Christmas is officially in full swing in all 74 Dobbies’ stores across the UK.
Edinburgh customers got their first glimpse of Santa and snow, as a snow machine featured at their late night shopping event in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust on Thursday.
Exhibition
03.12.21–13.03.21
Open Thurs – Sun, 10am—4pm
Launch Event
Friday 03.12.21, 7–9pm
Book free tickets here
In 2011, the explosion of riots in English cities prompted much moralising from Scotland’s political, policing and media establishments on why the outbreak never reached Glasgow. Not for the first time, the country’s elites appeared to be attributing the lack of rioting to the particular characteristics of Glasgow’s working class communities.
The fearful part of it was the absence is a new exhibition by writer Joey Simons which investigates the periodic eruption and absence of rioting in Glasgow, and its effect on the shape of the city.
Taking its title from Henry Cockburn’s observations on the ‘terrible silence’ and ‘fearful absence of riot’ that characterised the great demonstrations in Scotland in support of parliamentary reform in 1832, Joey’s exhibition pieces together a constellation of historical and contemporary sources to explore a recurring pattern of response and erasure to collective violence in the city.
For the exhibition, Joey presents a montage of audio-visual material, texts, poetry, a wall drawing and audio. Videos made by Joey and the photographer Jack Wrigley depict their friends reciting texts ordered around riots and their relationship to silence, language, violence, geography and weather.
Recitals take place on sites of historical riots in Glasgow, today many of which are derelict, demolished in preparation for private development, or in the process of gentrification.
Join us on Friday 3 December, 7-9pm, to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. This is an open event and all are welcome. Much of the event will take place outdoors in our new ‘Play Shelter’ so please dress for the weather!
Numbers inside the exhibition will be monitored in line with social distancing advice so a short wait may be required.
Capacity is limited due to social distancing so please RSVP by booking a free ticket on Eventbrite.
Dear Editor
Around 776,579 people adults in Scotland have been diagnosed with high blood pressure in Scotland, with many more remaining undiagnosed and unaware.
That’s extremely worrying to our charity as high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke.
One of the ways to reduce blood pressure is to reduce your sodium intake. Most of this sodium is in the salt we eat and that’s why we’re proud to support Season with Sense, a public health campaign which aims to drive down consumer sodium intake.
The good news is that by making small changes to our diet – such as cutting the amount or type of salt – we can greatly reduce our risk of serious health issues.
If you find it hard to cut out salt completely, there are alternatives to regular table, sea and rock salts such as LoSalt® which has two thirds less sodium without any taste compromise.
Find out more at www.seasonwithsense.com.
When you’re out shopping, watch out for the special tubs of LoSalt® on sale in supermarkets. For every tub sold a 20p donation will be made to help fund the vital work we do to support stroke survivors and carers.
The tubs will also have information attached to help shoppers understand the FAST test. Face, Arms, Speech, are the most common signs that someone is having a stroke. Time tells you that Stroke is a medical emergency and you must phone 999 straight away. We are thrilled that this vital information will be getting into the hands of 150,000 people.
Please do note that if you take some types of medication that affect potassium levels, LoSalt® and other reduced sodium salt alternatives may not be suitable for you. This includes people receiving medication for diabetes, heart or kidney disorders. Check with your GP for advice.
John Watson
Associate Director Scotland, The Stroke Association
With icy weather warnings predicted to sweep across the UK this weekend, a national vet charity is urging pet owners to take extra precautions to protect furry friends from the cold.
PDSA Vet Lynne James said: “Winter can be a dangerous time for all animals, but fine coated, poorly, young or elderly pets are at higher risk of hypothermia in freezing temperatures. Thankfully, there are simple steps we can all take to keep our precious furry family members safe, warm and healthy as the mercury drops.
Extra layers
“Use a well-fitting, fully lined, non-restrictive waterproof coat to help keep your pooch warm and dry when on walks if they are very young, old or have thin fur. Try to avoid walking your furry family member in freezing cold weather if they are poorly – instead, encourage them to go to the toilet in the garden, then bring them straight back into the warmth.
Slippery surfaces
“Ice and snow can be painful for large and small pets alike if it gets stuck between their paws, so try to keep hair in between their pads trimmed and check their paws when they come back inside. Using a paw butter can help prevent sore cracked pads.
Shelter for small pets
“When the temperature hits below zero, move outdoor rabbits and guinea pigs to a warm and sheltered area, such as a shed or car-free garage, making sure they’re protected from drafts and exhaust fumes. They should still have access to natural light, plenty of room and be given regular access to an outside run so that they can exercise when the temperatures are slightly milder.
