Category: North Edinburgh News

Christmas Cheer: Extra cash for low-income families this winter

First Minister announces doubling of December Bridging Payment to £260

Families of an estimated 145,000 children will benefit from extra support this winter to help with cost of living pressures – backed by Scottish Government investment of £18.9 million.

Bridging Payments were introduced in 2021 ahead of the extension of the Scottish Child Payment to 6-15 year olds. The final quarterly Bridging Payment, due in December, will now be doubled to £260, meaning families will receive up to £650 per eligible child this year.

All children registered to receive free school meals on the basis of family low income are eligible and will receive this payment automatically.

Total Scottish Government funding for the Bridging Payments will increase to an estimated £169 million across 2021 and 2022.

This is in addition to the Scottish Child Payment which will be extended to all eligible under-16s from 14 November and will rise to £25 per child per week on the same date – a 150% increase in the benefit within eight months.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am proud of the work the Scottish Government is doing to tackle child poverty. The Scottish Child Payment is paid to eligible families and is unique in the United Kingdom.

“It started for under-6s at £10 per week per eligible child. In April we doubled it to £20.  Five weeks from today we will increase it again, to £25 and will also extend it to families with children up to age 16.

“That is vital financial help for well over 100,000 children, delivered in time for Christmas. That is the sign of a government with the right priorities.

“But we need to do more because we know this winter is going to be really tough. Rather than looking forward to Christmas, too many families will be dreading it because they don’t know if they can afford to heat their homes or even pay for food.

“As part of our help to the poorest families over last year and this, ahead of rolling out the Scottish Child Payment to under 16s, we have made quarterly bridging payments of £130 to children and young people in receipt of free school meals.

“I am delighted that the Scottish Government will double the December Payment from £130 to £260.

“That will help put food on the Christmas table for families of 145,000 children and young people. I don’t pretend it will make all of their worries go away – no government with our limited powers can ever do that. But I hope this investment of almost £20 million will bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need it most.”

Bridging Payments were introduced in 2021 ahead of the roll out of the Scottish Child Payment to under 16s. The £130 payments are paid quarterly by councils on behalf of the Scottish Government. Families received up to £520 per eligible child in 2021 and will receive up to £650 in 2022. Bridging Payments support around 145,000 school age children.

Povery campaigners have welcomed the announcement.

The Poverty Alliance tweeted: ‘We welcome @NicolaSturgeon announcement today that the @scotgov will double the final Scottish Child Payment bridging payment, up from £130 to £260.

‘This will put cash in the pockets of those who need it most. This is how we #ChallengePoverty‘

Triassic specimen found to be early relative of pterosaurs a century after its discovery

A new study of a tiny Triassic fossil reptile first discovered over 100 years ago in the north east of Scotland has revealed it to be a close relative of the species that would become pterosaurs – iconic flying reptiles of the age of the dinosaurs.

In a new paper published in Nature, a team of scientists led by Dr Davide Foffa, Research Associate at National Museums Scotland, and funded by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, have used Computed Tomography (CT) to provide the first accurate whole skeleton reconstruction of Scleromochlus taylori.

The results reveal new anatomical details that conclusively identify it as a close pterosaur relative. It falls within a group known as Pterosauromorpha, comprising an extinct group of reptiles called lagerpetids together with pterosaurs.

Living approximately 240 -210 million years ago, lagerpetids were a group of relatively small (cat or small dog-sized) active reptiles. Scleromochlus was smaller still at under 20 centimetres in length. The results support the hypothesis that the first flying reptiles evolved from small, likely bipedal ancestors.

The finding settles a century-long debate. There had previously been disagreement as to whether the reptile, Scleromochlus, represented an evolutionary step in the direction of pterosaurs, dinosaurs or else some other reptilian offshoot.

The fossil of Scleromochlus is poorly preserved in a block of sandstone, which has made it difficult to study in sufficient detail to properly identify its anatomical features. The fossil is one of a group known as the Elgin Reptiles, comprising Triassic and Permian specimens found in the sandstone of the Morayshire region of north east Scotland around the town of Elgin.

The specimens are held mostly in the collections of National Museums Scotland, Elgin Museum and the Natural History Museum. The latter holds Scleromochlus, which was originally found at Lossiemouth.

