Month: November 2023

November News from Heart of Newhaven

Autumn is truly upon us and with autumn comes tidying up the garden. Here at the Heart, a volunteer team from British Gas worked hard in the grounds last month and seemed to enjoy themselves – they want to come back next year anyway!

Tools  were borrowed from the Tool Library and a tremendous amount was achieved: encroaching vegetation on the decking behind the Anchor Building was cut back and part of the decking covered in chicken wire to prevent slips; hedges were trimmed, litter was picked and rotten planters and sheds were demolished or righted as necessary.

A van load of prunings was removed, but there was still a lot of green waste.

Some of this was chopped into rubble bags and the rest was piled out of sight next to the garden shed. Perhaps we can make a bug hotel out of it.

There’s still work to do, of course, including digging out the mugwort and finishing the chicken wire, so if you’d like to get involved, remember that the gardening group meets every Thursday morning, from 10 till 1

.Remember too to dress for the weather! It is autumn, after all.

Halloween ceilidh

Autumn also means that witches, fairies, ghosts and pumpkins  were to be found reeling and wheeling at our Halloween Family Ceilidh on Saturday 28thOctober.

Head witch Norma was in charge of proceedings, ably assisted by under-witch Leslie, who looked after the dooking for apples while both children and adults had their faces painted by Ailie, and were fed by loads of spookily decorated biscuits and cakes supplied by Lesley and the Ukrainian Spiders.  

There were plenty of other helpers on hand to assist and everyone commented on the warmth of the event and how family-friendly it was. Don’t miss the next one!

Oyster Day Celebration

Around 70 people came along to celebrate the native oyster and took part in Restoration Forth’s marine-themed craft activities on Saturday 21st October.

They were treated to a performance by the Newhaven Choir and were able to learn the fascinating history of oysters in Edinburgh and catch up on what is being done to restore the oyster beds and the health of the river Forth.

Photos: Espen Helland

Coming up:

Fair Saturday, 25th November

Every last Saturday of November, the day after Black Friday, people in different parts of the world join together by supporting a social project of their choice. Here at the Heart we will be joining in and promoting fairness and social equality through our various offerings.

Come along on Saturday 25th and look at the tremendous amount of objects recently made or repaired by the Men’s Shed. They will be for sale at fair prices.

Similarly, the History of Education Centre will be offering many surplus objects from their collection, such as old school posters and books, in return for donations.

There will be plenty of other offerings. Come along, have a cuppa and investigate.

Cyrenian Lunch Club, Mondays

Starting on Monday 6th November, and running weekly thereafter, the Cyrenian Lunch Club will be taking place at the Heart from 12.30 till 2pm. The Cyrenians try to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness and the launch of the new lunch club is simply one part of that. The lunches are free and open to all.

They’ll be serving a nutritious two-course meal along with tea/coffee. Some weeks there will also be entertainment to enjoy. Simply turn up.

There’s no need to book unless you have specific dietary requirements they need to know of in advance, in which case contact amandasomerville@cyrenians.scot or call 0131 554 3900

New Pilates classes

We have a new offering on Saturdays at the Heart. Kirsty Pollock is offering Community Pilates for beginners/improvers and complete beginners on Saturday mornings.  Contact Kirsty at kpollock008@gmail.com or call her on 07842657411.  Classes start at 10am and 11am. You can just drop in and try it or sign up for a block of classes.

Folk Club

Leith Folk Club have made their regular home with us and their next gig is coming up on Tuesday 7thNovember. This event is part of a special John Renbourn Project Tour and will feature guitarists Clive Carroll and Dariush Kanani. Doors open at 7.30 for an eight o’clock start and remember it’s not just for members. Anyone is welcome.  Tickets on the door. Check their website for more details.

Reminiscence

Come along and share your memories with the Reminiscence group.

Next dates are 23rd November and 21st December, 10.30 – 11.13.

Free to attend, with a different theme each time.

Coffee at the Heart

Join us for a cuppa and biscuits on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, 9  – 12.  Remember that on Wednesdays Ace-It will be there with free advice and support for problems with your laptop, phone or tablet.

Ginger

Children’s show at the Heart.

We are looking forward to seeing a performance from partners, Tortoise in a Nutshell.

Saturday 2nd December

Performances at 10.30 – 11.30am and 1.45 – 2.45pm

Cost: ‘Pay what you think’

Ginger tells the tale of a misshapen gingerbread man ,discarded and marked for the bin. We follow Ginger a he tries to find his place in a kitchen where all confectionery looks the same.  

Dynamic puppetry, multi-sensory performance and immersive soundscape combine to create an anarchic adventure for families and 3-7year olds.

Ginger on Vimeo

Wine Tasting Night

Tickets are extremely limited and are online only.

£15 per person (plus Eventbrite booking fee).

Tickets available via this link https://tinyurl.com/4ee4955c

All-star comedy line-up for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 

Get ready to giggle your way into the new year as organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay announce an all-star line-up for its Ho Ho Hogmanay comedy show on Friday 29 December.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, presented by UniqueAssembly on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council, will run Friday 29 December 2023 – Monday 1 January 2024.

Ho Ho Hogmanay marks a welcome return for Hogmanay celebrations at Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms and will close the first day of the four-day festival for the New Year.  

The line-up for the evening will be hosted by Live at the Apollo’s Emmanuel Sonubi, and will feature Edinburgh’s Hogmanay alumnus and Scottish comedy royalty Susie McCabe alongside her compatriots, award-winning Larry Dean, and the inimitable Fred MacAulay. 

Emmanuel Sonubi is the epitome of the phrase ‘star of the future’, This year he was nominated for Best Show at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards after being nominated for Best Newcomer the previous year. He recently hosted Live at the Apollo and appeared on Have I Got News For You. In the near future he will appear in an episode of QI and Celebrity Pointless, Rosie Jones’ new show Out of Order and lastly Rhod Gilberts Growing Pains. Working with the likes of Jason Manford, Jack Whitehall, Romesh Ranganathan and John Bishop, and with over 10 million views online, Emmanuel is quickly becoming a household name.   

Emmanuel Sonubi looked forward to the event, saying: “Edinburgh is one of my favourite places to perform. It’s where I was nominated for Best Newcomer and then Best Show from the lovely people at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. “So it’s an absolute pleasure to be invited to perform at the iconic Assembly Rooms where I have seen some of the best comedians of my lifetime perform. I can’t wait!” 

Susie McCabe’s rise through the ranks of stand-up has been nothing short of meteoric. Her brilliant storytelling, acute observations and killer punchlines have made her one of the most sought-after performers in the UK.

She has supported the likes of Kevin Bridges, Frankie Boyle, Ardal O’Hanlon, John Bishop and Jason Manford on their national tours. A firm festival favourite, Susie has enjoyed five sell-out shows at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and continues to be the fastest-selling artist at the festival, selling out 2 nights at the Glasgow King’s Theatre as well as venues up and down Scotland.  

In addition to her set at Ho Ho Hogmanay, Susie McCabe will repeat her MC duties from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2022/23 with an appearance at the Concert in the Gardens on 31 December 2023. 

A hot ticket on the touring circuit, Larry Dean has performed his shows across the UK and Ireland to jam-packed rooms. Larry’s fanbase is international, as a regular at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Christchurch Buskers Festival, Perth Fringeworld and the invitation-only Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.  

Having presented the very funny and eventful MacAulay and Co. on BBC Radio Scotland for almost 18 years and with a string of tv appearances, Fred MacAuley’s on-air witticisms and on-screen reputation are the product of years of experience on the live circuit, including a stint as the first ever-Scottish compere at the Comedy Store in London. 

Ho Ho Hogmanay will close the first day of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay four-day programme to bring in the New Year. Earlier on 29 December, an anticipated 20,000 people will shine a light on homelessness at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Torchlight Procession with official charity partner Social Bite, blazing a trail through the capital’s Old Town.  

Celebrations continue with Night Afore Revels and the Night Afore Disco Party on 30 December.

On Hogmanay night itself New Year Revels makes a welcome return to Assembly Rooms with an all-night ceilidh and live band party with Massaoke, while Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens will host 50,000 party goers at the world-famous Street Party and Concert in the Gardens with Pulp and special guests Hot Chip (DJ set).

The four-day programme comes to a close on Monday 1 January 2024 with the family friendly Sprogmanay and family ceilidh, and First Footin’ Culture Trail in selected venues around the city.  

Further information and tickets for Ho Ho Hogmanay and all events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30th anniversary celebrations are available now from:

 www.edinburghshogmanay.com. 

King’s Speech ‘to deliver a brighter future for the country’

New laws ‘to set the country on the right path for the long-term’ will be revealed in next week’s King’s Speech

New laws to ‘set the country on the right path for the long-term’ will be revealed in next week’s King’s Speech.

The Speech will focus on putting in the right laws, where we need them, to safeguard the future prosperity of the United Kingdom, seize economic opportunities and deliver a brighter future.

Ahead of the Autumn Statement later this month, the measures in the King’s Speech will build on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, safeguard our energy independence, ensure the UK is fully securing the benefits of Brexit and build the most competitive and supportive environment for businesses to capitalise on new technologies.

Together they will help ensure our country is more prosperous, more innovative, more secure, and ready to seize the bright future that the British people deserve, the government says.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This will be the first King’s Speech in seventy years and the legislation we will bring forward is part of our plan to build a better future for the next seventy.

“Just as I have done with energy security, net zero, illegal migration and HS2, the King’s Speech will take the long-term decisions to address the challenges this country faces, not the easy way out with short-term gimmicks.  

“As we take the necessary steps to halve inflation and reduce debt, we will legislate to grow the economy, by supporting innovative businesses and protecting consumers.

“To make the real change this country needs, we will bring forward bills that strengthen our society, help people feel safer in their own communities and give a sense of pride in the place they call home.”

The King’s Speech will also include a package of measures focused on strengthening our society and helping people to feel safe in their communities and will ‘build on progress to date delivering record numbers of police officers and ensuring perpetrators of anti-social behaviour face swift and more visible justice’. 

The Westminster government says this is on top of the existing support to the NHS – ‘meaning those who fall sick will get the care they need. With record funding and backing its long-term workforce plan, we will train more doctors, more nurses, more dentists and more GPs than ever before’.

In addition to setting out the legislative programme, the Tory government says the King’s Speech will reconfirm their commitment to promoting and protecting our national interests.

They say last week’s AI Safety Summit showed how the UK is leading the world to ensure the development of safe AI, and that the AUKUS submarine alliance with partners Australia and the United States continues to strengthen global security and will create jobs for people in the UK.

The State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday follows the delivery of 39 Government bills in the last Parliamentary session, including new laws to stop the boats, grow the economy, support families and deliver on the priorities that matter most to the country.

Seven bills will be carried over to complete their passage in the next session. This includes the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill and the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill which will modernise regulation so firms can grow and boost competition in the UK.

Legislation will also deliver a fairer and higher quality private rented sector for both tenants and landlords with the Renters (Reform) Bill helping ensure people live in decent, safe and secure homes.

The Holocaust Memorial Bill and the Economic Activities of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill will ensure the Holocaust and its victims are never forgotten and prevent public bodies from implementing their own politically motivated boycotts of foreign countries.

The Conservative Party has been in government for twelve years …

Amazon Dunfermline hosts community Halloween celebration

UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. From left, Kayleigh and Diezel Lewis with Sandra Ringland.

The team from Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline hosted a fancy dress party and haunted house experience on site to celebrate Halloween with the local community.

The occasion, planned as a thank you the Dunfermline team for the work they do fulfilling orders for customers all across the UK, involved a dress up day, doughnuts and treats, and a ‘haunted’ house for staff to bring their families along to. Families from the areas around the Dunfermline fulfilment centre were also invited to get involved with the festivities. 

UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. The McShane Family, from left, Stephen, Murray, Martha and Conall.

Alasdair Head, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “The Halloween party on site was so enjoyable.

“From the decorations to the costumes, and best of all, the ‘haunted’ house, which was my daughter’s personal favourite activity, the whole event was brilliant. Thank you to our colleagues for organising such a wonderful event.”

UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. From left, Autunm Morton, Calum Scouller with Zara and Leo.

Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, added: “Coming together as a team to celebrate our successes is very important to us and being able to enjoy it with our loved ones and the local community always makes it even more enjoyable.

“The Halloween party at Dunfermline was a well-deserved treat for our team and a way to say thank you for all their hard work this year. It was also a way for us to join with our neighbours and have a bit of fun during Halloween. It was a wonderful event.”

UNP – Amazon EDI4 – Halloween Fun. Christine Watson.

