Call for Edinburgh residents to celebrate favourite Scottish sights in fundraising challenge
The charity Sight Scotland is inviting Edinburgh residents to tackle a fundraising activity inspired by their favourite Scottish sight this summer to support people with vision loss.
With the pandemic making staycations a preferred option for many Scots this year, it’s the perfect opportunity for Edinburgh residents to celebrate what they love most about Scotland with their own unique ‘Sight for Sight’ challenge.
From a physical activity set at a much-loved Scottish spot to a themed creative challenge at home, every ‘Sight for Sight’ fundraiser can help make a difference to the lives of people with vision loss.
Kerry Lindsay, Sight Scotland Head of Fundraising, said: “Every hour in Scotland, someone starts to lose their sight. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the challenges many blind and partially sighted people face in the community, with many experiencing additional challenges such as difficulties with social distancing and increased social isolation.
“With our fantastic fundraisers’ support, our new Family Wellbeing Service can be there for people with sight loss now and into the future as the number of people affected by sight loss in Scotland increases.
“You can be as creative as you like with your Sight Scotland ‘Sight for Sight’ fundraiser. From golfing challenges at your favourite Scottish course and Munro treks, to Highland cow-themed cake bakes – we can’t wait to celebrate all things Scottish with you this summer!”
Life-long Lego fan, Stewart Lamb Cromar, of Edinburgh, took on a unique ‘Sight for Sight’ challenge for Sight Scotland this spring by creating a mini Lego build of the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library in just 100 bricks. He’s now encouraging others to take part in ‘Sight for Sight’ and support people impacted by sight loss.
Stewart, who has sight loss himself, said: “Sight Scotland do an incredible job empowering people with sight loss and blindness, but they also raise awareness of what can be a hidden disability.
“My Sight for Sight fundraiser was a fantastic opportunity to make a positive out of my own sight loss, having fun along the way and connecting with some fantastic new people!”
Call 0131 446 3089 or visit Sightscotland.org.uk to get started with your ‘Sight for Sight’ fundraising challenge.
Social Enterprise Salon launches unique training programme
An innovative Edinburgh hair and beauty salon is offering school leavers the chance to get a head start in the business.
Kerry Anderson, founder of social enterprise Brave, Strong, Beautiful is launching a new, unique 12-week training programme for young people interested in the hair and beauty industry.
The first course begins this month (July) with students receiving two days’ training each week with Kerry and her team – the only programme of its kind to offer school leavers the opportunity to learn in a working salon environment, rather than taking the college route.
In addition to giving the trainees an invaluable insight into the industry, the course offers additional support in customer service, confidence-building and employability skills.
“It’s been very difficult for young people looking to enter the hair and beauty business to get any kind of hands-on work experience during the pandemic,” says founder of Brave, Strong, Beautiful, Kerry Anderson.
“But we’re delighted to now be able to offer the sort of practical experience that will not only help them decide if the industry is for them, but also equip them for their first role in the business.”
Over the next year Kerry, a passionate advocate for investing in young people’s future and making a tangible difference, will provide places for 32 youngsters to train in her award-winning enterprise.
She set up Brave, Strong, Beautiful as a community interest company in 2019 with a social mission to help young people with training opportunities, employment and mental health support.
The enterprise, which won the Scottish Edge Award Community Interest Company, currently has two Edinburgh salons – in Lothian Road and Restalrig Road – where the not-for-profit business offers a range of hair and beauty services from colour, cut and blow drys to tanning, waxing and eye treatments, as well as encouraging and supporting young people to forge a positive future.
“It’s a very rewarding business to be in, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming a new generation of potential practitioners and introducing them to a really inspiring career, in a really exciting industry,” said Kerry.
Seated volleyball, 400m wheelchair and walking challenge, and pitch n putt: Capital’s very own version of the Olympics
With just 20 days until Tokyo 2020 finally gets underway, elderly care home residents across Scotland have launched their own Olympics with a special Tokyo-inspired opening ceremony event, following on from weeks of training.
The Renaissance Care Olympics will see 15 care homes across the country compete across five sports which have been designed to suit the abilities of the care home athletes to encourage physical and mental wellness.
