Month: October 2023

Dobbies’ Edinburgh store hosts two free foraging events

Garden gifting inspiration with Dobbies

Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is spreading festive cheer in Edinburgh by hosting two free workshops in November encouraging families to get inspired this Christmas with Gifts from the Garden.

Focusing on foraging and cost-saving methods to fill your home, the Grow How session and Little Seedlings Club workshop in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will inspire gardeners of all ages and abilities.

Grow How, a 15-minute session that takes place on Saturday 4 November at 10:30am, will give gardeners a guide on seasonal activities. Horticultural experts will show how gardens can be foraged to create sustainable wreaths and natural decorations for the Christmas tree and home.

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club takes place in the morning on Sunday 5 November and is suitable for children aged 4-10 years old.

The gardening workshop is great for children who have an interest in learning about wildlife, plants and the environment, and takes place in a friendly group setting.

This educational and interactive children’s workshop will explore the changes that happen in the garden during winter, what natural items and foraged, alongside a look the history of popular decorative items like wreaths and Christmas trees.

In a bid to showcase sustainable ways families can get the home feeling festive this year, Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, explains why these events are perfect for gardeners of all abilities.

She said: “We are always looking for ways we can bring the outside in, there’s no better way to get in the festive spirit than with some craft activities. The workshops in Edinburgh are suited for every member of the family, welcoming everyone to come together and decorate the home this Christmas.

“When decorating for the seasons, we encourage sustainable practices where possible, and foraging is the best way to use what is already in your garden.

“If you are lucky enough to find them in your garden, Pinecones and Acorns make for wonderful Christmas tree decorations and Moss, Fir, Eucalyptus and Holly leaves make a great base for a wreath.”

For more information about November’s events and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events

Community football at Bangholm

HIBERNIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION at TRINITY HUB

This week we are launching our Trinity hub – we are running lots of activities that you can get involved in!

Check out the flyer (above) to see where you can attend

Follow this link to sign up or email samanthaw@hiberniancf.org …https://hibs-community-foundation.classforkids.io

Bright Red Triangle names first ever Entrepreneur in Residence

Bright Red Triangle (BRT), the enterprise hub at Edinburgh Napier University, has appointed Nigel Chadwick as its inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence.

Nigel will bring extensive expertise to the newly created role, which will offer invaluable guidance to the BRT community. His responsibilities will include mentoring, advising, and supporting emerging entrepreneurs as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Students, staff, alumni and the wider community will be able to draw on Nigel’s experience of founding Stream Technologies and scaling it through to exit. The firm specialised in connecting devices to the Internet of Things (IoT) – a rapidly-growing market allowing physical objects to connect and interact.

Nigel is known for his skill in strategic leadership, brand value, culture, and management excellence, while his passion for technology entrepreneurship matches BRT’s mission to nurture innovative ideas and transform them into successful ventures.

The appointment underscores Edinburgh Napier’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, providing students and the wider community with unparalleled access to industry expertise and mentorship.

Commenting on his new role as Entrepreneur in Residence at BRT, Nigel Chadwick said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with the team at Bright Red Triangle.

“To be Entrepreneur in Residence at ENU presents a fantastic opportunity to assist students, staff, and alumni on their entrepreneurial journey and to add value and drive scale through sharing my experience and skills with these formative as well as scaling teams.”

Nick Fannin, the Head of Enterprise at Bright Red Triangle said: “We are thrilled to have Nigel Chadwick join us as our Entrepreneur in Residence.

“Nigel’s extensive experience in building companies and his commitment to strategic leadership align perfectly with BRT’s mission to nurture and support emerging entrepreneurs. We believe his expertise will have a profound impact on our students, staff, and alumni as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.

“Nigel’s presence will be a tremendous asset to our community, and we eagerly anticipate the positive change he will bring.”

Four Square’s Springboard Project

The Springboard programme is for young adults aged 16-25 who are currently either at risk of homelessness or accessing homelessness services across Edinburgh.

Participants will be able to gain qualifications in Emergency First Aid at Work as well as Elementary Food Hygiene.

We will support the group with employability skills such as CV writing, Job Interview Skills and Job Applications. We also run workshops focused on mental health and wellbeing as well as weekly social outings to encourage participants to form lasting friendships.

The programme also includes a 3-day Residential trip with the Scottish Outdoor Education Centre to allow the participants to try their hand at some adventurous outdoor activities like rock climbing, abseiling, archery and much more!

Bus fare can be covered by Four Square and lunch will be provided on each day of the course.

