which would see the average pay of an front line NHS Nurse rise by over £1,200 a year. This deal also includes support staff such as domestic staff, porters and health care support workers, the backbone of our services, who would see pay rises of over £1,000 – uplifts of between 4% – 5.4%.
“The uplift will be backdated from 1 December 2020, rather than the usual 1 April 2021, meaning all those covered by the deal will receive an extra benefit.
“This has been an exceptionally challenging year for our health service and I am pleased that the Scottish Government is able to recognise the service and dedication of our healthcare staff.”
On the day that the nation reflected on one year since the first stay-at-home order of the Covid-19 pandemic, the British Psychological Society calls for the psychological needs of healthcare staff to be front and centre of the nation’s recovery.
Coronavirus has cost more than 140,000 lives in the UK over the last year, and we fell silent at 12pm yesterday to remember those we have lost. The toll is unimaginable, and the effects so wide reaching that there is no one in the country whose life has not been profoundly affected by the pandemic.
There are few groups that have been impacted as significantly as the healthcare staff working on the frontline to treat Covid-19 patients and keep the NHS functioning during an unprecedented period.
Psychologists have played a central role in developing the NHS’s early initiatives on staff support in response to the pandemic, including new wellbeing hubs, and it is vital that psychological expertise is incorporated into all future developments.
The recent NHS staff survey results showed a further increase in work-related stress levels in the NHS, and likelihood of staff burnout is only going to rise as the effects of working through the pandemic become more apparent.
Risks are particularly high for the 40.3 per cent of NHS staff who were already experiencing stress at work before the pandemic hit, and for those working in intensive care units with the sickest Covid-19 patients.
It is key that the focus is now on rebuilding the NHS as psychologically healthy and resilient, supporting staff wellbeing on a cultural and organisational, as well as individual, level.
Dr Julie Highfield, consultant clinical psychologist in Wales’ largest critical care unit and wellbeing project director for the Intensive Care Society, said: “One year on, I welcome the progress in involving psychologists in staff wellbeing initiatives, however much of the focus is on individual mental health.
“Although this is helpful in part, it’s not the whole picture. When I meet with staff what they describe does not fit neatly into common mental health pathways, it is the way chronic excessive workload has changed their relationship with work.
“If we just focus on mental health provision and individual resilience, we miss the systemic factors that contribute to the experience of work such as workplace culture, leadership and sufficient staffing, education, equipment, and facilities. As psychologists, we should also support workforce sustainability for a future healthier NHS and social care sector.
“We need to utilise the skills, knowledge and evidence base of Psychologists to help organisations to understand how to provide the core conditions to thrive at work, therefore reducing the risk of psychological harm.”
Dr Adrian Neal, chair of the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology’s Leadership and Management Faculty, added: “As we mark the first anniversary of the UK’s pandemic lockdown, it seems a natural opportunity to reflect, take stock of the impact and look forward.
Right now we are seeing an exhausted workforce, an increase in grief, burnout and more acute mental health difficulties (though less than we had expected), as well as changes in how people are relating to their work, peers, communities, and employers.
It is widely recognised that employee and organisational wellbeing is going to be vital to the sustainability of our public sector systems, and resources have been mobilised at pace in an attempt to mitigate perceived needs.
Perhaps the most useful thing we can do as psychologists is to encourage a calm and evidenced approach to fully understanding and formulating the psychosocial impact the pandemic in all of its unfolding complexity.
If we can do this, psychologists will play an important role in supporting both individuals and organisations in how they recover, adapt and grow in the years to come.”
It’s well known that leaving the car at home and wheeling out the bike instead saves carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere.
Due to lockdown, more people in Edinburgh have been opting for two wheels instead of four, with demand for bikes on the rise. This has led to people searching out an even more planet friendly option – a second-hand bike.
The Bike Station in Edinburgh adapted its operations during the coronavirus pandemic, bringing in new procedures to ensure they were able to continue to serve the local communities. It’s Hero Bikes scheme offered free bikes to NHS staff and other key workers. The bikes are checked and, where required, refurbished in line with high quality and safety standards before going on the shop floor.
Awarded by Zero Waste Scotland, the Revolve certification is Scotland’s quality guarantee for pre-loved items. It gives shoppers the confidence that they will receive quality products and excellent customer service.
Catherine Bozec, Consumer Campaigns Manager for Zero Waste Scotland, said:“It’s great to see more Scots are purchasing pre-loved bikes. By shopping second-hand, we reduce the volume of new products that need to be created, meaning fewer greenhouse gas and carbon creating processes take place.
“We must reduce our carbon footprint before it’s too late and shopping second-hand supports that. Buying a bike at a Revolve certified store instead of new reduces your carbon footprint and supports local charities and social enterprises. It really is a win-win.”
Research by Zero Waste Scotland shows that if all bikes in the country were purchased second-hand, it would save a total of 23,400 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of taking 12,000 cars off the road for one year.
Manufacturing new products, whether it’s a bike or a book, leads to more planet-warming carbon emissions. Around four fifths of Scotland’s carbon footprint is attributed to the new products and materials we buy and use. Reducing the demand for new bikes by reusing ones already in existence will protect natural resources and reduce emissions.
Over 5000 bicycles were bought in Revolve certified second-hand stores across Scotland over 2019 and 2020, contributing to a carbon saving of over 600 tonnes. The saving, which is compared to buying new, is the equivalent of taking 321 cars off the road for a year.
