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Community projects in the running for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce awards

Community projects and third sector organisations have been short-listed for awards at next month’s Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Business awards.

North Edinburgh’s COVID 19 Response and Recovery Group has been nominated for the Inspiring Partnership Award, with Citadel Youth Centre and Leith Rugby Club and Cyrenians and Natwest partnerships also in the running in that category.

The North Edinburgh COVID-19 Response and Recovery Group was formed at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Local projects and community organisations joined together in an informal coalition and have been working together ever since to ensure that the community’s most vulnerable people are being supported and protected during the pandemic.

Cyrenians is also nominated in the Local Business Hero, Employer of the Year and and Young Leader of the Year categories.

A Chamber spokesperson explained: “Each year, the Edinburgh Chamber looks forward to hosting its much loved Business Awards ceremony to recognise the successes and achievements of our vibrant business community.

“2020 has been a tough year for all. However, despite the ongoing challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have watched businesses across the city come together to lead, innovate, collaborate and support those in need.

“We feel it is important to recognise the efforts and dedication shown by organisations over the past year, and so we’re delighted to announce the launch of our first ever virtual business awards.

“Our virtual awards will bring the business community together to showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of our local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.”

Award Categories 2021:

Responsible Business – sponsored by City of Edinburgh Council
Innovation in Business – sponsored by CityFibre
Director of the Year – sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Developing the Young Workforce – sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
Young Leader of the Year – sponsored by Thorntons Law LLP
Inspiring Partnership Award – sponsored by Openreach
Excellence in Circular Economy – sponsored by Circular Edinburgh
Export Business of the Year – sponsored by Forth Ports
Service Excellence – sponsored by Heehaw
Local Business Hero – sponsored by TLT LLP
Lifetime Achievement – sponsored by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

This event will take place virtually during the week of the Edinburgh’s Business Festival .

The virtual festival, taking place from 1-5th March, offers 18 events over the 5 days, ranging from keynote speakers and panel discussions to networking events and practical workshops. The Chamber will also host its annual Business Awards, to recognise and showcase the resilience, adaptability and outstanding contribution of local businesses and professionals, in the most challenging of years.

The headline sponsor for this year’s Business Festival is St James Quarter.

Martin Perry, Director of Development for St James Quarter, said: “At St James Quarter we’re passionate about doing our part to support the local Edinburgh community – and the businesses within it.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and look forward to connecting with our peers and neighbours throughout the event.”

You can download the full programme here

Edinburgh’s Business Festival is open to all and free to attend. For more information please click here.

If you have not booked a Festival ticket, you may book this event separately via ECC’s event page.

COVID Testing centre to open at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre

Do you have symptoms of COVID-19?

When booking a test through nhsinform.scot or the helpline, you will be directed to the one closest to your postcode.

A full list of all testing centres can be found here https://www.nhslothian.scot/…/Pages/testing-centres.aspx

Two new centres are opening this week:

One of them will open on the 25th of February in at the Jack Kane Centre car park in Niddrie: 208 Niddrie Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4ND. The centre will open from 8am – 8pm every day.

Another walk-through testing centre will open at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre car park, 92 Pilton Drive, Edinburgh EH5 2HF on the Saturday 27 February.

It will also be open from 8Aam – 8pm every day.

Racism in Edinburgh High Schools: ‘Lessons Learned’

A ‘robust set of actions’ setting out how Edinburgh schools should deal with racist incidents has been drawn up by the City of Edinburgh Council.

This follows an independently-overseen inquiry into the handling of racism complaints by Edinburgh’s high schools.

The four main areas highlighted for improvement are:

Improving processes to report racist incidents
Improving the culture in schools to clearly show zero tolerance of racist conduct
Managing racist incidents sensitively and ensuring ongoing support for anyone reporting racist conduct
Reviewing the curriculum to ensure it does not perpetuate racist or colonialist attitudes

The move comes after the completion of an investigation into claims made following last year’s Black Lives Matter campaign. The claims were made by former and current pupils who complained that a number of high schools were failing to deal with racist incidents properly and that a culture of racism existed.

The main focus of the investigation was on St Augustine’s and Holy Rood RC High Schools but also included Craigmount, Drummond and Firrhill.

In total 73 complaints were received via social media and emails, and 30 complainants agreed to be interviewed.

As part of the detailed and wide-ranging inquiry, evidence was gathered through interviews with the complainants, school staff and by examining school records. The three-month long investigation was overseen by an independent equalities adviser.

Although schools demonstrated many effective examples of responding appropriately to alleged racist incidents, the overall conclusion of the investigation was that more could be done within schools to develop a firm anti-racist perspective.

There was no evidence, however, to support complaints that schools enabled racism.

