Day: October 6, 2024

Fetlor Halloween Party

Spooky season has arrived!

Some of our amazing parents are organising a Halloween party for primary 3-7 on Thursday the 31st of October, 4pm-6pm.

The party will be at Fetlor Youth Club.

Tickets are £3 and can be purchased at pick up on Monday’s and Fridays, excluding the October holidays.

Tickets are limited so first come first served. (Cash only)

This event is organised and ran by Parents.

Oyster Stringing with Heart of Newhaven

🦪🐟🐙🌊 Help us to restore native oysters to the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years!! 🦪🐟🐙🌊

Free lunch and refreshments provided as well as return transport from The Heart of Newhaven on Monday 14th October 🦪🐟🐙🌊

FOR MORE INFO AND TO SIGN UP:

Email: Admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

#RestorationForth #MarineConservation #OceanConservation #Biodiversity #oceanrecovery #restorationproject #oysterrestoration #RestorationForth #wwf #oysters #seagrass #Environment #seagrassrestoration #environmentalwork #VolunteerOpportunity

Bin Your Gum!

In partnership with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who has awarded a grant of £25K to the Council, a Chewing Gum Task Force is cleaning up gum and reducing gum littering on the Capital.

 Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Environment Convener said: This grant is very welcome as gum takes about five years to break down and is costly to remove.

“Our task force is starting in busy areas and in the next couple of weeks we are concentrating on removing discarded gum on Leith Street. It’s important that we get the message out that it is not OK to drop gum in our beautiful city and we’re putting up effective signage to try to prevent littering in the future.

“I’d like to ask all of our residents and visitors to support this campaign and please bin your gum.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome. 

“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”

The council is one of 54 across the country that has successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again. 

Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.  

Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million. In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56 million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement – an area equivalent to the Vatican City. 

By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.

Drumbrae Library Hub Halloween Drawing Competition

It’s that time of year again! Time to get your Halloween hats on and create some wonderfully spooky and surprising drawings to go on display in the library in time for the 31st October!

You have from Monday 7th until Thursday 31st (Halloween night) to get your creations in to the desk 👻☠️🎃🐺🕸🕷

Prizes will be given to two winners !!

Prime Minister puts investment at the heart of first Council of the Nations and Regions

Leaders from across the UK will come together in Scotland next Friday (11 October) as the Prime Minister convenes the first Council of Nations and Regions.

  • Prime Minister convenes leaders from across the UK for Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland on Friday 11 October.
  • Council to focus on maximising opportunities to deliver investment and growth across the UK.
  • Comes as speakers are confirmed for the UK Government’s inaugural International Investment Summit.

Leaders from across the UK will come together in Scotland next Friday as the Prime Minister convenes the first Council of Nations and Regions. 

Three days ahead of the International Investment Summit, the first Council will focus on investment and growth and is a key moment to ensure everyone is collectively playing their part to maximise the opportunity the Summit presents for the whole of the UK.  

The Council brings together First Ministers, Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister and regional Mayors from across England, as the UK Government forges new partnerships, resets relationships and seizes the opportunity to secure long term investment with the aim of boosting growth and living standards in every part of the UK. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  I’m determined to bring forward a new era of stability, trust, and partnership with businesses, investors, Devolved Governments, and local leaders to boost the economy and restore the UK’s reputation one of the best places in the world to do business.

“I’ve set out that we will be doing things differently, and that’s exactly why we are delivering our promise to convene the first Council of the Nations and Regions as we work as one team to maximise opportunities ahead of the Investment Summit.

“No more talking shops of the past. Genuine, meaningful, and focused partnership to change the way we do business, redefine our position on the world’s stage, and unlock the whole of the UK’s untapped potential to make everyone, everywhere better off.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “This new era of genuine partnership working between the Government and Mayors will help us to unleash the potential of our great regions and boost growth. 

“Mayors are champions of their regions at home and abroad, attracting investment, creating good jobs, and putting more money in people’s pockets. Our investments in transport, skills and homes, create the right environment for growth by connecting businesses to the talent and finance they need to succeed.

“Through partnership working and by listening to business, we’ll deliver the long-term investment our country needs to shake off stagnation and face the future with confidence.”

Local leaders as well as Heads of the Devolved Governments have also been invited and are expected to attend the International Investment Summit to forge new partnerships with businesses to unlock growth in every corner and every community across the UK.

