North Edinburgh Arts’ FREE October Film Club for local children and young people starts tomorrow (Monday 18 October), and we’ll be showing a different film every day at 10:30am until Friday 22 October.
Places are available on a first-come basis for local residents living in EH4 2 (Drylaw and Telford only), EH4 4, EH5 1 and EH5 2.
This free offer is suitable for families and children (up to 12 years of age) to attend.
Children under 7 years old must be accompanied by a guardian (aged 14+) with no more than 2 children per guardian. A healthy snack will be provided.
Police Scotland is ready to deliver one of the largest policing operations undertaken in Britain as extensive planning for the COP26 climate conference reaches the final stages.
Around 10,000 officers will be deployed each day to support the safety and security of the event in Glasgow next month, at which around 120 world leaders and heads of state are expected to attend.
The planning operation, which has been under way for almost two years, has been the largest undertaken by Police Scotland.
Officers will be drafted from every division and department in Police Scotland, supported by a substantial number of colleagues from other UK police services as part of mutual aid arrangements. Deployments will include specialist resources such as firearms officers, dog handlers, mounted branch, search teams and the marine unit.
COP26, the United Nations 26th Conference of the Parties, is an annual summit organised by the UN where world leaders and thousands of delegates come together to tackle climate change issues.
This year’s event takes place from 31 October to 12 November at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow.
Deputy Chief Constable Will Kerr said: “Police Scotland is ready and well prepared to deliver this operation which will involve one of the biggest mobilisation of police assets the UK has ever seen.
“With around 120 world leaders and heads of state attending, along with thousands of delegates and those who wish to protest, the scale of the security operation cannot be overstated. It is a huge challenge but one we are ready to deal with.
“Police Scotland has an enviable reputation throughout the world for the policing of major events and I am confident that we will once again deliver a response which helps deliver a safe and secure conference.”
Police Scotland’s style and tone of policing will be friendly, fair and accommodating for anyone wishing to protest during the event.
All mutual aid officers will be under the command and control of the Chief Constable of Police Scotland and will receive detailed briefings on the style and tone of policing ahead of being deployed.
DCC Kerr said: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and has a duty under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest, balanced against the rights of the wider community.
“We will provide a proportionate policing response to any protests and have been engaging with known protest groups for some time to ensure their rights to peaceful assembly and protest are met.
“Those wishing to protest have a responsibility to do so within the law and I would remind the small minority of people who may be intent on violent disorder or causing damage that we will deal with them swiftly and robustly.
“The policing of protests is a particularly difficult balancing act when they are non-violent and peaceful but highly disruptive or unlawful.
“People at protests sometimes break the law in a number of ways that aren’t linked to violence or disorder, such as blocking roads.
“Some disruption is inevitable during the event, if someone is causing significant disruption by wilfully obstructing a main traffic route then officers may move through the various stages of our graduated response more quickly than they would during instances which are causing minimum disruption.
“A considerable part of our planning for COP26 has been to ensure that the communities of Scotland continue to receive the same high standard of service from policing that they have come to expect.
“Policing, so often the service of first and last resort, will never step away from people in crisis.
“There are pressures which exist across many other services, agencies and sectors, and when the health service, local authorities and other key partners come under significant strain, demand is diverted to policing.
“However, Police Scotland prioritises emergency 999 calls and these are answered within less than 10 seconds, on average. Our non-emergency response times continue to be affected by high demand.
“While an event the size of COP26 places considerable demands on policing, we already have contingencies in place and are taking steps to boost those over the coming weeks.
“Although there is potential for further disruption should pressure on other agencies and services persist and become more acute, particularly as the country prepares for COP26, I can reassure the public that if they need an emergency response from us they will get it.”
A new Scotland-wide fund supports charitable organisations providing social, emotional and practical help within their communities with grants up to £10,000.
