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Month: February 2025
Letters: NSPCC supporting Safer Internet Day
Dear Editor,
We are proud to be supporting Safer Internet Day (Tuesday, February 11) again this year.
Today’s young people enjoy spending time online, and it is a great way for them to learn, socialise and have fun but avoiding online harm has become more complicated in recent years.
This year’s Safer Internet Day theme ‘Protecting yourself and others from scams online’ will look at the prevalence of online scams and invite young people to share their experiences and ideas on how to tackle the issue.
It is great that young people are involved in Safer Internet Day, we think it’s important to ensure their views and experiences are heard so they can help shape decisions that are made about how to keep them safe online.
And that’s why we are running a campaign in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Youth Council and West Dunbartonshire Council called ‘Shameless Youths’ which is being led by the young people themselves.
We hope to encourage more conversations between young people and the adults in their lives about being online and help them to have healthy relationships online and offline.
We are also working with a group of 14 enthusiastic young people from across the UK and Scotland – the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth – so they can influence decisions about to make the online world safer for them.
Advice and support about online safety is available for parents, carers, teachers and young people on the NSPCC website.
Children can get in touch with Childline on 0800 1111 or via childline.org.uk to speak with a counsellor confidentially if they are worried about something. They have a tool called Report Remove for under 18 year olds who have had a nude image of them shared online, to help them get it removed.
Yours sincerely,
Euan MacLaren
NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Officer
Betty McVay: A formidable wee wumman with the heart of a lion
THE NORTH EDINBURGH COMMUNITY TURNED OUT IN FORCE TO SAY A FINAL GOODBYE TO BETTY McVAY THIS WEEK:
I first met Betty back in the 1980s. I can’t remember what the details now, it was such a long time ago, but it was something to do with Drylaw Telford Community Council, Pilton Sporting Club and Pilton Central Association. What I do remember was some advice from PCA’s development worker, who helpfully warned me: “Betty’s bark is worse than her bite”.
I received quite a grilling from the feisty wee wifey who was Betty McVay that day. Fortunately she didn’t actually bite me, and while her bark was certainly sharp enough, I did survive the ordeal.
That first encounter was the first of so many over the forty-odd years that followed, and I found that her initial suspicion and mistrust was built on years of community experience. Betty was scathing of ‘incomers’, projects and community workers being ‘parachuted in to help the poor people’.
Maybe because we shared a common background, both born and raised in the Old Town, we developed a bond and a trust that grew over the years.
Betty could be painfully forthright about many things and many people. Woe betide any worker or politician who tried to soft soap Betty: sometimes I would wince when she turned her withering fire on some hapless individual or other along with a steely stare that would curdle milk!
The wrath of Betty was a force to behold, but there was another softer, gentler side to her too. She was fiercely supportive of causes she believed in and was a loyal friend to so many individuals and organisations it would take just too long to list.
I felt really privileged to receive an invitaion to attend Betty’s 80th birthday party at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – it was as if I had made it at last and finally accepted into Betty’s ‘circle of trust’ after all these years!
I worked with and learned from Betty in a number of organisations and campaigns over all those years: initially through the Pilton Partnership and Greater Pilton Community Alliance – the ground-breaking initiative to break down barriers between North Edinburgh’s individual communities and work together as one to tackle poverty.
I remember I interviewed Betty when she was awarded an MBE for her service to communities – ‘Arise, Oor Betty’ was the headline on our front page splash!
Then there was the Edinburgh Community Representatives Network, joining forces with other communities to challenge the inequities of the (unfair) Fairer Scotland Fund. We lost that fight, but Betty had many successes too – the jewel in the crown being the establishment of her beloved North Edinburgh Childcare Centre.
In later years, when Betty was supposed to be slowing down after a health scare, I worked with her through Community Action North to organise an Older People’s event as a final activity to wind down Pilton Central Association.
I would schedule an hour for those planning meetings, which we held at North Edinburgh Arts – but that was never going to happen! The agenda quickly went out the window and Betty embarked on a roller coaster of stories and recollections, barely pausing for breath and covering a spectrum of local, national and even international characters and events spanning half a century and more! We did find the odd ten minutes to discuss the event we were supposed to be planning, though!
