November 2024 – Page 2 – The NEN

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour is heading to Edinburgh TODAY

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour will visit Edinburgh on Saturday 30^th November at 12pm
With the ambition to make kindness travel, the tour will encourage visitors to embrace their inner Santa and share an act of kindness with others during the festive season.
Bringing friends and family together to enjoy a magical moment of festive fun, the loved tour will this year support FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste.

Holidays Are Coming! The magic of the holiday season is set to sparkle even brighter this year and to celebrate, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, will be parking today at Fort Kinnard, from 12pm to 8pm!

Under a canopy of twinkling lights and festive music, visitors will be able to enjoy fun, festive games, participate in a lucky dip with the chance to win exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise and experience a festive food truck that will serve up delicious seasonal tastes alongside an ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, all whilst capturing that perfect seasonal selfie in front of the iconic red truck.

Bringing friends and family together to enjoy a magical moment of festive fun, the loved tour will this year support FareShare, the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste.

Promising to be bigger and better than ever before and set in a magical winter wonderland setting, for every person that attends the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, the equivalent of a meal will be donated on their behalf. Coca-Cola aims to donate the equivalent of up to a total of 1 million meals* via FareShare this festive season.

FareShare works with the food industry to redistribute surplus food, which might otherwise go to waste, to a network of 8,000 charities and community groups across the UK. These groups include community centres, faith groups, homelessness shelters, refuges, and schools, all working hard to support people in need. Food is used to bring people together, strengthening communities and helping people access vital support services.

Kirsty Ford, Head of Fundraising at FareShare said: “We are so grateful to Coca-Cola for their continued support for FareShare.

“These invaluable donations help us get good-to-eat food to the people who need it rather than going to waste. Every day, the food we redistribute to a network of over 8,000 charities in every region helps to strengthen communities.

“Coca-Cola’s generous support for FareShare is instrumental in helping people affected by the cost-of-living crisis. This support means charities can unite more people through food to form connections and access essential support services. Thank you for helping FareShare make the food go further.”

This year, the Coca-Cola Truck Tour focuses on the ambition to make kindness travel. Echoing the wider Coca-Cola Christmas campaign message, “The World Needs More Santas”, the tour will encourage visitors from Gateshead to embrace their inner Santa and share an act of kindness with others during the festive season.

Florence Wheatley, Marketing Manager for Coca-Cola Great Britain Coca-Cola, said: “Coca-Cola has and remains synonymous with Christmas, with many people eagerly awaiting the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour and Holidays Are Coming advert to create a little festive magic.

“This year, we’re delighted to continue our relationship with FareShare to support its mission to reduce hunger and surplus food waste. We hope that every person that attends the Truck Tour not only experiences the magic of Coca-Cola Christmas, but also supports FareShare, knowing that the equivalent of a meal has been donated on their behalf, acting as a little moment of kindness to ensure that thousands of people across the country enjoy a more meaningful Christmas.”

For those unable to visit the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck in person, from November, a promotion with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste will invite fans to scan on-pack QR codes for the chance to win Christmas shopping vouchers!

With a packed schedule of exciting Truck Tour stops taking place throughout Great Britain in the lead-up to Christmas, eager Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour fans can follow announcements about the schedule which will be made over the coming weeks at @CocaColaGBI (Instagram) and @CocaCola_GB (Twitter).

Unpaid carers from across Scotland seek answers from decision makers at the Carers Parliament

Unpaid carers from across the country sought to address their concerns and questions on caring directly to national and local Government officials at the Carers Parliament, held on Wednesday 27 November.

Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, and Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, responded to the unpaid carers about their experiences with caring and issues with the current social care system.

At the event, Social Care Minister Maree Todd outlined her admiration for the work done by carers as she said: “Your words highlight your commitment and dedication to getting the best possible services and support for your loved ones, and they hold us to account to ensure that we are doing everything possible to make sure this happens.