Interviews were carried out by senior Council officers skilled at working with young people and trained in equalities and anti-racism.

Parents or supporters were invited to be present during interviews and support was available from the independent third sector agency, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council. As well as detailing their concerns, complainants were also asked what outcomes they were looking for.

Complainants have now been issued with a personal letter summarising their complaint and detailing the conclusions and next steps relating to their investigation. They have all been offered face to face meetings to fully discuss the findings and the actions the Council proposes to take.

The authority has committed to auditing its current plans to improve equalities in schools, to ensure that all actions identified from the report are included.

These include supporting all schools to: appoint pupil and staff equalities co-ordinators, embed additional guidance for dealing with racist incidents and provide staff training to review the curriculum so it does not perpetuate racist or colonialist attitudes.

In addition, an annual equalities award (Saroj Lal award) will shortly be announced. This has been created in honour of Saroj Lal (1937-2020), Edinburgh’s first Asian primary school teacher and a leading figure in the campaign for race equality and social justice in Scotland.

It will be launched by summer 2021 and is designed to raise awareness of diversity and equality. The award aims to shine a light on the impact of prejudice and the potential to use art for positive change.

Councillor Ian Perry, Convener for Education, Children and Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Firstly I want to apologise unreservedly to any of our young people who felt their concerns or reports about racism were not taken seriously or that their school has not dealt with any incidents properly.

“I want to thank everyone who has come forward and brought these allegations to light for sharing their personal accounts and recollections and to the staff who took part in the inquiry.

“This will have been very difficult for our young people but hearing their voices has allowed this investigation to take place and has shown clearly what is needed to drive forward positive change in our schools.

“This was a very thorough investigation and as a result we now have a clear and very robust action plan which can only strengthen our commitment to dealing with racism. Ultimately, we all want every young person who attends our schools to feel safe and supported as they go through their education. I hope that the lessons learned from this investigation will mean that many more young people feel that this will improve as a result.”

Councillor Alison Dickie, Vice Convener for Education, Children and Families at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m so sorry that young people have felt their voices weren’t being heard and have had to resort to being part of this investigation to help bring about change.

“I want to praise them all for showing such strength in coming forward to raise these issues with us. They have all shown great patience and co-operation while their complaints were being investigated. While this will have been a difficult process, it is only by hearing their voices that we can fully understand the experiences that young people have and make improvements.

“Racism is an issue that needs both city and Council-wide action. This is about a change of culture and systems. Although there is positive work taking place across our schools, we fully realise that much more needs to be done. This involves listening to young people who have experienced racism and placing them in the driving seat of our work towards race equality.

“Already, as a direct result of that direct voice, we are working to increase staff training, develop an anti-racist and culturally inclusive curriculum and empower young people with lived experiences across our schools to lead on improving our procedures for the reporting of racist incidents.

“Delivery is key, and we will do that together.”

Police appeal following Kirkgate assault

Police are appealing for information following a serious assault at the Kirkgate shopping centre in Leith.

The incident happened around 7.30pm last Friday (19 February, 2021) when a 28-year-old man was struck by another man and sustained a serious arm injury which required treatment in hospital.

Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and the man involved in the incident.

He is described as aged late teens to early twenties, of skinny build with medium length black hair. He was wearing a black jumper, a scarf, grey tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and carrying a black Nike rucksack.

Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe of Gayfield CID said: “Our enquiries so far have established that there were a number of people in the area at the time of this incident and we would urge anyone who has not already spoken to officers to get in touch.

“Anyone who can help with our investigation is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 3061 of Friday, 19 February, 2021, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Understanding the nature of hate crime

A new report into the extent of hate crimes committed in Scotland has highlighted almost two-thirds of all race-related hate offences had a visible minority ethnic (non-white) victim, a group that makes up around 4% of the population.

The detailed study looking at the characteristics of victims and perpetrators of reported hate crime incidents in 2018-19 also found that:

around a third of crimes involved a victim who experienced the incident at work
almost two-thirds of hate crime victims and three-quarters of perpetrators were male
in the majority (94%) of sexual-orientation aggravated hate crimes the perpetrator showed prejudice towards the gay and lesbian community
in around two-fifths of religion aggravated hate crimes the perpetrator showed prejudice towards the Catholic community
in a quarter of such crimes prejudice was shown towards the Muslim community and in one in ten cases it was towards the Protestant community
there were 1,080 recorded hate crimes in 2018-19 with a police officer victim
hate crimes with an aggravation for transgender identity have doubled over the past six years from 48 to 96

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This report provides more detail of how hate crime affects our communities and is a timely reminder that crime motivated by hate is an all too common occurrence, with real-life impacts on victims and those around them. Just from those that are reported, we know that an average 18 hate crimes are committed every day in Scotland.