Edinburgh-based Letham Park Care Home and Mathieson House Care Home kicked off their opening ceremonies within the individual homes.
The residents, dressed in their own team shirts, were given a taste of Tokyo with Japanese taster plates, chop stick trials, music and discussions on the Japanese culture. Mathieson House also recreated the famous Olympic flame, using colourful tissue paper and streamers.
The athletes have been in training over the month of June, getting ready to compete in each of the sports throughout July before a closing ceremony to celebrate their achievements at the end of the month.
For the gold medal, the residents will be competing to see who can walk or wheelchair the most 400m stints throughout July, how many hits of a balloon they can get to keep it off the ground for seated volleyball, and how many punches they can land on the boxing pads.
They will also compete in Pitch n Putt, with nine holes set up around the homes, and a one off shot putt event where the resident who can throw the bean bag furthest will take the medal.
Ann Marie Byrne, Activity Co-ordinator at Renaissance Care’s Mathieson House Care Home, said: “Encouraging physical activity for our residents is extremely important and we really wanted to create something fun that would get everyone involved.
“The residents across each of the homes have been enjoying the training and we have already seen a great lift in spirits as they get in touch with their competitive side.
“During lockdown, we have been as creative as possible to come up with new ideas to ensure that the residents always have new experiences and the Olympics felt like the perfect way to bring everyone together.
“The relatives have been routing for their loved ones and we have been sharing their progress along the way, so it has been a lovely way to keep everyone connected.”
Annual grassroots sustainability programme provides vital funds as the nation’s clubs look ahead to the new season
Leith Rugby Club has been awarded £1,000 and a chance to meet Scotland International stars, after gaining Hero Club status in this year’s Royal Bank RugbyForce initiative.
Beating strong competition from over 130 entries, the Edinburgh club will receive its prize ahead of Royal Bank RugbyForce Weekend* on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August.
The weekend typically see’s rugby clubs across Scotland host a range a pre-season events, such as volunteer DIY and Community Fun Days, raising awareness of the positive impact that Scotland’s grassroots clubs have within their local areas.
Royal Bank RugbyForce is a nationwide rugby programme launched by Royal Bank of Scotland in association with Scottish Rugby. Since launch, more than half a million pounds has been distributed, directly benefiting three-quarters of amateur rugby clubs in Scotland.
With the pandemic causing unprecedented financial pressures, this year’s funding will help amateur clubs across Scotland to improve facilities, attract new members and to develop sustainable futures.
In partnership with Scottish Rugby, and subject to Covid-protocol at the time, Leith Rugby club will be visited by Scotland Internationals on RugbyForce Weekend*, including players from the women’s national XV, the men and women’s sevens teams or ex-legends of the Scottish game.
To help clubs through this period where they have to adapt to new guidelines, Royal Bank has also developed a toolkit for grassroots clubs, including information and advice on how they can remain financially sustainable, helping them to safeguard their clubs and the sport for the future.
The bank has also provided ‘Return to Rugby’ kits including social distancing solutions, directional signage and sanitation essentials as well as new bibs, balls and cones.
New for this year, grassroots heroes aged 18-35 from Scotland’s local rugby club have been encouraged to apply to become ‘Young Ambassadors’ as part of a fresh focus on the future by broadening the diversity of rugby club boardrooms.
The programme is working together with Scottish Rugby to appoint 10 Young Ambassadors onto club committees, providing them with an additional £500 grant from Royal Bank to deliver a project of their choosing.
An announcement on the winning Young Ambassadors will take place on the 19th July. Winners will be selected from all five Scottish Rugby regions and will be picked based on how their project helps their club to broaden their appeal in the local community and create positive societal change, as well as the great work they are currently delivering through their commitment to their club.
Jamie Drummond, club captain at Leith Rugby Club said: “Royal Bank RugbyForce Weekend is marked out in our calendars every season and we’re absolutely delighted to be one of this year’s winners.
“It’s been a tough eighteen months for clubs like ours up and down the country and programmes like this have proven to be more vital than ever. We can’t wait for RugbyForce Weekend and hopefully we can put on a fantastic event for our local community, bringing our club together and welcoming as many new faces as we possibly can.”
