September 2024 – Page 10 – The NEN

Vigilance urged as Edinburgh records decline in fire incidents

Data from the Scottish Government reveals a significant decline in fire incidents at non-domestic buildings in Edinburgh. Between the financial years of 2018/2019 and 2022/2023, fire and rescue services attended 991 incidents, representing a 25% decrease from the previous five years.

The decline underscores the effectiveness of work that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service does with local organisations to raise awareness about fire safety practices. Coupled with the rules set out in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which mandates comprehensive fire risk assessments for all businesses, this demonstrates the impact of proactive measures.

Ansvar, an expert provider of insurance for the charity, care, not-for-profit, and faith sectors, is emphasising the importance of continued vigilance.

Adam Tier, Head of Underwriting at Ansvar, commented: “The decrease in fire incidents in Edinburgh is extremely positive news and highlights the impact that greater awareness and regulation reforms can have, particularly for protecting smaller businesses and organisations in the non-profit sectors, where operational continuity is paramount.

“Unlike large commercial companies, who may operate across multiple locations or have an ability to utilise hybrid working, many charities and not-for-profit groups cannot continue to function if their premises are rendered unusable due to fire.

“Organisations can take obvious steps like ensuring all areas are equipped with fire alarms and smoke detectors, conducting regular risk assessments, and providing fire safety training to staff and volunteers.

“However, there are also less obvious measures that can significantly enhance preparedness and resilience against fire incidents. We are encouraging organisations to incorporate these into their fire safety plans for comprehensive protection.”

Ansvar has outlined five essential tips to further reduce fire incidents:

Storage and housekeeping: Poor storage practices, such as keeping flammable materials near heat sources, can significantly increase fire risk. Regular housekeeping to keep areas tidy and free of obstructions is crucial. If the organisation has a kitchen facility, ensure proper ventilation, regular cleaning of grease traps and extractor fans, and staff training on safe cooking procedures.
Be arson aware: Arson can be one of the biggest causes of fire in non-domestic buildings. Ensure a building is secure when empty to deter intruders. Ansvar has put together an arson checklist, which is available to download from its website – https://www.ansvar.co.uk/home/risk-management-guides-arson/.
Evacuation plan accessibility: Consider those with disabilities during fire drills and that evacuation plans account for different needs. This might involve designated evacuation assistants or specific procedures.
Secure specialist insurance cover: Organisations should have comprehensive insurance cover specifically designed for their sector. Specialist insurance policies can provide tailored protection and support, helping to mitigate the financial and operational impact of fire-related incidents.
Maintain safety of electrical items: Regularly inspect and maintain all electrical equipment, including portable appliances, and wiring. Use qualified electricians for any repairs or installations and avoid overloading electrical sockets. Proper care and maintenance of electrical items can significantly reduce the risk of fire.

Adam Tier added: “While preventative measures are crucial, specialist insurance tailored to the unique needs of the not-for-profit sector can provide essential protection in the event of a fire. This helps ensure organisations can recover quickly and continue their important work within the community.”

Ansvar is part of the Benefact Group, a charity-owned specialist financial services organisation. The Benefact Group is the UK’s third-largest corporate donor, underscoring Ansvar’s dedication to supporting the wider charitable community.

[1] https://statistics.gov.scot/data/fire—type-of-incident

World Premiere at St Mary’s

Join us for a world première!

Our renowned choir will give the first performance of Joanna Marsh composer‘s new piece ‘The Everlasting Covenant’ at Choral Evensong on Sun 6th Oct at 3.30pm!

All welcome to join us, for FREE. https://tinyurl.com/3w9pnztw

HIT Scotland industry scholarships give a boost to hospitality talent

The Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland, is celebrating the successful completion of 414 scholarships in the last 12 months, as applications open once again for the 2025 programme.

Established in 1994, HIT Scotland’s extensive scholarship programme offers aspiring hospitality professionals in Scotland the opportunity to develop key skills, knowledge and practical experience to advance their careers.

Last year’s intake saw 414 recipients accept scholarships covering a wide range of topics including ‘Patisserie Chef Skills, ‘Spa Success’, ‘Sales’ and ‘The Art of Leadership’. Among the most popular programmes were ‘People Management – Supervisory’ with 76 scholarships offered, ‘Understanding Revenue’ at 56 and ‘People Management – Management’, with a total of 34 scholarships provided.

99% of the 2023 scholars rated the experience as highly positive, demonstrating the high quality of HIT Scotland’s programme. 92% believed the scholarship would enhance their career, while 96% claimed the experience would benefit their business. Such feedback speaks to the professional gains to be made from undertaking one of these scholarships, and the wider benefits for Scotland’s hospitality industry.