“The fact that visible minority ethnic groups, which represent 4% of the population, experience two-thirds of all race-related hate crimes shows we have much more to do to overcome prejudice, while the findings also highlight the need for more to be done to ensure workplaces are an environment free from hatred and from fear.

The report also highlights the risk that police face in the line of duty on a daily basis where almost 1 in 5 recorded hate crimes involved a victim that was a police officer.

“As elected representatives, we can help ensure Scotland is a place where there is zero tolerance of hate crime. The legislation currently before Parliament makes clear that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated – and will ensure Scotland’s justice system can bring perpetrators to account and provide protection for individuals and communities harmed by hate crimes.”

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Scotland is an inclusive and tolerant nation, but we are not immune from the constant threat that prejudice and intolerance can bring to our society. Given the impact it has on individuals and communities it is important that everybody plays their part to challenge it at all times.

“Hate Crime legislation is only part of our wider programme of work to tackle hate crime and build connected communities. In June 2017, we published the Tackling Prejudice and Building Connected Communities Action Plan and established an action group, which I chair, to take this forward. The key priorities identified by the group are raising awareness of what hate crime is, the impact that it has on individuals and communities and to encourage reporting.

“The action group has also played a key role in ensuring there is better evidence and data around hate incidents and crime and I am grateful for their continued support. This report helps us to understand the key characteristics of both victims and perpetrators and reflects the importance of reporting incidents so that we can best support our communities in Scotland. The report will be instrumental in informing our work as we look to refresh our action plan later this year.”

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie of Police Scotland said: “Hate crime is abhorrent and insidious and will not be tolerated in Scotland. Targeting anyone because of a disability, their race, religion, sexuality or transgender identity – or a perception of these characteristics – is despicable.

“This report shows the extent of hate crime which has been reported to Police Scotland in 2018-19, but we know this is an under-reported offence. People who are victims have often been targeted on numerous occasions before they report to our officers and can find it difficult to talk about it.

“We encourage anyone who has been a victim – or who has witnessed a hate crime – to come forward and report it. We take every report seriously and will carry out a robust investigation on every occasion.

“Hate Crime can be reported at a police office or via 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, if you do not feel comfortable approaching police directly, you can use the network of Third Party Reporting Centres across the country, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”

A Study into the Characteristics of Police Recorded Hate Crime in Scotland

Scotland’s dental crisis: New data shows all parties need to act as inequalities widen

The British Dental Association Scotland has called on all political parties to set out an effective response to the crisis facing dentistry as new data reveals the collapse in attendance during the COVID pandemic.

While registration rates remained high and broadly stable – owing to lifetime registration – data indicates the number of children seen between May and December 2020 was around a quarter of the 2018-19 average due to the pandemic.

Between September and November 2020, the number of adults seen was around a third of the 2018-19 average, before falling to 28% of the 2018-19 average in December 2020.

The traditional measure of ‘participation’ – capturing attendance at an NHS dentist in the past 2 years – has less meaning in the context of COVID, as the full impact of the pandemic has yet to filter through.

Those in more deprived communities have traditionally experienced lower levels of participation. This data shows that in 2020, children and adults from the most deprived areas were less likely to have seen their dentist within the last two years than those from the least deprived areas (73.5% compared to 85.7% of children and 55.9% compared to 67.1% of adults). These inequalities in access between the most and least deprived areas have grown since 2019, particularly in children.

The BDA has warned lower levels of participation will inevitably translate into a higher disease burden. Early signs of decay and oral cancers are picked up at routine check-ups, and delays will mean both higher costs to the NHS and worse outcomes for patients.

Dental care in Scotland is now facing crises on many fronts, with deep oral health inequalities expected to widen even further, given the cumulative impact of limited access to services, the suspension of public health programmes, and the impact of lockdown diets. The pioneering Childsmile programme has not fully resumed, with many key elements, such as supervised brushing, delivered via schools and nurseries.

Recent announcements by Scottish dental schools that many final year students will not graduate in 2021 and will also not be in a position to take on new undergraduates, are likely to have wide-ranging effects on the NHS workforce for years to come.

While both the Welsh and Northern Irish governments have set aside ring-fenced investment to improve practice ventilation – and thereby increase patient numbers while meeting tight COVID restrictions – no commitments have yet been made by the Scottish Government and the BDA await clear guidance for practices.

Robert Donald, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Council said: “These numbers underline the scale of the challenge ahead. Millions have missed out on dentistry. Problems that could have been caught early, from decay to oral cancer, have been missed.

“Scotland’s huge oral health inequalities cannot be allowed to widen. Every party heading into May’s election now has a responsibility to set out how they will ensure families across Scotland can get the care they need.”

