More than 30 firefighters are working to extinguish a large fire at the Debenhams building on Princes Street.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 1.23pm this afternoon to reports of a fire on the ground floor of the building.
Operations Control immediately mobilised four fire engines and an aerial appliance to the scene.
Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building where the fire was found to be within the ground and lower ground floor and a further four appliances were mobilised.
No casualties have been reported. Crews remain on the scene and are expected to do so for some time as they work to make the area safe and extinguish the fire.
Planning and transport expert, Daisy Narayanan, has been appointed to a new role bringing together placemaking and transport strategy at the City of Edinburgh Council.
Daisy is currently Director of Urbanism for Sustrans and will bring with her a wealth of experience in policy and public realm design, gained through work as an architect and urban designer in India, Singapore, England and Scotland.
In 2018 and 2019, Daisy was seconded to the Council to lead on the successful development of Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, a pioneering ten-year plan to create a vibrant, truly people-friendly city centre.
During this time, she also championed the introduction of Open Streets in Edinburgh, a monthly car-free event in the Old Town, when families and individuals could enjoy the sights and attractions of the city.
As Mobility and Placemaking Senior Manager at the Council, Daisy will focus on several ambitious strategies for the sustainable development of the city as we work towards carbon neutrality by 2030.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: We are delighted to welcome Daisy back to work with us in this role, which is crucial to the sustainable and inclusive development of the Capital, as well as our net zero carbon goals.
“As we work toward a green recovery from the pandemic, we will be focusing our efforts on delivering transport and placemaking projects that truly place people at the heart of the city, and we know that Daisy will bring exactly the kind of experience and passion we need to drive this forward.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “We stand on the cusp of an extremely exciting time for the future development of the city, so it’s fantastic to have Daisy on board to help deliver some of the bold planning and mobility projects we have in the pipeline.
“We know from our own work with Daisy, and her standing across the placemaking and transport profession, what a fantastic addition to the team she will be, and I look forward to working with her.”
Daisy Narayanan said: “I am delighted to be joining the City of Edinburgh Council, as the city recovers from the pandemic, and as it gets ready to tackle the climate emergency.
“This is a really wonderful role which brings together various strands of what make great places. I’m passionate about working with people to shape how their streets and places should look, and to learn from and build on the work done to date in Edinburgh.
“I am under no illusions that this will be an easy job, but I am excited by the challenge.
“When I came here in 2004 as a student, I never dreamed that I would one day have the privilege to work with people in making this beautiful city even more wonderful.
“I am determined to ensure that everyone living here gets to benefit from the city’s development as a greener, healthier place – and that these benefits extend to the outer edges of the city.”
John Lauder, Deputy CEO, Sustrans, and National Director, Sustrans Scotland, said: “Although Daisy will be missed at Sustrans, we are delighted to hear about the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to appoint her to this role.
“It demonstrates the Council’s commitment to making Edinburgh a world-leading liveable city that allows everyone here to live and to travel in greener, healthier ways.
“Daisy has played a huge role in shaping Sustrans, thinking on liveable cities and towns for everyone, and on highlighting the importance of inclusive design and placemaking as a central tenet of urban design.
A youth has been traced in connection with a series of incidents where buses were targeted in Edinburgh
The 17-year-old male was arrested over the weekend after he was identified during enquiries into the incidents which happened on Friday, 9 April at Marchmont Crescent, Princes Street and Pennywell Road.
He was charged with four incidents of culpable and reckless conduct together with other instances of anti-social behaviour and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
Teens from across Scotland with bright ideas for their communities are being encouraged to apply for a new £20,000 Bright Future Prize – to help them change the world around them for the better.
The Bright Future Prize is an initiative from Ardonagh Community Trust (ACT), the charity arm of the parent company that owns local insurance firm Towergate.
Stephen Boyd, Regional Managing Director, explained: “Having joined the ACT board in 2021 as a representative, I’m delighted to showcase this new venture supporting young people and their aspirations for the good of the community.
“The charity is looking for 15-19-year olds who are the next generation of community leaders, charity fundraisers, blue-sky thinkers or social activists. The Bright Future Prize is open to young people across the UK and Ireland who are passionate about, and actively working to make a difference in a community of their choice.
