davepickering

Johnnie Walker Princes Street gears up for Six Nations Championship

Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the eight-floor visitor attraction in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, has today unveiled its plans for the Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Kicking off this weekend, 4 February, rugby fans can treat themselves to special match day breakfasts in the stunning rooftop 1820 Bar, be in with a chance of winning the ultimate match day experience just by visiting the ground floor retail store, snap a selfie with the Guinness Six Nations Trophy, take part in exclusive tastings and more.

Johnnie Walker is the official whisky of the Guinness Six Nations, here’s how Johnnie Walker Princes Street is celebrating:

Guinness Six Nations Breakfast Menu (available 5-6 and 26-27 February from 9.30am-12pm in the 1820 Bar)

Johnnie Walker Big Breakfast:

Sausage, bacon, potato scone, black pudding, haggis, mushrooms and fried egg

Johnnie Walker Vegetarian Breakfast:

Vegetarian sausage, vegetarian haggis, potato scone, spinach, mushrooms and fried egg

Eggs Benedict with crispy onions
Eggs Royal with seaweed
Eggs Florentine with micro chives

To book a table visit: https://bit.ly/3uq0vct

Guinness Six Nations Prize Draw (4-23 February in the ground floor retail store)

To enter, simply speak to the team in the Johnnie Walker Princes Street retail store who will guide guests through the process of entering this exclusive prize draw. Winners will be announced on 23 February on the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Instagram.

Prizes include:

Ultimate match day experience which includes 2 x tickets to pre-event plus match. On Friday 25^th February, between 10am – 12pm the winner will be invited to have breakfast in one of the hospitality boxes, before heading out into the stadium bowl at BT Murrayfield to watch the Scotland team on their final training session before the match. The winner will also receive 2 x tickets to Scotland vs France on Sat 26^th February.

A Scotland Rugby shirt
2 x tickets to the Scotland vs France game

Two tickets to Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s Whisky Makers’ Cellar tour worth £190
A bottle of Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s fill your own ‘Winter Blend’ worth £80

Full terms and conditions can be found at: https://bit.ly/3uuadKX

Find Your Flavour Tastings (4-23 February)

Johnnie Walker Princes Street staff will guide fans through the ‘Flavour Wheel’ to help them find their perfect whisky, tasting a number of options along the way
Those who make a purchase on Murrayfield match days can store bottles at Johnnie Walker Princes Street free of charge and collect by the following Monday. Free engraving is also being offered for eligible bottles on Murrayfield match days

Guinness Six Nations Trophy Display (22-24 February)

The Guinness Six Nations Championship Trophy will be proudly displayed at Johnnie Walker Princes Street for three days, situated in the ground floor retail space. Fans are invited to come in, snap a selfie with the trophy, and share using #JWPrincesStreet.

Journey of Flavour tours:

Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s flagship experience, the Journey of Flavour tour, continues to wow whisky lovers and novices alike. The perfect follow up to breakfast in the stunning 1820 Bar, guests are taken on a 90 minute exploration of Johnnie Walker’s search for flavour, discovering their own perfect way to enjoy whisky during this one of a kind personalised tour.

To book the Journey of Flavour visit: https://bit.ly/3L8ZOdD

MSPs seek views on COVID recovery

A call for views into the Coronavirus (Recovery and Reform) (Scotland) Bill has been launched by several Scottish Parliament Committees.

The wide-ranging Scottish Government Bill, seeks to make permanent some of the temporary, emergency legislation introduced during the pandemic, and to extend others, which are due to expire by March 2022.

The Bill covers a number of policy areas including alcohol licensing, bankruptcy, justice, education (closing establishments and continuity of education), freedom of information, and vaccinations and immunisations.

Some key proposals outlined in the Bill include:

• maintaining provisions in the UK Coronavirus Act that enable Scottish Ministers to enact measures via public health regulations for any future public health threats, in line with powers that are already in place in England and Wales;

• maintaining provisions that grant Scottish Ministers power to restrict access to educational establishments on public health grounds;

• maintaining pre-eviction protocols relating to rent arrears in the private rented sector, placing more responsibility on landlords to ensure correct procedures are followed and that tenants are fully informed of their rights;

• allowing extended time-limits for criminal proceedings to temporarily remain in place to help the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service manage the backlog of cases arising from COVID-19; and allowing cases to continue to be heard through digital and physical means.