Dr Davide Foffa, Research Associate at National Museums Scotland and lead author of the paper said: ““It’s exciting to be able to resolve a debate that’s been going on for over a century, but it is far more amazing to be able to see and understand an animal which lived 230 million years ago and its relationship with the first animals ever to have flown.

“This is another discovery which highlights Scotland’s important place in the global fossil record, and also the importance of museum collections that preserve such specimens, allowing us to use new techniques and technologies to continue to learn from them long after their discovery.”

Professor Paul Barrett at the Natural History Museum said: “The Elgin reptiles aren’t preserved as the pristine, complete skeletons that we often see in museum displays.

“They’re mainly represented by natural moulds of their bone in sandstone and – until fairly recently – the only way to study them was to use wax or latex to fill these moulds and make casts of the bones that once occupied them. However, the use of CT scanning has revolutionized the study of these difficult specimens and has enabled us to produce far more detailed, accurate and useful reconstructions of these animals from our deep past.”

Professor Sterling Nesbitt at Virgina Tech said: “Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight and for nearly two centuries, we did not know their closest relatives. Now we can start filling in their evolutionary history with the discovery of tiny close relatives that enhance our knowledge about how they lived and where they came from”

In addition to National Museums Scotland, the Natural History Museum and Virginia Tech, the study also involved the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Scotland claimed another special milestone in pterosaur history earlier this year with the unveiling of Dearc Sgithanach, an unusually complete and well-preserved fossil discovered on the Isle of Skye and the largest pterosaur known to the Jurassic period.

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Nation’s spellbinding tales come to life with latest Love Scotland season

Fourth series kicks off with surprising insights on Scottish legend, Flora MacDonald

Love Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) podcast presented by NTS President, Jackie Bird, has returned for a fourth season. Each week, the podcast uncovers spellbinding stories from Scotland’s history, starting with the remarkable tale of Scottish heroine, Flora MacDonald.

The inaugural episode of season four sees former BBC Reporting Scotland anchor, Jackie Bird, sit down with author Flora Fraser as they take a deep dive into the life of Flora MacDonald, the 24-year-old unlikely heroine who helped assist the defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Benbecula to the Isle of Skye in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden.

While immortalised in the Skye Boat Song, Flora MacDonald’s life beyond that dramatic escape is little understood by most, despite being of great historic interest. In this fascinating first episode, Flora Fraser, author of the forthcoming biography, Pretty Young Rebel: The Life of Flora MacDonald, explores who Flora really was, how she came to help Prince Charles and what happened to her in the years that followed.

As Scotland’s leading independent conservation charity, the Trust cares for over 100 sites across the country, spanning from castles and coastlines, art to architecture and wildlife. Episodes of Love Scotland range from thrilling tales about some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, to exploring Scotland’s history of ghost stories. Guests also discuss issues close to the Trust’s heart including conservation and sustainability.

Jim Whyteside, Interim Director of Customer & Cause at National Trust for Scotland, said: “The Love Scotland podcast is a fantastic way for us to further engage with everyone that is just as fascinated as us by the wealth of stories and heritage Scotland has to offer.

“We are excited to continue to have incredibly interesting guests on each week, having the chance to share our history with those tuning in from across the world and give our heritage the voice it truly deserves.”

Highlighting one of the Trust’s key pillars in driving forward its ten-year-strategy rolled out earlier this year: Nature, Beauty and Heritage for Everyone. The charity aims to engage the public with the vast array of secrets and stories of Scotland ready to be told, and highlights the work constantly being done to conserve our country’s rich history. Keen listeners are in luck this season as the Trust has changed its upload schedule from bi-weekly to weekly with a brand-new episode coming out every Friday.  

For more information on the National Trust for Scotland visit: www.nts.org.uk.

Love Scotland can be accessed on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or directly via its website: https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/for-the-love-of-scotland-podcasts

Scottish Law Firm Announces Will-Writing Scheme to Support Cash for Kids

Watermans is backing a fund-raising campaign to help disadvantaged children across Edinburgh, The Lothians, and Fife.

Cash for Kids, the well-established Radio Forth initiative, will receive a £50 boost for every will or power of attorney written up by the modern law firm from October 3 until December 23.