“Young people see the world differently, and their innovative ideas can help impact positive change for the future. It’s this ingenuity that ACT wants to support, opening up opportunities for young people who are already making positive waves in their communities.
“You could have a great idea for your own social enterprise supporting a charitable cause, you might have a community project in mind, maybe you want to raise money for a specific charity – or maybe you want to learn more and teach more about making a difference”.
Applications for the Bright Future Prize are now open until 21 May. There are small grants alongside the £20,000 main prize available for the best ideas, and winners will get support to put them into motion.
Police Scotland has reported that Robbie Russell (25) who had been missing from Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, since Sat, 17 April, has been traced safe and well in Edinburgh this afternoon.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for the help of the public to trace a 25-year-old man reported missing from the Wester Hailes area of the city.
Robbie Russell was last seen around 7am on Saturday (17 April) in the Longstone area. He also has connections in the Sighthill and Dumbryden areas of the city as well as Livingston.
He is described as 5ft 11ins, of slim build with dark brown hair and brown eyes. When last seen he was wearing a black hoodie, black joggers and black and white trainers.
Inspector Keith Forrester said: “We are growing increasing concerned for Robbie and ask anyone who may know where he is to get in touch. Likewise if he sees this appeal, please call your family or Police Scotland to let us know you are safe.
“Anyone who has information that may help us find Robbie is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 0571 of Monday 19 April, 2021.”
Sustrans Big Pedal is back! The UK’s biggest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting challenge takes place between 19 and 30 April.
Keeping children active is more important than ever and because we don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of Coronavirus restrictions, pupils are able to to compete regardless of if they are learning at school or at home.
Big Pedal is back for 2021. Our long-running competition to get more people travelling actively to school has been changed so that children learning at home can take part.
It’s the UK’s largest cycling, walking, wheeling and scooting competition for primary and secondary schools.
The competition has now been running for 11 years.
And this year it’s fronted by Dame Sarah Storey, British Paralympian and 38-time world champion in cycling and swimming.
Big Pedal 2021 will run from19 to 30 April 2021.
It will see young people across the UK compete with one another to make the most journeys by cycling, walking, scooting or using a wheelchair.
The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Amazing Journeys’.
And we’re encouraging pupils to see their local areas from a different perspective and learn about the benefits of active travel.
The coronavirus pandemic and national and local lockdowns have meant that many of us are spending more time at home.
So we’ve adapted Sustrans Big Pedal 2021 to become more flexible to the world around us at the moment.
Children will be able to take part in the competition and supporting activities whether they are travelling to school or learning at home.
The importance of staying active during lockdown
Regular physical activity is vital to promote good physical and mental health.
And guidance from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommending children partake in 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
New data from Sport England suggests there has been a decline in the physical activity levels of children due to the pandemic.
Almost a third of children in England are engaging in less than 30 minutes of daily physical activity in the 2019 – 2020 academic year.
But our Big Pedal challenge is an easy way for families to stay active whether schools are open or not.
Keeping active to help protect the NHS
Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner for the Sheffield City Region said: “I am delighted to be involved with the Big Pedal in 2021, and delighted it will be pandemic-proof this year too!
“Health has been in the spotlight over the past year, like never before, and getting out for a cycle ride has been one of the few activities that have been unaffected by the various restrictions.
“Staying active is one of the ways we can all play our part in protecting the NHS throughout our lives.
“Active people are less likely to fall into ill-health and suffer from the many diseases caused by not getting enough exercise.
“I really hope to see as many people as possible involved this year.
“It will be a fantastic way to start the Spring and to give ourselves a challenge in what has already been a challenging start to the year.”
Sustrans CEO, Xavier Brice said: “We’re excited that the Big Pedal is returning for 2021, after what has been a truly difficult year for all.
“And the need to make time to incorporate physical activity into our daily routines seems important now more than ever.
“We don’t know exactly what the rest of 2021 will bring in terms of coronavirus restrictions.
“But we’re delighted pupils will be able to take part, regardless of where they are learning.
“Active travel has proven its worth over the past year, with more people looking for socially distanced ways to move around and remain active in lockdown.
“As we look towards life after Covid-19 and schools returning as normal, we hope to see local authorities use the next stage of funding announced in November for cycling and walking.
