Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has confirmed £9.5 million funding for Scotland’s flagship Youth Music Initiative (YMI) this year. This includes £500,000 which has been ringfenced to deliver on the commitment to expand the YMI model into other art forms.
YMI funding enables schools and other organisations to provide quality music-making activities for children and young people, which range from after-school drum bands to courses in sound production.
More than 362,000 children and young people took part in YMI-funded projects under the 2021-22 programme, the majority of those in high-deprivation areas. The funding also supported 1,182 music education posts across all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
Mr Robertson marked the funding award with a visit to Murrayburn Primary School in Sighthill, Edinburgh, where he met pupils who have benefitted from the programme, which is administered by Creative Scotland.
The Culture Secretary said: “Music plays a vitally important role in young people’s lives, and beyond developing their wider skills and learning we know these kinds of activities also have a huge positive impact on their confidence and wellbeing.
“We are committed to ensuring every school pupil in Scotland can access a year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school through the YMI, no matter their background. YMI is focused on creating opportunities for groups of children and young people who may not otherwise have the chance to participate in cultural activity.
“This year’s funding takes our investment in this programme to more than £150 million since 2007, to enable free music tuition for hundreds of thousands of young people, and support thousands of music sector jobs across the country.”
Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager said: “With ongoing support from the Scottish Government, the YMI allows local authorities to deliver programmes like this across Scotland ensuring that children and young people with additional support needs have opportunities to experience the joy and excitement that comes with making music.”
A report published yesterday by Healthcare Improvement Scotland finds that people want more to be done to limit the sales of tobacco products.
The survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government, asked questions which will form part of a refreshed plan to be published this autumn, to support a tobacco-free Scotland.
The Citizens’ Panel survey, which ran between November 2022 and February 2023, found that of the 667 people who responded to the survey, 75% want more action to be taken to further limit who can sell tobacco products, and while 63% agreed the legal age to buy them should be raised from 18 to 21, 25% were opposed.
Some 65% agreed that Scotland should increase the legal age of the sale of nicotine vaping products from 18 to 21 years.
In addition, the survey found that 80% of respondents said that they either strongly agreed or agreed that action should be taken to further limit who can sell nicotine vaping products. Just 9% either disagreed or strongly disagreed.
In addition, 67% felt packaging, in pack information and the appearance of cigarettes should be made more unappealing. Some 64% agreed that taxes on tobacco and vaping products should be raised, but nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) disagreed with this.
There was also wide agreement that the smoking ban should be widened to create more smoke-free areas where children congregate, such as outside schools and play parks, with almost nine in ten respondents (86%) in agreement. Just 8% disagreed.
The report recommends that the Scottish Government considers including all the measures that have the strongest public support in its Tobacco Action Plan 2023.
It adds that the Scottish Government should then consider further around more punitive measures, such as raising the age of purchase and raising taxation on tobacco and vaping products. After assessing the impact of these measures, these could also be implemented following a staged approach.
Clare Morrison, Director of Community Engagement at Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “As Scotland looks to become tobacco-free in the near future, this shows that the majority of people believe more should be done to limit access for younger people to tobacco and vaping.”
What started as local lockdown project in 2020 has continued for nearly three years and expanded beyond the Scottish capital.
Ross Burns, 43, has taken a photo of one of his son’s many Hot Wheels cars every day for the past 1,000 days in various locations around the UK in what originally started as way of alleviating lockdown boredom.
Ross, Head of Communications at Edinburgh Napier University, initially photographed hundreds of cars in settings around Edinburgh. But as the world has opened up after the pandemic, he’s taken the cars on tour around the country, from London to Aberdeenshire, Glasgow to Newcastle.
“My six-year-old son Daniel loves Hot Wheels and it’s fair to say I’ve caught the bug as well. Back in the summer of 2020, to make sure I took a walk every day, I started taking a car out and taking some pictures on my phone.
“After a few weeks, I set myself the challenge of doing it for a full year and then thought I’d stop. But clearly I was hooked and another 635 days on, I’m still at it. The great thing now is that the world has opened up a lot more so it’s become a pictorial diary of my life.
“It’s also been a fun hobby for me and Daniel to do together. He likes copying my photos and creating his own. Seeing him sprawled flat on a pavement to get the perfect angle is pretty funny.”
Due to the restrictions of lockdown, the vast majority of Ross’s early photos were of Edinburgh but he has now taken his hobby around the country and photographed the cars in front of many iconic sights, including Buckingham Palace, the Finnieston Crane, and the Tyne Bridge.
“It’s exciting when I go away for a couple of days and the first thing I pack are the Hot Wheels. London is amazing for locations although the one downside of it no longer being lockdown is places are far busier and getting shots without people in them is a challenge.”
Ross has also appreciated the interaction from the wider community around his posts.
“My followers can probably be split into two camps: those that love Edinburgh and those that love Hot Wheels and I’ve tried my best to showcase both. It’s been great building up a following on Instagram and receiving messages and comments from around the world, from the USA to Japan.
“There are also inspiring people doing similar things in other countries, including in the likes of Dnipro in the Ukraine where they continue even while under siege.