It was never easy to make sense of my notes after these marathon sessions, but the Older People’s event did take place eventually and it was a great success!
And even in those final years, right up to the end, it was always a joy to spend time with her, especially when there was a wee spark of the old venom: she may have mellowed, but Betty was still Betty! Biting back, right to the end.
New deal for Scotland’s farmers
Flexible grants to drive efficiency, support nature and climate friendly farming
Farmers and crofters will benefit from £20 million additional capital support this year and £26 million next year, First Minister John Swinney has confirmed.
Speaking at the NFU Scotland annual conference he outlined how at least £14 million of the funding will deliver a Future Farming Investment Scheme, providing flexible capital grants.
Other significant announcements included:
- an additional £7 million in 2025 through the Agri-environment climate scheme (AECS) to undertake activities supporting nature, climate and biodiversity alongside food production
- hosting a new entrant’s summit bringing key individuals together to find solutions to attract more people into farming
- a three year programme of national land Lidar laser scanning to accurately map terrain
- committing £75,000 to RSABI (founded as the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution) to provide mental health support for farmers and crofters
- further details of how the routemap to implementing a new framework of agriculture support will work
- a commitment to delivering ultra-high frequency (UHF) electronic identification for cows to improve traceability
Mr Swinney said: “I want to see a farming sector that is equipped and ready to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future. That is why at least £14 million will be delivered through our Future Farming Investment Scheme.
“We will work at pace to consult with industry to ensure the capital grant scheme guidance and priorities work for a range of businesses and that the application processes are simple and straightforward. They will not be prescriptive, as long as the funds are used to drive efficiency or support nature and climate friendly farming your bid will be valid and could receive support.
“A flourishing Scotland means a flourishing rural Scotland. And for rural Scotland to thrive, farming must thrive. I look forward to working with the industry – building on the constructive working relationships we have with NFU Scotland to show that this government is committed to continuing to support our nation’s farmers.”
Practical guidance for equal participation and representation of women published by the Scottish Parliament
New guidance that aims to improve equal participation and representation of women in parliaments around the world has today been published by the Scottish Parliament.
The development of Gender Sensitising Parliaments: A Practical Guide was led by academics from the University of Edinburgh, Professor Sarah Childs, Personal Chair of Politics and Gender, and Professor Meryl Kenny, Professor of Gender and Politics.
The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, commissioned an audit, with participation from a cross-party group of MSPs and external experts, to assess its own progress towards being gender sensitive.
The audit reported that, while the Parliament had made good progress, the equal representation of women was not yet embedded.
The Scottish Parliament Audit, A Parliament for All, recommended a package of changes that were designed to strengthen equal representation and participation of women and the mainstreaming of gender equality across the Parliament’s work, which the Scottish Parliament is working towards implementing.
The development of a Practical Guide was one of the recommendations in the Audit.
The new Guide outlines core principles and practices of a gender sensitive parliament and sets out a six-step process to evaluate and enhance gender sensitivity in parliaments.
It also highlights the importance of a broad understanding of gender sensitivity, enthusiastic leadership, collaborative ethos, robust research, and institutional support in working towards equal participation and representation in parliaments.
Reflecting on the publication of the Guide, Presiding Officer Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, said: “I am delighted to see The Guide published and would like to express my gratitude to Professor Childs and Professor Kenny for their work.”
“Research shows that the strength of democracy is improved by having greater diversity in our parliaments. When a parliament better reflects the communities it serves, better decisions are made.
“This guidance includes lessons from our Gender Sensitive Audit, which itself was informed by ground-breaking work from organisations across the globe. I hope it is useful and look forward to hearing of other legislatures’ experiences as they work towards equal participation and representation.”
Professor Sarah Childs said: “More and more parliaments are undertaking gender sensitive audits. This can only be a good thing.
“This Guide provides lessons learned from the Scottish Parliament audit, which can help showcase why it matters, and how to undertake, a gender sensitive audit. We hope that it will encourage even more parliaments to embrace the principle and practices of gender sensitising parliaments.”
Professor Meryl Kenny said: ““Scotland is one of an increasing number of countries around the world committed to reforms that will gender sensitise its parliament.
