Dogs Trust staff welcomed Mairi Gougeon MSP to West Calder Rehoming Centre last week where she met handsome hounds patiently awaiting new homes.
As well as a behind the scenes tour of the West Lothian centre, The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands and MSP for Angus North and Mearns, met with Dogs Trust staff including Veterinary Director Paula Boyden to discuss the charity’s work in Scotland.
Paula said: “It was lovely to meet Mairi at one of our rehoming centres in Scotland where she was greeted by lots of waggy tails!
“It was a great opportunity to discuss current progress around dog welfare in Scotland, including proposals to tackle puppy smuggling, and how, as the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, we will continue to work with the Scottish Government on a range of issues to improve the lives of our four-legged friends.”
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The work undertaken by the Dogs Trust contributes significantly to safeguarding the welfare of dogs in Scotland. I want to thank the staff at the West Calder facility for taking time out of their day to introduce me to some of their resident dogs and for updating me on the vital hard work they do every day.
“Canine welfare is an issue that the Scottish Government and Dogs Trust take extremely seriously and we are fully committed to tackling the scourge of low-welfare breeding and dealing of dogs. We will continue to work together to ensure the wellbeing of dogs across Scotland.”
Susan Tonner, West Calder Rehoming Centre Manager said: “We were delighted to welcome Mairi to our rehoming centre to showcase the work we do with the dogs in our care.
“It was a pleasure to show Mairi the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes to prepare our canine friends for their forever homes.”
Dogs Trust has two rehoming centres in Scotland, West Calder and Glasgow in Uddingston. On average we rehome 700 dogs a year in Scotland and have over 430,000 supporters across the country.
CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has partnered with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo as community outreach partner for the charity’s Giraffe About Town trail.
The public art event will see more than 40 eight-foot-tall giraffe sculptures go on display across Edinburgh in summer 2022, with each model being designed and decorated by local artists and community groups. After the trail, the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise funds to support RZSS wildlife conservation projects in Scotland and across the world.
CityFibre’s support of the trail comes as it is investing £100m to roll out a full fibre network within reach of almost every home and business across the city. As community outreach partner, CityFibre will have its very own giraffe sculpture as part of the herd, and its vital support will allow RZSS to work with seven community groups across the city to decorate their own small giraffe sculptures as part of the schools and communities trail.
Activities with the community groups will include an inclusive creativity workshop with the zoo’s outreach team. The groups will also receive free access to the Giraffe About Town activity portal, an inclusive digital resource supporting the trail. Meanwhile, CityFibre and Edinburgh Zoo will work together in spring 2022 to identify the potential community groups.
Paul Wakefield, CityFibre’s City Manager for Edinburgh, said:“We are working across the city to deliver our Full Fibre network to homes and businesses, ensuring that communities across Edinburgh can access the fastest, most reliable broadband available.
“As part of this, we are getting the chance to meet so many of Edinburgh’s fantastic community groups – a number of which we will be able to support through this fantastic partnership.
“Improving social inclusion is something we are passionate about, and this theme is at the heart of the Giraffe About Town trail. Technology is a key enabler here, so we are really excited to be working with an artist on our own giraffe and being a key part of this trail, which I’m sure will capture the hearts and minds of both locals and visitors to our capital.
“You could even say that, through this project, our Full Fibre rollout programme will reach new heights!”
David Field, chief executive at RZSS, added: “We are thrilled to have CityFibre on board as community outreach partner for Giraffe About Town, giving us an opportunity to support vital community work across the capital.
“It is particularly exciting to partner with an organisation working to connect communities. Fast, reliable full fibre broadband will open up a whole new world for many of Edinburgh’s residents.
“The past 18 months have been incredibly challenging but they have shown us what can be achieved when we pull together. Our tall trail is set to transform our city and encourage our communities to get out and about and fall in love with Edinburgh all over again.”
Edinburgh residents can find out more about CityFibre’s build, check whether services are live in their area and register their interest by visiting www.cityfibre.com/PR-Register
A new climbing slab wall, suitable for novices and intermediate climbers has been unveiled at Europe’s largest indoor climbing wall, the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho.
Fifteen new lines, suitable for novices and intermediate climbers, will increase the offering to these groups by 50%. These new lines will allow up to 45 more colour coded, graded climbs to be set within the arena. A third of the lines, five in total, have the addition of auto belays, meaning a climber doesn’t require a partner to ‘belay’.
Nic Crawshaw, Climbing Operations Manager at EICA: Ratho explained: “Designed as a venue for national and international competitions and as a national centre for climbing, our fantastic facility at the EICA: Ratho caters particularly well for advanced and elite climbers.