ROSS BURNS Photographed toys cars on location in Edinburgh.
“I said after a year of doing it that I would stop. Now I’ve done 1,000 days straight and seen my pictures progress from very amateur efforts to something more pleasing, I’ve got a big decision to make!”
On 8th June, World Ocean Day, 7pm-late, please come and celebrate the Wardie Bay Bathing Water designation.
Bring a costume, friends and something to drink or nibble and we’ll hopefully sing to the sea with gratitude to everyone involved in making this finally happen.
A summit focused on tackling violence in schools will be convened by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth in the coming weeks.
It will bring together young people, parents and carers, schools, local authorities and unions to discuss how to tackle the problem. This will build on guidance provided to local authorities and on the £2 million of funding to support violence prevention activities within schools and communities.
Education Scotland will also work with every local authority to identify good practice in behaviour and relationships, sharing the findings with schools across the country.
Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Ms Gilruth said: ““I have been in post for two months now, and during that time I have made it absolutely clear that behaviour in schools is one of my top priorities.
“Children and young people must have every opportunity for successful learning that is unhindered by disruptive behaviour. I also want to make sure that teachers and school staff are working in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment.
“Any form of violence in our schools is completely unacceptable. No teacher or pupil should suffer verbal or physical abuse, and parents should be able to send their children to school knowing that they are safe.
“To that end, I’m looking forward to bringing together young people, parents and carers, schools, local authorities, unions, and campaigners to identify how we tackle the problem of violence and disruption in our schools.”
The Scottish Government has issued guidance for teaching staff which focuses on supporting positive behaviour and includes advice on prevention and de-escalation of incidents.
The Scottish Government is also in the process of updating national anti-bullying guidance.
Tax-Free Childcare has saved 38,495 families in Scotland on their childcare costs during the 2022 to 2023 tax year, an increase of more than 9,300 from the previous year according to the latest statistics released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) today (24 May 2023).
With thousands more families benefitting from the UK Government top up year on year, HMRC is reminding eligible working families of the financial support available to pay for approved childcare including holiday clubs, breakfast and after school clubs, child minders and nurseries. Last year, £533 million in government cash was shared by families across the UK who saved money on their childcare bills.
Working families, with children up to the age of 11, or 16 if their child has a disability, can save up to £2,000 a year per child or £4,000 a year if their child is disabled.
For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare account, families automatically receive an additional government top up of £2. Families can save up to £500 every 3 months for each child or £1,000 if their child is disabled.
This is one of many ways the UK Government is easing cost of living for people across the country, whilst taking action to halve inflation this year which is currently adding pressure to household budgets.
Victoria Atkins, The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “While thousands more working families are benefitting from Tax-Free Childcare, which is making a real difference to their childcare bills, many more are missing out on the help they’re entitled to.
“Parents should check their eligibility and apply online, the top-up could make a big difference to working families at a time they need it most.”
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
“Tax-Free Childcare is a flexible benefit for families, allowing them to save towards the cost of childcare throughout the year and use when they need it. It can be a real boost to the household budget of working families. Search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK and sign up today.”
More than one million families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare. Families who haven’t signed up should check their eligibility and sign up to start saving today.
Opening a Tax-Free Childcare account is straightforward and can be done online in about 20 minutes. Money can be deposited at any time at any time of the year to be used straight away, or whenever it is needed. Unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
Nearly 40 MSPs visited a Holyrood exhibition held by the charity Cats Protection to highlight how cats – and the people who care for them – can be better protected in law.
The exhibition, sponsored by Marie McNair MSP, was attended by 38 politicians and was a chance to discuss measures to improve feline welfare in Scotland, including the introduction of compulsory microchipping for pet cats and increasing the availability of cat-friendly rented housing.
Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “Scotland is a nation of pet lovers and cats are a particularly popular pet, with nearly one in four households owning one. So it was great to see so many politicians coming along to find out what they can do to ensure cats receive the protection in law that they deserve.
“Among the key measures we discussed was the need for compulsory microchipping of pet cats in Scotland. This is something which will soon be introduced for cats in England and it’s important that Scottish cats are not left behind.
“We also talked about what MSPs can do to ensure there is more cat-friendly housing available in the private and social rented sectors. So many people now rent their homes yet too many are being denied the chance to own a pet cat and we believe this must change.”
As well as discussing the charity’s campaigns, politicians also found out more about its hands-on work to support cats and the people who care about them, with staff from Cats Protection’s Veterinary, Behaviour and Community Engagement teams on hand to answer questions.
Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, has a Scottish network of 24 volunteer-run branches, three adoption centres and nine charity shops, which also offer advice on cat care.
In 2022, the charity rehomed 2,500 cats in Scotland and helped neuter 11,100 cats and microchip 4,400 cats.
To find out more about Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk
Ocean Terminal has agreed a long-term lease with Club 3000 Bingo, the UK’s largest independent bingo operator, which will see a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art club open at the centre next year.
Once the new club is built, Club 3000 Bingo will move from its current Edinburgh venue in Manderston Street to the new 27,500 sq ft unit on the ground floor of the Leith waterfront shopping centre.
