Month: July 2022

Celebrate National Travel Agent Day  

The benefits of booking with a Travel Agent and the myths dispelled 

Today, Friday, 22nd July, marks National Travel Agent Day. Across the UK and Ireland more than 3,700 travel agents and over 11,000 homeworkers will be celebrating this trusted profession dating back to the early 1800s. 

Launched during the pandemic by adventure travel company Intrepid, National Travel Agent Day was conceived as a way of gaining support and recognition for the industry during a turbulent period of trading and restrictions.  

Today, with the onset of the cost-of-living crisis and the continuing ‘travel chaos’ headlines, the day continues to mark the great service travel agents deliver to UK consumers as more and more people recognise the many benefits of booking with their local agent.  

A recent impact survey* conducted by The Advantage Travel Partnership showed of the 94% of respondents who are seeing an increase in new customers, 30% reported these new customers fall into the 35–44-year-old age bracket, with 33% of new customers aged between 45-54 and 15% over 60. 

Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “As the biggest Travel Agency partnership in the UK, today we stand shoulder to shoulder with all the travel agents across the UK who have had to manage their way through an incredibly tough few years.   

“While the challenges continue, as an industry we face the future with optimism. Travel and holidays remain on the top of the priority list for many millions of Brits and there continues to be a huge post-pandemic, pent-up demand for travel, even though the market is currently hampered by the significant disruption we’re experiencing. 

“Nonetheless, in a world that is becoming increasingly uncertain, booking with a travel agent is still the best way to travel as they offer such extensive support and peace of mind, should the unexpected happen.” 

Travel agents have played a key role on the UK’s high streets and local communities for many years, with Thomas Cook widely credited as being the first travel agent, back in 1841. 

Today, they continue to provide a valuable service to consumers the world over and is a sector that constantly reinvents itself, with many agents now offering both a shop and online proposition to make it more convenient for consumers.  

10 myth-busting reasons to book with a Travel Agent 

  • Travel agents are true professionals who are trained in understanding the broad-ranging world of travel, from train travel to cruising, from package holidays to solo tours – there’s nothing they won’t explore for their clients.  
  • Travel agents can navigate complex booking processes, so you don’t have to – from ensuring international flights connect, to planning detailed itineraries to far-flung destinations.   
  • Travel agents can tailor packages to suit their customers, always planning what is right for each individual.   
  • Travel agents can support customers with changes to bookings when the unexpected happens; they will go above and beyond to provide help in any circumstances – from in-destination travel restrictions to flight disruption.  
  • Travel agents will always find you the best deal for your holiday. With access to many thousands of competitive offers across a wide range of holidays and travel products, travel agents have access to an overview of the entire travel ecosystem. 
  • Travel agents have constantly evolved with the times, with most agents now having both a shop-based and online offering giving consumers the opportunity to book through the most convenient channel. 
  • Booking with a travel agent is not more expensive. Travel agents have access to preferential rates that consumers won’t find online and with 700 branches, Advantage members have access to competitive pricing.  
  • Independent travel agents have access to a wide range of tour operators meaning consumers will get a breadth of choice when it comes to choosing their holiday and can offer unbiased advice.  
  • Travel Agents can provide all the information that you need, from visa information to vaccination advice, from weather in resort to places to visit whilst on holiday. 
  • Travel agents are seeing an influx of new consumers across all age demographics benefiting from the peace of mind that comes with booking through a travel agent.  

To find your local agent, supported by The Advantage Travel Partnership, visit: The Advantage Travel Partnership. 

Drug Deaths: Words must become actions, say Scottish Families

changing-lives-taskforce-final-reportDownload

Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs has published a response to the report published yesterday by the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce.

The Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce has published its final report ‘Changing Lives’ that sets out the evidence-based strategy for ‘turning the tide of Scotland’s drug deaths crisis.’

The Scottish Families’ Family Reference Group which supported the national Drug Deaths Taskforce has today published its own companion report alongside the office Taskforce report, called ‘What about Families?!’

Families hope that the Taskforce and the Scottish Government will consider their reflections and recommendations to inform future developments, including the need for meaningful involvement of families, and ensuring their views are respected and drive real change.

Scottish Families’ Family Reference Group is made up of family members across Scotland who are affected by a loved one’s drug use.

This includes those whose loved ones are in recovery, are still actively using substances, and those who have been bereaved. The Group is chaired by Colin Hutcheon who was the sole family member representative on the Drug Deaths Taskforce.

Justina Murray, CEO of Scottish Families, comments: “There is much to welcome in today’s final report by the Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce. Indeed many of the recommendations mirror the changes and improvements which families have been campaigning for over many years.