Malcolm Buchanan, Chairman, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scotland Board, said:“Leith Rugby Club thoroughly deserve their Royal Bank RugbyForce award win having delivered some vital work in their local community throughout the pandemic.
“After a year where the resilience and spirit of the grassroots game has been tested like never before, we are proud to maintain our continued commitment to the Scottish game and we are really looking forward to helping Leith and rugby clubs across the country to get back on their feet and return to the action on the pitch.”
The Leith club is celebrating it’s centenary this year:
Season 2021/22 will mark 100 years since, in 1921, the Leith Academicals Rugby Football Club was formed through a grant from the Leith Academy F.P. Association and the start of 100 consecutive years of rugby in Leith.
From the early days as one of the top junior clubs in Scotland, through our wonderful 70 years at Hawkhill, to today and our fantastic Academy Park home, we’ve lots to remember, cherish and celebrate.
To ensure we do that in a style befitting the birthday season, we’ve a range of events and activities planned as part of our centenary programme. We’re adding more events and details of those planned as they’re confirmed, and you can follow keep up to date on Facebook and at our website: https://bit.ly/2RDOazY
We hope you’ll participate in any and the many that interest you, as we bring the Leith Rugby community together to mark what will be a memorable season, as we honour our past, and continue to build our future.
Centre for Cities: Planning and transport changes in cities would bring UK 26% closer to its target
Make it easier to build energy efficient low-rise flats and terraces in city centres and suburbs
Improve public transport and charge polluting drivers to halve urban car emissions
Encourage people to ditch their cars post-pandemic
The Government needs to press ahead with planning reform to meet its net zero target according to Centre for Cities’ research in partnership with HSBC UK.
Its campaign should begin in cities which, despite being big carbon emitters, have the best chance of leading the UK to net zero. The report finds that the right policies targeted in cities will being the UK a quarter of the way closer achieving a carbon neutral future.
Doing this this will require the Government to progress its planned reforms as the current system is a barrier to reaching net zero. They encourage housing development in isolated areas over better-connected inner-city and suburban brownfield sites.
Houses emit more carbon than flats, but they accounted for nearly eight in ten homes built in 2019 – an increase of 12 percentage points since 2013. Therefore, providing a more balanced mix of low-rise flats and terraced houses close to city centres would therefore help the UK reach net zero.
Building new homes centrally would also reduce car dependency. If the share of journeys made by public transport rose from one third to two thirds then urban carbon emissions would halve. Therefore, providing good public transport in all cities is essential to reaching net zero.
The number of people using public transport fell sharply during the pandemic and has not yet reached pre-Covid levels. Reaching net zero will be impossible while so many people continue to shun public transport in favour of cars. Policy makers therefore must encourage the public back onto public transport.
They should also introduce charges to disincentivise non-electric car usage and improve the public transport system in all cities. Doing these together could reduce total urban transport emissions by 87% by 2035.
The report argues that, to help cities reach net zero, the Government should:
Make it easier to build new energy efficient homes in city centres and suburbs.
Reintroduce the £2 billion Green Homes Scheme to retrofit existing homes. This would reduce carbon emissions by around 30% across England and Wales’ largest cities and towns.
And local government leaders should:
Improve public transport by bringing buses under public management
Introduce Clean Air Zones that charge drivers of the most polluting vehicles.
Encourage walking, cycling and public transport usage.
Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive Andrew Carter said:“The majority of people in the UK are based in our cities and largest towns. This means that changing the way that we live, work and move around them will be essential if we’re to reach net zero by 2050.
“Because 64% of the UK’s total carbon emissions come from homes and transport, it will be impossible to reach net zero without changes to our planning and transport systems. If the Government does these together it will help it reach its goals of becoming carbon neutral and levelling up.”
Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK said:“This report shows the key role Britain’s town and cities, and decision-makers leading them, are going to play in helping the UK reach its net-zero ambitions.
“Consumers, businesses and local communities will need support from both central and local government if we’re going to make the big lifestyle changes needed over the coming years in the way we travel and in the way we build and heat our homes.
“There is a real opportunity to build a partnership between the public and private sectors to create the new solutions to meet the climate challenge and to open up new green opportunities for growth for small and medium sized businesses right across the country. HSBC UK stand ready to play our part in this partnership.”
