Police are appealing for information after a woman was assaulted in her home on Parsons Green Terrace around 5.10pm on Wednesday (9 February).
Two men entered the property and assaulted a 47-year-old woman. The men then ran off when the woman’s 10-year-old daughter began screaming.
They were seen heading west, towards the Meadowbank area.
The first suspect is described as white, 30 to 40-years-old, 6ft, slim build and was wearing a light grey snood over his nose and mouth, grey joggers, jacket and light coloured jumper.
The second suspect is described as white, 30 to 40-years-old, 5ft 10, slim build and was wearing dark joggers and fleece, had the bottom half of his face covered and was carrying an orange food delivery bag.
Detective Sergeant Gary Smyth, of Police Scotland’s Violence Reduction unit, said: “Although the victim was not seriously hurt this was a distressing experience for her and her young daughter.
“It is important we trace these men and I would urge anyone who may have seen them in the area at the time to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference 2552 of Wednesday, 9 February 2022.”
Holyrood’s Presiding Officer has launched an audit that will review the representation and participation of women in the Scottish Parliament.
Based on work developed by both the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, all of Holyrood’s parties will be represented on a board that will oversee this work, consider the audit’s findings and make recommendations for change.
Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP, said: “Last May’s election returned our most representative and diverse Parliament to date. We know, though, from viewing the Parliament’s make up from 1999 until now, that this welcome progress can’t be taken for granted.
“This is an important opportunity to have a broad look at how the Parliament takes account of barriers to equal representation in its work.”
Working with Holyrood’s political parties, parliamentary staff, pre-eminent academics and Engender, the audit will cover a wide range of issues. These will include the number and position of women parliamentarians, participation and intervention levels in Chamber business and the impact of parliamentary procedures and policies.
Fiona Mackay, Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and one of the academic advisers to the board, said: “When the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999, it was internationally praised for its world-leading levels of women’s representation, and its attention to equal opportunities and participation.
“Now is a good time to take stock. This audit, based on a well-tested comparative framework, will let us know how well Scotland has done over the long haul. And, crucially, what work still needs to be done to make it an inclusive parliament for the 21st Century.”
Eilidh Dickson, Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Engender, said: “Women are underrepresented in almost all areas of our democracy, resulting in policy decisions which not only ignore women, but actively deepen inequality.
“By examining the make-up of committees, gathering data on who is being invited to give evidence, and understanding where gender mainstreaming is being ignored, we can work towards a Scottish Parliament which can act as an exemplar for women’s equality. We are delighted to be involved in the project.”
Work on the audit will begin immediately with a report detailing recommendations for improvement due by the end of 2022.
Audit Board Membership
Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP
Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Eilidh Dickson, Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Engender
Fiona Mackay, Professor of Politics, University of Edinburgh
Jeremy Balfour MSP, Scottish Conservative Party
Karen Adam MSP, Scottish National Party
Maggie Chapman MSP, Scottish Green Party
Dr Meryl Kenny, Senior Lecturer in Gender & Politics, University of Edinburgh
Monica Lennon MSP, Scottish Labour Party
Sarah Childs, Professor of Politics & Gender at Royal Holloway
Susan Duffy, Head of Engagement & Communications, Scottish Parliament
Tracey White, Group Head of Legislation & Parliamentary Business, Scottish Parliament
Academic Advisory Group to the Board –
Sarah Childs is currently Professor of Politics & Gender at Royal Holloway, University of London, and will move to the University of Edinburgh in May 2022. Her research centres on the theory and practice of women’s representation, gender and political parties, parliaments and institutional change.
An eminent author, her latest book is Feminist Democratic Representation. She also authored The Good Parliament Report in 2016, advised the Commons Reference Group on Representation and Inclusion that met between 2016-18 and worked on the pilot (2018) which instigated permanent change to Standing Orders to allow proxy voting for babyleave (2020).
Dr.Meryl Kenny is Senior Lecturer in Gender and Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change (2021-22). She has published widely in the areas of gender and political institutions, political representation and recruitment, and Scottish politics.
Meryl convenes the University of Edinburgh’s Gender Politics Research Group (which hosts the genderpol blog); sits on the steering group of the University’s genderED initiative; and is a member of the steering group of the cross-party Women5050 campaign for legal gender quotas in Scotland.