“The Taskforce has helpfully brought together new partnerships and additional resources, along with a level of political expectation and a willingness to test out new approaches. Families and others with lived experience have been involved from the start, which is good practice.

“There have been times where we have felt frustrated at the pace of change or questioned if there was more lived experience involvement than influence, however the final report makes a number of powerful recommendations which have the potential to reduce drug-related harm and risk to families and their loved ones.

“There have been some notable successes over the lifespan of the Taskforce, such as the national naloxone roll-out and the drafting of national standards for Medication Assisted Treatment. The commitments to expanding support for families in their own right, and to mandatory workforce training in family inclusive practice are particularly welcome.

“Families are frequently judged, stigmatised and excluded by services, and only reach family support at a time of crisis, after many years of coping alone. We also welcome the significant expansion in access to life-saving naloxone treatment, including the ongoing commitment to a national Click and Deliver naloxone service. This follows the successful establishment of Scottish Families’ service during the pandemic, proving that many family members and members of the public want to carry naloxone, so they can save a life.

“Families want to see a firm focus now on implementation and accountability, so that these written words become tangible actions, and families can see and feel real change in their own lives and in their local communities.”

What-About-Families-Family-Reference-Group-Report-July-2022-FINAL-PUBLISHEDDownload

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Science exhibition lands in Edinburgh

The Scottish premiere of Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will take place at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh this December.

This ground-breaking new exhibition, which runs from 10 December 2022 to 1 May 2023, will explore the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who and will give fans a chance to experience the Doctor’s adventures from a scientific perspective.

Produced by leading experiential design experts Sarner International under license from BBC Studios, this new exhibition invites fans of all ages to explore the role science has played in the world’s longest running action-adventure show. The eight zones set within this educational exhibition cover a diverse selection of exciting scientific topics while drawing in content from across the full canon of Doctor Who. 

A range of hands-on immersive experiences and interactive features take visitors on a journey through Cosmic Curiosities, a TARDIS Tech room and the science behind time travel asking whether it really is possible, as well as the Monster Vault, where you can get up close with some of the weird and wonderful characters that have graced our screens.

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will offer a thrilling exploration of science for both established fans of the TV show and newcomers alike. The exhibition premiered at National Museums Liverpool’s World Museum, where it will run until 30 October.

Alison Cromarty, Head of Exhibitions & Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “We are tremendously excited to be bringing this exhibition to Scotland.

“From the wonder of the science fiction of the TV show to our present-day understanding of the big scientific topics it touches on, there is something for everyone.”

Ed Cookson, Projects Director, Sarner International: “For almost 60 years Doctor Who has been exploring mind-bending scientific developments.

“The iconic characters, monsters, stories, and settings of the television series provide a perfect guide through the wondrous worlds of space, time and science.”

Doctor Who has strong Scottish connections. To date three Scots have played the role of The Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi (the Seventh, Tenth and Twelfth Doctors respectively) with a fourth, Ncuti Gatwa, recently announced as the new Doctor.

Other notable cast members have included Companions Karen Gillan and Neve McIntosh as well as Michelle Gomez as Missy (The Master), with Alan Cumming having also appeared recently as King James VI & I.

Another Scot, Steven Moffat, was showrunner from 2008 to 2017.

The show has featured several other Scottish icons. The Loch Ness Monster appears in 1975’s Terror of the Zygons with Tom Baker, while the Picts featured along with the 9th Legion of the Roman army in 2017’s The Eaters of Light (which starred Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez).

Other episodes set in Scotland include 2006’s Tooth and Claw, set in the Highlands and Under the Lake/Before the Flood (2015), set in Caithness.

The National Museum of Scotland is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery in mounting the exhibition.

Tickets for Doctor Who World of Wonder will go on sale this autumn at:

www.nms.ac.uk/doctorwho.

Another cannabis farm discovered in North Edinburgh

LAST Friday (15th July), officers from the Drylaw Locality Initiative Team executed a warrant on Wardieburn Place East, uncovering a cannabis cultivation with a potential street value of £400,000.

Two men have since been remanded in custody.

This is one of three cultivations uncovered by the Drylaw team over the past three weeks in the North of Edinburgh, totalling the recovery of drugs to a value in excess of three quarters of a million pounds.

7.2 million Cost of Living payments made to low-income families

Over 7.2 million payments of £326 have been made to help households through the UK government’s Cost of Living support.