“I truly appreciate your bravery in sharing your personal experiences and stories. I know that this isn’t always easy to do. It is however vital that we hear from carers and understand the challenges that you are facing.

“You have my commitment that I will continue to work tirelessly, alongside the people who really matter – the people of Scotland – to deliver the improvements we all want and need to see through social care reform to bring about fundamental, sustainable change.”

A recent report, ‘Valuing Carers 2022: Scotland’, valued the work of the 627,700 unpaid carers in Scotland at £15.9 billion, highlighting how vital this labour is within our society.

However, unpaid carers at the Carers Parliament expressed how they often do not get the support they need in their caring role, leaving many feeling failed by the system.

Over 100 unpaid carers attended the event from across Scotland. The Carers Parliament 2024 was held as a hybrid event, with carers attending in person at COSLA Conference Centre in Edinburgh, while others were able to join online and ask questions via a video link.

For the afternoon session, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, provided a video address on future improvements in carer benefits in Scotland.

This was followed by officials from the Social Security Policy Division within the Scottish Government, who answered questions and addressed issues on social security and the new Carer Support Payment which is in the process of replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

Other highlights from the day included films created by young carers at the Scottish Young Carers Festival, discussion groups, which focused on benefits and financial security for unpaid carers, and insights from the event Chair, Professor Ian Welsh OBE.

The Carers Parliament is an annual event, funded by the Scottish Government and organised by Carers Scotland on behalf of the National Carer Organisations in Scotland – Carers Scotland, Carers Trust Scotland, Coalition of Carers in Scotland, MECOPP, Shared Care Scotland and the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance.

Have you seen Peng?

Missing Person – Peng Tao Yi

Peng is a 19 year old Chinese national studying here in Edinburgh.

He is of medium build and wears glasses.

Peng is currently missing from the Middlefield area of Leith.

Anyone with information should contact 101 quoting incident ref: 0978 of 25/11/24.

Police: Beware of bike thieves!

There are bike thieves about. Make sure you ALWAYS secure your pedal cycle using the following guidance:

#DarkerNights

o Register your bicycle securely with https://orlo.uk/oGnWz it may help to recover it if stolen.

o Consider the use of a bike GPS tracker.

o Photograph and record all your bike’s details and distinguishing features. The serial number is generally located on the bottom bracket.

o If using social media, make your profile private.

o Never leave your bike unattended at popular riding destinations.

o Do not leave bikes unattended on vehicle bike racks, especially overnight.

o Consider anti-grinder bicycle locks

https://orlo.uk/6dawz

Edinburgh students to engage in nation’s rich heritage of design and manufacturing

TechFest, an Aberdeen charity has launched STEM into Innovation to inspire Scottish students to explore the nation’s deep history in design and manufacturing.
STEM into Innovation launched with ‘Pioneers of Progress’; an exciting initiative for S1-S2 students to explore the evolution of instant communications and design.
Following this, TechFest hosted Innovation Masterclasses throughout Scotland with experts from across design, manufacturing and academia. The final ‘Innovation Masterclass’ of the year on Engineering Design and Innovation was hosted by the organisers behind The Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), Horizon Educational.
Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “STEM into Innovation ignites curiosity across Scotland, combining cultural heritage with hands-on design and manufacturing.”

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TechFest, an Aberdeen-based charity, has launched the programme ‘STEM into Innovation’ to enhance Edinburgh students’ awareness of innovation processes used within the design and manufacturing sectors.

STEM into Innovation targets secondary school students, offering both in-school tuition and live masterclasses held in Scottish cities. The initiative aims to equip young people with STEM and entrepreneurship skills and knowledge for further academic or STEM careers.

It kicked off with “Pioneers of Progress” in February, an exciting initiative exploring the evolution of instant communications and an introduction to design.

This free programme, which is still available to access via TechFest’s website, is delivered in classrooms through video content accompanied by follow-up challenges that aim to enhance all participating students’ mathematics, writing, design, marketing and teamwork skills.