One such scholar was Lucy Jeffrey, Group & Events Planning Manager of Edinburgh’s Radisson Blu Hotel. With over 20 years of industry experience, Lucy applied for HIT Scotland’s ‘Art of Leadership’ scholarship to advance her skills and confidence in successfully managing a large team.

The scholarship saw Lucy spend two days in the world-renowned EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Here she, alongside 15 other scholarship recipients, participated in an interactive programme, covering topics such as service leadership, communication style, and the difference between managers and leaders.

The scholars gained real-life practice, with multiple opportunities to give and receive feedback, and the task of delivering a presentation to the rest of the group.

Lucy Jeffreys commented on her experience: “The HIT Scotland course was really eye-opening. Spending time with other hospitality managers and learning from some of the best in the industry really broadened my view of different leadership styles and encouraged me to question my own.

“It was a privilege to be accepted onto the HIT Scholarship programme, and a truly incredible experience that has added to my career. If there is anyone else debating whether to apply for one of HIT Scotland’s scholarships, I would 100% recommend doing so!”

David Cochrane, MBE, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, commented: “HIT Scotland’s scholarships have helped thousands of people establish successful, fulfilling careers in Scotland’s hospitality industry.

“Nowhere is this more evident in the resoundingly positive feedback we receive from scholars each year, who have gained so much professionally and personally from the experience.

“It’s not just the individual who has something to gain. 94% of scholars claim the experience helped them in their current role, highlighting the benefits to employers.

“This is why we are encouraging Scottish hospitality businesses to support their staff in signing up for a scholarship, and of course – if you are working toward a career in the hospitality industry – or know someone who is – we invite you to apply through the website this September!”

Applications for the next round of HIT Scotland scholarships open on 18 September 2024. More details about how to apply can be found here.

Edinburgh Leisure: Fit for the Future

EDIINBURGH LEISURE RELEASES IMPACT REPORT

Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s largest provider of sports and leisure services across the Scottish capital, has launched its first Impact Report since 2015.

Edinburgh Leisure’s 2023-2024 Impact Report highlights key achievements in line with its strategic goals. Notable successes include a significant increase in customer visits, now surpassing 5.6 million annually, and the growth of their Active Communities programmes, which have supported over 12,500 individuals.

The leisure trust provided sports coaching to over 13,000 adults and children across nine disciplines, including swimming – an essential life skill. The reopening of the historic Warrender Swim Centre marked a milestone, with the facility known for producing elite swimmers.

Edinburgh Leisure hosted major events, including the 2023 Scottish Open Snooker Tournament, and brought back its swimming galas post-pandemic. All of this achieved with the combined efforts of their employees, partners, volunteers and supporters, all of whom help Edinburgh Leisure inspire the city to be active.

Jen Holland, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure, who joined the organisation in March 2024, said: “As custodians of the City of Edinburgh Council’s sport and leisure estate, Edinburgh Leisure looks after an incredible range of sites and venues throughout the city.

“This is not without its challenges, and this year we have faced extreme pressure on our budget, but we remain committed to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the city.

“Edinburgh Leisure is addressing the growing need for affordable physical activity in the city by providing services at reduced or no cost to those facing barriers to leading active lives.

“By working closely with our partners, including the City of Edinburgh Council, the NHS, and voluntary organisations such as Paths for All and Alzheimer’s Scotland, Edinburgh Leisure is helping to reduce the social and economic costs of ill health and inactivity. As demand for our services increases and economic pressures on the health sector mount, these partnerships remain vital.

“Through collaboration, we continue to align with national and regional goals, promoting sport, physical activity, health, and inclusion across the city.

“This year we have started developing our 5-year strategic plan, ensuring we listen to our customers and are aligned with our partners’ strategies to meet the needs of the city and to be ‘Fit for the Future’.”

Edinburgh Leisure is part of a network of charities operating with a social conscience, delivering social good when providing public leisure services.

Their core business isn’t about making profit, it is about purpose – helping people first. They’re about supporting society to get healthier and happier, employing local people, creating safe spaces for everybody, connecting communities, working towards net zero and supporting people with quality health and wellbeing services for everybody regardless of age or ability.

Edinburgh Leisure provide activities for everyone as they move through their lives, supporting as many people as possible to feel as good as possible.

The Impact Report is available to download in PDF format on the Edinburgh Leisure website. https://bit.ly/3ZjFr6Q

ELImpactReport202324A4Version1 Download

31 arrested in crackdown on people- smuggling gangs

A Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs and people exploiting the Common Travel Area (CTA) has led to the arrest of 31 people in multiple locations across the UK.

As the UK government steps up its pursuit against the criminal groups abusing our borders on all fronts, Immigration Enforcement teams, alongside UK police forces and international partners, descended on locations in the UK including Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool and Luton as part of a three-day operation.

