Day: February 6, 2023

Asda announces £15 Valentine’s Day Meal Deal including wine

  • Asda announces its Valentine’s Day Meal Deal, which includes a starter, main, two sides, dessert, and either a bottle of wine or box of chocolates for only £15
  • Asda Rewards app users will also earn £1.50 in their cash pot when picking up the deal, making it even better value
  • Notable new items include the Vegan Mushroom Arancini Hearts, 30-Day Dry Aged Sirloin, Chantaney Carrots with Citrus Yuzu, and Dark Belgian Chocolate Hearts
  • The deal will run online and in-store from 9th until 14th February

This year Asda is pulling out all the stops for those looking to celebrate love with its Valentine’s Day Meal Deal, which includes a starter, main, two sides, dessert, and wine or chocolates for only £15. The deal features 17 all-new options, plus returning favourites and vegan offerings across all courses of the meal – including wine.

For starters, there are five options to choose from. Cheese fans will love the new Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Slow Cooked British Beef, which are baked into small bite-sized cups. For those who fancy something extra indulgent, there’s the Chicken Liver Parfait with Raspberry Jelly, perfect to enjoy with freshly-toasted, thick-cut baguette slices. For plant-based lovers, Asda’s new Vegan Mushroom Arancini Hearts with Truffle Dip delights are sure to set the scene for a romantic evening.

Now, onto the main event with eight options on offer. Standout selections include:

· The 30-Day Dry Aged Sirloin with Smoked Garlic Butter, which has been aged for 30 days for a deeply rich and succulent flavour.
· The Wild & Roast Garlic Stuffed Yorkshire Bred Pork Kiev Cutlets. Topped with a Sicilian lemon, garlic, and herb crumb, this dish is the epitome of excellence.
· The British Duck Breasts with Morello Cherry Sauce, sure to impress any date!

Shoppers can also choose from the Aberdeen Angus Beef Burger with Smokey Bacon & Cheese Heart, Braised British Beef Cheek Parcel with a Creamy Porcini Mushroom & Peppercorn Sauce, Cod Fillet with Samphire & Sicilian Lemon & Marjoram Butter, Plant Based Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle, or Nduja Stuffed Chicken Parcel. Each of the main options come with two servings and contain all relevant sauces and garnishes, so it’s all ready to go.

When it comes to a little something on the side, Asda’s got it covered. For the Valentine’s deal, there are some seasonal offerings on the table, such as the new Chantaney Carrots with Citrus Yuzu – a yummy flavour sure to compliment any main. Another standout option is the all-new Truffle Mac & Cheese, for those looking for something indulgent. Of course, no selection would be complete without sides available from all year round, such as the Triple Cooked Chips and the Dauphinoise Potatoes.

Saving the best until last, the dessert. Take a romantic trip to Italy without leaving the house with the Italian Espresso Tiramisu Cups – intense layers of coffee sauce, mascarpone mousse and coffee-soaked sponge cake, Marsala wine, and a cocoa powder dusting make for the ultimate treat.

As it is Valentine’s Day, shoppers can’t go wrong with heart-shaped chocolate treats: enter the Dark Belgian Chocolate Heart with Raspberry. Dusted in pink shimmer, these chocolates are deluxe delights sure to end the night off on the right note.

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without a box of chocolates – or for some, maybe a bottle of wine feels more appropriate this year. Whatever the case, shoppers can round out the meal deal with their choice of either a bottle of wine, such as the Extra Special Malbec Merlot or Extra Special Sauvignon Blanc, or a box of the new Extra Special Chocolates.

Not only has Asda kept the price of its stunning meal deal at £15 this year, but the supermarket has gone one step further: couples get the ultimate date night deal with a free Sky Movies voucher when shopping the meal deal*.

What’s more, shoppers using the Asda Rewards app will earn £1.50 in their cash pot when purchasing the deal, making the dine-in offer even better value for money.

For just £15, Asda’s meal deal means you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a delicious Valentine’s Day dinner. The deal will run online at www.asda.com and in-store from 9th until 14th February.

NSPCC: Safer Internet Day

The online world benefits all of us including children and young people. It can help them learn, play, and keep connected with friends, but we also know there are risks involved (writes Carla Malseed – Local Campaigns Manager for NSPCC Scotland):

TOMORROW (7th February) will mark the 20th anniversary of Safer Internet Day, and this year’s theme is “Want to talk about it? Making space for conversations about life online.”

More children and young people are spending time on the internet than ever before.