Scottish plumbing supplier on track for £7 million turnover with the support of Business Gateway

A Scottish heating, plumbing and bathroom supplier with branches located in Loanhead, Falkirk, Rosyth and Macmerry is now one of Scotland’s largest suppliers of plumbing, heating and bathroom products, after its owners received HR support and signposting to grant funding from Business Gateway. 

Launched in 2018, Heating, Plumbing & Parts (HPP) is a now a well-established heating and plumbing supplier and the go-to place for the everyday tradesman in Scotland. The business supplies and distributes everything relating to plumbing and heating, as well as specialising in bathrooms, underfloor heating and renewable energy products, selling to both trade and the public.  

Founders of the business, Craig Campbell, Commercial Director and Alan McConville, Operations Director had accumulated a wealth of knowledge in the industry through their work for large manufacturing merchants in senior roles for over three decades. Together, they identified a gap in the market to strengthen the relationship between merchant suppliers and the everyday tradesman, who they believed to be neglected in the industry.  

On a mission to drive change in the sector, Craig and Alan were in search of expert guidance to help turn their business plan into a reality and approached Business Gateway for support in 2018.

Business Gateway was instrumental in providing support in the early stages, with both Craig and Alan attending start-up advice workshops. These also included HR support, which helped the duo create staff contracts.  Additionally, Craig and Alan spent time with a strategy expert who helped them map out a five-year plan which they still follow today.  

Through Business Gateway, Alan and Craig also benefitted from digital support to help build and develop a user-friendly website, which now includes an online brochure, and provides direct access to the brand’s social channels.  

Motivated by the ongoing demand from their customers to have a showroom that could display the bathroom products on sale, Alan and Craig worked with Business Gateway to secure a 2023 Falkirk Council Resilience grant fund award for expansion. This £10,000 grant allowed HPP to build a new showroom at its Falkirk branch.  

Since 2018, HPP has gone from strength to strength, starting with their first branch in Loanhead and later expanding its premises to Falkirk, Rosyth and Macmerry, with more branches to follow.

Alan and Craig have also expanded their staff, and now have a team of 28 colleagues, who have over 300 years of experience and product knowledge between them. The business is now on track to turnover £7 million this year.   

Craig Campbell, Commercial Director, HPP, said: “After working in the heating and plumbing industry for several years, I’d acquired an abundance of industry knowledge. However, starting your own business in the sector can be daunting and knowing where to start can be the hardest part. 

“Our journey would have been much harder and longer without Business Gateway’s ongoing support.” 

Andrea Bradley-Priest, Business Gateway adviser, said: “We have been able to support HPP with a range of Business Gateway’s services.

“It has been fantastic to watch the business expand and develop in the way that both Alan and Craig wished for in their five-year plan. I look forward to watching them continue to grow in the future.” 

To find out how Business Gateway can help your business, visit:

https://bgateway.com.  

Migration in an independent Scotland

Supporting people who want to live and work in Scotland

Scotland would benefit from the creation of a migration system that could boost the economy and better meet the country’s needs according to a new paper on independence published by Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.

‘Migration to Scotland after independence’, the sixth paper in the Building a New Scotland series, sets out the Scottish Government’s proposals for how migration and asylum could work in an independent Scotland.

The proposals include new visa routes to make it easier for people to live, work, study and invest in Scotland, to support population growth in rural and island areas and key economic sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

Asylum and migration policy would also be overhauled from the current UK system, with people seeking asylum given the right to work and access employability services, to help integration and address key labour market shortages.

The paper also includes details on a simplified immigration system with lower fees and new public agencies to manage how migration and citizenship systems would operate, in line with the Scottish Government’s commitment to re-join the EU as an independent nation.

Ms Somerville said: “Our future success as a country is dependent above all else on the people who live here, and we value all those who have chosen to settle in Scotland for their invaluable contribution to our society and economy. 

“This paper published today sets out how, with independence, we could help ensure that success with a migration system specifically tailored to Scotland’s needs, to make it easier for more people to settle and integrate here. 

“Scotland’s population is set to fall, unlike other UK nations, under current constitutional arrangements. This means fewer people working, paying taxes and contributing to public services like the NHS. Yet Scotland is subject to the UK Government’s hostile approach to immigration which is damaging our economy.

“Control of our own migration policy would enable us to replace that approach with a system that has dignity, fairness and respect at its core, recognising above all that this is about individuals and their families.

