The City of Edinburgh Council is channelling crucial Young Person’s Guarantee funding into 14 employability programmes to help as many young people as possible get into work.
As Scotland’s Capital looks to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy, councillors at the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee this week were given an update on the diverse range of projects and programmes, both new and existing across the city, that will receive grant money.
These programmes will further help young people, aged between 16-24 years old, to prepare or give them the tools to find work.
They are open to all young people, regardless of background or experience, but will also specifically help and support young people who have additional barriers to securing a job. The help that young people can expect to receive will include mental health support, early skills training, practical skills training, as well as in-work support and mentoring as they progress into employment.
The funding supports projects and activities running between October 2021 and March 2022.
The successful providers and their programmes that young people can access are as follows (in no particular order):
Cyrenians “Key to Potential – Key to College” and “Getting Together”
Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’re really pleased that there were so many good ideas and new, innovative programmes put forward by organisations across the city. The pandemic, and then Brexit, have caused so much disruption to people’s working lives and livelihoods, but we’re particularly mindful of the impact on young people and people facing additional barriers.
“We want to make sure that everyone, but especially those at the early stages of their working life or people who already face disadvantage, get fair access to education, training, skills development and good quality jobs.
“The Young Person’s Guarantee grant programme will help to increase those opportunities and will complement the already extensive support provided across the city.
“As a council we spend almost £5million a year supporting people who need a bit of extra help to find work and build skills and confidence. It’s never been more needed.
“Alongside, we’re making Edinburgh a Living Wage City, so that we’re not just helping people to access jobs, but good quality jobs. As we move through to economic recovery it’s vital that everyone can share in Edinburgh’s success, so making sure that work is fair, and people can earn a living wage, is a top priority.”
Councillor Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “Our Edinburgh Guarantee promises that no one will be left behind. Through this small grant programme we hope to make sure those who need our help will be given the opportunity to access the support they need so they are ready for whatever training or career aspirations they have their sights on.
“We also want to make sure that this is spread out across the city and that those experiencing the greatest barriers get the most help from these grant programmes.
It is hoped that YPG funding from the Scottish Government will be available in 2022/23 so work with providers to continue projects where the uptake and impact on young person accessing those programmes has been positive.
All under 22s resident in Scotland will have access to free bus travel from 31 January 2022, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed, implementing a commitment agreed with the Scottish Green Party.
New research commissioned by Transport Scotland shows that almost two-thirds (61%) of young Scots agree that access to public transport will play a central role in the fight against climate change.
School pupils, students and social media influencers joined the First Minister and Mr Harvie at Glasgow Caledonian University to mark COP26’s Youth and Empowerment Day on board a new, Scottish-built electric bus as she confirmed the scheme.
The change means around 930,000 young people across Scotland will benefit from free bus travel from 31 January 2022.
Transport Scotland research showed 70% of young people indicate they would use public transport more frequently if it was free.
The Scottish Government has committed to removing the majority of fossil fuelled buses from public transport by 2023.
A Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce has been convened which brings bus operators, the supply chain, energy companies and financiers together to co-design a pathway to a fully zero-emission bus fleet.
Transport Scotland has made £50 million available to the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund, to further support the Scottish bus fleet to transition to zero emission.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We are committed to giving our young people the very best chances to succeed in life. The extension of free bus travel to all under 22s will improve access to education, leisure, and work, while supporting the adoption of sustainable travel behaviours early in their lives.
“COP26 must be a turning point for the world, and action must be taken if we are to ‘keep 1.5 alive’, and Governments across the world must act to support this. Adopting more sustainable travel behaviour is vital if we are to reach our world-leading goal of reducing the number of kilometres travelled by car by 20% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045.”
Stewart (17), Young Scot volunteer on the COP26 Youth Climate Programme said: “Free bus travel for young people in Scotland is a fantastic way to help tackle the climate emergency – an issue that’s so important to young people as we are the generation who will be most impacted.
“Not only will it help to reduce our carbon emissions, but it will also support young people like me to study, socialise, get to work and make the most of their lives. It’s a win win!”
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, Patrick Harvie MSP said: “This transformational policy shows that our focus on tackling the climate emergency goes hand in hand with improving lives and tackling inequality.
