A Firrhill High School pupil has been crowned the winner in Aldi’s nationwide lorry design competition, as part of its ongoing partnerships with Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
The supermarket asked young people across the country to hand draw a design for its next lorry, with Firrhill High School pupil Victoria, age 13, winning the competition.
The designs had to inspire others to enjoy healthy and sustainable food, with Victoria’s winning design focusing on how incorporating fresh fruit and vegetables can help everyone build a healthy future.
The judges, including Scottish Paralympian Melanie Woods, were impressed by Victoria’s creation, which will now be seen on an Aldi lorry as it delivers the supermarket’s products to stores across the country.
The supermarket has also rewarded the young artist with Aldi vouchers and an exclusive Team GB and ParalympicsGB goodybag. Victoria’s school will also receive £1,000 to spend at Aldi.
Jemma Townsend, Marketing Director at Aldi, said:“The Design a Lorry competition is part of our collaborative efforts with Team GB and ParalympicsGB to promote healthy eating among young people.
“We had more than 12,000 entries from talented young artists, but it was Victoria’s design that really stood out to our judges due to its eye-catching illustrations and use of bold colours.”
Tim Ellerton, Commercial Director at Team GB, said: “There were so many strong entries this year, it made it difficult to pick just two winners.
“However, Victoria’s design captured the topic of healthy and sustainable food perfectly.”
Jenny Seymour, Commercial Director at ParalympicsGB, said: “Victoria’s winning design showcases brilliantly the importance of fresh and healthy food.
“Our athletes enjoyed surprising her at school last week when her winning design appeared on the road for the first time and hosting an assembly for the pupils.”
Alongside the Design a Lorry competition, Aldi, Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s Get Set to Eat Fresh programme offers a series of teaching resources to educate children about nutrition and build their love and curiosity about healthy, sustainable food.
Craigies Farm in South Queensferry has seen nearly 7,000 pumpkins picked so far this October. This comes as they launch their family-friendly Halloween events last weekend.
The daytime Spooky Days and nighttime Haunted Tunnels events invite kids and grown-ups alike to explore the farm, play terrifyingly fun games, meet a colourful cast of characters, and enjoy illuminations at night.
Pumpkin picking is included with tickets to both events, with 6,662 pumpkins having been picked since October 1st.
The Halloween events are the perfect blend of scary and fun, offering families a unique day out this October.
Be in for just a penny and lose the pounds in time for Christmas. Edinburgh Leisure is reducing their normal joining fee to just 1p on any of their swim, gym, fitness classes, and climb memberships meaning there’s no excuse not to get fit and manage your well-being in the run up to the festive period.
The offer is available from Friday, 20 October until Sunday, 5 November 2023 and is available to buy online only or in venue.
As everyone is different and needs to find their own way to a healthy and active life, Edinburgh Leisure offers a range of different membership options to suit everyone including swim, gym and fitness class only to full monthly memberships.
By offering different types of membership, people can match their activity preferences to their pocket.
With 50+ venues including 1 climbing centre, 12 swimming pools including five Victorian pools, 15 gyms, and 750+ fitness classes per week, Edinburgh Leisure is the ‘biggest club in town’ providing the widest range of fitness classes, state of the art facilities and community-based programmes across the capital.
So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something to suit your needs.
The City of Edinburgh has claimed the top spot of councils in Scotland on climate action, it has been announced this week (Wednesday 18 October) by Climate Emergency UK.
The Council Climate Action Scorecards cover 7 sections, ask 91 questions, and were created in consultation with over 90 different organisations and key individuals.
Collectively this provides some of the most in-depth analysis of climate action in UK local authorities to date.
With a total score of 58%, the City of Edinburgh Council ranks joint 4th overall in the UK, and 1st in Scotland. Edinburgh was also the only council outside of London which placed in the top six of the table.
Edinburgh scored highest in the sections for Collaboration & Engagement (78%), Planning & Land Use (70%) and Waste Reduction & Food (67%).
Disappointingly, only 41 of the UK’s 388 local and combined authorities scored above 50%, with the average score being just 32%.
The Council will use the Scorecards to understand where it can be bolder, and where it needs to make faster progress on climate action.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:“Whilst I welcome this excellent news about Edinburgh’s ranking from Climate Emergency UK, we still have a long road ahead to reach our goal of Edinburgh becoming a net zero city by 2030 and addressing the other key challenges in our 2030 Climate Strategy.
“It is important though that we highlight the good progress we’re making. From pioneering our sustainable active travel and public transport networks, to combatting food waste, and making our Council houses and buildings more energy efficient, alongside flagship projects like our Granton Waterfront net zero redevelopment (above), I’m inspired by what I see around the city.
“I’d add that in the next few months reports on our Council Emissions Reduction Plan (CERP) and progress on city-wide emissions, and delivery of our 2030 Climate Strategy will be heard at committee.
“I’m conscious that whilst local government has a key role to play in our just transition to net zero, but this must be done alongside wider society with coordination and cooperation alongside government, private sector, third sector and our citizens.