“It is these values that will determine an independent Scotland’s approach to migration and asylum policy – to benefit our country and the people who would call it home.”

Building a New Scotland: Migration to Scotland after independence

How to stay safe on Bonfire Night if you’re having a bonfire at home

Experts at MyJobQuote.co.uk have created this guide on how to stay safe on bonfire night. Here, you will find all of the key steps needed to ensure you and your loved ones remain safe.

The following advice is helpful for those hosting a bonfire night party or creating an actual bonfire. Take a look at the advice below:

Planning a Bonfire Night Properly

If you are planning on hosting a party or creating your own bonfire this year, there are several things that you’ll need to consider and keep in mind when planning. Below are some tips for planning your bonfire night activities:

  • Always make sure you are building a bonfire that is completely stable and constructed carefully.
  • Let your neighbours know you’re planning on having a bonfire.
  • Use the correct items on the bonfire.
  • Make sure the bonfire is far away from any wildlife, trees, and structures to prevent the fire from being able to spread.
  • Keep the direction of the wind in mind on the night of the bonfire to prevent the fire from blowing and spreading to nearby wildlife or structures.
  • Ensure the bonfire is not a nuisance to anyone else, including your neighbours.
  • Keep a lookout for any nearby cables, and avoid setting up a bonfire underneath these.
  • It’s also important to set up a barrier around the bonfire to keep everyone safe. The barrier must be at least five metres around the bonfire.

How to Stay Safe at a Bonfire

  • Avoid lighting a bonfire with paraffin, petrol, diesel, white spirit, or methylated spirit. You also can’t use any of these to enhance the fire as it could be dangerous and could cause the fire to get out of control.
  • Have buckets of water or large quantities of water available nearby so that you can easily put the fire out if it gets out of control.
  • Avoid using any canisters, batteries, aerosols, or anything with foam or paint on the bonfire. Also, avoid using any wood that is treated or painted.
  • If you start to notice smoke heading towards nearby households, be ready to dampen the bonfire. This can occur if the wind changes direction.
  • Monito your bonfire throughout the entire process from start to finish. Keep a lookout at the strength and direction of the smoke to make sure it’s not an issue for people living nearby or for nearby wildlife.

How Do You Put Out a Bonfire?

When the night is over, it’s important that you completely put the bonfire out before retreating inside your home. Take the following steps to put out your bonfire properly:

  • Spray the bonfire thoroughly with water to begin putting it out. Wait until the bonfire has cooled down enough before leaving it. Make sure the bonfire can’t relight at all from any hot embers that remain. You will need to visually inspect the area and use your common sense to ensure the fire can’t possibly relight itself.
  • You should then rake the ashes into nearby soil and carefully dispose of all of the cooled-down materials. Use gloves to transport the materials for disposal, and wash your hands properly after you’ve moved everything.

Safety Tips When Using Fireworks at Home

There are some things you need to keep in mind if you are planning on lighting fireworks at your home. Take a look at the safety tips below if you are planning on launching some fireworks in your garden this year:

  • You should only ever use legal fireworks that have been purchased from a reputable supplier. In the UK, fireworks must be UKCA-marked or CE-marked. Alternatively, the fireworks should come with specific documents with these markings if they don’t have the markings on them directly.
  • Make sure you read all of the manufacturer’s instructions very carefully and follow the instructions to a T.
  • All fireworks must be suitable for being launched in the space and conditions that you have at home.
  • Avoid lighting any naked flames close to the fireworks.
  • Be sure to always point the fireworks in a safe and appropriate direction before lighting them.

Final Safety Tips For Bonfire Night

As mentioned, bonfire night should be a fun and safe experience. As long as you follow these safety tips and you always follow guidelines and manufacturer instructions, you should have no problems.

Using common sense is very important in ensuring you and your family remain safe. Keep children and pets away from open flames and fireworks. Always keep a barrier between the people and the fire, and never get too close to lit fireworks. When lighting fireworks, always step back and leave a safe distance before the fireworks launch.

There are so many fun things that you can do on bonfire night. If you are planning on having a bonfire party, take a look at this article by MyJobQuote.

In this article, you will find a range of bonfire night treat ideas as well as some additional safety tips to ensure you and your family remain safe throughout the bonfire celebrations.