It is designed for teachers across all subjects, providing a variety of resources for classroom instruction from TechFest, such as student activity booklets and interviews with industry professionals.

Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “STEM into Innovation taps into Scotland’s rich design and manufacturing heritage, equipping students with the skills and mindset to become Scotland’s next STEM leaders.

“It is a CREST-accredited programme that empowers students to unlock their full STEM potential, strengthens their CVs and UCAS applications while equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to bridge the industry skills gap.

“STEM into Innovation is committed to creating greater diversity and equality through encouraging more young people to consider a career in the engineering or science industries.”

TechFest delivered a range of masterclasses for students as part of STEM into Innovation, where students could roll up their sleeves and dive into hands-on product design.

The masterclasses were held in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and provided an opportunity for young people to gain insights on entrepreneurship and product development from industry professionals.

A masterclass conducted by Horizon Educational, organisers of the Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), concluded the 2024 programme on the 23^rd of November with a focus on engineering design and innovation.

Tobias Lundsgaard, Product Development Manager at Horizon Educational said: “Being able to bridge the gap between the products we develop in our R&D centre and the students we serve has been an invaluable aspect of TechFest’s STEM into Innovation programme.

“Getting to know these students – and being able to give them a glimpse into my own process of product development has reminded me of why I chose to pursue a career at Horizon Educational: to help build future leaders with a passion for STEM and Conscious design.”

Other masterclasses were held across Scotland including Edinburgh, which was presented by The National Robotarium.

A parent who attended the National Robotarium masterclass with her child said: ‘‘I would like to thank TechFest for organising these opportunities for the kids.

“My child had such a great day yesterday at Herriot-Watt University with his friend attending the National Robotarium. It was a long drive but so worth it when you see the enthusiasm they come away with about all they have seen and learnt. ”

STEM into Innovation was designed to equip students with in-demand entrepreneurial skills for employers and higher education institutions, enhancing their academic and career prospects in STEM fields.

This CREST-accredited programme: Pioneers of Progress runs throughout the academic year, alongside all other STEM into Innovation events and will continue to be available in the next school year, offering students ongoing opportunities to engage with STEM.

Following the success STEM into Innovation, next academic year, TechFest will host a cross-curricular design project for secondary school pupils to build on their previous programme experiences.

Letters of Hope: Fort Kinnaird and Cyrenians call on local community to help spread festive cheer

Fort Kinnaird is calling on customers to help spread festive cheer in the community this Christmas.

The centre has teamed up with Cyrenians, an Edinburgh-based charity that tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, to launch a ‘Letters of Hope’ initiative, as part of the charity’s winter appeal to combat social isolation.

The local community are being asked to write their warm wishes in a Christmas card or letter and post without an envelope in its ‘Letters of Hope’ mailbox free of charge. The initiative will then see these heartfelt Christmas cards distributed to those at risk of homelessness in and around Edinburgh.

There will also be a contactless donation point where shoppers can tap to donate £3, £5 or £10 as well as a QR code displayed on the side of the post box where visitors will be able to tap to make donations and support the charity’s vital work in the city.

The initiative is part of Cyrenians’ Winter Appeal which launched earlier this week to support the charity’s services to stop homelessness in its tracks. The city is facing significant housing challenges, and the funds raised will help Cyrienians reach more people this winter, while providing a little light through initiatives like the Letters of Hope mailbox.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “While Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for many of us, we know that the winter months, and especially the festive season, can be challenging for those experiencing homelessness.

“It’s our visitors who make Christmas so special for us here at Fort Kinnaird, so we know we can count on them to spread some cheer to those who need it most.

“We hope our ‘Letters of Hope’ initiative, and the fundraising support for Cyrenians, will help to bring a few more smiles over the seasonal period.”

Sophie Bell, Fundraising Manager at Cyrenians, said: “Winter is dark enough, so we are delighted to be partnering with Fort Kinnaird this season to bring a little light to those who need it most.