“Free bus travel will open up opportunities for young people and ease pressure on family budgets while helping deliver the step-change we need to deliver on our climate commitments.
“Children and young people travelling for free on modern, zero-carbon electric buses is another step towards the fairer, greener Scotland we are committed to building.”
Paul Davies, President & Managing Director of Alexander Dennis said: “Scotland’s under 22s will have a unique opportunity to make sustainable travel choices with free bus travel across the country.
“COP26 is showing that future generations must be at the heart of climate policy and the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme is an excellent example of forward-looking policy in action.
“With the Scottish Government funding zero emission buses that are built right here in Scotland, young people can be sure their journeys will not only be smooth, clean and green, but will benefit communities through the skilled jobs, apprenticeship and graduate opportunities underpinned by this investment.”
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald said: “The SNP Scottish Government is once again making an investment in our young people’s future. By making bus travel free for U22s both her in Edinburgh and across Scotland, opportunities for young people to work, travel and study are being opened up for them.
“Travelling by bus is one of the most environmentally friendly way to get across the country and research shows that young people recognise the vital role public transport will play in hitting our climate change targets.
“This move will not only be vital in our journey to net zero, but will also take pressure off young people and their families’ finances.
“Once again this is a demonstration of how the SNP Scottish Government continues to support young people here in the city and across Scotland have the best possible start in life.”
Governments, farmers and businesses commit to urgent action to protect our land and make our agriculture and food systems more sustainable for the future
Forty-five governments, led by the UK, will pledge urgent action and investment to protect nature and shift to more sustainable ways of farming at the COP26 Nature and Land-Use Day happening today (Saturday 6 November).
Approximately one-quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry and other land-use – creating an urgent need to reform the way we grow and consume food in order to tackle climate change.
Urgent action on land use is needed as demand for food increases. We are currently losing forests, damaging soils and rapidly destroying other ecosystems that play a critical role in absorbing carbon and cooling the planet. Farmers’ livelihoods are also under increasing pressure as climate change impacts on productivity. To help farmers adapt and to make our food system more resilient for the future, more sustainable practices are essential.
Countries from across the world will set out their commitment to transform agriculture and food systems through policy reforms, research and innovation in order to reduce emissions and protect nature, whilst securing food and jobs.
This includes leveraging over US$4 billion of new public sector investment into agricultural innovation, including the development of climate resilient crops and regenerative solutions to improve soil health, helping make these techniques and resources affordable and accessible to hundreds of millions of farmers.
This commitment includes a pledge to support internationally agreed “Action Agendas” which set out steps that governments, farmers and others can take through policy reform and innovation to deliver the changes necessary for sustainable food systems.
Sixteen countries will launch a “Policy Action Agenda” and more than 160 stakeholders will join a “Global Agenda for Innovation in Agriculture” to lead the way on the global transition towards climate resilient agriculture and food systems to more sustainable ways of farming.
As part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to spend at least £3 billon of International Climate Finance on nature and biodiversity, the UK will launch a new £500 million package to help protect five million hectares of rainforests from deforestation, an area equivalent to over 3.5 million football pitches.
The funding will create thousands of green jobs, including in sustainable agriculture and forestry, throughout rainforest regions and generate £1 billion of green private sector investment to tackle climate change around the world.
Speaking ahead of Nature and Land-Use day, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “To keep 1.5 degrees alive, we need action from every part of society, including an urgent transformation in the way we manage ecosystems and grow, produce and consume food on a global scale.
“We need to put people, nature and climate at the core of our food systems. The UK government is leading the way through our new agricultural system in England, which will incentivise farmers to farm more sustainably, create space for nature on their land and reduce carbon emissions.
“There needs to be a fair and just transition that protects the livelihoods and food security of millions of people worldwide – with farmers, indigenous people and local communities playing a central role in these plans.”
UK will also outline a range of new funding commitments from the £3 billion fund for nature, including:
Nearly £25 million out of the £150 million from BEIS’ Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF) programme will be invested to develop sustainable supply chains in tropical countries
An investment of over £38 million into a new global research initiative through the world’s leading agricultural research organisation, the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research), to address the climate crisis and protect nature while advancing gender equality, poverty reduction, and food and nutrition security
The UK will contribute up to £40 million of international climate finance to establish the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate. The Global Centre will address critical research gaps in how the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity can deliver climate solutions and improve livelihoods in developing countries
The UK will also launch a £65 million Just Rural Transition support programme to help developing countries move towards more sustainable methods of agriculture and food production. This will include support to ensure that farmers are included in policy-making processes, including through consultations, trials and pilot programmes for new technologies and approaches.
