Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner WILL BE CHARGED WITHIN WEEKS an investigator claimed yesterday.
Jon Clarke said he had been informed of the bombshell development by a source in the office of the team of German investigators probing the jailed sex offender. (TUES).
Clarke, a journalist who has led the way in investigating her disappearance, also believes the DNA of the missing girl may still be found in one of the vehicles Brueckner was driving on the night of her disappearance 15 years ago.
He told GB News: “I can tell you that there’s lots of circumstantial evidence, but today I was made party to some evidence to suggest that there may be traces of Maddie’s DNA in one of the cars that Christian was driving on the night that she went missing.
“He was living very close to the resort, regularly burgled homes and the results clearly has a long track record of child sex abuse.
“He’s currently in prison serving seven years for rape and will be will be charged later this month.
“I’m told by my sources from the German prosecutor’s office he will be charged with three if not four cases in the next couple of weeks with the Madeleine charge likely later in the year.”
He was speaking to Alex Philips on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance during We Need To Talk About on GB News.
Mr Clark also talked about how he was one of the first on the scene after she was reported missing from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz in Portugal.
He added: “I was actually able, believe it or not, to go up to the back of the apartment, to walk under flimsy pieces of police tape and step up the steps right up to the front of the apartment.
“As you probably know now, I think 26, 27, 28 people actually traipsed right away through that apartment in the early hours of the morning making the crime scene completely null and void really for future investigators.
“The golden hour was a complete disaster from start to finish. I did my best in those early hours and … just went around and asked lots and lots of questions and I’ve continued to do that to this day.”
“Once again, the figures show the worst performance since records began, meaning record numbers of patients facing extremely long waits. March 2022 also saw the highest number of attendances since September 2021.
“There are immense pressures on our health system. Patient safety is compromised, staff are burnt out, ambulance services are severely struggling, and Emergency Departments are dangerously over-crowded.
“During this difficult time, we commend all staff in our Emergency Departments for their resilience and hard work. These are unprecedented and extremely challenging circumstances, a result of a broken health system in dire crisis. We know morale is very low right now, and we know the challenges in providing effective care, but frontline staff across all grades continue to do their very best to keep patients safe.
“Opening 1,000 beds in the health system in Scotland and addressing the staffing crisis in social care is urgently needed to begin to tackle the current situation and to move patients appropriately and timeously through the system. This is an unsustainable situation, month-on-month performance deteriorates, and patients are coming to harm as staff face severe moral injury.”
Spending cut of £874 per pupil identified with ASN since 2012/13
‘Postcode lottery’ of spending between local authorities on ASN
Near doubling in the number of pupils with ASN since 2012
Cut in the number of ASN teachers
An alliance of leading providers of children’s services, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC), has called for greater resourcing to support children and young people with additional support needs (ASN), such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems.
The call, which comes in advance of tomorrow’s local council elections (Thursday (5th May), comes as new figures contained in a parliamentary answer to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, reveal that spend per pupil with ASN has slumped dramatically.
This comes against a backdrop of the number of pupils with ASN increasing and the number of specialist teachers supporting them dropping to a new low.
SCSC is calling on incoming town hall administrations to put the needs of vulnerable children and young people at the very heart of policy and funding commitments.
The figures highlight that average spend per pupil on additional support for learning by councils in Scotland (primary, secondary and special education) has fallen from £4,276 in 2012/13 to £3,402 in 2020/21 (in cash terms). This amounts to an overall cut in spending of £874 per pupil, representing a 20.4% drop.
Spend per pupil ranges from £2,210 in the Scottish Borders to £5,901 in the Shetland Islands, pointing to a ‘postcode lottery’ in spend across local councils (see Notes to Editors for figures per local authority).
This fall is against the backdrop of a 92.2 per cent increase since 2012 in the number of pupils identified with ASN, from 118,011 to 226,838 in 2020, amounting to 108,827 individuals. Those with ASNcurrently represent just under a third of all pupils (32.3 per cent).
Between 2012 and 2020 the number of full-time equivalent ASN teachers (publicly funded primary, secondary, special and centrally employed) has fallen from 3,389 to all-time low of 2,860, a decrease of 529 teachers, representing a cut in numbers of 15.6 per cent.
Against the background of Covid-19 and its disproportionate impact on those with ASN, the SCSC has called for greater resourcing from both the Scottish Government and councils to ensure that those with ASN in Scotland’s schools receive the care and support they need.
