“Hold on to your seats because it gets really, really weird!”
Those are the opening words of Judith, the u3a’s laughter yoga expert at one of her exhilarating online classes. Laughter Yoga is just one of the exciting subjects that u3a members can take part in when they join.
u3a is for those who no longer work full time and have the desire to learn new things, have fun and make new friends.
From 16th to 24th of September groups across the UK will showcase the exciting activities during u3a Week with taster sessions and online talks from high-profile guests, including positive ageing influencer Carl Honore, to give potential new members a taste of the enjoyment that can be had from joining u3a.
Judith lives in Edinburgh but runs an online laughter yoga group where members can take part from the comfort of their own homes. It’s open to anyone who joins u3a and would like to put a spring in their step and start the day with a burst of positivity.
The group has been running for 11 years and is going from strength-to-strength. Judith says: “Laughter is the best medicine. It’s not about ridicule, it’s playful, uncomplicated, joyful laughter.
“It is a safe space where we can laugh without inhibitions for as long as we like.
“We laugh every day for about 10-15 minutes, and it encourages a positive outlook and helps you deal with the stress and challenges of life.
“When we laugh the body sends messages to the brain which releases endorphins, and we feel wonderful without even trying. It sends out happy hormones which make you feel good all day.”
Laughter yoga is just one of the many hundreds of interest groups whose members across the UK that are gearing up for all sorts of events to let communities know what their u3as have on offer during u3a Week.
There will be concerts, alfresco wine tasting, market stalls and picnic plus much more.
Digital technology experts are being sought to help inform teaching in secondary schools in Edinburgh as the country’s tech industry experiences remarkable growth.
The Digital Critical Friends initiative has been set up by Scotland’s tech trade body, ScotlandIS, to address the industry’s skills gap and tackle high Computer Science drop-off rates in a time when one in ten jobs in Scotland is in the tech sector.
As demand for their services increase, Scottish tech businesses are continuing to face challenges, with 23% citing a lack of basic data skills and 37% reporting a lack of advanced digital skills among their existing workforces.
The Digital Critical Friends initiative aims to link industry professionals with Computer Science educators to support the alignment of lessons with industry best practices and offer students a holistic view of sector opportunities.
Tech professionals – from IT technicians to software engineers – are being encouraged to volunteer to take part in the programme that will help to shape schools’ curriculums.
Fiona Anderson, Project Manager at software development and digital transformation company PDMS, partnered with St Margaret’s High School in North Lanarkshire as part of the programme.
She said: “It’s important for schools to have direct links with the tech sector so pupils can ask questions and get inspired by the potential career paths that they perhaps weren’t aware of previously.
“Giving young people an idea of the skillsets required for the various jobs in our sector can really help to give them direction for the future.
“For example, discussing how good attention to detail and problem-solving skills are key for analysis and testing jobs, or that design roles might be well-suited to those who are keen on art and design or who have a creative flair, can help students understand which roles in our industry might be a good fit for them.”
Karen Meechan, CEO of ScotlandIS, said:“While our well-established tech sector is growing, companies today are finding it difficult to recruit with today’s shortage of skills. Our mission is to engage and inspire young minds while bridging the skills gap.
“Scotland’s tech sector is dynamic, exciting and offers a brilliant career path for young people today. But given the fast nature of the industry, the changes in how we use and develop technology can’t always be reflected in how the subject is taught in schools. There is no better way to protect the industry’s promising growth trajectory, and job opportunities of school leavers, than to build a direct line of contact between schools and professionals.
“We’re looking forward to working alongside new industry partners as we work to equip students with industry-relevant skills.”
Becoming a Digital Critical Friend involves an initial face-to-face meeting with a local school. The volunteers then maintain regular contact with teachers to help inform teaching, with at least one in-person meeting per term.
Additionally, mentors have the opportunity to invite teachers to their workplace, providing them with an immersive experience, observing their teams and gaining insights into ongoing project.
Karen added: “We understand that each professional and each school will be balancing different priorities, which is why we’ve ensured that the programme can be tailored to best suit the needs of each party.
“For example, we have a school on the Isle of Barra looking for a Digital Critical Friend, which they appreciate will most likely have to be conducted remotely!”
The Digital Critical Friends programme was first launched in 2021, and is now active in over six regions. After a successful start, ScotlandIS is now looking to expand the programme across all regions in Scotland.
To find out more about becoming a Digital Critical Friend, visit the ScotlandIS website.
