Month: August 2024

‘An inspiration and a true local hero’

Master’s is child’s play for hero who holps orphans in Ukraine 

Gavin Menzies, a 38-year-old from Carrick Knowe, has graduated with a Master’s degree in Play Therapy from Queen Margaret University. His journey to this achievement is remarkable, as he put his career and studies on hold to help people in Ukraine during the war. 

Within weeks of the full-scale Russian invasion, Gavin travelled to Kyiv to support children who had lost their families and to provide end-of-life care to the elderly. Despite the risks, he was determined to alleviate the suffering of those caught in the conflict. 

Before his involvement in Ukraine, Gavin ran support businesses for children in Edinburgh. The pandemic highlighted the complex challenges faced by the children he worked with, prompting him to study the MSc Play Therapy at Queen Margaret University.

This course, run in collaboration with the specialist play therapy organisation With Kids, equipped him with the skills to better support young people. Due to his volunteering in Ukraine and his local commitments, he studied the course part-time over three years. 

Since the full-scale invasion, Gavin has made several trips to Ukraine to provide vital supplies. During his time there, he supplied clothing, supplies and Christmas presents to over 600 orphans in Odessa.  

Once home in Edinburgh, Gavin continued to provide vital support to the orphaned group of children by maintaining their extraordinary connection online. His volunteering also allowed him to apply the knowledge gained from his course to enhance his ability to serve children with complex needs in his local community. 

As a former player with the Pleasance Basketball Club, Gavin uses sport to give children a head start in life. His High Flyers Basketball Academy has grown to provide coaching to 300 kids across Edinburgh and the Lothians. 

Gavin opted to use the last year to focus on his Master’s course to ensure that he was better qualified to support his groups of children.

This July, he graduated from Queen Margaret University with a MA Play Therapy with merit. However, the ongoing plight of the Ukrainian people weighed heavily on his mind.

Now with his Master’s degree firmly under his belt, he has returned to Ukraine and is currently working to rebuild and revamp the orphanage in Odessa and volunteer in Kharkiv, where Russian forces have made gains these last few months.

He has just delivered supplies to a medical representative at an outpost in Kharkiv, and in the last few days, he has also been supporting orphans in Kyiv while drone attacks and bombing takes place all around them. 

Sir Paul Grice, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “Gavin’s selfless dedication to supporting the next generation through sport is what ultimately motivated him to come to QMU and study the MSc Play Therapy.

“Gavin’s drive and determination to make a positive impact on people’s lives epitomises the values of QMU. He is an inspiration and a true local hero.” 

Gavin received his Master’s award at a graduation ceremony attended by QMU’s Chancellor, Dame Prue Leith CBE.

He has now secured a position as a play therapist with the charity With Kids, and continues to blend this work with his holiday camps and basketball clubs, while still volunteering in Ukraine. 

Dr Bike session at Granton Church

FREE BIKE MAINTENANCE

We are very excited to be hosting a FREE bike maintenance session at Granton Parish Church on Friday 20th September (5-7PM)🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️🚴.

The session is going to be delivered in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts, R2 and some amazing staff from Dr Bike.

If you bike or scoot, please, do feel free to come to check your wheels on the 20th September💪💪💪

 Another Tory MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat MP for Leader

Liz Smith CBE MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat MP for Conservative Leader and his vision for public services

  • Shadow Finance Secretary Liz Smith CBE MSP endorses Tom Tugendhat for Leader of the UK Conservative Party after he outlined his vision for public services
  • She argues Scotland deserves better than 17 years of SNP failure on public services and prioritising constitutional reform over delivery
  • Joining 11 other MSPs, she recognises Tom is the only person who understands the challenges Scotland is facing and will deliver a true, conservative approach to public services 

Scotland’s Shadow Finance Secretary Liz Smith CBE MSP joins eleven of her Conservative Colleagues in Holyrood and endorses Shadow Security Minister Tom Tugendhat for UK Conservative Party Leader. 

Echoing her Conservative colleagues, Liz is clear that she wants to see the end of 17 years of SNP failure, which have left Scotland’s public services crumbling. She argues the Scottish people deserve a government which will deliver on their priorities – securing jobs and economic growth and improving schools and health care – rather than being obsessed with constitutional reform.

Liz says she wants a Conservative Party Leader in Westminster who will deliver for Scotland – someone who believes that unionism is indivisible from conservatism and who will fight to protect the Union. 

She knows that Tom is the only person who can do this and that he is the only candidate who has taken the time, over many years, to get to know Scotland whilst on regular visits and also whilst meeting members and local associations. 

Following his public services speech in London today, she commends him for having a conservative vision which will benefit every nation in the United Kingdom. Tom called for a bold new approach to public services that empowers professionals to innovate and boost productivity, rather than be stifled by centralisation and bureaucracy. Liz strongly supports this and the need to prioritise individuals and choice – qualities the SNP has stripped from Scottish public services.