“We need to continue to make it easier for families to travel actively to school.
“More people travelling actively for essential everyday journeys such as the school run means fewer cars on the road.
“And this helps to ease congestion and reduce air pollution around school gates”.
Join in the Big Pedal fun
Another fun and easy way to get involved in this year’s Big Pedal is to enter our family competition.
Share pictures or short videos of you and your children getting active between 19-30 April using #BigPedalWin on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Make sure you’re following @Sustrans on your favourite social media platform for the latest news about this competition.
Whether you’re doing the usual school run or just need some inspiration for keeping the family active in lockdown, we’ve got you covered.
Holly Blackham is hoping to raise funds and encourage families to take part in charity event to help society’s disadvantaged
Holly Blackham from Edinburgh is taking part in Scotland’s biggest ever football relay to raise vital funds for Street Soccer Scotland, a charity that helps people from a variety of socially disadvantaged backgrounds through football-themed training.
The 13-year-old will take part in the inaugural ‘Big Dribble’ along with 64 other participants as they look to dribble a specially designed Street Soccer Scotland tartan football 230 miles from Pittodrie Stadium in Aberdeen, down the east coast of Scotland and through the central belt, finishing at Scotland’s National Stadium, Hampden Park.
The challenge will start at 6am on 23rd April and will see participants walking day and night, with Holly taking part in the Edinburgh part of the relay passing Murrayfield, her old Primary school – Rosemount Primary, and the clubhouse of her current team Hutchison Vale. The challenge is expected to finish at approximately 11.30am on Sunday 25th April.
Holly said: “For me, football is about so much more than just kicking a ball. It’s about playing as a team, having the right mentality and working hard to put in the effort. Street Soccer Scotland have a lot of the same values and see the affect football can have and I want to support them to do the great work they carry out in communities.
“Football plays a big role in my life. I have played for Hutchison Vale for the past few years and hope to one day be a professional player for Aberdeen FC. The Big Dribble was something I was keen to be a part of as it allows me to help others through my love of football.”
David Duke, Founder and CEO of Street Soccer Scotland, hopes the new initiative can help to raise awareness of the charity’s work and believes this is a great opportunity to unite the country through football during these difficult times.
Join us for a special @thekiltwalk challenge as we aim to create Scotland’s biggest ever ‘Tartan’ football relay from Aberdeen to Hampden Park. We are looking for teammates to take a section of the walk (COVID-19 compliant) & help raise funds and awareness of our work. #Kiltwalkpic.twitter.com/1oGFWJSSR4
“We’re excited to launch our first participation event involving some amazing people from across Scotland,” he said. “We’ve been looking at hosting a country-wide event for a while now, but with COVID putting those plans on hold, we’re delighted that we’ve found a solution in The Big Dribble that unites people in a nationwide challenge while safely taking part in their own local areas.
“Dribbling the football from Aberdeen all the way to Glasgow through the day and night is no easy feat, so we’re extremely thankful to Holly and the others for rising to the challenge. Their fundraising efforts are massively appreciated and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who has continued to support Street Soccer Scotland throughout this challenging time.”
Street Soccer Scotland has also launched ‘The Wee Dribble’ so families across the country can also take on their own challenge over the same weekend. The charity has 50 special tartan footballs to giveaway to families who sign up to the event, and anyone who raises over £100 will also receive an exclusive tartan t-shirt.
David added: “We’re overwhelmed at how quickly our Big Dribble spaces filled up, so much so we’ve launched our Wee Dribble fundraiser to allow anyone and everyone across Scotland to still take part safely in their local areas.
“We had so many families looking to sign up to The Big Dribble, but as the challenge takes place during the night in some areas, it was a bit more difficult for them to take part. Now, the Wee Dribble allows children, parents and guardians to put their own spin on the challenge.
“Whether it’s doing laps in their back garden or keep-ups at their local park, we’re hoping as many families as possible will join in the fun to help support those less fortunate at this time when they need it the most.”
The event will be part of this year’s virtual Kiltwalk and allows people to take part in the nation’s biggest ever football relay in a COVID friendly way. The total funds raised by Holly and those in The Big and Wee Dribbles will be topped up 50% by The Hunter Foundation.