Curfew for cats
“Your puss may want to stay indoors more when it gets cold – give them toys to play with to keep them occupied and a litter tray so they don’t have to brave the elements if they don’t want to. If they still prefer to go outside, make sure they can easily get back inside or have access to a warm, sheltered area when the temperature plummets.
Snuggle up
“All furry friends should have extra bedding over winter, and small pets will love piles of extra hay to snuggle up to. Your puss will really appreciate a few extra comfy spaces to curl up in around the house, too – igloo beds are ideal, as they help furry friends get really cosy. You can even place a safely wrapped, animal-safe heat pad under their bedding for extra warmth.”
Vet charity PDSA provides free and low-cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
Since the first UK lockdown began, PDSA’s dedicated vet teams carried out more than one million phone consultations.
With 388,000 pets treated in 2020, by keeping their 48 Pet Hospitals open, PDSA can support the thousands of pets that need help across the UK every day.
Every pet deserves a fighting chance. Please donate today and help save pets’ lives – www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-chance.
Hot on the heels of COP26, the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee has launched an inquiry that will explore the role of local government and its partners – private and voluntary sectors, social enterprises, and local communities – in both financing and delivering a net-zero Scotland.
MSPs will consider what councils and partners are doing practically to help reach the targets, what skillsets are being used, and what barriers are in their way. They will also probe how councils leverage in capacity and finance from the private sector and look for examples of effective partnership working that is delivering net zero.
The inquiry will focus particularly on the ambitious target of 75% overall reduction in carbon emissions to be met by 2030 (against baselines set in 1990 and 1995).
Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Committee Convener, Dean Lockhart MSP, said: “COP 26 has underlined that government at every level has a role to play in addressing climate change. In Scotland, local government powers span everything from encouraging active travel, to deciding what sort of homes get built in communities, to promoting recycling and a circular economy.
“To get results, local government must partner effectively with business, the voluntary sector and local communities themselves. This is why we want this to be a hands-on inquiry, focusing on the strengths of those relationships and practical steps being taken.
“We need to understand how council budgets are being used to drive action on net zero and how well they are leveraging in skills and private finance. And we need to understand what role the Scottish Government can play to support and – where necessary – to challenge local government to play a full role in the flight against climate change. ”
The Committee has launched a survey looking for views which closes on Friday 21 January 2022.
You can submit views here:
Over the twenty-four-hour period from 7am on Friday, November 26, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received more than 900 emergency calls – almost three times the normal number – with more than 500 of these being due to the impact of the severe weather associated with Storm Arwen affecting many areas of the country.
During this same period of time, firefighters were mobilised to more than 500 incidents, many of which were related to high winds, with areas in the North and East of Scotland being worst affected.
Between 3pm and midnight on Friday, November 26 the Service’s Operations Control rooms in Dundee and Edinburgh received more than 500 weather related emergency calls, which included calls for assistance to make damaged buildings safe and road traffic collisions.
The impact of the weather was also felt by the Service, with damage to the roof of Altens Community Fire Station in Aberdeen.
On duty firefighters and appliances were deployed to neighbouring stations to ensure fire cover for the area was maintained. In addition, a fire appliance from Galashiels in the Borders was struck by falling trees during the storm while attending an incident and the firefighters were removed to safety with no injuries recorded.
John Dickie is an Assistant Chief Officer in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “This has been an exceptional weather event and a challenging night where we received a high number of weather related calls.
“We have seen high numbers of emergency calls from the Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Fife, East Lothian and Scottish Borders areas where many buildings were damaged by the high winds – resulting in a significant localised response.
“Firefighters also attended a number of other incidents including road traffic collisions and fires.
“My thanks must go to our firefighters and Operations Control staff for their outstanding work overnight in very challenging conditions, and to our partners for their continued assistance.”
For safety advice on severe weather visit – https://www.readyscotland.org/are-you-ready/severe-weather/
For the latest forecast where you are:
A three-year long campaign by students and staff at Edinburgh Napier to raise awareness of period poverty has been recognised with an award win at the “Oscars of Higher Education.”
Bleedin’ Saor – the staff/student collective responsible for the campaign – collected the Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at last night’s Times Higher Education Awards 2021 in London.
Led by Edinburgh Napier colleagues Ruth Cochrane, Dr Kirsten MacLeod and Lindsay Morgan, the collective was praised by judges for its efforts in combating menstrual myths and breaking the ‘silence of menstruation’ to create a long-lasting impact for young people and their communities.