Scotland is one of two pilot regions in the UK to offer the new PHP Community Impact Fund thanks to Primary Health Properties PLC (PHP). PHP is a Real Estate Investment Trust supporting the NHS in the delivery of primary care buildings, which positively impact the health and wellbeing of the communities they are located in.
Grants are available to charities and community groups that deliver social prescribing and community wellbeing initiatives to the communities served by the primary care centres owned by PHP.
Social prescribing enables a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. It allows GPs and other frontline healthcare professionals to refer patients to a link worker to explore ‘social prescription’ options. Many services provided by the voluntary and community sector can offer solutions to improve patients health and wellbeing.
Examples of services activities that can be included in social prescribing schemes include healthy eating advice and cooking classes, mindfulness activities, music classes, sports and exercise groups, gardening, therapeutic art activities, book clubs, and Men’s Sheds.
Social prescribing is an innovative and growing movement with the potential to reduce the financial burden on the NHS and particularly on primary care. Social prescribing also plays a vital role in helping communities recover and rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic, particularly given the increased demand for services to support mental health and combat loneliness.
Grants are available for social and charitable activities and services that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and communities surrounding the 38 different PHP locations across Scotland. The fund also looks to support the education, promotion and protection of good health within these communities.
Helen Wray, Head of Programmes at Foundation Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to partner with PHP to establish this new fund in Scotland. The new Community Impact Fund has launched at a critical time following the height of the pandemic.
“As our NHS continues to be under immense pressure, this is a fantastic initiative from PHP to help improve patient wellbeing outcomes, quality of life and emotional wellbeing.”
The fund is open until 25th October, offering grants up to £10,000 to charitable organisations within a 10-mile radius of PHP’s 38 locations across Scotland.
Their locations range from Dingwall in the Highlands down to Gretna Green in Dumfriesshire.
A line-up of events is being developed to celebrate the Union Canal’s bicentenary next year.
The City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Canals and partners will join to mark the 200th anniversary of the 16km waterway, which links Edinburgh with The Falkirk Wheel in Tamfourhill and onwards to the Forth and Clyde Canal.
On Thursday, members of the Transport and Environment Committee agreed to take forward a programme of projects celebrating the history of the Union Canal, as well as renewing the vision for its future and accelerating landmark initiatives along the route. Members also approved recommendations to co-fund a fixed term post, along with Scottish Canals, to take forward the programme.
Amongst activities proposed for 2022 are the refresh of the Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy, commemorating the canal’s heritage through various events including a special edition of the Edinburgh Canal Festival in June 2022 and work to secure a new future for the Lockharton Bridge Boat House.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It’s wonderful that we’re going to be able to celebrate the Union Canal and its rich historical and social significance. Not only does it shed light on our industrial past but now serves as a haven for boating, walking, cycling and spending time.
“Over the coming months I’m looking forward to getting to work with Scottish Canals, Edinburgh Union Canal Society, our Canals Champion Councillor Gavin Corbett and other partners to finalise plans fitting for this iconic route.”
David Blair, Revenue and Regeneration Director at Scottish Canals, said: “Scottish Canals are delighted to be working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to celebrate the bicentenary of the Union Canal in 2022.
“The Union Canal has a rich history, once powering the industrial revolution in the city it has been transformed for the 21st century and almost 200 years on from its opening it remains a hub of activity. The anniversary will not only celebrate the heritage of the network but will also create new and exciting opportunities for canal side communities to learn more about the canal’s past as well as its present use.”
The Union Canal, which is managed by Scottish Canals, stretches from the Lochrin Basin in Fountainbridge to The Falkirk Wheel in Tamfourhill and was originally opened in 1822 as a means of transporting goods. It was closed in 1965 with the advent of freight trains and heavy goods vehicles but was reopened in 2001 as part of the Millennium Link project.
Earlier this year the Leamington Lift Bridge, near the canal’s Lochrin Basin terminus, was awarded a ‘Red Wheel’ by the National Transport Trust, recognising its historical importance to transport heritage.
The bridge was originally installed at Fountainbridge in 1906 but was moved to its current location in 1922 when the canal was shortened to make Lochrin Basin its terminus.