Also taking part in the event will be a few well-known faces from Scottish football, along with representatives from global brands Baillie Gifford, John Lewis Partners, Waitrose and The Wood Group.
To donate to Holly’s fundraising efforts, please visit:
Families looking to take part in ‘The Wee Dribble’ can sign up at www.thekiltwalk.co.uk and choosing Street Soccer Scotland as the nominated charity.
Founded in 2009 by David Duke MBE, Street Soccer Scotland is a social enterprise and charity which has helped over 10,000 people by using the power of football to create positive change by providing purpose, opportunity and connection for adults and young people experiencing social exclusion. Street Soccer Scotland delivers programmes across the whole of the country, 365 days a year.
For more information or to donate to Street Soccer Scotland, please visit:
Polling shows majority of adults in Scotland would back end-to-end encryption in private messaging if children’s safety is not compromised
NSPCC chief calls for a reset of the debate to protect the safety and privacy rights of children
Home Secretary to address NSPCC event on end-to-end encryption
The NSPCC is warning that private messaging is the frontline of child sexual abuse online and is calling for an urgent re-set of debates on end-to-end encryption.
The call comes as polling shows the Scottish public support for end-to-end encryption of private messages would double if platforms could demonstrate children’s safety would not be compromised.
An NSPCC/YouGov survey found 29% of adults in Scotland support using end-to-end encryption on social media and messaging services, but this jumps to 59% if it was rolled out only if and when tech firms can ensure children’s safety is protected.
A total of 183 adults in Scotland were surveyed between 31st December 2020 and 4th January 2021.
Major tech firms currently use a range of technology to identify child abuse images and detect grooming and sexual abuse in private messages.
But there are fears that Facebook’s proposals to end-to-end encrypt Facebook Messenger and Instagram would render these tools useless, with estimates that 70% of global child abuse reports could be lost.
In 2018 these reports resulted in 2,500 arrests and 3,000 children being safeguarded in the UK.
A major NSPCC roundtable attended by the UK Government Home Secretary, Priti Patel, will today (Monday) bring together child protection, civil society and law enforcement experts from the UK, US, Canada, Ireland and Australia.
The charity will call for an urgent reset of the debate around end-to-end encryption which they say has increasingly become an ‘either or’ argument skewed in favour of adult privacy over the safety and privacy rights of children.
More than half (52%) of adults in Scotland believe the ability to detect child abuse images is more important than the right to privacy and more than a third (39%) think they are equally important. Only 3% say privacy should be prioritised over safety.
94% support social networks and messaging services having the technical ability to detect child abuse images on their sites.
95% support a technical ability to detect adults sending sexual images to children on their services.
Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said: “Private messaging is the frontline of child sexual abuse but the current debate around end-to-end encryption risks leaving children unprotected where there is most harm.
“The public want an end to rhetoric that heats up the issue but shines little light on a solution, so it’s in firms’ interests to find a fix that allows them to continue to use tech to disrupt abuse in an end-to-end encrypted world.
“We need a coordinated response across society, but ultimately the UK Government must be the guardrail that protects child users if tech companies choose to put them at risk with dangerous design choices.”
A re-set debate should focus on demonstrating the impact that end-to-end encryption will have on engineering away platforms’ ability to find abuse in private messaging, and how this can be avoided.
The current debate predominantly focuses on the impact of end-to-end encryption for law enforcement, which emphasises the investigation of abuse after it has already taken place – rather than focussing on the loss of platforms’ ability to detect and disrupt abuse much earlier.
At the roundtable, the NSPCC will share new research and analysis about the implications of end-to-end encryption for child protection and call for tech firms to refocus their approach through safer design features and investment in technology.
It says tech firms should strive to achieve a new settlement that balances properly the benefits and risks of end-to-end encryption, underpinned by legal safeguards through regulation.
The NSPCC is calling for a reset of the debate that allows parties to reach a balanced settlement on both safety and privacy by:
Considering the needs of all users, including children
Avoiding characterising children’s safety as a simplistic trade off against adult’s privacy
Reflecting children’s digital rights under international law
Tech firms respecting the full range of fundamental rights at stake, rather than privileging some over others
Considering how particular design features can exacerbate the risk of end-to-end encryption to children – e.g. Facebook algorithms that suggest children as friends to adults and plans to auto delete messages on WhatsApp
The UK Government Home Secretary will address the meeting a year after the NSPCC brought together 130 children’s organisations to call on Facebook not to proceed with end-to-end encryption until they can guarantee children’s safety won’t be compromised.