The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour helps young people discover the life changing power of reading, bringing the magic of an author visit to classrooms and living rooms.
To help make reading fun this summer, author and illustrator Cressida Cowell is helping us launch a magical competition with some amazing book prizes.
For your chance to win, invent your very own dragon and tell us all about it!
For more details and to find out more about entering the competition, visit the Scottish Book Trust website.
For more info on the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour and how we bring books to life, check out our virtual tour videos on our on demand library.
The draws for the first and second rounds of the SPFL Trust Trophy were made yesterday:
Tournament draw
First round – North Section
Brechin City v Buckie Thistle Dundee B v Peterhead East Fife v St Johnstone B Hibernian B v Elgin City Brora Rangers v Aberdeen B Fraserburgh v Cowdenbeath Forfar Athletic v Formartine United Ross County B v Stirling Albion Stenhousemuir v Dundee United B
First round – South Section
Dumbarton v Rangers B Livingston B v Albion Rovers Edinburgh City v Heart of Midlothian B Celtic B v Annan Athletic Queen’s Park v Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Broomhill FC v Clyde Falkirk v East Kilbride St Mirren B v Kelty Hearts Stranraer v Motherwell B
Second round – North section
Montrose v Ross County B or Stirling Albion Brora Rangers or Aberdeen B v Arbroath Cove Rangers v Stenhousemuir or Dundee United B Fraserburgh or Cowdenbeath v Alloa Athletic Raith Rovers v Forfar Athletic or Formartine United Hibernian B or Elgin City v Dunfermline Athletic Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Brechin City or Buckie Thistle Dundee B or Peterhead v East Fife or St Johnstone B
Second round – South section
Airdrieonians v Queen’s Park or Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Celtic B or Annan Athletic v Morton Hamilton Academical v Edinburgh City or Heart of Midlothian B Dumbarton or Rangers B v Ayr United Kilmarnock v Falkirk or East Kilbride Stranraer or Motherwell B v Partick Thistle Queen of the South v Broomhill FC or Clyde Livingston B or Albion Rovers v St Mirren B or Kelty Hearts
First-round ties are scheduled for the midweek of August 10/11
Second-round ties are scheduled for the weekend of September 4/5
For the first time in an SPFL competition, a bracketed draw from round three onwards will be published today (07 July), allowing clubs to plot their potential path to the final.
The publication of the Nationality and Borders Bill this week has marked the latest stage in the ongoing attack on refugee rights in the UK. Now it must galvanise everyone in this country who wants a fair and effective asylum system to oppose these changes.
The Government has claimed that two of its key objectives are to break up smuggling gangs, while also increasing ‘safe and legal routes’ for refugees to reach the UK. Unfortunately, nothing announced this week will do either of these things.
Instead, the provisions in this anti-refugee bill are likely to criminalise and punish many people seeking protection in this country, while also reducing one of the main ways that refugees can legally reach the UK.
Differential treatment of refugees
Refugees who do not arrive in the UK directly from a country of persecution (for example, those who travel across Europe) will not enter the asylum system when they make a claim for protection.
Instead their claim will be treated as inadmissible while the Government tries to remove them from the country. They will also be under threat of a four-year prison sentence for ‘entering illegally’. If removal isn’t possible within a particular period of time, then their asylum claim will be heard.
However, even when these refugees are granted asylum, and therefore recognised as in need of protection after fleeing war, persecution, and tyranny, it will be under the guise of ‘temporary protection’. This means they will be given a lesser period of leave to live in the UK, which will need to be regularly renewed. They will be at risk of being removed from the country each time their leave is renewed.
This new approach flies in the face of the Refugee Convention, which states that the status of an asylum claim should not be dependent on the mode of entry into a country. It will create a group of vulnerable, precarious people, unable to plan for their futures in the UK or start to integrate. They will also have limited family reunion rights so will be kept apart from their children and spouses.
This cruel approach will not stop people arriving in the UK. It will, however, cost more as people will be waiting in limbo for months before their claim is heard, or as they cruelly move through the court and prison system.
Accommodation centres
The Government is proposing that some people seeking asylum will be housed in large-scale accommodation centres, rather than in housing in the community as is provided by the current system.
The recent use of a disused military barracks to house people seeking asylum has already shown why this kind of accommodation should not be an option. The Government recognises that vulnerable people should not live in hostel-type accommodation, yet the process for identifying vulnerabilities is flawed and vulnerable people still end up there.
Furthermore, we know that legal representatives have reported difficulties in being able to properly brief their clients and discuss their asylum claims in a shared space with people around at all times.
Finally, and most importantly, how we house those who seek protection in our country speaks volumes about our overall approach to refugees. Welcoming people to live in our communities while they make their asylum claim will aid their integration in the long run, and shows that we are proud to support those who have fled war and persecution. Housing them in reception centres does the opposite.
A lack of safe and legal routes
Government rhetoric throughout the production of its New Plan for Immigration has been that refugees should use legal routes to enter the UK, and that the Government supports the expansion of these routes. Unfortunately, nothing in this bill makes good on that commitment.
In recent years, 5,000 refugees have been resettled to the UK each year – but for 2021-22 the total is likely to be closer to 3,000. The Government is now refusing to commit to a target for future years and nothing in the bill gives any detail on refugee resettlement.
Additionally, over many years, tens of thousands of people have been reunited with their loved ones through refugee family reunion rules. Yet this key route is now being stymied, as the bill proposes that anyone with ‘temporary protection’ will have limited rights to refugee family reunion. This actually reduces the safe and legal routes to the UK, and means that many thousands of women and children will no longer be able to join loved ones in our country.
Next steps and how we fight back
The publication of the bill marks the start of its journey through Parliament, and MPs will debate the proposoals in the near future. This is the first opportunity to show the strength of opposition to these changes, and you can call on your MP to stand up for refugees here.
However, the campaign for a fair asylum system, with refugee protection at its heart, does not begin or end in Parliament. We want to build a mass campaign of people that won’t stand by while the Government turns its back on those who need protection. Please keep an eye out for more on this in the coming months from us.
Projects that restore nature, safeguard wildlife and tackle the causes of biodiversity loss and climate change will get a share of £10 million through a new Scottish Government fund.
The Nature Restoration Fund will support a mix of urban and rural-focused projects, such as improving greenspace for outdoor learning, green active travel routes, planting of wildlife corridors and natural flood management.
Half of the funding will go to local authorities to develop new or existing projects which help address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, but which also aim to promote the health and wellbeing of local communities and reduce inequalities.
The remaining £5 million will include a small project competitive fund of £1 million to be distributed by NatureScot, and the balance will go directly to established nature restoration projects across Scotland, including native-tree planting, nature restoration in rivers, lochs and coasts, and improving and connecting habitats.
To announce the new funding, Environment Minister Mairi McAllan (below) visited Malls Mire, a community regeneration project in North Toryglen, Glasgow where 15 hectares of land has been turned by Clyde Gateway and Urban Roots into park, wetland and woodland with accessible paths.
She said: “Our new £10 million fund will help address the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change in a way that supports Scotland’s urban and rural communities and tackles inequalities.
“And it’s just one of a range of actions we’re taking. From our ground breaking work leading the international ‘Edinburgh Process’ to investing in locally driven nature restoration projects in urban, rural and coastal Scotland, we’re helping to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, improve air and water quality, create green jobs and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.
“As we prepare to welcome COP26 to Glasgow later this year, we’re committed to raising our ambition for nature’s recovery. Our Statement of Intent sets out our ambitions and includes a new voluntary commitment to protect 30% of our land for nature by 2030.”
NatureScot Chief Executive Francesca Osowska said: “More people than ever now understand and support the need to put nature at the heart of our recovery from the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. With COP15 and COP26 coming up, Scotland has a huge opportunity to address the many challenges and pressures that nature is facing.
“This £10 million investment is a significant boost for nature restoration, allowing us to support many more projects working to put our woodlands, peatlands, rivers and seas back on the road to recovery – taking carbon out of the atmosphere, adapting to climate change and reducing the risks of flood, drought and wildfire.
“These nature-based solutions will not only help us reach net zero by 2045, they’ll provide the nature-rich future we need for a healthier, more resilient Scotland.”
The competitive element of the Nature Restoration Fund is now open for applications, with a closing date of 27 July. See the NatureScot website for application details.