Four Parliament Committees will analyse the Bill. The COVID-19 Recovery Committee is the lead Committee scrutinising the Bill; while the Criminal Justice Committee will consider the justice policy measures; the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will consider the tenancy and eviction policy measures; and the Education, Children and Young People Committee will look into education related provisions.

Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Siobhian Brown MSP (above), Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee, said: “This pandemic has impacted almost every aspect of our lives, from restrictions on how we live, to mass vaccinations and significant changes in how public services are delivered.

“The threat of COVID-19 meant a great number of temporary, emergency legislatives measure were introduced at speed, but with these measures due to expire in March 2022, the time is now to decide which of these in the Bill should be put in place permanently.

“We recognise the size and scope of this Bill mean a diverse range of people and organisations may wish to comment on it. That’s why respondents will have the option to complete a short survey, where they can give their views on a specific aspect of the Bill, or a longer form, more detailed option is also available.”

“The Scottish Government’s stated aim for the Bill is to support Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic but we want to make sure it does not go too far, and that any changes which are made permanent act to benefit the people of Scotland and ease pressure on the public services we all rely on.”

The Convener continued: “Given the wide-ranging nature of this proposed legislation, the Parliament was keen to ensure it was given an appropriate level of scrutiny.

“That’s why we are bringing several Committees together, who will work collaboratively and use their specific areas of expertise in order to assess the impact of this Bill as effectively as possible.”

Members of the public who wish to respond to our consultation can do so here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/covid19/recovery-bill-survey

Stakeholder organisations can give us their views here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/covid19/recovery-bill-detailed

The call for views closes on 25 February 2022.

Way to Work: 150 new jobcentres and Youth Hubs now open

Thousands more jobseekers can now access tailored face-to-face job support and meet local employers as 150 new jobcentres are opened, ‘levelling up’ opportunities across the country.

These will be at the heart of the UK Government’s Way to Work Campaign to encourage more people across Great Britain into jobs.

Towns and cities from Falkirk to Torquay are now home to over 150 new temporary jobcentres and over 150 Youth Hubs, with more to follow, as the government pledges to get 500,000 people a job by the end of June.

Two of the new temporary Jobcentres are in Edinburgh city centre.

Work Coaches at jobcentres are at the forefront of the government’s drive to help people access the support they need to get into work, and many of the team recently joined the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the rapid recruitment drive to hire 13,500 new Work Coaches to boost job seeker support as we recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A further 50 jobcentres are expected to open to the public in the coming months as efforts ramp up to get jobseekers into work faster, through the Way to Work campaign, by bringing them face to face with employers and encouraging them to look for work in a sector they may not have previously considered.

Work and Pensions Secretary of State, Thérèse Coffey, said: “We know how much people benefit from getting into work – both financially and for their wellbeing. And from getting any job first, they can get a better job next and then progress to a career.

“Jobcentres and Youth Hubs are crucial to get people into work, and will help level up opportunity across the country as through our Way to Work campaign we invite employers wherever they are to work with us and help find 500,000 people a job by the end of June.”

Driving the new Way to Work campaign, Work Coaches will help those who are capable of work search more widely for jobs from the fourth week of their claim, rather than from three months as is currently the case.

This clearer focus will ensure that, if people are not able to find work in their previous occupation or sector, they are expected to look for work in another sector and this will be part of their requirements for receiving their benefit payment.

Work Coach at Wigan Mesnes House Jobcentre Plus, Mike Cook said: “Being able to provide support and guidance to people in the local community on their journey to gain sustainable long-term employment, and therefore improving their lives, is the most rewarding and important aspect of my job as a Work Coach for the Department for Work and Pensions.“

There are also over 150 Youth Hubs now up and running across the country helping young jobseekers access local training and job opportunities, as well as a range of services to address wellbeing needs.

Investing in the skills and opportunities of young people and helping people into work at every stage of their lives is an integral part of the government’s ambitious plans for levelling up, which will transform the economic geography of the UK.

Youth Hub Work Coaches are working with jobcentre-based Youth Employability Coaches and tailored employment programmes, including Kickstart, to ensure quality, joined up support is accessible to those who need it.