It is very clear from the most recent analysis from both the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Fraser of Allander Institute that the SNP has to bear most of the responsibility for the financial pressures facing Scotland. As a result, Scots now face emergency cuts to SNP spending and the prospect of public services falling further behind those in the rest of the UK.

Liz argues Tom is the only one who can stand up for her conservatism, just as he has done in Parliament. Whether it was voting against Covid vaccine passports or not supporting the National Insurance rise.

Tom has always kept his promise to deliver for the people of Britain, which Liz highlights as a reason for her endorsement. Before Parliament, he served in military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan to keep the Union safe. Tom also was the first to warn of the threats from Russian, China and Iran. And, as Security Minister, he introduced the National Security Act which oversaw the arrest and charging of more Russian and Chinese spies than in the previous decade.

As someone with a clear vision on how to fix public services and unite the Party, Liz believes Tom as Leader will be an electoral asset for the Scottish Conservatives at the next 2026 Holyrood elections. Scotland deserves better and Tom will take the Scottish Conservatives and Scotland into a new era. 

Responding to Tom Tugendhat’s speech, Liz Smith CBE MSP said: ““After 17 years, the SNPs obsession with unnecessary constitutional debates has resulted in a record of failure that keeps growing.

“Because of their mismanagement Scotland is lagging behind the rest of the UK when it comes to economic growth and we have plummeted down international educational rankings and our healthcare system is struggling.

“On top of this record of failure, hard working Scots now pay more income tax than in any other part of the United Kingdom. They now face the prospect of deep spending cuts and more tax rises after the Scottish Fiscal Commission said the SNP bears most of the responsibility for the financial pressures Scotland now faces.

“Now is the time to provide strong, united leadership based on truly conservative principles of lower taxes and public service which puts the public first.

“Tom knows what it will take to transform public services – by offering a new approach that prioritises individuals and choice. This is exactly what Scotland and our Union needs – public services focussed on delivering for individuals and their families rather than on unnecessary centralisation and bureaucracy.”

Welcoming Liz Smith CBE MSP’s support, Tom Tugendhat said: “Liz is right – we need a new approach to public services throughout the Union. And it is a privilege to have her endorsement to be the next Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. 

“It is an honour to now have over a third of the Conservative Scottish Party endorsing me. 

“I fought for all nations in this Union in Afghanistan and Iraq and in Parliament, this has never and will never change.

“A key part of why I am a Conservative is that I know unionism is indivisible from conservatism. As the Conservative Leader, I promise to always fight for the Union and deliver on the priorities of the Scottish people.”

SNP Conference: First Minister taught a lesson by his former teacher

The First Minister’s former school teacher sought to give a climate lesson to her famous ex-pupil today as the SNP conference got underway in Edinburgh.

The teacher was part of a group of activists from the Edinburgh Climate Coalition urging the SNP to stop rolling back on climate change action following the decision earlier this year to scrap its critical 2030 climate targets. 

The teacher wore a black gown and cap whilst standing in front of a large blackboard with repeated lines written on reminding the First Minister “I must try harder to protect the climate. I must try harder to protect the climate. I must try harder to protect the climate…” 

Environmentalists have been angered by the regressive approach taken under Swinney’s leadership including removing its opposition to drilling new oil and gas fields, announcing it will increase train fares and slashing millions of pounds from environmental restoration schemes. 

Activists spoke to SNP conference delegates and politicians as they went inside the conference urging them to put pressure on decision makers to get back on track. 

 Caro Wilkinson, who was John Swinney’s German teacher at Forrester High School in Edinburgh commented, “When I taught John Swinney, he was both intelligent and caring. His kindness was clear when he organised a class whip round when I was pregnant to buy me a teddy bear for my new baby.

“He is clever enough to know how urgent the threat of climate change is and so I hope he cares enough for the planet to take the action that’s needed.

“If he does, he’ll speak out against the huge Rosebank oil field, reject the proposed Peterhead gas fired power station and do what he can to put the Scottish Government back on course to fight climate change.”

Luke Henderson, Edinburgh Climate Coalition spokesperson added: “People around the world are already suffering from the impacts of changed climate in fires, floods and landslides but the Scottish Government is going backwards and slowing down the action that will improve lives and cut climate pollution.

“Renewable energy is already far cheaper than new fossil fuels whilst solutions like making public transport more affordable and accessible will help more people get to where they need to be.”

Stephen Jenkinson confirmed as new Transport and Environment Convener

Councillor Stephen Jenkinson has been appointed as the new convener of the Transport and Environment Committee.

He replaces Councillor Scott Arthur who has served as convener since May 2022. Councillor Jenkinson has been the Labour member for the Pentland Hills ward since May 2022, and has previous experience sitting on the Governance, Risk and Best Value Committee along with the Lothian Valuation Joint Board. 

He takes on the role with immediate effect and will also chair the Transport and Local Access Forum. 

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’d like to thank Councillor Arthur for his service, dedication and expertise as convener over the past two years. 