Cash for Kids is a grant-giving charity supporting and assisting disadvantaged children and vulnerable young people across Scotland and the UK. Its mission is to improve the lives of those affected by poverty, illness, or neglect, helping them to experience a more positive childhood.

Scott Whyte, managing director at Watermans, with offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, said: “We are currently in a period where many in our local communities are experiencing unprecedented hardship as the cost-of-living crisis takes its toll.

“Sadly, that so often has the most severe consequences for those most vulnerable – our children.  Thankfully, the amazing work of Cash for Kids will provide some much-needed help and happiness to many of our local children.

“Through this initiative, the team at Watermans will be directly supporting this outstanding work and we hope to provide as much support as we can to this cause. This also gives our clients the opportunity to take care of an essential piece of legal ‘housekeeping’ while supporting Cash for Kids’ work in improving the lives of our local young people.”

Having a will – or keeping your current one up to date – is important. Anyone who owns property, has savings, children, or other dependents should have one.

Planning for the future and for what may happen in the event of your death is an important life decision. It can be a task you may want to put off and deal with later, however, planning for what happens to your estate as soon as possible offers peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.

Appointing a power of attorney allows your loved ones to take care of you, your finances, and your affairs if you become unable to do so for yourself.

To start the process or for more information on wills and power of attorney, and to support the Cash for Kids programme, contact Watermans on 0131 555 7055.

Healthy Heart Tip: Nutrition and Menopause

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Nutrition and Menopause

The menopause is a natural time in a woman’s life usually occurring between the ages of 45-55 and can last a few months to several years. During this time changes in hormone levels result in the stopping of menstruation. Women may also experience a variety of other symptoms such as weight gain, hot flushes, night sweats and poor concentration. Here we outline some nutrition and lifestyle ideas to support you during this phase of life.

Prioritise calcium rich foods

  • Loss of calcium from the bones is accelerated during menopause, due to the reduction in the hormone oestrogen. Calcium is a mineral associated with healthy bones and teeth. Aim to eat two to three portions of calcium rich foods daily to support your bones and protect against osteoporosis. Examples include low-fat milk and yoghurt, fortified plant-based milks, cheese, kale and small fish (including the bones).

Spend time outdoors

  • Vitamin D is also important for bone health. Getting outside in sunlight for 20 minutes daily between the months of April and October will provide you with lots of vitamin D. If you don’t spend very much time outdoors and are rarely exposed to the sun, speak to your GP about a supplement.

Consume heart-healthy fats

  • Your risk of cardiovascular disease increases as a result of the menopause, again due to lower levels of oestrogen. Support your cardiovascular system by consuming heart-healthy fats from unsalted nuts and seeds, olive oil, avocado and oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and trout.

The menopause can be an emotional time for some women, as changes in hormones can result in mood changes. Remember to be kind to yourself and get plenty of rest. Doing relaxing activities like walking in nature can be helpful to ease stress.

Try to maintain the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week by doing something you enjoy such as swimming, cycling or dancing.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers:

https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

JRA launches Edinburgh studio

  • New studio will be led by Angela St Clair-Ford, Associate Director
  • Edinburgh is the third location for the international architecture practice, adding to its established offices in central London and Poland
  • Studio will focus on interior design projects, as well as supporting projects outside central London, including Manchester, Birmingham, and Scotland

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John Robertson Architects (JRA), an international architecture practice which specialises in producing sustainable, and future-proof commercial, educational, and residential assets in legacy and historic buildings, has launched a studio in Edinburgh. 

The studio, located on George Street in the central part of the city, adds to JRA’s existing studios in London and Lodz, Poland.  It will lead on interior design projects, building upon new studio head Angela St Clair-Ford’s wide-ranging expertise in this sector. The studio will also support other JRA projects across the UK, especially those in locations outside Greater London, including in Birmingham, Manchester, and Scotland. 

JRA’s decision to open a studio in central Edinburgh follows St Clair-Ford’s relocation to Scotland from London. Prior to her move, St Clair-Ford worked on a number of high-profile projects including: the refurbishment of the Strand campus for King’s College London; Skanska’s HQ at 51 Moorgate; WeWork Spitalfields; x+why, Birmingham; & YUM! Brands’ UK HQ in Woking, Surrey.