“Cyrenians works across the community to break the cycle of homelessness. With services across addiction recovery, family mediation, supported housing, food distribution and more, we will provide vital support to many people who are struggling this Christmas. Thanks to Fort Kinnaird and their customers, we can work to tackle homelessness together.”

Letters and cards can be posted into the special post box – located outside ODEON Cinema – from now until 20th December when they will be distributed by Cyrenians in plenty of time for Christmas.

For more information on Fort Kinnaird, please visit https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

For more information on Cyrenians, please visit: https://cyrenians.scot/

Festive window display pays tribute to Edinburgh charity hero

Local Edinburgh legend is honoured in a festive food window display on North Bridge
Shikha Ahuja a member of Milan Senior Welfare Organisation has been nominated by the charity for her dedication to supporting and sharing joy with Edinburgh’s elderly South Asian community
Supported by Pret, Shikha is being commemorated in a window display – inclusive of her story coupled with a QR code where people can donate to The Pret Foundation to make a difference to those affected by hunger, poverty, and homelessness
Additional windows in Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Manchester showcase the nation’s most joyous moments of 2024 – Pret is encouraging the public to visit their nearest shop and #ShareTheJoy

In a heartwarming celebration of community spirit and festive joy, Edinburgh’s very own local legend, Shikha Ahuja, is being honoured in a vibrant Christmas window display at Pret A Manger on North Bridge.

Shikha Ahuja, 54, a dedicated member of the Milan Senior Welfare Organisation, has been nominated by the charity for her enthusiastic and unwavering commitment over five years. Shikha brings joy, connection, and a dash of Bollywood magic to the elderly amongst Edinburgh’s South Asian community.

She is always looking for ways to enhance the lives of others, from organising cooking clubs and yoga sessions, through to leading a digital literacy programme for senior citizens, to help them become better connected and combat loneliness.

As a tribute, Shikha is being commemorated in a window display that perfectly captures the festive season – complete with a garland featuring food from Pret’s Christmas menu.

Shikha says: “I’m truly humbled to be featured in this beautiful display. For me, it’s about more than just providing a service.

“It’s about spreading warmth and helping older people feel more loved and less alone, whether by reconnecting them with family on Zoom or creating spaces to socialise through community arts and crafts.

“I feel blessed by everyone I help and grow a little each day.

“To be celebrated in this festive display, surrounded by the spirit of generosity and community, is so uplifting. A huge thank you to the team at Milan Senior Welfare Organisation, The Pret Foundation and everyone who works towards making Edinburgh a more connected community.”

The Edinburgh display is part of a national celebration of joy, with additional windows in Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Manchester showcasing the most joyous moments of 2024, Top 10 list below. Pret is encouraging everyone to visit their local shop, admire the displays and share in the festive spirit by using the hashtag #ShareTheJoy on social media.

Katherine Bagshaw, UK Food and Coffee Director, said: “At Pret, we believe that Christmas is about bringing people together, celebrating, and sharing the joy. We’re thrilled to be able to tell inspiring stories of remarkable individuals who make a real difference in their community.

“Shikha’s nomination is testament to her dedication in helping others – thanks to The Pret Foundation, we’re able to provide food, resources, and support to those affected by hunger and homelessness, not just at Christmas but year-round.”

TOP 10 – 2024 MOMENTS OF JOY

England men’s football team reaching the final of Euro 2024 (Really? – Ed.)
David Attenborough celebrates 70 years of service as a conservationist and broadcaster
Jude Bellingham’s overhead goal for England against Slovakia at Euro 2024
The announcement of the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special
Keely Hodgkinson’s 800 meters gold at the Olympics for Team GB
16-year-old Luke Littler reaching the final of the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship
Andy Murray’s emotional retirement match at Wimbledon
Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour
Announcement of Oasis reforming
The Coronation Street 65th anniversary special

Delivering the Junior Cop & Good Citizen programme

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service combined forces with the Leith Community Policing Team at Lorne Primary yesterday to deliver the ‘The Junior Cop & Good Citizen’ programme.

Constable Gloc leads the current initiative which is presented to Primary 6 pupils with the aim of encouraging the children to act responsibly and safely at home, in the community and within their school environment.

It involves a weekly programme of inputs covering the following topics:

The Role of the Police

Fire Safety

Travel Safe

Online Safety

Alcohol, Drugs, and age specific goods

Respect in the Community, including ASB and Hate Crime.

The image is of Community Fire Fighters Young & Sinclair, PC Clark and in centre stage a potential firefighter of the future.

#CommunityPolicing

#PartnershipWorking

The City of Edinburgh Council

Council supports 16 Days of Activism

City Council supports 16 Days of Activism 2024

The City of Edinburgh Council is once again supporting the global 16 Days of Activism campaign.

This is an international movement aimed at raising awareness, driving advocacy, and sharing knowledge to combat gender-based violence.

Running from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, through to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the campaign calls for action on a global scale.

As part of its commitment the City Chambers was lit up orange in support of the campaign.

The Chief Executive and Leader of the Council are pleased to announce that the Council is participating in the Equally Safe at Work accreditation programme, further reinforcing its broader strategy to create safer communities for women and girls.

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day and Chief Executive Paul Lawrence said: “We are pleased to announce that the City of Edinburgh Council is participating in the Equally Safe at Work accreditation programme as part of a wider programme of work in the City to promote gender equality and to prevent and eradicate discrimination and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This falls within Edinburgh’s wider commitment to implementing Equally Safe.

“Gender inequality in society is a cause and consequence of VAWG, and women’s market labour inequality is one of the ways this is expressed in society. To prevent VAWG, we must tackle gender inequality in society. The Council as an employer is committed to addressing and eradicating the ways in which social gender inequality plays out in the workplace.

“As one of the largest employers in Edinburgh we are committed to progressing gender equality in the workplace, and the Equally Safe at Work Programme provides us with the tools to make meaningful change for all employees in the organisation, particularly women.

“We will be undertaking a number of activities to progress gender equality for our colleagues and better support victim-survivors of violence against women (VAW) at work. This includes reviewing our equality policy, introducing a specific gender-based violence policy, looking at recruitment and progression practices and pathways, and providing relevant learning and development opportunities.

“We’ll do more to raise awareness of gender equality and violence against women and work to address occupational gender segregation – undertaking pilot projects to change the workforce profile where roles are seen as traditionally male- or female-dominated.

“It’s important that all employees in the workplace feel safe and supported. While women and girls are at greatest risk of gender-based violence, we know that boys, men, transgender and non-binary people are also affected – the work we do will benefit everyone.

“It’s also important that we take an approach that recognises that women have different experiences of employment, and this is shaped by multiple, intersecting inequalities and discriminations that overlap to create different levels of inequality. We recognise that individuals face unique challenges and discrimination based on the intersection of their gender, race, ethnicity, disability, economic disadvantage, religion, sexual orientation and other social identities.

“We’ll continue to work to address disadvantage including pay gap intersectionality through our commitments in our new Workforce Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024 to 2028.

“Equally Safe at Work will enable the City of Edinburgh Council to develop initiatives and practices that better reflect the needs of all employees in the organisation and align with our Behaviours and our commitment to implementing the Equally Safe strategy across the City.

“We will ensure that the changes we make are sustainable, creating and maintaining a more inclusive culture where women feel safe at work and empowered to lead in their own careers and raise any concerns or complaints they may have.

“We will be working to embed this work throughout the organisation and consistently review the changes to ensure they still reflect the needs of the organisation and our colleagues.

“Making sure that women, who are the vast majority of City of Edinburgh Council employees are safe, supported and included in the workplace is not just a commitment- it’s common sense.

“We want all colleagues to have the tools, resources and support they need to perform their best and to feel fulfilled from their work within the Council.”