AN independent Scottish home builder has received four times as many applicants for funding after it extended its entry deadline.
Dundas is currently reviewing a number of applicants for its Musselburgh community fund, allowing local businesses and charities to win a share of £5,000.
Working alongside the Musselburgh Community Council, the property developer intends to donate £1,000 to five enterprises to help build and develop their profiles within the ‘Honest Toun’.
Craig Fairfoull, Head of Sales and Marketing at Dundas, said: “After extending our deadline and allowing local businesses and charities the opportunity to apply; we have been inundated with inspiring and fascinating entries.
“We are now sifting through the applicants in what will be a very difficult decision to make. We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to apply, and we look forward to revealing the recipients soon.”
Applicants thus far include a variety of organisations from mental health charities and child development projects to festival planning. The application deadline closed in July.
The roll out of the fund comes as the Livingston-based firm launched its 140-home Wireworks development in the town, forming part of its pledge to deliver lasting benefits to the local area and in addition investing section 75 contributions of up to £400,000 towards schooling and infrastructure.
An art debate between the characters Herviss and Pelviss descends into a dispute. While competing for the top, they engage in a fight between ‘old’ and ‘new’, ‘classic’ and ‘contemporary’. The result is a surprise for one of them.
Herviss Family investigates ways of relating to each other onstage, levels of awareness in the development of a character and the possibilities of building the artistic act through contemporary dance and performance techniques. The result is a creation that applies various artistic tools through a strong interdisciplinary lens.
Meet the Herviss Family and journey to their world. While competing for top place, Herviss and Pelviss take different viewpoints and stances.
An exploration of life’s concepts through physical theatre, contemporary dance, comedy and performance art.
Both entertaining and educational, comedic and informative, part visual spectacle and part academic lecture, this unique theatrical discourse investigates interpersonal relations and character representation.
Understand the Herviss perspective and discover the Herviss universe. Who will you agree with?
Art EveryWhere is an independent artistic association, created in 2007 by director/choreographer Dorin Eugen Ionescu.
Since then the company have produced more than 30 shows for different venues and spaces, including dance, music, theatre and more. Its main objectives are to promote the interdisciplinary nature of the arts and improve accessibility.
The company achieves their goals by hosting workshops and classes for both professionals and non-professionals, thereby giving opportunities for individual’s artistic development.
Dorin Eugen Ionescu wrote and choreographed Herviss Family and also portrays the character Herviss. Dorin graduated from the Performing Arts Faculty at the Spiru Haret University in 2007.
He has performed in shows including A Stroll in the Air by Georgiana Bobocel and 1+1=1 by Cristina Lilienfeld. In 2013, he was awarded the DanceWeb Scholarship in the 30th edition of ImPlusTanz. In 2016 he won the British Council Award for his Shakespeare 400 show.
The character Pelviss is played by Valentin Nelepcu.
A commitment to ensure the long-term growth of Gaelic and Scots is at the heart of a new public consultation launched today.
The consultation seeks views on how to raise the profile of Scots, a new strategic approach to Gaelic medium education (GME) and the creation of a Gàidhealtachd, areas with a higher percentage of Gaelic speakers. It also covers the structure and function of Bòrd Na Gàidhlig – the principal public body promoting Gaelic in Scotland.
This feedback will help develop the forthcoming Scottish Languages Bill.
The 2011 census indicated that 57,375 people spoke Gaelic and 87,100 said they had some Gaelic skills and over 1.5 million people identified themselves as Scots speakers.
Launching the consultation during a visit to the GME unit at Goodlyburn Primary in Perth, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Gaelic and Scots are a significant part of Scotland’s culture and we want to ensure they thrive and grow.
“The situation for Gaelic speakers is an improvement on ten years ago as there are increased numbers in Gaelic medium education and more initiatives in place to support Gaelic in Scotland.