A spokesperson for the SCSC commented: “It is vital that those with ASN get the care and support they need, when they need it, especially as we come out of the current Covid-19 crisis.This is also key if we are to genuinely close the educational attainment gap as we know that those with ASN are disproportionately drawn from poorer neighbourhoods.
“Given this, it is disappointing to note cuts in spending to those with ASN and we would urge Scotland’s newly elected councils to put the needs of vulnerable children and young people at the very heart of policy and funding commitments.
“Councils and the Scottish Government must work together to provide the necessary resourcing to address the needs of those children and young people with ASN, who represent some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society.”
Table 4 – Additional support for learning spending per pupil (£, cash terms)
2020/21
Aberdeen City
3,196
Aberdeenshire
2,392
Angus
3,024
Argyll & Bute
3,833
City of Edinburgh
3,093
Clackmannanshire
4,344
Dumfries & Galloway
3,226
Dundee City
2,274
East Ayrshire
4,432
East Dunbartonshire
4,500
East Lothian
3,865
East Renfrewshire
2,785
Falkirk
3,798
Fife
2,794
Glasgow City
4,133
Highland
3,062
Inverclyde
3,722
Midlothian
4,100
Moray
3,110
Na h-Eileanan Siar
5,757
North Ayrshire
2,379
North Lanarkshire
5,490
Orkney Islands
4,540
Perth & Kinross
3,023
Renfrewshire
3,477
Scottish Borders
2,210
Shetland Islands
5,901
South Ayrshire
4,868
South Lanarkshire
3,505
Stirling
3,374
West Dunbartonshire
3,589
West Lothian
2,700
All Local Authorities
3,402
Sources:
1. Local Financial Returns – Education (LFR 01) statistical return provided by local authorities to the Scottish Government.
2. Pupil Census – 2020 school statistics collected by Scottish Government
EDINBURGH’S FERGUS CRAWLEY IS YOUNG SCOT OF THE YEAR
Young people from Edinburgh have been announced as winners in the Arts, Equality and Diversity and Health and Wellbeing categories at this year’s Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards. Fergus Crawley, 25, also took home the title of ‘Young Scot of the Year’.
Fergus won the top spot in the Health and Wellbeing category for his work in encouraging young people to open up about their mental health struggles.
The personal trainer has been fundraising since 2018 to raise money for a host of men’s mental health charities, including going up and down Ben Nevis for 11 consecutive days, squatting 125,000 kg in 24 hours, and embarking on a 94-mile run.
His efforts have seen him raise a total of £100,000 in just four years, which Fergus hopes will go a long way to helping to break the stereotypes surrounding men’s mental health so that less people suffer in silence.
His charitable efforts blew the judges away, who also awarded Fergus Young Scot of the Year.
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Young Scot Awards 2022, Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
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Addie, Hannah and Jo, all from the capital, won the Equality and Diversity award, sponsored by Arnold Clark, for their work in setting up Whatever Next? – a multi-media platform that explores their experiences as Chinese adoptees, and adoptees in general.
Through a monthly podcast, the three discuss the varied experiences they have had as adoptees, and how it has impacted the different areas of their lives – covering areas like the ABCs of adoption, food, adoptive parents and dating as an adoptee.
In doing so, they aim to open up a conversation around adoption – busting myths and providing relatable narratives to other adoptees.
The work of Whatever Next? has won acclaim and the chance to speak on bigger platforms – with the trio having been interviewed on national television. Their work also won them the Creative Edinburgh Student Award in 2021.
Jordan Stewart and Amaranta Laing won the top spot in the Arts category for their work in creating Fusion – an organisation which aims to amplify the voices of young people through the power of music.
By partnering with Children 1st, Jordan and Amaranta have helped 10-year-old Sophie to produce ‘Sophie’s Song. Sophie created the track in the hope of influencing the justice system for victims and witnesses of crime.
Now in its sixteenth year, the annual awards highlight the triumphs of young people in 13 different categories – from sport and the environment to enterprise and volunteering. They shine a light on the invaluable contributions made by remarkable young people across Scotland.
The winners were announced at a star-studded red-carpet ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney hosted the evening.
Commenting on his win, Fergus said: “I had a great evening at the awards ceremony, and it was even better to be walking away with not one but two awards!
“It’s always a nice bonus to get recognition from the work I’ve been doing, but it’s the conversations around mental health that are the really important aspect. I’m hoping these awards will encourage more young people to open up about their experiences and allow me to continue visiting schools across Scotland to raise awareness of what I’m doing.”
Addie, Hannah and Jo said: “It’s so incredible to have won – we didn’t expect it all! It’s amazing to see that the work we’ve been doing is having an impact and making a difference.
“We’re really excited to have just signed a book deal and are working on getting everything finalised ahead of the launch in August.”
Jordan and Amaranta added: “There are no words to express how we felt when we found out we’d one – it was just surreal!
“It was such an honour for us to be able to take on the project and share Sophie’s story and we’re looking forward to composing more songs in the future. Congratulations to all the other nominees and winners”
Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said: “We’ve been completely inspired by the stories of our nominees, finalists and winners, who are all doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others.
“We’ve kept the spirit of the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards alive for the past two years by hosting fantastic virtual events, but it’s brilliant to have the awards back in all of their glory this year to celebrate Scotland’s young people, who do so much to inspire, support and motivate those around them.”
Award host Gemma Cairney said:“It was an absolute honour to host this year’s Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards.I was inspired by listening to the winners’ stories and their commitment to helping others in their community is truly remarkable. Congratulations to our winners and finalists!”
A major milestone has been reached in the build of the new Meadowbank Sports Centre with the completion certificate being issued to the main contractors Graham Construction.
This enables the project to progress to the next stage – Edinburgh Leisure can now begin preparing the building for opening. Although an official opening date to the public has yet to be announced, it is expected that Meadowbank will be open around the start of the summer holidays.
The original Meadowbank was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and was used by various clubs and sporting celebrities. The closure of the flagship venue on 3 December 2017 marked the end of an era and the start of a new one as the building was decommissioned to make way for a new state-of-the-art sports centre for people in Edinburgh and beyond to enjoy for decades to come.
The new Meadowbank was originally scheduled to reopen in 2020, but the two-year pandemic, various lockdowns and issues with building supplies and contractor resourcing, which affected the building industry, meant that delays were inevitable.
June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted that the finishing line is now in sight for the opening of this new flagship venue. The opportunity to be involved in such a major build project is special and I’m very grateful to the City of Edinburgh Council for involving Edinburgh Leisure in all aspects of this exciting investment into the City’s wellbeing.
“It’s been great to be involved in the project from day one however the level of excitement has certainly increased as we begin preparations for opening”.
“The new Meadowbank will undoubtedly pick up where the old Meadowbank left off; providing countless opportunities for generations to come to participate in physical activity and sport. New sporting memories will be created, and we can’t wait to welcome the people of Edinburgh and beyond, into the new venue.”
June Peebles added: “Now that the completion certificate has been issued, we will be spending the following weeks with final snagging, fit out items, finalising operating arrangements and a comprehensive staff training programme before we finally open the building.
“So, keep your eyes on social media and Edinburgh Leisure’s website for more announcements about the official opening date. We can’t wait to welcome you into the impressive new Meadowbank!”
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “It’s great news that this latest milestone has been reached today, which means the new Meadowbank Sports Centre is one step closer to throwing its doors open to the public.
“This glimpse behind-the-scenes shows what we’ve got to look forward to – one of the country’s top community sports centres with some of the most state-of-the-art fitness facilities in the UK.
“We’ve been working closely with Edinburgh Leisure throughout the development of this flagship project to make sure that the centre provides the very best in sport and physical activity, while prioritising participation and accessibility.
“Now, as June and her team put the finishing touches to the building and finalise arrangements for opening, we’re counting down the weeks before everyone can enjoy this fantastic facility”.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
*** LAST CHANCE TO SEE Audubon’s Birds of America *** Until 8 May 2022 Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Ticketed, £0-£10
This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.
Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.
Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.
The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings.
The Typewriter Revolution Until 11 Sep 2022 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free entry
The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.
The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.
Until 8 Jan 2023 Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 Free entry
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022.
31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) Free
Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.
Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.
The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail.
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.
Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 Member Preview Day 1 Jul Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Ticketed
Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.
This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century.
Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer.
Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Festival Family Encounters Day 7 May 2022 10:00-16:30 Grand Gallery Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on Saturday 7 May with Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland. Come along to get curious, creative and enjoy specially commissioned performances from Scottish based artists.
All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.
11 – 12 Jun 2022 10:00-16:45 Event Space, Level 2 Free sign up on the day
In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders.
Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun!
Sign up on the day for a 45 minute session, starting each hour from 10am until (last session) 4pm.
This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too!
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Bird Bingo 1 Apr – 31 Aug 2022 10:00-17:00 A trail around the museum Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!
Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.
This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery
Woolly Weekend 28 – 29 May 2022 11:00-16:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.
This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Make Do and Mend
19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022 11:00-16:00 Concorde Hangar Free with museum admission
Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities.
Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war. Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops.
This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery
Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities.
