Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Young at Heart Group enjoyed a complimentary Christmas lunch at Sainsbury’s café on 13 December. The ladies were joined by Colin, the Centre’s volunteer driver, who did a splendid job picking them up all from their homes and taking them safely back again.
And the lunch was delicious!
West Pilton will resound to the sound of jingle bells this Saturday when ‘Christmas Round the Corner’ comes to West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
The free event promises fun for all the family, with loads of free activities (including Santa’s Grotto) and live music too from 11am – 3pm.
A free Christmas event? Surely even Scrooge would raise a smile! See below for more details
Edinburgh residents are being asked to check changes to their refuse and recycling collection days over the festive season. Collections will be earlier than usual in order to take account of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Collection dates for green household bins and food waste will change from:
Red and blue box collections will be as normal apart from those due to be picked up on Christmas Day, which will change to Saturday 22, and New Year’s Day, which will change to Saturday 29. If boxes are not picked up on these dates, please leave them out until they are collected. Please note that services may be subject to change in the event of severe weather.
Christmas trees will be picked up by refuse collectors if they are left on the kerbside on brown bin collection days from January 7. They should have all decorations removed and cut into five foot lengths. Trees can also be recycled at any of the city’s three community recycling centres. Garden waste bins will not be collected from December 22 until January 6.
Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “It is important that residents make sure that they find out when refuse and recycling will be picked up during the festive season. “A lot of the rubbish we produce at this time of year is recyclable, like cardboard and wrapping paper, so take advantage of our recycling facilities and try to stick to the reduce, re-use and recycle message. “We have made special arrangements to make sure that no-one misses a collection at this time but we can’t control the weather so please check our website over Christmas for any possible changes if the weather is bad.”
For more information about rubbish and recycling, please visit the Council website.
Revellers visiting Edinburgh city centre this weekend are being urged to make plans to ensure they get home safely at the end of their evening. With the Christmas party season now well underway, police expect there to be a high number of people visiting the city centre for a night out with work colleagues and friends.
As part of Operation Astrodome (the Lothian and Borders Police response to the festive season in Edinburgh) officers will be carrying out additional high-visibility patrols in order to provide reassurance to the public, and deal with any criminal behaviour.
Inspector Gill Geany, from Lothian and Borders Police, said: “Edinburgh city centre is a great place to visit for a night out, and we are keen that people enjoy themselves over the festive season. We would urge revellers to drink sensibly, and to consider what steps they can take to ensure they get home safely at the end of the night.
“It is advisable for people to ensure their mobile phone is fully charged before they go out, and if for any reason you lose your mobile, then you should keep a list of emergency numbers and some spare change if you need to make a call. I would also urge people to remain in the company of their friends, and if possible, to make arrangements to travel home together at the end of the night.
“Late night buses are available and there are a number of taxi ranks in operation throughout the city, staffed by taxi marshals from City of Edinburgh Council. Lothian and Borders Police and the Council have worked together to produce totem posters that have been erected in the city centre, showing the locations of late night bus stops and taxi ranks.
“I would urge people to make use of these transport options, and to plan ahead to ensure they get home safely. Our personal safety pocket guide – Good Nights Out, Get Home Safely– is available to download on the Lothian and Borders Police website, and I would recommend that people take advantage of the advice available.”
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Christmas is, for many people, a time of family get-togethers and when friends can come together to exchange gifts and enjoy one another’s company.
But for some the Festive season is a reminder of the absence of those who have died and is a time when grief can be particularly difficult whether the death is recent or not. For people who have been bereaved there is a myriad of legal and practical issues that need to be dealt with, in addition to the emotional impact of death which can sometimes be felt for many years to come.
NHS inform now offers help and support to people experiencing these difficulties with a new ‘Bereavement Zone’ which can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk/bereavement.
The zone gives both practical advice and help with finding further sources of support to enable people to cope with the emotional aspects of grief. Developed in partnership with the Scottish Grief and Bereavement Hub it hosts links to a variety of resources The Convener of the Scottish Grief and Bereavement Hub John Birrell says: “The new Bereavement Zone is a useful online resource for people dealing with the aftermath of a loved ones death. We know that grief is very personal and people respond to it in very different ways but the Zone offers general advice and lots of signposting for further help.”
Lynne Huckerby, Head of Health Information Services at NHS 24 says the Zone will complement other services offered to people who may be experiencing emotional difficulties: “The Zone is designed to be a starting point to enable people to find the help they need for their own particular circumstances. It includes information about death and bereavement specific to certain groups such as younger people, or bereavement following a long term condition such as Dementia. In addition to the Zone, NHS 24 also offers the Breathing Space service where people can receive confidential support and advice over the telephone and the advisors are trained to help people in emotionally challenging times such as bereavement.”
Basic energy efficiency measures have prevented up to 35,000 Scottish households from falling into fuel poverty over the past year, according to the Scottish government.
Statistics released today show that the installation of measures such as loft and cavity insulation, double glazing and new boilers have helped to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and cut household energy requirements.
In spite of efforts by the Scottish Government to help reduce household energy bills, tens of thousands of families were pushed into fuel poverty in 2011 as a direct result of energy company price rises. Between July and October 2011, more than 102,000 households fell into this category after energy prices increased by 14%.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: “Basic energy efficiency measures can make a huge difference to Scottish families who are struggling to make ends meet, allowing them to heat their homes more cost effectively.
“This government has allocated over £68 million in 2012-13 to energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes to help individuals and families who are in most need of support. We also have in place a cashback voucher scheme offering up to £500 per household for energy efficiency measures such as double glazing and loft and cavity wall insulation, and from today, energy efficient boilers and appliances for private sector landlords.
“Rising energy bills are a huge concern for this government, and fuel poverty is an absolute scandal in an energy rich country like Scotland. The more that energy companies continue to implement punishing price increases, the more they are undoing the good work we are doing to tackle fuel poverty. That is why we are urging the UK government – who has responsibility in this area – to do more to help vulnerable people and ensure that our households are better protected.”
However the Scottish Greens believe the government should be doing a lot more to address the problem, and they are calling on ministers to stop hand-wringing on the worsening issue of fuel poverty. The Scottish Greens say the National Retrofit Programme to insulate homes – first proposed by the party in 2009 – needs to be increased from the current £65million a year to at least £100 million to make a real difference.
Green MSP for Lothian and Holyrood energy committee member Alison Johnstone said:
“Scottish Greens have long argued for extra money focused on rapid upgrading of peoples’ homes. For SNP ministers to suggest this issue is worsening despite their efforts hides the fact that they could do much more.
“With thousands more homes in fuel poverty, the Scottish Government must be more ambitious. Wringing hands about Westminster’s failure to tackle the Big Six energy companies isn’t good enough.”
The Scottish Government’s latest figures show that recent energy price rises have pushed an extra 26,000 households in Scotland into fuel poverty. Around 29 per cent of Scottish households now spend over 10 per cent of their income on energy bills, and 185,000 of those households spend over 20 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, Norman Kerr, Director of national fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland said: “The fact that more Scottish households are now in fuel poverty is very disappointing but not surprising, as energy prices have gone up and people’s budgets generally are under pressure. Efforts to make homes energy efficient, so that less energy is needed to heat them, are more vital than ever and will clearly have to be increased.
“Our advice to the public is to check out if they are on the best fuel tariff and payment method for their needs, to shop around energy suppliers, and to take up the free or discounted insulation from Scottish Government programmes such as Home Energy Scotland. There is a tendency to think it won’t make a difference, but it does all help at these difficult times.”
Energy Action Scotland is highlighting that the figures released today are for the period to autumn 2011. Using those figures and adding the effects of energy price rises announced in autumn this year, the numbers living in fuel poverty today are more likely to be around 900,000 household (40%). Today’s report states that those on the lowest incomes are hit hardest by the price rises.
An initiative to promote best practices within pubs and clubs honoured no less than twenty-one Leith hostelries at an event held at the City Chambers last night. The Best Bar None Scheme has operated in Leith for the past two years, and last night’s awards were a showcase of best practice as well as a celebration of Leith’s top bars.
The awards are unique to the licensed trade and involve an accreditation process that sets minimum standards of operation for venues in consultation with the Scottish Business Crime Centre, while promoting the sharing of best practice to ensure high standards of safety.
It encourages the licensed trade to work in partnership with Lothian and Borders Police, the City of Edinburgh Council and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, in order to make their premises safer, and reduce alcohol-related crime and irresponsible drinking.
At the ceremony, which is sponsored by Diageo, Heneiken and Molson Coors, 21 premises were presented with Gold, Silver or Bronze awards for their participation and contribution to the scheme.
The Victoria Bar in Leith Walk has been named “Top Bar”, while the Leith Beer Company on The Shore has won the “Top Pub” award.
Both of these venues will now be nominated to go forward for the National Awards.
Councillor Eric Milligan, Convener of the Licensing Board, said: “The Best Bar None scheme has proved to be very popular and I’m delighted that it has proved to be such a success in Leith. It allows licensed premises to provide the best service possible and also reassures the public that they can enjoy a safe and happy night out and experience everything that the area has to offer.”
Lothian and Borders Police Licensing Inspector, Lynne Symington said: “When the public enjoy a night out within Leith they are entiled to do in a safe and secure surrounding. Managers have a responsibility to ensure to do all they can to deter criminal activity and that the terms of their licence are adhered to at all times. The Best Bar None scheme helps us recognise those premsies who work alongside police and other partner agencies to achieve best practice and help keep our communities safe when out socialising.”
The winning pubs and the award they received:
GOLD
Victoria 265 Leith Walk
Boda Bar 229 Leith Walk
Parlour 142 Duke Street
Bond No.9 84 Commercial Street
Sofi’s Bar 63-65 Henderson Street
Leith Beer Company 58 Shore
SILVER
Links Tavern 7 Restalrig Road
Carriers Quarters 42 Bernard Street
Granary 32-34 Shore
Cruz 14 Shore
Teuchter’s Landing 1c Dock Place
Malmaison 1 Tower Place
Foot of the Walk 7a Duke Street
King’s Wark 36 Shore
Malt & Hops 45 Shore
Marksman 13 Duke Street
BRONZE
Middleton’s 69 Easter Road
Four in Hand 218 Easter Road
Central Bar 7-9 Leith Walk
Tamson’s 280 Easter Road
Tam O’Shanter 39 Great Junction Street
The December NEN is hot off the press and will be distributed across the area over the coming days. If you just can’t wait to get your hands on the latest copy:
Enjoy!
A report to the city council’s Education, Children and Families Committee sets out how Edinburgh Schools have been performing in the last year – and the report shows that, in the majority of indicators, city schools are performing above the national average.
Changes of note include improvements for some of the lowest achieving pupils, who have made considerable improvement over the last three years to within one per cent of the national performance level. Overall evaluation of improvements in early years level have been classified as ‘very good’ and there has been an improvement in Maths and English by the end of S4 which now sits above the national average. This clearly demonstrates the impact a renewed focus on employability skills is having.
Across the board there has been significant improvement in PE by the end of S4 which can be linked to Health and Wellbeing education under the Curriculum for Excellence and the 2 hours of quality PE prescribed by it. In Higher exams, there has been very good performance across the city in English, Mathematics, French, Physics, Computing and German.
High Schools that achieved very good examination results include The Royal High School, Boroughmuir HS, Currie HS, Firrhill HS, James Gillespie’s HS and St Thomas of Aquin’s, with significant improvements having been made at Craigroyston HS and Wester Hailes Education Centre.
Councillor Paul Godzik, Education, Children and Families Convener said, “I would like to congratulate schools for their continued improvement, the report shows how much is being achieved across the city. It’s clear from this report that some schools are making significant improvements and I would like to congratulate them for that. We will be looking to all our schools and continuing to work closely with them to ensure the upward trend continues.”
Corstorphine Round Table will be bringing a special guest to Sainsbury’s at Blackhall on Sunday 16, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 December from 10am – 4pm.
St Columba’s Hospice is just one of the charities that is being supported by Corstorphine Round Table.