“The installation of these new lines will enhance and make the climbing experience more accessible for new and the less experienced climber, and especially children and young people, disability climbing groups, and people involved in our Active Communities programme.
“With increased wall space suitable for these groups, we hope that it’ll increase the number of people getting involved in climbing for the first time. However, given the design of the new wall, it will also provide a few technical challenges for the more advanced climber too. It’s all about bringing climbing to more people.”
The project was funded by Edinburgh Leisure, who manage the facility at EICA: Ratho, and match funded by sportscotland, with an endorsement from Mountaineering Scotland. King Kong Climbing Walls from Cumbria built the walls after being successful in a tendering process.
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “We work closely with partners across the country including Edinburgh Leisure to create the right facilities that will provide more opportunities for people to get active in their local communities.
“So, it’s great to see this new climbing wall at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, which will further enhance the already fantastic facilities that are available at Ratho and specifically create opportunities to help less experienced climbers develop their skills.
“Our investment in facilities such as this is made possible thanks to the National Lottery players who raise £30million each week for good causes. Without that level of support, developing community facilities like the new climbing wall would not be possible.”
Stuart Younie, CEO, Mountaineering Scotland said: “Following the debut of climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Ratho provides a unique and important facility for the sport both at a national and international level.
“It provides both a gateway for new participants and also an important training venue for those who are working towards competing at the highest levels in the sport. The new slab wall will open opportunities for more people to enjoy the benefits of participating in climbing as part of a clear participation pathway giving them the opportunity to progress and develop their skills.
“By supporting this project Mountaineering Scotland and the ClimbScotland programme also hope it will underpin further investment and support for the development of climbing at all levels to ensure the EICA: Ratho is a truly world class facility.”
Edinburgh Leisure is a charity on a mission to help keep people active and well always. They run over 50 sport, leisure and school venues and are committed to creating opportunities for everyone to get active and stay active.
Their Active Communities Programme harnesses the power of physical activity and sport to tackle inequalities and combat the effects of inactivity. Each year they support around 10,000 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities, and poverty to get active – empowering them to improve and protect their health, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Social Bite lights up major cities encouraging kindness this Christmas
Charity aims to provide 300,000 gifts, meals and essential items to people experiencing homelessness this Christmas
Christmas trees with donation points installed in five cities, Edinburgh London, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, to emphasise that ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind.’
Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness has launched in five cities across the UK today, expanding on last year’s campaign, in a bid to spread some much-needed festive goodwill and kindness.
The charity is asking people in Edinburgh, London, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee to donate meals, gifts, essential items and accommodation to those who need it most this Christmas.
Through the campaign, Social Bite has set a target of providing 300,000 meals and essential items of the winter months to those experiencing homelessness this festive period.
Working alongside local partners, Social Bite has installed five 28ft tall Christmas trees across the country and is asking people to buy one extra gift, drop it under the tree and contribute to a movement of kindness.
Festival of Kindness locations include:
· St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh
· Charing Cross Station, London
· Vinicombe Street, Glasgow
· Outside M&S at the Bon Accord centre, Aberdeen
· City Square, Dundee
The charity has created a gift wish list of the things homeless and vulnerable people need the most – from a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, to good quality socks and toys for children living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning.
Passers-by can drop their gifts at the trees and take in the Christmas lights, meet Santa in Edinburgh and hear more about Social Bite’s ambitions from volunteers. All gifts will then be distributed by Social Bite’s dedicated team to those who need it most, just in time for Christmas.
Social Bite co-founder and Executive Director, Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “This Christmas, many of us will be able to reunite with family and friends to celebrate after so many restrictions.
“But for homeless people and families, the pandemic has made their situation particularly desperate. Thousands of people all over the UK will spend Christmas on the streets – cold, hungry and lonely, without a family to go to. Thousands of children will find themselves in temporary emergency accommodation or without food on the table over the festive period.
“That’s why we are building on the success of last year’s campaign to expand our reach even further, going from two to five locations and taking Festival of Kindness to London for the very first time.
“Our Festival of Kindness campaign aims to spread some festive cheer. In a world, where you can be anything, we’re urging people to be kind and buy or donate a little extra to help those who need it most – even the smallest of gifts will make a huge difference.”
Monetary donations can also be made online via the Social Bite website which will then go towards the provision of food, gifts and essential items.
Donations will also help fund accommodation and support for those sleeping rough in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and London.
Social Bite has a track record of successful fundraising campaigns, having previously hosted ‘Sleep Out’ events in all major Scottish cities, then helped to launch The World’s Big Sleep Out for a global campaign attended by Hollywood A-listers including Dame Helen Mirren and Will Smith in 2019.
Last year’s Festival of Kindness held in Edinburgh and Glasgow raised over £1.5m.
All gifts should be new and unwrapped, with a helpful ‘how-to’ guide on their website.
Nearly two thirds of A&Es across the UK had ambulances waiting to transfer patients every day in the past week, according to a new survey from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
The latest RCEM survey covers the period 8 November to 14 November 2021 and was sent to Clinical Leads in Emergency Departments across the UK and received 70 responses.
The NHS mandates that ambulance handovers ought to be reliably completed within 15 minutes of arrival, but 61% of Emergency Departments in the survey were struggling to meet this standard every day.
The survey also found that over half of Emergency Departments had provided care to patients in non-designated areas such as corridors every day in the past week.
These findings come following a report by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) which found that 160,000 patients may be coming to harm annually as a result of ambulance handover delays.
While a separate report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, ‘Crowding and its Consequences’, found that at least 4,519 patients have died as a result of dangerous crowding in Emergency Departments in England in 2020-2021.
14% of respondents stated that the longest stay they had had in their Emergency Department was between 48 and 72 hours
36% of respondents stated the longest stay in their Emergency Department was 24 to 48 hours
39% of respondents stated the longest stay in their Emergency Department was 12 to 24 hours
14% of respondents stated that there was no effective Same Day Emergency Care available in their Emergency Department
50% of respondents stated that Same Day Emergency Care had limited availability, less than 12 hours a day or weekdays only in their Emergency Department
71% of respondents stated that they were unable to maintain social distancing for patients in their Emergency Department in the past week
Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:“These results show the serious state that our urgent and emergency care system is in.
“None of us want to have patients held in ambulances, treated in corridors, or waiting very long times to go up to a ward bed. Sadly, these findings support our stark report on crowding and the AACE’s shocking report on ambulance handovers.
“We all need to work together to solve this acute patient safety problem. We believe enacting many of the suggestions we have made in RCEM CARES: The Next Phase will help. We want patients to feel confident that their Emergency Care system is there for them, but this winter is going to be a huge challenge unless we can get flow back into the system.
“RCEM CARES: The Next Phase details our system-wide plan to tackle the current crisis and improve patient care as well as staff wellbeing. In the short-term, to promote flow and to reduce handover delays, capacity must be expanded in a safe way. Same Day Emergency Care must be made available at all Trusts and they must expand its provision, so it is available 12 hours a day, seven days a week. While maximising the service Discharge to Assess will allow patients to be discharged in a timely and supported way.
“In the long-term, we urge the government to publish a long-term workforce plan, this must include actions to retain existing staff as well as recruit new staff. Across the UK there is a shortfall of 2,000-2,500 WTE Emergency Medicine consultants, and crucially, there are also widespread shortages of Emergency Medicine nurses and both junior and supporting staff. At the same time capacity is severely depleted across the UK. The government must restore bed capacity to pre-pandemic levels, this requires an additional 7,170 beds across the UK.
“This is only the beginning of winter and of what may come. We are facing a crisis in urgent and emergency care and a crisis of patient safety. The Secretary of State in the House of Commons spoke of ‘a duty to avoid preventable harm of everyone working in health and social care’, we urge him to act on his own words and prevent avoidable harm and ensure the safety of patients.”
Managing Director of AACE Martin Flaherty OBE QAM said:“These alarming new figures from RCEM underline once again the unprecedented pressures facing the entire urgent and emergency care system.
“We now know that excessive handover delays and crowding in A&E departments are routinely harming patients, some very severely. To resolve this, we need system leaders to further toughen their resolve to deal with this problem once and for all and as a matter of priority and we await details of progress being made in this area, while underlining our commitment to work as part of the solution to this complex issue.”
Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics, said:“We must not forget that behind all these mounting figures are real people, both staff and patients, who are bearing the brunt of this continuing strain on services.
“Reform must happen to alleviate the intolerable pressure and reduce the guilt many paramedics and Emergency Department staff feel about dealing with patients who are waiting outside Emergency Departments or, more worryingly, in the community.
“We support any efforts to deal with the here and now, but we commit to working with stakeholders and partners to make real change happen.”
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay has announced that tickets for the world-famous Loony Dook at South Queensferry go on sale at 10am today – Friday 26 November.