Discover the challenges of wartime cooking with food historian Nichola Fletcher and find out about the fruit and vegetables that were grown on the airfield. Families can also join drop-in workshops to create a wildflower seed bomb or make a paper pot to take home.
This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
28 – 29 May 2022 10:00 – 17:00 Concorde Hangar and Vulcan Aircraft Free with museum admission
Learn about the role of the Vulcan in the Falklands War, with talks, tours and displays to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict.
The Vulcan aircraft on display at East Fortune, serial number XM597, took part in Black Buck missions, attacking Argentinian radar defences. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict, some of the crew members and personnel involved in Operation Black Buck are visiting the museum to share their stories in a series of talks and tours.
In the Concorde Hangar, visitors will also be able to see a small photography display and some of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum’s Airborne Forces Collection, and younger visitors will have the chance to make a paper Vulcan underneath Concorde.
Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone.
Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore.
A CHARITY is offering a £200 grant to former coal miners to help them cope with the rise in fuel costs in 2022.
CISWO – the coal mining charity – has launched the scheme to provide some support towards combatting the huge hike in the energy price cap which came into effect in April.
The one-off grant will be available to former coal miners, or their partners or widows, who are identified as being particularly vulnerable due to being on a low income, live in their own home and are responsible for paying for energy costs.
It is also only available to those former mineworkers who have ten years’ service in the industry or those whose last place of work was in the industry. Only one grant is available per household.
The price rises will see millions of people having to pay around £700 more each year to heat their homes.
And with former miners often suffering from health issues, poor mobility and managing on low incomes, they may be disproportionately impacted by the changes.
Nicola Didlock, Chief Executive at CISWO, said: “We are very aware that many of our beneficiaries are vulnerable and susceptible to the cold, especially those on low incomes and trying to cope with ill-health, mobility issues and older properties to maintain.
“We want to ensure that those individuals are identified and supported to keep warm and healthy, particularly during the colder months as the energy price rise begins to impact those most affected.”
CISWO’s Personal Welfare team will be identifying people in need and supporting them to get the help they are entitled to. As well as the CISWO grant, they will help people to obtain other financial aid and subsidies from the government.
The team will also be on hand to provide information about other support on offer from CISWO for former coal miners and their dependants, including:
Confidential home visiting service
Advocacy, information, advice and guidance
Emotional support
Benefit applications
Access to mobility equipment
Reducing loneliness and isolation
Access to holidays and convalescence
For more information about claiming the £200 CISWO grant, visit:
A grassroots campaigning group determined to ensure a new facility to replace the ageing Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is built in Edinburgh has pressed politicians to reaffirm their support.
The Keep Edinburgh Eye Pavilion (KEEP) has this week written to all the main Scottish political parties to ask that candidates for the local authority elections this Thursday within Lothian uphold pledges previously made.
In their letter, KEEP says: ‘Across the Lothians, people with sight loss are becoming increasingly concerned about the ongoing delays to the promised replacement Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion (PAEP) in Edinburgh. Recent press reports now indicate that further delays and increasing costs, mean that the new hospital will not be operational until June 2027‘.
KEEP points out that the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion provides specialist ophthalmological care for thousands of people across the south-east of Scotland. In 2015, the building was deemed not fit for purpose in a NHS Lothian report that made the case for a new facility.
But in late 2020, the Scottish Government withdrew capital funding from the health board earmarked to re-build it. However, following a campaign by KEEP it was announced in spring 2021 that the re-build would go ahead.
‘However,’ the letter from KEEP goes on, ‘there are growing concerns that the continued delays are not simply a construction matter. The existing PAEP building has been deemed not fit for purpose and is facing further reduced capacity through disrepair, resulting in waiting times and pressures on services becoming more acute.
‘It is not acceptable that blind and partially sighted people are increasingly being asked to travel across the country to the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank to receive treatment. Patients frequently face lengthy delays if unable to travel there independently‘.
During last year’s Scottish Parliament elections, KEEP secured commitments from all the main parties concerning the proposed new eye clinic facility.
Edinburgh city councillors also agreed a cross-party composite motion which said: “In terms of accessibility and equality of services it is vital that people have access that is affordable and is easy. As those of us who have had any trouble with our eyesight know, there is no time to spare. You need to get to that hospital quickly and efficiently. We have a centre of excellence that is world-renowned and we, as a capital city for people living in the south east of Scotland, depend on this facility. We need to stand up for Edinburgh.”