Youth Work Coach at Barrow Youth Hub, Lisa Wicks said: “I have found working as a Youth Hub Work Coach both challenging and rewarding. To be able to offer support to some of our most vulnerable young people and to watch them grow in confidence and capability is a real privilege.

“This has been supported by partnership, working both within the DWP and with external partners, and is making a real difference to the lives of the young people accessing the support available.”

The government’s Plan for Jobs agenda is supporting jobseekers into work and those on low-pay to progress and earn more. The new Way to Work campaign will ‘turbocharge’ this national effort by getting half a million people into work over the next five months.

EDINBURGH’s new temporary Jobcentres can be found at:

Edinburgh	11-15 North Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1SB
Edinburgh Waverley Bridge	Unit L23, Waverley Mall, Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1BQ

Further talks on fiscal reform

Clarity needed on Barnett consequentials

During yesterday’s session of the Joint Executive Committee (JEC) with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes outlined some of the challenges needing to be addressed as part of the forthcoming joint review of the Scottish Fiscal Framework.

Chairing the meeting in London, Ms Forbes highlighted the need for further collaboration on fiscal flexibility, including consideration of further financial powers as part of the forthcoming Fiscal Framework review.

The meeting follows the UK Government’s Council Tax Energy Rebate announcement and the consequential funding for the Scottish Government.

The Spring Budget Revision has also been published showing that the Scottish Government has spent almost £15 billion on measures to respond to COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. It represents the final decisions made in the Scottish Government budget allocations for this financial year despite the challenges due to late notification of consequentials.

Speaking following the JEC, Ms Forbes said: “I have had a constructive conversation with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury this afternoon, where there was a frank exchange of views on what is quickly required from the Fiscal Framework Review and the need for further fiscal flexibility for Scotland.

“Our experiences of dealing with both the health and economic impacts of the pandemic and supporting those struggling with the cost of living crisis clearly demonstrate how difficult it is to take actions we deem vital without sufficient fiscal powers and often with late notice or lack of engagement when further funding is coming.

“This has been proven once again today. Whilst I will always welcome funding, the net change to our budget isn’t clear yet – we are awaiting urgent clarity on this from the Treasury and how it will impact our final settlement for the current year.

“As the First Minister has said, we will pass on the full consequential funding to support people struggling with the current costs of living. Council Tax is already lower in Scotland and our current support such as the single Council Tax Reduction Scheme protects 470,000 lower income households.”

And the UK Government’s take on yesterday’s meeting:

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke held talks with the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy Kate Forbes yesterday to discuss the upcoming review of the Scottish Government’s Fiscal Framework.

The ministers agreed they were close to finalising arrangements for an independent report on the Scottish Government’s Block Grant Adjustment arrangements which will inform the review.

They shared the ambition to get this first stage launched as soon as possible.

The Chief Secretary and Cabinet Secretary also agreed that the Fiscal Framework review should be guided by principles set out in the Smith Commission agreement. They discussed the importance of several principles, including fairness and consistency, as well as the need to have a framework that is implementable, sustainable and operates effectively in practice.

Both ministers expressed a desire to avoid unnecessary delays to starting the Fiscal Framework review, and agreed to continue a dialogue and joint preparations for the review while the independent report is underway.

Ministers also discussed financial impacts relating to the income tax personal allowance.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said: “Today was an enjoyable and productive meeting. We are working closely with the Scottish Government and engaging in regular discussions on the Fiscal Framework review, making good progress on our approach to the Scottish Government’s future finances.”

EVOC: Conversations & Communities

EVOC & EHSCP invite you to a shared learning and networking event focused on building partnerships and networks in Edinburgh’s NW Locality.

Hosted by EVOC and the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, this is one of four locality-based events focusing on how we can develop relationships and referral networks to improve support for clients – particularly those who might benefit by engaging with local organisations to explore preventative and early intervention ‘Conversation 1’ type activities.

NORTH WEST LOCALITY EVENT OVERVIEW

Dr Linda Irvine-Fitzpatrick, EVOC’s Bridie Ashrowan and the NW Locality Manager will discuss the interconnections and learning from the Three Conversations Model, The Edinburgh Wellbeing Pact and work within communities.

Here’s some of that wonderful feedback we received last year:

“So much out there – great to come up to date with the resources and look at the potential supports.”

“I found this simply wonderful!”

