Day: June 5, 2023

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: How recycling metal can benefit us all and help reduce plastic pollution

 USING more recycled metal can massively help to beat plastic pollution, one of the country’s leading recycling associations says today. 

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) is urging people celebrating World Environment Day to stop and think about the reasons why recycling more metal can make a real difference. 

As part of an awareness-drive, the BMRA also shared ten benefits of recycling metal which comes as rising numbers of people switch to reusable containers, such as drinks flasks for hot and cold drinks and as others make the move from plastic bottles to metal cans. 

James Kelly, the CEO of the BMRA said: “This World Environment Day, the BMRA is asking people to take a moment and think: What is the alternative? Do I need to buy this? And can it be easily recycled?

“Aluminium drinks cans, for example, are part of a closed loop recycling system. As long as they are placed in the recycling, they can be back in the shops as a new can in as little as 60 days. 

“Even by carrying a metal straw or your food in a metal container, it means that the item can be used many times over and recycled at the end of its useful life. 

He continued: “Any initiative that educates people, that asks them to consider the most sustainable alternative and shows them how to ensure it is recycled correctly is welcomed. We all play a part, but there needs to be greater opportunity for recycling and disposal of waste, not just in the home, but when people are out and about. 

“Due to metals’ 100% recyclability, we are using World Environment Day to remind people why they should recycle their metal.” 

Meanwhile, the BMRA says it would also like a deposit return scheme to use a variable rate, instead of the fixed rate of 20p proposed for all container sizes whether plastic, glass or metal.

Mr Kelly added: “A fixed-rate deposit scheme could see consumers favour plastic bottles over metal cans, which could potentially see a rise in plastic pollution which is completely against the ethos of World Environment Day.”

Outlining ten reasons to recycle metal the BMRA said:

  1. About 80% of all the known chemical elements in the world are categorised as metals. Metal comes from the Earth. Let’s try and keep it there.
  2. Metal is 100% recyclable. It is permanent, and it can be recycled forever, over and over again. It contributes to the Circular Economy, avoiding landfill, as well as saving the destruction of natural habitats caused by the mining of metal ore.
  3. Recycling one tonne of steel can save one and half tonnes of iron ore from being mined. Iron is a metal, but steel is a man-made alloy. Steel is made by mixing iron and carbon together. 
  4. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (known as WEEE) generally covers products that have a plug or need a battery, such as fridges, vacuum cleaners, and computer equipment. As funny as that acronym is, it is important WEEE is recycled correctly. Not only does WEEE contain metal, but it can also contain lithium and lithium-ion batteries that are incredibly dangerous. If they are damaged, the batteries can cause fires. 
  5. The metal in your mobile phone could be recycled into an Olympic medal. Tokyo’s Olympic medals were made from 78,985 tons of recycled electronic devices, including mobile phones. It can contain gold, lithium, aluminium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc. One tonne of smartphones can contain 300 times more gold than one tonne of gold ore.
  6. You can get paid for your scrap metal. Ensuring you have the appropriate identification, you can go to a metal recycler and be paid by BACS, cheque or eTransfer. Cash for your scrap is illegal, however, so do report it if you are offered it.  
  7. Recycling steel uses 70% less energy than mining and refining ore. Steel is the most widely used metal. It is easily identifiable as it is magnetic and can be easily separated from general waste. It is used to make many different items including cars, bridges, and playpark equipment. 
  8. Recycling metal avoids sending a permanent material to landfill. There is a process called urban mining, whereby materials like metal and WEEE previously discarded in general waste, can be reclaimed from the ground. While this ensures even more metal can be recycled, it is easier. cheaper and safer to recycle it correctly first time. 
  9. Recycling metal emits 80% less CO2 than production from raw materials. It is credentials like this that make metals recycling a key driver in the Government achieving its net zero targets. 
  10. An aluminium drinks can can be back on the shelf of a supermarket as a new drinks can, 60 days after it was originally bought. Aluminium can also be used for aeroplane parts, a beer keg or foil for your lunchtime sandwich. 

Scotch Whisky Experience: New Tour to Launch in July

Anticipation is building as work nears completion on the enhanced tour at The Scotch Whisky Experience, located at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

Following a major investment of £3 million the new tour is expected to launch in July.