Director celebrates positive impact on tenants’ lives
FROM trainee to Director of Customer Experience, Tracey Howatt looks back on a career spanning almost four decades as part of Scottish Housing Day celebrations:
Beginning her career with Bield at the age of 17, Tracey has amassed an impressive 37 years with the housing and care provider.
Joining the organisation as a housing trainee in 1986, her vast experience covers all aspects of supporting applicants and tenants, from Housing Officer to Housing Services Manager for regions across Scotland.
Appointed as Director of Customer Experience in early 2022, Tracey is now responsible for implementing Bield’s customer portal, as part of their digital strategy, as well as working with communities to transform how the 5000+ tenants interact with and access Bield’s services.
Tracey said: “This year’s theme for Scottish Housing Day is celebrating housing as a career, and I know first-hand how rewarding that can be. Working at Bield has given me so many fantastic opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“When I joined Bield after leaving high school, I didn’t know what to expect. I had the choice between a trainee role in support services or housing, choosing housing is a decision I’ve not regretted.
“I’ve helped hundreds of people across Scotland access suitable housing, there is nothing better than the joy on people’s faces when you’ve helped someone to find housing which can allow them to live the life they want.”
The Edinburgh based charity facilitates independent living with around 180 developments across Scotland. In her time as Housing Services Manager, Tracey worked with developments in Fife, Tayside, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Lothian, the Borders and North and South Lanarkshire.
Tracey continued: “Working with tenants is, and always has been, my favourite part of my job. Listening to how our services impact their lives is vital to ensuring we provide the best possible experience.
“Bield has transformed significantly since I first joined. In the 90s we implemented Bield’s first computerised system, which was so new and exciting back then.
“Now we’re working to launch our new online customer portal, My Bield, and using innovative technology in our digital hub in Linlithgow.”
Last year, Bield secured £75k of funding from the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project which aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people. Bield has used some of this funding to open the digital hub at its West Port development.
Dr Lynne Douglas, CEO at Bield, added: “Tracey has been an indispensable member of the Bield team for years and it is no surprise that she has risen through the ranks and is continuing to innovate and add value to us as an organisation.
“We truly believe in providing opportunities for our colleagues to develop their personal and professional skills.
“A career in housing is so rewarding, and has a positive impact on so many people; Tracey is living proof of that. She has played a pivotal role in delivering a number of exciting projects, and we’re excited to see what the future brings.”
Scottish Housing Day is celebrated across Scotland on 13 September, and this year celebrates housing as a career, raising awareness of the different routes into the sector and why it is such an impactful profession.
Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible and high-quality housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care is one of the largest housing and support providers in Scotland, has around 180 developments.
To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/ or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland
FIVE SISTERS ZOO CELEBRATES THE FELINE MAKING A FULL RECOVERY AFTER ADOPTING THE UNWANTED INJURED CHEETAH
West-Lothian-based Five Sisters Zoo, has announced that Ashanti the three-legged-cheetah has made a full recovery after her life-changing amputation surgery.
As the fastest land animal on earth, the cheetah reaches speeds of more than 100 kmph. So, when the crippling and complicated ankle break rendered four-year-old Ashanti lame, it was devastating for the beautiful big cat and her keepers.
When Ashanti’s previous zoo found itself having to close, it struggled to find another zoo to take her on as a result of her complicated leg fracture and its failure to heal despite surgery by the zoo’s vet. Despite this and knowing she would need significant care and treatment, the family-owned Five Sisters Zoo – renowned for its work and care for endangered animals – welcomed Ashanti into their care in March 2022.
Despite a further two surgeries to try return her leg to normal function, the specialist vet team reluctantly had to make the difficult decision to amputate her right hind leg. Now, six months on, the extraordinary cheetah has fully recovered and is now bounding around her habitat at the West Calder Zoo.
Brian Curran, owner of Five Sisters Zoo, said:“It was an incredibly difficult decision; it gave us all sleepless nights.
“When she first arrived at Five Sisters Zoo, Ashanti would cope with running around with the other cheetahs and didn’t appear to let the old injury slow her down too much. However, after lots of playing and running in their new large enclosure, Ashanti would periodically become quite lame and tired and would need a course of pain relief medication.
“Despite two further specialist surgical operations at the zoo to try to improve matters, we knew this wasn’t going to be sustainable or fair long-term, so our specialist veterinary team made the difficult decision to amputate her leg.
“After a successful operation and within just a few weeks of the surgery, Ashanti was clearly happier and much more contented which made us feel like we made the correct decision.”
Romain Pizzi FRCVS, Head of Veterinary Services for Five Sisters and President of the British Veterinary Association’s Scottish branch, said: “Ashanti’s injury was a complicated one, with a difficult break in her right hind ankle that had not healed when she arrived at the zoo.
“Despite our performing a further two operations at Five Sisters Zoo to try and return her leg back to a more normal function, she was not coping well, and was prone to injuring the leg easily. After much deliberation, we decided to amputate her leg and are so pleased with her recovery.
“Ashanti actually translates to ‘gratitude’, and while she might run away when she sees me now as I’m the one who operated on her, I hope she is, in fact, grateful and happy to be back on her (three healthy) feet!
“We can’t wait to see Ashanti continue to thrive and put a smile on everyone’s face for many more years to come at Five Sisters Zoo.”
Ashanti’s carers welcome guests and visitors to Five Sisters Zoo to view her full recovery for themselves.
Today is World Sepsis Day, and September is sepsis awareness month
The UK Sepsis Trust is asking you to protect your readers from a condition that kills 48,000 people in the UK each year
Readers could also win £250 in Love2shop vouchers by playing and leaving feedback on the charity’s ‘Sepsis Savvy’ game
The UK Sepsis Trust needs your help to get people ‘Sepsis Savvy’ today on 13th September 2023 (World Sepsis Day).
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.
It occurs when the body’s immune system – which normally helps to protect us and fight infection – goes into overdrive. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
It affects a staggering 245,000 people in the UK each year – with 48,000 people losing their lives to sepsis-related illnesses. That’s 5 people dying every hour!
UK Sepsis Trust Founder & Joint CEO Dr Ron Daniels said: “This World Sepsis Day we are asking the public to spend five minutes reviewing our ‘Sepsis Savvy’ resources which were created in partnership with Iceland Foods and the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation.
“By watching a short video on the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and then testing your knowledge with a game, you could equip yourself with potentially life-saving information.”
These resources are available at sepsistrust.org/savvy and there is also the chance to win up to £250 in Love2shop vouchers for anyone who provides feedback after playing the game.
The number of affordable homes completions in the past year is the highest annual figure since 2000, the latest quarterly statistics show.
Almost 11,000 affordable homes were delivered in the year to end June 2023. These homes ensure further progress towards achieving the Scottish Government’s target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with 70% of these for social rent and 10% in rural and island communities.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “I am pleased that the number of affordable homes completed in the latest year is the highest annual figure since 2000, supporting almost 11,000 households to have an affordable place to live.
“The combined challenges caused by a hard Brexit and economic mismanagement by the UK government have triggered various issues including the rising cost of construction supplies and workforce challenges.
“The housing sector has done incredible work to deliver homes in these circumstances and we will continue working with partners to mitigate these impacts. We are also making £3.5 billion available in this parliamentary term, towards the delivery of more affordable and social homes.
“Despite the challenges, since 2007, Scotland has seen over 40% more affordable homes delivered per head of population than in England, and over 70% more than in Wales. We have already delivered 13,354 homes towards our next target of 110,000 affordable homes in Scotland by 2032.”
Edinburgh residents are being encouraged to hand in their unwanted laptops and other tech to be refurbished & repaired for reuse as well as being passed on to people who suffer who digital poverty.
The Council has partnered with the Edinburgh Remakery, an award-winning social enterprise committed to diverting waste from landfill and promoting a culture of repair and reuse, to help to make this happen.
Three tech donation centres have been set up at the following locations:
13 Sept – 16 Oct: Central Library
17 Oct – 20 Nov : Wester Hailes Library
21 Nov – 13 Dec : South East Locality Office
So far, the Edinburgh Remakery has helped more than 400 people out of digital poverty by donating tech to them through their Tech Gifting Programme.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:“The idea is to make it as easy as possible for anyone to pass on their unwanted technology instead of throwing it away.
“An estimated 24 million old smartphones are kept as ‘spares’ in homes across the UK in cupboards or drawers so I’d encourage everyone across the city to have a clear out where you can and donate your old phones or other tech items to those on low incomes who really need them.
“This project is also about tackling electronic waste, which is one of the fastest-growing and most polluting waste streams in the UK.”
Chief Executive Officer the Edinburgh Remakery Elaine Brown said:“We are delighted that our tech Donation Boxes will be hosted in the three libraries.
!The impact your donations will make cannot be underestimated. Together we can contribute to the city’s ambitious net zero targets, ensure that tech can get a new lease of life and prevent valuable, finite resources going to landfill.
“In addition, we will be able to give the gift of connectivity to people in our community experiencing digital poverty. Together we can Waste less and Live More!”
Through their activities, the Edinburgh Remakery estimated that they saved 83,087kg (CO2e) in CO2 emissions in 2022 – equivalent to 100 million smartphones being fully charged, or 1,400 trees grown for 10 years.
What you can donate:
Laptops and Macbooks
Tablets and iPads
Smart phones
DSLR cameras
General cables
Chargers
Headphones
Routers
Smart watches
Peripherals, such as keyboards, webcams, and mice.
Further information
Please don’t drop off general household electrical goods, such as toasters, kettles, lamps, hair dryers, etc. The donation boxes are also not able to accept printers of any size or type.
You can recycle electrical equipment at household waste recycling centres, but if you just have small items you might be able to recycle those at some local shops. The Recycle Your Electricals campaign has a postcode search to help.
Lammermuir Festival has been turned down by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for funding towards this year’s festival.
Over a period of 40 weeks the festival lodged three applications having been strongly encouraged by Creative Scotland officials to re-apply twice.
Each application was strongly recommended for funding by the Music Department at Creative Scotland, particularly as a key part of a network of festivals across the country including East Neuk, Paxton, Cumnock Tryst and St Magnus.
Each application has been turned down by assessment panels, the last notification being on 22 August, just 16 days before the 2023 festival opened.
Statement on the future of the Lammermuir Festival from the Chair and Trustees:
The Chair and Trustees of the Lammermuir Festival are appalled and saddened at the lack of investment in the 2023 festival by Creative Scotland. The Times described the Lammermuir Festival as “an indispensable part of Scotland’s musical culture”.
It has indisputably been a huge success over the past 14 years, giving pleasure to audiences from East Lothian and further afield, transformative experiences for people young and old through our community engagement, and presenting Scottish and international performers with worldwide reputations in beautiful and intimate settings across the county.
Presenting the Festival in its current form has relied on a strong, supportive audience; our loyal Friends, Benefactors, sponsors and other generous funders; and investment from public funds, mainly Creative Scotland but also contributions from EventScotland and East Lothian Council.
In previous years ticket revenues, private sector funders and public support have contributed about one third each of the cost of the Festival enabling us to keep ticket prices at a level to allow the widest audience to attend the performances.
If Creative Scotland had invested the sum requested in 2023 it would have represented 23% of the Festival budget. This is crucial investment in an area of Scotland which does not have regular high-quality cultural events drawing audiences to the area. In 2022 the Lammermuir Festival generated £780,000 of economic benefit for East Lothian (Source: MKA Economics, November 2022).
Public support has in addition allowed children and young people from across the county to discover and develop musical skills and benefit socially from participation in music. Most recently this brought almost 700 people together in our community opera and engagement work, giving them the experience of every aspect of production as well as performing.
This year Creative Scotland has declined to support the festival despite having encouraged us to re-apply twice over the last nine months.
Reasons given were first: prioritising applications with activity earlier in the year; second: Fair Work; third: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. This third application was refused on a criterion which the Music Department assessor judged to be fully met. We are urgently seeking clarification on how this could be.
The artistic ambition and quality of the festival has been consistently recognised in Music Department assessments.
In particular there has been no recognition that what has emerged is effectively a decision by Creative Scotland to give no priority to a festival as significant as Lammermuir, despite its record of achievement and its obvious appeal to audiences and performers; and no attempt is made to justify this.
This flies in the face of the expressions of support for culture in Scotland, and in particular for festivals, that have been made in recent days by the First Minister, Neil Gray and Angus Robertson.
To deliver this year’s Festival as planned – with what is already being acclaimed as an outstanding artistic programme – we shall be obliged to use a significant proportion of our reserves which we have judiciously built up over many years.
Thankfully on this one occasion we were in a position to do this, allowing audiences to once again enjoy beautiful music in beautiful places as in previous festivals, and meet our commitment to artists.
Without Creative Scotland support the Lammermuir Festival’s future is under threat.
We urge Creative Scotland to reconsider their decision and secure the future of Lammermuir Festival. In order to make plans and commitments for 2024 and beyond we need the financial stability which Creative Scotland has provided over the past 13 years.
We are determined to save the Lammermuir Festival for the future.
From the Chair and trustees of Lammermuir Festival
The Creative Carers programme returns to Out of the Blue this Autumn
Now in its second year, the Creative Carers programme of arts workshops supports over 40 people each year with a programme of free arts workshops
The programme is a collaboration between Out of the Blue and VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian)
This September sees the launch of the Creative Carers programme at Out of the Blue Drill Hall. First set up in 2022, Out of the Blue will be working with several resident arts organisations to deliver a series of free creative classes for unpaid carers. The classes will take place over two months this Autumn at Out of the Blue Drill Hall and Abbeymount Studios.
The project is being delivered in partnership with local charity VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) to help reach unpaid carers.
According to VOCAL’s most recent carer survey, 79% report an impact on their mental wellbeing after beginning caring and 48% don’t believe they have a good balance between caring and other things in their life.
To help combat these challenges, the project aims to offer unpaid carers a number of creative and inspiring workshops that carers can enjoy to take time away from their caring role, try something new and connect with others.
The free creative workshops include aerial dance, pottery, dressmaking, jewellery, printmaking and drama. The workshops are open for beginners as well as those who have some prior experience. The workshops will take place at Out of the Blue Drill Hall at 32-36 Dalmeny St and at Abbeymount Studios at the top of Easter Road.
These are:
● Aerial skills with All or Nothing ● Pottery with Edinburgh Ceramics Workshop ● Jewellery with Precious Metals Workshop ● Dressmaking with Remode Collective ● Printmaking with Out of the Blueprint
The project has been funded through the Scottish Government’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund which aims to support community based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing within the adult population.
Feedback from 2022 suggests that carers enjoyed the chance to engage with other activities offered through the classes (which they would not have done otherwise) and enjoyed the social element.
Some also suggested that they didn’t have time to pursue their own hobbies so they valued the chance to be creative alongside others in a similar caring role.
Feedback from participants in 2022:
● “It helped to focus on the course for a couple of hours and put the everyday stresses to the back of my mind.” ● “Felt as if I could achieve something for myself and be creative for a change.” ● “Felt very positive and excited to be doing something so different.” ● “There was a level of companionship, not just the common situation of being carers but also a shared interest.”
Out of the Blue Project Manager, Johnny Gailey, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to run the Creative Carers programme again this Autumn.
“The feedback from last year’s participants was really positive – carers really valued having time to themselves away from their caring responsibilities and the chance to be creative.
“There’s estimated to be over 80,000 unpaid carers in the Lothian area so hopefully individuals who find themselves in a caring role and who think they would benefit from the programme might find out about the free programme and get in touch to sign up.”
VOCAL’s Chief Executive, Rosemary McLoughlin said: “Many carers face barriers to taking a break from caring, which is why thinking creatively and offering flexible options to short breaks across the city is so important.
“Building on the success of last year’s programme, we hope this partnership with Out of the Blue will support carers to take a much-needed break and have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.”
The Creative Carers project takes place at the Drill Hall and Abbeymount Studios from early October. If you’re an unpaid carer and are interested in taking part please visit the VOCAL WeeBreaks website where you’ll be able to find out more.
Islamic Relief UK launches nationwide Mosque collection this Friday (15th September) to raise money for Morocco earthquake survivors
Aid agency, Islamic Relief UK, has announced nationwide Mosque collections on Friday 15th September to raise funds for vital, life-saving aid for the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Morocco.
It is expected that this will be the charity’s largest ever Friday Mosque collection.
Participating Scottish Mosques are:
Masjid Al Hikmah (Glasgow) – 15th
Alloa Mosque (Aberdeen) – 15th
Blackhall Mosque (Edinburgh) – 15th
Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre – 15th
The earthquake hit Morocco on 8th September at 11.11pm in the High Atlas region. 2,100 people have already been reported to have been killed with the death toll likely to rise as rescue teams continue to search for survivors.
Some villages have been completely flattened and residents are using whatever equipment they can find as they struggle to help their neighbours.
Blocked roads are preventing ambulances from reaching the wounded, and while officials are scrambling to clear debris, rescue and relief efforts are difficult amid the mountainous terrain, risk of landslides, and large distances.
Islamic Relief’s team on the ground is supporting local organisations to provide relief to survivors, including food, shelter and other items. The aid agency has also launched an appeal to raise £10 million to help with relief efforts, which Friday’s collection will go a long way to help reach.
Tufail Hussain, director, Islamic Relief UK comments: “The news of the earthquake in Morocco was devastating to hear, knowing that so many lives would be lost or ruined by this natural disaster. Islamic Relief teams were quickly deployed to Morocco to work with local partners.
“However, none of what we do in the field would be possible without the amazing generosity of our donors and the community. In times of crisis you can always count on the Muslim community to pull together to help the less fortunate.”