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While continuing to work on commercial refurb projects, Angela St Clair-Ford will also build upon her higher education experience and apply it to opportunities in Scotland’s rapidly expanding higher education and associated PBSA (Purpose Built Student Accommodation) sectors.

Having joined JRA in 2011, Angela St Clair-Ford’s focus has been on workplace consultancy and the fit-out of interiors for a range of commercial and educational occupiers. Her portfolio covers new-build schemes as well as the renovation of historic buildings, and she has experience of practising in both the UK and USA. She is supported by a growing team in Edinburgh, including Anna Rogowska, an Architectural Assistant, and is already actively recruiting to augment her team’s capabilities. 

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Since its formation in 1993, JRA has designed and delivered buildings that have established the firm’s reputation as innovative architects who consistently realise client’s ambitions and resolve complex problems with purpose and flair.

Guided by founder John Robertson, the practice is led by Festus Moffat, David Magyar and Smita Bhat, supported by an accomplished team of associate directors. Together, they have wide-ranging project experience in the UK, EMEA and international markets, as well as in masterplanning across conceptual and detailed design stages. 

JRA is currently undertaking commercial, higher education and residential projects in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

JRA’s recent completed projects include the SKA Gold rated x+why Birmingham, the BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and WiredScore ‘Platinum’ workspace Bloom Clerkenwell for HB Reavis, the prominent repositioning projects Bureau and The Ludgate, and the redevelopment and fit out of Skanska’s HQ at 51 Moorgate, which was awarded WELL ‘Platinum’ status. 

World Space Week: Simple ways to experience a rare astronomical event

With World Space Week in orbit this week, Dan Green, editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature, provides his simple tips to experience a rare astronomical event, the partial solar eclipse, on Tuesday, 25 October.

The Week Junior Science+Nature this week launched its first guest-edited edition, edited by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist, writer and TV’s ‘Sky at Night’ co-presenter, published to mark World Space Week 2022.

People across the UK will be able to experience a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday, 25 October.

In this rare astronomical event, the Moon’s orbit lines up closely with the Sun. Its dark disc will cross in front of the bright Sun, making it look as if someone has taken a bite out of the Sun. The partial eclipse will last about two hours – starting about 10.10am, it will reach its maximum by 11.00am and will be all done by 11.50am.

Here are four top tips to help you get the best view:

Sight lines in towns and cities are often blocked by tall buildings. Find an open area where you can get a clear view of the Sun.

Never look directly at the Sun, as this could damage your eyes.

To view the event safely, you’ll need eclipse glasses. You can buy them online, or dig out your old pair you kept in a drawer from the 1999 total solar eclipse.

A great way to view the eclipse is with a pinhole camera. Cut a 1-2mm circular hole in a piece of card. Standing with your back to the Sun, hold the card up so Sunlight passes through the hole and falls onto a piece of white paper.

Move the card back and forth until you get a sharp image. The bright dot on your piece of paper will clearly display the partially eclipsed Sun. (You can also get the same effect using a colander.)

The next partial solar eclipse visible in the UK is on 29 March 2025.

Make 2nds Count to shine a light on secondary breast cancer

  • 23 venues will join campaign, designed to highlight the lack of awareness and support available for the incurable cancer
  • Three in ten UK adults who are either diagnosed or know a friend or family member with secondary breast cancer felt that research and support were insufficient and not readily available for patients or loved ones 

Make 2nds Count has confirmed that 23 landmarks from across the UK will join the newly launched ‘Shine a Light on Secondaries’ campaign, which has been coordinated to highlight the lack of awareness and support available across the UK for patients and their loved ones living with the incurable cancer.  

On 13th October 2022, venues including Camera Obscura, Granton Gas Tower, The Balmoral, Caird Hall and Blackpool Tower will shine brightly in the charity’s colours, pink, purple and teal, as part of the national campaign designed to “Shine a Light” on Secondary Breast Cancer Day, which is often overlooked amidst the wider narrative around Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October).  

A YouGov survey commissioned this year by Make 2nds Count revealed that 29% of UK adults who are either diagnosed or know a friend or family member with secondary breast cancer felt that research and support were insufficient and not readily available for patients or loved ones. 

It also confirmed that only 23% of these UK respondents asked would look to the mainstream media as a source of information and support when dealing with secondary breast cancer, whilst a staggering 59% refer to charities offering one-to-one advice and personal experience. 