Checks were conducted at major ports, airports, and road networks across the country, targeting illegal migration and disrupting smuggling routes. Ruthless criminal gangs, operating both in the UK and internationally, often exploit vulnerable migrants, charging them thousands of pounds to enter the UK illegally, luring them with false promises of a better life.

During the operation, £400,000 of criminal cash and 10 fraudulent identity documents were seized. These documents, which are critical tools used by people-smuggling gangs, enable them to evade immigration controls.

Created by criminal networks, counterfeit documents allow migrants to bypass border checks, trapping vulnerable people in further illegal activities. By exploiting these people, the gangs not only profit but also place them at risk of severe legal and personal consequences.

The multi-agency operation was led by Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigations team in Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the National Crime Agency (NCA), other UK police forces, and international partners.

This operation is part of a national effort to stop irregular migration and human trafficking at key entry points across the UK, as the government works to tackle people-smuggling gangs and bring those exploiting vulnerable people to justice.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said: “This government will not stand by as criminal gangs exploit vulnerable people, risking their lives and giving them false hopes of a better life in the UK.

“Driven by greed, these gangs have no regard for human life or safety, charging outrageous fees, preying on those desperate to escape hardship, and forcing them into illegal and dangerous situations.

“We are taking the fight to them on all fronts under the leadership of our new Border Security Commander. Dismantling the business models of these gangs does not just apply to the small boats trade – we are also stamping out other routes into the UK to bring them to justice and slash their profits.”

Home Office Immigration Enforcement Inspector, Jonathan Evans, said: “This operation has been a huge success and sends a clear message that the smuggling gangs who break our laws will face serious consequences.

“We are taking action day in, day out to ensure we stay a step ahead of these criminal groups, disrupting them at the earliest possible stage. We will continue working relentlessly to ensure no one abuses the Common Travel Area or the UK’s borders.

“I’m incredibly proud of our teams across the country, as well as our partners from the police, the National Crime Agency, and international counterparts, for their hard work and collaboration in carrying out this important operation.”

Healthy Heart Tip: Know your numbers

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Know your numbers

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Around one in three people in the UK have high blood pressure, and around six million people are unaware that they have it. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, often doesn’t have any symptoms meaning that you wouldn’t know you had it unless you got it checked by a health professional or checked it yourself.

Several different factors affect your blood pressure, including physical activity, diet and genetics. Following a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle can impact your blood pressure readings. Everyone should aim for their blood pressure to be within a healthy range throughout the day especially at resting.

Here we give more information on blood pressure and the risks of hypertension.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body.

Systolic blood pressure is the first (or top) reading that you get on the BP monitor and the higher number of the two. This is the maximum reading recorded when your heart contracts.

Diastolic blood pressure is the second (or bottom) reading that’s on the monitor. This is the minimum recorded reading when your heart relaxes prior to the next contraction.

Blood pressure readings

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg) and is written in a form of systolic over diastolic.

A healthy blood pressure range is a reading below the healthy range is classed as having low blood pressure, and a reading from 121-140 systolic or 81-90 mm/Hg diastolic is within a raised range.

If your blood pressure is above this, then you have high blood pressure and need to visit your GP. High readings range from 141-160 systolic or 91-100 mm/Hg diastolic, with very high readings being anything above 160 or above 100 mm/Hg.

Risks of hypertension

Having high blood pressure increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Uncontrolled high blood pressure damages the walls of your blood vessels, which results in plaque build-up and can lead to coronary heart disease or strokes.

It also damages the heart muscle due to it needing to work over-time, which can lead to heart failure.

Reducing your blood pressure

Physical activity and exercise are one of the best ways to strengthen your heart and reduce your blood pressure. Aim to carry out at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Dietary factors such as consuming high amounts of salt and sugar increase your blood pressure and can influence weight gain. An easy way to reduce your blood pressure readings is by reducing your consumption of these by opting for low salt and sugar versions of foods, making sure you’re reading the food labels on packaging.

Consuming too much alcohol and smoking can increase your blood pressure too, so reducing these and stopping where possible will help your heart massively.

ROSPA: Falls Awareness Week

Falls Prevention Awareness Week 23 – 27 September

For #FallsAwarenessWeek, RoSPA ran a Fall Fighter awareness session with some of our colleagues at HQ!

Anyone can become a Fall Fighter – taking part is simple and requires no prior knowledge. The materials are designed for quick and effective delivery, with an average completion time of just 15-20 minutes.