The Bleedin’ Saor campaign was multi-faceted, with the collective most recently launching its Bleeding Free documentary which looked at topics such as period poverty, period dignity and menstrual education both in Scotland and overseas in Uganda.
The collective visited Uganda in 2019 as it took its campaign to East Africa to join global efforts in the menstrual movement.
The 10-day trip saw the group meet with and interview members of a number of organisations within the country who are fighting for better period product provision, gender equality and women’s rights.
Closer to home, the documentary also captures the work of the collective and its three designers – Sam Calder, Hannah Stevens and Brogan Henderson – as they worked with the University and the Hey Girls social enterprise to design two new period product dispensers.
The final design has been used by Edinburgh Napier to make period products free to all who need them within the University’s campuses and will soon be installed in schools, colleges and universities across the country. The free products at Edinburgh Napier have been made available thanks to Scottish Government funding.
The Bloody Big Brunch event hosted by Bleedin’ Saor at all three of Edinburgh Napier’s campuses in early 2019 – which saw guests pay for entry to the brunch through donating period products rather than money – is also revisited in the film.
On the award win, Ruth, Kirsten and Lindsay said: “We are beyond delighted that Bleedin’ Saor has received this recognition. It highlights the role that creativity has to play in tackling society’s challenges.
“The success of this project is completely down to our amazing students. It shows that given the chance, our young people really can change the world.”
University Principal Andrea Nolan said: “This award is fantastic recognition for the Bleedin’ Saor collective and I am so proud of what it has done both for Edinburgh Napier and beyond.
“The campaign is a perfect example of successful student and staff partnership working and I am thrilled that the team has been recognised for its tireless work and passion in raising awareness of period poverty.
“A huge congratulations to you all.”
The THE awards – now in their 17th year – span 20 categories covering the full range of university activities. This year’s winners, focusing on achievements during 2019-20, were announced at a ceremony last night at the Hilton London Metropole hotel.
The University was well represented on the night, with Professor Lis Neubeck, from the School of Health & Social Care, also shortlisted for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year.
Entitled Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Changing National and Global Detection and Management, Professor Neubeck’s internationally leading research and knowledge exchange focuses on the early detection and appropriate management of the most common abnormal heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, and has had significant impact on the field of cardiovascular health at a national, European and global level.
The full list of winners from the night can be found here.
From today, adults aged 40 to 49 will be able to book their COVID-19 booster online.
You will not be sent an appointment letter, so please book your appointment at
nhsinform.scot/
People aged 40-49 years old will be able to use the NHS Inform online portal or national phoneline to book their COVID-19 booster appointments from today (Saturday).
Appointments will be available from 30 November and the booking must be at least 24 weeks after the second dose.
16 and 17 year olds can use the portal from Tuesday 30 November to book a slot for their second dose of the vaccine as long as 12 weeks have passed since the first dose. However, anyone with a confirmed case of the virus since the first dose should wait for 12 weeks after that.
The portal is already open for the 50 – 59 age group, unpaid carers who are 16 and over, and those aged 16 and over who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals while anyone in earlier groups who missed an appointment can also book online. As the portal is now being opened to even more cohorts, 50-59-year-olds who have not yet received their booster, will be contacted shortly to invite them to make a booking as soon as possible via the portal or national phoneline.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We have now delivered more than 1.5 million boosters and third doses and the excellent progress with the Autumn/Winter vaccination programme now allows us to invite people aged 40 – 49 to book online.
“Boosters are just as important as the initial vaccinations. Six months after the second dose, immunity levels wane with increasing risk of further infection. The booster dose improves your level of protection significantly and is the best way to protect your health and those around you. We encourage all those eligible to arrange their appointment via the portal or phoneline for 24 weeks after their second dose.
“I am pleased that, from Tuesday, 16 and 17 year olds can also use the portal to book their second dose. The portal will be in use for people in almost all health board areas but those in areas where that is not the case, people will be contacted directly by their local board with details of their appointment.
“We aim to vaccinate people as quickly as possible in line with clinical guidance and over the course of the Autumn/Winter vaccination programme, we will see up to 7.5 million flu and COVID-19 booster vaccinations administered.
“While vaccination is the bedrock of our fight against COVID-19, we encourage everyone to follow mitigations such as regular testing, particularly before socialising and meeting up with others people from outside your household, wearing face marks where required and opening windows to improve ventilation.”