The Scotch Whisky Experience has been sharing the delights of Scotch whisky to a global audience of 8.5 million visitors for more than 35 years and is one of Edinburgh’s five-star attractions.

Susan Morrison, Chief Executive of The Scotch Whisky Experience, said “it has been so exciting to see the development of our new immersive visitor experience and we cannot wait to share it.  This unusual technology and our brilliant team of guides will lead visitors through the distilling process using a unique method of storytelling.”

More than just a liquid, Scotch whisky is an expression of Scotland and its rich traditions and natural heritage. The new tour promises to take visitors on a captivating journey across the country to discover what makes whisky the spirit of Scotland.

As well as learning about the distilling process, the immersive experience will also give visitors an appreciation of the importance wood has on the character and flavour of Scotch before the angels have their share.

Excitement is palpable amongst staff who will shortly begin their training with the new technology. 

Ellie Nichols, Senior Visitor Assistant at The Scotch Whisky Experience, said; ”working at The Scotch whisky Experience sparks joy and I love teaching people about whisky.  

“I can’t wait to spark the same joy in our visitors. This new, completely immersive, experience is going to capture their attention from the minute they step through the doors. This is such a unique place, and I can’t wait to be part of the future of The Scotch Whisky Experience.”

The July launch of this enhanced tour at The Scotch Whisky Experience will ensure even more visitors are welcomed into the extraordinary world of Scotland’s whisky heritage.

Award-winning artisan cheese shops up for sale

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to market George Mewes Cheese, two high turnover artisan cheese shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

George Mewes Cheese was first established in 2010 when former chef, George opened his Glasgow store, followed by a store in Edinburgh in 2015. Since then George has built an award-winning business which sources the finest cheeses from Britain and Europe, working closely with Hervé Mons, a top affineur based in France, and British affineur Neal’s Yard Dairy of London.

As well as the thriving retail business, George Mewes Cheese has built a reputation as a leading wholesaler, supplying cheeses to prestigious Scottish hotels and restaurants.

These profitable stores are ideally positioned in affluent areas of both cities. George Mewes Edinburgh is located on Dean Park Street, in the vibrant area of Stockbridge while George Mewes Glasgow is situated on the cosmopolitan and eclectic Byres Road in the West End.

Having successfully navigated the Covid pandemic, and now generating consistently high sales in-store and online, George believes the time is right to pass over the reins to a new owner who can build on the current success.

Liam Bain, Business Agent at Christie & Co’s Scottish Retail team, is handling the sales process comments, “I am excited to assist George with selling the business he has worked tirelessly to build over the last 13 years.

“With two fantastic sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, I’m sure this will pique the interest of business owners and entrepreneurs across both retail and hospitality sectors and beyond.”

Police advice: Keeping your sheds and garages safe

Police have had reports of sheds/garages being broken into across Edinburgh. Please remain vigilant and review the security of your property.

Key points for shed/garage security are:

• Use a good quality closed shackled padlock

• Fit coach bolts or anti tamper screws on shed hinges

• Install a stand-alone shed alarm

• Secure bikes within sheds/garages to a ground anchor or immovable object

• Review the lighting and fencing around your property

• Consider a garage defender

Please see attached documents for further advice.

If you see anyone acting suspiciously near to your property or vehicle please contact the police immediately with as detailed a description as possible of any person or vehicle involved. Please call 999 if an emergency and urgent police assistance is required or 101 to report the matter to the police.

Scottish whaling memories captured in new project

Creation of new digital platform to provide a space to share this important part of Scottish social history

Over the next two years, the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Museum, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be working alongside a number of former whaling communities in Scotland to create The Whalers’ Memory Bank. 

The Memory Bank will create a living, growing digital time capsule where veterans of the whaling industry, their families and communities can come together to contribute and share their stories with a wider audience. 

The story of modern whaling in the Southern Hemisphere is a controversial one with British companies playing a key role in the industry. These companies had a largely Scottish workforce and attracted many working-class men with the promise of adventure and competitive wages.

Now, only a dwindling number of men survive that have first-hand memories of this industry, an integral part of Scottish social history. They are the last generation to be able to share their stories, knowledge and personal collections before they are lost forever.