Other potential projects to mark the bicentenary are the formation of a canal-based ‘Blue-Green’ community development trust, launching a citizen science programme with nearby schools to promote biodiversity and completing the WaveGarden at Ratho.
While the programme will focus on the Edinburgh section of the Union Canal, discussions would be held with other communities along the route such as Broxburn, Linlithgow, and Falkirk.
To mark World Menopause Day tomorrow (18th October), NHS 24 has launched new resources on the menopause on NHS Inform, Scotland’s trusted health information site.
Working in partnership with Scottish Government, the resources support the ambitions laid out in the Women’s Health Plan and include information about what to expect whether you’re going through the menopause or want to support someone with symptoms.
https://youtu.be/ddzdgEUOGlk
Women’s Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Women have told us, and evidence shows, that when they are well informed about the menopause, and know what to expect, their experience can be more positive. Knowledge, information and myth busting is powerful.
“I am pleased to see this comprehensive menopause platform on NHS Inform, a key deliverable from our recently published Women’s Health Plan.
“We want to ensure that anyone experiencing menopause has the care and support that they need, and this platform is an important step in achieving that aim.”
Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director at NHS 24, said: “Menopause can affect everyone differently, and many of us are still unfamiliar with the common symptoms, how these might present, and what to expect if you or someone you know is going through ‘the change’.
“World Menopause Day aims to raise awareness of these and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing. Our new resources on NHS Inform are clinically assured and contain lots of information on signs of menopause, potential treatments, managing your wellbeing, and supporting others through their own symptoms.
“The resources also include ways to manage symptoms with some self-care, and what to do if you feel concerned that your experiences are unusual.
“Sometimes the menopause can have impacts on lots of aspects of life including self-esteem and mental health. These resources are a great way to feel knowledgeable about the experience and empowered in taking any next steps.”
Visit NHSinform.scot for updated information, including a range of videos aimed at dispelling common myths about the menopause.
First Direct and Nationwide have come out on top in Which?’s annual mortgage lender survey, with both named Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) for offering a combination of excellent customer service and consistently competitive rates.
With speculation that interest rate rises could be on the way, it is more important than ever that prospective homeowners and remortgagers do their research and find the right deal and provider.
The consumer champion surveyed more than 3,500 homeowners and analysed thousands of mortgage deals to find which providers offered impressive customer service and the best rates.
Lenders were scored on multiple aspects of customer service, including: keeping customers informed, clarity of mortgage statements, transparency of charges or penalties, dealing with queries and complaints, flexibility of payments, online access and value for money.
First Direct came out on top, receiving an impressive customer score of 81 per cent. Its customers gave it five stars across the board, and the lender consistently offered some of the cheapest deals on the market.
Nationwide earned an overall customer score of 77 per cent and was also named a WRP for the eighth year in a row. The building society achieved five-star ratings for value for money and clarity of its mortgage statements.
Coventry Building Society received the joint-top score of 81 per cent, achieving five stars for customer service, clarity of mortgage statements and keeping you well informed, among others. However, it missed out on becoming a WRP because it did not offer enough market-leading deals.
Royal Bank of Scotland received the lowest score in this year’s survey, with an overall customer score of 64 per cent. RBS received three stars for its general customer service, flexibility of payments and online access, among other criteria.
While nearly nine in 10 (87%) respondents told the consumer champion that they were satisfied with their mortgage provider, a quarter (24%) said they had had a problem with their lender. The most commonly cited issues included poor customer service, a lack of flexibility on payments and poor interest rates.
When asked why they chose a lender, around one in five (21%) respondents said the size of monthly repayments was important, while the same number said the overall cost of the deal was key. One in six (16%) respondents said an existing relationship with the lender (for example, having a bank account with the provider) was a key factor.