The UK will announce its support for the US/UAE-led Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) which will mobilise over £4 billion of new global public sector investment in agricultural innovation, research and development over the next five years with contributions from over 30 countries for public and private sector as well as knowledge partners.
These new partnerships will help accelerate adoption of more climate resilient and sustainable agriculture practices to deliver healthy diets, improve the trade in agricultural goods, contributing to a healthier planet and a more prosperous future.
The production of commodities such as beef, soy, palm oil and cocoa is a major driver of deforestation. Twenty-eight governments, including the UK, representing 75% of global trade in key commodities that can threaten forests – such as palm oil, cocoa and soya – have come together through the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Roadmap which was created at COP26 to deliver sustainable trade and reduce pressure on forests, including support for smallholder farmers and improving the transparency of supply chains.
As holders of this year’s G7 and COP26 Presidency, Nature and Land-Use day will build on the Government’s promise to lead both the UK and the nations of the world to build back greener, secure a global net zero and keep 1.5 degrees within reach.
In a landmark step, almost 100 high-profile UK companies will agree to work towards halting and reversing the decline of nature by 2030 and commit to getting ‘Nature Positive’. This includes OVO Energy announcing its commitment in planting one million trees in the UK within the next year and Severn Trent pledging to restore over 2,000 acres of peatland across England and Wales by 2025.
Burberry has also unveiled a new biodiversity strategy, which includes the assurance that all its key material will be 100% traceable by 2025, for instance, through sourcing more sustainable cotton, leather and wool, as well as recycled polyester and nylon.
Commitments also include a pledge by Co-op, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose to cut their environmental impact across climate, deforestation and nature in a ‘Retailers Commitment for Nature’ with WWF.
UK Clean Growth, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said: “If we are to keep the 1.5 degrees target in reach, we need to work with other nations to halt global deforestation, investing in the sustainable trading of commodities that will help communities thrive, while protecting our planet for generations to come.
“Backed by a £500m package of support, today’s historic UK commitment at COP26 will help protect millions of hectares of land, boosting rural communities and forest-friendly businesses, while creating thousands of green jobs across the world’s rainforest regions.
WWF Chief Executive Tanya Steele said: “The climate and nature crisis are two sides of the same coin and we can’t turn things around unless we transform our food system, which is destroying forests and habitats in some of our most fragile landscapes.
“The commitment from leading UK supermarkets to halve the food retail sector’s environmental impact by 2030 will help millions of families make their weekly shop greener and help reverse the loss of nature.”
Justin Adams, Executive Director, Tropical Forest Alliance, World Economic Forum said: “The FACT Dialogue process has created new momentum – from 28 countries – to work on issues of trade, forests and finance in an integrated way.
“Bringing these governments together – from the global south and north – to tackle the issue of commodity production and deforestation head on is a very significant development. Continued dialogue after COP26 will be critical to progress.”
The full package of commitments and action includes:
Agricultural reform and innovation:
A Global Action Agenda on Innovation in Agriculture – launched today – to transform food systems under climate change. It was launched with support from more than 150 allies from governments, researchers, farmers and businesses. It will drive action to close the innovation gap that limits our efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change, while accelerating efforts towards greater food security around the world.
The Policy Action Agenda – launched today – sets out pathways and actions that countries can take to repurpose public policies and support to food and agriculture, to deliver these outcomes and enable a just rural transition. It also sets out actions and opportunities for other stakeholders (international organisations, food producers, financial entities, researchers, civil society and others) to channel their expertise, knowledge and resources in support of this agenda.
A new global initiative launched to reach 100 million farmers at the centre of food systems transformation with net zero and nature positive innovations by 2030 via a multistakeholder platform convened by World Economic Forum (WEF) involving farmers’ organisations, civil society, businesses and other partners.