Kicking off in July 2023, the project will run for two years and throughout this time the project team will work alongside former whaling communities to capture memories that will help create The Whalers’ Memory Bank.

At the heart of this will be a series of community events to gather stories and help shape the Memory Bank that those communities want to see and will value. It will also make the connection between why whaling happened, where it happened (a great deal of it on South Georgia), and where most of the whalers came from in Scotland.

Jayne Pierce, Project Director and Curator at the South Georgia Museum said: “Our aim is to create a digital portal that captures memories with photographs, oral histories, film and sounds, alongside a Virtual Reality tour of the whaling station on South Georgia. This work will be done using the existing collections held by the South Georgia Museum and will also link into several Scottish museums that are partners in this project.

“It is really going to be a joint effort, bringing together the former whalers and their communities to hear their stories and let them help shape the Memory Bank they really want to see. We know from the contact we already have with the former whaling communities that families are eager to share their personal collections – artefacts and photographs stored in attics, cupboards and drawers – each with a story to tell.

“We really hope the project will connect communities across local, national and international boundaries and dispel some of the myths around whaling. It will create a richer experience than a simple online database – dynamic rather than static – uplifting and celebratory.”

Gibbie Fraser, Chair of the Shetland ex-Whalers Association (SeA) hasstruggled to access archive material which can be restricted by charges and copyright. On the launch of the Whalers’ Memory Bank, he said: “The idea that the South Georgia Museum has about a shared archive to preserve what we can together is exactly what we were trying to do and welcome it with open arms!”

Caroline Clark, Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: “Thanks to the support of National Lottery players , we are pleased to be able to give funding to former whaling communities to capture their stories and explore this important untold story.

“We look forward to seeing the project develop as communities come together to share their memories and personal collections with each other and the wider world.”

The project is also a great opportunity to work with a small network of partner museums including the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, and Dundee Heritage Trust’s Verdant Works, all of which hold hidden whaling archives and collections that are enlightening, inspiring, and engaging.

As well as supporting with access to collections and stories, some of these organisations will also be involved in the community events the project will be developing for Spring 2024. The Shetland Maritime Heritage Society, Salvesen Ex-Whalers Club and the Shetland ex-Whalers Association will also be collaborating on the project. 

Anyone interested in finding out more or getting involved with the project should email memorybank@sght.org

Every Moment Counts: Deaf children in Scotland need better support in early years

The National Deaf Children’s Society has launched a new five-year strategy, Every Moment Counts, which aims to ensure all deaf children across Scotland receive the support they need during their early years (0-5), or as soon as their deafness is identified.  

The charity is shifting the focus of its campaigning to early years as it strongly believes that families need first class support during this crucial period, so they feel empowered to make informed decisions and champion their deaf child.  

For all children the early years is a crucial time, but the National Deaf Children’s Society says this is even more so for deaf children, given the impact deafness can have on language development, communication, and social skills.   

Missed opportunities to spot deafness and provide the support deaf children need can lead to lifelong impacts, according to the charity. 

It says a deaf child without good language and communication development in the early years, be it spoken, sign, or a mixture of both, can experience ongoing challenges. They may struggle to listen and follow instructions in the classroom, or miss conversations with their peers, leading to feelings of isolation and a sense of ‘missing out’.

Kirsten Abioye’s son was not diagnosed as deaf until he was almost three due to failures at their local heath board’s paediatric audiology service.

Kirsten said: “Our experience of early years was really hard. The audiology department was unhelpful and dismissed me as an anxious mum. We experienced delays and a general lack of communication which left us in a difficult position. We knew something was going on with our son but did not know how to support him. His diagnosis brought overwhelming relief.”

Teachers of the Deaf can help bridge this gap, by providing specialist support to deaf children of all ages once their deafness is identified. They play a vital role in deaf children’s lives, particularly during the critical early years – helping to reduce their chances of them falling behind developmentally, socially and educationally.  

But a report published by the Consortium for Research into Deaf Education (CRIDE), shows Teachers of the Deaf numbers across Scotland have fallen by 40% in a decade and almost half (45%) are due to retire in the next 10 years. The fall in numbers is twice that of other parts of the UK.  

This means thousands of deaf children across Scotland are not getting the support they need in school. Deaf young people in Scotland are already twice as likely as their hearing classmates to leave school with no qualifications and half as likely to go on to university.  

Against this backdrop it comes as no surprise that some parents of deaf children in Scotland are concerned that their deaf child does not have enough support from health and education services. Having access to information and advice is crucial in helping families make tricky decisions about how their child will communicate, which technology they’ll use and what type of school they’ll attend.  

Kirsten describes her family’s Teacher of the Deaf as an “advocate, support system, teacher, encourager, source of information – all in one woman!”

She said: “Her support has been a lifeline, and she works closely with our son’s nursery who also provide excellent support.”  

But even with a great Teacher of the Deaf and nursery, Kirsten’s family still struggled, as the specialist support their family urgently required was simply not available to them.  

Kirsten continued: “It was a very isolating, stressful time because we just wanted to be able to support our child. I contacted the National Deaf Children’s Society and had a chat with a member of staff, who was really understanding. She listened and understood my panic that we had missed the opportunity for language learning and were really behind.  

“She helped me fill in an application for a family learning course, funded and run by the charity, which kick started our British Sign Language (BSL) learning. She’s been with us through various different parts of life since, most recently our difficulty finding accessible swimming lessons.” 

The National Deaf Children’s Society warns that unless action is taken urgently things will only get worse. It is calling on local authorities across Scotland to commit to returning qualified Teacher of the Deaf numbers to 2011 levels over the next decade. 

At their annual congress in May, The Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA), Scotland’s second largest teaching union, unanimously agreed a motion backing the charity’s call on the Scottish Government to address the dramatic drop in the number of qualified Teachers of the Deaf, as “matter of urgency”.  

The charity also calls on the Scottish Government to develop and deliver a Scotland-wide workforce strategy for Teachers of the Deaf, and to ensure they are properly paid for the extra responsibilities they take on, in recognition that their specialist expertise is valued. 

Mark Ballard, Head of Policy and Influencing for Scotland with the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Deaf children are just as capable as their peers when they have right support in place, ideally from the very beginning. But many families in Scotland are struggling to access this support.   

“It means that deaf children just aren’t being given the opportunity to thrive in those crucial formative years. Once they fall behind, it can be incredibly hard to catch up and this can have a lasting impact that affects them throughout their lives.

“Every moment counts, from the time a child’s deafness is identified, to their first day at school and beyond. We owe it to deaf children to give them the best start in life.”

For more information about Every Moment counts, visit:

ndcs.org.uk/everymomentcounts

To learn more about the support available for deaf children in their early years visit the National Deaf Children’s Society website. 

Free Community Cafe at Strachan House Care Home

Staff and residents at Strachan House care home in Blackhall have invited neighbours and friends from the local community to their free monthly coffee afternoon.

Taking place every last Friday of the month from 2pm-4pm, residents from within the local community will have a chance to meet and chat over tea or coffee and homemade cakes provided by the home to everyone from within their community. Guests will also have a chance to take a tour of the home, and ask any questions they might have about the facilities at Strachan House. 

General Manager of the home, Gordon Philp said: “Our Community Coffee Afternoons allows individuals from the local area to meet and connect with one another regularly.

“It’s a great chance to share stories, make new friends, and of course, enjoy our wonderful spread provided by our hospitality team!”

Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.

I Care! Join Carers Week campaign

Ask your MP to support carers this Carers Week

Dear supporter,

This Carers Week, we’re calling for greater UK Government support for unpaid carers.

To raise awareness of Carers Week and our campaign, please click the button below and take a couple of minutes to write to your local MP to ask them to support our campaign for greater cross-Government action in support of carers.

We have provided a template letter and ask that you add your own personal experience of caring to this, before sending it. Please forward any response you receive from your MP to policy@carersuk.org so that we can follow up with them, if you are happy to do so.

Click here to write to your MP:

https://technology-trust-news.org/15AY-8B1GO-9R7IOT-55U34F-1/c.aspx

Thank you in advance for your support and for taking part in Carers Week 2023!