Make sure to join us on MS Teams: https://bit.ly/3L8fLkm

Care home residents go for gold in their very own Winter Olympics

Elderly care home residents across Edinburgh have kicked off their own version of the Beijing Winter Olympics this week with a range of specially adapted activities from seated ice-hockey to stationary skiing.

Complete with their own opening ceremonies, Renaissance Care residents from around the country will be taking part in the fortnight long event which was created by staff to encourage mobility, fitness and wellbeing as part of the care group’s ongoing focus on increasing the quality of life within the homes.

The Renaissance Care Winter Olympics comes as the snowball effect of a successful summer Olympics held in the homes in July. The event will see 16 Scottish care homes take on a range of sporting games designed to suit the abilities of residents building fitness, confidence and team spirit.

Contenders will be going head-to-head or working with a team in a number of sports including stationary skiing, designed to improve arm strength and stamina, seated ice-hockey, to develop aim and team-work, and indoor curling, to increase hand-eye co-ordination and independence.

‘Snow’-body has been left out of the fun across the group, with those who prefer to spectate working with staff over the past couple of weeks to make sure the event goes off without a hitch.

Crafty residents and staff have been busy creating signage for the occasion, placards with messages of support for the sports-people, and have even turned areas in the home to apres-ski chalets where spectators and athletes alike can enjoy a hot chocolate.

Skip of the competing GB Curling team and three-time Olympic champion, Eve Muirhead, caught wind of the event and has shown her support with a video message filmed for Renaissance Care residents.

Eve said: “I hear you’re all giving curling a go, what a great opportunity to do that in the month of February. I hope you enjoy it. I’ll be competing at the Olympics in Beijing, but I hope you all have lots of fun.”

Resident at Renaissance Care, Gillian Sangster (79), said: “We have all been getting ready for the Winter Olympics since we completed the summer games. The competitive spirit has been great for morale and although we are trying hard to beat the other, it’s been fantastic for the mood in the home and all the fighting talk has given us a great laugh.

“In these events being a spectator is just as important as taking part in the sport, which suits me perfectly; it allows me to rest up and get my tactics right for the next round of ice hockey.”

Yvonne Mackenzie, Operations Director at Renaissance Care, said: “Just as our summer Olympics, this campaign has underlined the extra lengths our staff go to ensure the residents in their care not only are well and staying fit, but are having fun and enjoying life to the fullest.

“The Winter Olympics is the first of many events we have scheduled for our residents throughout the year to encourage physical activity and mental wellbeing, and if the creativity and effort of this campaign is anything to go by, this year will be a fun-filled one for all.”

Lifeline: Further £2 million to support outdoor education

Outdoor education centres facing financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can apply this month to a new £2 million fund.

Available for private sector and third sector centres, the support will help with running costs and enable staff to deliver more outdoor learning for schools.

The funding brings the Scottish Government’s support for the sector during the pandemic to £4.5 million.

Minister for Children & Young People Clare Haughey said: “For many organisations that provide residential outdoor education, the pandemic has caused significant challenges and it’s been a really hard time for them.

“The experiences provided by these centres are vitally important for our children and young people. This additional £2 million will help outdoor education centres through what we hope will be the final phase of this pandemic.

“It will mean more opportunities for children and young people to get the engaging, enriching and exciting outdoor education experiences they deserve.”

Martin Davidson, The Outward Bound Trust, said: “Outdoor Centres warmly welcome the additional emergency funding from the Scottish Government. Whilst technically outdoor residential experiences have been able to resume since August, coronavirus continues to make the return to financial sustainability challenging.

“The funding will help ensure that outdoor centres do not close, and that the transformative experiences they offer remain available to future generations of young people.”

The £2 million in funding is on top an initial £2 million provided in early 2021 and a further £500,000 provided for a range of outdoor learning projects during summer of that year, bringing the Scottish Government’s total additional investment in outdoor learning to £4.5 million.

Funding available for Edinburgh B&Bs impacted by Hogmanay cancellations

Edinburgh launches Discretionary Fund Bed & Breakfast Business Support Grant

A new business grant fund offering vital money to support Edinburgh’s B&B and guesthouse businesses directly impacted by the cancellation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Events has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Discretionary Fund Bed & Breakfast Business Support Grant will support those B&B/guesthouse businesses that lost revenue over the critical new year period with a one-off payment of £1,000 or £2,750 depending on whether the premises are registered for business rates or Council Tax respectively.