Scotland’s biggest Loony Dook sees an army of brave souls in fancy dress plunge into the icy waters of the Firth of Forth to dust off the cobwebs on New Year’s morning.
If you fancy braving the chilly dip by the iconic Forth Bridges, ticketswill be on sale, from 10am today, Friday 26 November, via the Edinburgh Hogmanay website.
Running since 1987, the Loony Dook has grown in popularity year on year with thousands of people raiding their fancy-dress cupboards in a bid to ring in the new year in style and win best dressed on the beach.
Tickets are on sale from £11.50 and each ticket bought includes a donation to the RNLI, access to the beach, main parade, and band performances.
Underbelly Co-Directors, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam said: “Scotland’s biggest Loony Dook is back. The community of South Queensferry have asked us to help them organise this much-loved tradition on the Firth of Forth.
“There really is no better or refreshing way to start the New Year, so grab your costume and come for a dip!”
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: “The City of Edinburgh Council is delighted to see the return of this year’s Loony Dook.
“It’s a highlight in many people’s festive calendars and the Underbelly team will ensure that this year’s event is as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone. As a regular Looney Dooker in the past I am looking forward to taking part again this year!”
Councillor Norman Work said: “South Queensferry is delighted to be home to the best Dook in the calendar.
“We’ve been working closely with Underbelly to ensure all participants can enjoy the event in a safe, fun environment – we look forward to welcoming everyone to our world famous waterfront on New Year’s Day.”
David Smart from RNLI said: “What better way to blow off the Hogmanay cobwebs than dipping into the icy Firth of Forth? Edinburgh’s Hogmanay kindly donates £1 from every ticket bought for the Loony Dook to the RNLI.
“The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Every day of the year, people of all backgrounds get into danger in the water. The support of all donations means that the RNLI crews can save lives quickly, safely and effectively – as always, we’re incredibly grateful to everyone for their support.”
Kirstin Heggie, ownerat Allium Gift Shop in South Queensferry said: “The Loony Dook is a fantastic event for South Queensferry as it brings so many visitors to our little town.
“It is lovely to see lots of new faces every year and also great welcoming back the old familiar ones too!”
Moira Cunningham, owner at Ravenous Beastie said: “Everyone in South Queensferry is so happy about the Loony Dook being back and the buzz it brings to the community every year!
“It is such a joyful and fun occasion and a special way to mark the start of a new year ahead of us!”
Aldi reached a huge milestone this week when it opened its 100th store in Scotland. The grand opening took place yesterday in Edinburgh’s Hermiston Gait Retail Park.
To thank its customers for their ongoing support, the supermarket is giving out prizes worth a total of £6,000 across all its Scottish stores from 25th November. The first 1,000 customers in each Scottish store that spend £25 and over will be eligible for a scratch card, with various prizes up for grabs, including two vouchers worth £1,000 each.
Aldi opened its first Scottish store in Kilmarnock in 1994, and has since expanded operations significantly in Scotland, employing nearly 4,000 people across the country, with the plan to increase their workforce by nearly 400 by 2023. The growth doesn’t stop there as Aldi is constantly looking for new site locations and on upgrading and extending their existing stores.
Aldi Scotland is incredibly proud of their local sourcing, working with 90 Scottish suppliers and stocking over 450 Scottish products, with a target of reaching 500 within 2 years. It is this commitment to supporting local that saw Aldi crowned Scottish Sourcing Business of the Year at the 2019 Scottish Food and Drink Awards and the reason they are widely celebrated as the number one supermarket for supporting Scottish farmers and food producers.
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director Aldi Scotland said: “Reaching 100 Scottish stores is a huge achievement and one that really is a team effort. We would not be here if it wasn’t for the hard work and dedication of all our Aldi staff and I want to thank them for their continued commitment over the years.
“We could never have imagined 27 years ago when we opened our first store in Kilmarnock that our customers would take us into their hearts and homes in the way they have.”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director Aldi Scotland added: “We are so lucky to work with the most talented suppliers that Scotland has to offer to allow us to bring the very best of Scotland’s larder to our customers and I want to thank them for working in partnership with us so we can offer top quality, award-winning products at everyday amazing value.
“We are always looking at opportunities to expand our supplier base and are proud to say 30% of our range is now locally sourced in Scotland.”
To celebrate this milestone further, Aldi is issuing reusable plastic water bottles to all staff in order to be more sustainably responsible. Aldi has committed to halving its plastic footprint by 2025.