Self-referrals can be made by emailing springboard@foursquare.org.uk

Toast the 10th edition of Sherry Week

6th – 12th November: Discover Sherries with food across the UK

Across the UK, sherry lovers are ready to toast Sherry Week 2023, happening from 6th to 12th November.

This year is the tenth anniversary of the largest annual festival of Sherry Wines in the world, which sees a week-long series of events planned nationwide. 

Tastings and pairing dinners in bars, restaurants and wine shops are being hosted for food and wine fans looking to discover the full range of Sherries and find out what makes them a perfect match for big food flavours.

All Sherry Week UK 2023 events are on the dedicated website where fans of Sherry can find out more and book tickets to wine tastings, food pairings and cultural events, plus plenty more besides. 

Sherry-lovers looking to sip their way around Edinburgh can follow specially designed routes – or ‘Sherry Rutas’ – that take in a number of bars, restaurants and wine stores across the capital.

 The Sherry Week website lists events and venues, helping locals in Edinburgh to choose and book as applicable, and then simply glide from one Sherry pairing menu or tasting, on to the next, experiencing the scope of versatile Sherry wines and matched gastronomy.

A few Edinburgh highlights of this double-digit birthday – expected to be the biggest, most exciting and best tasting Sherry Week yet – include:

·        Sherry Week In-store Sampling at Woodwinters– withthree different Sherries open to taste all week, along with a selection of cheese and olives to pair;

·        Store Tastings at Great Grog Wine– complimentary and with small tapas pairings;

·        A 4-Course Sherry Dinner at McLarens On The Corner – a guided discovery of why Sherry is a favourite wine for food pairings;

·        A Sherry Pairing Experience at Fin & Grape – a very special pairing flight paired with delicious sharing plates;

·        A Tapas Sherry Experience at Indaba Café Bar – with five incredible tapas plates and five delightful Sherries.

First launched in 2014 as a word-of-mouth series of events over the course of one week, Sherry Week has grown exponentially. 

The past nine years have seen half a million wine-lovers participating in more than 18,000 events in 40 countries and 4 continents* – all with the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla D.O.’s official stamp of approval.

Sherry Week’s total tally of impressions on Twitter is an astonishing 157 million, with almost 74,000 social media posts with the hashtag #sherryweek, and over 240,000 likes on Instagram**.

More exciting events and activities are being announced from now right up to Sherry Week.

Visit www.sherry.wine/sherryweek to find out about and book onto Sherry Week events and create your own Edinburgh Sherry Ruta.

*Source: sherry.wine website

** Sources: BrandMentions, Tweetbinder, Twitter, Google Analytics

UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour engages over 160,000 young people

The UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour reached more than 160,000 young people on its 5-month journey around the UK

The STEAM tour, which featured a 72-feet replica rocket, visited 13 cities across all 4 nations of the UK between June – October this year, on its mission to inspire the next generation of space professionals. 

The tour showcased the pivotal role of space in enhancing life on Earth and highlighted the diverse career pathways available in the sector to young people from all backgrounds and skill sets.

In total, the tour covered 2,684 miles, the same distance as 5 return trips to the International Space Station.

Visitors had the opportunity to experience interactive exhibits, hear from experts, and learn about the career opportunities available in the UK space sector from partners including the World Wide Fund for Nature, Orbex, Skyrora and AmbaSat.

Besides individual participants, Space for Everyone also welcomed 130 school, youth, and community organisations, offering them specially guided tours, further enriching their educational experiences and knowledge of the UK’s spaceflight sector.

Following the Space for Everyone tour, the UK Space Agency’s iconic 72-feet replica rocket will now go on loan to Spaceport Cornwall where it will continue to inspire future generations about space as part of a free space-based exhibition.

Matt Archer, UK Space Agency Director of Launch, said: “We’re working hard to encourage diversity and inspire young people from all backgrounds and skill sets to ensure the UK space sector remains vibrant, innovative, and above all successful in achieving our goal for the UK to be the leading provider of launch in Europe by 2030. 

“Our Space for Everyone tour has achieved phenomenal success, engaging over 160,000 young people about the exciting opportunities in the UK’s fast-growing space sector and highlighting  the wide variety of opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds and skill sets.”

As part of the tour, Imperial College London joined forces with the UK Space Agency to build upon their recently launched website, I’m a Space Person, which highlights the range of careers in the space industry. Here, visitors can also download a range of free space-based education resources and career tips as well as an online version of the tour.

Dr Simon Foster, Outreach Officer and Teacher, Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, said: “We have been delighted to collaborate with the UK Space Agency on their Space for Everyone tour website.

