2023 has been a year of exceptional growth for Castle Community Bank headquartered in Leith. At the AGM it was reported that total membership has grown to over 46,000 at September 2023.
Chief Executive Adrian Sargent said: “I’m proud of our team, and the growth that we have achieved this year. We remain focussed on our social purpose of supporting communities, whilst helping our members to maximise their savings and manage debt as effectively as possible.
At the same time, our overall current Trustpilot rating of 4.8/5 shows we are getting the day-to-day experience right for our membership.”
Castle Community Bank aims to achieve sustainability through scale and is on track to do so with total assets now equal to £283m, making them one of the largest credit unions in the UK. Deposits have grown to £247m in 2023 and the loan book has increased to £225m in 2023.
Castle Community Bank Chair, Stephen Pearson said: “I like to think of our operating model as a ‘circle of good’.
“Savers like our top quartile interest rates and easy online joining process. Many of them also like the fact that we make their money go further by funding our affordable loan products, enabling people who struggle to access loans from mainstream banks to borrow what they need at affordable rates.
“In turn, prudent, commercial success enables us to grow our community programmes in Edinburgh and beyond: including providing debt advice support, sustainable food bank funding and ethical investment for charities and churches.
“Castle Community Bank is leading the way in expanding the credit union movement in the UK, delivering strong and sustainable growth, underpinned by sound risk management.”
The Scottish credit union was established in 2015 following the merger of two long established credit unions: Castle and North Edinburgh (above), along with the members of the Water of Leith Credit Union Study Group.
The study group was set up with the aim of establishing a Credit Union in Leith.
The difference between credit unions or mutuals and high street banks is they are owned and run by members, instead of shareholders, creating a shared financial community across the UK, which is accessible to everyone.
There’s just days to go before Bronwen Winter Phoenix unveils her artwork in a solo debut exhibition at granton:hub – based in Madelvic House – over Easter weekend, with opening night on Friday (29th March), 6pm – 9pm.
The Edinburgh-based artist will also deliver live demonstrations for visitors who will be able to watch her paint within the gallery space throughout the day on Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st from 10am – 4pm.
Although this is Bronwen’s first solo exhibition, she recently had four pieces of work displayed at Edinburgh Palette as part of an open call exhibition from Awright Projects. DISCOVERY will showcase new works, along with some pivotal pieces for Bronwen.
An ex-journalist and Galaxy Award-nominated fiction author, Bronwen is currently studying contemporary art practice (CAP) at Edinburgh College’s Granton campus, and is involved in the local art community there – including being on the committee of student-run hubCAP Gallery.
Bronwen said: “I’m really excited to be showcasing my work in the welcoming setting of granton:hub. It definitely feels like I’ve been on a bit of a journey with my art the past couple of years, and this exhibition is the culmination of that, really.”
She continued: “Since I started painting again, I’ve been the happiest I’ve felt in my life, and I never want to stop. I feel like this is exactly where I need to be right now, but I’ve only managed to get here with the support of everyone around me, which I’m incredibly grateful for.”
Having been discouraged at a young age from pursuing her art dreams, Bronwen turned to writing instead, and until more recently, it’s how she had earned a living with journalism and her marketing agency.
Bronwen said: “It just goes to show, you should never let ANYONE discourage you from following your dreams. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunities I do now to pursue an art career, and I’m only just getting started.”
Since she first started painting and working with both traditional and digital media, Bronwen has worked with two national charities.
Official description via granton:hub:
Ever since she picked up a paintbrush for the first time in roughly 20 years, Edinburgh-based artist Bronwen Winter Phoenix has been on a journey of realisation and uncensored passion.
DISCOVERY is Bronwen’s solo debut exhibition in which she shares many of her major pictorial and sculptural artworks created on that journey of realisation, predominantly exploring the human condition. The way we’re fuelled, moulded, twisted and pulled by connection, love, and loss, as well mental health and inner demons. Her work highlights the physical, the moral, and the psychological, with even a bit of whimsy thrown in at times.
Bronwen has so far been commissioned by two national charities, and four pieces of her work were recently displayed at Edinburgh Palette as part of an open call exhibition, where they were well received.
Meet the artist herself, discuss the work at the preview evening or come along over the Easter weekend where Bronwen Winter Phoenix will be hosting a live painting demonstration during the day within the granton:hub gallery space at Madelvic House.
Labour Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack has today challenged the Scottish Government to finally intervene in Edinburgh’s housing emergency.
This comes after recent ONS figures illustrated the scale of Edinburgh’s crisis.
The figures revealed that the average rent in Edinburgh had an annual increase of 14.9%, almost 5% higher than the 10.9% increase across the whole of Scotland.
This is despite the Scottish Government having introduced a rent cap.
The average house price has also risen faster in Edinburgh, compared to the country as a whole.
The average price jumped 5.4% compared to last year, whereas it only rose 4.8% across all of Scotland.
These figures come after Edinburgh Council unanimously declared a housing emergency at the tail end of last year.
However, the Scottish Government refused to follow suit and voted down plans to declare a nationwide housing emergency.
Commenting on the ONS figures, Ms Boyack said: “These latest ONS figures have merely illustrate what we in Edinburgh have known all along – there is a serious housing emergency.
“The only Edinburgh resident who doesn’t recognise this crisis is the one living in Bute House.
“The decision by the SNP, not to intervene to alleviate this situation shows their neglect for our capital city.
“Myself and other Scottish Labour MSPs will continue to push the Scottish Government to act.
“It is vital that Edinburgh gets the help it urgently needs, before this emergency escalates any further.”
LOCAL Greenpeace volunteers were door-knocking in Bruntsfield yesterday to spread the word about Greenpeace’s current UK-wide campaign Project Climate Vote.
Project Climate Vote aims to recruit one million climate voters ahead of the next general election, in order to pressure all political parties to commit to bolder action on climate change. Climate voters pledge to show visible support for climate policies and vote with the planet in mind.
Edinburgh volunteers went door to door in Bruntsfield having conversations with residents about their concerns about the climate crisis and wider connected issues. As climate voters, locals were asked to place a poster in their window and to voice their concerns about the climate crisis should local candidates come to their door in the run-up to the election.
Sue, a volunteer from Bruntsfield said: “The conversations we’re having show that the climate crisis is a key concern for the majority of people and they want bolder action from our leaders. It’s encouraging that so many people want to sign up…the hardest part is finding folk in on a sunny afternoon!”
Today follows numerous other door-knocking sessions Greenpeace volunteers have carried out in Edinburgh since September 2023, including in Pilton in North Edinburgh in February. The group will be out canvassing again during future weekends, right up until the general election, which is currently expected to take place in the latter half of this year.
Zoë, a volunteer from Newington said: “Project Climate Vote is a very exciting and crucial campaign aiming to hold politicians to account on delivering the action that we need in order to ensure a liveable future.
The climate crisis is already happening up and down the country. People can see it with their own eyes and are playing their part to mitigate their own impact on the environment. What we need now are our leaders to step up to the plate.”
Greenpeace UK are hosting weekly online training sessions for those interested in taking part in the canvassing campaigns in their local areas. Anyone is welcome to join a canvassing team, regardless of if they have any past experience with Greenpeace.
UK voters can sign up to be a Climate Voters and order their posters on the Greenpeace website.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is consulting on a review of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) to protect communities from future impacts of flooding, as the number of homes, businesses and services at risk across Scotland is projected to increase by around 40% by the 2080s due to climate change.
PVAs are areas where significant flood risk exists now or is likely to occur in the future and are used to identify locations where a partnership approach may be required to resolve widespread and often complex flooding issues.
They inform Scotland’s Flood Risk Management (FRM) Plans and Local Flood Risk Management Plans and become the focus of FRM actions, helping responsible authorities to prioritise investment and coordinate actions to reduce the impacts of flooding on communities.
Identifying PVAs is an essential part of protecting people, properties, businesses, communities, infrastructure, and our environment, with an estimated 284,000 homes, businesses and services across Scotland currently identified as at risk of flooding.
This winter, SEPA issued a record number of regional Flood Alerts and local Flood Warnings to the public. A total of 720 messages were sent between 1st September 2023 and 16th February 2024. The previous record of 714 was set over autumn and winter 2015/16.
Siobhan McNulty, Flood Risk Planning Manager at SEPA, said: “Scotland is witnessing an increasing number of extreme weather events and flooding presents a growing threat to our communities.
“It is vital we work together with partners and communities to identify the areas most at risk so we can work together to increase Scotland’s resilience to flooding. PVAs are the first step in this process.”
Informing Scotland’s flood risk management process
Since PVAs were first identified in 2011, SEPA have worked together with partners including local authorities and Scottish Water to plan and deliver actions to manage flood risk in the places where it is needed most.
Based on the National Flood Risk Assessment, PVAs are updated and published by SEPA every six years as required by the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. The designation of PVAs takes into consideration past, current and future flood risk from rivers, the sea and surface water using recorded events, observations and strategic flood modelling.
SEPA are now consulting on proposed updates to PVAs for 2024. The review will focus on smaller, community-based target areas set within wider zones of influence to provide clearer information on how flood risk is tackled in Scotland.
Once the PVAs are formally designated by Scottish Ministers, SEPA will then prepare FRM plans to set objectives and actions for reducing flood risk. The local FRM plans published by each lead local authority will then provide more detail, including timescales and funding.
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan said: “Managing our exposure to floods and their impacts is a significant and growing challenge as climate change brings more severe and frequent flood events.
“Improving resilience to flooding is a priority for the Scottish Government, so I welcome the launch of this consultation and I encourage all parties with a potential interest to engage with it.”
Helping communities at greatest flood risk
One community that has historically suffered from flooding is Stonehaven, which has been designated a PVA since the first cycle in 2011.
Several actions have since been identified and delivered through flood risk management plans developed by SEPA and Aberdeenshire Council, with input from the Stonehaven Flood Action Group and the wider community.
These include the completion of the Stonehaven Flood Protection Scheme which is designed to protect against flooding from the Glaslaw Burn and the River Carron, and benefits around 370 homes and businesses by reducing fluvial flooding. Other actions that have been delivered for Stonehaven are a new coastal flood warning system, updated coastal flood hazard maps and the completion of the Stonehaven Bay coastal flood study.
Cllr Alan Turner, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “I was delighted to see the completion of the Stonehaven Flood Protection Scheme. This demonstrates real progress being made to mitigate flooding impacts in the town.
“The scheme was built following consultation and engagement with the residents, businesses, and the Stonehaven Flood Action Group. That entire process started with a PVA assessment, where coordinated actions were established through PVA recommendations.”
“A PVA designation is an invaluable aid – firstly in the understanding of potential impacts of flooding and secondly through the implementation of tangible solutions which will provide reassurance to communities.”
Have your say on PVAs
While the designation of PVAs is a science and evidence-led process, feedback from public partners and local communities is key to making sure all relevant impacts are taken into consideration.
Siobhan McNulty said: “Whether you have previously been affected by flooding or have concerns about potential future impacts for your home, business or community, we want to hear from you.
“Your views on the proposed PVAs will inform essential future flood risk management work so we can improve flooding resilience together and best prepare for a changing climate.”
The charity, Islamic Relief UK, has launched its annual Ramadan food drive for 2024, to help the UK’s vulnerable communities who have been affected by rising poverty levels and the cost-of-living crisis.
The food distribution will take places across the UK, in cities such as London, Birmingham, Leicester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Luton and Nottingham, as the need is widespread. Islamic Relief will be working in collaboration with 18 of its local partners, such as food banks, mosques, football clubs, and local charities.
According to research undertaken by Islamic Relief, and polling company Savanta (1), over half of people in the UK are struggling more with their bills and food prices than they were a year ago, and 30% of Brits are worried about having to use a food bank in the near future. The data points that almost all people in the UK, across all strata of society, have been negatively affected by the cost-of-living crisis and are concerned about the future.
Tufail Hussain, director of Islamic Relief UK, adds: “Poverty in the UK has been exacerbated by years of the cost-of-living crisis, and families are struggling more than ever to put food on the table. It is imperative more than ever to come together as a community and support one another.”
“The research we conducted spells a worrying outlook for the UK, with no community of social group spared from the tough reality of the cost-of-living crisis. But for the already vulnerable, the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers, the poor, it is catastrophic. Now more than ever we are so grateful for the outpouring of support that allows us to provide food distributions such as this one.”
Locations and dates for the food distributions are as follows:
Ayrshire butcher We hae meat has created the ‘world’s largest’ square sausage slice to mark the inaugural National Square Sausage Day on 25 March.
The giant square sausage slice – believed to be the largest ever produced – spans an impressive 30cm x 40cm, 25 times bigger than an average slice, and weighs in at 2.275KG. We hae meat teamed up with the Edinburgh-based Breadwinner Bakery who produced a colossal morning roll to fit the enormous sausage.
Jamie (aged 8), Daisy (aged 8) and Leo (aged 9) from Dailly Primary School’s P4/5 class lent helping hands for the finishing touches, adding dollops of tomato and brown sauce.
Craig Chalmers, Commercial Manager, We hae meat said: “We produce more than 21 million slices of square sausage every year, but we wanted to challenge ourselves to do something really special to commemorate the first ever National Square Sausage Day.
“It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm for Scotland’s beloved square sausage since we announced the national day. Today, we’re inviting square sausage lovers in Scotland and beyond to join in the festivities by enjoying a square sausage breakfast, lunch or dinner.”
Pupil Jamie described the experience as “amazing,” saying, “The square sausage and the roll were huge – it was so much fun getting to be here to see it, and I know my friends at school are going to be really jealous!”
Established in 2007, We hae meat is a leading producer of premium meat products, operating from its Ayrshire farm and factory. The family business prides itself with a commitment to quality and traditional flavours, producing more than 21 million slices of square sausage a year.
The farm-to-fork business is inviting families across Scotland to join in the celebration of the square sausage which, because it is thinner than a link sausage, takes less time and energy to cook, making it a more convenient and less energy-intensive alternative.
To mark the national day, We hae meat is also donating square sausage meals to the Dailly Community Pantry and all pupils and staff at Dailly Primary School, as well as sharing tips on social media on the best ways to cook and serve a slice.
We hae meat offers a skinny range, containing up to 75 per cent less fat and 45 per cent fewer calories than its standard range, offering a healthier alternative. For chippy lovers it also offers a ‘chippy-style’ range.
The company recently claimed the Green Family Business of the Year and Scottish Family Business of the Year awards at The Herald Scottish Family Business Awards, with the judges praising its sustainable practices.
We hae meat’s full range is available in major grocery retailers across Scotland, including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Co-Op and Iceland.
Fact file
Ingredients included: beef, bread rusk, water and seasoning.
The average square sausage slice weighs 65g; We hae meat’s ‘world’s largest’ slice weighs 35 times that at 2.275kg.
We hae meat produces more than 21 million square sausage slices a year.
Today marks the launch of the latest phase of the government’s global campaign to warn migrants of the consequences of entering the UK illegally
Every year, thousands of people are sold lies by organised criminal gangs who put profit before human life, smuggling people to the UK across one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the English Channel.
The Home Secretary has launched a new campaign that will be rolled out in Vietnam, following successful social media activity in Albania last year which contributed to a 90% reduction in Albanian small boat arrivals.
Using real testimonies from those who regret coming to the UK illegally, the adverts highlight the risks and consequences people face if they turn to criminal gangs and attempt the dangerous journey.
A migrant, referred to as K, shares his reality of sleeping in a camp in Calais for 5 nights under the supervision of armed guards, before taking the long journey across the Channel to the UK. He says: “Never again would I risk my life in a small boat, even if you bribed me.”
An increasing proportion of small boat migrants are Vietnamese, and they are 1 of the top 10 nationalities for migrants crossing the Channel illegally.
The latest phase of the campaign, which will begin today (Monday 25 March), will harness social media adverts on Facebook and YouTube to directly target people who may be considering making dangerous and illegal journeys to the UK.
The social media posts emphasise the consequences of travelling to the UK illegally and the dangers people can expect to face, as well as set out the risks of being indebted to and exploited by the people smuggling gangs who profit from facilitating small boat crossings.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “This is a powerful campaign which demonstrates first-hand that life for people arriving here illegally is a far cry from the lies they have been sold by the gangs on the other side of the Channel.
“Last year, similar work contributed to a 90% reduction in small boat arrivals from Albania, and overall numbers are down by a third, but there is more to do.
“Expanding our campaign to Vietnam, another key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, will help us to save more lives and dent the business model of the criminals who profit from this vile trade.”
The campaign warns prospective migrants of the reality of living in the UK illegally with no right to be in the UK and no access to public services or funding.
It includes testimonies from Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Border Force officers, who all too often encounter illegal migrants who have been sold into modern slavery or illegal working by their smugglers.
Illegal migrants can be forced to live in inhumane, cramped and hazardous conditions by criminal gangs, with no access to basic hygiene, healthcare or legal employment.
The campaign’s social media adverts direct users to a new website with additional video content from Immigration Enforcement and Border Force officers who describe some of the shocking cases they’ve encountered and their experiences of rescuing small boat migrants from life-threatening danger in the Channel.
This stage of the campaign follows successful social media activity by the UK government in Albania, France and Belgium, and is the latest step in the UK’s efforts to work jointly with countries across the world to tackle the global migration crisis.
Similar campaigns are also being considered for other priority countries.
UK and Vietnamese authorities already work closely to prevent illegal journeys to the UK and remove those with no right to be here.
Senior officials from the UK and Vietnam are due to meet in London on 17 April to discuss working in even closer partnership on migration issues.