New UK funding to the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) the world’s leading agricultural science and innovation organisation, which will create and scale new crops and technologies yielding climate, nature, health, gender and economic impact (£38.5m over two years). Funding will support the development and deployment of:
Crop varieties that are climate-resilient (more resistant to heat, drought and flooding) and more nutritious (with elevated levels of essential micronutrients);
agricultural practices that are more productive, sustainable and climate-resilient;
new livestock varieties, diagnostics and management practices, which reduce the risks faced by pastoralists and livestock keepers;
Foresight and trade off tools for risk management of, and resilience to, major threats emerging from the food system, including anti-microbial resistance and emerging zoonotic diseases;
evidence on better policies to help poor farmers use new technology to access markets, reduce risks and increase incomes.
A new UK Government initiative to transform climate-resilient food systems through research and innovation. The Gilbert Initiative will coordinate investments in evidence generation, technology development and delivery to support a food system that by 2030 feeds nine billion people with nutritious, safe foods; uses environmental resources sustainably; enhances resilience and adaptation to climate change; and generates inclusive growth and jobs.
Ocean Action:
At COP26, more than 10 new countries signed up to the 30by30 target, including Bahrain, Jamaica, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar, Samoa, Tonga, Gambia and Georgia.
The UK announced a £6m investment into the World Bank’s PROBLUE, as part of its Blue Planet Fund – supporting the development of the blue economy to act as a key driver of growth in small island developing states (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries. The programme works across a broad range of activities, from sustainable tourism to developing aquaculture markets; from fostering the transition to circular economies to investment into NbS as a powerful vehicle for delivering disaster risk reduction and improved water resource management.
The UK also announced it that it will be contributing to a UN-led programme to support the government of Fiji in issuing its first sovereign blue bond. The blue bond will help to create a supportive environment for sustainable ocean finance in Fiji, supporting projects that improve ocean health and support the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The UK has also announced an additional £1m contribution to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), in addition to the £5m we announced earlier this year. GFCR is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of coral reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. The UK’s contribution will go into helping developing countries within the Caribbean, India Ocean, Pacific and Southeast Asia prevent the extinction of vital coral reefs by exploring techniques such as sewage treatment and the management of marine protected areas.
The Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, a multi-sector collaboration designed to drive investment into coastal natural capital by pioneering ground-breaking finance products that incentivise blended finance and private investment, hosted a roundtable yesterday that saw commitments towards the partnership’s target to secure over at least $20m USD from largely private finance.
The UK announced its intention to work together to help establish a new cross-Administration UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership to progress the evidence base on these habitats. Through this partnership, UK Administrations will work together to address key research questions related to blue carbon policy, including working to fill the evidence gaps that currently hinder inclusion of saltmarsh and seagrass habitats into the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
The UK also announced that the Environment Agency have published pioneering toolkits to support the restoration and protection of blue carbon habitats to combat climate change. The three handbooks will focus on saltmarsh, seagrass and intertidal sediments and will be instrumental in informing the restoration of blue carbon habitats in the UK and beyond.
Sustainable production and consumption:
The Forest Agriculture Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue, co-chaired by the UK and Indonesia, was launched in February 2021 and brings together 28 of the largest consumer and producer governments of beef, soy, cocoa and palm oil. They have collaborated to ensure that these goods can be traded in a way which strengthens economic development, food security and improves livelihoods – while avoiding deforestation that causes climate change and biodiversity loss.
The FACT roadmap identifies actions on four critical and related areas of work which are central to achieving the FACT Dialogue’s overall objectives: trade and market development, smallholder support, traceability and transparency, and research, development and innovation. This roadmap actions puts countries on a path to ending deforestation whilst promoting sustainable trade and development.
The £500m UK funding package drawn from the £3bn International Climate Finance committed for nature and biodiversity will fund a second phase of the Investment in Forests & Sustainable Land Use (IFSLU) programme and will support the delivery of the FACT Roadmap.
Private Sector Action:
The CEOs of Co-Op, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose have joined forces to sign WWF’s ‘Retailers Commitment for Nature’ in which they commit to cutting their environmental impact across climate, deforestation and nature and leading the way for the whole food retail sector to halve its overall impact on the natural world by 2030. The supermarkets have committed to take action across seven areas – climate change, deforestation, sustainable agriculture, sustainable diets, marine, waste and packaging.
November is World Vegan Month and, with COP26 taking place just along the M8 in Glasgow, a lot of East coasters may be tempted to explore more vegan alternatives in an effort to reduce their impact on the planet.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a relaxed vegan dinner with friends or vegan-friendly fashion and beauty products, here’s five ways to celebrate World Vegan Month at Fort Kinnaird:
Enjoy some ‘vegatsu’ at wagamama
With wagamama committing to making half of its menu meat-free by 2022, there is a growing number of vegan options available at the restaurant in Fort Kinnaird – which is open until 9.00pm every day.
With dishes including silky, rich kareborosuramen, vegan ribs and vegatsu on the menu, those in search of a vegan meal will be spoilt for choice. Check out the menu here.
Try the vegan experience at Frankie & Benny’s
Frankie & Benny’s has long been a family favourite and the chain now has a host of vegan options on their menu for those looking to try more plant-based options.
The Tower Beet Burger, loaded with vegan mozzarella, sliced aubergine, napolitana sauce and torn basil is a mouthwatering option, while the vegan peperoni pizza along with plantballs Italiano and vegan ice cream mean there is something for everyone at Frankie & Benny’s.
The restaurant at Fort Kinnaird is open until 9.00pm from Monday to Thursday and until 10.00pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, making it an ideal way to complete your day out.
Experience the ‘Angry Vegan’ at Bread Meats Bread
Bread Meats Bread has been a hit at Fort Kinnaird ever since it opened its doors, and the restaurant has a number of incredible vegan options.
Using Moving Mountains Plant Based Burgers, the team at Bread Meats Bread have developed a range of delicious burgers, including the ‘Cheesy M&M’ and the ‘Angry Vegan’, for those looking for a fantastic burger, without the meat.
Find out more about Bread Meats Bread’s largest restaurant in Scotland here.
Get the best of the Plant Kitchen range at M&S
This bestselling range at M&S is a staple for those looking to create plant-based meals at home.
Spice up your night with tacos made with Plant Kitchen fishless goujons or pack a punch with crispy BBQ wings inspired by the flavours of Korea.
After a sweet treat? Plant Kitchen now offers salted caramel cookie dough – perfect for layering with fruit and dairy-free ice cream.
Luxury British chocolatier and cacao grower Hotel Chocolat is well known for its incredible chocolate selection, but did you know the retailer also stocks a host of vegan options?
With the ‘vegan sleekster’ selection box and the ‘all dark vegan chocolate hamper’ available, pop in store to see the incredible range of vegan sweet treats.
Put some pep in your step with vegan shoes from OFFICE
There’s never been so much choice when it comes to vegan fashion. Some of the world’s biggest fashion brands are now making clothing, shoes and bags using materials like recycled ocean plastic and reclaimed water bottles to reduce their impact on the planet.
OFFICE is a great example of how giving up leather doesn’t mean giving up on style. Stop by to browse its range of vegan shoes from brands including Dr. Martens and Blowfish.
Your big vegan day out doesn’t have to stop when you head for the big screen at Fort Kinnaird’s ODEON cinema.
ODEON’s popcorn is vegan and the cinema’s dairy-free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is suitable for vegans if you’re feeling indulgent. Check out what’s showing at ODEON Cinema.
The First Minister’s Environmental Council, the group of independent international experts tasked with advising the Scottish Government on environmental issues, has published its first report.
Presented at COP26, the report analyses Scotland’s ambitions and response to the twin climate and nature crises, notes international examples of environmental action and sets out the future work programme of the council. Use of land and marine resources are among the key areas where the council advise that further, urgent action is particularly important.
The First Minister met the council which she co-chairs with Professor Sir Ian Boyd, former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
They were joined in person by ten other members of the council including Gordon Buchanan MBE, award-winning wildlife camera-man and presenter, and Dr Dilys Roe, Chair of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
The report is published as the Scottish Government launches a new website for tracking progress towards achieving its environmental ambitions. Based on Scotland’s Environment Strategy, the site is designed to ensure clear and accessible information on Scotland’s environmental performance is available to the public.
The First Minister said: “As the host country of COP26, Scotland has a unique opportunity to show leadership on the international stage. That’s why we appointed independent environmental experts from around the world to advise on how we best tackle this unprecedented challenge.
“The group balances experience, a strong international perspective, the youth voice, and topical awareness, at the highest, global level. Its first report sets out areas of immediate priority which will help inform the actions we are taking now to tackle the crisis, and our future policy direction.
“Our Environment Strategy already sets out our long-term, guiding vision for Scotland’s environment and our role in tackling the twin climate and nature crises. We know where our efforts must be focussed if we are to make that a reality – including improving the sustainability of Scotland’s economy, society and global footprint.
“By measuring our progress, and drawing on the expertise of the environmental council, we can make sure we continually improve our approach. I welcome the council’s first report and look forward to working closely with its members beyond COP26 as we progress to becoming a net zero country, while restoring nature.”
Francesca Osowska, NatureScot Chief Executive, said: “The link between nature and climate can’t be understated with nature-based solutions delivering 30% of the carbon reductions needed globally. Ongoing efforts to restore peatlands, increase woodlands and protected natural areas and develop natural capital initiatives are all highlighted in the panel’s first report.
“As the report says, there is much more work needed to restore Scotland’s fragile nature. We look forward to this panel continuing to help direct our efforts, as we step up work to restore Scotland’s nature, adapt to unavoidable climate change, and achieve net zero by 2045.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) received more than 1000 calls from the public during an eight hour period
Firefighters across Scotland dealt with more than 370 bonfires on one of their busiest nights of the year yesterday.
Initial figures indicate that crews responded to approximately 374 bonfires across the country between 3.30pm and 11.30pm on Friday, November 5.
Meanwhile, Operations Control handled more than 1020 calls from members of the public.
There were also eight reported attacks on crews, with three injuries reported.
With public events cancelled amid continuing Covid-19 restrictions – and in Glasgow due to the evening coinciding with the COP26 event – the Service had appealed to the public to be aware of the dangers of both fireworks and deliberate fire-setting and to also consider the impact of their actions on communities and emergency services.
Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens is Director of Service Delivery for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He said: “Bonfire Night is traditionally one of our busiest nights of the year.
“I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and resilience of our frontline and Operations Control firefighters and our support staff who have shown extreme dedication over this period.
“I must also thank our partners, and indeed communities across Scotland, for their continuing support in sharing and heeding our safety messaging.”
Libby Logan is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Area Commander for Operations Control. She said: “This was a busy and challenging evening, but I would like to praise our Operations Control staff who have once again worked tirelessly to ensure we respond to those who need us the most.
“Their dedication has allowed us to meet this challenge and continue to protect communities throughout Bonfire Night.”
Condemning attacks on crews, Assistant Chief Officer Stevens added: “Attacks on our firefighters are completely unacceptable.
“This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion, but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues – including the police when they must escort us at the scene.
“This type of behaviour is, of course, carried out by a very small minority and we once again thank our communities for their continuing support and working together with us to stay safe.”
Blair Drummond Safari Park is gearing up for a spectacular Christmas season with the launch of their festive extravaganza on Friday 19th November.
Running until 23rd December, the family-friendly central Scotland destination is going ‘all out’ to make sure this year’s Christmas event delivers an unforgettable festive experience filled with animal magic, a German-style Christmas market, Scotland’s biggest Christmas tree, a twinkly fairy garden, Festive fairground rides… and, of course, dinosaur illuminations.
Food and drink will feature in abundance with firepits for roasting marshmallows, wood-fired pizza ovens and, for the adults, a gin bar from local Stirling Gin.
And of course, no festive attraction would be complete without the main attraction, Santa Claus! The main man will be travelling through the Safari Park in his sleigh to add to the excitement.
Blair Drummond Safari Park’s animals will also be part of the festive day-out with majestic lions, leggy giraffes, zippy zebras, and mischievous lemurs among the many two and four-legged friends adding to a truly special Christmas experience.
Head of Marketing, Liz Gunn of Blair Drummond Safari Park said:“This year we set out to create something truly special and we cannot wait to throw open our gates and watch the excitement unfold as little ones marvel at our festive dinosaurs, toast marshmallows on the fire pits, squeal with delight at the Christmas lights and watch with wonder as Santa glides past Scotland’s biggest Christmas tree on his sleigh.
“It is our favourite time of the year, and this year is even more special.”
Kiltwalk Heroes invited to ‘save the date’ for physical events
Kiltwalkers will have the chance to put their best foot forward for the charities of their choice next year as the event makes its full physical return across the country.
Scotland’s favourite mass participation charity event will take place in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh in 2022, with a virtual version also going ahead to ensure the Kiltwalk is as accessible as possible.
In 2021 the Kiltwalk raised a record £8.4m for 1,270 Scottish charities at a time when many have been struggling to fundraise as a result of the pandemic. Every penny raised by Kiltwalkers is topped up 50% by The Hunter Foundation.
Paul Cooney, CEO, Kiltwalk, said: “After a challenging 18 months, we are incredibly excited to confirm the Kiltwalk will be a physical event all across Scotland once again. There is nothing like gathering together as a community, so we want our Kiltwalk Heroes to get a wee bit of tartan on and stride out for the charities closest to their hearts.
“This is more great news after a record fundraising year and we’d like to thank all of our participants, volunteers, supporters and sponsors for continuing to raise funds for those most in need at a time when they need our help most.”
The 2022 Kiltwalk will take place in Glasgow on 24 April, Aberdeen on 29 May, Dundee on 21 August and Edinburgh on 18 September.
They will be followed by Scotland’s Virtual Kiltwalk on the weekend of 7 – 9 October.
Full details regarding the walks will be published at a later date, with registration set to open in the coming weeks.
Heart Research UK has raised over £70,000 with the fourth instalment of their ‘anonymous heART project’, auctioning mystery pieces of A5 art produced by a host of internationally acclaimed artists, musicians and celebrities.
Heart Research UK Patrons Robert Smith (The Cure), Paul Insect and Christopher Kane have joined the likes of Chvrches, Jamie Hewlett, Annina Roescheisen, Anna Tsvell, Ralph Steadman and hundreds of international artists to create over 450 pieces of unique artwork, that were auctioned on eBay between the 22nd – 31st October.
The online auction, sponsored by international law firm Walker Morris included 471 pieces which were all sold anonymously. Prior to the auction, a full list of contributors was available, however the artist of each piece has been kept a secret, only being revealed to winning bidders now that the auction is over.
When the virtual hammer came down on Sunday evening at 8:00pm, the auction had proved to be an enormous success, raising a record amount and bringing the total amount raised for the ‘anonymous heART project’ across the 4 years to over £200,000, which will be helping to fund Heart Research UK’s life-saving work.
Following on from previous auctions, iconic rockstar and frontman of The Cure; Robert Smith contributed four beautiful pieces with the best-selling artwork fetching a stunning £5,900 in the online auction.
The piece, entitled “IT’S JUST THE WAY I SMILE…YOU SAID…” was highly sought after and all four pieces were included in the top 10 best-selling artworks.
Heart Research UK Patron Robert Smith commented:“The anonymous heART auction is a great idea and a great event, a wonderful opportunity to own a unique piece of art whilst supporting one of the UK’s best charities.
“The generosity of the bidding this year was overwhelming and I am very proud of everyone who got involved. I can’t wait for next year’s auction!”
Ahead of its fifth anniversary in 2022, the ‘anonymous heART project’ has seen over 1,800 artworks sold, raising over £200,000 for Heart Research UK’s pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.
Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive of Heart Research UK, said:“Everyone at Heart Research UK has been truly overwhelmed with the generosity of both the artists and people bidding on this year’s ‘anonymous heART project’.
“We knew that it would be tough to beat the previous year’s total but we managed to exceed all our expectations and could not be more grateful to everyone involved. We are indebted to all the contributors and would particularly like to thank our Patrons Robert Smith, Paul Insect and Christopher Kane, who all picked up their paintbrushes and donated their time, effort and support to the campaign.
“At Heart Research UK we like to use fun and innovative ways to raise funds and the beauty of the ‘anonymous heART project’ is that it allows people to support ground-breaking medical research, while at the same time obtaining a beautiful piece of art in return. It really is making high-class art available to all and we’re thrilled with the success of this years’ campaign.