“We now need to build on what is in place and this consultation will show how we can make our measures more effective, ensuring Gaelic medium education continues to grow and provides a high quality education, that Bòrd na Gàidhlig operates effectively in the promotion of Gaelic, and consideration is given to the creation of a Gàidhealtachd.
“Scots is spoken throughout Scotland, but has never benefited from formal support through legislation and it may be time to consider this to help promote, strengthen and raise the profile of the language.”
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is hosting a free session in Edinburgh for its Little Seedlings Club on Sunday 4 September. During this workshop, children aged 4 to 10 will learn how to grow their own fruit and how they can enjoy some of their five a day this autumn.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club provides exciting interactive learning activities that allow children in Edinburgh to understand, explore, and connect with plants, wildlife, and the environment around them.
September’s workshop is set to be fun-filled and educational with a key focus on how you can grow fresh fruit in your garden space. The workshop will cover the early history of different fruit, as well as diving into the science, illustrating how we classify those frequently misidentified as vegetables.
Children will also learn about the health benefits, along with how different fruits grow and how to plant their own at home. There will also be a crafting activity.
Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, explained: “Our Little Seedling Club is very popular and we hope to encourage and nurture young people’s passion for growing their own crops.
“We’re looking forward to highlighting all the health and wellbeing benefits of fruit, as well as having lots of fun.”
Advance booking is required to secure a free spot at the September Little Seedlings Club.
For more information on how children can participate at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit: events.dobbies.com.
Fawlty Towers meets Bad Education in this modern farce by Phil Porter
It’s Monday morning at a sleepy further education college in Sussex. The caretakers unlock the building, and a Drama teacher is rehearsing Romeo and Juliet.
Just as a group of careerworn teachers are about to begin period one, the call comes through to the principal and Ofsted arrive! Cue hilarity, romance and a little murder.
This is KGS Theatre Company’s fourth outing to the fringe following their hits Female Transport, 2015, Joseph K, 2017, and Rattigan’s Nijinsky 2019 .
First performed as a LAMDA showcase, this is a national premiere of Ofsted Massacre.
KGS Theatre company are the keen Sixth Form Drama students from Kingston Grammar School. Directed and produced by the Drama and English departments.
“an excellent performance of which the youthful cast should be very proud”
★★★★ SGFringe
“Good performances from a capable young cast.”
British Theatre Guide
“a young company that demonstrates the intellect and talent their generation has
Celebrated Scots poet George Bruce, OBE, MA (1909-2002) is set to become the latest addition to Makars’ Court, where Scotland’s most esteemed writers have been celebrated since 1998.
Located in the Capital’s world-famous Old Town, Makar’s Court is the Scottish equivalent of Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey.
Bruce will join the lofty company of Sir Walter Scott, Rabbie Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and others at Makars’ Court where he will have a memorial flagstone inscribed with his name and the line:
The sea trembles – voiceless
It is the rare moment
when a word is sought.
(from Pursuit. Poems 1986-1998. Haiku Envoi).
Hailing from Fraserburgh in the north-east of Scotland, Bruce’s poetry references his family’s seafaring heritage in the herring trade and his own upbringing on the wild North Sea coast.
In addition to his extensive work as a poet, Bruce worked as a BBC producer for over 20 years and on his retirement was appointed as the first Fellow in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, alongside similar posts in the USA, and a Scottish Australian Writing Fellowship.
In 2000, he received an honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, the University of Aberdeen, to add to another from Wooster College Ohio.
Reflecting on a literary career spanning over half a century, Bruce has been hailed as being ‘arguably the last great poet of the Scottish literary renaissance’ (The Guardian, 2002).
Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost, said: I am delighted that the words and works of George Bruce are being celebrated and commemorated in the Makar’s flagstone dedicated to him and unveiled today.
“Edinburgh continues to be rightly proud of our UNESCO City of Literature status and of our unique and evolving literary monument that is Makars’ Court.”
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “George Bruce’s addition to Makars’ Court reflects his indelible mark on Scottish poetry and he can now take up his rightful place alongside the finest literary figures in our nation’s rich writing tradition.
“Makars’ Court is a central fixture on the Old Town tourist trail and provides an opportunity for visitors and residents alike to explore the very best of Scotland’s writers. I would like to thank the sponsor of this flagstone David Bruce; this will be a moving and fitting tribute from a son to a father.”
The sponsor for this inscription, David Bruce said: “Our family is delighted that my father is to receive such a recognition and be in the company of the most distinguished Makars of this and previous ages.
“He would be proud to be numbered with them. It was Professor Alan Spence who said that George Bruce should definitely be represented in Makars’ Court, and we are very grateful to him, and to the City of Edinburgh Council, for bringing this project to fruition.”
Non-existent awareness of leukaemia symptoms “extremely worrying” – as new figures show people in Scotland don’t know bleeding, bruising, fatigue and infections are a sign of the blood cancer
Leading UK leukaemia charities launch memorable new campaign to get people “parroting on” about the symptoms for Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September
People in the Scotland are being urged to take notice of the symptoms of leukaemia, as new research published today shows that only 1% of those surveyed in the region were able to identify ALL four of most widely reported symptoms – fatigue, bruising, unusual bleeding and repeated infections.
Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer affects people of all ages and 28 people receive a leukaemia diagnosis every day in the UK – that’s over 10,000 every year. Overall survival for leukaemia stands at just over 50% – making it one of the most deadly forms of cancer.
Early diagnosis could saves lives yet the recent public survey by leukaemia charities Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care, found that over that nearly half (48%) of respondents from Scotland could not recognise ANY amongst the four most widely reported symptoms of the disease, which kills 5,000 people a year in the UK, and which is often diagnosed too late.
The two charities are collaborating on an important campaign, #SpotLeukaemia, to raise awareness of the symptoms ahead of Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September. Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer and third deadliest.
In a new film released today Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK have called on the expertise of ‘Henry’, a talented Macaw parrot, to try to make the symptoms of leukaemia memorable.
The ad sees Henry using a range of objects to create a catchy and repetitive ‘Spot Leukaemia rap’ featuring the symptoms of leukaemia.
People who are concerned about any of these symptoms– fatigue, bruising, unusual bleeding and repeated infections – are being strongly urged by the charities to contact their GP and request a blood test. More information is available on the Spot Leukaemia website at www.spotleukaemia.org.uk.
The ad focuses on the top four symptoms. Other symptoms of leukaemia include fever or night sweats, bone or joint pain and swollen lymph nodes.
The charities are now calling on people to start “parroting on” about leukaemia and its symptoms, share the video (https://youtu.be/UMRTMKVvYhQ) with friends and family, and visit the Spot Leukaemia website for more help and advice.
Awareness of the symptoms of leukaemia is low in Scotland
Only 9% of respondents across Scotland recognised that repeated infections – one of the most common symptoms of leukaemia – are a symptom, only 31% said unusual bruising is a symptom and only 17% said unusual bleeding is a symptom. Only 39% of respondents were not able to recognise fatigue as a symptom – which is often the most likely symptom to be identified by those later diagnosed with leukaemia.
Case study:
Melissa McNaughton, 33, from Bridgeton, Glasgow, felt tired, something she attributed to working too hard. So, it came as a shock to Melissa when she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Here, she talks about her diagnosis and her life since.
“I was diagnosed 12th June 2018 and I am not yet in remission. I am now on my fourth chemotherapy drug. Looking back to just before my diagnosis, I felt tired, but other than that, nothing.
“I have had quite bad health most of my adult life, so I am in and out of the doctors a few times per year. I just put the tiredness down to working too much as I run my own business.
“I popped into the doctors for my blood test (every few months) to check my iron levels. My GP told me to go to hospital the following day – I knew what hospital and what ward I was heading to. My GP is absolutely amazing and has been very supportive throughout the journey.
“So, I arrived at the hospital, headed to the second floor and walked through the doors. I was surrounded by posters that were all about cancer and effects of chemo, support groups, giving blood, wig makers, etc. I felt ill with fear, and I had no clue what I was going into.
“I sat down and one of the nurses came up to me and said, “Are you here for chemo today?” I said, “I have no idea why I’m here.” And ran away into the toilet and had a panic attack. I was meant to see a consultant first. I then went in and they said there was a 99 per cent chance I had chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).
“Sitting in the consultant’s room with my mum, dad and husband, I was in my own little world. I heard a few words and could see the consultant’s mouth moving but nothing coming out. I just heard the words “cancer” and “leukaemia”. A million questions were going through my head: what’s going to happen to me? What will my life be like? Am I going to die? How long will I live? Can I have children?
“It’s so strange all these things go through your head that you have never thought of before. I was looking around at my mum and dad and they were asking questions; my husband was just in a daze. It wasn’t nice to see the fear in their eyes. I’m such a happy, bubbly, positive person and I snapped myself out of the daze and said, “What’s next?” completely interrupting the consultant.
“He said the next step was to do a bone marrow biopsy and he could get me in next week. I asked if I could just have it done today. I was then taken into another room and had my back injected to make it numb to do the biopsy. Then it began; it was a horrible pressure pain and I was crying.
“But the song from The Greatest Showman ‘This Is Me’ was playing in the background and I focussed on that – I feel it’s now became my theme song! I was back in the hospital on Friday. I was told the results were back and I had CML. Everything was going to change.
“Again, I tried not to let all the thoughts come into my head and I asked to start the treatment straight away; I was not waiting around. Off to the pharmacy I went and collected all my pills. I then went back to work the following week – this was not stopping me.
“The first generation of the TKIs were awful, I couldn’t get through a full day, I could only get up for about an hour or two at a time. I was sick, weak, bone pain, muscle pain. It was horrible! I’ve never cried so much. I lost so much weight, I was so weak I could hardly use a knife and fork. I tried to keep going with work, but it was all too much. I had to cut my hours right down.
“I have never felt like this in my life, it got me really down for a while. But my inner warrior was not going to let that happen for long. I tried to power through. I was then taken off these tablets and moved onto another generation. I am still on them now, but I was covered from head to toe in a rash, and my bones in my legs were so sore and weak they felt like they were going to snap.
“Fast forward to today. I have had my “cancerversary” of four years living with cancer. Every day is still a struggle and some days are worse than others. I’m getting there.
“Cancer will just have to get used to living with me because I am in no way going to let it beat me. I’m still smiling and not stopping. My blood levels are steadily going down which is great. I have not hit my target yet, but everything is moving in the right direction.
“I try to keep doing everything I would normally do weekly but just a bit slower and sometimes it’s quite difficult. I try to carry on as normal as possible, but this is my new normal! I try to pop make-up on and look a bit more like myself. I am a hair extension master and I had to close down my salon of 10 years due to the pandemic so I have started a new business from scratch, IvyHQ where I for hair extensions and I have developed my own line of hair and training.
“When I had my own salon we did a charity karaoke night to raise funds for Leukemia Care. In my spare time, myself and husband love travelling around Scotland with our new puppy, Hope.
“I have heard a few times that if you’re going to have cancer, this is the best one to have. Really? Did you actually just say that to me? Nobody will know how it feels unless they are going through it. Some other cancers you have to go through the horrible process of being injected with chemo, losing your hair and being weak, but when you come out the other side of it that can be you “fixed”. Whereas with me I will have to be on tablets for life. It’s very different.
I’ve also had, “Is that you cured now?”, because I’ve done my hair and make-up and managed to get out in high heels for an hour. Just because I look ok doesn’t mean I feel it. I try not to talk about it too much, so when someone asks me how I am I always say I’m good!
“I’m not going to go into detail with them by saying, “Oh, today’s been a bit hard, it took me two hours to get out of bed and I needed help getting out of the shower today as my legs went into a cramp.” But these are things I have daily and I just carry on with a smile on my face as I’m so lucky to be able to have this treatment.
“And hopefully, in time, these will all ease off. I have kept working as much as I can all the way through, as having my own business, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. I have also made up my own hashtag #mycmljourneydiary online as I felt it’s good to keep a wee diary to look back on.
“Also, if someone is going through the same thing as me and if I can help in any way at all, that will make me feel good that I can help. It’s got the good, the bad and the ugly. All “keeping it real” posts. Spot Leukaemia is so important to raise awareness as I had no idea what leukaemia really was until I had it. It is so important to me as getting the word out there will hopefully make someone go along for a blood test!”
Melissa’s only symptom of leukaemia was fatigue, but there are other signs which include:
Bruising
Bone Pain
Repeated infections
Are you currently experiencing similar symptoms to Melissa? Request a blood test from your GP. For more information on our Spot Leukaemia campaign, our goal and how to get involved, head over to our official Spot Leukaemia website at www.spotleukaemia.org. Early diagnosis saves lives. #SpotLeukaemia
Nationally, those who are over 55 also underestimate their risk, thinking that leukaemia is a childhood disease. Only 11% of over 55s thought that they had the greatest risk of leukaemia, whereas in reality cases rise sharply after the age of 55 and 38% of all new cases occur in the over 75s.
Fiona Hazell, Chief Executive of Leukaemia UK said, “It’s extremely worrying that less than 1% of Brits are able to identify the most common symptoms of leukaemia, when 28 people are diagnosed each day in the UK.
“People underestimate their risk by thinking that leukaemia is a childhood disease. In reality, both incidence and mortality rates rise sharply after the age of 55. Raising awareness in this age group is critical in order to treat it early and effectively; and ultimately to improve survival rates overall.”
A lack of awareness of which age groups are most at risk from leukaemia is also concerning, with 43% of respondents thinking that leukaemia is most common in the under 24s.
Whilst it is true that leukaemia is the most common type of childhood cancer, leukaemia incidence rates rise sharply after the age of 55 and 38% of all new diagnoses occur in those over 75. The survey found that only 2% of Brits think that leukaemia is most common in those over 75. The Spot Leukaemia campaign particularly wants to increase awareness among those who are over 65, as this age group is the most likely to be diagnosed with leukaemia.
Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, Chief Executive of Leukaemia Care said, “To hear that less than 1% of the UK public are able to identify the four most common symptoms of leukaemia is extremely worrying.
“Early diagnosis of leukaemia can improve survival. With over 10,000 people being diagnosed every year with a leukaemia, this shows just how important it is to continue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms and how much work needs to be done.
“We know that our new Spot Leukaemia video may ruffle some feathers but in order to raise awareness we needed to create something that will fly. It’s crucial that if you think you have fatigue, bruising or bleeding or repeated infections that you contact your GP and ask for a blood test. It’s as simple as that and we will continue to parrot-on about it.”
The Scottish Government, energy companies and advice organisations met at Bute House yesterday (Tuesday 23rd August) for a summit chaired by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – but it’s the UK Government that will have to act to head off a financial crisis for families across the country.
During the meeting a consensus emerged around next steps that must be taken by the UK Government, and where further work and action will take place between energy companies, advice organisations and the Scottish Government ahead of a follow up meeting next month.
The First Minister said: “Any further increase in energy bills in October will have a profound impact on households, businesses and the public sector already struggling with the cost crisis.
“No single government, company or organisation can solve this crisis alone. It requires a collective response commensurate to the situation and the Scottish Government is now treating this situation as a public emergency.
“There was clear consensus at today’s summit that energy customers simply cannot be expected to carry the burden of further price rises in October, and that the UK Government must now commit to freeze the cap for all households and to support the energy companies to deliver that.
“This meeting was focussed on practical solutions, but without action by the UK Government to address the problem at source, the actions we discussed can only ever mitigate the impact of such dramatic price rises at the edges.
“I am grateful to energy suppliers and our third sector partners for coming to the table today and for committing to work together with the Scottish Government to develop further action and practical steps to help households and businesses through the cost crisis.”
The consensus reached in the meeting was that the UK government should:
Immediately cancel any further energy price increase for domestic consumers, and work with the regulator and energy companies to put in place the funding to support this;
Provide significant additional support to help households and businesses meet current energy bills and the impact of inflation more generally;
Take action to protect small and medium sizes businesses, and other organisations not covered by the price cap, from rising energy costs;
Reform the energy market for the longer term to prevent this situation occurring again in the future.
The following actions to mitigate the current situation were also agreed and will be developed further:
Energy companies will pursue all possible options to provide enhanced support to consumers who are in difficulty, including working with advice agencies and government to improve the support available to consumers, and protect customers from disconnection. It was agreed that the energy companies will work with the Scottish government over the next two weeks to agree a package of measures;
The Scottish Government will provide additional support to advice agencies and consider, as part of its emergency budget review, further support for households and businesses. It will also undertake a public information campaign to promote energy efficiency measures alongside sources of help and support for those in difficulty;
This group will reconvene following the announcement by Ofgem of the new price cap on Friday 26th August and the appointment of a new Prime Minister to determine further specific actions.
The Chancellor is in Edinburgh today to showcase the support the UK Government is providing the people of Scotland through a £37bn package.
It comes after July’s National Insurance Contribution threshold rise for workers across Scotland, putting £330 back into the pockets of a typical employee this year and saving households over £260m.
The Chancellor will also be meeting leaders of Scotland’s green energy industry, emphasising our drive to improve Britain’s energy security.
The Chancellor will today reaffirm the UK Government commitment to help the people of Scotland with rising costs in the coming months, as it continues to deliver its £37bn package of support.
On a visit to Edinburgh, Nadhim Zahawi will also emphasise the UK Government’s commitment to energy security and making sure we have the green supplies of power we need for the future.
He will be meeting some of the figures who have led Scotland to the cutting edge of green power generation technology, as well as apprentices starting out in the industry. His visit will take in one of Scotland’s leading companies in the field of tidal energy as well a windfarm capable of providing power to up to 11,000 homes.
This comes in the same week that Chancellor began a series of meetings with energy generation companies as part of ongoing discussions on what more the industry can do to ensure markets function effectively for consumers.
The visit comes as the UK government is providing 689,000 households in Scotland with the £650 cost of living payment as well as £400 to help people with their energy bills, from October, over the winter months. It has also committed an extra £82 million for the Scottish Government to help vulnerable families at their discretion – in addition to the significant income tax and welfare powers they already have.
The UK Government has also launched the Review of Electricity Markets Arrangement to address higher energy costs, the need to boost energy security and the need to move the UK to a cleaner energy system as well as the Energy Security Bill, the most ambitious piece of legislation in the sector for more than a decade.
Zahawi is also sitting down with the leaders of Scotland’s financial services industry, which employs thousands of people in Scotland. He will listen to their concerns and emphasise the UK Government’s commitment to the sector.
The Chancellor will also meet performers from the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “I know families across Scotland are feeling anxious about rising costs and the UK Government has stepped in to ease pressures on household budgets.
“We delivered an unprecedented level of support in July with a National Insurance cut that will put £330 back into workers’ pockets this year, while many of Scotland’s most vulnerable households have already received the first instalment of a £650 Cost of Living Payment.
“And there’s more to come. Not only will the second instalment of that payment arrive this autumn, but I’ve been clear that we are absolutely committed to bringing an equivalent to the £400 energy bills discount to Northern Ireland as soon as possible to ease the burden on families.
“We will continue to help support families in Northern Ireland through the global pressures we are all facing.”
The UK Government has provided a record £41 billion annual settlement for the next three years and we will continue to work collaboratively with them.