The family-run business is investing an estimated £5m in the new club to create a modern and luxurious environment that will complement Ocean Terminal’s existing mix of retail, leisure and hospitality outlets.
Following the extension of the Edinburgh Tram network to Newhaven, and at the heart of Leith’s regeneration, Club 3000 Bingo forms a part of Ocean Terminal’s major redevelopment as a ‘town centre’ for the local community.
The £250m masterplan will see the centre reconfigured, alongside new homes and public realm to maximise its unique waterfront location and fulfil local aspirations for 20-minute neighbourhoods.
Brian Fraser, Founder of Fraser Capital Management Ltd/Club 3000 Bingo, which operate 23 bingo clubs across the UK said: “We are really excited to be involved in this new project and look forward to opening our new club next year to add to our growing portfolio.
“It promises to be one of the best clubs ever developed in the UK.”
Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investments Ltd, the Scottish owner of Ocean Terminal, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Club 3000 Bingo to Ocean Terminal.
“Its modern approach to creating an environment for a great night out fits seamlessly with our wider leisure offering and we look forward to the club opening its doors next year. We have ambitious plans for the centre and Club 3000’s long-term commitment to Ocean Terminal is a tremendous seal of approval for what lies ahead.”
Donald Syme who acted for the landlord added: “Leith is undergoing a huge regeneration, with more housing, transport links and businesses opening up. In its new location at Ocean Terminal, Club 3000 Bingo will enjoy a growing and thriving community.
“We’re looking forward to working with Brian and his team to make this one of the best bingo clubs in Scotland.”
Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland star Darcy Graham presented Hawick Ambulance Station with a donation of £500 and a signed match jersey to thank the hero Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff who saved his brother’s life after a horror crash.
Aged 17 at the time, Clark Graham was involved in an accident near the village of Ashkirk in the Borders, north of Hawick, which left him in a coma for three-and-a-half weeks.
Graham, who is now preparing for the Rugby World Cup in France, previously donated £500 to the Hawick station – donated on behalf of the club’s sponsors Scottish Building Society – after winning the team’s Player of The Month last September.
He was once again chosen as Edinburgh’s April’s Player of the Month this year and chose the ambulance service as the beneficiary.
Graham visited Hawick Ambulance Station on Thursday (May 18) to thank Gary Brown, Hawick-based Paramedic, and Jenny Braithwaite, Paramedic who is based in Melrose, who was working at Hawick at the time.
After the call was taken by Iona Walker, Gary and Jenny (pictured with Darcy) were the first crew on scene and rushed Clark to Borders General Hospital, fearing the worst.
Graham said: “It means so much to me and my family. Without the Scottish Ambulance Service and what they did that night at Clark’s accident, he wouldn’t be here, so it’s an easy one for us to give back to them to just kind of say thank you. The quick decisions they made that night thankfully saved Clark’s life.
“It was very emotional meeting the crew. It’s kind of hard to put into words what to say to them. It’s an easy one to for me to pick. It’s not just my family they’ve helped, it’s so many other people’s families and lives they’ve saved from them just doing their job.
“Day to day, it’s what they are here for and we kind of take it for granted almost. Having the ambulance service, having the NHS, everything, we are very lucky to have these services just on a phone call.”
Brown, who has been with the Scottish Ambulance Service for 14 years, said it was “fantastic” of Darcy to donate to SAS, and added: “It was great to meet Darcy and hopefully we can meet Clark soon. The money will be donated to the station, so it will stay in Hawick.”
He said the money will directly benefit the patients the ambulance service attends to.
Speaking of the accident, Brown said: “I remembered it had started snowing that night and there was a light covering over the road. We were the first crew on scene and quite clearly the car Clark had been driving had gone through two fences and into a tree.”
Brown was the first to inspect the vehicle, and after seeing the wreckage of the car – which had suffered “massive damage – feared the worst for who was inside. He added: “Clark was unconscious and obviously very, very ill.”
After assessing the scene, Gary and Jenny realised he needed to be transferred to hospital immediately. Clark was initially taken to Borders General Hospital, before being transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Gary said after he was handed into the care of hospital clinicians, he didn’t think would make it.
Two additional crews staffed by Susan Angus, Technician, and Lee Myers, Paramedic, both of Melrose Station, and Suzanne Little, Advanced Paramedic at Melrose, and Mark Neil, Practice Placement Educator. Malcolm Landells and Rhona Dunn from SAS’s SORT East team were also sent along with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to the scene of the accident. A second passenger, less critical than Clark, also required medical treatment.
Scottish Building Society has donated over £7000 the past two seasons to a range of causes, and Graham said it was great to see first-hand the staff who will benefit and how it will help the community and patient care. The money will used for patient care and is determined by the staff on how it is best spent to help the community.
Paul Denton, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Building Society added: “We’re very proud to donate to Scottish Ambulance Service in Hawick for the second time.
“It’s a charity which we know is very close to Darcy’s heart, and we are very aware of the lifesaving work they do across the Borders. It’s great to have their work highlighted and supported in this way.”