Visit our website to find out more and download our FREE Fall Fighter training resources: : https://www.rospa.com/…/falls-prevention/fall-fighter

Council & Cruden Complete Energy-Efficient Passivhaus Social Housing Development

Midlothian Council and Cruden celebrated the completion of an energy-efficient Passivhaus development on Scottish Housing Day.

The milestone marked the official completion of 20 new council flats at St Cuthbert’s on Bonnyrigg High Street, built to the energy-efficient Passivhaus standard.

These flats include assisted living apartments and homes for residents aged 55 and over and were designed by the award-winning architecture firm AHR. The project is part of the most ambitious Passivhaus programme in Scotland, with a total of 182 new homes constructed by Midlothian Council to meet stringent building standards and achieve up to 90% in energy savings.

Councillor Stuart McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing commented: “It’s fantastic to see what was once a building site transformed into a modern, attractive development that our tenants are now calling home.

“Hearing first-hand how local people are enjoying warm, comfortable, and energy-efficient homes while helping us make progress towards our net zero target by 2030 is truly inspiring.”

The Passivhaus-certified homes feature bright, spacious interiors designed to reduce energy consumption, with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems providing fresh air circulation while retaining the heat already generated in the apartments.

With an exterior designed to complement the surrounding architecture, the development seamlessly blends into the local community, enhancing the character of Bonnyrigg High Street.

Fraser Lynes, Managing Director at Cruden, expressed the company’s pleasure in working with Midlothian Council on these new homes: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see tenants already settling in and benefiting from energy-efficient living. This year’s Scottish Housing Day theme, ‘Homes for Life,’ truly reflects what we’ve accomplished here—creating a sustainable, future-proof community that addresses the environmental challenges of tomorrow.

“Knowing we’ve built homes that not only protect the environment but also significantly enhance the comfort and quality of life for residents is what makes projects like this so fulfilling.”

Midlothian Council’s commitment to sustainable housing is part of its wider strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. With this latest Passivhaus development, the council continues to set an example for local authorities across Scotland, providing residents with affordable, energy-efficient homes while supporting environmental goals.

Lothian couple conquers the Edinburgh Kiltwalk for deaf children

Broxburn residents Stuart and Mhairi Shand conquered the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society on Sunday 15 September.

The couple took part in the Big Stroll Kiltwalk, which started in Musselburgh and passed through Portobello and Leith before finishing at Murrayfield Stadium, where they were greeted by their family. They completed the 11.2-mile course in three hours, 50 minutes.

They chose to support the National Deaf Children’s Society because their son Tommy was born deaf in April of last year and the family has been receiving ongoing support from the charity.

They’ve smashed their original fundraising target of £500, with over £1,000 raised so far for the charity, which supports the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and their families.

Stuart and Mhairi live in Broxburn, West Lothian, with their four children, Amelia, 14, Kian, 11, Annie, 6, and Tommy.

Stuart said: “The overall experience was amazing. It was a great atmosphere during the event and great to be part of it! Choosing the National Deaf Children’s Society was a no brainer for us.

“The support the charity has given us from day one has been great and the British Sign Language classes have been invaluable in helping us communicate with Tommy.

“The main inspiration though was Tommy. He’s our wee superhero and we just want to help make his life as easy as possible. He was waiting at the finish line for us but he was sleeping!”

Hannah Awesome, who supports fundraisers for the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to Stuart and Mhairi for taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk for us. We’re all very proud of you.

“The National Deaf Children’s Society is dedicated to supporting the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and their families. The efforts of selfless fundraisers like Stuart and Mhairi will help us to keep on doing our vital work, now and into the future.”

Holyrood committee seeks views on impact of funding deals to boost economies and create new jobs

The Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee will examine how effective funding deals have been in improving Scotland’s local economies, in a new inquiry launched on Friday.

The Committee has opened a consultation to look at the implementation and effectiveness of Scotland’s City Region and Regional Growth Deals.

These are funding agreements between the Scottish Government, the UK Government and local partners to boost regional economic growth. Calling for views, the Committee aims to find out how the deals have contributed to addressing local issues, and supported development and inclusive growth.

There are currently 12 deals in Scotland, each tailored to local circumstances and priorities. This might include improved broadband and mobile coverage, reducing unemployment or supporting the life sciences industry.

Claire Baker MSP, Convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, said: “City Region and Regional Growth Deals have the potential to deliver significant transformations in communities across Scotland by attracting investment, creating new jobs and improving economic growth.

“We would like to understand more about how these impacts have been and are being measured, and how far lessons learned from earlier deals are informing newer deals.

“We’re particularly keen to hear from Scottish businesses to gauge experiences of engaging with local city region deals and about what support has been provided to bid for work.

“As a Committee, we will examine the progress of the Deals so far and identify whether they are delivering what they intended for the people of Scotland.”