“Scott has led us through some challenging times for our city. From delivering more safer streets, increased active travel routes, such as the City Centre West to East Link, pushing for better air quality in the city with our Low Emission Zone, spearheading a vision to extend trams to the north and south of the city and much more, he can be very proud of his record.

“Our loss of a convener is the UK Parliament’s gain, and I have no doubt he’ll diligently represent Edinburgh South West as their new MP as he did for his constituents while serving as a councillor.

“Looking forward, I’m delighted that my friend and colleague Councillor Jenkinson will take up the mantle on what is one of the Council’s busiest and most important committees.”

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Firstly, I want to pay tribute to Councillor Arthur for his hard work and commitment to the Council and the role – and for all he’s achieved over the past two years as ‘interim’ convener! I’m also grateful for his valuable advice to me as I take on this exciting new challenge.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with this new role and working with colleagues across the political groups and our council teams to continue delivering for the people of Edinburgh.

“This is an exciting time for Edinburgh as we continue to work towards our ambitious goals whilst getting the basics right for our residents, businesses and visitors.”

In other appointments agreed by Council yesterday, Councillor Margaret Graham was appointed as Vice-Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee and Gareth Barwell as the Executive Director of Place (Interim).

BBC ALBA airs Eòrpa, Gaelic Census Special

2022’s Census saw the first increase in those able to speak Gaelic since 1971. The numbers were up from 57,375 to 69,701 – a 21% increase.

While the national data is welcome news for a language which has seen a long downward trend in speaker numbers, the picture is not as positive in the language’s heartland of the Western Isles.

There, Gaelic is now a minority language with 45% reported being able to speak it in 2022, compared to 52% in 2011 – a 7% decrease.

In this latest episode of BBC ALBA’s current affairs programme, Eòrpa, reporter Eileen Macdonald visits the Western Isles where she hears how depopulation and housing challenges are impacting traditional Gaelic-speaking communities.  In Glasgow Eileen hears the challenges faced by Gaelic speakers in Scotland’s cities when it comes to opportunities to use the language.

The northwest of the Isle of Lewis has traditionally been one of the areas in Scotland with the highest proportion of Gaelic speakers. There, Eileen met Kirsty and John, both plumbers and both part of a younger generation on which any improvement in the fortunes of the language depends.

Kirsty, a Gaelic speaker, told Eòrpa: “Not many people use it. If your parents or your gran or grandad have it, then you’ll probably speak it. But if your parents don’t have it, any the people you speak to regularly don’t either, then you won’t”.

John, who grew up with the language but rarely uses it, added: “I think if you’re not speaking it home, it’s definitely going to die down and I think less and less young people are out less and so they are not interacting with people who have Gaelic and they don’t know about it as well.”

Responding to the 21% growth nationally in Gaelic speakers, and sharp growth in parts of the the country with comparatively few Gaelic Services, Emeritus Professor Wilson McLeod of the University of Edinburgh said: “In places like Edinburgh and Glasgow, there are Gaelic schools and these places have always attracted Gaels from the islands for work and study.

“But in other parts of the mainland, there isn’t very much being done. Despite that, the biggest growth is seen in places like Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Dundee and similar places where not much is happening in terms of Gaelic.”

Indeed, encouraging those able to speak the language to use it regularly remains a challenge. The Census tells us how many people in 2022 reported being able to speak the language, but not how many actually do.

In the Scottish Government, the responsibility for Gaelic is part of Deputy First Minister and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes’ brief.

Asked if she thinks Gaelic is in crisis, the Cabinet Secretary remarked: “You can be happy about the numbers that have gone up. People would always ask how best to provide more support for learners, and we’re seeing progress there. That’s good news.

“But a language has to be alive, like English is alive. Gaelic is alive in the traditional communities, but it’s bad news that the numbers there are falling. People ask if Gaelic is in crisis.

“I’m prepared to say “yes it is”, but that’s not going to make any difference if all it is is words. We need the right policies, as well as money and funding.

Reporter Eileen Macdonald: “Having visited communities, and met campaigners, experts, and poilicy-makers, it’s clear there are positives and negatives to take from the state of Gaelic today.

A national rise in speakers is good news, with Gaelic Medium Education continuing to play a large part in feeding that growth. However, there’s real concern about the decline of Gaelic in its heartlands and the fact that it is now a minority language in terms of speakers in the Western Isles.

“The challenge persists too, of how to make sure those able to speak it actually do.”

Eòrpa is BBC ALBA’s flagship current affairs programme, covering a range of domestic and European stories, ranging from the plight of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, to the impact of mass tourism in the Canaries, and the issue of gender-based violence in rural Scotland.

The new episode of Eòrpa: Suas leis a’ Ghàidhlig? premiered on BBC iPlayer and BBC ALBA at 9.00pm on Wednesday 28 August (in Gaelic with English subtitles).

Watch on demand: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b006mvwb/eorpa