Fiona Mackay is a Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, and currently Dean and Head of the School of Social and Political Science. Mackay is founding director of genderED, the University of Edinburgh’s interdisciplinary hub for gender and sexuality studies. She researches gender, politics and policy at Scottish, UK and international levels. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Engender is a feminist policy and advocacy organisation, working to increase women’s social, political and economic equality, enable women’s rights, and make visible the impact of sexism on women and wider society.
Police Scotland has issued an update on the search for missing woman Alice Byrne:
‘Extensive enquiries have been carried out as part of our efforts to trace 28-year-old Alice Byrne, including house to house enquiries, CCTV reviews and detailed searches in the local area.
‘Alice was last seen leaving a friend’s flat in Marlborough Street, Edinburgh, on the morning of Saturday, 1 January, 2022, and walking towards the promenade and beach.
‘Our enquiries have subsequently indicated that Alice entered the water alone on the morning she went missing.
‘Efforts to trace her continue and officers are providing support and updates to Alice’s family.’
In a statement released though Police Scotland, shortly after herdisappearance Alice’s family said: “Alice has been missing for one week now and we are shocked and distressed by her disappearance.
“She always keeps in contact with us so we are extremely worried because we have not heard from her. We are desperate to know where she is.
“If Alice sees this, we want her to know how much we miss her. We just want her home safe and well.”
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced a further £290 million in financial support to help address the rising cost of living at Holyrood yesterday.
Ms Forbes said that while the Scottish Government is awaiting final confirmation from the Treasury on funding allocations, the £290 million for Scotland announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week is not likely to mean net additional funding. This is due to an expected reduction of a similar amount in other consequential funding previously anticipated through the forthcoming UK Government Supplementary Estimates.
Despite these budget pressures and existing support in place to help people, Scottish Ministers have honoured the commitment to allocate £290 million to help tackle the cost of living crisis and are going further to ensure those hardest hit have support.
New measures announced include:
£280 million to provide £150 to every household in receipt of Council Tax Reduction in any Band and to provide £150 to all other occupied households in Bands A to D. This means 1.85 million households, or 73% of all households, will receive financial support through their council tax bill or a direct payment
£10 million in 2022-23 to continue the Fuel Insecurity Fund to help households from rationing their energy use
This is in addition to the £120 million previously announced for local government in 2022-23.
A further £39.5 million has also been allocated to businesses from the £375 million of Omicron business support funding for the current financial year. Following consultation with businesses, who asked for financial support to now focus on economic recovery, this funding will help support local economies and cities continue their economic recovery and help build a more resilient economy.
Funding allocated includes:
£16 million for culture and major events
£7.5 million to support inbound tour operators
£6.5 million to support the childcare sector
£3.5 million for outbound travel agents
£3 million for city centre recovery
£3 million to help digitalise SMEs to increase competitiveness, productivity and drive growth
Ms Forbes said: “Large rises in energy bills, increased costs on every day essentials, rising interest rates and the UK Government’s new National Insurance hike are causing huge concern and worry, and people are struggling. These additional costs will hit the most vulnerable in our society, the hardest.
“That is why we will honour our commitment, whatever other Budget challenges we face, to pass on the full £290 million to help families now. I am therefore today announcing that there will be three elements to the package of support today.
“Firstly, we will provide £150 to every household in receipt of Council Tax Reduction in all Council Tax bands. The Council Tax Reduction Scheme already identifies households in greatest need and will allow us to target this intervention.
“Secondly, I will provide local authorities with funding to pass on £150 to other occupied household in Bands A to D in Scotland. In total, combining these elements, 1.85 million, or 73% of all households, will receive £150 of support. I know that the cost of living crisis is affecting households who are not in receipt of benefits, who are not claiming a Council Tax Reduction. And they are facing hardship too. We must seek to do what we can to prevent those households and families on the edge of the poverty line, from falling over it.
“Thirdly I am also announcing £10 million in 2022-23 to continue our Fuel Insecurity Fund to help households at risk of self-disconnection, or self-rationing their energy use, due to unaffordable fuel costs.
