Day: June 28, 2023

Help make the world’s most remote permanent art installation a reality

SOUTH GEORGIA AND IT’S WHALES NEED YOU NOW crowdfunder

Conservation charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) has launched a new crowdfunding campaign: ‘South Georgia and its whales need you now’. It is designed to make the world’s most remote permanent art installationa reality and help fund vital research into global whale conservation and environmental management.

The art installation, Commensalis: The Spirit Tables of South Georgia, is the work of Scottish sculptor Michael Visocchi who won an international competition for his design. It will stand proud at Grytviken, an abandoned yet atmospheric former whaling on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, a small British Overseas Territory that lies over 1,500 km southeast of the Falkland Islands. 

To make this artwork a reality, SGHT is now calling on members of the public to help. ‘South Georgia and its whales need you now’ allows anyone to play their part, by donating whatever amount they can afford via: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-georgia-whales/

A humpback whale in the Southern Ocean. Credit Gabriel Sizzi on Unsplash

A humpback whale in the Southern Ocean. Credit Gabriel Sizzi on Unsplash

South Georgia has been described as the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ due to its incredible abundance of iconic wildlife.

This small island was also once the epicentre of the southern whaling industry but now is an ecosystem in recovery in large part thanks to herculean conservation efforts by many stakeholders, including SGHT, US-based affiliate charity Friends of South Georgia Island and project partners Albatros Expeditions and engineering firm WSP.

Commensalis will tell the remarkable story of this recovery, particularly focusing on South Georgia’s whales, from commemorating the loss of 175,000 individuals and the near extinction of several species by the 1960s, to their renaissance over the last decade. 

Commensalis will serve as a powerful reminder that despite the catastrophic losses once experienced on South Georgia, ecological restoration is possible, and nature can heal when given the chance. 

As well as helping fund this extraordinary artwork, exclusive rewards, including behind-the-scenes audio content from Michael Visocchi’s recent visits to South Georgia will be available to those who donate, offering a rare insight into this project, the artistic process and challenges of working on such a remote island. 

10% of all donations via this campaign will also contribute to a new whale research fund, and once Commensalis is installed visitors will be encouraged to donate directly to this fund too. 

At the heart of Commensalis are seven immense weathering steel circular tables. The Key Table depicts the numbers of whales that were processed at South Georgia, with the six Spirit Tables each representing a species of whale that were once hunted and whose numbers are now recovering thanks to decades-long conservation and environmental management.

The Spirit Tables are punctuated by c.17,000 stainless steel rivets in mesmerising patterns, with each symbolising a live whale or the spirit of a whale. Light will bounce off each one, illuminating the space and conveying a feeling of hope that is reflected in the growing numbers of whales in the waters around South Georgia.

WSP is generously supporting SGHT and Michael Visocchi by overseeing the complex task of transporting the artwork to the remote island and installing it.

The installation will be designed to withstand South Georgia’s extreme climate, ensuring that it remains in place for generations to come.

Artist Michael Visocchi was selected from over 150 international artists to take on this project in late 2020. Since then, Michael has worked closely with SGHT and WSP to finalise plans for the installation which has included two awe-inspiring visits to South Georgia to see the island for himself, and to engage with and understand the landscape, climatic conditions, and wider surroundings.

Michael Visocchi said: “South Georgia is a truly magnificent and magical place. Seeing its landscape and abundant wildlife was truly breath taking and feeling the island’s atmosphere was an experience like no other I’ve ever had.

“I feel hugely privileged to be the one creating Commensalis, which will undoubtably be both the most challenging yet most rewarding artwork of my career. I hope visitors respond to my vision and take with them a deeper understanding of this important story of global conservation”.

Alison Neil, CEO of the South Georgia Heritage Trust said: “Michael’s art installation will enrich the on-island experience of all who visit and will seamlessly tell the extraordinary story of South Georgia’s dark past to becoming a global beacon of hope as an ecosystem in recovery. 

“Commensalis will enable visitors to dive more deeply into the island’s whaling heritage, which despite being a catastrophe for the island’s wildlife does form part of South Georgia’s history. We hope that with the help of the public Commensalis will soon be ready for the world to see.” 

Humpback whales, southern elephant seals, vast colonies of king penguins and an array of seabirds all call South Georgia home, and have been showcased on major natural history documentaries including Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Planet Earth. The island is also known for being the burial place of world-famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

SGHT has been working to conserve South Georgia’s natural and cultural heritage since 2005, which includes running the South Georgia Museum on behalf of the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI). 

The small charity has delivered many successful on-island projects including the world’s largest rodent eradication project, which successfully removed invasive rodents which had almost pushed native birds to extinction.

South Georgia was declared ‘rodent free’ in 2018, thanks to the decade-long Habitat Restoration Project. SGHT now continues to work with the GSGSSI to ensure strict biosecurity procedures are enforced so that South Georgia’s10-15,000 annual visitors don’t inadvertently undo this amazing feat. 

To support Commensalis and global whale conservation, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-georgia-whales/ and to find out more about South Georgia, visit www.sght.org  

Take on The Tartan Titan, the world’s longest inflatable obstacle course

The Tartan Titan is back this summer at Conifox Adventure Park in Edinburgh with 600m of inflatable fun for everyone.

Opening this Saturday (1 July) at the Kirkliston adventure park, kids and adults alike can take on the blow-up obstacle course which was certified as the longest in the world by Guinness World Records in 2022.

The 600m course is now longer than eight Boeing 747 airplanes laid nose-to-tip. It is filled with 50 imaginative obstacles inspired by popular gameshows like Ninja Warrior, Total Wipeout and Gladiator, which see participants climb, crawl, jump and bounce their way to glory along the course.

90-minute sessions will run from Friday – Sunday, with the course taking around 30 minutes to complete.  A slot specifically for families with children under 10 will run on Saturdays and Sundays at 11.30am, followed by adults-only sessions at 3.30pm in the afternoon.

Food trucks will also be on site over the weekend so participants can tuck into delicious food, drinks and ice creams after they have taken on the course or while cheering on family and friends.

The popular attraction launched at Conifox for the first time in 2022 and saw almost 10,000 visitors in 10 days over the summer. Managing director James Gammell is hoping to see even more challengers this year, with the addition of an extra 60m of new inflatable obstacles.

“The Tartan Titan was a screaming success last year and we jumped at the chance to bring it back again this summer,” said James.

“Families, friends and workplaces came from all over Scotland to take on the course and we’ve already had a number of bookings from returning visitors who want to do it all over again.”

The Tartan Titan is open Friday – Sunday, 9.30am – 3.30pm until 13 August 2023.

Tickets cost £20 per person for a 90-minute session and must be booked in advance at www.conifox.co.uk/the-tartan-titan/

Scotland’s first dedicated Masters degree in sports journalism launched at Edinburgh Napier University 

New course builds on long-established journalism programme

Scotland’s only dedicated Masters degree in sports journalism has been launched at Edinburgh Napier University.  

Building on the success of the University’s long-established journalism programme, this new offering will specialise in digital storytelling for sports coverage in print, online and broadcast.  

The course – which will utilise the University’s multi-platform digital newsroom and studios for both television and radio – will give students the chance to learn and develop a wide range of practical skills for sports journalism, including those required in the areas of commentary and punditry.  

Teaching will be adapted to cater for a range of mediums including TV, radio, podcast, online and newspapers, with students also getting the chance to learn software such as Burli for audio and Avid for video editing.  

The programme is being led by David Tanner. David is well-known in the national media scene, best known for anchoring live football on Sky Sports, he has also hosted on BT Sports, STV News, Sky Sports News and Sky News.  

His career has taken him to more than 30 countries to cover sport, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Alongside his role at Edinburgh Napier, David is Scotland correspondent for talkSPORT, the world’s biggest sports radio station.  

Edinburgh Napier’s long-established journalism programme celebrated its 45th anniversary in December last year, with a number of its alumni going on to have highly-respected, high-profile careers within the industry.  

In sports journalism specifically, names like David Tanner and his Sky Sports colleague Jim White, Chris McLaughlin, Orla Chennaoui and Amy Canavan have all stepped through the University’s doors at Merchiston campus before going on to be regulars on TV, radio and in newspapers discussing all things topical in the world of sport.  

Last year, Edinburgh Napier was named a top 3 UK university for journalism, publishing and public relations in the 2023 Guardian University Guide. 

Programme Leader for the new MA in Sports Journalism at Edinburgh Napier David Tanner said: “The new MA Sports Journalism is a wonderful opportunity for people like me who have a passion for both sport and the media. I have been fortunate to travel the world to present live sport to big audiences and cover big sports news stories, enjoying every minute of the work.  

“There are many job opportunities covering men’s and women’s sports for media outlets and, increasingly, within sporting clubs and organisations, so it seems the right time to launch this new sports-centred offering. 

“I am looking forward to working with colleagues in the University, backed-up by well-known external contributors from the media. The MA Sports Journalism is a whole new ball game for the teaching of journalism.” 

Dr Diane Maclean, Dean of Edinburgh Napier’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, said: “Edinburgh Napier’s journalism programme has a rich heritage and has helped to develop many of the country’s finest journalists throughout the past 45 years.

“The MA in Sports Journalism is an exciting new chapter for the programme and we look forward to nurturing the next generation of sports journalists, reporters, pundits and podcasters in the months and years ahead.” 

Applications for the new MA in Sports Journalism at Edinburgh Napier are now open. 

St James Quarter announces two-year charity partnership with Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Health in Mind

As part of St James Quarter’s commitment to putting the local community at its heart, Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid have been named as the Quarter’s charity partners for 2023 – 2025.

Throughout the two-year partnership, St James Quarter will work closely with the charities, putting a spotlight on their important work, raising awareness of their services and the support they offer, hosting fundraising activities and events, and dedicating time to volunteering, to make a difference in the local community and beyond.

Edinburgh Women’s Aid provides support and refuge to women and children affected by domestic abuse, helping over 2,000 women and 250 children each year. Through the partnership, St James Quarter aims to raise awareness of issues relating to domestic violence and the incredibly valuable services the charity offers, including, employability support, legal support, safe refuge and support groups to promote positive wellbeing and recovery.  

Health in Mind is a leading Scottish mental health charity based in Edinburgh, with a vision that everyone in Scotland should have positive mental health and wellbeing, and can access high-quality support if, when and how they need it.

Recognising the far-reaching impact of mental health, St James Quarter hopes that this partnership will shine a light on the many resources and support services that Health in Mind offer, and the real difference they can make to people’s lives.

Alex McGinness, Technical Services Director and Corporate Social Responsibility Chair at St James Quarter says, “St James Quarter is committed to supporting charities that do incredible and valuable work in the city and beyond and we’re extremely proud to be partnering with Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid for the next two years.

“We will support each organisation’s charitable initiatives and work together on exciting events and activations to raise awareness or funds. The partnerships will also open up training opportunities for our employees on important matters relating to mental health and domestic abuse. The charities are truly doing transformative work and it’s a privilege to be partnering with them”.

Wendy Bates, Chief Executive of Health in Mind says, “Health in Mind has been promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in communities across Edinburgh since 1982 and we’re pleased that now includes the St James Quarter community – from its staff to those who visit. 

“St James Quarter is a key venue in Edinburgh and our partnership will have a lasting impact in raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing and our available Health in Mind support.”

Linda Rodgers, Chief Executive Officer at Edinburgh Women’s Aid says, “In our 50th anniversary year, we are absolutely delighted to be partnering with St James Quarter.  Both Edinburgh Women’s Aid and St James Quarter are key actors in life in Edinburgh. 

“This amazing partnership creates an opportunity for us to jointly signal that supporting women and children to live safely and free from abuse is at the heart of Edinburgh’s community values.”

Both charities will also provide guidance and training to enhance the skills of the St James Quarter team, equipping them to identify and sensitively deal with issues surrounding domestic violence or mental wellbeing in the workplace.

St James Quarter will also leverage its existing partnership with retail and hospitality academy, FUSE, to offer support and to individuals who benefit from the charities and are looking to get into work.

To keep up to date with the latest news and events, download the St James Quarter app here.

Baton of Hope Tour stops off in Edinburgh to raise awareness of suicide prevention initiative 

The Baton of Hope aims to be the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative

The Baton of Hope, the symbol of the UK’s biggest suicide awareness campaign, reached Edinburgh Castle on Monday as it continues its tour across the UK’s major cities,

The Baton of Hope, the biggest suicide prevention initiative the UK has ever seen, will visited Edinburgh on the first ever tour of its kind. 

Highlighting the suicide crisis that sees 17 people take their own lives every day, the charity’s Baton, its iconic physical symbol, will embark on a tour of 12 cities across the UK, starting in Glasgow on Sunday 25th June and culminating in a trip to Downing Street on Thursday 6th July.

The Baton will bring a unifying message of hope to the thousands of people across the country that are suffering as a result of suicide bereavement or personal mental ill health. 

PICTURED: Louise Marshall, the Lord Provost’s Piper, Christo, the Baton of Hope Tour’s first Baton bearer, Tanya Marwaha and Jenny Raynor, members of the Baton of Hope organising committee, and Paul Marshall, brother of the Lord Provost’s Piper.

Letters: Every Moment Counts

Dear Editor,

Every Moment Counts

Did your readers know that deaf children often fall behind in their development, because they’re not getting the right support in their early years? It’s an especially critical time for deaf children, because of the impact their deafness can have on language development, communication and social skills. 

Without good communication skills learned early on, a deaf child could face lifelong challenges. For instance, when they start school they may come up against many barriers, like struggling to understand instructions in the classroom and conversations with their peers, all leading to feelings of isolation and a sense of ‘missing out’.

To make matters worse, Teachers of the Deaf, who provide specialist support and make such a difference to a deaf child’s life, are in decline in Scotland. Their numbers have fallen by 40% in a decade – twice that of other parts of the UK. It’s a scandal.

Here at the National Deaf Children’s Society, we’re determined to do something about it. That’s why we’ve just launched our new five-year plan, Every Moment Counts, which calls for more support, more quickly, for deaf children during those vital early years. We won’t rest until every deaf child receives the right support as early as possible.

For more information about Every Moment counts, visit:

www.ndcs.org.uk/everymomentcounts

The National Deaf Children’s Society supports the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and young people. For anyone needing advice, support or information about deafness, please call our free Helpline on 0808 800 8880 or visit our website, www.ndcs.org.uk

Debbie Talbot, 

Chief Strategy Officer, the National Deaf Children’s Society

Edinburgh pupil’s wartime diary entry wins national competition

Scottish pupils have impressed judges with their touching diary entries depicting the outbreak of war. 

Liam McNamee, from Castleview Primary School in Edinburgh, and Maya Al-Najim, from The High School of Glasgow, have been announced as the winners of Poppyscotland’s My Secret War Diary competition. 

Launching as part of the charity’s annual learning pack, the competition asked learners to write a diary entry depicting how the outbreak of war would impact their lives. With an open-ended brief, pupils were invited to draw on conflicts from past, present or future.  

Liam, a P7 pupil, won the primary school category with his “unique perspective”, choosing to write from the point of a father struggling to process what the change would mean to his family. Maya, who is in S3, took the secondary prize with her “emotive and gripping” diary entry set in Belgium in 1914.  

This year’s competition saw over 140 entries from schools all across Scotland. Eight judges from Poppyscotland, Legion Scotland and Officers’ Association Scotland came together to shortlist the entries down to 16 per category. After much deliberation from the judges these were further narrowed down to just six final entries per category.  

The six finalists were made public on the Poppyscotland website for the public to choose their winners. With a phenomenal total of more than 1,400 votes cast across the ten days, the public chose Liam and Maya as their winners. 

Gordon Michie, head of fundraising and learning at Poppyscotland, presented Liam with his award in front of his peers, saying: “It was a great pleasure to visit Castleview and present this year’s primary school winner with his certificate and the £500 vouchers for the school to use.  

“Every year our team of judges are hard pressed to short list for the public voting. The creative thought and effort that all entrants put in is something that their schools are rightly proud off. 

“However, Liam’s diary entry stood out and painted a picture through his words of what was happening in those early days of the Second World War. It made it very easy for me to think I was transported back to that time.” 

Katie White, Liam’s class teacher, said: “Poppyscotland’s learning competition this year fitted seamlessly into our curriculum. It boosted my pupils’ awareness of Poppyscotland’s work and allowed them to further contextualise their learning about the Second World War. Having a competition to enter sparked enthusiasm amongst my learners and provided us with a whole term’s worth of writing work.  

“I am incredibly proud of Liam’s win, as is he. Not only is it a huge personal achievement for him, but it is a wonderful way for him to finish his time at Castleview Primary School.” 

Thomas Connor, a P7 pupil from Gargieston Primary School and Eva-Grace Young, an S3 pupil from St Joseph’s Academy, both in Kilmarnock, have also been recognised with the Judge’s Choice award for their thoughtful and emotive entries. 

Both Liam and Maya will receive £500 worth of vouchers for their school, a visit from Bud, Poppyscotland’s micro museum, and a class trip to Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory. Each of the Judge’s Choice award recipients will receive £50 of vouchers for their school and a tour of the factory. 

New report finds high utility, food and broadband costs are squeezing older people’s budgets across Scotland

High costs across the board, from utilities and food to accessing the internet, are causing misery for thousands of older people across Scotland, warns national charity Independent Age.

Laid bare in their new report – The Hidden Two Million – is the profound impact high costs are having on those in later life living on the lowest income across the UK. In Scotland, over half (56%) of those polled on a low income (less than £15,000 per year) say they are worried about the cost of electricity. When asked about heating, still over half (54%) were concerned about the utility’s affordability.

Food inflation has been at record highs the past year, and this has also had a harmful impact on those on the lower end of the income spectrum. Polling by Independent Age shows that a staggeringly high 45% of older people living on £15,000 per year or less are cutting back on their food spending and well over a third (42%) of the same group are concerned about covering their food bills for the next 6 months.

Across the UK, 20% of single pensioners, and 7% of couple pensioners have no other source of income outside the State Pension and other benefits. Older people in financial hardship have shared with Independent Age that managing on a fixed income means, when faced with increased bills, the only options they feel they have to choose from, are to cut back – which could harm physical and mental health – or go into debt.

It’s not just big bills that are squeezing older people’s finances. Smaller but important bills, such as phone and broadband, are also causing money worries.

New polling commissioned by Independent Age shows that 39% of older people with an income of less than £15,000 per year, are already cutting back on their phone usage to save money while 35% of the same group are fearful of not being able to afford their broadband bill during the next 6 months.

This is concerning as not being digitally connected can lead to social isolation and limits access to better deals only found online.

Recommendations

Independent Age is urging both the government and private sector to do the following in support of older people in financial hardship:

  • Utility companies must provide and promote financial support to everyone on low incomes, including older people
  • The UK Government should introduce national social tariffs across utilities such as energy
  • The UK and Scottish Governments must ensure that everyone in financial hardship in later life receives the financial support they are entitled to

June, 67, Glasgow, is currently struggling financially. She said: “Now I know exactly what’s getting paid with my pension, I know what’s coming in.

“I’m very cautious with money. I’m careful to make sure I’ve got enough to get me my food. You’ve got to be careful because you can still run out at the end of the month, not got any money, know what I mean, then you end up going to the food bank.

“If something big was to come up that was needed, say my fridge, God forbid, or my cooker or washing machine, it would be a worry. I would have to get help. I can’t go out and buy big things.

