International Development Minister Christina McKelvie has pledged new funding from the Scottish Government to support projects providing access to clean water, food and shelter in Gaza and Libya.
Ms McKelvie has confirmed the Scottish Government will provide £500,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) flash appeal in response to the ongoing escalation in the Gaza Strip.
The UNRWA’s appeal is urgently seeking funds to respond to the immediate food, health, shelter and protection needs of up to 250,000 people seeking safety in UNRWA shelters in Gaza and another 250,000 Palestine refugees within the community.
A further £250,000 will also be allocated through the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) to support relief efforts in Libya, following deadly flooding in September. More than 4,000 are reported to have died in the flooding and this number is expected to increase with around 10,000 people still missing.
Ms McKelvie said: “Our thoughts are with all the innocent people caught in the middle of escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Scottish Government reiterates the call from the First Minister and the UN Secretary-General for a humanitarian corridor to be established so that urgent assistance can be given to those civilians who are trapped, helpless and cannot leave.
“Many thousands of people in Libya are also still dealing with the impact of major flooding following dam collapses in the aftermath of Storm Daniel and our thoughts are also with them and their families, as work to provide essential aid, such as food, clean water and shelter, continues in those areas worst affected.”
UNRWA Director of External Relations and Communications Tamara Alrifai said: “This generous contribution is an incredibly humane gesture towards tens of thousands of people who are in utter distress in the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA is very grateful for the show of support by Scotland and will use every penny to help alleviate the suffering of civilian women, children and men in Gaza.”
25p per every full-price ticket sold for Wondrous Woods and Starry Nights will be donated to Cash for Kids to support local children across Scotland’s central belt this Christmas.
GC Live, a new major events organiser has announced that they will be donating 25p from every full-price ticket sold for their two largest seasonal events to Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.
Now the largest gift appeal in the UK, Mission Christmas helps ensure every child wakes up to a visit from Santa as presents are delivered to hundreds of thousands of children who would otherwise go without.
Geoff Crow, Director of GC Live said, “We are delighted to support Cash for Kids with their Mission Christmas campaign.
“With an expected audience of over 60,000 visitors across both events, we are looking forward to being able to donate a sizable sum to the charity which will help support those kids who need presents the most at Christmas time.”
Wondrous Woods, at Gosford House near Edinburgh and Starry Nights at Dean Castle near Kilmarnock, will be delivered by technical and event management partners, 21CC Group and will offer magical illuminated experiences for families across Scotland.
Cash for Kids East Lothian’s Charity Manager, Vic Hendrysaid: ‘We are so grateful for the support we are receiving through the Wondrous Woods and Starry Nights illuminated trail experiences.
“The money that’s donated through the ticket sales will buy presents that will bring joy to many local children, allowing them to experience the magic of Christmas, as every child should.”
Cash for Kids Senior Corporate Fundraiser for the West of Scotland, Rebecca Campbell, added: “We are delighted to have been selected as the chosen charity for the Starry Nights event at Dean Castle.
“The funds donated to Cash for Kids will help us make Christmas special for local children who would otherwise miss out on this magical time of year.”
The spectacular illuminated adventure that is Wondrous Woods runs over Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions from October 27 to November 19, including a special run during the last week, where sessions are extended to run from Thursday to Sunday.
Kirsty McGill, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, who are supporting Wondrous Woods this year as an official sponsor, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this event and in turn the Cash for Kids charity. It’s incredibly important to us to support the local community and the work we do is a lot more than just building high-quality homes.
“Being able to work with local businesses, charities and organisations that surround our developments means a great deal to us and it’s great to be part of the first Wondrous Woods in East Lothian. We are excited to be involved and we hope the event brings lots of fun and joy to those who visit as well as presents to children who need them most this Christmas.”
Tickets are available to buy online at https://www.wondrouswoods.com/ticket-information from £12 per child and £19 for an adult. Tickets for Starry Nights at Dean Castle will be available for purchase soon.