“Households across Scotland, across the UK, are struggling with the wide range of rising costs and many of the macro levers, for example, around energy regulation reside with the UK Government. That is why I will be writing to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, again highlighting that we must work together urgently so we can use our joint powers to do more to tackle the cost of living.”
Responding to the Budget announcement Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, said: People across Scotland are feeling the grip of poverty tighten on their lives. But the measures announced today by the Scottish Government in response to the cost of living crisis do not do enough to target support at people on the lowest incomes.
Scottish rugby fans in their thousands are getting ready to head to Cardiff for match day. But once they cross the border how will they find the Principality Stadium without understanding the Welsh language?
Wales-based temporary insurance provider, Veygo, is issuing an A to Y (there’s no ‘Z’ In Cymraeg) guide to Welsh road signs so Scottish fans can safely navigate their way to the Capital:
James Armstrong, CEO at Veygo said: “Thousands of rugby fans will make the long road trip from across Scotland to the Welsh capital ready for Saturday’s face-off.
“For those driving the ship, reaching the border at the seventh hour with a backseat of weary fans and then being faced with unfamiliar road signs and markings is enough to push the most patient driver to their limits. Brushing up on your Welsh before you leave is one way to take the edge off what will undoubtedly be a long and trying journey.
“Another way to take some stress out of the journey is to rope one of your mates in to sharing the drive. Just make sure you get some temporary cover before you switch seats. You can take out temporary driving insurance with Veygo from just one hour to help with the driving.
“You could also keep your travelling companions entertained by testing their knowledge en route. Don’t panic – the road signs are bilingual, something many people from Scotland are familiar with.”
Welsh road sign translations
· Welcome to Wales – Croeso I Gymru
· Please drive carefully – Gyrrwch yn ofalus
· Slow – Araf
· Stop – Stopiwch
· Speed cameras – Camerâu cyflymder
· Mile – Un filltir
· One way – Unffordd
· Give way – Ildiwch
· In / out – I mewn / allan
· No Exit – Dim ffordd allan
· No Entry – Dim mynediad
· Services – Gwasanaethau
· Ring Road – Ffordd gylch
Finding your way into and around the city
Once you’re in the city, you’ll need to know how to get around. The Welsh for ‘bus lane’ is definitely one to know as Cardiff is hot on its fines, with 20 ‘always on’ bus lane cameras across the city!
The areas where drivers are most likely to get a penalty charge notice are on Kingsway outside the Hilton Hotel, North Road City Centre and Custom House Street. So watch out for lôn fysiau signs!
· M4 (W) – M4 (Gn)
· M4 (E) – M4 (Dn)
· Cardiff – Caerdydd
· Bus lane – Lôn fysiau
· Town Centre – Canol Y Dref
· City Centre – Canol y Ddinas
· Castle – Castell
Public transport
Cardiff is a very walkable city, and the City Centre is mostly pedestrianised. Plus if you’ll be enjoying a drink with the game, you’ll be looking to take a bws/bwsiau, tacsi or tren to get around. You’ll need to keep an eye out for these signs.
· Central station – Gorsaf ganolog
· Park and Ride – Parcio a theithio
· Bus stop – Safle Bysiau
· Bus station – Gorsaf fysiau
Getting to the stadium
The Principality Stadium is in the heart of the city, but it is vast, and finding the right entrance can be a challenge. So brush up on your Cymraeg to avoid any added confusion.
As Edinburgh’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds compete out in Beijing, back home David Aitken can reflect on his contribution to their journey with pride – as one of their ever first curling coaches.
David Aitken watched on as Mouat and Dodds lost out to a strong Sweden team in the bronze medal match. Despite not coming home with a coveted Winter Olympic medal, the team can be immensely proud of their performances in a world class field of opposition.
Representing GB and at an Olympic Games is the pinnacle of sport for the pair, but David can recall their first steps onto the ice having coached them from complete beginners to promising young curlers.
David reflected on the value of coaching, and what it means to ‘make an athlete’:
“I used to be a player myself, and initially started by just helping out with absolute beginners. At first, it was tricky to work out exactly how best to communicate some of the more technical things as I transitioned into being a coach – but eventually you develop that skill.
