Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Be alert: ATM skimming devices warning

ATM SKIMMING DEVICES

atm2

Given further discoveries of ATM skimmers in Edinburgh city centre, Dalkeith and Drylaw, Police Scotland is urging members of the public to be extra vigilant when withdrawing cash from ATMs.

– Check for tampering
If anything looks out of the ordinary, don’t use it. There might be something that just doesn’t look quite right near the screen, near the card reader itself or the keyboard perhaps. Trust your instincts.

– Have a wiggle
Skimmers read the magnetic stripe on your card as its inserted. By giving your card a wiggle as you put it in the machine, this will foil any skimmer that’s in the machine, without interfering with your transaction.

– Assume you’re being watched
Whether its through a hidden camera or by someone hovering over your shoulder, shield your pin as you enter it.

– ‘Up the Ante’ at the Weekends
Fraudsters know it’s harder to report anything suspicious to the bank over the weekend, so chances of machines being hit are higher. Take extra care out of business hours and on Saturdays and Sundays.

If your card is retained by the cash machine, contact your card issuer immediately.

Tune in: Four year package to support and enhance youth orchestras

Sistema_Group_Colour_medium

The Scottish Government will award £2.5 million to support Sistema Scotland to transform the lives of thousands of children and young people in disadvantaged communities, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced last week. Continue reading Tune in: Four year package to support and enhance youth orchestras

Flying the flag for Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth-Flag

Edinburgh will be flying the flag today to mark Commonwealth Day 2016.

The event, now in its third year, will see the Lord Provost Donald Wilson raise the Commonwealth Flag at the City Chambers. A specially written message from Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, will be read out before a recital of the Commonwealth Affirmation.

More than 850 flags are expected to be raised in 53 Commonwealth countries around the world.

The Lord Provost will say: “The Commonwealth is made up of two billion citizens drawn from all faiths, cultures and ethnicities.

“The countries come together voluntarily in a spirit of co-operation, partnership and understanding and it is for that reason we raise the Commonwealth Flag in unity with those throughout all the participating countries of the world.”

He will also convey a message sent from Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General. It will say: “Our theme as we celebrate Commonwealth Day 2016 is An Inclusive Commonwealth.

“Reflection on the many ways in which the Commonwealth is a great global good can go hand in hand with celebration as we put out the flags for Commonwealth Day with pride in our shared commitment, and dedicate ourselves afresh to progress and prosperity, with fairness, justice and opportunity for all.”

In 1997, the Edinburgh Declaration was issued by the heads of government of the Commonwealth of Nations. Developed over two-thirds of a century, the report served as a consolidation of the membership criteria of the Commonwealth and was signed in Edinburgh.

Minister meets school savers in Stockbridge

Funding for credit unions to set up schemes in schools

savers1

Children will be encouraged to manage their money from an early age through a new Junior Savers Scheme. Credit unions will be able to bid for a share of £300,000 Scottish Government funding to develop savers schemes in schools across the country next year. Continue reading Minister meets school savers in Stockbridge

On the ball: Johnstone meets Street League stars at Spartans

Spartans CFA

Alison Johnstone, Lothian MSP and Scottish Green Party Spokesperson on Health, Wellbeing and Sport, joined two groups of young people from Street League Edinburgh as they played a friendly match at Spartans Community Football Academy at Ainslie Park yesterday. Continue reading On the ball: Johnstone meets Street League stars at Spartans