And we are encouraging and supporting parents, carers and professionals to open the conversation around how they can support children to keep safe. Talking with children about online safety is vital and can help them to understand what is and isn’t appropriate.

But we understand that knowing where to start can be a little daunting. Asking your child what platforms, apps and sites they are interested in is a great place to begin.  Exploring the apps that your child uses, will help you to understand what they are viewing on a regular basis. By discovering more about privacy and safety settings, you’ll be able to decide which are the right ones to use and therefore help to keep your child safe.

Asking questions about what they do online can identify what your child already knows about keeping safe in the digital world. You could ask ‘what’s your favourite game to play online?’ or ‘how to do you speak to your friends online?’ to help give you a clearer picture how they are spending their time.

Finding out about location sharing is also vital, as some apps and sites use GPS technology to show where users are posting content.

Consider the different communications features available too, for example, check their privacy settings are switched on to prevent unwanted contact and group chat settings can be set so that only your child’s phone contacts can be added.

Learning the basics together can help you to know how to report and block people and content, and help prevent  your child from being exposed to anything inappropriate or harmful. It’s always important to remind your child they can come to you if they see anything that upsets or worries them.

We know that a child’s safety online is incredibly important, but we also understand that for parents it can be overwhelming. Here at the NSPCC, we have resources and tools to help you keep your child safe whilst using the internet and to give you peace of mind. A bespoke workshop is available on YouTube to help you get a better understanding of online safety – www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO6Ux7qfYXk

More information about online safety can be found on the NSPCC website – www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-safety-blog/SID-2022/

Study finds that 96% of us not testing smoke alarms regularly enough

A study by online training provider High Speed Training has found that 96% of GB residents are not testing their smoke alarms as regularly as recommended, and that less than half have a fire escape plan for their home.

  • In the year 2020/21, fire services in England, Scotland and Wales attended over 630,000 total incidents, tragically resulting in over 300 fatalities.
  • Many of these incidents occur in the home. In fact, 20 people are injured or killed every day just by accidental fires that start in their kitchens.
  • As part of a report on residential fire safety, High Speed Training surveyed over 2000 GB adults, and found that an incredibly high number [96%] were not engaging in weekly testing as is recommended by fire services.

Smoke alarms are one of the most effective defences against fatal fires in the home, with estimates suggesting that you are eight times more likely to die in a fire if your home does not have working smoke alarms.

There should also be one smoke alarm placed on every level of a home, which was the case with 84% of the survey respondents.

In private rented and social rented homes, it is the duty of the landlord to ensure a suitable number of smoke alarms are installed and functional at the beginning of the tenancy, with at least one smoke alarm on each storey where a room is used as living accommodation. 

If a fire does break out in your home, having an agreed escape plan is essential to increase your chances of escaping without serious injury. The main key to a good fire escape plan is to include alternate routes to safety in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use. 

Though escape plans are recommended by fire services, the survey found that 55% of people in the GB do not have a fire escape plan in place in their home. The report also found that younger generations are less likely to have a plan in place, with 68% of 18-24 year olds saying they don’t have or don’t know if they have a plan.

In contrast, 45-55 year olds are most likely to have a plan, with 51% stating they have an escape route prepared. 

Faulty electrics, including appliances, wiring, and overloaded sockets, cause around 4,000 house fires in England every year. The maximum current allowed to safely flow through the socket (power rating) should be clearly marked on the back or underside of the extension lead. If not, you should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

High Speed Training’s report found that 77% of respondents were unsure on how to check either the voltage or the amperage levels of a socket.

Closing all of the internal doors in your home is one way to increase your chances of being able to escape from a house fire. A closed door can hold back fire and smoke, and buy you precious time to escape. However, in our survey, we found that 66% of people don’t close their internal doors every night.

Another simple step to add to your routine is to make sure that your exit route is clear of trip hazards. In the disorientating smoke of a house fire, objects on the floor could pose a real risk. Our survey found that a huge 71% of respondents don’t ensure their exit routes are clear every night.

William Cunningham MIFSM, MIIRSM, GradIOSH, DipFD, Director of Safety Group and Fire Safety Consultant, said: “Over the last few years, we have all spent more time at home. It is so important that we make sure that our homes are as safe as possible, minimising the risks of a fire breaking out, and maximising our chances of escaping safely if one does.

“Having spent over 15 years working in fire safety, I can say that the steps included in this report, such as regularly testing properly placed smoke alarms, ensuring you have an escape plan, and not overloading sockets, are simple and practical ways to improve the fire safety of your home.