“I cannot go for a cup of tea or buy a wee meal for my friends, it’s irritating because you want to do more. But I’m restricted, I’ve not got the finance for that. So you just forget it. I live a quiet life.”

Debbie Horne, Scotland Public and Policy Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “These new figures are a stark reminder of just how frightening turbulent economic times can be for those on the lowest incomes.

“Thousands of people in later life across Scotland are being financially squeezed in every direction, this can be damaging to people’s mental and physical health.

“We hope that all utility companies will review their support for their most vulnerable customers, including older people, and ensure they are protected from future spikes in costs.

The hidden two million. The reality of financial hardship in later life

Independent Age launched its powerful report at an event last week to raise awareness of its renewed focus to support the more than 2 million older people across the UK living in financial hardship (including the 150,000 in poverty in Scotland), and those hovering above the line in a financially precarious situation.

The new research provides the latest insights into poverty in later life.

The event also saw the premier of the charity’s new thought provoking film that amplifies the voices of older people currently living in financial hardship.

Here is the link to the film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Roq07aRNZi4&ab_channel=IndependentAge

IACP026_launch_report_embargoedDownload

Falls are still major killer in Britain, warns charity this Injury Awareness Week

  • Falls are the second biggest killer of unintential injury deaths, just behind road traffic accidents
  • Falls cost the NHS £2 billion a year but are preventable
  • What can people to do prevent falls? Read on to find out more.

Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide but do not have to happen, that’s according to a leading accident prevention charity, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Falls are the most common cause of death in the over 65s and cost the NHS £2 billion and over four million bed days every year, and 37.2 million falls are severe enough to require medical attention each year.

RoSPA’s Fall Fighters scheme is open to businesses of all shapes and sizes across the UK, from housing associations and manufacturing sites to small offices and more. It helps them keep their clients, communities and colleagues safe by giving them the tools they need to help reduce the risk of falls.

RoSPA’s Fall Fighters scheme builds on the World Health Organisation’s advice, that states prevention strategies should emphasise education, training, creating safer environments, prioritising fall-related research and establishing effective policies to reduce risk.

Karen McDonnell, OHS Policy Advisor at RoSPA, said: “Injury Awareness Week offers the perfect time to reflect on the types of accidents that can be life-limiting and life-changing – and out of all the accidents that come to mind – falls are one of the most urgent issues we face.

“A fall at home or work has the power to strip someone of their independence, their health and their livelihood in a matter of seconds, and we must all play our part in helping our colleagues, friends and loved ones reduce the risk of succumbing to such an accident.”

Karen recommends taking a few simple steps to keep yourself and loved ones safe at home: “Stairs are the most common place for an accident in the home, so always keep them clear of belongings and ensure there is enough space to walk up them. We know that having a handrail on either side of the stairwell can improve stability and significantly reduces the risk of falls, so this is a simple addition that can save lives.

“Another common place for slips, trips and falls is the bathroom, and slippery floors are often to blame. Having anti-slip flooring installed can be vital in keeping you and your loved ones safe, particularly when it comes to elderly relatives.

“It’s particularly easy to miss small objects, cords and electrical cables on the floor so these pose fall hazard too. If you can, always keep them out of walkways and keep them as close to the wall as possible.

“Finally, if you are worried about a relative’s risk of falling, do a risk assessment of their living area and ensure you’re fully up to date with the latest research in fall prevention, head to the RoSPA Falls Hub and get one step ahead.”

Speaking on how to reduce falls in the workplace, Karen said: “The importance of fall reduction in the workplace is vital in keeping employees safe and operations moving – so we call for stringent workplace safety regulations, particularly in high-risk occupations like construction and manufacturing.

“We advocate having physical barriers and guardrails to prevent falls from heights and to use scaffolding if a guardrail is not possible. Appropriate signage, fall arrest systems like body harnesses, self-retracting lanyards and approved anchor points are non-negotiables, as is a proper risk assessment from an internal health and safety team or external supplier like RoSPA.”

To find out more about falls, please visit RoSPA’s Falls Prevention Hub, or sign up to be a Fall Fighter in your workplace for free here.