“The space sector is a huge part of the UK economy and giving young people an understanding of the diverse range of careers on offer and how to access them is vital to ensure that we have a healthy talent pipeline”.

For further information about the Space for Everyone tour and to watch the online broadcast, please visit the tour website or follow @spacegovuk on social media.

FM to visit Brechin following Storm Babet

Humza Yousaf will meet people affected and thank those involved in the response

First Minister Humza Yousaf will visit River Street in Brechin today where the River South Esk burst its banks on Friday.

The First Minister is expected to meet residents who have been impacted by the storm and thank volunteers, the local council and the emergency services for their work in supporting people evacuated from their properties.

Angus Council has had an overwhelming response to an appeal for accommodation for those unable to return home because of the damage caused by the floods. In addition, a call for clothing and toiletries led to hundreds of donations.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the First Minister said: “My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives to the extreme conditions caused by Storm Babet during what will be difficult time.  

“I want to pass on my thanks to local authorities, volunteers and the emergency services for all their efforts in these extremely challenging conditions.

“The local community in Brechin, like others across Scotland, has come together to offer support to all those affected by the floods with Angus Council receiving hundreds of offers of alternative accommodation for those forced to leave their homes.

“The process of assessing the full amount of damage caused in all areas affected by the storm is now underway. This will take some time and we are working closely with local authorities to support the people and businesses affected.”

Angus Council Chief Executive Margo Williamson said: “I am tremendously proud of Angus’ response to Storm Babet. Working closely with partners from across Tayside we have done our best to preserve life in extremely challenging conditions.

“I would like to pay tribute to everyone who supported this effort, particularly our volunteer organisations such as the Red Cross, Voluntary Action Angus, and our Tayside 4×4 drivers who have played a vital part in this operation.

“Our staff in the council, in the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, and our leisure trust ANGUSAlive, have all gone above and beyond, facing challenges on an unprecedented scale.

“I would also like to reassure the residents of Angus, who have shown such community spirit, that their care and support is our absolute priority, particularly those who are displaced. We are now firmly focused on making a full recovery, and this work has already started.”

Lothian Pension Fund investing at least £350 MILLION in fossil fuel companies

Lothian Pension Fund has at least £350 million invested in the fossil fuel industry, according to new analysis by Platform and Friends of the Earth Scotland.

The Lothian Pension Fund, administered by Edinburgh City Council, is the second biggest fossil fuel investor of all the council pension funds in Scotland.

The City of Edinburgh Council voted to divest the fund from fossil fuels in November 2022, yet the fund managers have not enacted this request. It invests in some of the world’s biggest climate polluters, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies and BP.

With virtually all oil and gas companies set to expand their operations, campaigners are calling on the Lothian Pension Fund to listen to councillors and stop funding fossil fuels.

Lothian Pension Fund administers the pension funds of almost 90,000 members from the four councils in the Lothians and 59 other employers, including Scottish Water, Edinburgh Napier University, VisitScotland and Heriot-Watt University.

Sally Clark, divestment campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “It’s unbelievable that despite clear direction from councillors, the Lothian Pension Fund is still investing this obscene amount of money in fossil fuel companies that are driving climate breakdown.

“Councils must play their part in protecting the long-term future of their employees by ending their support for oil and gas expansion and investing in building a cleaner, safer future for us all – but their attempts to do this are being blocked.

“The money moved away from fossil fuels could instead be invested in ways that support local communities and protect the planet for everyone, like renewable energy. As skyrocketing energy bills are plunging millions of people into fuel poverty across the UK, this transition is more important than ever.”

Joan Forehand, campaigner with Divest Lothian, said: “The economic and moral arguments against continuing investment in fossil fuel companies by the Lothian Pension Fund are overwhelming.

“In 2023 oil and gas companies doubled down on investing in the development of new fossil fuel projects, despite the stark warnings from climate scientists and the UN that this paves the way to catastrophic climate destabilisation and the resulting collapse of the economic systems on which future pensions depend.

“To protect the pensions of its members, the Lothian Pension Fund must join the growing number of pension funds divesting from these companies.”

Stephen Smellie, depute convenor at Unison Scotland, said: “Fossil fuels are bad for the environment and our retirement.

“These dirty deals threaten the future of our environment, and needlessly risk the retirements of the hundreds of thousands of Unison members that pay into local government pension schemes. To secure a future worth retiring into, schemes should respond to members’ calls to action and dump these dated fossil fuel assets.”

Across the UK, £16 billion of council pension funds is invested in the fossil fuel industry. Over 20% of UK councils now invest less than 1% of their fund into fossil fuels – a 10 fold increase since 2020, the last time analysis was conducted. Lothian Pension Fund was found to invest over 4% of its fund into fossil fuels.

Keeping The Promise

Supporting partnership projects

42 organisations across Scotland will benefit from £4 million funding to deliver projects that will help children, young people and families in the care system.

Administered by the Corra Foundation, the second round of The Promise Partnership Fund will be split across third sector and public organisations that prioritise work to:

  • build supportive workforces that can provide the unique support for young people and families in the care system to thrive
  • create school structures that provide support, opportunities and a sense of belonging
  • enhance youth justice and rights to reduce and prevent the criminalisation of children and young people with care experience

The announcement marks the beginning of Care Experienced Week, when people come together to advocate for change and encourage the transformation required to Keep The Promise.

Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don said: “The Promise Partnership Fund is crucial in supporting organisations to make the changes needed to enrich the lives of children and young people in or on the edges of care.

“Care Experienced Week starts today and is a key opportunity for Scotland to come together to celebrate and show our love for children and young people who have experienced care.

“I am determined we keep driving forward the transformational change that is required to Keep The Promise and make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, where all children are loved, safe, respected and realise their full potential.”

In 2022 the Scottish Government appointed Corra to administer £12 million through the Promise Partnership Fund from December 2022 until March 2025.

The 42 successful organisations are:

  • Aberdeenshire Council Virtual Headteacher
  • Adoption UK
  • Angus Carers Association
  • Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland
  • Bright Light Relationship Counselling
  • Children 1st
  • Children and Families Service, Dundee City Council
  • Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice
  • Children in Scotland Ltd
  • Circle
  • City of Edinburgh Council – Childrens Partnership
  • City of Edinburgh Council – Parent Panel
  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
  • Community Law Advice Network
  • Cyrenians
  • Families Outside Limited
  • Fife Council
  • Fostering People Scotland
  • Highland Child Protection Committee
  • Home-Start UK
  • includem
  • Kirkcaldy YMCA
  • Moray Council
  • Napier University Development Trust (Hub for Success)
  • North Lanarkshire Council
  • Project Esperanza
  • Renfrewshire Council
  • Salvesen Mindroom Centre
  • Scotland Yard Adventure Centre (known as The Yard)
  • Scottish Attachment in Action
  • South Ayrshire Council
  • South Lanarkshire Council
  • Staf
  • Stirling Community Enterprise
  • Stirling Council
  • The Fostering Network
  • The Princes Trust
  • The Why Not? Trust
  • West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership
  • Winning Scotland
  • YMCA Edinburgh SCIO
  • Young Scot

Opportunity to comment on proposals for £10m. countryside leisure park

The public are to be given the chance to view and comment on exciting proposals for a new £10 million countryside leisure park at the former Couston Quarry site in West Lothian. 

Being undertaken by SRD Rural Ltd, Couston Country and Water Park includes plans for water-based activities, adventure playgrounds, restaurant and café facilities, and an outdoor event space for historical enactments and nature displays.   

Luxury short stay eco-lodges and houseboats, in addition to those already on site, are also part of the plans to revitalise the location. 

The public consultation event will be held in the Bridgehouse Village Hall on Tuesday 24 October between 4.00pm and 7:30pm  

Couston Country and Water Park will create an attractive and compelling destination within the Central Belt for locals and visitors from across the country.  

With an absence of similar attractions in the area, the development will also bring a significant boost to tourism in West Lothian, and it is anticipated that the £10 million investment will create around 65 jobs onsite (based on a conservative estimate), with an additional number created offsite. 

SRD Ltd is committed to being a responsible developer and to engaging with the local community at every stage of the development.  

Those with questions, comments, or feedback on the proposals are warmly invited to attend the consultation event, which will be attended by representatives from the project who will be happy to provide answers. There will also be the opportunity to leave feedback.  

All material from the event, including the consultation boards, will be available at www.coustonpark.co.uk 

A spokesperson for SRD Rural said: “We are very excited to bring forward our exciting proposals for Couston Country and Water Park, which amounts to a £10 million investment in West Lothian, creating around 65 onsite jobs and with a countless number created offsite. 

“Couston Country and Water Park will be a highly attractive destination for families and others looking to enjoy the great outdoors and enjoy Scotland’s history in an exciting and creative way.  

“Even though our proposals are at a very early stage, early and sustained engagement and consultation is very important to us at SRD Rural, and public consultation events such as this are a key part of this commitment.”