“The stats that High Speed Training have found show that many households across the UK could be doing more to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in their homes. There is a real need to raise awareness of what can be done to improve fire safety across the country.

“By following the advice suggested in this report and by fire services across the country, we can decrease the risk of serious and potentially fatal fires occurring in our homes.”

Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, said: “This report really highlights the need for everyone to have an awareness of how important it is to practise good fire safety at home.

“The steps outlined in this report are practical and accessible, and can easily be adopted by all homes to minimise the risk of a tragic fire.

“We would encourage everyone to assess the current situation in their home, and make any necessary changes to improve the fire safety of their property.”

For more information on the results found in the survey, including more detailed statistics on the importance of night-time routines, fire doors and smoke alarm placement, the full report can be viewed at:

www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/report-fire-safety-in-the-home/

Granton Gasholder moves forward to next phase of development with £1.24 million grant

Granton’s last remaining gasholder will be transformed following a £1.24 million award from the Scottish Government’s low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.

Councillors at the Development Management Sub-Committee on 25 January approved planning permission for the next stage of redevelopment of the iconic Granton Gasholder.

Today, it was also announced that the project’s application to the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund has been approved. This will tie in with the overall programme of delivery and will secure up to £1.3m of further grant funding to take this stage of the works forward.

As the restoration of the Gasholder frame continues, work will begin in Autumn 2023 on public realm improvements to the surrounding land.

Ultimately, the goals of the restoration are to ensure development of the surrounding sites can take place whilst opening up the area to create a multifunctional public space that can be used and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “Neglected sites are often found in more disadvantaged settings and can become no-go areas or hamper community development. By targeting long-standing vacant and derelict land we can ensure that investment reaches the areas that need it most.

“The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme helps attract private investment to locations which have lain dormant for years. It also supports low carbon developments, helping Scotland reach net zero by 2045 and grow an economy that is greener, fairer, and more prosperous.

“This green space development at the Granton Gasholder will bring a significant boost for the community and enhance wider regeneration. I look forward to seeing the completed project.”

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I am delighted that councillors have recently approved planning permission for the exciting high quality open space element of the redevelopment to the historic Granton Gasholder.

“The restoration of the Gasholder frame is already underway through funding provided by the Council and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. With today’s announcement that we’ve been successful in our bid to the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund, we’re now able to progress our plans for creating an exciting public space which will see this iconic structure breathe new life into Granton Waterfront.

“This important development represents our plan to transform the structure, the centrepiece of our £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront, into a visitor destination with high quality open space for everyone to enjoy.

“The wider regeneration is about using brownfield land to develop a sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood its residents will be proud of. It will be an area where people live in affordable, environmentally friendly homes, have excellent transport and active travel links, and access open and green space, arts, sports, and culture. Restoring the Gasholder is the first step in unlocking the wider regeneration.”

A derelict site once central to the Clyde’s shipbuilding industry will be transformed following a £2.4 million award from the low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.

The Govan Graving Docks were used for final painting and repair of vessels but have lain empty for 40 years. The Scottish Government award to upgrade a riverside walkway and create green space by 2025 is intended to help attract business investment, reverse biodiversity loss and habitat decline and create a visitor attraction.

Further restoration of the historic dockyard will see it used for repairing heritage vessels, while a footbridge linking the site to neighbouring visitor destinations including the Glasgow Science Centre is planned once private sector funding is secured.

It is one of 15 transformational schemes sharing £10 million in 2023-24 from the Programme. Other successful projects include:

  • Creation of a community learning campus on the site of a former Midlothian colliery
  • decontamination and redevelopment of former military land at Cromarty Firth to enable construction of 93 affordable homes
  • reuse of vacant and derelict buildings in Fife as an employment and training hub for rural green jobs and apprenticeships
  • support for community-led food production in Clackmannanshire

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur visited the Govan Graving Docks site to meet those behind the project. He said: “Neglected sites are often found in more disadvantaged settings and can become no-go areas or hamper community development. By targeting long-standing vacant and derelict land we can ensure that investment reaches the areas that need it most.

“The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme helps attract private investment to locations which have lain dormant for years, It also supports low carbon developments, helping Scotland reach net zero by 2045 and grow an economy that is greener, fairer and more prosperous.”

Councillor Richard Bell, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Govan Graving Docks is a unique site in Glasgow, offering both a glimpse of the city’s past and a view into a future where we realise the potential of this remarkable Clydeside location. 