Aldi is committed to helping local communities through initiatives like the Scottish Sports Fund, which has now donated nearly £300,000 to over 500 Scottish sports club since its inception in 2016 and the Neighbourly partnership, which intends to donate 10 million meals, to those who need it most, in 2021.
Aldi has also been the Proud Supermarket Partner of the Kiltwalk since 2019.
Scottish Government invited to work with UK Government to deliver ambitious transport improvements
Prime Minister underlines commitment to stronger transport connections between Scotland and the rest of the UK as the UK Government publishes Sir Peter Hendy’s independent Union Connectivity Review.
Prime Minister invites the Scottish Government to work collaboratively on projects that will deliver vital improvements to local, regional and national connections.
UK Government to progress creation of UKNET, a UK wide strategic transport network, to plan and deliver vital improvements that better connect all the nations of the UK.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today (Friday 26th November) committed to forging and strengthening transport bonds that will create a more cohesive and connected United Kingdom.
As the UK Government publishes Sir Peter Hendy’s final report of the Union Connectivity Review, the Prime Minister has underlined the importance of better connections – on both local and national transport networks – to bring all UK communities within closer reach of social and economic opportunities.
The Prime Minister has particularly welcomed, and intends to accept, the proposal for the creation of UKNET – a strategic transport network spanning the entire United Kingdom.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:“With some of the busiest travel corridors for both passengers and freight, strengthening transport connections between Scotland and the rest of the UK is critical to maximise the potential for growth and jobs.
“Sir Peter Hendy’s review identifies key areas where we can boost rail, road and air links to better support Scottish businesses and communities, and we will work closely with the Scottish Government to take these proposals forward in ways that will bring our towns and cities even closer together.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps:“Improved connections between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are essential for driving economic growth, forging relations, and bringing communities closer together.
“I am indebted to Sir Peter for his work. We will consider his recommendations carefully, engage closely with the Scottish Government, and work collegiately to ensure these proposals strengthen the ties that bind us, now and for the future.”
The proposals for Scotland include upgrades to the West Coast Main Line, increasing capacity and cutting journey times between Scotland and London, the Midlands and North West England, which are key for both communities and businesses.
Another recommendation is for the UK and Scottish Governments to work together on developing an assessment of the East Coast road and rail transport corridor from North East England to South East Scotland, including improvements on the East Coast Main Line and the A1.
It also includes offering the Scottish Government new funding to support the upgrade of the A75 making journeys between Northern Ireland and Great Britain quicker and easier.
This would provide a major boost for jobs and further consolidate the UK Government’s commitment to improving cross-border connectivity.
The Review also encourages the Scottish Government to improve the A77 to support journeys between Belfast, Glasgow, and Aberdeen.
Independent Chair of the Union Connectivity Review, Sir Peter Hendy, said:“My recommendations provide comprehensive, achievable and clear plans forward to better connect the whole of the United Kingdom, leading to more growth, jobs, housing and social cohesion.
“I welcome the enthusiasm shown by the Prime Minister and the Government to my final report and I look forward to their formal response to my recommendations, which aim to spread opportunity and prosperity right across the United Kingdom.”
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:“I thank Sir Peter for his work and I believe his central recommendation – the creation of a UK strategic transport network – lays the foundation for linking up the home nations much more effectively, boosting our economy and levelling up opportunity around the country.
“His specific proposals for upgrades to the A75 and the West Coast Main Line, plus rail and road improvements on the east coast corridor from North East England to South East Scotland will be welcomed by businesses, commuters and leisure travellers alike. As will him encouraging the Scottish Government to improve the A77 to support journeys between Belfast, Glasgow, and Aberdeen.
“Our task is now to turn the vision into real improvements. I urge the Scottish Government to work with us to make that happen so we can deliver the benefits travellers want and businesses need.”
The independent Union Connectivity Review was launched in October 2020, led by Sir Peter Hendy CBE, to undertake how a detailed review of the quality and availability of transport infrastructure across the UK can support economic growth and quality of life.
The recommendations published today include:
The UK Government should design and implement UKNET – a strategic transport network for the whole of the UK, with funding commitments targeted at parts of the network that require the most improvements;
Improvements should be planned using multimodal corridors, which should be appraised on their ability to support the levelling up and net zero agenda;
The UK Government should support the development of sustainable aviation fuel plants in parts of the United Kingdom that are particularly reliant on aviation for domestic connectivity.
The UK Government will now carefully consider the Union Connectivity Review’s recommendations in detail, and has invited the Scottish Government to work together to identify the solutions which work best for the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK, and make tangible and meaningful progress as swiftly as possible.
The Scottish Government has yet to comment on the Review.