In their letter to each party’s health spokesperson, KEEP is asking councillors elected across the Lothian Health Board area to uphold pledges already made ‘and further work to ensure that the delays are reduced, that a clear timetable is given for when this project will start and be completed, and a guarantee to meet with members of the KEEP campaign to regularly discuss once they are elected‘.
Three good causes across the East of Scotland have been awarded a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect award scheme.
Sepsis Research (FEAT) secured £15,000 in funding, with FetLor Youth Club and You’re Never Too Old (YNTO) both receiving a £5,000 award. The charities were shortlisted by the community retailer to receive the lifeline financial support helping them to continue carrying out their vital work within their communities.
Sepsis Research (FEAT) strives to identify why some people are more affected by sepsis than others. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection when your body’s immune system overreacts, and this can quickly lead to multiple organ failure. Funding from Scotmid will be used to research genetic variants, target new treatments and improve survival rates for those affected.
FetLor Youth Club provides services, including free activities and hot meals, for children and young people aged 7 to 17 in North Edinburgh, many of whom come from disadvantaged areas. Funding from Scotmid will be used to host the 2022 Summer programme which supports over 1000 people, allowing children and their families can spend time together and enjoy life changing experiences.
You’re Never Too Old (YNTO) supports older socially isolated people living in their own homes in the North-West area of Edinburgh. Twice a week they provide transport for members to the club where they take part in stimulating activities, days out and enjoy lunch together. Reducing isolation, making new friends and creating memories is at the heart of everything You’re Never Too Old do. Funding from Scotmid will be used to help cover transportation costs.
Dr Richie Adams, Chief Executive at FetLor Youth Club, said: ” FetLor is delighted to receive this award from Scotmid. We will use the £5,000 funding to give young people a fantastic summer holiday of fun and educational experiences.
“Our programme of events brings communities together and offers opportunities many of our members may not, otherwise, be able to access. Our summer programme is all about giving our young people the best summer ever!”
“This funding will allow us collect, store and process patient DNA samples and investigate why some people get so sick from sepsis and others make a fully recovery. The hope in the future is that this research will be able to develop new treatments so more lives can be saved.”
Anne Stewart from You’re Never Too Old, said: “YNTO is absolutely delighted we have been awarded funding of £5,000.
“We would like to thank Scotmid and all the members for voting for YNTO. The funding is extremely important and will ensure we continue to make a difference to older, socially isolated people.”
Since Scotmid’s Community Connect launched in 2017, more than £500,000 has been awarded to 54 good cause groups enabling key projects to continue operating in their local areas.
“We have seen first-hand how local charities and good cause groups have provided a vital lifeline to many people, particularly over the course of the pandemic, whilst also facing new challenges of their own.
“We are truly delighted to award these good causes with this funding support, which will help them continue providing vital services within their own communities.”
Edinburgh College creative students launch annual festival
Edinburgh College’s creative students are ready to take over the city with a number of unique performances and exhibitions taking place at venues across the capital as part of the annual Glow Festival.
Glow, the culmination of a year’s hard work for the College’s Creative Industries students, will see students perform and exhibit at venues in Edinburgh throughout April, May and June.
The festival will feature events covering the wide range of the College’s Creative Industries courses including: Performing Arts; Broadcast Media and Photography; Music and Sound Production; and Art and Design, with music concerts, theatre shows, exhibitions, film showings and more.
The ninth annual Glow festival, which sees a return to events happening in-person following two years of online performances and exhibitions, launched at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery last week (27 April) with performances from the College’s Musical Theatre students and Brass Ensemble.
Students will showcase their skills and talents across some of Edinburgh’s top venues including Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Festival Theatre, The Biscuit Factory, Bannerman’s, Assembly Roxy, Church Hill Theatre, Everyman Cinema, and the College’s campuses.
The programme of events includes large-scale end-of-year shows including a musical theatre performance with a modern twist on the classic tale Cinderella, an exhibition of Theatre Costumes, a new play set around 1990s rave culture, the Performing Arts Studio Scotland Cross Currents dance event and an exhibition of make-up artistry.
Edinburgh College Assistant Principal Curriculum for Creative Industries Jakki Jeffery said: “After hosting virtual events for the past two years, we are absolutely delighted to be launching our return to an in-person Glow Festival for 2022.
“Our students have been hard at work over the last few months perfecting their work and performances and can’t wait to show off their talents at venues across the capital.
“Glow gives our students the perfect opportunity to showcase their work in front of live audiences or at exhibitions in Edinburgh, giving them the experience that will help set them up for a successful career in the creative industries. We have some spectacular events planned this year, and look forward to seeing you all there!”