“The very welcome announcement of £2.4 million funding from the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme will allow work to dramatically improve the appearance of the site, create new public green space to be co-designed by the local community, and improve access and connections to Glasgow Science Centre. 

“The support announced today will hopefully act as a catalyst for future funding and the development of further stages in the regeneration of the Graving Docks.”

Projects to receive funding from Stage 2 of the Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme for 2023-24:

Lead applicantApplication2023-24 (£)Total Grant Recommended
City of Edinburgh CouncilGranton Gasholder£1,224,410£1,224,410
Clackmannanshire CouncilClacks Community – Growing a new Future£500,000£500,000
Clyde GatewayShawfield Phase 2 – Remediation£200,000£200,000
Fife CouncilRavenscraig Skills Hub£491,582£491,582
Glasgow City CouncilCadder Woods Community Greenspace£521,193£772,700
Glasgow City CouncilCommunity Net Zero Hub£182,276£182,276
Glasgow City CouncilGovan Graving Docks£368,794£2,368,794
Glasgow City CouncilGreening Royston£797,121£797,121
Glasgow City CouncilNorth Maryhill TRA Green Infrastructure£650,000£1,450,000
Highland CouncilCromlet Invergordon£400,000£400,000
Highland CouncilLongman Park£850,000£2,150,000
Midlothian CouncilAll Through Community Learning Campus Shawfair£2,122,000£3,667,000
North Ayrshire CouncilThe King’s Arms Irvine£400,000£600,000
Perth and Kinross CouncilMillhaugh – Phase 1£93,808£93,808
West Dunbartonshire CouncilResidential development at Pappert Bonhill£500,000£1,250,000
  £9,301,184£16,147,691

HMRC: Boost your childcare budget this half term 

As the February half term draws closer, families are being reminded that they can save up to £2,000 a year on childcare costs with Tax-Free Childcare. 

More than 24,900 families in Scotland used the scheme in September 2022 and benefitted from the government paying towards childcare costs. 

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging families to find out more about Tax-Free Childcare and check their eligibility via Childcare Choices. 

Tax-Free Childcare can help working families pay for any approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or, 16 if the child has a disability – whether the child goes to nursery, a childminder, attends breakfast or after school club, has holiday care or goes to an out of school activity. 

For every £8 paid into an online account, families will automatically receive an additional £2 from the government. Parents can receive up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year), or £1,000 (£4,000 a year) if their child is disabled.  

Opening a Tax-Free Childcare account is simple and takes around 20 minutes. Money can be deposited at any time and can be used straight away, or whenever it is needed. Unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. 

Go to GOV.UK to register and get started. 

Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to the Treasury said: “Tax-Free Childcare can make a big difference to household budgets and I urge families to make sure they are getting the help they are entitled to.

“It is a simple process – go online today, set up an account and start making real savings on your childcare costs.” 

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “We want to help working families and by using Tax-Free Childcare, they can use the government top-up to make their money go further.

“Search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK to find out how it could help you.” 

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they: 

  • have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday 
  • earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average 
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum 
  • do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers  

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK. 

Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what support they’re entitled to by visiting Childcare Choices. 

The government is offering help for households. Check GOV.UK to find out what cost of living support, including help with childcare costs, families could be eligible for. 

BME mental health: Choudhury challenges treatment inequalities

Responding to the recently published report by the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill 2022, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “It is simply unacceptable when those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds are treated unequally. It is also unacceptable when this unequal treatment is enacted against vulnerable members of our society who need protection and care. 

“It has been five years since Professor Wessely’s landmark review of the Mental Health Act which exposed racial and ethnic inequalities in treatment of patients in England, yet these problems of racial bias in the treatment of mental health are shockingly getting “rapidly worse”. 

“In England in 2021-22, Black people were four times more likely than white people to be detained under the Mental Health Act (MHA), and more than 11 times more likely to be given a community treatment order.

“I am glad to see the Joint Committee on the Mental Health Bill is working to ensure these failures are addressed, however, Scotland needs to learn lessons from these shocking revelations and ensure that Scotland’s mental health legislation contains appropriate safeguards which allow patients to have more choice. 

“Following the introduction of this Bill in England, I am calling on the Scottish Government to review its own practices in relation to Mental Health to ensure that the services we provide in Scotland prioritise racial equity and treat all of our citizens with the dignity and equality they deserve. 

“It is unacceptable that some from minority communities in England are more likely to experience detentions in the face of the Mental Health Act, when instead we should be offering everyone support and choice equally.  

“The Scottish Government should prioritise a review into mental health provision in Scotland to ensure that this shocking case of mental health treatment disparity is not also happening in Scotland. Let’s be a Scotland which truly cares for all.” 

Draft Mental Health Bill: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-mental-health-bill-2022

Holyrood committee seeks views on proposed changes to young people’s criminal justice system

Changes to the care of children and the involvement of children in the criminal justice system are to come under scrutiny at the Scottish Parliament.

The Education, Children and Young People Committee will consider the proposals laid out in the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill and would like to hear the views of people from across Scotland.

The Bill changes how the justice system approaches offences committed by people under the age of 18. This will include allowing most 16- and 17-year-olds to attend a Children’s Hearing, rather than a court.

Changes would also be made to regulations around accommodations for young people. Under the proposals 16- and 17-year-olds, accused of or guilty of offences would not be held in Young Offenders Institutions or prisons, but instead would be sent to secure accommodation. The Bill would also change how care services providing residential accommodation to children are regulated.

The Committee is opening a call for views so it can hear the views of organisations supporting young people in conflict with the law, young people and parents. The Committee is also very interested in hearing the views of legal professionals, secure accommodation providers and victims of crime.

Following the end of the consultation the Committee plans to hold a series of evidence sessions to discuss the Bill, before reporting its findings to the Parliament later in the year.

Sue Webber, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee said: “The Bill we will be scrutinising will allow all 16- and 17-year-olds to access the Children’s Hearings System for the first time.

“This aims to safeguard those at risk of harm and change how the justice system deals with young people who have committed offences. It also introduces a range of further measures designed to improve the way that children are treated, including ensuring no young person under the age of 18 will be sent to a Young Offenders’ Institution or prison.

“We want to get a thorough understanding of how the proposals in the Bill might impact on people across Scotland, including young people themselves, children’s support organisations and youth justice bodies.

“Please share your views on these proposals with our Committee before the 17 March 2023 deadline.”

Family Fun Day at Drumbrae Library

SATURDAY 18th FEBRUARY 10.30am – 2pm

MORE THINGS!!! MORE THINGS!!! MORE THINGS!!!

On Saturday 18th Feb we are gonna be EVEN MORE Family Fun than usual!

We will have BOOKBUG, with a visit from the Bug of the Book themselves, a SLIME WORKSHOP, you can make your own BADGE, there will be LIVE MUSIC, a CRAFT event, INFO POINTS from several local organizations, plues TEA & BISCUITS!!!

It’s always, all is completely free, all you need to do is show up between 10.30am and 2pm and have a ball!!

Tell a friend, bring two friends, make three friends on the day!!

UK gambling with £5.5trn inheritance as more than half don’t have a will

  • 73% of UK adults with financial concern for others say ensuring the right people receive money is important when gifting money
  • Yet 57% of adults surveyed do not have a will in place
  • Nearly half (45%) have never spoken or will not speak about pension death benefit nomination, lasting power of attorney or a trust with family

More than half of the UK with financial concerns for others (57%) do not have a will in place, according to new research from Quilter, leaving their family finances open to challenge when they pass away.

Of those that do have a will, the majority (53%) have not updated it within the last five years, with a further 14% never having updated it at all. Worryingly, 16% of over 55s have never updated their wishes.

Meanwhile, one in four of those with financial concern for others (25%) said they would be willing to contest someone else’s will if they felt the estate hadn’t been divided fairly, highlighting the need to have an inheritance plan well established and communicated with family.

According to the Kings Court Trust, £5.5 trillion will be passed between generations in the next 30 years. Quilter is warning those who do not have a will or have not updated it in the last 10 years to put one in place to ensure inheritance is passed on in accordance with their wishes.

This comes as the research also showed that when gifting money, an important aspect was ensuring the right people in the family receive the money, with three quarters (73%) citing this as important. Ensuring recipients save tax was another key aspect, with just over half of respondents (55%) stating this is important.

The research also found that45% of people have never or won’t speak about pension death benefit nomination, lasting power of attorney or a trust with their family, again leaving their wishes undetermined.

Rachael Griffin, tax and financial planning expert at Quilter, said: “Inheritance is a highly emotive topic for family to discuss, but many are simply hoping for the best and ignoring what is clearly an important subject.