Heather Moffitt, a trustee of Make 2nds Count who is living with Stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer, comments: “We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer. We need to change the narrative and raise so much more awareness around the signs and symptoms of this disease.  

“Secondary breast cancer is incurable and without further research and education, this disease will continue to destroy the lives of so many. That’s why we’ve joined forces with venues across the UK to mark a moment and Shine a Light on this disease and the important work that needs to be done.” 

The disease, also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer, is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body and is incurable. On average there are around 35,000 patients in the UK currently living with this form of the disease. 

Make 2nds Count is a patient and family-focused charity dedicated to giving hope to women and men living with secondary breast cancer. 

Their mission is to fund secondary breast cancer research that contributes to advancing an increased quality of life for patients; establish a community that supports and educates patients and families affected by secondary breast cancer; inform and facilitate access to patient trials and to increase overall awareness of secondary breast cancer.    

For more information or support visit www.make2ndscount.co.uk/  

Business activity falls for second month running amid sharper falls in new work

  • Accelerated contraction in new work
  • Sentiment weakens further in September
  • Inflation remains elevated, but softens

Business activity across Scotland’s private sector contracted again in September, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI® data. The seasonally adjusted headline Royal Bank of Scotland Business Activity Index – a measure of combined manufacturing and service sector output – was little-changed from 47.8 in August at 48.0, signalling a second consecutive month of contraction.

Despite easing, a high inflationary environment drove the latest decline in business activity and new orders, with the rate of contraction for the latter gaining momentum.

The challenging conditions meant that the degree of confidence further weakened during September. The latest reading registered a 28-month low, suggesting subdued performance as we progress into the final quarter of the year.

New business received at Scottish private sector companies contracted for the third month running during September. The rate of reduction quickened on the month and was solid overall. Inflationary pressures and the cost-of-living crisis were primarily linked to the latest downturn. 

At the sectoral level, manufacturing firms reported the softest decline in factory orders in three months, while services providers reported their first contraction since March 2021.

Amid soaring prices and recession fears, overall activity expectations weakened for the second consecutive month in Scotland’s private sector in September. Business confidence hit a 28-month low, posting below the average recorded over the series history and much weaker than the UK-wide average.

As has been the case since April 2021, employment across Scotland’s private sector increased in September. According to anecdotal evidence, successful hiring was in part linked to fresh graduates entering the workforce. While the respective seasonally adjusted index improved marginally from the that seen in August, it was the second-lowest reading in 17 months.

The pace of employment growth in Scotland was softer than the UK average.

September data revealed a reduction in backlogs of work for the fourth consecutive month at private sector companies in Scotland. The rate of depletion quickened to the fastest in 20 months. Respondents frequently mentioned the fall in backlogs reflected fewer new orders.

The rate of reduction at Scottish private sector companies was quicker than the UK-wide average which, in contrast to Scotland, softened during September.

For the twenty-eighth month running, average cost burdens rose across private sector firms in Scotland during September. The rise was largely blamed on inflationary pressures in labour market and supply chains. Despite the rate of input price inflation remaining historically high, the latest incline was the softest since August 2021 with both sectors noting slower rates of inflation.

Moreover, the pace of inflation in Scotland lagged behind that seen at the UK level, posting the second-softest of the 12 monitored regions ahead of the South West of England.

Scotland’s private sector firms raised their charges during September, thereby stretching the current run of output price inflation to 23 months. According to panellists, prices were raised primarily to offset increasing costs. That said, the rate of output price inflation was the weakest in 13 months and the softest of the 12 monitored UK regions.

Source: Royal Bank of Scotland, S&P Global.

Judith Cruickshank, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, commented: “Business activity and new orders continued to decrease across the Scottish private sector during September, thereby stretching the current runs of contraction to two and three months respectively.

“The squeeze on customer disposable incomes amid a high inflation environment underpinned the latest downturn in output and new business.

“Despite falling business requirements, firms raised employment for the eighteenth successive month, albeit at a moderate pace. The combination of a drop in new work and expanding workforces allowed firms to work through their backlogs.  

“The post-pandemic boom is clearly at an end, as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis plays an increasingly important role. Moreover, the 12-month outlook continues to weaken.”