Andy and the Odd Socks put their best foot forward with tour and new album

3rd April: Edinburgh, Church Hill Theatre

Buy the single ‘Planet Rock’, feat Brian May here

Pre-order the album ‘Odd Socks Calling’ here

Gig tickets available here

Children’s TV legend Andy Day, and his band the Odd Socks, are due to take the UK by storm this summer, with the release of their third album, ‘Odd Socks Calling’ out on April 1st on Cooking Vinyl, and a 15 date UK wide tour, which opens on 3rd April.

Andy and the Odd Socks famously played their very first gig at Glastonbury and can completely ‘rock out’ until all their hair stands on end. But the Odd Socks are also, well, odd. And that’s exactly how Andy, Moxy, Rio, Blu and Cousin Mac like it because being an Odd Sock means digging your differences, bigging-up your bizarre bits, taking on the world AND helping everyone else be whatever kind of Odd Sock they want to be too.

The first single ‘Planet Rock’ is out now and features Queen legend Brian May, who also stars as the Godfather of Rock in the band’s CBBC/CBeebies series, Andy and the Band. He makes his acting debut in the series where he joins the Odd Socks for the ‘best jam ever’ after helping them overcome a global ‘rocktastrophe’!

The 18 track album, which features 12 songs from series 2 of the show and their new BBC Sounds Podcast, and 6 exclusive tracks, is out from April 1st.

The tour kicks off in Edinburgh on 3rd April, and takes in Glasgow (4th), Newcastle (10th), Manchester (11th), London (12th), Colchester (13th), Dublin (16th), Bournemouth (18th) and Worthing (24th).

Andy and the Odd Socks will then appear atBrighton Festival on 22nd May, Bristol Good Times Festival on 29th May, Cambridge Club Festival on 11th June, Gloworm Festival on 14th August, Big Feastival on 26th August and Gone Wild on 29th August.

BAFTA nominated presenter and actor Andy Day (Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, Andy’s Safari Adventures) comments: “We are so excited to release our new album, and let our fans have the songs they so love from our new TV show.

“It may be released on the 1^st April but it’s no April Fool, this really is the dream solution to family road trips in the car! And we are equally excited about being able to play live shows again. We got to play a few festivals last year but this tour is our first for 3 years because of the pandemic and we cannot wait to see everyone again! We have missed the thrill of performing live and meeting the Odd Sockers around the country.”

Brian May comments: “I have loved working with the Oddsocks! Playing the role of their Godfather of Rock was actually a very emotional experience. The episode is a wonderful message of hope to kids who lose their self-confidence.

“The symbolic use of Air Guitar is beautifully apt. And on a broader scale I absolutely align with Andy and the Odd Socks in their quest for every kid to feel proud of their individual qualities.

“I’m backing their anti-buIlying campaign to the hilt – watch out for the magic of Planet Rock!!!”

TOUR DATES

APRIL

3rd – Edinburgh: Church Hill Theatre

4th – Glasgow: City Halls

10th – Newcastle: Tyne Theatre

11th – Manchester: RNCM Theatre

12th – London: Hackney Empire

13th – Colchester: Mercury Theatre

16th – Dublin: Liberty Hall Theatre

18th – Bournemouth: Pavilion Theatre

24th – Worthing: Pavilion Theatre

MAY

22nd – Brighton Festival Gig

29th – Bristol ‘Good Times’ Festival Gig

JUNE

11^th June – Cambridge Club

AUGUST

14^th August – Gloworm Festival

26^th August – Big Feastival

29^th August – Gone Wild

European Movement in Scotland backs EU membership for Ukraine

The European Movement in Scotland (EMiS) condemns Russia’s indiscriminate war against Ukraine and stands in solidarity with Ukrainian’s in their struggle to defend peace, democracy and freedom – the values that underpin Europe’s history and culture.

We therefore support the application of President Zelensky and his government for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union according to the Copenhagen criteria and welcome the backing given by some EU member states for Ukraine to be granted immediate applicant status.

The EU has throughout this conflict, unprecedented on European territory for almost 80 years, taken the lead in providing humanitarian, economic and military aid to Ukraine and imposing effective sanctions against the Putin regime and its financial backers.

EMiS especially welcomes the EU’s decision to activate the temporary protection directive allowing millions of Ukrainian refugees to enter its member states’ territory visa-free and to live and work within its borders for up to three years.

This stands in stark contrast to the chaotic and deplorable approach of the UK Government towards imposing bureaucratic hurdles on tens of thousands of desperate families fleeing a savage war.

EMiS also welcomes the clear evidence that working together in solidarity with a fellow European nation has enabled the EU-27 to play a key role in the search for an equitable peace in the region, based on the principles of territorial integrity and national sovereignty enshrined in international law.

We believe this further exposes the lies and myths that lay behind Brexit and underpin the grand illusion of Global Britain. It strengthens the case for the UK and Scotland to pursue closer relations with our EU neighbours and partners up to and including early moves to rejoin the European Union.

Thank You: Mike’s fundraising in Leith for the NHS

Musician and PoLHA sheltered housing resident Mike Egan, 79, has released his first solo album to raise funds for the NHS.

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has supported Mike Egan (79), one of its sheltered housing residents, to produce an album to raise funds for the NHS.

Session guitarist Mike Egan’s musical career includes recording and touring with Elton John, Carly Simon, Rick Wakeman, Shirley Bassey, Charles Aznavour, Sasha Distell and Engelbert Humperdinck. He played on the 1977 Bond soundtrack The Spy Who Loves Me and his song writing credits include Columns of Grey.

Having returned to Leith after living in Belgium for 38 years, Mike was inspired to write his first solo album which outlines his reflections on growing up in Leith.

Mike wanted to raise funds for the NHS after seeing their work during the Covid pandemic. All proceeds will be donated to the NHS.

The album’s production was financed by PoLHA’s Placemaking funds.

Mike Egan commented: “COVID 19 has been a really difficult time. I found solace in my guitar and song writing. Seeing the sacrifices everyone was making to get through the pandemic and those that were working hard to keep everyone safe including the NHS and our sheltered housing staff was inspiring.

“I really enjoyed recording the album, getting back in the studio was the best thing. Richard Werner from B&B Studios was excellent, he is a fantastic sound engineer.”

John Murray, PoLHA Placemaking Manager, said: “Placemaking is all about working with members of the community to improve their lives and the environment we live and work in.

“It’s about looking at what people can bring to their community, not what can be done for them. Our communities are teeming with knowledge, talent and skills and this is just one example of how a little bit of input from an organisation can facilitate something great.”

Thank You, the new album by Mike Egan, can be purchased on Bandcamp: https://mikeegan.bandcamp.com/releases.

It can be downloaded for £5 or bought as a CD for £8. All proceeds go to the NHS.

‘Home of Hogmanay’ seeks producers for Capital’s Winter Festivals

Underbelly no more?

Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2021 announcement

• Council seeks producers for Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, with tender documents published
• Contract term for initial period of three years

Contract notices for both Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay festivals from 2022-2025 have been published on the Public Contracts Scotland website.

The specifications were devised in response to the findings of a major independent survey into the future of Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals conducted last year.

Overall, results of the 12-week consultation showed a wish to continue to provide high quality Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations but that they must be valued by residents and visitors.

The tender responses will be used to draw up a shortlist for further consideration, with the Council hoping to have a producing partner in place by the summer.

For both events and in line with the consultation responses received, the council is seeking a producer to:

Continue to provide high quality Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations which will be valued by residents and visitors, and continue to enhance Edinburgh’s reputation
Extend celebrations to other parts of the city
Deliver and evidence the environmental sustainability of the winter festivals, including through the local sourcing of products and minimising use of greenspace
Improve access for those previously less able to participate, including through physical accessibility, the design of activities for those with a range of needs, and for people on lower incomes and from deprived areas
Focus on making the celebrations family friendly
Maximise engagement with small and independent businesses to establish local market growth, including giving priority to existing and new local businesses and creatives

Also in response to the public’s feedback, the successful producer of Edinburgh’s Christmas will be required to minimise any use of greenspaces, introduce alcohol-free times and/or areas within Christmas celebrations, avoid overcrowding and improve access by distributing celebrations more widely throughout the city centre.

For Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, producers are being asked to deliver the traditional and favoured aspects of the festival, including a significant ‘midnight moment’ including for example fireworks, drones, lighting or any other significant intervention.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Through our citywide conversation with residents, businesses and stakeholders last year, it was clear that there was overwhelming support for the continuation of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations in the Capital, but with a revised format.

“More than 8,600 people and 35 organisations responded to the survey, with 87% expressing support for a Christmas celebration and 86% for Hogmanay.

“I’m confident that by acting on residents’ feedback, we can remain the home of Hogmanay and ensure our Christmas events, enjoyed by so many across the City, continue in a way that balances residents’ needs and aspirations for how they should look and feel in future.”

Council Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “Our Winter Festivals are internationally renowned and, from our conversation with the city, we were pleased that the majority wanted the Capital to keep its place on the world map for Christmas celebrations and as home of Hogmanay.

“As well as contributing to the wellbeing of our residents, our Winter Festivals deliver real economic impact, benefitting tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors in particular.

“With these new contracts, we want to continue to provide inclusive high-quality festive celebrations, further enhance the city’s reputation and allow the benefits to be shared across our town centres and communities.”

National Winners Revealed In Royal Mail’s Heroes Of The Pandemic Stamp Design Competition

Chosen by HRH The Prince of Wales, the eight winning designs will feature on Royal Mail Special Stamps

· The winners are:

– Logan Pearson, Bury CofE High School

– Isabella Grover, Creswick Primary School

– Shachow Ali, Flint High School

– Ishan Bains, Abbey CofE Infant School

– Alfie Craddock, The Hereford Academy

– Jessica Roberts, Flint High School

– Raphael Valle Martin, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

– Connie Stuart, Litcham School

· The final designs showcase the children’s heroes from all walks of life; from bus and delivery drivers to food bank volunteers, NHS workers and vaccine scientists

· The winning designs were chosen from 606,049 entries – securing Royal Mail a world record title for the largest postage stamp design competition

Over the coming weeks each winner will have a special dedicated postmark that will celebrate their achievement. The postmark will be applied to stamped mail delivered to addresses nationwide
All eight winning designs were approved by HM The Queen
The stamps will be available to pre-order from today (11 March) at www.royalmail.com/heroes and by phone on 03457 641 641. They will be available on general sale from 23 March.

Royal Mail today revealed the winning eight designs in their Heroes of the Pandemic stamp design competition.

The winning artists and their designs are:

Logan Pearson, Bury CofE High School

Isabella Grover, Creswick Primary School

Shachow Ali, Flint High School

Ishan Bains, Abbey C of E Infant School

Alfie Craddock, The Hereford Academy

Raphael Valle Martin, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

Connie Stuart, Litcham School

Last spring, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Royal Mail Chief Executive, Simon Thompson launched a special stamp design competition. School-aged children across the UK were invited to design a postage stamp featuring their own hero or heroes of the Covid pandemic.

The response was unprecedented. Having received a world record-breaking 606,049 entries, regional judges including retired teachers carefully selected 120 regional finalists. From this, a special panel of judges, including the Prime Minister and Baroness Floella Benjamin, picked 24 regional winners. The final eight winning designs were personally selected by HRH The Prince of Wales, with the finished stamps approved by Her Majesty The Queen.

Entries from across the UK celebrated a wide range of heroes, including: NHS workers; parents; carers; cleaning staff; teachers; supermarket workers; public transport staff and delivery drivers. Also depicted on the designs were many volunteers who have helped in their local communities or raised money for charity, such as Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail CEO, said: “As we approach the second anniversary of the first lockdown, it’s fitting that the nation’s children have taken the lead in celebrating the heroes of the pandemic. They have captured the resilience and determination of the British people in eight drawings. I think they look great!”

In addition, to mark their success, a special postmark will feature on stamped mail delivered to addresses nationwide. Each child will have their name included on their own congratulatory postmark over the coming weeks.

This is only the fifth time in the company’s 500-year history that children have designed Christmas stamps.

The winners will receive £1000 in high-street vouchers and £1000 for their respective schools.

The stamps will be available to pre-order from today (11 March) at www.royalmail.com/heroes and by phone on 03457 641 641.

They will be available on general sale from 23 March.

Cruden Homes reveals proposals for new Leith apartments

Edinburgh-based housebuilder Cruden Homes has revealed exciting proposals to deliver much-needed housing in Leith.

Located on the site of the former Edinburgh Carpet and Flooring Warehouse, on the corner of Salamander Street and Salamander Yards, the proposed development will aim to comprise 96 apartments.

Including a range of different sized apartments, the development will range from four to six storeys, with the added bonus of ground floor retail fronting onto Salamander Street.

A proposal of application notice (PAN) has now been submitted with City of Edinburgh Council, noting the intent to submit a planning application following a minimum 12-week consultation period.

A web-based community consultation events, in line with Scottish Government Covid-guidelines, will allow the community to provide feedback on and shape the proposals.

The event will take place on 27^th April from 3.30pm-7.30pm.

Commenting on these proposals, Rory Stephens from Cruden Homes said: “This exciting and ambitious scheme will serve to regenerate the current brownfield site, delivering much-needed sustainable housing, including affordable homes, as well as providing a retail offering on the ground floor.

“We’re very much looking forward to consulting widely with the local community and key stakeholders over the coming months, which will include a digital consultation event, and are keen to hear their views in shaping proposals for this site.”

EIS Manifesto Calls for Education Investment

Union demands Fair Deal for Teachers

The EIS will launch its Education Manifesto ahead of May’s Scottish local authority elections at today’s meeting of the national EIS Council.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The EIS Manifesto calls for increased investment and enhanced support for schools, teachers and students to support the vital process of education recovery following the Covid pandemic.

“The EIS is challenging all political parties and all election candidates to make clear commitments to providing improved support for Scottish education.”

“The Manifesto also calls for increased investment in the teacher workforce, including the recruitment of additional teachers, to support education recovery.

Mr Flanagan said, “There is a very clear and urgent need to address shortages within the teacher workforce to support education recovery. This must include the employment of additional teachers, on permanent and secure contracts.

“Currently, around 10% of Scotland’s teachers are employed on short-term and temporary contracts – this is a scandal that local authorities must commit to tackling as a matter of urgency. Early delivery of existing commitments to reduce teachers’ class contact time must also be a priority, and steps to reduce class sizes to support education recovery must be taken by councils.

“We are also calling for urgent improvements in support for teacher wellbeing, including mental health, in the wake of the Covid pandemic which has heaped huge additional pressures on staff.”

A commitment to fair pay for Scotland’s teachers is also central to the EIS Manifesto, following long delays in pay negotiations in recent years. Scotland’s teachers are still awaiting a pay settlement for 2021, as a result of prolonged procrastination and delay by the council body COSLA.

EIS Council will decide today whether to ballot members over the latest revised pay offer. The EIS is calling on all parties to re-commit to the principles of collective bargaining via the agreed forum, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).

Other priorities in the Manifesto include: enhancing support for schools; a commitment to high-quality pre-5 education led by teachers; proper resourcing to support young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN); funding to support initiatives aimed at tackling the equality impact of poverty on young people’s education.

EIS-Manifesto Download

Lorna Slater to visit Fresh Start

Circular Economy Bill consultation on the way

The destruction of unsold, durable goods could be banned as part of plans to reduce waste, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has announced.

Proposals for a ban will be put forward in a consultation on a new Circular Economy Bill, to be published in May.

It is intended to address public concerns about unsold products being destroyed or ending up in landfill. Retailers may be required to look for other options for unsold products, including donating and recycling them.

The proposals would make sure Scotland keeps pace with Europe as France has recently enacted such a ban and the EU is currently considering similar interventions.

To mark the announcement, the Minister will visit Fresh Start in West Pilton. The charity distributes essential household goods and white goods donated by retailers as part of their work to help people who have been homeless establish themselves in their new home.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “It is absolutely senseless for perfectly good products to end up in landfill. Rather than being wasted in landfill or incinerated, they should be reused or repurposed.

“Organisations like Fresh Start show that there is a real need for items like these, and with the cost of living increasing this need is growing rapidly.

“We are living in a climate emergency. When goods go to landfill without having even been used once, we don’t just waste the product – we also waste all the energy and raw materials that went into making it.

“This proposal is a direct response to the public concerns about what happens to items that go unsold. By pursuing a ban, we can make sure they make it into the hands of those that need them, and help Scotland reduce its carbon footprint.

“This is the sort of action that’s needed to create a circular economy and shows the level of ambition that will be contained in our proposals in May.”

Michael Cook, CEO of Circular Communities Scotland said: “We are delighted a timetable has been set for consulting on the Circular Economy Bill and look forward to working with Scottish Government to deliver as ambitious a bill as possible.

“We have been campaigning for a ban on companies destroying products which could easily be repurposed for some time and, therefore, welcome, and fully support this proposal.

“Circular Communities Scotland represents a range of impressive charities and social enterprises providing a whole variety of creative alternatives for materials considered waste or surplus. This bill validates their significant contribution towards establishing a more circular economy in Scotland.”

New measures to support Ukrainians

Changes will make the Ukraine Family Scheme quicker and simpler

Home Secretary Priti Patel has announced changes to the Ukraine Family Scheme to make the process quicker and simpler for those fleeing Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

From Tuesday, Ukraine passport holders will no longer need to attend in-person appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification before they come to the UK, after the Home Secretary received assurances that the necessary national security checks could be maintained while not requiring biometrics for the initial application.

The remaining checks continue to ensure we provide the robust scrutiny required for all applicants.

Confirmation of permission to travel to the UK will also be provided, meaning the majority of applications can be completed entirely online without ever attending a visa appointment centre, speeding up the process and allowing people to come to the UK faster.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The Ukraine Family Scheme provides an immediate pathway for those Ukrainians with family already settled in the UK to come to our country. It is designed to allow as many people as possible to come to Britain and gives them immediate access to the support they need to not just survive but to thrive.

“The scheme was developed in close consultation with Ukrainian leaders and the diaspora community and we continue to work with them to make changes as necessary. That is why we are now making the process quicker and simpler by removing the need to physically visit Visa Application Centres for many of those who are making the perilous journey across Europe. This will mean we can welcome more families here more swiftly.

“Given the real and varied threats we face, we must consider national security alongside our humanitarian instinct and desire to help as many people as possible in the shortest possible timeframe. I can reassure the British people that the changes announced today have been made in close consultation with relevant officials and agencies so as to ensure our national security is not compromised.”

Under the new application process passport holders will apply online and be granted 6 months’ leave to enter the UK outside of the rules, enabling them to work, study and claim benefits immediately. Once they have submitted biometric data in the UK they will have their leave extended to 36 months.

This applies only to passports – not ID Cards – however this will be kept under review, in line with security advice.

The changes are designed to get as many people their visas as quickly as possible, while reducing pressure on visa application centres and ensuring those who pose a threat to the UK are prevented from entering.

The Home Office has already ramped up visa application capacity in other countries bordering Ukraine, including Hungary, Romania, Poland and Moldova. A new pop-up Visa Application Centre in Rzeszow, Poland, has been opened, while the combined total number of appointments across Europe has increased from 2,000 to 13,000 appointments.

The Ukraine Family Scheme allows people settled in the UK to bring immediate and extended family members from Ukraine to the UK. This week the eligibility was increased to include aunts, uncles and in-laws.