“This Guide takes this ongoing work forward by sharing the Scottish Parliament’s experiences, and offering a practical route map to gender sensitising a parliament on the ground. A parliament that is inclusive of and responsive to women, in all their diversity, is a more representative and effective parliament.”
Pianodrome celebrate funding boost
WEST SHORE ROAD PROJECT THANKS CREATIVE SCOTLAND
We’re over the moon to announce that we have been awarded multi-year funding from @creativescots !!!
This will help us to plan for the future in ways we have never managed to before, to build on recent successes like our Adopt a Piano scheme and to help us one day find a permanent home for the Pianodrome Amphitheatre in Edinburgh.
Huge credit must go to Creative Scotland for recognising the potential of small cultural organisations to make huge positive impacts.
Creative Scotland have done great work advocating on behalf of artists and culture and we’re chuffed to bits to have this core funding secured for the next three years.
Over the last 7 years we have developed from project to project; articulating new ideas, saving over 600 pianos from landfill, working with hundreds of artists and welcoming tens of thousands of participants into to our community-focused interactive spaces.
Thank you to the local and international communities who have supported and believed in the Pianodrome thus far.
We’ll continue to strive towards our conviction that no piano is junk, and no person is unmusical! 
Exhibition: The Heart of a Community
LEITH ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, EASTER ROAD
Two FREE open house weekends at Leith St. Andrew’s Trust’s “The Heart of a Community”, a new exhibition at the church, celebrating its history, its role in the community to date and its future potential.
These open days are free and un-ticketed.
“Leith St. Andrew’s Trust invites you to join us in reflecting on the past, learning more about our own local history and helping to shape the future of Leith St. Andrew’s Parish Church at The Heart of the Community.
This event will be a lovely opportunity to see the exhibition space, meet our historian, trustees & volunteers, engage with other community members and enjoy learning more about the cultural heritage of this wonderful building.”
Amazon Dunfermline provides support to Scot Baby Box Appeal
The team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline has delivered products worth £2,500 to Scot Baby Box Appeal.
The Scot Baby Box Appeal supports families with newborns in Ukraine. The charity distributes pre-loved baby boxes filled with essential items, alongside supplies for relief efforts and other critical necessities, helping to ensure that every newborn has a safe and nurturing start.
A group of 92 employees from Amazon in Dunfermline packed and delivered the sorted pallets to the charity’s hub in Coatbridge. The donation included essential items such as toiletries, clothing and drinks.
Alongside the delivery of pallets, seven employees from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline volunteered at the charity’s warehouse to support with the team’s sortation and space management support to ensure safe and efficient working conditions for the staff and volunteers at Scot Baby Box Appeal.
The charity has been supported by Amazon since 2022, with the fulfilment centre team in Dunfermline making donations and volunteering for almost three years.
Speaking on the donation, Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “The team at Scot Baby Box Appeal provides excellent support to families across Scotland and Ukraine.
“Amazon in Dunfermline has a longstanding relationship with the team at Scot Baby Box Appeal and we’re pleased to contribute once again to the efforts of the staff and volunteers with this donation.”
Christina Watson, an employee from Amazon in Dunfermline who took part in the kitting event, said: “I’m pleased that I can take part in supporting the charity for a second time this year and I can’t wait to see the relationship between Amazon Dunfermline and Scot Baby Box grow even further.”
Gail Maguire, from Scot Baby Box Appeal, added: “Thank you to Jamie and the team at Amazon in Dunfermline for their continued support with this donation. Their help is always greatly appreciated, especially on the run up to Christmas.”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need.
The Multibank network has now donated more than 3 million surplus goods to over 400,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, and London.
Amazon has supported more than 700,000 students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
Jumpstart Your Child’s Fitness Journey
Edinburgh Leisure’s Taster Week for Under 5s
Encourage your pre-school child to get active from an early age by signing up for Play & Try coached activities. As the largest provider of sport and leisure facilities across the city, Edinburgh Leisure is well-placed to encourage your child to reach their full potential, help them build confidence, learn skills, and meet friends.
Edinburgh Leisure is offering a taster week from 17th February – 21st February where new and existing customers can come and try coached activities for under 5s for £3.00 per session.