The UK Government led inaugural International Investment Summit is expected to be opened by the Prime Minister where he will take part in an in conversation event with Eric Schmidt – the pioneer behind Google’s transformation from start up to one of the world’s most powerful companies. 

 Eric Schmidt, Former CEO & Chairman of Google KBE said: “Artificial intelligence represents one of the most transformative technologies of our time. It will change how economies everywhere function, and it will determine which countries stay competitive in the decades to come.

“Last year, when the UK hosted the first global summit on AI safety, the country displayed its commitment to being a leader in responsible innovation. Now, it has the opportunity to go even further and articulate a vision for the future where the UK is a hub for world-class talent.

“I’m looking forward to discussing with the Prime Minister how we can drive even greater investment in research and education to ensure the UK stays at the forefront of these technological breakthroughs.”

The Summit will gather UK leaders, high-profile investors and businesses from across the world at a historic venue in central London – with confirmed speakers including Ruth Porat President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google, Alex Kendall, CEO of Wayve and Bruce Flatt, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management. 

The event will provide an opportunity for the Government to establish enduring partnerships with businesses to boost investment in the UK and to give investors the certainty and confidence they need to drive growth.  

It will be sponsored by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, M&G plc, Octopus Energy, and TSL.   

Today’s announcement follows the Government confirming funding this week to launch the UK’s first carbon capture sites in Teesside and Merseyside.

In a boost for economic growth and protecting the environment, the new carbon capture and CCUS enabled hydrogen projects will create 4,000 new jobs, sustain important British industry, and help remove over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking around 4 million cars off the road.

C.S. Venkatakrishnan, Group Chief Executive, Barclays said: The International Investment Summit is an important opportunity for the Government to build further investor confidence based on its priorities for driving UK economic growth.   

“The UK’s stability, skills and history of innovation make it an attractive investment destination. The private sector has an important supporting role in helping the economy.  Barclays has made its largest ever capital investment in the UK to drive economic growth and we continue to connect both domestic and international investors with opportunities across the country.”

Georges Elhedery, Group CEO, HSBC said: “From SMEs to multinational corporates, UK companies’ enterprise, expertise and innovation present huge opportunities for partnership and economic growth.

“With our long history of helping UK customers trade with the world and international customers to invest in the UK, HSBC is pleased to support the International Investment Summit.”

Charlie Nunn, Group Chief Executive, Lloyds Banking Group said: “The UK business environment remains an innovative and dynamic destination for investors and global talent, and we are proud to support the International Investment Summit.

“Lloyds works with corporate and institutional clients from the UK and across the world – generating jobs and growth, attracting inward investment, and increasing exports.  These are essential ways we are helping Britain prosper.”

Andrea Rossi, CEO, M&G plc said: “The UK has a clear national mission to drive economic growth and back wealth creation across every region of the country.

“At M&G, we have actively invested in the UK for 175 years, driving progress and helping people, businesses and communities thrive. We continue to support a range of companies, invest in critical infrastructure and play our part in boosting regional economies.

“The International Investment Summit is a crucial moment to put the UK back on the investor map, showcase market opportunities and reinforce how business and government can work in partnership.”

Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy said: “The UK is the vanguard of green innovation, brimming with the talent and technology needed to accelerate the global energy revolution.

“By investing in British renewables and clean tech, we’re not just creating greener energy for people but driving the solutions that will power the world. The International Investment Summit is a great opportunity to showcase the UK’s climate leadership and revolutionise the sector.”

Jackie Wild, TSL Group CEO said: “We are delighted to be a partner to the International Investment Summit. We founded TSL more than two decades ago with the vision of creating a British export model of technical engineering and construction excellence.

“We are proud to be delivering projects for international clients across the world to power the fourth industrial revolution. 

“In addition, through the creation of SmartParc, our cutting edge, investable platform for food industry change, we continue to facilitate inward investment into the UK’s food industry to safeguard our national food security.”

Roots for Routes programme launch

Thursday 10 October, 7pm

PASS Theatre at Edinburgh College, Granton Campus

Multi-Cultural Family Base (MCFB) is delighted to invite you to a dance performance on October 10th between 7 and 9 pm.

This event is the official launch of our programming for the Edinburgh 900 commemorations, entitled “Roots for Routes”. The concept behind this name is that through celebrating and honouring heritage and culture, we find ways to grow towards the future.

Some of our young people from the MCFBards are collaborating with the PASS performance group to create a full length piece based on their poetry.