Businesses that are eligible and have received Covid-19 business grant support in the past will be contacted directly for additional information required to process this payment.

Any B&B businesses that haven’t received previous Covid-19 business support funding but commenced trading before 30 November 2021 can apply by going to the City of Edinburgh Council website and following the application process.

The fund will close for applications at 10am on 17 February 2022 or earlier if the fund has reached capacity. As the fund is limited, in the event of an oversubscription of applications, awards will be made on a first come first serve basis.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Fair Work Convener, said: ““This winter has been incredibly difficult for B&B owners and everyone they employ so it’s really important that they have access to all support available.

“This funding from the Scottish Government comes at a critical time and I want to urge everyone in the sector to apply quickly for financial help.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Fair Work Vice Convener, added: “Many of our city’s B&Bs are small, independent, family-operated businesses and every loss of income counts.

“We know that the necessary cancellation of Hogmanay events was another big blow to B&B owners but I hope this fund helps this vital part of our economy to regain strength.”

For questions, please email BGI@edinburgh.gov.uk

Arrests following antisocial behaviour in Drylaw and Telford

Operation PAX cracks down on local ASB

Following an increase in antisocial behaviour in the Ferry Road and Telford areas, Operation PAX was instigated – deploying dedicated teams of police officers at key times focussing on engagement, deterrence, disruption and where necessary enforcement.

As a result of recent investigations and working closely with partner agencies at #StrongerNorth an 18-year-old man has been charged with 22 offences and a 15-year-old boy charged with 25 offences relating to antisocial behaviour in the local area.

Police ask that parents and carers speak with their children and young people about the impact of antisocial behaviour to ensure our local community continues to be a safe place to live and work.

Support from members of the public is also vital in helping Police quickly identify those engaging in this behaviour they urge anyone who witnesses an incident to contact them immediately.

Anyone with information regarding antisocial behaviour in their area can contact Police Scotland through 101, the website scotland.police.uk/contact-us or the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Housing provider pledges service ‘Fit For The Future’

A leading housing provider has outlined its commitment to transform the sector and continue helping customers to live as independently as possible in their own homes.

As the population ages, Bield has placed a high priority on providing services that promote healthy ageing and creating partnerships that integrate customers with the community and local assets.

Facilitating independent living starts at the housing allocation process, with individuals across the provider now being assigned to properties in relation to their specific needs.

Although allocations are based on a traffic system and dependent in each area, this management can help to reduce moves and supports longer term tenancies.

Chief Executive of Bield, Dr Lynne Douglas, said: “With a growing older population and people living with more complex needs, it has resulted in a flexible structure being implemented. The model Bield operates allows services to be added or removed as required.

“For example, some of our developments benefit from additional meal service options whereas others are linked in with the Care Inspectorate which enables care-at-home to be provided.

“It’s important for us that we offer support in specially designed accommodation that is affordable, sustainable and suited to the individual.

“An integrated approach and working to support the needs of all parties is required to fully enable older people to live independently – making Scotland not only the best place to grow up, but also to grow old.”

The provider, which operates in 22 local authority areas across the country and has a diverse customer base of over 5,000 individuals, has seen first-hand the importance of community relationships after working closely with groups throughout the pandemic.

Sourcing prescriptions and shopping for groceries were only some of the acts of kindness displayed, which is something Bield has incorporated Kindness to its core organisational values.

Lynne added: “Helping customers integrate into the local and wider community is an extremely important part of what we do.

“Due to the average age of our customers, many of them live alone so we have a variety of ways to ensure they remain socially connected through external partnerships as well as with neighbours and staff internally.

“We’ve trained staff to have more meaningful conversations with older customers as well as facilitating an ongoing, innovative partnership with Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and Inverclyde Health and Care Social Partnership to bridge digital exclusion.”

Bield’s Alarm Receiving Centre (BR24) also plays an important role in understanding how older customers can benefit from being connected to local assets such as community hubs, while the service focuses on providing round the clock support.

Lynne added: “We’ve found through qualitative data gathering from our Inspire project, that BR24 has actually helped individuals transform their lives through only a short intervention with an operator.”

This reinforces the Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ philosophy which encourages people to make their own choices about how they live their lives whilst being there to offer support if needed.