Seven in 10 (72%) of survey respondents had a capital remortgage payment plan. However one fifth (20%) had interest-only mortgages. While the majority of respondents with interest-only mortgages had a plan for repayment at the end of the term, worryingly 9 per cent said they did not know how they would repay their loan – meaning they could be forced to sell their home at the end of the term to repay the balance.
Gareth Shaw, Head of Which? Money, said:“Buying a house is the most expensive purchase most of us will make in our lifetime, so finding a mortgage deal that’s right for you is essential – especially when the outlook for interest rates in the year ahead is uncertain.
“Recently, we’ve seen reputable lenders offering record-breaking low rates, meaning it’s possible to find a deal that combines value for money with great customer service. As ever, doing a bit of research and talking to a whole-of-market broker before committing is likely to pay off.”
The UK reports losses of around £204.5M over the past 12 months due to personal, digitally driven crimes
Almost 23,000 cases of fraudulent activity relating to plastic cards and online bank accounts have been logged since September last year
Alarmingly, 49% of Brits don’t know if their smartphone has security software installed, or have none at all
Following last week’s Twitch data leaks on 4chan, a new study reveals that the UK’s public has lost as much as £204.5 million to personal, digitally driven crimes in the past 12 months. Additionally, as many as 26 million British adults – 49% of residents over the age of 16 – report either not knowing whether their smartphone has security software installed, or having none at all.
App development company Bacancy Technology analysed statistics drawn from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), focusing on crimes more likely to befall members of the public – such as dating scams, personal and social media hacking, computer viruses and banking app fraud.
In total the UK has filed a total of 60,297 reports of criminal activity dating back to September of last year, culminating in a total loss of £204.5M to the personal finances of British citizens.
Across the selected categories, cyber-assisted crimes involving cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts have seen the highest number of incidents, at 22,981 reported cases, with an overall personal financial loss of £102.3M – an average of £4,451 per case.
Social media and email hacking ranks second highest in the list in terms of the number of reported incidents, standing at 12,225 reports over the last 12 months. However, the high volume of cases is offset by an average loss per case of £204 – amassing to an overall financial loss of a lesser £2.5M.
With Dating scams, it’s the opposite. A smaller number of reported cases (9,388 over 12 months) has resulted in Brits taking financial losses of £97,600,000 – with each individual case costing over £10,000 on average.
Ranking fourth and fifth on the list are reported crimes surrounding computer viruses/malware and personal hacking – which relates to hacked devices, rather than accounts. Despite a large number of reported incidents over the past 12 months (7,893 and 6,649 respectively), each of these crimes have resulted in smaller average losses per case, with figures under £100.
Top 5 personal digital crimes – UK, over 12 months (Oct 20 – Oct ’21)
Type of crime
Number of reported crimes
Reported financial loss (in GBP)
Average loss per case
Cheque, Plastic Card & Online Bank Accounts
22,981
£102,300,000
£4,451
Hacking – Social Media & email
12,225
£2,500,000
£204
Dating Scams
9,388
£97,600,000
£10,396
Computer Virus/Malware/Spyware
7,893
£348,400
£44
Hacking – Personal
5,649
£511,900
£90
Despite the variety of security apps readily available on both the Apple and Android stores, around 26 million Brits – a total of 49% – may be at risk.
Further data drawn from an ONS survey shows that one in three Brits (32%) are unaware of whether their smartphones have security software installed, while almost one in five (17%, or nine million adults) reported not having security software of any kind – leaving them open to potential cyber-crime and fraudulent activity.
Do you have security software installed on your smartphone?
All
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
Automatically installed/provided with operating system
40
39
46
36
44
37
38
Installed/subscribed
11
8
9
14
13
12
11
Do not have smartphone security
17
27
18
19
15
9
11
Don’t know
32
26
27
31
29
42
41
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Bacancy Technology said: “Recent events in the news have highlighted the importance of maintaining security over our personal data and finances.
“Even so, it seems that while the British public are aware of the potential dangers of online activities, many are failing to take steps to adequately protect themselves and their loved ones. Digital security is of the utmost importance, and everyone with a smart device should take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.”
This research was conducted by app development company Bacancy Technology, an exclusive hub of top software developers, UI/UX designers, QA experts and more, offering development services aimed at the creation of high-end, enviable applications.
Did you know Scotland is home to six World Heritage Sites, two Biosphere Reserves, two Global Geoparks, and three creative cities? That’s a supersized helping of history, nature and culture right on your doorstep!
If you aren’t sure what UNESCO status means, it’s similar to how National Park status helps to tell you a place is special.
Scotland is now the first country in the world to bring these truly unique sites together into trails to enjoy at a pace that suits you.
A new fund has been established to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic. The £15 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund aims to support adult community-based initiatives across Scotland.
Grass roots community groups and organisations will be able to benefit from the funds to deliver activities and programmes to people to re-connect and revitalise communities building on examples of good practice which have emerged throughout the pandemic.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart launched the fund at Saheliya in Edinburgh, a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black and minority ethnic women and girls.
Mr Stewart said: “This funding reflects the importance we place on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those in distress and will help develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities.
“It is vital now, more than ever as we start to re-open society that we support the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. I am very keen that this benefits communities across all of Scotland.
“I was pleased to be able to visit Saheliya this morning and meet some of the people involved with running and the project, and some of the people they help.”
A range of charity-support bodies and social enterprises, known as third sector interfaces, will manage the fund in partnership with local integrated health authorities and other partners including Community Planning Partnerships and local authority mental health leads.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is part of the wider £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund announced in February 2021 to ensure delivery of the commitments set out in the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan in response to the mental health need arising from the pandemic.
Snapshot litter surveys on Portobello Beach carried out by Keep Porty Tidy, as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s campaign My Beach Your Beach, show a decrease in litter this summer.
A total of 64 items of litter were counted across 100m of the beach and prom at the end of the summer, versus 114 items on the same stretch at the start of the summer, and 293 items counted last year.
A combination of campaign activity, which encouraged beach goers to help care for the sand and sea, as well as the efforts of the growing Keep Porty Tidy group, which has been tackling litter head-on at the site are likely to have contributed to these results.
Funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA, My Beach Your Beach has been running since 2018 to support bathing water quality improvements at a growing selection of Scottish beaches including Portobello, Fisherrow Sands and Kinghorn on the east coast of the country, and Ayr, Troon, Irvine and, this year’s addition, Saltocoats/Ardrossan on the west.
The campaign encourages beach stewardship and raises awareness of bad habits that can impact on the sand and sea. This includes leaving litter or dog poo on the beach, feeding and attracting gulls to the bathing water and blocking pipes by flushing ‘unflushables’ down the toilet or pouring fats, oils or greases down the drain.
The latest litter surveys highlight the importance of beach goers taking responsibility for their litter and using the bins provided, with 51% of litter (discounting cigarette stubs) coming from people eating and drinking on or near the beach.
Georgina Massouraki, Campaigns Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is very encouraging to see litter levels drop at Portobello beach this summer. These results show what can be achieved when everyone steps in to play a part.
“It has been great working in collaboration with the council and Keep Porty Tidy and seeing all the efforts that are being made locally to protect the sand and sea at this beautiful beach.
“We hope that everyone who enjoys Portobello is moved to support these efforts, never leaving litter for volunteers to clean up, stepping up and joining a beach clean, and also making sure they understand how their habits can impact on the quality of the beloved bathing waters we all share.”
With the summer bathing season over, My Beach Your Beach will continue to engage people near the campaign beaches through the winter months, particularly around indoor habits relating to pipes and drains in collaboration with local councils, businesses and schools.
A new classroom resource has been rolled out to 18 secondary schools locally, with an introduction to bathing water quality focusing on the two Portobello bathing waters – Portobello Central and Portobello West.
A writing assignment encouraging students to reflect on their favourite aspect of the beach and explain why that makes it worth protecting will be featured as part of the campaign going forward.