“Everyone has desires for what happens to their money and their possessions when they pass away, so it is vital these are recorded and regularly updated. Not doing so leaves an estate up for challenge, and this will only delay the grieving process for your family members after you die.

“Encouraging conversations about money and inheritance between family members is the major theme that has emerged from this research. The vast majority see the right family members receiving the money as an important aspect of gifting. However, failing to talk about your estate and your wishes with those family members is just adding a layer of risk on to your inheritance.

“It is also important to remember that while a will is a fantastic way of recording your wishes, you must not forget things like pension death benefit nominations and lasting power of attorney. These are also crucial elements in ensuring your affairs are managed in the way that you want them to be following loss of any capabilities or death.

“Having these discussions with family and ensuring documents are kept up to date will ensure that vast sums of money that are due to flow through the generations will do so in the intended way.”

Heart of Newhaven: February News

Welcome to your February Newsletter

Coorie-In again on Thursday 23rd February when the doors will open at 6.45 and events run from 7pm until 8.30. Come along and see what our partners have to offer you: everything from food tasting to pottery making, book binding, screen printing and learning about education and life in Victorian times.

There will be tea and coffee too! Come along and meet our partners and Trustees, not to mention other members of the community.

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We are delighted to announce that we are one of five organisations that have been awarded funding to develop Meeting Centres for people affected by dementia in Scotland.

The £10,000 award will go towards opening a social space and community support for people living with dementia, their families and unpaid carers.

Funds have been allocated through the Meeting Centres’ Seedcorn Fund, part of the partnership between the Scottish Government and Age Scotland’s About Dementia project.

Support is designed around attendees’ individual needs and activities are selected by members themselves based upon their interests, in order to help people affected by dementia adjust to the changes that often follow diagnosis and contribute to positive outcomes in the longer-term.

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Many of you already know that Heart of Newhaven is also a partner in Restoration Forth, a community-led project to restore seagrass meadows and native oysters in the Firth of Forth.

Led by WWF and sponsored by funders Aviva, Scottish Power Foundation, MoonDance Foundation and NatureScot, Heart of Newhaven is one of six project ‘hubs’ helping local people in Newhaven and nearby areas to get involved in the project. If you live locally and would like to know more about Restoration Forth please contact us on admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk.

For more info see www.org.uk/scotland/restoration-forth or to see the map which is beginning to show the species as they come in click here: 

https://tinyurl.com/2awvddpw

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Edinburgh Community Climate Acton Network is uniting community groups across the city and inviting everyone to take part in the development of a Community Climate Hub. 

The Network and Hub will be co-created by the people doing the work in their communities. This could involve, for example, knowledge-sharing and collaboration with other community groups, access to supporting organisations such as funders, policymakers and industry experts, support for administration and management, and collective lobbying. 

On 16th February the Network will be holding the Winter Gathering in the Grassmarket, (86 Candlemaker Row) where new connections and partnerships will be forged, creating a map for a living city, and planning how a community network will support communities to make that future happen. 

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, either as an individual, or from a community group.

Here is the link to the ECAN website, and the upcoming 16th February  event

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A reminder – Warm & Welcoming began on Wednesday 1st February and the room will be open to all-comers every Wednesday and Saturday morning from now on, from 9am till 12 noon.

The first session saw a small but appreciative number of visitors who enjoyed their tea and coffee and reminiscing over some old photographs of Newhaven. Ace IT were on hand to help with computer and phone problems and there were toys, books and games available for all ages.

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We have a new user settling into the Heart.

Kissy is offering Maths and English tuition to school pupils of all ages and will be running after-school sessions in the Anchor building, Monday to Friday, 4-6pm.

If you’re interested, you can contact her on 07873682133.

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Finally, a couple of pleas. We’re still looking for any potential volunteers out there who have community fund-raising or event-organising experience. 

Your help is needed to plan future events at the Heart. Please get in touch with admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk or through the volunteering page on the website. Alternatively, contact any of the trustees.

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We’re also on the lookout for new trustees who would like to make a difference in their community. If you have legal, HR, marketing, fund-raising or secretarial experience, and live within our Area of Benefit, the Board would like to hear from you. Please get in touch.  

Heart of Newhaven

Finally, we have been the recipients of some generous donations of old fishwives’ costumes and would love to be able to display them to their best advantage.

Does anyone have any old dressmakers’ dummies they no longer use, or perhaps  a local business has some old shop window mannequins that are due for the scrapheap. Please consider donating them to us so that we can display our fine costumes. Contact christine.mcderment@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

Thank you.