Scottish Government launches Community Lenders Fund

Affordable credit as we emerge from COVID-19

A new £15 million fund has been announced to support affordable lending services.

The fund will support Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) which offer financial help to those who have poor credit and are often turned away from high street banks.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know the pandemic has had a financial impact on many people in Scotland and we want to strengthen services that support people with managing their money.

“Credit unions and CDFIs provide ways of saving, lending, and accessing affordable credit.

“They can be a financial lifeline for people who can’t always access what they need from high street banks, helping them to avoid riskier ways of dealing with debt, like going to pay day loan companies.”

The funding will support work which:

promotes the availability of affordable credit
strengthens the balance sheet of affordable credit providers

Organisations are being invited to submit applications by 3 March 2021, and they will be informed of funding decisions during the week commencing 8 March.

Successful applicants will receive funding by 31 March.

Time off from caring!

Recognising the impact of the pandemic and the challenges unpaid carers face in lockdown, Scottish Government allocated additional funds to help carers to access breaks from caring.

#Carers in Edinburgh can apply to VOCAL for one-off grants to fund activities, devices or services that support them getting a break from their caring role, despite current restrictions.

To find out more call VOCAL on 0131 622 6666, email centre@vocal.org.uk or visit https://weebreaks.com/wee-breaks-edinburgh/

VOCAL Edinburgh

Have your say on Hogmanay!

Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals consultation launched

Citizens are being asked for their views on how Edinburgh celebrates Christmas and New Year in a new consultation launching today (Wednesday 24 February).

The twelve-week survey, being carried out by independent market research company Progressive on behalf of the Council, is now live on the Consultation Hub.

The survey seeks feedback from the Capital’s residents, communities and businesses on how Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, should be delivered from 2022 onwards.

In addition to the online consultation residents without internet access can request a paper copy by calling the Council on 0131 200 2000.

Originally planned for Spring 2020 the delivery of the consultation was delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and suspension of all public consultations. In the meantime, officers procured independent agency Progressive to allow the consultation to be delivered as soon as the suspension was lifted.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We want to hear from the people of Edinburgh both on how our Winter Festivals should be delivered and indeed what should be delivered.

“Their feedback to our consultation will shape the future direction of our celebrations from 2022 onwards, when the current arrangements come to an end. This is a good time to take stock and look at what people think and what people want.

“Our Winter Festivals have grown in size and renown both at home and throughout the world. Their cultural and economic importance is well documented and through this consultation we will establish a balanced knowledge of how Edinburgh citizens regard these celebrations, both positive and negative.

“It is therefore important that as many people as possible make their views heard and I would urge everyone, whatever their views, to spend the small amount of time needed to complete the survey and have their say.

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “We want Edinburgh’s residents and businesses to be at the heart of shaping the future of the Winter Festivals in the Capital. We are engaging in an open public conversation about the future of these events, with opportunities to respond online or in written form.

“In this consultation, residents will be asked about their experiences of Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, as well as what activities they would like to see included in the planning and operation of the festivals in the future.

“We want to ensure that our future Winter Festivals achieve the right balance for those living, working in and visiting our capital city.

The consultation will close on 19 May and the outcomes will be presented to both the Festivals and Events All Party Oversight Group and to the Culture and Communities Committee later this year.

Together We Help: report highlights community support during the pandemic

When Scotland first went into lockdown in March 2020, a wave of uncertainty and fear was felt throughout society as people were told to stay at home, to save lives.

But as schools, shops and offices closed, communities did not.

Local people and grassroots groups were quick to come up with innovative ways to help during the crisis. Social action accelerated and became a central feature of Scotland’s response to the lockdown and ongoing challenges of coronavirus.

In July 2020 Social Action Inquiry partners commissioned The Collective to lead on a short-term piece of research to capture the stories and lessons learned from communities coming together to help.

From food drop offs to phone calls to isolated neighbours, volunteering and wellbeing support, the research brings to life the ways people developed creative approaches to make a difference.

The final research report Together We Help is now available and shines a light on the power of communities to mobilise and initiate social action in response to the issues that matter to them.

Eighteen community researchers gathered insights from 367 people involved in social action in their local areas, asking what inspired them to be involved and what lessons can be learned to build a fairer Scotland.

The research suggested that the stigma associated with accessing support such as food banks in times of need may have reduced as demand for these vital services increased dramatically throughout lockdown in 2020.

Community researchers also found that offering support and participating in local responses to the coronavirus crisis was both a ‘blessing and a curse’ as while it helped people to feel more connected to their community it also increased awareness and feelings of frustration at the growing levels of inequality on their doorstep.

The findings from the Together We Help research will help inform the Social Action Inquiry.

This independent inquiry will look at how communities take action and will try to contribute to a Scotland where social action is valued and is able to make change happen in communities.

Read the final report online here