Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Scottish householders urged to resolve to recycle more for 2018

New report highlights huge potential to increase recycling in Scotland

60% of landfill waste could be recycled, needlessly costing Councils £50m a year

Food waste a top priority, with only 27% being correctly recycled 

Almost two-thirds of waste that ends up in non-recyclable waste bins – or ‘the bin that goes to landfill’ – in Scottish households could have been recycled, according to a new Zero Waste Scotland report. Continue reading Scottish householders urged to resolve to recycle more for 2018

Ben Macpherson welcomes campaigning schoolboy to Holyrood

Joseph goes to Holyrood to collect Socks for the Streets
SNP MSP Ben Macpherson welcomed campaigning schoolboy Joseph Cox to Parliament earlier this week to pass on MSP donations to the youngster’s collection of socks and underwear for homeless people in Edinburgh.

Continue reading Ben Macpherson welcomes campaigning schoolboy to Holyrood

£14 million for young people and communities

More than £14 million of funding will support the work of 117 charities helping children and young people throughout Scotland. The money, from the 2018/19 Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention and Adult Learning and Empowering Communities Fund, will enable a wide range of projects aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people and supporting adult learning to be delivered. Continue reading £14 million for young people and communities

Premature babies: £1.5 million Family Fund to help meet costs

Parents of premature babies in NHS care will now be able to get extra support with the financial cost. Through the Scottish Government’s 2018/19 draft budget the new £1.5 million Family Fund will be available from the 1st of April for parents of premature babies to help with the additional costs they face, such as for travel to and from hospital or food and drink. Continue reading Premature babies: £1.5 million Family Fund to help meet costs

Making maths fun: John Swinney launches Christmas Maths Challenge

Primary pupils across Scotland received a series of festive-themed maths puzzles to take home for the school holiday as part of a drive to encourage more positive attitudes towards numeracy and maths. The five puzzles are aimed at Primary Six pupils and their families to complete over the holidays as a fun way of exploring maths outside the classroom.   Continue reading Making maths fun: John Swinney launches Christmas Maths Challenge

Record breaking Mission Christmas helps thousands of local children

More than 20,500 children across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife will wake up to a Christmas present, thanks to the generosity of thousands of people throughout the region. This year’s Mission Christmas campaign, organised by Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids, has broken new records, with £1.1 million raised in gift and cash donations over the last six weeks. Continue reading Record breaking Mission Christmas helps thousands of local children