Projects and organisations across Edinburgh are sharing in £49,382 National Lottery funding in the latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards.
Edinburgh contemporary composer, Neil Smith is developing two projects designed to inspire new audiences for contemporary classical music.
A debut portrait album of chamber music and a new music-driven puppet theatre show follow fast on the heels of his collaboration with Tinderbox Collective’s recent Music For Bridges project.
Photographer, David Grinly is developing new work for an exhibition at Sierra Metro gallery, Edinburgh in January 2022.
Collaborating with six musicians, Grinly will perform and record works of “photographic music” composed via a method developed by the artist to translate colour into musical notation.
The Edinburgh projects are among the 36 creative initiatives across Scotland sharing in over £772,000 of National Lottery funding in this round of Open Fund awards.
The full list of awards is available on the Creative Scotland website.
Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “These Open Fund grants are capable of making a palpable and positive difference to the lives and careers of artists, and more widely to those of us living within Scotland’s communities.
“Thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players, who raise £30 million for good causes across the UK every year, these awards continue to support communities the length and breadth of Scotland, inspiring generations and boosting overall wellbeing.”
Up to 100 events taking place across the country between 26 – 30 November
This weekend people in Edinburgh are being encouraged to celebrate our national day by coming together to share kindness with friends and neighbours, and recognise the value we place on having compassion for others and the environment we live in.
Kindness is a central theme of the St Andrew’s Day events programme – part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals 2021/22. The Scottish Government has provided over £430,000 in funding for Scotland’s Winter Festivals and the events programme is delivered by EventScotland, BEMIS Scotland, the Fair Saturday Foundation and the English Speaking Union Scotland.
Up to 100 individual events are planned for the five-day festivities marking St Andrew’s Day across the country including theatre performances, poetry readings and music concerts as well as ceilidhs, torchlight parades and a Diversity Cup football tournament.
Events happening across Edinburgh, which will give a welcome boost to the tourism and event sectors as they recover from the pandemic, include:
● Summerhall Presents: FAIR PLAY – 30 November 2021: An evening of music, theatre, spoken word, dance and film. Edinburgh’s independent performing arts venue Summerhall is working with Fair Saturday to present FAIR PLAY, celebrating some of the artists who’ve been involved with Summerhall’s Artist Development Programme. MC’d by poet and theatre maker Leyla Josephine, the night will include dance from Katie Armstrong and Róisín O’Brien, spoken word from John Osborne (My Car Plays Tapes) and Colin Bramwell (Three Pints on a Sunday), and a screening of a new short film Auntie Empire (Julia Taudevin, Niamh McKeown and Jana Robert), all rounded off with music from a surprise guest.
● Scottish LGBTQ+ Walking Tour – 27th November 2021: As part of St Andrew’s Fair Saturday there will be a new 2-hour walking tour in Edinburgh’s Old Town featuring Scottish LGBTQ+ history. Starting at either 10am or 2pm on the 27th of November the tour will discuss pioneering lesbian doctors in the Victorian era, a gender non-conforming army surgeon, and the sites of some of the first public queer social events in Edinburgh in the 1970s and 20% of all proceeds with be donated to Mermaids.
● Kindness of Words – 26th – 30th November 2021: Enjoy a little ‘spoken word sustenance’ with a curated programme of special events within the St Andrew’s Fair Saturday Festival this year. Take a chance to pause and enjoy sessions created by charities and organisations across the world that promote a love of reading, storytelling, poetry and literature. Events include Elevenses poetry event with Jackie Kay on St Andrew’s Day at the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre, a celebration of books and stories at Streetreads library in Edinburgh and a special mini Bookbug session with Scottish Book Trust.
As part of this year’s celebrations, Edinburgh-based artist Emily Hogarth has designed an illustration which encapsulates the spirit of St Andrew’s Day and reflects small acts of kindness that have brought us together over the past 12 months.
The illustration and its message, ‘When Kindness is Shared it Grows’, will be brought to life and displayed at St James Quarter and the Festival Theatre reminding people around Scotland to share kindness with others this St Andrew’s Day.
Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “Scotland’s Winter Festivals bring a much-needed brightness and joy to the winter darkness and I’m very pleased that the Scottish Government is contributing up to £430,000 to the programme of events.
“The past year has been challenging for everyone so the government is proud to fund a programme of events that bring people together from near and far to showcase our world-class culture and heritage as well as our values of fairness, kindness, inclusivity and empowerment.”
For more information on the full St Andrew’s Day events programme visit:
