Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

News from Multi-Cultural Family Base

Leith-based project Multi-Cultural Family Base marked its 20th anniversary with an event at the Scottish Parliament named Transitions into Primary School last month.

The event, hosted by Angela Constance MSP, was an opportunity to hear about the experiences of migrant and refugee children starting school as well as showcase MCFB’s work in a new documentary film called “Dreaming, Perseverance, Resilience – the story of Multi-Cultural Family Base”, created by film company duo, Written In Film. Continue reading News from Multi-Cultural Family Base

Pupil Christmas cards bring festive cheer to Princes Street

A series of Christmas card designs by Edinburgh school pupils are brightening up Princes Street this festive season by being displayed on all the street’s digital bus shelter screens.

Xmas card bus shelter
Eleven designs will be shown on the screens, with three of them – chosen by Education Convener Councillor Ian Perry, Vice Convener Councillor Alison Dickie and Executive Director Alistair Gaw as their official Christmas cards – unveiled at a special event on Friday.

They were designed by Jack Thomson (Oaklands School), Halle Jacobs (Sighthill Primary School), and Joshua O’Brien (Woodlands School).

The Christmas card competition is an annual event and for the fourth year JCDecaux offered the added incentive of 11 lucky pupils having their designs shown on their digital bus shelter screens in Princes Street.

Cllr Perry said: “It was really difficult picking the winning designs for the bus shelters as the quality of the entries once again was really high. I’m delighted we’ve got three winners for our Christmas cards with Jack, Halle and Joshua’s festive designs.”

Cllr Dickie added: “It was great to see how excited the pupils were this morning when their cards came up on the digital bus shelters. All the entries deserve special mention and thanks must go to JCDecaux for having the designs displayed until Christmas Day.”

Danielle Jeffrey, Partnership Manager at JCDecaux said, “For the fourth year, JCDecaux and the City of Edinburgh council have worked together to display some of the fantastic Christmas cards on the digital screens in Princes Street. We’re always delighted to be part of this project that showcases the beautiful artwork created by talented pupils at local schools.”

The designs will be displayed throughout December until Christmas Day on all the digital screens on Princes Street.

Budget “will deliver a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland”

Protecting public services: Scottish budget will prioritise health and education spending, says Finance Secretary

Investing in public services and growing the economy will be prioritised in spending plans to help protect Scotland’s prosperity as far as is possible in the face of continued uncertainty over Brexit, according to the Scottish government. Continue reading Budget “will deliver a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland”

The song of Mars: sounds from The Red Planet

A UK instrument has captured the first sounds ever recorded directly from Mars.

The NASA InSight lander, which is supported by the UK Space Agency, has recorded a haunting, low rumble caused by vibrations from the wind. These vibrations were detected by an ultra-sensitive seismometer, developed in the UK, and an air pressure sensor sitting on the lander’s deck. Continue reading The song of Mars: sounds from The Red Planet

Shoppers on foot spend up to six times more than those who drive, says charity

Updated research shows that Christmas shoppers who walk to high streets could be spending more than those who drive there.   Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking launched its updated research, ‘The Pedestrian Pound’ in Edinburgh yesterday.  Continue reading Shoppers on foot spend up to six times more than those who drive, says charity

Edinburgh faces social care financial crisis

Edinburgh Integrated Joint Board have reported an overspend of 4.7m for the period to the end of July 2018, and that this is projected to rise to £11.9m by the end of the financial year. Scottish Conservatives are urging the Scottish Government to step in ease the pressure on Edinburgh’s IJB.  Continue reading Edinburgh faces social care financial crisis

Exploring Identity: Disability and identity Conference

Scottish Business Minister to join line-up at event to make disability more visible in the workplace

The Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills will be joining senior Scottish business leaders, artists and campaigners at a free conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday 11 December, aimed at improving openness in the workplace around disability. Continue reading Exploring Identity: Disability and identity Conference