“This was underlined in January of this year, when the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee stated clearly in their report that Scotland will not meet its climate targets without a more empowered local government sector, and the removal of key barriers facing not only our Council but many across the country.
“We’re bold and ambitious in our approach and aims, but this is absolutely essential if we are to properly confront the climate emergency, which is undoubtedly the key existential challenge of our times. “
Climate Emergency UK Co-Director Annie Pickering said:“The low scores across the board shows that there are national barriers for local authorities that make it harder for most councils to deliver the necessary climate action.
“A lack of funding and government policy U-turns are some of the barriers to effective local climate action.”
A community centre in Aberdeen, a village shop in Plockton and a resource hub in Speyside are all set to benefit from the Scottish Land Fund
£1,968,921 for 11 projects across Scotland
Great Western Community Trust in Aberdeen (above) has received£425,154to purchase Holburn West Church and manage it as a community venue that will host a wide range of groups and activities.
The award is one of 11 made during the most recent round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund and the announcement comes during an extended Community Land Week (13 – 29 October), which community landowners across the country are marking with events and celebrations.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Other grants awarded during the current round of funding include £90,459 to Plockton& District Community Trust to acquire the Old Post Office in Plockton, Lochalsh, from which the group will continue to provide community services while developing the building as a multi-use community space; and £118,663 has been awarded to The Grantown Society in Grantown-On-Spey, to allow them to purchase the former SSE Hydro building in the town and turn it into a multi-use resource hub and visitors’ centre.
Martin Greig, trustee, Great Western Community Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for the generous award from the SLF.The funds will make a huge difference to the benefit of the local community.
“The project has enormous support from residents. They have said again and again that the area needs this kind of public facility. Thanks to the SLF, this splendid building can now remain at the heart of the community.”
Alasdair Mackenzie, Vice Chairman, Plockton & District Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to secure SLF support to bring this much loved building in the heart of our village into community ownership.
“We’re a new organisation and this is our first asset, so it’s a real boost for us. There has been informal use of the building for over 20yrs, but this purchase safeguards it for the community.
“We can now press on with our plans to improve the fabric of the building. Without SLF support none of this would be possible.
And Bill Sadler, Chairman, The Grantown Society, said: “Grantown’s No 2 High Street, latterly SSE Hydro Shop, which has lain empty for over seven years, was once a thriving grocer’s shop, situated on what became known as “Rimmington’s Corner”; a favourite meeting place for locals.
“Now, with thanks to the Scottish Land Fund, The Grantown Society is bringing it back to life as a warm and welcoming Community Resource Hub with rentable “pop-up” retail space, community information, an ATM and gigabit Wifi with available desk space.”
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “Many people and community organisations know exactly what their local areas need but may lack the funding to make their visions a reality.
“This is why the Scottish Land Fund is so important. It allows community groups to realise their goals and unlock the full power of community actions. It is a prime example of our plans to ensure that Scotland’s land is used in a way that benefits everyone.
“I want to congratulate the latest recipients. I know that their projects will prove hugely beneficial to their respective communities. I also want to encourage any other organisations who may be eligible to apply to the Scottish Land Fund.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The groups receiving funding today have all clearly identified opportunities to help their locality to thrive.
“By establishing new or securing existing shops, work spaces, social hubs and leisure facilities they are helping their communities become more cohesive and sustainable places to live.”
Douglas Cowan, Director of Communities and Place at HIE,said: “These successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities.
“All these projects announced today will help to deliver local community priorities. Ownership will give them greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful community organisations the very best in their new ventures.”
Other groups receiving funding are:
Resonate Together
Award – £295,822
Resonate Together will acquire The Ochil & Harvey House plots on the Carsebridge site, in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. They have occupied the buildings since January 2022 and will renovate the site as a community hub, with a community garden and café, benefiting the community by providing space to socialise, learn new skills and volunteer.
Broadford and Strath Community Company
Award – £95, 700
Broadford and Strath Community Company will purchase a commercial unit located in Broadford, Isle of Skye. The group will use this space to provide a multi-use office, workshop and exhibition space which will be used by local businesses and community groups.
SunartCommunity Company
Award – £241,782
Sunart Community Company will purchase Longrigg Wood (87.6ha) in Strontian, West Lochaber to improve the social, economic, and environmental health and wellbeing of the area.
Gairloch& Loch Ewe Community Hub (GALE)
Award – £337,724
GALE will acquire The Shieling café and restaurant in Gairloch, Wester Ross. The building will allow them to expand on the services they currently offer, and will be developed into a community hub.
Hoy Youth Hub
Award – £93,802
Hoy Youth Hub will acquire St Columba’s Church in Longhope, Hoy, Orkney. The building will be developed into a Youth Hub, which will provide the island’s only dedicated space for young people. The asset will also be used as a community space for various groups to use.
Friends of Sanday Kirk Ltd
Award – £83,730
Friends of Sanday Kirk will purchase the Cross Kirk in Sanday, Orkney. The group will use the building as a multi-use community facility to provide a range of community support activities and services which focus on wellbeing, arts and a community meeting space.
Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company
Award – £104,820
Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston Community Company will acquire Glentarff House, Canalside South, Fort Augustus. They will then carry out a refurbishment and reconfiguration, creating affordable housing units.
WhalsayKirk Development Company (WKDC)
Award – £81,265
WKDC will acquire Whalsay Kirk, in Shetland with the intention of repurposing the vacant building as a multi-purpose space that will include a visitor centre, art and crafts exhibition space with options for workshops, events and pop-up shops.
National Galleries of Scotland has announced extended opening hours throughout the final weekend of its blockbuster exhibition, Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, at the National (Royal Scottish Academy) due to phenomenal demand.
To make sure everyone can see Grayson Perry: Smash Hits, the Royal Scottish Academy will be open from 9am until 9pm on the 10, 11 and 12 November, with tickets on sale now.
Only a few more weeks remain to explore the remarkable 40-year career of contemporary cultural icon, Sir Grayson Perry. On show exclusively in Edinburgh, the exhibition has exceeded all expectations, welcoming over 10,000 people in the first two weeks alone.
Visitors can see over eighty works, including richly detailed tapestries, subversive pots and elaborate plates – some of which are on display for the first time.
Grayson Perry: Smash Hits has been developed in close collaboration with the artist. Much like Perry, the exhibition doesn’t play by the rules, renouncing traditional chronological displays in favourof presenting Perry’s work as a journey.
Smash Hits leads audiences through the many themes embedded within his provocative art, including masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and identity.
There’s also a chance to tour Smash Hits with the artist himself, through a free audio guide of 19 works, available via Smartify. Let the artwork come to life through Perry’s engaging and witty commentary, as he discusses the wide range of inspirations and stories locked within each object.
The exhibition brings together Perry’s meticulously detailed prints and imaginary maps along with many of his tapestries. This includes the rarely shown Walthamstow Tapestry (2009) which, at a striking 15-metres in length, presents a birth-to-death journey through shopping and brand names.
There’s also an opportunity to encounter the intricate cast-iron ship, Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman (2011). A collection of new works, some completed this year, have been presented to the public for the first time, including the tapestry Sacred Tribal Artefact (2023), and a series of pots and plates exploring themes of national identity.
Perry’s latest pots, such as A Plague of Diaphobia (2022) and Ye Olde English Pot (2023), are presented in the form of medieval beer flagons. Decorated with traditional slipware techniques, they reference subjects ranging from the polarising effect of internet to heraldic iconography.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland,said: “It has been a privilege to see the excitement and enthusiasm shown towards Grayson Perry: Smash Hits since it opened in the summer.
“With thousands of visitors pouring through the doors every week, the demand for Sir Grayson Perry’s inspiring body of work is evident. The National Galleries of Scotland are delighted to announce our extended opening hours during the exhibition’s final run.
“We hope they can allow as many people as possible to see the largest exhibition of Sir Grayson Perry’s work before we must close the doors in November.”
Visitors can take advantage of a bumper three days to say a fond farewell to what has been a truly smashing experience. Don’t miss the final chance to see Grayson Perry: Smash Hits at the National (Royal Scottish Academy).
Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network has been recognised for the work they do to tackle health inequalities in this year’s Scottish Health Awards.
The Network has been chosen as one of three finalists for the 2023 Tackling Health Inequalities award, highlighting the impact of the 24 community link workers (CLWs) who are helping improve the lives of people in some of the most deprived areas in the city.
Alison Leitch, Assistant Service Manager for the Network said: “We are delighted that the work of Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network has been recognised by this nomination for the Tackling Health Inequalities Award.
“Over the past five years the Community Link Workers havw shown their adaptability and commitment through the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
“They have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in the most need, building relationships and trust to focus on what matters to an individual, not what is the matter with them. As they concentrate on the activities that make the most difference to people and communities, both now and looking to the future, they continue to change lives for the better.”
The Network’s recently published annual review for 2022/23 illustrates the increasing impact that they are having in communities across the city and the real difference they are making for people facing a range of health inequalities.
Since 2018, Edinburgh’s CLWs have:
Received 19,220 referrals
Carried out 44,920 engagements
Made 29,425 links to community groups
Last year alone, they also successfully applied for nearly £100,000 of crisis grants on behalf of patients, helping them pay for necessities such as bills, clothes, furniture, equipment and so much more.
Ian Brooke, Deputy Chief Executive of EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) said: ‘I am so excited that Edinburgh’s Community Link Worker Network, which is funded by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, is one of the finalists for this award.
“It’s a real testament to the Edinburgh model of community link working, where all staff are employed by local voluntary organisations and therefore truly embedded in communities across the city. The 24 CLWs are delivering real, tangible action to reduce health inequalities for people in the city.”
The 24 CLWs cover 45 GP practices in Edinburgh and are employed by ten different voluntary sector organisations – Carr Gomm, Caring In Craigmillar, Community Renewal, Cyrenians, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust, Health All Round, Pilton Community Health Project, Penumbra, Space & Broomhouse Hub, The Health Agency.
The 2023 Scottish Health Awards will take place at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh on Thursday 2nd November.