Tailored for little ones, from babies to pre-schoolers, these fun and engaging sessions are all about having a blast while exploring the first steps into various sports.
Classes include Gym and Jump, Gym Nippers, Swim Baby, Swim Nippers, Swim Toddler, Jump & Dive Skills, Jump Into Sport, Football Mini Kickers and Kick Starters.
Sessions will be offered at Ainslie Park, Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, Gracemount Leisure Centre, Kirkliston Leisure Centre, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, Portobello Swim Centre, the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello, and Warrender Swim Centre and are suitable for babies and toddlers.
For those that loved the taster sessions, parents can sign up their child/children for a coaching course at the venue on the same day, with the February fee waived.*
Wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure is here to help the people of Edinburgh enjoy a healthier, happier, and more active life. And it’s never too early to start.
Book your spot today for just £3.00 per session:
By Creating We Think – Celebrating Patrick Geddes
Saturday, 22 February 2025
To celebrate the life and learnings of revolutionary 19th and 20th century Scottish social thinker Patrick Geddes, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in partnership with the Sir Patrick Geddes Trust is holding a day of workshops, screenings, talks and discussions as part of Edinburgh’s 900 programme on Saturday, 22 February.
Patrick Geddes by Kenny Hunter on display at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
The day looks to the future, structured around Geddes’ key sayings including ‘By Creating We Think’ and combining ideas with practical initiatives that can open pathways into ecology, culture and creativity to create a city rich in local, national and international identities.
Speakers include environmental artists Kenny Munro and Claudia Zeiske; Murdo MacDonald who is a leading writer and original interpreter of Patrick Geddes; environmentalist and nature writer Mandy Haggith; Bengali storyteller Neel Debdutt Paul; Samuel Gallacher who is Director of Sottish Historic Buildings Trust and has had close involvement with the ideas and legacy of Geddes; and many other writers, activists and thinkers.
Patrick Geddes was an ecologist and town planner who believed that our future lies in the merging of the natural world with human culture. He also championed the need for science and society to work together, citizen action, creative learning, and the need for green space.
Donald Smith, Director of the Scottish Storytelling Festival and Programmer of ‘By Creating We Think’ said: “Geddes would have loved to be at this event.
“His method was to bring people together and let the ideas and passions flow. Of course in a sense he will be there, and I can’t think of anyone more important to have at Edinburgh’s 900th celebrations.”
Samuel Gallacher, Director of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust said: “Geddes’ revolutionary thinking has influenced more than a century of practice, and yet still, his ideas and methods have still so much to offer to society today as we reflect, as Geddes did in his own time, on our rapidly changing world.”
‘By Creating We Think’ is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of Edinburgh’s 900th year celebrations and The Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust. It will be the final event in the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s programme of over 40 community events across the city that have been attended by more than 1600 people.
By Creating We Think
Saturday 22 February from 10.30am to 5pm
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.
A day of talks, workshops, screenings and lively discussion to celebrate the life and learnings of revolutionary 19thcentury Scottish social thinker Patrick Geddes,
The event is ticketed on a ‘pay as you can’ basis.
For more information visit https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5814/913:25318/
Programme
By Leaves We Live
Introduction and hosting by Andrew Bachell, environmentalist and Chair, Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
Re-Naturing a Nation:Mandy Haggith, poet, novelist and nature writer. Greening the City: Bridgend Farmhouse with John Knox and Will Golding.
Think Global, Act Local
Cultures in Conversation: environmental artist Kenny Munro and storyteller/writer Neel Debdutt Paul explore a web of connections between Patrick Geddes and India.
Cultures in Conversation: Tom Hubbard writer and researcher; Claudia Zeiske, environmental artist, producer and community curator; and Iliyana Nedkova Curator of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland, explore a web of connections between Geddes, France and Europe.
Place, Work, Folk
Remaking and restoring – a participative session led by Claudia Zeiske, environmental artist, producer and community curator.
By Living We Learn
Geddes, Tagore and Education – the work of Stewart A Robertson and Bashabi Fraser introduced by Donald Smith
The Making of Books: By Publishing We Think – Murdo MacDonald, Art Historian and Essayist.
A Geddes Future in Edinburgh’s Old Town Sam Gallacher, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust