Video submissions will not be possible by post. Once you submit your entry, your church will automatically be entered into the regional competition where each winner will receive a prize of £1,500.
The grand final of the competition will see one of the regional winners be crowned the national winner and receive an additional £6,000. That is two chances to win!
All entries must be submitted by the closing date 17 September 2021.
40% of Brits skipped their annual boiler check-up in the last 12 months
54% cited ‘cost’ as the main reason they don’t book a service
18–29-year-olds were the biggest offenders, with more than half failing to book their boiler service
Despite this, 91% would get their boiler looked at within a week if it stopped working
With gas leaks, house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning all potential risks of a faulty boiler, many homes could be a ticking timebomb, as more than 40% of Brits admit they have failed to have their annual boiler check-up in the last 12 months.
In a poll of UK households ahead of Gas Safety Week (13th – 19th September), Millennials were the biggest offenders, with 54% choosing to skip their boiler service this year, compared with just 25% of people aged 60 and over.
More than half of those who said they don’t get their boiler serviced on a regular basis – including a minority who have never had their boiler serviced – admitted it is because it simply costs too much (the average cost of a boiler service is £80*, the equivalent of a new pair of trainers or a family day out).
Furthermore, only 32% of respondents said they would spend any surplus home improvement budget on ensuring they get their boiler serviced, preferring instead to give a room a fresh lick of paint, the carpets cleaned or the gutters cleared.
This compares with an overwhelming 91% of us who would get our boiler looked at within a week or sooner if it stopped working, suggesting home safety has dropped to the bottom of our priority lists.
Indeed, when it comes to carrying out our own safety checks around the home, as a nation we’ve become pretty lax. Only 35% said they carry out a visual inspection of their boiler, while 53% of respondents fail to check and replace the batteries in their smoke alarm, and a worrying 63% do not check and replace batteries in their home carbon monoxide detector.
Darran Smith, Technical Manager for home heating expert, Alpha Heating Innovation, comments: “Our research shows a worrying number of homeowners in the UK are turning a blind eye when it comes to the safety of appliances in their home.
“Of particular concern to us is the number of people missing their annual boiler service. While we all enjoy the comfort and convenience that boilers bring in our homes, we should also appreciate the importance of ensuring their proper maintenance and be aware of the risks of unsafe appliances.
“Daily use of your household’s heating system can take its toll on the various components that make up your boiler. As such, making sure it is serviced annually is important so it can continue to function as intended. One of the most important reasons that you should have your boiler regularly checked is to ensure the safety of your household. When you’re watching TV together on the sofa or the kids are tucked up in bed, you want to know that your family is safe.
“A faulty or incorrectly fitted boiler can cause severe health problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning which, due to its odourless properties, can be a silent killer. Alternatively, you could also experience a gas leak without realising it, which in the most severe cases, can potentially cause a house fire.
“One of the most important steps you can take to ensure gas safety in your property is to have your appliance regularly checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Although modern boilers are highly reliable; the better they are looked after, the better they will perform in the long term.”
Warning signs your gas boiler isn’t working properly:
· Lazy yellow flame rather than crisp blue one
· Pilot light that frequently blows out
· Excessive condensation on windows
· Unusual dark marks or staining around or on gas appliances
Signs that may indicate carbon monoxide poisoning:
· Headaches
· Dizziness
· Nausea and vomiting
· Tiredness and confusion
· Stomach pain
· Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
· A fast and irregular heartbeat
· Seizures
Downloadable ‘Home Safety Checklist’:
To help homeowners make the necessary home safety checks this autumn/winter, Alpha Heating Innovation has created a comprehensive Home Safety Checklist which is free to download from their website now.
Gas emergencies:
If you smell gas or suspect a problem with any gas fired appliance, don’t wait. Call the National Gas Emergency helpline free on 0800 111 999.
For further information, about Alpha Heating Innovation, visit:
At this year’s virtual Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) (21st – 23rd September) practitioners from City of Edinburgh Council will be presenting their invaluable advice and experiences of captivating students both within and beyond the classroom.
The session entitled “The Power of Educational Videos” will run on Wednesday 22 September (10:00 – 10:45). The seminar is free to watch during the virtual Scottish Learning festival programme and for a month after.
The Edinburgh City Council team will be giving advice and recommendations from an authority, school and practitioner perspective, on integrating video content into the learning environment.
A panel session during the seminar will be debating highly effective ways of implementing video content into student development through wider curriculum areas including DYW, PSE and Health and Wellbeing.
The panel includes Joanna Maclean, Scottish educator, researcher and learning designer, William Brown, West OS development officer and digital learning officer at Inverclyde Council, David McKee, quality improvement Education officer for digital learning at City of Edinburgh Council, Simon Luxford-Moore, head of eLearning at ESMS and Kevan Scade, learning resources technologist at Ayrshire College.
Simon Luxford-Moore said, “The benefits of visualisation are not new. Like many learners, Albert Einstein said, ‘if I can’t picture it, I can’t understand it,’ and Aristotle added that ‘it is impossible even to think without a mental picture‘.
“We are increasingly recognising that short, curriculum aligned videos stimulate the students’ imagination, enhance involvement with the text, and improve mental imagery. It delivers learning in a format that matches today’s students preferred way of consuming information.”
A second pre-recorded webinar at the SLF is a part of the event’s “Fringe On Demand” series and will be delivered by highly respected historian and content expert, Carmel Bones whose 30 minute session will offer teachers advice on “Captivating your classroom with Video.”
The webinar will provide practical pedagogical examples of how teachers can captivate their students with Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) aligned video content.
Carmel is a member of the Historical Association’s national secondary committee and a consulting editor for many leading resource providers. She recently wrote the new BBC Bitesize material and leads workshops at the annual Historical Association and Schools History Project Conferences.
As an inspirational educationalist Carmel works with teachers across Scotland to achieve short term gains as well as long-term results. Inspiring departments and individuals to move forward with their thinking, she works with primary, secondary and post 16 teachers.
Registered delegates will be able to access these “Fringe on Demand” presentations ten days before the SLF and after the festival.
Dogs Trust in Scotland is calling on local dog lovers to take part in the biggest ever nationwide survey to help dogs and owners of the future.
The National Dog Survey, launched by Dogs Trust, will help the charity better-understand the UK’s 12.5 million-strong pooch population and the part dogs play in their owners’ lives, shaping the support the charity offers to canine companions and their families.
Dogs Trust has two rehoming centres in Scotland, one in Glasgow and the other in West Calder, both of which find homes for hundreds of rescue dogs each year.
Sandra Downie, Rehoming Centre Manager for Dogs Trust in Glasgow, says: “Through this survey we want to learn as much as possible about dog ownership to inform what we do to improve dog welfare and support dog owners.
“Dogs Trust has been around for 130 years and in that time so much has changed when it comes to dogs being at the heart of our family.
“This is the first time we have carried out a survey of this kind and we want to hear from dog owners as well as people who don’t currently have a dog but have lived with one in the past. By gathering as much information as we can, we will be able to help people and dogs live the best lives possible together.”
The online survey asks dog owners about everything from how their dog behaves and what training they do with their four-legged friend, to questions about their relationship such as do they celebrate their dog’s birthday and do they tell them they love them.
It also covers people’s post-pandemic plans for their dog such as are they hoping to take them into the office with them or will they employ a dog walker, if they are returning to their workplace.
The survey, which can be completed online at www.nationaldogsurvey.org.uk, also asks people to say how having a dog improves their life, what advice they would give to people looking to welcome a dog into their family and what one thing could Dogs Trust do to help them and their dog live happily together.
Sandra adds: “We always love to hear tales from owners who have adopted from us, and every single one of them has a different story to tell. We now want to capture the experiences of all local dog owners so we can build a picture of dog ownership today and what more Dogs Trust can do to help them and their dogs.
“This will be the most comprehensive census of dogs and dog lovers ever completed and we would love it if everyone who is passionate about dogs could do their bit to help our four-legged friends of the future have the best lives possible.
“What people tell us today will help us make sure we are able to do everything we can to support dogs and their owners for the next 130 years and more.”
Sign ups now open for the Mindful Chef Coast Clean 2021 (17th-19th September)
2021 event has been expanded to include beaches, parks, rivers and woodlands anywhere in the UK
The Marine Conservation Society reports that 70% of inland litter picks found PPE in 2020, with face masks/gloves found on 30% of the beaches cleaned by MCS volunteers
Mindful Chef, a B Corp company, is looking to double the impact of 2020’s Coast Clean, collectively removing 75,000 litres of plastic from UK coastlines, rivers and parks
Mindful Chef, the UK’s favourite healthy recipe box service, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with UN Patron of the Wilderness Ben Fogle for its third annual Coast Clean, taking place 17th-19th September 2021.
Sign-ups are now open via the Mindful Chef website.
Mindful Chef is calling on the British public to take part in this nationwide outdoor clean up, to reach its 2021 target of 75,000litres of plastic being cleared up across the weekend, the equivalent of approximately 150,000 plastic bottles, making it one of the UK’s largest clean up operations.
Participants are encouraged to sign up as a ‘local hero’ via the Mindful Chef website – each participant will receive a volunteer pack in the post ahead of the event, with everything needed to get involved. From families or groups of friends to corporate teams, the event promises a rewarding day out and the opportunity to do something good for the environment.
Now in its third year, Mindful Chef is partnering with The Marine Conservation Society as part of the Great British Beach clean, and has ambitions to make this years’ event the biggest one yet, expanding the operation to include beaches, parks, rivers and woodlands.
Raising awareness of safe plastic disposal is more important than ever: littering of single-use plastic during Covid-19 has skyrocketed, with 70% of inland litter picks finding PPE in 2020 and face masks/gloves found on 30% of the beaches cleaned by MCS volunteers.
Large-scale clean up operations serve as an opportunity to collect invaluable data on which waste items frequently wash up on our shores. This data can support campaigns for legislation to be put in place to tackle the most harmful waste issues. Recent findings include a 55% drop in plastic bags found on UK beaches since the 5p charge was introduced.
Ben Fogle said: “Lots of people rediscovered the joy of the great outdoors during the lockdowns. This is an opportunity to give back to all of those places – beaches, woodlands, rivers, fields or even your local park.
“It’s our responsibility to look after our planet, which is why I’m supporting Mindful Chef in this mass clean up effort. I’ll be litter picking around my local area and joining the Mindful Chef team in Battersea for their own clean up today (15th September). I urge anyone who is able to, to sign up on the Mindful Chef website!”
Myles Hopper, Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer at Mindful Chef: “As a proud B Corp, we are always looking for ways to use the power of our business as a force for good, taking care of our planet for now and the future.
“The annual Mindful Chef Coast Clean is just one of the ways we’re striving to meet our environmental goals and we are thrilled to be taking it a step further this year by expanding the initiative to clean up parks, rivers and woodlands.”
Our own local Wardie Bay Beach Clean will be taking place on Sunday 26th September from 10.30am:
Share sustainability hacks at The Leith Collective’s ‘Let’s Talk Waste’ event
The climate is in crisis and every second counts. But what if all it took was just 6 minutes of your time to help turn things around? Local Edinburgh businesses, artists, and makers are being invited to give just a few minutes of their time to share their top tips at a special ‘Let’s Talk Waste’ event in the capital later this month.
Brought to you by The Leith Collective – crafters, makers, artists and business owners will come together on Thursday 23rd September to discuss ways in which they are reducing their waste and making a difference.
Taking place at Ocean Terminal, the evening will feature a diverse range of speakers; from a maker who creates unique works of art from items otherwise destined for landfill, to a sustainable refill shop, Weigh To Go, and local plant shop, Seb’s Urban Jungle.
The timing of the event is perfect, falling in the middle of Recycle Week, running 20th – 26th September, the aim of which is to galvanise the public into recycling more of the rights things, more often.
It also comes just a month ahead of the crucial COP26 summit which The Leith Collective’s founder, Sara Thomson, will be attending as one of 13 specially selected One Step Greener ambassadors. Her role there will be to share how she is doing her bit to tackle climate change and inspire others to follow suit.
Commenting ahead of ‘Let’s Talk Waste’, Sara Thomson explained: “The event is part of The Leith Collective’s ongoing sustainability campaign which aims to encourage people to reuse, recycle and relove everyday items, and we wanted to open up the platform to as many local businesses and artists as possible to help spread the message of sustainability far and wide.
“Knowledge is power, and by sharing inspirational stories and exchanging top tips in this accessible, easy-to-digest 6-minute format, everyone can learn something new, and together we can make a massive difference.”
EVENT INFORMATION
‘Let’s Talk Waste’ will take place at the ex GAP store on the Ground Floor level of Ocean Terminal on Thursday 23rd September, 6pm – 8:30pm. The event is free to attend and refreshments will be provided.
ITV, STV, Sky, and Channel 4 have joined together in a national campaign to encourage millions of children to get back to being fit and active with The Daily Mile.
Launching today, the TV advertising campaign highlights the powerful impact that The Daily Mile has on children’s physical and mental wellbeing. This campaign is part of a £10m commitment from broadcasters, and INEOS’ ongoing support to improve children’s physical and mental health.
The fast-growing initiative for primary schools has been a huge success with children, parents and teachers worldwide. It has been particularly effective in getting children moving again after the disruption caused by Covid and school closures.
The Daily Mile recently reported that the number of children running a mile a day has skyrocketed to more than 3 million (3,175,461) in over 13,000 schools and nurseries, spanning 85 countries now taking part.
The Daily Mile is inclusive and accessible to all. It encourages children to run, jog, wheel or walk at their own pace outdoors for 15 minutes every day, and has also been proven to improve concentration and attainment in class.
The Daily Mile was first developed in 2012 by Scottish headteacher Elaine Wyllie MBE. Since 2016 it has been supported by INEOS, who funded the creation of the advert.
ITV formed a partnership with The Daily Mile in 2018, helping the campaign to generate over 7,000 additional schools sign ups and nearly 2 million more children participating since the partnership began.
ITV’s Senior Manager of Social Purpose, Annabel Barratt, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the success of our partnership with the Daily Mile so far. After the last school year was so difficult, ITV wants to use our platform and reach to encourage more healthy choices, and we’re so pleased Sky and Channel 4 are on board too.
“We know The Daily Mile boosts children’s mental wellbeing, concentration and self-esteem as well as their physical health so we’re excited to be helping as many schools as possible take part”
Verica Djurdjevic, Chief Revenue Officer, Channel 4 said: “The past school year has been really tough and means this initiative is more important than ever for the growing number of children benefiting from the boost to both their physical and mental health.
“It’s a great example of the positive impact broadcaster collaboration is delivering.”
Fiona Ball, Group Director, Bigger Picture, Sky said: “We’re delighted to partner with ITV, STV and Channel 4 once again to support The Daily Mile’s work to encourage children across the country to make choices that will support their physical and mental health.
“At Sky, we believe in using our reach for good and want to provide young people of all backgrounds a voice and support a better future for themselves and society.”
Founder of The Daily Mile, Elaine Wyllie MBE, said: “Thank you to ITV, STV, Sky, Channel 4. Their help to raise awareness of the benefits of The Daily Mile is so important.It’s been brilliant to see children returning to school and back to The Daily Mile.
“They are all having fun together outdoors and staying fit in a way that comes naturally to them. We want to help schools as they do a great job of supporting children to be happier and more physically active – this has never been as important as it is now.”
Teachers and parents are encouraged to visit www.thedailymile.co.uk for further information on how they can participate in The Daily Mile safely and in accordance with the latest Government guidelines.
ITV’s investment in the importance of children’s mental and physical health extends across other initiatives including Britain Get Talking and Eat Them To Defeat Them.
The Scottish Ambulance Service is boosting its resources in the East of Scotland as part of its Demand and Capacity Programme.
An extra 88 frontline staff – a mixture of paramedics, newly qualified paramedics (NQPs) and technicians – will be located across the East region and are due be in place by April 2022.
Extra ambulances and vehicles will also be introduced over the coming months, including two in Edinburgh.
This is in addition to 139 staff in the West and 69 in the North.
The Demand and Capacity programme, which is supported by a £20m investment from the Scottish Government, aims to better align resources to meet current and projected patient demand.
Kenny Freeburn, East Regional Director, Scottish Ambulance Service said: “This funding is great news for the Service and is allowing us to continue to increase our investment in new frontline staff, new ambulances and new vehicles at pace.
“These new resources will ensure we continue to deliver the very best patient care by boosting capacity and increasing our resilience in communities across Scotland. They’ll also complement our dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months in extremely demanding circumstances.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our ambulance staff have been at the heart of the response to the Coronavirus pandemic and we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude for their courage, commitment and professionalism.
“These additional resources show that this Government is determined to ensure they have the support needed to meet patient demand as the NHS continues to remobilise.
“Our recent recovery plan targeted over £1 billion of investment over the next five years across the whole health system to increase capacity and ensure the health service is ready for the challenges ahead.”
Children and young people at Edinburgh’s Children’s Hospital are to benefit from a new multisensory musical garden which has been created in loving memory of East Lothian teenager Jess Mackie.
Thought to be the only one of its kind in a UK children’s hospital setting, The Jess Mackie Music Garden is a vibrant, interactive outdoor space which ensures children don’t miss out on the joy of creative play and music-making while in hospital.
Featuring five large, free-standing musical instruments – the Congas, Tembos, Rainbow Trio Chimes, Harmony Bells and Marimba – the garden pays tribute to Jess’ love of music and encourages children and young people to have fun making melodies together in a relaxing, non-clinical setting away from the wards.
The sensory space has been fully funded by the Jess Mackie Memorial Fund (JMMF), a tribute fund of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).
The fund was set up by the Mackie family to support therapeutic music projects within the hospital in loving memory of their daughter Jess who passed away in 2018 aged 14.
Jess was a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland and sang with Aberlady and Gullane Parish Churches, at care homes and for charities, and at school concerts.
Parents Michael and Jackie said: “Jess was a caring and compassionate girl who always sought to help others. At only 14, she had a sense of how powerful music could be in helping people when they were in need.
“Many children and young people in hospital feel vulnerable because they lack control over what’s happening to them. Music can have an enormous and positive impact, helping ignite a spark and give back a sense of control.
“It also gives children and young people a means of expressing themselves, making friends and building confidence. Jess knew this and would have loved to know she was a part of making this happen.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the wonderful music garden which is such a fitting tribute to our beautiful daughter. We hope lots of children, young people, families and hospital staff will enjoy it for many years to come.”
When Covid restrictions allow, the music garden will also be used as an outdoor performance space, where ECHC’s visiting musicians – also funded by JMMF – and artists will perform and do music making activities with children and young people all year round.
Rachel Baxter, Director of Fundraising at ECHC, said: “Music-making is a large part of the ECHC Arts Programme as it has such a positive impact on children and young people’s wellbeing. It’s fantastic to now have this brand new space in which we can do even more music, performance and arts activities and ensure children don’t miss out on the magic of music while in hospital.
“The Mackie family are incredible and we are enormously grateful to them and their family, friends and supporters for funding the wonderful Jess Mackie Music Garden and all music-making activities within the hospital. Thanks to their support, we can bring Jess’ passion for music and singing to so many more children and young people on the wards.”
Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity supports the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, as well as other children’s healthcare settings across the Lothians.