  • 7.2 million payments of £326 – worth a total of £2.4bn – made in first week of Cost of Living support rollout
  • Payments mark the first half of the £650 Cost of Living payment for low-income families, with the second half coming in the autumn
  • Additional support for disabled people and pensioners will follow later this year

This means £2.4bn has been paid out to low-income families in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the second instalment of £324 arriving later this year.

The first payments were made on 14 July 2022, meaning the government has paid on average over a million families every working day since then.

This is all part of the government’s £37 billion support package for households. Millions will get £1,200 this year to help them with rising costs, including this £650 payment, a £400 grant to help with energy bills, and a £150 Council Tax rebate for the 80% of households in bands A-D.

And in addition to this, nearly one in 10 people will get a £150 disability payment this autumn, while over eight million pensioner households could receive an extra £300 through their Winter Fuel Payments in November and December.

Work and Pensions Secretary, Thérèse Coffey said: “This government said that we would protect those on the lowest incomes, and we have delivered what we said with over 7 million households receiving £326 in the last week.

“There is more help to come for households, with the second half of the £650 payment arriving later this year and further payments for pensioners and disabled people also on the way.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi said: “I know that people are finding things difficult with rising prices and increasing pressure on household budgets.

“That’s why we’re taking action to control inflation and providing immediate help for households. It’s so important that over 7 million vulnerable households have received £326 direct payments so far and there is also more help to come, with 8 million of the most vulnerable households receiving £1,200 of direct support to help with bills over the winter.”

In total, over eight million families will be eligible for this payment, with around one million eligible because they receive tax credits and no other eligible benefits. These families will receive their first instalment from HMRC in the autumn, and the second instalment in the winter.

DWP will administer payments for customers on all other eligible means-tested benefits, and no one needs to contact the government or apply for the payment at any stage.

Those who are eligible should look out in their bank accounts for a payment of £326 with the reference “DWP Cost of Living” in their bank accounts. This payment is made automatically, meaning no one has to apply or do anything to receive it.

Eligible claimants who have not received their payment yet should not be concerned, as the DWP expects some payments may take until 31 July 2022 to come through.

Have you seen Maryam?

**** UPDATE ****

GOOD NEWS – MARYAM HAS BEEN TRACED SAFE AND WELL

Police are appealing for information to help trace 24-year-old Maryam Arshad from Edinburgh. Maryam was last seen in the Ferry Road area about 4.45pm on Wednesday, 20 July, 2022.

She is described as being five foot seven inches tall, with long dark hair worn in a ponytail. When last seen was wearing a pink lightweight summer jacket with maroon top underneath, patterned trousers with small flowers.

She was carrying a small black cross body black bag.

Inspector Caroline Flynn said : “We are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a Maryam and would ask her to get in contact.

“Anyone who knows where she is, is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3581 of 20 July.”

Riley, Becki Rutherford and Megan Black pop up for surprise set on Castle Street as part of Glasgow Life’s Music Nonstop busking tour

Rising female artists, Riley, Becki Rutherford, and Megan Black surprised passers-by on Castle Street today with a busking set and free tickets to their upcoming Glasgow gigs as part of Glasgow Life’s Glasgow Music Nonstop busking tour.

The busking tour, which makes its second stop in Edinburgh, is bringing together musicians from across Scotland to get people excited about Glasgow’s jam-packed programme of music events this summer.

The three Glasgow artists kicked off the second day of the tour and gave away tickets to their upcoming gigs in Glasgow (all three artists are performing at King Tut’s Summer Nights Festival), in support of the city’s summer of music.

The tour is now gathering pace and makes its final stop in Dundee tomorrow (Friday 22 July).

Riley said: “Glasgow is one of my favourite cities to play in, so I was thrilled when I was asked us to join the Glasgow Music Nonstop busk tour in Edinburgh.

“I’m delighted to be headlining King Tut’s this Sunday and love that Glasgow Music Nonstop is supporting all the fantastic artists that are playing Glasgow this summer.”

Edinburgh resident, Michelle Finlayson was one of the lucky passers-by who managed to snap up a ticket to Becki’s gig. She said: “Being given these tickets totally cheered me up and Becki’s beautiful voice had us dancing along and joining in.

“I absolutely love the live music scene in Glasgow, there’s always a great atmosphere at gigs, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Becki perform there.”

Glasgow Life Chair, Bailie Annette Christie said: “Glasgow enjoys a global reputation as a live music hotspot, with our venues regularly playing host to some of the world’s biggest artists. As the UK’s first, and Scotland’s only, UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow’s music scene has something for all fans, which is a major reason visitors choose to come here.