The Ukraine Family Scheme is part of a series of measures that have already been announced:

Last month the Home Secretary confirmed that flexibility would be available to support Ukrainians who are on work, study or visit visas to switch to different visa routes extending their stay and those on seasonal work visas would have their leave temporarily extended.
The Prime Minister also announced that we are working at pace to establish the Local Sponsorship Scheme for Ukrainians with no ties to the UK to come here. The uncapped route will allow sponsors, such as communities or local authorities, to bring people to the UK. Sponsored individuals will be able to work and the sponsor would provide housing and integration support.

The routes and changes to visas come alongside the UK’s ongoing efforts to tackle the emerging humanitarian crisis, which were bolstered this week by additional funding, with total emergency and aid support for Ukraine now at £400m, alongside the 1,000 troops who are on standby to help those forced to flee.

Edinburgh gender pay gap “well above Scottish average”

In Edinburgh, men are paid 14.2% more than women – well above the Scottish average gender pay gap of 10.2%
East Dunbartonshire has the biggest gender pay gap in Scotland, with men being paid 26.9% more than women
Aberdeenshire is Scotland’s second worst area for gender pay gaps, with men enjoying 22.1% more pay than women

Edinburgh’s gender pay gap is well above the Scottish average, new research can reveal.

In Edinburgh, men are paid 14.2% more than women. The Scotland average gender pay gap is 10.2%

Following International Women’s Day, financial experts Forbes Advisor used new ONS data to explore the gender pay gap for full time employees in every local authority in Scotland to discover which areas have the worst gender pay gap of all.

RANKED: Gender pay gaps in Scotland from biggest to smallest

Scotland area	Rank	How much more men earn than women (%)
East Dunbartonshire	1	26.9
Aberdeenshire	2	22.1
Inverclyde	3	20.1
Renfrewshire	4	18.6
Aberdeen City	5	17.9
Moray	6	17.1
Perth and Kinross	7	16.9
Na h-Eileanan Siar	8	15.8
South Ayrshire	9	15.5
Clackmannanshire	10	15.0
City of Edinburgh	11	14.2
Argyll and Bute	12	13.6
East Lothian	13	13.6
Dundee City	14	11.6
Falkirk	15	11.0
Glasgow City	16	10.7
North Lanarkshire	17	8.8
East Ayrshire	18	7.7
Midlothian	19	4.9
Fife	20	3.4
South Lanarkshire	21	3.3
West Lothian	22	3.1
Scottish Borders	23	2.3
Angus	24	2.2
Stirling	25	1.6
Highland	26	0.9
North Ayrshire	27	-4.6
Dumfries and Galloway	28	-7.0
Scotland average		10.2

East Dunbartonshire has the biggest gender pay gap in Scotland. In East Dunbartonshire, men are paid 26.9% more than women – well over double Scotland’s average gender pay gap (10.2%).

Aberdeenshire has the second biggest pay gap in Scotland, with men earning 22.1% more than women – twice the Scottish average gender pay gap of 10.2%. Inverclyde has Scotland’s third biggest pay gap, with men raking in 20% more in wages than women.

Renfrewshire, Aberdeen City and Moray are also some of Scotland’s worst areas for gender pay gaps, with men earning 18.6%, 17.9% and 17.1% more than women respectively.

At the other end of the scale, Dumfries and Galloway and North Ayrshire in Scotland are the only areas in the country where women earn more than men. In Dumfries and Galloway, women earn 7% more than men, and in North Ayrshire, women earn 4.6% more than men.

The Scottish Highlands, Stirling and Angus also have smaller gender pay gaps than the rest of Scotland. In the Scottish Highlands, men earn 0.9% more than women, and in Stirling and Angus, they earn 1.6% and 2.2% more than women respectively.

A spokesperson for Forbes Advisor commented on the findings: “These figures shed light on the concerning gender inequality which still persists in Scotland.

“It’s not enough to tweet about gender equality in the wake of International Women’s Day, we all have a responsibility to ensure that everyone is equally compensated for their labour.

“Not only do men earn 10.2% more than women across Scotland as a whole, but in local authorities such as East Dunbartonshire, men are earning up to 26.9% more than women, which shows that we have a long way to go before achieving fair pay.”