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Ebola: UK ready as UN calls for for more funds

United Nations chief Ban Ki-Moon has urged the world to do more to help the West African countries stricken by the Ebola virus outbreak. He has launched another urgent appeal for funds to help fight Ebola after a United Nations drive for donations fell far short of its target.

The UN chief said a $1bn trust fund he launched in September has received just $100,000 (£62,000) so far. Despite pledges, only Columbia has paid in full – although donors have given over £250 million to other UN and aid agencies.

Mr Ban said it was time for the countries “who really have capacity” to provide financial and other logistical support, and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the BBC’s Newsnight he was “bitterly disappointed” with the international community’s response. “If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently, ” he said. “In fact when you look at the evolution of the crisis, the international community really woke up when the disease got to America and Europe”.

Both UK and Scottish governments have supported financial appeals and they continue to closely monitor the situation.

The Prime Minister chaired a COBR meeting on Ebola yesterday to discuss the situation on the ground, the UK response and domestic preparedness. In a statement, a Downing Street spokesperson said:

The Prime Minister chaired a further COBR meeting on Ebola this afternoon (Thursday 16 October). The attendees included the Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, Health Secretary, Transport Secretary, International Development Secretary and Armed Forces Minister.

The meeting covered the situation on the ground, the UK response and domestic preparedness for potential cases of ebola. The advice from the Chief Medical Officer is that the risk to the UK from the disease remained low.

The International Development Secretary updated the meeting on the UK aid response and how the UK is leading the international response in Sierra Leone. The package is focussed on improving facilities, training staff and supporting the Sierra Leone government. This included the building of 6 new Ebola Treatment Facilities, local community care units and specific training for health workers, all of which remain on track.

The Armed Forces Minister set out that the military deployment continued to move forward with speed. RFA ARGUS would depart Falmouth tomorrow, taking 3 Merlin helicopters, and would stop in Gibraltar to collect 39 DfID vehicles. It is expected to arrive off of Freetown at the end of the month. Today, just over 100 members of 22 Field Hospital had deployed to commence establishing an Ebola Viral Disease Treatment Unit in Kerrytown. A number of engineers on the same flight will commence development of the Ebola Training Academy, with the first course delivered by the end of October.

There was a discussion over the need for the international community to do much more to support the fight against the disease in the region. This included greater co-ordination of the international effort, an increase in the amount of spending and more support for international workers who were, or who were considering, working in the region. The Prime Minister set out that he wanted to make progress on these issues at the European Council next week.

There was a detailed update about plans for protecting the UK against Ebola. The Health Secretary set out that screening was up and running across all Heathrow terminals and would be in place at Gatwick and St Pancras during the next week. There was a discussion regarding screening across Europe and the Prime Minister made clear other countries needed to do more and introduce their own checks if we are to strengthen protection across the board.

The Health Secretary set out that the national exercise to test UK preparedness had gone well. The system had responded well to two separate test incidents taking place at the same time. Contingency planning would continue and further advice is now being distributed to GP surgeries and other NHS institutions to ensure staff were fully aware on what to do if they suspected a patient may have Ebola.

The Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) met on Wednesday evening to discuss the latest developments in Scotland’s response to the Ebola outbreak in west Africa.

The meeting was attended by First Minister Alex Salmond, and Health Secretary Alex Neil, along with experts in infectious diseases from Health Protection Scotland and senior officials from the Scottish Government.

Ministers were updated on the latest situation in the three affected countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. They were also given updates on how Scotland’s health service is preparing for a possible case, and steps being taken by the oil industry to protect workers who are returning from west Africa.

The First Minister said: “The Scottish Government’s approach to Ebola is two-fold. First and foremost, we must make sure that Scotland is as prepared as possible to deal with the risk of an Ebola case appearing on our shores. Secondly, we must do all we can to help with the situation in west Africa to try and contain this infection and ultimately bring it under control. We have already donated £500,000 to help the World Health Organisation’s efforts to combat Ebola and we stand ready to provide further assistance as and when required.

“The risk of an Ebola case in Scotland remains low. However, we are far from complacent, and I am confident that Scotland’s health service is well prepared to deal with any suspected Ebola cases. We will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that all appropriate checks are in place to protect the people of Scotland.”