For anyone wishing to find out more about Revolve, please visit the website for a list of stores and contact details: www.revolvereuse.com
Funding made available through Scottish Government’s Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme
22 double-deckers and 24 single-decker electric buses for Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth
Major investment totalling £11m in Aberdeen, £6m in Kilmarnock and £4.4m in Perth
Buses all built in Scotland by leading bus manufacturer ADL with Perth and Aberdeen infrastructure provided by SSE
Boost for Scotland’s world-leading bus manufacturing sector helping protect and grow jobs
Stagecoach has announced that it will be introducing a further 46 new fully electric buses representing an investment of £21.4m across Scotland as part of its drive to improve air quality and support the Scottish Government’s environmental targets.
The order for new electric buses follows today’s announcement by Scottish Government of additional funding being awarded through a second round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.
The initiative helps bus companies invest in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure to support a green recovery out of the coronavirus pandemic, improve air quality and advance Scotland’s ambitions for a net-zero economy.
Scottish Government has set a legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045. Transport has a critical role to play in the economy reaching net zero, as rising car use has resulted in a rise in carbon emissions from the sector. Stagecoach has recently announced that it is targeting a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035.
Funding has been awarded to bus operators following a competitive bidding process with Scottish Government investing £8.9m from its grant scheme in the new Stagecoach buses.
The new electric bus order is made up of:
22 electric double-decker ADL E400 buses for use in Aberdeen City 15 electric single-decker ADL E200 buses for use on Kilmarnock Town Services 3, 6 and 7 9 electric single-decker ADL E200 single-deckers for use in Perth on bus routes 1 and 2 The investment provides a boost for Scotland’s world-leading bus manufacturing sector, helping to protect and grow jobs in Scotland. The new buses will all be built in Falkirk by leading independent global bus manufacturer ADL in partnership with BYD, the company’s partner for electric buses in the UK and Ireland.
The award from Scottish Government also includes funding for electric infrastructure for depots. Stagecoach is partnering with Scottish-headquartered low carbon energy company SSE to deliver the new electrical infrastructure needed in Aberdeen and Perth depots.
Sam Greer, Regional Director for Stagecoach in Scotland, said: “Sustainable public transport is critical to the future of our planet: decarbonising local journeys, reducing road congestion, improving air quality and tackling climate change. We welcome today’s announcement by Scottish Government of additional funding to support the roll out of 46 new electric buses in Scotland.
“This major investment will also provide a boost for Scotland’s world-leading bus manufacturing sector, helping to protect and grow jobs in Scotland. As major investment is made in zero and low emission buses, it also enables us to build further on developing in skills and training for our engineering teams to maintain the new greener fleet as we transition to new zero emission technologies.
“As Scotland gears up to host the COP 26 climate change summit in November, it’s a crucial time for us all to think about how we can help deliver a greener recovery from Covid-19. Major investment in new zero-emission buses also needs to be matched by better road infrastructure and more bus priority measures to help encourage people to make the switch from car to sustainable public transport.”
Over the past decade, Stagecoach has invested more than £1 billion in 7,000 new greener vehicles – more than any other operator in the UK – including electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen and bio-fuel technologies.
Paul Davies, ADL President & Managing Director, said: “This substantial order of new electric buses continues Stagecoach’s track record of strong investment in cleaner buses. We look forward to working closely with Stagecoach to get these new buses onto the roads of Aberdeen, Perth and Kilmarnock at pace.
“These zero emission buses will be built at our factory in Falkirk and it is great news for Scotland that this investment is being recycled into the local economy, allowing the benefits to be felt across our communities whilst helping to underpin skilled jobs.”
Kevin Welstead EV Sector for SSE Enterprise said: “SSE Enterprise is delighted to partner with Stagecoach to help them deliver their planned bus electrification programme across Scotland.
“Ensuring that we provide this and the next generation with clean and green public transport is a priority for us – especially with COP26 coming to Glasgow this year, of which we are proud to be a major sponsor.”
Independent research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research* (Cebr) published last year shows that Stagecoach delivers cleaner communities and annually saves £12.4million in emissions impact costs, which could power 9,800 homes for a year.
Without Stagecoach bus services, there would be an annual increase of 190,000 tonnes of CO2 through passengers using alternative transport, mainly cars. Some £343 million in potential congestion-related savings are also delivered by Stagecoach through a reduction of 1.22 billion miles of traffic.
Following an increasing number of antisocial behaviour incidents reported to police within the last week, particularly focused around the Meadows, Local Area Commander Chief Inspector Sam Ainslie has issued a statement:
Chief Inspector Sam Ainslie said: “As the Local Area Commander, I am saddened by the number of antisocial behaviour incidents reported to police within the last week, with concerns tending to be focused around the Meadows.
“Given the challenges of the last few months, local communities should be able to enjoy our open green spaces, in accordance with the current guidelines. Disappointingly, the selfish and sometimes reckless behaviour of a small minority continues to have a negative impact on others. This includes, but is not limited to, drink-related disorder.
“Community safety remains an established priority and we will continue to work with our partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council, retail premises and transport providers, to combat antisocial behaviour in all its forms.
“Local officers will continue to remain visible in the area, whether that be on mobile, foot, or indeed cycle patrol.
“I would encourage the public, if you observe or witness criminality in the area, to help us hold offenders to account by contacting Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
“I’d like to thank the vast majority of people for following the regulations, whilst they remain in place. As ever, our officers will engage with the public, explain the current coronavirus guidance and encourage compliance, where necessary.”