“When I first started coaching, it was just from a participation perspective – I wanted more and more people to play the sport that I enjoyed so much. But then as the players progressed, you see this opportunity for them to experience something at an elite level, and that journey is a magical thing to be part of.
“There’s so many opportunities through coaching to develop not just as a player but as a person. Bruce wasn’t from a ‘curling community’ – it was just a case of parents bringing a child along to try a sport that looked like fun. Part of the responsibility of a coach is to ensure that your sport is inclusive, that anyone can get involved.”
David is still very much involved – currently British Curling’s Performance Foundation Manager based in Stirling. And regardless of medals, he could not be prouder of the talent emerging from GB’s curling scene:
“Britain are good at curling, because we have a very well-funded programme thanks to The National Lottery, we have a lot of experience regarding coaching and the support staff, and that input towards athletes really highlights the team behind the team.
“The breadth of input was a real eye-opener for me as I became a full-time coach, seeing how the athletes can be supported to perform to their best.”
Following an encouraging showing from the British curling contingent in Beijing, Aitken will be hoping for even more to follow – and with all the right coaching behind the team, they have everything they need!
If you are inspired to get into coaching, visit www.ukcoaching.org for support and resources to start your coaching journey.
If you are struggling with problem debt and worried about how best to deal with it, you’re not alone. That’s the message from a new Scottish Government campaign, encouraging people in Edinburgh to get the help they need and are entitled to get their finances back on track.
Problem debt could come from credit card debt that has gotten out of control, overdraft fees or from unpaid bills. Anyone can run into debt problems, and it can quickly spiral to unaffordable costs. But there is a wide range of trusted organisations, free support and advice available to help Edinburgh locals take control of their debt and ease their money worries.
As a starting point to living and enjoying a healthier financial lifestyle, you can follow seven simple top tips and useful guides from the Scottish Government’s partners.
A new website, moneysupport.scot, from the Scottish Government includes information and links to free and impartial debt advice to help people take control and live a healthier financial life. There’s also information on other financial matters such as affordable credit options and eligibility for benefits.
Sharon Bell, Head of StepChange, said:“With many Scots worried about money and debt problems, it’s important that people don’t fear seeking support before they reach financial crisis.
“By getting in touch with us, it’s a small and vital first step to getting your finances back on track and dealing with your worries. We can help people access and utilise the resources they are entitled to and will be there to support for as long as they need.
“StepChange is proud to partner with the Scottish Government on this campaign to raise awareness of the free support and advice available. Our skilled team of debt experts will help people achieve long-term financial control.”
DEBT ADVICE TOP TIPS
DON’T IGNORE PROBLEM DEBT
It’s hard facing up to problem debt and it’s easy for it to spiral. From missing payments to not opening bills or checking your statements you can quickly run into trouble and be left feeling anxious. By facing up to the facts, you can get the support you need and take back control of your finances. Go to moneysupport.scot for help.
SEEK ADVICE
The sooner you ask for help, the sooner you can work towards tackling your debt and easing your money worries. Free and impartial advice is available from a range of trusted sources including Christians Against Poverty (CAP) who can advise you on practical solutions to a healthier financial life.
TALK TO A MONEY ADVISER
Everyone’s circumstances are different. By calling StepChange, you’ll be put straight through to an expert money advisor, who can provide free debt advice tailored specifically to your needs and they will be there for as long as you need them.
WORK OUT A BUDGET
Creating a budget detailing your income and what you spend each month, let’s you clearly track your finances. National Debtline’s, StepChange’s and Business Debtline all have useful planners available to download for free.
RECOGNISE YOUR PRIORITY DEBTS
Understanding your ‘priority debts’ including rent can stop you facing serious consequences like being evicted. Citizens Advice Scotland has a useful guide to identify different types of debt and which ones you need to handle first.
CONSIDER THE BEST OPTIONS TO PAY BACK YOUR DEBT
Various schemes can assist you in paying back your debt with step-by-step assistance available from StepChange and National Debtline.
CONSIDER TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS
If your circumstances change such as losing your job, temporary solutions are in place to help manage your debt in the short term. National Debtline offer a useful digital guide on the various schemes in place to support you in seeking the help you may be entitled to.