“The Glasgow Music Nonstop busking tour is our way of bringing a flavour of Glasgow’s summer of music to our fellow Scottish cities and celebrating the artists that make Glasgow’s music scene so vibrant. We’re delighted to support homegrown talent and hopefully get people excited about Glasgow’s upcoming events with some free tickets to enjoy our city’s summer of music.”

Developed by Glasgow Life’s Destination Marketing team, and with the support of VisitScotland’s Destination and Sector Marketing Fund, the ‘Glasgow: Music Nonstop’ busking tour is bringing a line-up that includes Riley, Megan Black, Becki Rutherford, Pages, BOOTlace and Silvi to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Dundee to promote Glasgow’s lively music scene and give music fans across the country the chance to scoop free tickets to upcoming gigs.

Glasgow Life is a charity which delivers culture and sport across Glasgow.

Glasgow’s summer of music kicked off with a bang in June as some of the industry’s biggest names descended on the city’s venues. From Green Day at Bellahouston Park, to Liam Gallagher at Hampden, to the city’s 5th year of TRNSMT festival and King Tut’s Summer Nights, Glasgow is living up to its title of Scotland’s UNESCO City of Music.

With plenty of music events lined up this summer, Glasgow is playing host to Summer Nights at Kelvingrove Bandstand (27 July – 13 August), Merchant City Festival (28-31 July), Piping Live! (6-14 August), the World Pipe Band Championships (12-13 August), and a whole host of other live gigs that span a wide range of genres.

With an impressive range of accommodation, Glasgow is an ideal place to enjoy a music-themed short break and make the most of the city’s lively nightlife. Perfect for music lovers, the Ibis Styles Glasgow Central features showstopping music memorabilia and themed murals in contemporary surroundings.

Fans can follow in the footsteps of music icons Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones by booking a stay at Voco Grand Central Hotel.

For those attending gigs in the city centre, Radisson Blu is a top choice with its music-themed illustrations and photography, and for music fans visiting big names at the OVO Hydro, Radisson Red offers unparalleled views from across the street and plays host to DJs in its rooftop bar.

Find out more about the campaign at www.peoplemakeglasgow.com/see-do/glasgow-for-music-lovers/glasgow-music-nonstop.

Pictures: Mile Wilkinson

CCTV appeal following serious assault on High Street

Police have released CCTV images of a man they believe may be able to assist with enquiries into a serious assault in Edinburgh.

The incident happened on High Street near the junction with South Bridge at around 3.45am on Thursday, 19 May, 2022. As a result of the incident, a 22-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The man shown in the CCTV images is described as being white, of slim build, around 5ft 10in in height, aged 18 – 25 with shaved short brown hair.

At the time of the incident he was wearing a dark grey jacket, a grey Adidas hoody, grey jogging bottoms and black trainers.

Detective Constable Paul Henderson, of Edinburgh CID, said: “I would urge the man depicted in the images, or anyone who has information relating to him or to the incident, to contact police as soon as possible.

“Members of the public can contact Police Scotland via the 101 quoting reference number 0551 of Thursday, 19 May, 2022, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Landmark study finds Covid-19 measures leading to severe mental health crisis in prisons

A new report ‘Coping with Covid in Prisons’ launched today (21 July) has found Covid-response measures led to periods of prolonged solitary confinement across the prison population, resulting in dramatically increased levels of anxiety and depression.

The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, was a partnership between the ex-offender led charity User Voice and social scientists at Queen’s University Belfast.

One of the most comprehensive studies of life in prison during the pandemic, and completed internationally, the project drew on an innovative peer-led methodology, developed by User Voice.

Nearly 100 serving prisoners were trained in research methods to survey their peers. Over the 18-month project, these volunteers completed over 1,400 surveys with fellow prisoners across 11 prisons.

The peer-led study found that prolonged isolation and the simultaneous reduction in support services resulted in widespread deterioration of mental health and the erosion of the rehabilitative function of imprisonment.

Key findings:

· 85% of prisoners surveyed were confined to cells for 23 hours for the majority of the lockdown period.

· 59% of prisoners surveyed had not had a single visit with family during the Covid lockdown.

· Standard screening tools suggest depression and anxiety scores are almost five times higher than the standard for the general population.

· More than one out of three prisoners were scoring at the level of “severe anxiety disorder” indicating high levels of post-traumatic stress.

· Two thirds of survey respondents said that access to mental health support had worsened, instead of improving, during the lockdown.

· One out of five respondents thought that violence had reduced in the prisons because of the lockdown.

User Voice’s Founder and CEO Mark Johnson MBE said: “When almost no one was able to get into prisons, we were able to conduct one of the largest studies of prisoner experiences.