Please see the attached invitation. If you are able to attend, please follow this link to our Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/Roots4Routes

We hope you are able to join us for this evening of art and celebration!

Tickets & more info: https://tinyurl.com/Roots4Routes

Council housing: Mixed Tenure Improvement Service report

Councillors have noted a report which sets out the result of the mixed tenure improvement service pilot following the completion of works in Wester Hailes.

In mixed tenure blocks, there is a combination of ownership including owner occupiers and landlords that include the Council and other social landlords.

Mixed tenure neighbourhoods arose from right-to-buy legislation in the 1980s and 1990s which has made it more difficult to progress repairs and maintenance to common areas of blocks or tenements, for all owners. 

Many of these blocks are now in need of significant investment to common areas due to age and lack of formal factoring arrangements and regular maintenance of shared parts of the blocks. Regular maintenance is the responsibility of all owners and is needed to the external fabric and communal areas of mixed tenure blocks to make sure flats are wind and watertight, warm, damp free, safe and secure.

The Mixed Tenure Improvement Service (MTIS) was established in 2020/21 to deliver fabric repairs and maintenance, including energy efficiency works where considered part of the repair or maintenance works, to mixed tenure blocks.

The MTIS pilot, which was carried out in Wester Hailes, included repairs to 1,341 flats in 175 blocks. Work carried out on behalf of all owners across the pilot included repairs and replacement of roofing, guttering, drying room facades, installation of external wall and attic insulation, together with the maintenance and decoration of communal stairwell spaces.

It follows the scheme being shortlisted in the Housing and Regeneration category of the 2023 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration. The awards identify and celebrate best practice, innovation and achievement in interventions that improve homes and communities across Scotland.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Jane Meagher said: “Bringing all our housing stock up to a good condition, making homes energy efficient, warm and affordable to heat is very important, both for tenants and for owners in these blocks.

“By making these older homes more energy efficient, we’re driving down carbon emissions and clamping down on issues like damp and fuel poverty. Not only are owners and tenants using less energy, and therefore saving money on energy bills, but they’ve noticed a huge improvement in the overall area because of the works.

“Council officers have worked hard to support tenants and private owners throughout the MTIS pilot, so I’m delighted that their work was recognised by the prestigious 2023 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration. I look forward to seeing the MTIS continue to develop and improve as we work with owners and tenants to offer support and guidance.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

WHY SCREENING IS SO IMPORTANT

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, NHS Lothian spoke with Carrie Murdoch, Health Promotion Specialist for SE Scotland Breast Screening, to learn more about the vital role of breast screening and what to expect during a screening appointment:

Why is Breast screening so important?

In Scotland, breast screening saves around 130 lives each year.

Mammograms can detect tiny cancers when they are at an early stage, often when they are too small to see or feel. The earlier Breast Cancer is found the easier it is to treat.

How do you prepare for a Breast Screening Appointment?

It’s best to wear a skirt or trousers as you will be asked to undress from the waist up.

Please do not wear talcum powder or spray or deodorant before the screening as this can interfere with the image.

What happens during a Breast Screening Appointment?

Breast Screening uses x-rays called Mammograms to check your breasts for signs of cancer.

A female mammographer will position one breast at a time between two plates and the machine will take two x-rays of each.

Having your breast pressed between the plates can be uncomfortable, but it is only for a very short time. You can ask to stop at any point if you feel too much discomfort, and the mammographer will work with you to adjust your position.

The breast screening appointment usually takes around 10 minutes from start to finish and the mammogram x-ray itself takes barely a minute.

What age and when will you be invited for your breast screening appointment?

We screen women from 50-70 years old. Don’t worry if your appointment doesn’t arrive on your 50th birthday as each GP practice takes part in a screening programme every 3 years. Because of this you may not receive an invitation until you are 53.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I enjoy being able to connect to our clients and offer support to participate in the screening service. It’s rewarding to work with colleagues to promote breast screening and inform women about how they can look after their health. 

Arrests after Hibs vs Motherwell game

Six people have been arrested following incidents of violence and disorder in the St Andrew’s Square area after the Hibs v Motherwell match last night (Saturday 5 October).

An investigation is under way to identify further individuals involved.

UPDATE:

Four males, aged 16, 17, 18 and 22, have been charged in connection with incidents of violence and disorder in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh after Hibs v Motherwell yesterday.

Two others were released without charge.

The males have been released to appear in court at a later date.