Tickets start from £9 for children 4 to 15 years old plus booking fee and from £14 for adults plus booking fee. Children under 3 go free. Grotto tickets can be added to your basket from just £9 per child. For further information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.christmasatdeancastle.com
Buses are currently being arranged by area officials across Scotland for members to get to/from the Scottish Parliament on 26 October. To find out more & book your space contact: region01@fbu.org.uk quoting the area you wish to travel from. #CutsLeaveScars
The Scottish Government is calling on homeowners to get in touch with Home Energy Scotland to find out if they are eligible for funding to help make their homes warmer for less.
Up to £10,000 worth of home improvements may be available to homeowners who are currently in receipt of income-related financial support.
The Warmer Homes Scotland programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by Warmworks, has relaunched and is offering funding and support to households struggling to stay warm and keep on top of energy bills.
The funding provided is delivered as energy efficiency home improvements such as wall and loft insulation, draught-proofing and climate friendly heating. For those who are eligible the energy efficient home improvements could help lower energy bills and also make your home warmer and cosier for free.
During the 2022 / 23 Warmer Homes Scotland programme, which came to an end in March of this year, almost 5,500 homes benefited from the funding across Scotland and specifically in Edinburgh, 394 households benefited.
Homeowners can access the programme by contacting Home Energy Scotland, with the selected improvements dependent on a survey of the home being carried out to ensure the proposed changes are tailored to the home’s needs.
Harry Mayers, the head of Home Energy Scotland, said:“We all know winter can be tough in Scotland, but homeowners have the opportunity to act to help reduce their energy bills and make their homes warmer.
“We’re encouraging homeowners to get in touch with the Home Energy Scotland team for free, impartial advice to check their eligibility for grants and see what energy efficiency changes can be made in their home.
“The improvements really can make a difference, completely changing the energy efficiency of a home. The results and benefits so many households have experienced shows that getting in touch with Home Energy Scotland is a positive move.”
Getting in touch with Home Energy Scotland can leave lasting benefits that not only positively impact the household but help to tackle climate change too. In Scotland, heating is one of the two biggest contributors to individual emissions. Making changes to the way we heat our homes could make a huge difference to climate change and in helping Scotland to reach Net Zero by 2045.
For more information, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or use the self-assessment tool on the website and one of the advisors will be in touch:
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is launching its first of a kind Pumpkin Patch experience for families in the run up to Halloween (24-31 October). This is a pumpkin-tastic opportunity to pop along to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and pick the perfect pumpkin to carve at home this Halloween.
Rustic bales of hay and vibrant autumnal pumpkins make for a memorable visit to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, where families can get the pick of the patch. Here children can take a pumpkin home, carve it up using Dobbies’ guide and create their own personalised pumpkin for welcoming trick-or-treaters.
Sarah Murray, who created this year’s experience, loves Halloween and can’t wait to welcome customers along to the Pumpkin Patch. She said: “We’re really excited about this year’s Halloween offering in Edinburgh as this is the first time we’ve created a Pumpkin Patch. We warmly welcome everyone to come along and enjoy the experience.”
Pumpkins at the patch have all been grown in the UK and are priced at £2.50. No booking is required for this experience, and pumpkin availability is subject to a first come, first serve basis. There will also be an opportunity for families to use Dobbies’ Instagram frame to take a selfie of themselves at the patch and share on socials, for a chance to win a £50 gift card.
If you do come along to Dobbies and pick up a pumpkin this Halloween, Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles, shares his top recycling tips to help the environment.
He said: “Pumpkin flesh will make a welcome snack for wildlife and we recommend cutting the pumpkin into pieces before placing it in the garden.
“The seeds are another fantastic source of food for birds and small animals. Collect the seeds, leave them to dry out and place them on a flat surface in your garden to be enjoyed.
“If you’re feeling adventurous and would like to grow your own pumpkin next year, save seeds from this year’s pumpkin and try to grow it next April.
“If composting is your thing, pumpkins work a treat as they break down easily and quickly. Just be sure to remove any seeds first to prevent unexpected pumpkin plants growing in your compost.”
greenspace scotland fund engages notable figures from the worlds of sport, music and politics to help raise vital funds for Scotland’s parks
A group of Scottish public figures are sharing their own ‘Park Portraits’ in a show of support for the first ever fundraising project that aims to bring new life to Scotland’s parks.
greenspace scotland recently launched Parks4Life: Scotland’s first ever fund for parks and greenspaces, with a goal to raise one million pounds by the end of 2023 to help support Scotland’s parks with a sustainable fund for the future.
The launch was marked with the release of Park Portraits, a digital photo gallery bringing to life the stories of people across Scotland and the ways that parks have enriched their lives.
Among the Scottish celebrities to get involved in the campaign to encourage donations are middle-distance runner Liz McColgan, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, BBC Presenter and Apprentice contestant Reece Donnelly, filmmaker Libby Penman, Chief Executive of NatureScot Francesca Osowska and a suite of MSPs including Alasdair Allan, David Torrance, Foysol Choudhury, and Ariane Burgess among others.
Public figures have shared within the platform the memories that illustrate their love for their local parks, and why they find importance in them.
Karine Polwart said:“Our Scottish parks are sanctuaries in all the noise and speed of modern living – places to walk and play, stop and sit, lie down and listen.
“They’re also places to really notice that we’re not alone in this world, as humans, that we share all of our green spaces with so many other living things.”
Foysol Choudhury, MSP, said about The Meadows in Edinburgh: “As a school kid growing up in Edinburgh, the highlight of my day was dropping my school bag at home and run to the local park to play football with friends.
“Our children need open spaces to run, play and connect with nature. Our local communities need their greenspaces to gather with family and friends; enhance mental health and wellbeing; improve air quality and local biodiversity.”
Libby Penman, Wildlife Filmmaker, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, said: “Parks in Scotland mean everything to me. Growing up I spent all my time at my local park, The Beveridge Park (The Bevi) in Kirkcaldy, playing football, developing my skills in the skatepark, walking the dog.
“As a wildlife filmmaker, during lockdown I turned to filming in my closest green space, Kelvingrove Park. The footage I’ve been able to capture of Otters, Kingfishers, Cormorants, Foxes and Frogs are some of my favourite shots. In fact, one of my best career achievements was being featured on BBC Two’s Winterwatch, showcasing all the urban wildlife I’ve filmed in the park.”
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of Nature Scot, Figgate Park, Portobello, said: “Figgate Park in Portobello is a lovely oasis of calm. When people think of Portobello, they immediately think of the sea and don’t realise there is some lovely green space.Figgate Park is one of my favourite places to run, with beautiful trees, great birdlife and an otter, which I have sadly not seen.
“The Figgate Friends have done an excellent job in improving the park in recent year, adding interpretation and signs for the main trees. This makes the park feel cared for, although not overly manicured.
“There are some great wilder areas, vital for increasing biodiversity. It’s a well-used park with people walking, lots of dog activity and runners. I often do my interval training there, running several laps, sometimes to the bemusement of other park users. The lovely surroundings make the pain of the session pass more quickly.”
Angela Constance, MSP, said about Howden Park in Livingston: “Parks and green spaces play an important part in our towns and villages. They promote much needed environmental and recreational opportunities whilst also promoting public health, mental wellbeing and a safe, fun, educational area for our children.
“Along with many parents in West Lothian I have enjoyed visiting Howden Park with my own son as he was growing up for picnics, walks, and play, and would encourage others to utilise the parks and open green spaces they have in their own areas.”
These celebrity testimonies add to the soulful portraits of Scottish people who exemplify the value that parks provide captured by talented Scottish photographer David Anderson, providing well-known voices speaking out for the future of green spaces.
Visit the Public Figures Gallery within the Park Portraits campaign on the greenspace scotland website to see more stories from notable Scottish figures about their parks.
Donations to Parks4Life can be made online or by texting PARK to 70450 to make a one-off donation of £5. The funds raised through Parks4Life will be invested to provide an endowment to provide an ongoing source of funds for parks.
The endowment will be used by communities across Scotland to support local park improvements, activities, and events; making sure local parks from large cities to small towns are nurtured and cherished for the future.
People across Scotland who would like to share their own Park Portrait and park story are invited to post on social media using the hashtag #Parks4LifePortraits and submit to the greenspace scotland page here.