“This research has been led by prisoners, using our innovative approach developed over the past 15 years and now validated by academics.

“The report reveals one of the darkest and most hidden results of the pandemic, the true effects of extreme lockdown and confinement on prisoners and ultimately, on the public. It shows that we need to talk about criminal justice. Are prisons just for punishment or are they failing prisoners and the public if they don’t offer the support which leads to rehabilitation?”

Professor Shadd Maruna, Professor of Criminology at Queen’s University Belfast, explains: “Prisons were in crisis before the pandemic, and remarkably some voices have claimed that life in prison has actually improved because of the Covid lockdown.

“Our research definitively demonstrates that the social climate in prison has become dramatically worse after the lockdown, and a great deal of work is going to be needed to restore a sense of trust and legitimacy among the incarcerated.

“Peer-led models, like the kind that drove this research project, have the potential to do just that if implemented correctly.”

User-Voice-QUB-Coping-with-CovidDownload

Adi and Mo take Neurosurgery to YouTube audience

Two neurosurgeons from Glasgow are swapping their scrubs for the small screen to tell you all about neuroscience.
 
Aditaya ‘Adi’ Kumar and Mohammed ‘Mo’ Draz host The Neurosurgeons on YouTube, the only place where you will find two neurosurgeons exploring everything about the brain and spine.
 
Adi and Mo, who are Trainees within the Department of Neurosurgery, at the Institute of Neurological Sciences (INS) at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, let viewers take a fascinating look into a surgical specialty that most have heard of, but few know much about.

They share insights into the workings of our bodies, tell stories of the work they do and the people they care for, and give advice on how you can take care of yourself.
 
While you may associate neurosurgeons with brain surgery, they do much more. Neurosurgeons diagnose and treat conditions that affect your nervous system, including your skull, blood vessels, and soft tissues.
 
The Neurosurgeons began when Adi and Mo discovered there was a lack of information available online for members of the public about neurosurgery. Mo, who is originally from Egypt, said: “We found that patients prefer using social media to navigating websites. We started with a video about the common causes of back pain.
 
“YouTube is competitive, and you need to create up to 100 videos to make an impression. So far, we have had excellent feedback.
 
“I recently explained a procedure to a nurse at work. They told me it sounded far simpler on The Neurosurgeons!”
 
Both men conquered any “stage fright” and enjoy being in front of a camera. Adi, originally from Yorkshire, said: “At first, it is hard to talk to a camera without being able to see yourself, let alone doing it with someone you work with, in an unfamiliar setting.
 
“As time goes by, videos which are less “scripted” convey our personalities, and quirks, best.”
 
Adi and Mo discovered content ideas came from their experiences in surgery theatres and in talking to families and patients. Families are anxious about their loved ones, whose recovery from surgery can take time.
 
So far, The Neurosurgeons have brought their camera into the surgical theatre and examined the instruments every neurosurgeon uses during brain and spine surgery. Those include the Mayfield clamp, which pins a patient’s head in place, and the Watson Cheyne Dissector, which dissects around the tissue.
 
The duo explored how an MRI works, the impact of COVID-19 on your brain, and the causes of, and best medications to treat, back pain.
 
One of the videos, a critique of hit medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, has been particularly popular for highlighting what would happen in real life, versus a medical drama.
 
While Adi and Mo are keeping much of their future content under wraps, they will soon show you inside more of their hospital. The Neurosurgeons celebrate the entire neurosurgery team, which includes nurses, porters, and physiotherapists.
 
The last two years have been hard for everyone working in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Adi, a husband and dad, recently beat COVID-19. He and Mo recognise the challenges currently facing the NHS.
 
Adi said: “Day to day life can be difficult and the NHS is very busy. The Neurosurgeons has helped us focus our energy, and any frustrations, into creation.
 
“Your health is the most important thing you have. The Neurosurgeon explore the most common health challenges you may face.”
 
The duo’s top tips for tip top neurological health are:  

  • Keep fit and exercise regularly.
  • Eat healthy food, provide your brain and spine with the supply it needs.
  • Sleep well, give your brain a chance to relax.
  • Connect, keep yourself surrounded with people you love.
  • Watch your back, your spine is your central support.

Craig Broadfoot, General Manager for Neurosciences and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS), said: “The Neurosurgeons is a valuable educational tool for everyone interested in neuroscience and put a human face on what can be a complicated subject.
 
“We want you subscribe to The Neurosurgeons. Adi and Mo explore common health challenges you may face in an entertaining way, exploring neuroscience with knowledge and humour.”
 
To subscribe to the Neurosurgeons, go to The Neurosurgeons on YouTube.