For local advice and support contact Granton Information Centre – telephone 0131 552 0458 or 0131 551 2459 or email info@gic.org.uk
£33,000 funding secured from the Scottish Government to help with fuel poverty debts
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA), in partnership with Changeworks, has secured £33,000 in funding from the Scottish Government and Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to support tenants with existing fuel poverty related debts.
The fund ensures we can support up to 50 households with this issue until the end of March 2022.
Currently, 21% of Edinburgh households live in fuel poverty, rising to 44% for social housing tenants. In Leith, 24% households live in material deprivation which has been further exacerbated by the pandemic.
Affordable Warmth Services Team Manager at Changeworks, Lisa Bygate, commented: “Through our work on the Link-Up Leith project we have seen increasing demand for support as people find themselves struggling with high bills and fuel debt.
“We are now seeing the highest incidences of households at risk of disconnection since the project started. This much welcomed funding will support people living on low incomes to have improved life skills and confidence to tackle fuel poverty issues themselves.
“We are delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Port of Leith Housing Association to provide support to their tenants and Leith residents with energy debt. We will be working closely with their welfare rights staff and other members of the Link-Up Leith project to identify and provide assistance to those who need it.”
PoLHA Group Chief Executive, Heather Kiteley, said: “I’m thankful that we have secured this funding to help our community during this time of rapidly escalating fuel costs.
“We are committed to ensuring our tenants’ welfare and I’m proud that the PoLHA Group has been able to react so quickly to our tenants’ needs and provide vital support.”
Eligible tenants will be identified for this grant through PoLHA’s Tenant Advice Service and Changeworks existing Link-Up Leith project run in partnership with Edinburgh Community Food and Stepping Stones.
Changeworks will also identify people eligible for support through referrals to their Affordable Warmth Service.
How to apply
Tenants can apply for the fund by speaking to their Housing Officer or our Tenant Advice team who can make a referral to Changeworks.
Other services
PoLHA offers the following support services to social housing tenants: welfare benefits advice, money advice and tenancy sustainment advice.
High school pupils and staff will not be required to wear face coverings in classrooms from 28 February, after the schools mid-term break.
Teachers and pupils who wish to continue to wear a face covering in the classroom should be fully supported in doing so.
Face coverings will still be required in communal areas, subject to future review.
Specific mitigations relating to assemblies and transition visits for learners who will start primary or secondary in August 2022, will also be eased as of 28 February.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “In recent weeks I have promised to keep Parliament and school communities updated on mitigations within schools – including the use of face coverings within classrooms.
“I have been clear that we do not want to keep these measures in place for any longer than is necessary, but that we must continue to be led by scientific and expert advice.
“On Tuesday our Advisory Subgroup on Education and Children’s Issues met to discuss a number of issues, including the use of face coverings.
“The group reiterated its previous position that the removal of mitigations in schools should follow a phased approach. It also advised that the next phase could begin after the February half-term break, with the removal of face-coverings in classrooms – for both pupils and staff – on 28 February.
“In arriving at their decision, the Advisory Sub-Group pointed to reducing case rates for secondary-aged pupils, falling hospitalisation rates across all age categories, and the fact that the estimated R rate is below 1 and decreasing. In addition, vaccination rates for young people continue to increase.
“This change represents a further step in allowing our children and young people to return to a more normal school experience after many months of sacrifice.
“We currently expect that face coverings will still be worn outside the classroom, in indoor communal areas of schools, after 28 February. This will be kept under regular review. In addition, anyone who wants to continue wearing a face covering in classrooms will, of course, be supported to do so.”
Commenting following the First Minister’s statement in the Scottish Parliament, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The majority of EIS members supported the retention of face coverings until we were through the winter period so we would have preferred the end of March rather than the end of February for this change to happen.
“Having said that, it is important that both pupils and staff have the right to continue to wear face coverings if they wish and, in some cases, where there is a heightened vulnerability in play, face coverings may still be required.
“There has been a slight drop in infection levels within schools but they remain high – over 4,000 staff are off school for Covid related reasons and more than 20,000 pupils. Enforcing the remaining mitigations, therefore, around ventilation and face coverings in communal areas, remains critical to school safety.”
Registration Form for our community festival is now available!
We are looking for local community groups, organisations, businesses, creators, makers or traders to join the festival family and host events, activities or a stall.