Mr Neil said: “Scotland has four infectious disease centres which are ready to deal with any suspected cases of Ebola-type diseases. We have ensured that guidance has been issued to health professionals to ensure that they are well equipped to know how to deal with any suspected cases, and we are well stocked with all the necessary protective equipment.

“Scotland has dealt with infectious diseases in the past, including swine flu and a case of viral haemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola, in 2012. I am fully confident that we have the systems and expertise in place to cope well in this instance if required.”

The disease has killed around 4,500 people so far, mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Lazarowicz: take the brakes off cycling funding

Mark Lazarowicz MP has highlighted progress in Edinburgh to make cycling safer and more attractive but stressed much needs to be done if the UK is to emulate countries like the Netherlands or Denmark.

The North & Leith MP spoke in a Westminster debate on cycling policy yesterday. He said: “The Pedal on Parliament each year shows just how much enthusiasm there is here in Edinburgh for cycling and the City Council deserves praise for its commitment through funding and other initiatives.

“There is still a long way to go however with cycling only making up 2% of all journeys in the UK each year compared to 27% of those in the Netherlands and 19% of journeys in Denmark.

“Cycling has real benefits to offer, it’s healthy, cuts the number of cars on the roads and with it pollution and accidents but we need to integrate it fully into transport infrastructure and make sure funding is there to do it.”

In 2012 City of Edinburgh Council made a commitment to increase cycling’s share of the transport budget by 1% each year and it has stuck to it: from 5% two years ago it now stands at 7%. The city council is also consulting on the extension of 20mph zones in Edinburgh.

Mark Lazarowicz’s speech can be found in full here.

NOTE: If you’re interested in cycling, walking and sustainable transport issues don’t miss Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership’s community conference on Thursday 30 October. Details below:

Desperately seeking Coalhouse!

A-Team need a Coalhouse, can you help?

A-Team Productions, a not-for-profit youth musical theatre organisation based in North Edinburgh, are desperately seeking a young man to play the lead character Coalhouse in their 2015 run of ‘Ragtime the musical’.

A-Team’s chairman Sean Quinn explained: “We are looking out for a black male between the ages 16-22 who has a background in singing and acting. This is a key role and we are looking to cast as soon as possible. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday and Sunday evenings in Leith, the production itself runs from the 18-21 February at The Pleasance Theatre.

“It is important that we find Coalhouse soon, this is an incredible part to play in a wonderful show. We already have a terrific cast but we need the final piece to complete our puzzle. Time is on our side however we are having trouble finding anyone who fits this character profile. Please spread the word, this is a huge opportunity to work with a amateur production with a professional approach”.

Interested? For more details contact ateamproductionschair@live.co.uk

Please have a look around our website www.a-teamproductions.org and our
Facebook page www.facebook.com/ateamproductionsedinburgh

Great night for a great cause

Charity catwalk event raises over £3400

Broughton High School student KATHERINE WRIGHT volunteers at the Cancer Research UK charity shop in Stockbridge. The charity stages an annual fundraising fashion show – here’s Katherine’s take on this year’s event:

Cancer Research UK held its fifth annual ‘Charity Chic’ fashion show and pop up shop on Friday 10 October. The event was organised by the local Stockbridge shop where I currently volunteer, a worthwhile and rewarding experience. It was held in the City Art Centre and aimed to both raise money for the charity and bring together customers and friends of the shop. The money raised – a whopping £3413 – will go towards funding ground-breaking research, clinical trials and clinical research nurses, all of which are vital to the fight against cancer.

On arrival, ticket holders received special goody bags filled with treats generously provided by the companies ‘Glow’ and ‘Ilumi’, who sponsored the event. Volunteers at the reception area donned orange tutus and red wigs, and their enthusiasm immediately set the tone for a fun-filled night ahead.

The ‘Commonwealth Catwalk’ was the theme of the evening, showcasing a great variety of clothing and accessories donated to the shop and celebrating the fashion of Commonwealth countries. The audience clapped along while a young woman walked the catwalk in a black sparkly dress, playing the popular hits ‘We will Rock You’ and ‘Five Hundred Miles’ on her set of bagpipes.

The models, all volunteers and friends of the shop, wore a variety of different outfits and confidently strutted their stuff along the catwalk. Elegant dresses, jewelled clutch bags and colourful fascinators were all on display, and the audience enthusiastically clapped and cheered the models on. Eighty-one year-old Betty (below), a cancer survivor herself, was the oldest person to walk the catwalk and described it as “great fun, and a good way to meet some nice people.”

After the fashion show, a selection of pop up stalls gave people the opportunity to buy some of the garments they’d seen on show; as well as a huge variety of other clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. Home-made cupcakes and an assortment of sweet treats were also on sale, and a raffle with generous prizes including a meal at Nandos and a Kenwood ice cream maker proved very popular.

Elaine Lennon (pictured above, left), the organiser of the event and assistant manager at the Stockbridge shop commented: “It’s not just about making money. There’s a real community feel.” Indeed, the open plan room allowed people to mingle and chat, sharing laughs and asking for advice on clothes to buy. Many commented on how well organised the event was, which would not have been possible without the tireless work of an ‘amazing group of volunteers.’

One of the ‘browsers’ was Jill Macgregor, the founder of Glow, a fitness and nutrition company that runs exercise classes across the country. Glow sponsored the event – t’s well known that leading a healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of cancer, and Jill is passionate about helping people to do this. Jill has also experienced cancer – she was diagnosed last November and finished her treatment in June. Arms laden with shopping bags and champagne glass in hand, she summed up the evening: “It’s been absolutely fantastic. A great night for a great cause.”

Pictures by GAV YOUNG

Hat’s the way to support older people!

The Big Knit 2014: It’s the final countdown!

There are just three weeks remaining to help Age Scotland create as many little woolly hats as possible for Age UK and innocent’s Big Knit 2014 and to help older people stay warm and well in the winter.

For over a decade, budding milliners across the UK have been supporting Age Scotland and innocent’s Big Knit by knitting funky little hats as part of Age Scotland’s Spread the Warmth campaign. With over a decade of support from knitters up and down the country, The Big Knit has raised vital funds to support local and national winter projects to help older people keep warm in winter.

Knitters in Scotland are being called upon to create little hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles, which will be sold in stores nationwide from February 2015. For each be-hatted smoothie sold, innocent will donate 25p to help Age Scotland fund national and local winter projects. Age Scotland is calling on local knitters to get as many hats as possible to them by 6th November 2014

Last year alone, more than a million hats were lovingly created by knitters up and down the UK, with designs including a giant squid, fruit, soldiers, peas in a pod, cupcakes and an ice cream cone topped with a classic flake.

Alisdair Caulfield, Fundraising Manager at Age Scotland said: “There’s just four weeks left to send us your hats for Age UK and innocent’s The Big Knit and we’re calling on all local knitters to get crafting! We’re extremely grateful for all the hats we’ve received already, which will raise money to help older people in local communities across Scotland.”

Jamie Sterry, innocent drinks, said: “Thanks to everyone who has got involved in The Big Knit so far but with just one month to go, we’re calling on all knitters and those wanting to give it a try to join in too! Each little hat that adorns an innocent smoothie bottle will raise money for Age UK to help older people stay warm in winter, so your support will make a difference.”

Knitters can contact Age Scotland to get a free hat pattern. For those who don’t fancy making a hat themselves, a £3 donation can be made to Age Scotland by texting ’KNIT14’ £3 to 70070.

For more information on The Big Knit contact Age Scotland on 0845 833 0200 or log onto www.agescotland.org.uk. Please send completed hats to Age Scotland at The Big Knit, Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR

Drop In: new fun activities start this weekend

DROP IN to Royston Wardieburn for fun on Saturday morning!

The Drop In is a new citywide fun-packed activity for families with a child or young person (0 – 18 y o) with a disability and their siblings. It’s taking place in four community centres across the city every Saturday for two hours – and the local venue is Royston Wardieburn on Pilton Drive North.

Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet other parents/carers and sit and chat over a cup of coffee while their children take part in activities run by experienced youth workers from FABB Scotland and the city council.

Activities will include sports, art, computer games, soft play, bouncy castles and much more.

Royston Wardieburn’s Drop In starts this Saturday from 10am – midday. There’s no need to book, just come along with the family and DROP IN!

Call the Centre on 552 5700 for more information.

