Month: April 2021

Why we can all learn from Ramadan

Ramadan is here, but how much do those of other faiths, or none, know about this important religious festival? 

Former primary school teacher Catherine Lynch of education resource experts PlanBee takes a closer look at why and how Muslims celebrate Ramadan and considers what the whole family can learn from its customs and rituals

A Pillar of Islam

Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and lasts 29 to 30 days. The Islamic calendar is based on the cycle of the moon so its dates change every year. This year, Ramadan will begin on the evening of Monday 12th April when the new moon first appears in the sky and end on Tuesday 11th May, the night of the waning crescent moon.

No food or drink

During Ramadan, Muslims don’t eat or during the hours of daylight. Children don’t usually fast until they are 14 years old. Some Muslims don’t have to fast, including, pregnant women, elderly people, those who are unwell and people travelling.

Muslims try to spend time with their family during Ramadan. They also try to help people in need, give up bad habits and devote time to prayer. Many Muslims try to read the whole of the Qur’an during Ramadan.

Which meals are eaten during Ramadan?

The meal Muslims have before the sun rises is called Suhoor, meaning ‘of the dawn’. Iftar, meaning ‘break of a fast’ is the evening meal eaten after sunset

What is Qadr Night?

Laylat al-Qadr is the night Muslims believe the Qur’an was sent down from Heaven to the world and revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Laylat al-Qadr is thought to have happened between the 23rd and 27th night of Ramadan.

What happens at the end of Ramadan?

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a big celebration called ‘Eid ul-Fitr’. Muslims dress in their finest clothes, give gifts to children, spend time with their friends and family and give money to charity.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars of Islam are acts that are important in Muslim life:

The first is Shahadah, the declaration that Allah is the only God.

The is Salat, the five prayers Muslims say every day

The third is Zakat, meaning to be charitable and give to those in need.

The fourth is Sawm, the month-long fast Muslims do during Ramadan.

The is Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Easy Ramadan crafting

Make moon–sighting binoculars with your children

  • Get two toilet rolls and stick them together to make binoculars.
  • Decorate the toilet rolls to look like the night sky.
  • Attach string to the binoculars.

Want to find out more about Islam?

PlanBee have loads of downloadable ready-to-teach Islam RE lessons for primary school children. They also have this free Beautiful Names of Allah word search.

Age Scotland’s ‘Check in, Cash out’ campaign urges older people to get what they are entitled to

New figures from Age Scotland reveal that older people on low incomes missed out on £88 million in Council Tax reduction support last year.

These “astonishing” levels show that much more needs to be done to boost people’s understanding of the financial support available and make the process of receiving it much more streamlined.

As council tax bills for this financial year land on doormats across Scotland, the charity estimates that hundreds of thousands of older people are missing out on vital support they are entitled to. With 150,000 pensioners living in poverty and tens of thousands more on the cusp, Age Scotland says this huge sum of unclaimed support would make a real difference to those most in need.

These figures have been revealed as the charity launches its new ‘Check in, Cash out’ social security awareness campaign.

The Age Scotland campaign aims to raise older people’s awareness and increase uptake of the financial support available to help them live well, and work to change the narrative about social security so it is treated in a more positive light, removing any stigma about accessing it.

It will run all year round, urging people to call their 0800 12 44 222 helpline for an entitlement check and access their wide range of free information guides about social security. The charity will also offer awareness and training sessions about the most relevant financial support for older people.

Age Scotland believes that Council Tax Reduction is one of the most widely underclaimed benefits and heavily linked to missing Pension Credit support.

The figures, confirmed by the Scottish Government, show that the average annual award for Council Tax Reduction in 2019-20 to people over 65 in Scotland was £716.56.

It is estimated that at least 123,000 older households in Scotland are not claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to which would make them eligible for full Council Tax Reduction.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive said: “This astonishing level of underclaimed Council Tax Reduction, among other sources of financial support such as Pension Credit, could be making a real difference to the lives of those older people on low incomes, driving down levels of poverty and boosting their wellbeing.

“We’ve got to make it easier for people to claim and ensure that accessing passported benefits is much more streamlined.

“Age Scotland’s helpline identified around £500,000 in unclaimed social security for older people last year but that is clearly just the tip of the iceberg.

“Every year hundreds of millions of pounds in vital financial support is missed by those who are unaware it exists, don’t know where to turn for help to claim, are locked out as they aren’t online, or feel stigma about needing this help.

“We’re here to support older people to find out more about of the financial support available to them with our free information guides and free eligibility checks through our helpline. We can also help people to claim if they are missing out.