“Each and every year, we try and make the ‘anonymous heART project’ even more special and we are already working on some exciting plans for the big five-year anniversary in 2022.”
To find out more and to register your interest for the fifth-year anniversary of the anonymous heART project, please visit heartresearch.org.uk/anonymous-heart/
Or follow the @he.art_project on Instagram for more updates.
After the success of the first season which saw guests such as Sam Heughan, Ian Rankin, Elaine C Smith, Liz Lochhead and more chatting to actress Nicola Roy about Scottish arts and culture, The Cultural Coven podcast is returning for series two.
The fortnightly series will kick off with a scintillating interview with superstar Alan Cumming on 10 November, followed by episodes starring Maureen Beattie (24 November), Grant Stott (8 December), Karen Dunbar (22 December), Sanjeev Kohli (5 January), Jackie Kay (19 January) and Len Pennie (2 February), before the season finishes with an extra special guest.
The Cultural Coven is a fortnightly podcast series that explores the lives of some of Scotland’s leading arts and cultural figures through conversation (and a bit of banter) with podcast host, actress Nicola Roy.
It delves into the creative and life journeys of guests from backgrounds in music, theatre, TV and literature. With conversations covering life journeys, politics, arts and culture in Scotland, and fun green-room gossip and creative challenges along the way, the podcast connects the public with the artists, most of whom Nicola Roy has either worked with as an actress or has crossed paths with in the industry.
This season is produced by Li Kennedy, with music by kind permission of Cameron Barnes of The Red Hot Chilli Pipers. It is presented in association with the Stephen Dunn Theatre Fund and the Lyceum Theatre, and is based on an idea by Stephen Dunn and Nicola Roy. With strong ties to the Lyceum herself, many of Nicola’s guests will all have an association with Scotland’s leading producing theatre.
As the podcast grew out of the pandemic, it aims to keep artists and the public connected. From hard-hitting subjects to custom creative challenges, the podcast is an accessible celebration of arts and culture in Scotland and a window into the lives of the fascinating folk who feature on it.
Episodes will be released every two weeks and will again be freely available on all major podcast platforms. Season one is currently available in its entirety on Apple Podcasts, Amazon,Google,and Spotify.
Listeners can subscribe now to be notified when new episodes are released fortnightly beginning with Alan Cumming’s episode on 10 November, where Nicola and Alan discuss topics such as safety on film sets, bullying in the industry, and Alan’s friendship with Monica Lewinsky.
Nicola Roysaid: “I am delighted to build on the lovely success of the first series and give listeners more top chat from fascinating folk for series two. It’s fantastic to celebrate our rich cultural landscape and our much-loved Arts and Cultural figures, many whom amplify Scotland’s creativity across the world, at a time when Scotland is questioning her identity.
“I have been very lucky to work and cross-paths with the type of people my 12 year old-self daydreamed about meeting. People with brilliant stories, humour and insight. Who wouldn’t want to know more about them? This project was born out of lockdown with the aim of keeping the public and artists connected. I love bringing people together, and this podcast is another way of doing that”
David Greig, Artistic Director of Lyceum Theatre, said:“Cultural Coven is a chance to celebrate and hear another, backstage, side of the people who make Scottish Culture.
“Nicola’s a warm, funny interviewer who brings out the best in her guests. The conversations are recorded in The Lyceum and I’m really proud that Nicola’s producing this work in association with us. Her wide ranging conversations make a piquant, illuminating pairing with the work we do on stage.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in a tweet about the first series on 30.04.21, said:“If you like podcasts I highly recommend @CulturalCoven – brilliant interviews of really interesting people by @NicolaMRoy”
Alan Cumming said: “I had a lovely, lovely chat with Nicola, and I’ve never wanted to be a witch before but I really enjoyed being a part of The Cultural Coven.”
Maureen Beattie said: “We laughed a lot when we were recording my contribution to The Cultural Coven, but Nicola isn’t afraid to ask the deeper, more serious questions as well. She’s a brilliant interviewer – we could have gone on for hours!”
Karen Dunbar said: “The Cultural Coven was really enjoyable to record. Nicola’s chat, insights and questions helped take the interview in a refreshing direction. Give it a listen (or I’ll come round to your house and put a bat up your nightdress)“
