Veterans and disabled people among those to benefit
Changes to a shared equity scheme will mean disabled people, first-time buyers and others on low to medium incomes will have an increased opportunity to buy a home that meets their needs.
From today, the threshold of the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme – which allows people to buy a home without having to fund its entire cost – has been raised by 9% across the country to reflect rising house prices. The scheme is aimed at priority groups who need support to buy their own home.
Applicants will also be able to make offers on properties above the formal valuation amount, where they have funds available. People who have an application in progress do not need to reapply to benefit from the changes.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “These are positive changes which will put applicants on a more level playing field with other buyers when purchasing an affordable home.
“We are well aware of the rise in house prices and we have listened to people’s feedback. That is why we are acting to make the process fairer and to offer a helping hand in challenging times.
“Our evidence-based approach ensures that the scheme continues to be targeted at priority groups and to ensure that, across Scotland, all areas are able to benefit from a viable scheme with a reasonable number of purchases.
“The Scottish Government delivered 111,750 affordable homes between 2007 and 2022, with more than 78,000 for social rent. Progress has started towards our next ambitious target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which 70% will be for social rent and 10% in remote, rural and island communities.”
Invites to this event have also been issued to other local stakeholders and to residents/businesses in the local area. Please do pass the invitation on to any other parties that you think may be interested.
TWO MEN TO APPEAR AT EDINBURGH SHERIFF COURT TODAY
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Peter Coshan (75) have arrested and charged two men and are continuing to appeal for information.
Former Fettes College teacher Peter Coshan was last seen in the Seafield Road area of Edinburgh around 11.50pm on Thursday, 11 August, 2022 and was reported missing the next day.
Officers can confirm that Peter, of Edinburgh, is believed to be dead and they are treating his death as murder. However, his body is yet to be recovered.
Two men, aged 27 and 63, have been arrested and charged in connection. Both men are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today Thursday, 18 August.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, of Police Scotland Major Investigation Team is appealing to the public for information. He said: “Our thoughts are very much with Peter’s family at this difficult time.
“Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace Peter and I would encourage anyone with any information regarding Peter’s disappearance to contact police as a matter of urgency.
“Any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, could prove vital so please do pass it on to officers.
“We have also set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information directly to the Major Investigation Team.
“You can select to remain anonymous when submitting information.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a man in Edinburgh.
Around 8.15pm on Saturday, 13 August, 2022, police received a report of a man being seriously injured on Princes Street, The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
On Tuesday, 16 August, medical staff confirmed to police the 53-year-old man had died.
The deceased can be named as Wayne Elliott (above), originally from the Portsmouth area. Mr Elliott’s family is being supported and kept up to date by specialist officers.
Officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigations Team is continuing to investigate the death.
Unite members in Waste and Cleansing in Edinburgh will begin industrial action today over the ‘insulting’ pay offer for local government workers.
Last Friday, COSLA increased the offer from 2% to 3.5%. All three unions of the Scottish Joint Council -Unite, Unison and GMB – immediately rejected the offer.
The NHS have been offered—and look set to reject—5%, so once again local government is treated as the poor relation of the public sector. Local government workers in England have been offered a rise of £1,925.
Edinburgh is the first council to take action, with others following on the 24th.
Pickets and support
The strike takes place from 5am today to 5am on Tuesday 30 August with daily pickets at seven waste depots across the city.
UNITE will be demonstrating at the City Chambers on Thursday 18 August at 9am as part of the industrial action.
Following this, the trade union will join the RMT rally on Waverley Bridge at 10am to foster solidarity among workers and hear from Mick Lynch and Mark Thomas.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING ADVICE:
What to do with your waste and recycling
Communal services
Collections are suspended for all communal waste and recycling bins. Please do not add to full bins. Check nearby bins instead, and when these are all full, store your waste at home, or in your back green or garden if possible. Do not leave bags next to bins unless this is unavoidable, as it can become a hazard.
Keep separating your waste and rinse pots, tubs and trays, and rinse and squash your plastic bottles and aluminium cans, so that these don’t smell while you store them. Flatten cardboard too.
Keep food waste in a sealed container, as cool as possible.
Glass bank services will continue as these are managed by an external contactor.
Kerbside services
Non recyclable waste collections (grey bins)
Suspended. Please do not put your grey bin out. Please keep your waste safe, secure and away from pavements and roads. Consider using a garage, garden or driveway and ensure strong bin bags are properly secured.
Mixed recycling collections (green bins)
Suspended. Please do not put your green bin out. Please keep your recycling clean and flattened, and stored safely.
Food waste collections
Suspended. Please do not put your food bin out. Please ensure your kerbside food waste bin is closed and secured to prevent animal access.
Glass collections (blue box)
Suspended. Please do not put your blue box out. Please rinse bottles and jars and store these at home. Please do not use on street or local bring site recycling points to dispose of your glass. We do not have the staff resources to empty these or clean up fly-tipped material.
Garden waste collections (brown bins)
Suspended. Please do not put your brown bin out. We understand the disappointment this will cause and at the moment, we cannot advise when the service will be running normally again.
We are working on how best to replace the collections affected, and will provide further information on this later.
Report a missed bin
Since normal scheduled collections are suspended, we cannot take reports of missed bins. Please do not present your bin for collection until advised to do so.
Collections of bulky waste items
Suspended. Existing bookings will be honoured where staffing allows. If you have booked a special uplift and we can’t collect it, we will let you know.
Household waste recycling centres
Closed. It will not be possible to book an appointment, and all existing bookings will be contacted by email to cancel.
Request and replacing bins and boxes
Repair and replacement of bins and boxes are suspended. Uplifts of any unwanted waste containers is also suspended.
Litter/ dogs bins and street cleansing
Please also note there will be no street cleansing activities including street sweeping and litter bin emptying. Please either use a bin that’s not full or take it home and double bag it to reduce smells.
Waste reporting and enquires
We have removed all online reporting for waste and cleansing as we are unable to carry out these services during the industrial action.
If you need to report an emergency issue where waste is causing injury or hazard, please phone and listen to the new options carefully. Phone 0131 608 1100, from Monday -Thursday 1000-1600 and Friday 1000-1500. After these hours, phone 0131 200 2000.
You can also email waste@edinburgh.gov.uk with the specific location and details of the issue.
Please be mindful that staff working will be very busy and are all doing their best to deal with a lot of issues at this time.
“This show was just utter genius and much the best thing this reviewer
has seen at the Fringe this year. It’s a 5 stars for this show and here’s
hoping they come back soon!.” Brighton and Hove News
“”The strength and skills of these gents is astounding.”.” Perth Happenings
“impressive feats of athletic and acrobatic madness.” GlamAdelaide
Think acrobatics and what springs to mind? If it’s nude Western themed circus you’re on the same wavelength as Australian Acrobats!And even if it’s not, we recommend you check out this absolute belter of a show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Railed is a spectacular Western themed circus, combining the trademark physical talents, intricate figures, finely chiselled bodies and comic capers of the creators of the smash hits Elixir and Circus’Cision.
Bare-chested circus meets bare-knuckle bar fights. Railed is a racy, heart-stopping adult show of breath-taking acrobatics and mad-cap storytelling, featuring a rogues’ gallery of the most wanted bad-asses this side of Dodge City.
The Head First gunslingers are planning to paint the town red, to head audiences off at the pass, ransack their hearts, ambush their nights and leave them begging for mercy.
Directed by Debra Batton and John Walton, Railed features a variety of talents including all-round acrobat and teeterboard expert, Anthony Saltalmacchia; the powerful yet standoffish vagrant showing off immense feats of balance and impressive physique, Callan Harris; Jordan Twartz, world class ‘manipulator’, who plays the resident barman keeping the boys liquored up and ready for action; and Liam Dummer, who brings technicality and artistry to Head First Acrobats, all whilst playing the Railed town hero.
Details
Venue: Assembly George Square Gardens – Spiegeltent Palais Du Variete EH8 9JU
Time: 18:35
Dates: 3 – 28 August. Previews 3 – 4 August. No show on Mondays 8,15,27 August.
Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms
PreHysterical
The tale of three Neanderthals – hilarious new family show at Edinburgh Fringe
Head First Acrobats – PreHysterical at Edinburgh Fringe
“PreHysterical appeals to anyone with a funny bone.” FringeFeed
“hilarious and spectacular.” 1/2 GlamAdelaide
“Full of fun, amazing circus tricks.” 1/2 Kids in Adelaide
Circus is for everyone. And as well as entertaining, it can be educational. That is what Head First Acrobats believe, and why they have are bringing PreHysterical to Edinburgh Fringe 2022.
PreHysterical is a hilarious circus show for children and parents of all ages, following three foolish Neanderthals as they struggle to survive the savage natural world. Avoiding predators, navigating harsh environments, and learning to work together are all explored with marvelous circus skills and achingly funny slapstick. The show quite literally rocks as it tells the tale of three people navigating life in prehistoric times.
They may not know how to make fire (or bathe), but these Neanderthals really know how to put on a show that’s hilarious and spectacular in equal measure. Join Thomas, Chelsea and Alex. – three bumbling Neanderthals – as they fumble crossing rivers, finding food and making fire, all whilst executing fantastic circus tricks. The physical humour is perfectly executed – to the great amusement of kids and parents alike, and the ridiculously impressive acrobatics are so slick, you can expeect gasps and wows from the audience.
Aerial stunts and floor acrobatics make for truly incredible circus; this, combined with tongue-in-cheek humour and the silliest of stories means that PreHysterical is for everyone.
Winner of best children’s performance weekly Award at the 2020 Perth Fringe Festival, and the best children’s performance weekly at the Adelaide Fringe in 2020 and 2022.
Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms
Artist bio
Head First Acrobats are a multi-award-winning entertainment company. Based in Melbourne, they are regulars on the international touring circuit, and specialise in acrobatic entertainment for festivals, theatres, corporate and street events.
Head First Acrobats have a talent for developing shows that are the talk of the town, filling theatres to the rafters with thrilled audiences.
Their big-hitter is the international sensation, Elixir, which was the smash hit of 2018 and won the Best Circus and Physical Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe, along with a slew of sold-out shows all over the world.
Their new flagship show, Railed debuted at Perth FRINGE WORLD in 2019, and is a riotous high-energy comedy Western that takes no prisoners, sets the bar on fire, and hightails out of town leaving a trail of broken hearts in its wake.
Welcome to The Curiosity Shop – Virgin Hotels’ first curation of Virgin StartUp products
· Virgin Hotels has teamed up with Virgin StartUp to launch The Curiosity Shop at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh.
· The six businesses are all sustainably focussed offering guests products to make their stay even more luxurious with an offering spanning skincare, apparel, gin and even silk pillowcases.
· The Curiosity Shop features six Scottish start-up businesses whose founders have all received funding and mentoring support from Virgin StartUp.
· The area is exclusive to Hotel guests who can explore and purchase products from the businesses.
· All the brands featured are purpose-driven with a focus on sustainability.
Six Scottish start-up businesses have secured a place in The Curiosity Shop, a new space at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, dedicated to showcasing sustainable Scottish businesses.
Created in partnership with Virgin StartUp, Virgin’s not-for-profit incubator for entrepreneurs, The Curiosity Shop features a wide range of beautifully crafted Scottish products, all from businesses whose founders have been supported by Virgin StartUp to start-up and thrive.
The Curiosity Shop is exclusively available to Virgin Hotels’ guests and offers them the opportunity to discover and support new Scottish brands. All the companies featured in The Curiosity Shop have considered sustainability throughout their manufacturing and packaging processes.
From wild-harvested Hebridean seaweed to Scottish spun yarns and hand-crafted gin; The Curiosity Shop is full of Scottish treasures ready to explore.
Andy Fishburn, Managing Director of Virgin StartUp, explains: “Virgin has always been entrepreneurial at its heart, so it’s great to see Virgin Hotels providing this space to showcase Virgin StartUp companies, particularly those that are making sustainably-driven products right on the doorstep here in Scotland.”
Scott McArdle, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, comments: “We are proud to have a space of the hotel dedicated to championing small Scottish businesses and we have already received great feedback from hotel guests who are enjoying exploring the shop and discovering new sustainable Scottish products.
“All Virgin Hotels are unique and draw inspiration from their location, so the Curiosity Shop is one of many things we are doing at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to tell the story of this spectacular country.”
Rutland Square Gin is one of the six businesses featured in the Curiosity Shop. Nishant Sharma, the Founder, says: “We launched Rutland Square Gin last year in November with a vision to make small batch artisan gin that has Scottish spirit with an Indian soul.
“Each batch is distilled in the heart of Edinburgh, with inspiration from the far east.
“The support we have received from Virgin StartUp has been brilliant from the beginning and now, to get this opportunity to share our products with international visitors at a landmark new hotel in the city is incredible.
“We are really excited to see what interest it generates in our products.”
The Curiosity Shop Businesses
1. Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful –Founded by a Scottish marine biologist, a wide range of seaweed supplements made using organic Hebridean seaweed that is sustainably wild-harvested from pristine Scottish waters.
2. Genevieve Sweeney –Timeless knitwear, made in Scotland with both traditional artisan and innovative knitting techniques that showcase the natural beauty of Scottish spun yarns.
3. Meander Apparel – Edinburgh-based outdoor clothing brand. Around 90% of the collection is made using natural or recycled, low-impact materials.
4. Rutland Square Gin –Small batch craft gin, handcrafted by most talented and experienced master blender in the heart of Edinburgh. Rutland Square Gin makes the world’s first oolong white tea infused Chai Spiced Scottish Gin made using sustainably sourced oolong white tea from Assam, India.
5. Seilich – A small, family-run company based in the Lothians and created by botanist, Dr Sally Gouldstone. Inspired by a passion for Scottish wildlife, the family sell an award-winning range of natural skincare products, made using ingredients grown in their wildflower meadow.
6. Sensi –launched in 2022 by 25-year-old Jennifer Norrie. Jennifer discovered a love of silk when she tried sleeping on silk pillowslips for the first time and found that her skin was glowier and her hair less frizzy.
A blind Second World War veteran from Peebles is starring in a campaign to recruit more beneficiaries to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-service men and women.
John McOwan, who is 101, credits the charity with improving his quality of life and calls upon other veterans to check if they are eligible for its support.
John joined the Territorial Army when he was 18. A year later the Second World War broke out.
At just 19-years-old John was transferred to the British Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and went to war.
During the conflict John was a Desert Rat and was stationed in the Middle East, Cairo, Italy and took part in the Normandy landings. In 1946 he was discharged from the British Army as a sergeant.
John lost his eyesight around eight years ago due to macular degeneration and he has a pseudophakia (false lens) in both eyes. John has no vision in his left eye and only some vision in his right eye.
John said: “I can still see to get about but I can’t recognise faces. There is a mistiness that covers everything but I don’t let it get me down.”
In 2014 John found out about Blind Veterans UK and got in touch with the charity.
He said: “I visited the charity’s centre in Brighton for a week induction and it was an unforgettable experience. It really was a marvellous week and I discovered so much of what the charity could offer.
“Being put in contact with other veterans and to have people around me that have a shared background with whom I’m able to share stories and jokes has made me a happier person.
“The charity doesn’t just provide you with equipment and leave you to get on with it, they teach you how to use it and offer advice.
“From my personal experience I can say that the help I have had from Blind Veterans UK has really made a great difference to my quality of life.
“Without the charity and the equipment provided such as an iPad, wide lined paper and a magnifier I would never have completed the recent project I undertook of writing my memoirs.”
In 2019 John joined a group of veterans on an organised trip to Normandy to mark 75 years since the D-Day landings. That trip led to a lot of war time memories being rekindled.
A few months later saw the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of the lockdown restrictions. This led John to wonder how he would pass his time.
“Blind Veterans UK along with other veteran charities came to my rescue. They encouraged me to stay in touch with other veterans by phone or over the internet. I was also encouraged to write a book which was the seed that germinated my decision to write of my experiences during World War Two.
“This kept me busy and took me right through the lockdown period. I was quite happy at home writing and found the days weren’t long enough.”
Blind Veterans UK provided John with the equipment he needed and supported him along the journey. John was also teamed up with a volunteer from Blind Veterans UK who spent over 120 hours typing up John’s handwritten notes.
“It may seem like a small thing to some people but writing my memoirs has been a huge thing for me personally and I am grateful to the charity for helping me to make it happen.
“Blind Veterans UK has enabled me to live a more complete life and I would advise anyone who thinks they might be eligible for their support to go for it and find out what they can do for you.”
While Blind Veterans UK initially cared for veterans blinded in active Service, today they help veterans no matter what caused their sight loss.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are tens of thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss. Thier campaign, proudly supported by Specsavers, is to find and recruit these men and women.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch.
More than £17.1 million has been paid to support children and young people since Child Disability Payment launched.
These payments are designed to mitigate some of the additional costs of caring for a disabled or terminally ill child or young person.
It is estimated that as of 30 June 2022, 13,200 children and young people are in receipt of Child Disability Payment.
£11.3 million was issued to new applicants and a further £5.8 million was issued to children and young people who have had their payment transferred to Child Disability Payment.
The total number of people receiving payments includes 7,230 who had their Disability Living Allowance for children transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland.
Figures for 26 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 include an initial pilot period where Child Disability Payment was only available in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles local authority areas.
Child Disability Payment became available to people making new applications across Scotland in November 2021. Payments for children and young people whose awards transferred from DWP began in February this year.
Almost three quarters (74%) of applications were made online, with 16% by phone.
Child Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.
Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children from the DWP do not need to make a new application for Child Disability Payment as Social Security Scotland will contact them ahead of their award being automatically transferred.
Social Security & Local Government Minister Ben Macpherson said: “I’m proud to be working to further develop our Scottish social security system rooted in dignity, fairness and respect.
“We want people to get the support they need and are entitled to”.
Last night (16 August), marked the halfway point of this year’s The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Performers from across the globe are bringing the Castle Esplanade to life with sensational music, dance, costume, and spectacle and thrilling audiences – come rain or shine!
Running until 27 August, the year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a celebration of expression, giving a stage to performers and acts from around the globe to share their voice.
REMT, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Voices draws inspiration from people across the globe who, despite physical separation, continue to connect and share their voices creatively through spoken word, song, music, and dance – languages common to all.
There are still some tickets remaining and they can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or by phone on 0131 225 1188.