“Social security is not just for older people on low income. If you have a disability or illness which means you need extra help, or care for someone, you could also be missing out.

“We would urge older people to call our helpline on 0800 12 44 222 to find out if they are receiving all the social security support they are entitled to. Please don’t hesitate to check in, as you may well be entitled to cash out on additional financial support.”

Call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222 for free eligibility checks, as well as advice and free guides on Council Tax Reduction and other social security such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.

Age Scotland’s information guide on Council Tax Reduction and their “Check in, Cash out” campaign is available at www.age.scot/CheckInCashOut. 

Appeal after body found in Water of Leith

Officers in Edinburgh are appealing for the help of the public to establish the movements of a man whose body was found in the Water of Leith.

The man, aged 67, was last seen around 6.35am on Friday, 9 April, 2021, in Leith Walk, outside a food store near the junction with Pilrig Street. His body was found around 7.55am the next day, Saturday, 10 April, in the water near to Couper Street.

His family are aware and the death is not believed to be suspicious. However, officers are still working to find answers for his family and are keen to speak to anyone who may be able to help in establishing the man’s movements after 6.35am on Friday.

He was wearing a dark red anorak with a fur trim hood, dark blue jeans, black leather Doc Martin boots and a black beanie hat. He is described as 5ft 5ins, of slim build and with grey hair.

Detective Constable Karen Durham said: “We do not believe his death is suspicious but it is important that we establish how and why the man came to be near the Water of Leith. In particular, we are keen to find out if he went home on Friday morning or not.

“Anyone who may have seen him or who can help is asked to call us on 101, quoting incident 0869 of Saturday, 10 April, 2021.”

How to keep heating costs down at end of energy price-cap

With the combination of more people working from home and the current colder temperatures, heating bills for most people across the UK are rocketing.

Energy bills will rise further for millions more after the regulator, Ofgem, lifted the price cap on standard tariffs back to pre-pandemic levels but there are lots of simple things you can do to keep cosy and reduce your fuel bills during the current chilly period.

Here are some top tips from NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new build homes, to help you save on your winter bills:

·       Reduce draughts – an important job as winter approaches is to make sure that your house does not have any unintended draughts. Floorboards and skirtings usually go ignored but cold air can easily filter through, so check for gaps and fill them in. Check to see if your letterbox is draughty, which can lead to cold hallways – installing a letter box draught excluder that fits onto the inside of your front door is an inexpensive easy DIY job. If you have an open fireplace and chimney which is not used, this can be draught proofed to stop warm air escaping and cold air entering your property. Remember that openings for ventilation should not be blocked.

·       Bleed your radiators – trapped air or gas prevents hot water from heating your radiators fully so, if you have a radiator that is warm at the bottom but cool at the top, this may well mean there is air in the system, which may require bleeding to ensure maximum efficiency of the heating system.

·       Loft insulation – insulating your loft is a simple, inexpensive and effective way to reduce energy waste and lower your heating bills. All new houses are fitted with loft insulation that meets the latest building regulations but, if you are in an older property, you may want to think about renewing it or topping it up.

·       Thick curtains – they can help to protect your home from losing heat through windows. It’s important to try to get as much sunlight into your home during the day as possible but, as soon as dusk falls, remember to close curtains to reduce the need for additional heating.

·       Keep radiators free – a common mistake we often make is to place our sofas in front of the radiators which can absorb the heat.

·       Cavity wall insulation – around a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through walls so, if you live in an older property, considering thermal insulation of cavity walls could save you lots of money.

·       Loft hatches – energy loss through the loft hatch is often overlooked. Insulating the hatch and ensuring that an effective draught seal is in place will help to keep heat energy in and your home warm.

·       Windows – energy-efficient glazing keeps your home warmer, allowing less heat to be lost. Double glazing is fitted as standard to new-build homes but, if your house is older, replacing windows could be a good investment as they help to keep warmth in and reduce external noise.

·       Service your heating system – all central heating boilers should be serviced and safety checked at least once a year by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. If your boiler is old, then consider an upgrade. According to the Energy Saving Trust, a new A-rated condensing boiler can save up to £315 a year on heating bills – most new homes have this type of boiler.

·       Room temperature controls – your thermostat should typically be set between 18°C and 21°C, but by installing thermostatic radiator valves you can set different temperatures in different rooms (turn down the radiators in unoccupied rooms), according to individual preference. These will be standard in new homes but are easily fitted to existing radiators.

·       Floor insulation – insulating your ground floor or floors above any unheated spaces e.g. integral garages will assist in keeping your home warm.

·       Insulating tanks, pipes and radiators – Lagging water tanks and pipes and insulating behind radiators reduces the amount of heat lost, so you spend less money heating water up, and hot water stays hotter for longer.