The NSPCC’s report End-to-End Encryption: Understanding the Impacts for Child Safety Online compiled research and interviews with experts from 17 organisations in the UK, US and Australia, including industry, government, law enforcement, civil society and academics.
Its policy briefing Private messaging and the rollout of end-to-end encryption – the implications for child protectionsets out the importance of a range of responses to ensure child protection can be maintained in end-to-end encrypted environments, through technological, civil society and legislative and regulatory action.
Edinburgh College lecturers are scheduled for further industrial action this week, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st April in defence of the Further Education sector and the professional status of qualified lecturers. This follows previous strongly supported strike action taken prior to the Easter holidays.
Colleges Scotland’s refusal to ratify their own agreed definition of the lecturer’s role, a definition the union accepts, has so far prevented a settlement. Their refusal threatens to undermine the delivery of quality education to Edinburgh College students, many of whom have over the years seen unqualified staff on poorer pay, terms and conditions deliver qualifications up to HN level.
EIS FELA members will this week also be balloted on Action Short of Strike Action. This constitutes an escalation of the dispute incorporating a withdrawal of good will.
Edinburgh College Branch Secretary Penny Gower described what is at stake: ‘Our members are losing money by striking, but this action is not for personal gain. It is to make sure our students get the quality of education they deserve.
“All we ask is that the employers ratify their own proposals which we have already accepted. If they care about students they should do that immediately.”
EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Our members are continuing to stand firm against the practice of replacing lecturers with less qualified, lower paid staff. Colleges claim that there is no plan to do this, yet they continue to refuse to ratify an agreement that would halt this practice.
“If colleges are not seeking to replace lecturers with lower qualified staff, why are they so reluctant to ratify the agreement – incorporating their own proposals – that would stop it from happening?”
A spokesperson for the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said: “Colleges will do everything they can to ensure that students are supported during this difficult time, and that any disruption is minimised.
“The EIS-FELA has refused repeated requests to suspend the strikes while meaningful discussions carry on – national industrial action is wholly unnecessary.”
Ahead of the start of the 124th STUC Annual Conference today, GMB Scotland members from care, nursing, refuse, ambulance, and school support services, will tell Ministers, “We’re worth more!” as they campaign for a rejection of the NHS and COSLA pay offers for 2021.
GMB workplace representatives in NHS Scotland and COSLA are strongly urging members to reject the respective 4 per cent and £800 increases for the lowest paid workers, arguing the Scottish Government can and should go further after the last twelve months.
The union’s consultative ballot in COSLA will run until Thursday 22 April, and until Wednesday 5 May in NHS Scotland.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said:“We were told at the start of the pandemic that Scotland was prepared for COVID-19, but nothing could have been further from the truth.
“Health and social care staff tackled the first wave of COVID-19 without proper PPE, home carers were left without workplace testing until January, and school support staff were an afterthought in the education recovery plan.
“From PPE, testing, sick pay support and socially distanced working arrangements, everything that’s been put in place to protect the workers on which we all depend had to be fought for by the workers’ themselves.
“And after a wretched year and desperate decade, where their modest incomes have been cut by thousands of pounds, our members are prepared to fight again for their proper value, against pay offers that don’t amount to much more than a £10 a week increase for many.
“They’ve heard the applause and they’ve read all the political platitudes, but now they are telling the Scottish Government to listen, and the message is clear: “We’re worth more.”
The continuing safety concerns due to COVID-19 means that the 2021 annual Congress will be held as a digital event.
Delegates from over 50 affiliated unions and trades union councils, as well as the STUC equalities committees, will meet over three days to debate and agree new policies.
We will also hear from sisters and brothers from other Trade Union Centres and from politicians.
The STUC General Council will deliver its report of the past 6 months work.
The digital format of Congress limits some of the things we can do but we still have a busy fringe event as well as expo sessions from our sponsors and supportive organisations.
You can watch the whole of Congress live on Facebook or YouTube!
