To mark this November’s Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) has created an exclusive poppy pin badge in partnership with the Royal British Legion (RBL) to support their annual Poppy Appeal fundraising campaign.
In addition to donating all the proceeds from this exclusive poppy, the Shop at Freemasons’ Hall is selling Brothers in Alms books for £5, with a portion of the proceeds going to the RBL.
For the third year in a row, there will also be a display projected onto Freemasons’ Hall from 11:00pm on 10 November to 11:59pm on 13 November, featuring falling poppies and the commemorative RBL/Freemasons’ pin badge.
Inside Freemasons’ Hall, the ‘Brothers in Alms – Peace through sacrifice’ exhibition showcases rare photographs spanning the period from the second Boer War through to the end of World War Two, and features those who led as well as those who served on land, sea and in the air.
It portrays the great landscape of the conflicts across all continents and the diversity of the participants.
The exhibition includes images of Freemasons who held a large range of military positions, including Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener who was Secretary of State for War at the start of the Great War and is depicted on the famous ‘Your country needs you’ recruitment poster of 1914.
It also highlights the great charitable work by Freemasons both during and after the wars, in building and supporting hospitals and rehabilitation housing, and providing pensions for ex-servicemen.
When visiting Freemasons’ Hall, which was originally built as the Masonic Peace Memorial in 1933, members of the public will be able to see a bronze poppy that is permanently situated in the Vestibules as a symbol of reflection and contemplation for those men and women who have served and sacrificed.
In 2021, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent on behalf of the United Grand Lodge of England signed the Armed Forces Covenant to promote their welfare, support and respect.
Twelve children with sight loss and their families had the chance to visit Edinburgh Zoo thanks to the charity RNIB.
Among those attending was 15 year-old Hannah Evans from Linlithgow who has is partially sighted with bilateral congenital cataracts and a learning disability.
Hannah’s mum Carol said: ” Hannah loved the visit to the zoo as it combined art, food, meeting new people and seeing animals. We all had a great time. I think that was the most she has ever enjoyed the zoo, and it was great to network with other visually impaired children and their families. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming.”
Hannah has also had an art exhibition in Ocean Terminal in September. “She sees colours and focus differently due to her eye conditions as such, has her own unique styles of art and excellent colour expression,” said her mother.
Katrina Thomson, support officer for the charity, said: “RNIB’s Shape and Share events bring children, young people and their families from across the UK together to share experiences and take part in fun activities, both in person and virtually via Microsoft Teams.
“Last weekend, it was Scotland’s turn to host an event and we had a wonderful time at Edinburgh Zoo, home to over 2,500 amazing and endangered animals. The Zoo offers large-print maps and some enclosures have QR codes which describe the animals in them.”
● The All Blacks stopped off in Edinburgh today on their Northern Hemisphere tour to inspire children across Scotland to get moving.
● This is the All Blacks’ first visit to Scotland since 2017, and tomorrow they will face Scotland in the highly-anticipated Autumn Internationals match.
● The All Blacks are supporting The Daily Mile to help millions of children improve health & wellbeing by exercising for 15 minutes a day.
● All Blacks Captain Sam Whitelock said:“It’s fantastic to be in Scotland supporting the charity of our sponsor INEOS and getting the chance to run alongside the kids and teach them some of our best rugby moves! We’ve been so impressed by the work The Daily Mile is doing to get kids more active and bring communities together through daily exercise – it’s something so simple but effective that everyone can benefit from.”
The All Blacks took time out from their Northern Hemisphere tour today to visit schoolchildren in Edinburgh to help inspire more children across the country to get active through The Daily Mile.
60 local school children from Leith Walk Primary School had the opportunity to take part in a very special Daily Mile with their guests from New Zealand and receive rugby skills coaching from All Blacks players at an event day hosted at Drummond Community High School.
This comes as Scottish children stepped their way into the history books in October, making Scotland the world’s first Daily Mile Nation. It means that more than half of Scottish primary schools are now participating in The Daily Mile.
The initiative encourages children to run, jog, wheel or walk for just 15 minutes a day in the fresh air with friends – promoting mental and physical wellbeing, which is especially important to help reduce the strain on the NHS this winter. Teachers can also take part alongside children, strengthening important school relationships and attainment outcomes.
It was started by former Head Teacher Elaine Wyllie MBE of St Ninian’s Primary in Stirling in 2012 and has grown every year, with the support of INEOS. Globally, there are now nearly 4 million children taking part in 16,000+ schools in 87 countries around the world. It is endorsed by some of the most successful athletes including marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, British track and field athlete Eilidh Doyle and the All Blacks.
Founder of The Daily Mile Elaine Wyllie MBE, said: “We are forever grateful for the incredible support we receive from athletes around the world and we can’t thank the All Blacks enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to come down and share their passion for daily exercise with the local schoolchildren.
“Their influence really does go a long way to inspire kids to get active outdoors and join in with their schoolmates. Just 15 minutes of daily physical activity improves a child’s mood, concentration and memory – enhancing their ability to learn.”
All Blacks Captain Sam Whitelock, said: “It’s fantastic to be in Scotland supporting the charity of our sponsor INEOS and getting the chance to run alongside the kids and teach them some of our best rugby moves!
“We’ve been so impressed by the work The Daily Mile is doing to get kids more active and bring communities together through daily exercise – it’s something so simple but effective that everyone can benefit from.”
Headteacher at Leith Walk Primary Mr. Gorrie, added: “This has been a terrific opportunity for the children at Leith Walk Primary School to take part in the Daily Mile alongside the All Blacks, and to receive some rugby coaching from the most famous of all international teams.
“The children have had a terrific time today. They were so excited to meet the All Blacks. “Seeing the amazing skill and fitness of the All Black players first hand, will certainly have increased the children’s motivation to be active and participate in sport.
“On behalf of everybody who attended I would like to say a huge thank you to the All Blacks and wish them all the very best for the rest of their Northern Hemisphere tour. I hope they visit us again soon!”
The National Emergency Fundraisers programme will build on Scotland’s remarkable Covid response
UK disaster response charity, the National Emergencies Trust, has announced plans to pilot a National Emergency Fundraisers programme in Scotland that will empower local community networks to support nationwide fundraising efforts at speed during domestic disasters.
The programme will invite networked organisations across the UK who have members who can support those who have a presence at village and street level, like Business in the Community, to receive tools, support and early warning alerts to help them raise funds fast in their communities when national emergencies arise.
The programme will build on learnings from the National Emergencies Trust’s Coronavirus Appeal, which was able to raise nearly £100 million for those in great need within just weeks, thanks to fast-acting fundraisers. Nearly £10 million of this was distributed within Scotland, including £7 million to 1,400 grassroots charities and groups through Foundation Scotland.
At an event in Edinburgh co-hosted by the National Emergencies Trust, its patron, NatWest Group and partner, Foundation Scotland, the Trust, outlined how the National Emergency Fundraisers programme aims to build on Scotland’s ‘remarkable’ pandemic response.
Lord Dannatt said: “The generosity and community spirit shown in Scotland during the Covid-19 pandemic was nothing short of remarkable. It happened organically but has created powerful blueprints for how national and local organisations can come together to support those affected by disasters.
“By providing community networks with fundraising tools and support ahead of the next national emergency, we hope to help them to step up at speed during future emergencies, playing a valuable role in the UK’s disaster resilience.”
Responding to the pilot announcement, Stewart Prodger, Chair of Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, said: “When crises arise, local community groups can be incredibly agile to act but it’s not always clear how they can best help those in urgent need.
“The National Emergency Fundraisers programme offers a chance to channel local energies and skills into fast, coordinated fundraising that could make a meaningful difference to people’s lives. With around 30,000 Neighbourhood Alert direct users, and over 1500 registered local groups, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland looks forward to hearing more about the pilot.”
Michael Duncan, Head of Giving Strategy & Programmes, Sustainable Banking at NatWest Group, which hosted the event at its flagship building in St Andrew Square, said: “It should be a source of great comfort that the National Emergencies Trust will be there during future domestic disasters to raise funds fast for those in urgent need.
“This new programme is a way to make that response even stronger, while enabling community groups to support the national giving effort at speed.”
Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland, who gave a keynote address at the event, said: “We learned from the pandemic that in times of national crisis, it is vitally important to get funds quickly to where they are most needed in communities.
“Based on this learning, funds raised by National Emergency Fundraisers will mean we can act fast to help those most affected by national emergencies, whether that’s offering financial support to survivors or awarding grants to local groups who can offer practical and emotional support.”
The event featured performances from charities that had received Coronavirus Appeal grants from Foundation Scotland.
These included a beautiful choir performance from the Forget Me Notes Project, who use music to build community and combat isolation in a variety of settings and entertainment by Dundee-based Shaper/Caper, a multi-award-winning dance organisation and charity who aim to shape the world through creative adventure.
Also present were Edinburgh-based intercultural charity, Building Bridges, who connect cultures and support emerging communities in Scotland and Blood Bikes Scotland, a charity run 100 per cent by volunteers providing a free transport service to the Scottish NHS.
The event in Edinburgh also marked the third anniversary of the National Emergencies Trust.
Launched in 2019 on the recommendation of the Charity Commission following learnings from the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire tragedy and terror attacks in Manchester and London that year, the Trust was created to help to coordinate public fundraising and ensure equitable fund distribution during domestic disasters.
The National Emergency Fundraisers National Emergency Fundraiser programme is a key part of the charity’s emergency preparedness work.
It will be piloted in Scotland over the coming months with networked organisations invited to input into the programme before its UK-wide roll-out next year.
Fort Kinnaird has partnered with one of its independent retailers, the Leith Collective, to launch a free Christmas jumper exchange to support the local community this festive season.
Visitors are being invited to hand in clean, pre-loved festive knitwear of all sizes to the retailer, located next to Boots, from this week up until Christmas. The jumpers will be available for anyone to take home for free.
The initiative follows Leith Collective’s successful winter coat exchange that has seen hundreds of people donating and picking up coats across its Edinburgh stores.
Fort Kinnaird has also committed to give £1 for every donated jumper to its Edinburgh-based charity partner, Thistle Foundation.
The charity provides local and national support to people living with long-term health conditions or challenging life situations. Through one-to-one wellbeing coaching, group-based wellbeing courses and peer-led activities, Thistle Foundation supports people to lead good lives and achieve what matters most to them.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people will have festive jumpers sitting unused in their homes.
By donating them to our appeal they will not only free up some much-needed cupboard space, but they’ll also be directly supporting people in their community at what is likely to be a very difficult time, and helping the environment by not throwing the clothing away.
“We’re proud to have Thistle as our charity partner and thank the Leith Collective for helping us support them further this Christmas. The team does incredible work, providing vital support to those who need it most in our local community.”
William Oviatt, Head of Fundraising at Thistle Foundation adds: “We are delighted to be Fort Kinnaird’s charity partner.
“At Thistle Foundation we believe in a world of inclusion, free of isolation and loneliness, where a health crisis shouldn’t mean a life crisis. This support will help us to ensure that people who are living with long-term health conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, the effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic, or mental health conditions, have the support they need to live well.”
Fort Kinnaird announced its partnership with Thistle in February and has since been raising money for the Edinburgh charity through the centre’s Giving Box.
Fort Kinnaird is open 9am – 9pm on weekdays and 9am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information about planning a trip to Fort Kinnaird, please visit www.fortkinnaird.com.
New cocktail menu pays tribute to nine iconic squares in Edinburgh
One Square, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s award-winning bar, has unveiled an innovative new cocktail menu designed to pay tribute to the Hotel’s local neighbourhoods. Each cocktail has been curated to pay homage to nine iconic squares around Edinburgh.
From Charlotte Square to George Square, and many in between, the new menu draws inspiration from each square’s influence on Edinburgh’s modern-day and historic culture. One Square’s expert mixologists have spent months researching both flavour and infamy to curate this desirable line-up of cocktails.
This ambitious new menu launch marks the 10th anniversary of One Square Bar which has long-delighted guests with its gin speciality and unique gin-tasting masterclasses. Situated within the Sheraton Grand Hotel, One Square hosts over 120 varieties of gin and counting, including a range of Scottish, British and International Gins as well as their very own One Square Gin, distilled in partnership with local Edinburgh spirits company Summerhall Distillery.
The menu includes ‘Festival Square’, a taste sensation reflecting a modern home to arts and culture in the city. With the cocktail representing the spectacular variety of international talent Festival Square welcomes every year.
Also included in the exciting new menu is the ‘St Andrews Square’; like its location, this cocktail is one of the most desirable and fashionable drinks on the menu. Served in a vintage-style cut champagne coupe, this drink embodies the squares standing as a focal point of high-end luxury within the city. The elegant ingredients match, with this champagne-based tipple a must-try for locals and visitors alike.
Nick Durham, Director of Food and Beverage at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, explains: “With a bar and terrace that boasts enviable views of the city, it was only right that our new cocktail launch explored what the city has to offer – in somewhat of an alternative story than those told in the past!
“Our guests can be transported around our world-famous city from square-to-square, with each varying cocktail having a personality of its own and a personality that matches the square’s place in Edinburgh’s day-to-day life. We’re excited to see which square proves most popular!”
The new menu is available from today, with the bar located just off Festival Square itself on Lothian Road.
For more information and for bookings, please visit:
The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.
The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.
The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.
The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. More than 500 charities applied for the funding with the winning projects being selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “At Benefact Group we believe business should be a force for good. More than ever, charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability.
“Through our Movement for Good larger-grant awards, we are championing a more imaginative way of supporting charities so that they can have some certainty in these challenging times.
“We know our funding can be a lifeline to those who are struggling with cost-of-living increases and a grant of this scale can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do.
“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all our available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give. As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do.”
Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.
“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.
“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
It’s Christmaaaas! St James Quarter has celebrated the launch of its festive season with Forth One’s Boogie, Arlene and Marty hosting its ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event on Thursday.
They were joined by representatives from St James Quarter’s charity partners, Cash 4 Kids and Deaf Action, who pushed the big red button and declared it officially Christmas at The Quarter.
Edinburgh Rock Choir echoed joyful tunes throughout the galleria as crowds gathered to watch over 40 glowing sculptures light up and give an explosion of colourful sparkle.
To help spread Christmas cheer, St James Quarter also donated over £6,000 worth of prizes to Forth One’s Boogie in the Morning ‘Supervan’ campaign, which has raised £100,545 to support children who are disadvantaged by poverty, the rise in living costs and trauma.
The prizes, which included a £500 gift voucher, a 12-month Sky Q TV subscription, dinner for four at Maki & Ramen and a year’s membership at Everyman, were collected during the ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event ready for the lucky winner to take home.
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said:“It was fantastic to see everyone turn out for the Christmas light switch on last night, it was a true moment of togetherness and community.
“Boogie, Arlene and Marty got the crowds ready for the festive season and we are so proud that St James Quarter was able to support the Supervan campaign this year – it’s been wonderful to see the exceptional amount of funds raised to support those who need it most. We wish all of our guests in Edinburgh and across Scotland a very Merry Christmas for 2022.”
St James Quarter, Edinburgh, Christmas Light Switch on
Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids said:“We have been absolutely delighted with the donations towards our Supervan campaign from St James Quarter and the many retailers.
“Over £6,000 worth of items and experiences was an absolutely fantastic effort and what better way to celebrate than ending our Supervan journey at The Quarter by having Boogie, Arlene and Marty switching on the Christmas Lights.
“We are so grateful to be the chosen charity partner alongside Deaf Action and bringing our cause to the forefront at Edinburgh’s most incredible venue.”
Campaigners will today march through Edinburgh as part of Global Day of Action for climate justice during the UN Climate Conference COP27 in Egypt.
The March will demand action on the cost of living that also helps address the climate crisis. The route through the capital will highlight the banks, polluters and governments who are driving climate breakdown, as well as the resulting impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.
Organisers say the event will draw attention to the importance of upholding human rights in responding to the climate crisis, here in the UK and world-wide, as the issue of brutal repression of civil society in Egypt comes under the spotlight.
The family-friendly march through the city will be one of over 40 events across the UK and Ireland on a Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.
Mary Church, Friends of the Earth Scotland commented: “As world leaders gather once again to negotiate the future of humanity, thousands of people are marching to demand solutions to the climate crisis that put people and the planet first.
“The solutions to climate change are within grasp and only require the political will to deliver them urgently. Governments need to stop prioritising the demands of big polluters and start listening to the people instead. Putting an end date on oil and gas well within the decade, with a just transition to reliable, affordable renewables will help tackle the cost of living crisis as well as slashing emissions.
“There can be no climate justice without human rights, yet governments around the world including here in the UK are clamping down on civic space.
“We stand in solidarity with those already experiencing the impacts of climate breakdown and with the people of Egypt who are being denied their human rights by a brutal regime.
“We support the call of the Egyptian human rights movement for the release of all those who are being unjustly detained including British citizen and human rights defender Alaa Abd El Fattah who is on hunger strike in prison.”
Global Justice Now will join the march with protests outside HSBC bank, drawing attention to the bank’s role in charging high interest rates for debt repayments from African countries.
Countries in the Global South are currently spending 5 times more on unjust debt repayments than they are addressing the impact of the climate crisis.
Liz Murray, head of Scottish campaigns Global Justice Now said: “This profit-driven system is hurting us all – here in the UK and around the world. And countries in the global south are getting hit particularly hard.
“They’re suffering some of the worst impacts of climate change, despite having played almost no part in causing it, and they’re additionally burdened by enormous debts. Banks here in Scotland are implicated in that – with companies like HSBC and BlackRock making big profits from the interest on those debts and refusing to cancel them.”
Natasha Ion, climate campaigner at Banktrack, said their organisation would be outside Santander bank on Hanover Street highlighting the fact that world’s largest banks have pumped $4.6 trillion dollars into fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement was signed.
Natasha commented: “The climate march will tell banks that they must go beyond burning, and stop financing the extractivism that is wrecking the planet.
“The fossil fuel industry is one of the main drivers of climate change, and has been implicated in endless human rights violations, primarily against Indigenous communities and those on the frontlines of extraction in the Global South.
“Commercial banks also finance major companies guilty of mass deforestation in regions such as Latin America. The highly polluting meat and dairy industry, with massive business like JBS at the centre, has consistently encroached on indigenous lands and been active in illegal deforestation.”
Campaigners are demanding an end to new fossil fuels projects and will be focusing on the UK Government who are currently considering approving the vast new Rosebank oil field.
Mary O’Brien, a grandmother of 10 who is involved in the Stop Rosebank campaign said: “Given the urgency and seriousness of the climate emergency, it is unbelievable that we are even having to fight against new oil and gas fields like Rosebank.
“But thousands of people across the UK and around the world are coming together to stop these climate-wrecking projects and to build that better future.
“I’m doing this for my grandchildren and for future generations, so that they can have a liveable planet. Join us on the march as we demand a rapid and fair transition away from fossil fuels to reliable, affordable renewables.”
March starting point is at 12pm, Saturday 12 November at St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2LL.
The route of the march will pass six points that highlight different demands for climate justice:
1. St Andrew Square – Make Polluters Pay
There will be a large installation of the ’scales of justice’, a performance by the Extinction Rebellion ‘red rebels’ as well as some stalls run by migrant/global justice groups.
2. HSBC Bank, 76 Hanover Street – Cancel all Debt to Global South Countries
There will be several people on stilts dressed as bankers who are robbing Africa, as well as banners with key messages around debt.
3. Santander Bank, 31 Hanover Street – End Fossil Finance
The theme is banks financing destructive projects across the world – specifically large scale cattle farming in the Amazon. There will be large trees and people dressed as cows.
4. East Market St – Solidarity with Egypt: Free All Political Prisoners
The street will be lined with posters and banners calling on the Egyptian government to free political prisoners, and for the UK Government not to come home without British citizen Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
5. UK Government building on Sibbald Walk – No New Fossil Fuel Projects
The theme is no new oil and gas/ and Stop the Rosebank oil field. There will be big banners and large and small roses decorating the square in front of the building.
6. Scottish Parliament – End the Cost of Living Scandal – Just Transition Now
The theme is cost of living/ energy price crisis. When the march arrives at Parliament attendees will be given placards with related demands and encouraged to form a ring around the Parliament.