Standards and Policy Manager at NHBC Giles Willson, said: “People living in new homes typically benefit from lower energy bills because their properties are built in line with the latest Government regulations for energy efficiency.

“However, whether you live in a newly-built home or an older property, there are a lot of ways that could save money on utility bills during the coldest part of the year when many millions of us are also working from the kitchen table and home-schooling our children.”

Let’s Do This! Prince’s Trust Development Award course starts at Edinburgh College next week

The Prince’s Trust Personal Development Award is a unique course that allows students to gain new skills, meet new people and achieve qualifications.

It lasts for 12 weeks and the next course starts on 19 April.

What you will learn:

  • Develop CV and interview skills
  • Gain personal development qualifications
  • Money Management
  • Work Experience
  • Career Planning
  • Presentation Skills
  • Teamwork

Find out more here:

https://edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses/Access-and-Continuing-Education/Prince%27s%20Trust%20Personal%20Development%20Award/HW1PTPDG20

Families encouraged to step in the right direction this Spring

– Scottish walking charity shares ten ways to add fun activities to the family stroll –

WITH longer evenings and warmer weather ahead, a Scottish walking charity is revealing its top ten tips to inspire families to embrace the outdoors and engage with nature.

This comes after Paths for All launched its Spring Path Day campaign which includes 30 days of activity ideas, an online content hub, and £1000 worth of outdoor educational prizes for schools and children to win throughout April.

The charity understands that many families may feel bored of their usual walking routes, and hopes the hub will provide a variety of ideas to keep younger children entertained while enjoying time spent connecting with nature and making memories.

Information has been designed to motivate families to go outdoors and get moving in a free and safe way, with activities including treasure hunts, wildlife spotting and creative walking.

As walking has been one of the only reasons many have had to leave the house for months, Paths for All has pulled together ten things for families to try outdoors this spring:

1.       Make a Treasure Trail

Make up a trail and the first one to complete it could receive a prize at the end.

2.       Wildlife spotting

Take a notepad on your walk and make notes on any interesting wildlife you spot – you could turn it into a game and the person with the most points wins.

3.       Build a Den

Woodlands are great for den building and helps kids solve problems and work together creatively.

4.       Creative walking

Simply moving helps soothe our minds, and being creative adds to that. Let nature inspire your creativity.

5.       Walk with another person

Invite a friend for a walk today and show them where you like to go and why – following Scottish Government Covid-19 guidelines.

6.       Walking Games

Come up with fun games to play on your walks, example – eye spy, left or right, spring nature spotting.

7.       Step count or distance challenge

Release your inner competitiveness and challenge someone (or yourself) to get a certain number of daily steps or mileage.

8.       Take a picnic

Pack a rucksack with your favourite snacks and drinks and head off along a path for an alfresco lunch.

9.       Do a litter pick

Help to look after your favourite paths and places. If you’ve spotted some annoying litter – bag it up and bin it responsibly.

10.   Be wise outside

We’re lucky to be able to access our countryside freely so make sure to treat the Scottish landscape in a responsible way whilst out and about.

Regular walks can help keep Scots safe while allowing us to meet up and spend time with family and friends. It has been brought into focus during the pandemic how positive getting outdoors is to boost mental, physical and social well-being.  

Rona Gibb, Senior Manager at Paths for All, said: “Fresh air, being outdoors and connecting with nature is not only positive for our physical and mental health, it is also a fun way to socialise with others safely.

“Walking is key to leading a happy and healthy life. As we move into spring there is no better time to incorporate it into your family routine, even if it is just a short walk to school or round the block.

“The Spring Path Days online hub provides a tonne of ideas for families, and will offer something to suit all interests – there is also a host of competitions to get involved in!”

The charity encourages families across Scotland to get involved in its seasonal campaign by sharing a photo of what they have been doing this spring.

All participants will be entered automatically into a prize draw which will see 10 individuals win a den-building kit. 

One lucky winner will also win a £500 voucher for their school to spend on outdoor educational resources.

Enter here: 

https://form.typeform.com/to/MokcLffC?typeform-medium=embed-snippet

Paths for All’s focus is clear: it wants to get Scotland walking: everyone, every day, everywhere. For more information on Paths for All, visit: 

https://www.pathsforall.org.uk

Morrisons sows Seeds of Hope

Supermarket is giving away 25 million sunflowers to customers

Morrisons is giving away 25 million sunflower seeds to customers this week in an effort to spread hope and lift the spirits of the nation. 