PYCP set date for AGM

Pilton Youth & Children’s Project (PYCP) are holding their annual general meeting on Friday 7 November at 2pm in The Greenhouse – and you’re invited! See below for details:

For further information contact debbie@pycp.co.uk

or telephone 332 9815

www.pycp.co.uk

Government lowers Help to Buy ceiling

Funding will target lower income families and first time buyers

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has announced changes to Help to Buy (Scotland) which will support more people to get onto or move up the property ladder. As of Wednesday (October 22 2014), the shared equity scheme will apply to homes worth up to £250,000, rather than the current maximum of £400,000.

This change will ensure that more people can benefit from available funding and help to target funding at lower income families and first time buyers.

With 85% of all Help to Buy (Scotland) sales to date already at or below this new threshold – and an estimated 94% of sales having been to first time buyers – most new build houses will not be affected by the changes.

Since Help to Buy (Scotland) was launched in September 2013, more than 3,000 homes have been purchased with an additional 1,500 expected to be completed by the end of this financial year.

Mrs Burgess said: “The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has opened up the housing market to thousands of house buyers. By targeting the scheme at properties at or below a value of £250,000, the scheme will support first time buyers and people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to buy a new build home.

“The changes will also see the benefits of Help to Buy extended for as long as possible and build on the widely welcomed arrangements for the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax announced by the Finance Secretary last week.

“We will continue to monitor this successful scheme and will look at ways of making sure everyone in Scotland has access to good quality, affordable homes.”

Demand for the scheme has been high with Ministers allocating £275 million to the scheme to date, which is £55 million more than the industry’s original £220 million request. £100 million of that funding has been allocated to the 2015-16 budget.

Mrs Burgess added: “Housing continues to be a priority for this Government and we are investing over £390 million next year to deliver 6,000 affordable homes, of which 4,000 will be for social rent. Our 2015-16 budget makes clear that by investing in housing we are boosting the economy, improving the energy efficiency of housing stock and reducing fuel poverty.

“By replacing the stamp duty with the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, the tax paid will be more proportionate to the house price, which means that the tax is fairer and will be based more closely on the buyer’s ability to pay.

“This new approach will benefit the majority of Scots, with nobody paying tax on the first £135,000 of a house purchase and 90 per cent of homebuyers either paying less or the same amount as they would under current arrangements. It will be a major boost to first time buyers and improve the affordability of starter homes.”

Partnership Centre plans forge ahead

Plans for the new £12 million health and social care hub in Muirhouse have taken another major step forward

The planning application for the North West Edinburgh Partnership Centre has been approved by the planning committee at the City of Edinburgh Council.

The new centre, a joint development between NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council, will bring increased health and social care services to the local community, including new GP accommodation and additional physiotherapy, podiatry, dentistry and child health services.

Peter Gabbitas, Joint Director, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership said: “The North West Edinburgh Partnership Centre is another good example of the benefits of bringing health and social care services together on one site and in doing so putting people’s health and welfare at the forefront of our services.”

Cllr Ricky Henderson, Health, Social Care and Housing Convener, said: “We are committed to providing high quality health and social care within communities, and working in partnership with organisations such as NHS Lothian on projects like the North West Edinburgh Partnership Centre is a great way to ensure this happens.”

Hub South East Scotland Ltd is delivering the project and has appointed GRAHAM construction to build the new centre.

Paul McGirk, Chief Executive of Hub South East Scotland, said: “This is an exciting step in the development of the North West Edinburgh Partnership Centre and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership with both NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council to make these plans a reality. We’ve been involved in this project from the beginning, so it’s exciting to reach this major milestone and we look forward to continuing our successful partnerships and making these plans a reality.”

Ground works will start this month to prepare the site for construction of the new Centre which is anticipated to begin next year.

The works will involve digging up and working on pipes and cabling within certain areas of the site. The works will not impact on surrounding properties and while there will be activity on parts of the site over the coming months, none of these works relate to the actual construction of the facility.

These works will also involve the creation of a new entrance to the shopping centre service yard from Pennywell Gardens, demolition of two buildings (Pennywell Dentist and Pennywell House), closing Muirhouse Crescent and diverting existing utilities (gas, electricity, water, telecoms) within the site.

The project team is now working towards aiming to finalise contracts in January 2015. Work is then scheduled to start on the new Centre in early 2015 and it will open in autumn 2016.