Best wishes,

The Carers Week team

19 million people in the UK have provided unpaid care – but haven’t identified as a carer

  • Polling shows nearly three quarters of people (73 per cent) who currently provide unpaid care, or have provided care in the past, have never identified as or called themselves a carer
  • Eight million people who have provided unpaid care have also seen their health and wellbeing suffer
  • Seven charities supporting Carers Week call for cross-Government action and a funded National Carers Strategy

Carers UK, along with six charities, carried out the polling of the general public to coincide with the start of Carers Week. They found that 73% of people in the UK who are providing, or have provided, unpaid care in their lifetime – roughly 19 million people – have not identified themselves as a carer.

The polling also suggests eight million people (31 per cent) in the UK with experience of providing care have seen their health and wellbeing suffer.

The findings demonstrate the need for Government and all areas of society to play a role in supporting millions of people to identify their caring role and get help.

The polling reveals that the vast majority of carers could be missing out on important information, support or advice that could make a real difference to their day-to-day lives.

Nearly half of those who took longer to identify themselves as a carer (46%) said they missed out on financial support as a result of not knowing they were a carer, and 35% missed out on practical support.

This lack of support can leave unpaid carers isolated; unable to take breaks from caring, struggling to look after their physical and mental health, stay in work or education, or manage financially.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK commenting on behalf of the Carers Week charities said: “The fact that the large majority of people who have cared for a friend or family member in the UK haven’t identified or called themselves a carer shows that there is so much to be done to raise awareness of unpaid care and its impact on individuals, whether that be to their finances or physical or mental health.

“Eight million people with experience of care seeing their health suffer is concerning and shows the need for targeted action to support carers.

“Healthcare professionals, employers and wider society have an important responsibility to help people with caring responsibilities get the right support when they need it.

“The Government needs to show that it recognises and values unpaid carers by stepping up cross-government action to support them, alongside a funded National Carers Strategy.”

Providing care is a common experience – the polling shows that 50 per cent of the public have at some point in their life provided unpaid care to a family member or friend with a disability, illness, mental health condition or who needs extra help as they grow older.

The YouGov Poll found that women are significantly more likely to be providing unpaid care than men and are more likely to identify as or call themselves a carer.

People providing unpaid care often fail to identify their caring role because they see themselves primarily as a family member or friend, or the process of taking on a caring role is very gradual as the condition of the person being cared for deteriorates over time. Other barriers include carers being too busy to realise the role they’re undertaking, or not feeling like the amount of support being provided is enough to be identified as a carer.

They may be missing out on Carer’s Allowance, the main benefit for those caring 35 hours or more each week and earning under £139, support from their local council to take a break, or practical support from their local carer organisation.

Running from 5 June to 11 June, the charities supporting Carers Week 2023 are Carers UK, Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Rethink Mental Illness, Oxfam GB and The Lewy Body Society.

Together, they are calling on Government for better recognition of unpaid carers across society so that they can access the vital support they need to carry out their caring role.

Omni Centre death: Murder inquiry launched

A murder inquiry has been launched following the death of a 30-year-old man in Edinburgh.

Around 7.45pm on Friday, 2 June, 2023, officers were called to a report of a disturbance on Leith Street near to the junction with Greenside Row.

Edinburgh man Peter Mullen, 30, suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died a short time later.

Following a post mortem examination, his death is being treated as murder. His relatives are aware and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Enquiries have so far revealed a number of people were involved in the disturbance and a 41-year-old man was also taken to hospital for treatment.

A 46-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a minor assault. She is expected to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Detective Chief Inspector John Morrison said: “Our thoughts are very much with Peter’s family and friends at this very difficult time.

“We have a dedicated team of officers working on this investigation and I would like to reassure the local community that everything is being done to trace the person responsible.

“Extensive enquiries are ongoing and officers are continuing to gather CCTV footage from the surrounding area.

“We are aware that the area was busy at the time of the incident and we are again encouraging anyone who may have seen or heard a disturbance, to please get in touch.

“We have set up a website that gives members of the public access to a form to send information directly to us.

“Anyone with any CCTV, dashcam or any other footage that they think would assist the enquiry can also send this via this link.

“You can select to remain anonymous when submitting information.

“I’d like to thank the public for their assistance so far and ask anyone with information who hasn’t already spoken with officers to please call 101 quoting incident number 4094 of 2 June, 2023.

“Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given completely anonymously.

“We have set up a link to our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) that allows members of the public to send information directly to the public.”

The MIPP can be accessed here: 

https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT23S24-PO1