The sunflower seeds will be offered to customers in packs of ten by checkout colleagues after they have finished their shopping and included within Morrisons online shopping orders. Morrisons Community Champions will also be working with schools, care homes and community groups to distribute the packs and plant the seeds in their local areas.  

Customers can plant the seeds in pots at home and watch them grow into dwarf sunflowers which will be between six and 14 inches tall. 

Rose Morgan, Community Champion at Morrisons Peckham store, came up with the idea to help customers plant hope for a brighter future as lockdown restrictions start to ease.

Rose said: “Everyone is emerging from lockdown in different ways and I wanted to give my customers fresh hope and food for the heart by putting smiles on as many faces as possible.

“I had the idea of using sunflower seeds to represent this new beginning and emailed David, our CEO, to tell him we’d be giving some away in our store in Peckham. I’m so happy he liked the idea and am very proud that it will now be taking place in all Morrisons stores.” 

Morrisons will be giving away the 2.5 million packets of sunflower seeds to customers in all 497 stores from today – Monday 12 April. They should be planted in a 6-inch-diameter pot at a depth of half an inch and will begin to sprout in two to five days. 

David Potts, Morrisons CEO, said: “This has been a very difficult year for our country and this winter has seemed especially dark and tough. So as spring arrives, and with Covid seemingly in retreat, we want to help celebrate the growing sense of national optimism by planting these sunflowers across the UK, representing the brighter and lighter times of hope ahead.”  

To continue to spread messages of hope, Morrisons Community Champions have also launched the  ‘Little Sunshine’ award – to recognise those who have gone above and beyond in their local community throughout the pandemic. 

All 497 Morrisons stores will deliver ‘Little Sunshine’ certificates and gifts to hundreds of children nationwide who have been nominated for their contribution to supporting the local community through the pandemic. 

Jog for Jugs founder sets cheeky new fundraising goal after busting original target in under two hours

Bosom buddies now aim to reach milestone of £8008 as star-studded social media campaign goes viral

From Dundee to Dubai and New York to New Zealand, Jog for Jugs – the new charity campaign that launched on Saturday – has captured the imaginations of social media users across the globe.

With over 40,000 views in just 24 hours, the tongue-in-cheek launch video, starring a host of Scottish celebs including Lorraine Kelly and Emma Louise Connelly, has been shared far and wide as participants helped spread the word to raise breast cancer awareness. 

Jog for Jugs’ original target of £1000 for breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! was smashed in under two hours of the campaign going live, and the team has now upped the ante by aiming to reach £8008 (to represent ‘BOOB’) within the next four weeks. 

The campaign has been a labour of love for a group of ‘boomerang buddies’ who have temporarily moved back to their hometown of Dundee after over a decade of living elsewhere, to support each other, friends and family through the pandemic. 

During lockdown, Becky Chapple (28), a Regional Manager for Amazon, received the unfortunate news that her mum Susan had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, the signs were caught early, and swift treatment has meant that her future looks bright.

However, after researching the disease over the course of her mum’s treatment, Becky discovered that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lives, and that regardless of gender everybody should be checking themselves regularly. 

Becky and her friends devised the Jog for Jugs campaign to shine a spotlight on the issue and to help reduce the stigma of talking about boobs.

Participants in the campaign are encouraged to jog/walk/cycle/swim/SUP (any way they can move their body) 8km, to donate £8 to the dedicated JustGiving page and to nominate 8 pals to do the same and – most importantly – to share a ‘check yourselfie’ on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #JogForJugs, to represent getting into the habit of regularly checking boobs or pecs for concerning changes. 

The campaign is particularly timely due to the recent news that 2 in 5 people have been too scared to visit their doctor due to Covid-19, and CoppaFeel! is deeply concerned that this will result in a flurry of late-stage diagnoses once lockdown restrictions are fully lifted.

Becky commented: “Those who know me know that I am very rarely lost for words, but on Sunday evening as I reflected on all of the craziness and kindness of our launch weekend, I was genuinely speechless.

“Our close-knit Jog for Jugs committee has been working on the campaign development for a couple of months now and we all thought we had a nice concept. However, we couldn’t have imagined that it would reach so many people in so little time.

“Our minds are totally blown and there aren’t enough words in the world to convey my thanks to each and every person who has donated or spread the word about Jog For Jugs so far.

“After such a challenging year for everyone, it really does show that light can come from the darkest of places. Our ambitious new target of £8008 would make such a tangible difference to the fabulous folks at CoppaFeel! who have suffered from a dip in donations due to Covid-19. I hope, with a lot of help from our friends, that we can achieve it.’ 

To donate to the Jog for Jugs Campaign please visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jogforjugs 

You can follow the journey on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.