Category: North Edinburgh News

Age Scotland supports increase in capital’s public toilet provision

Scotland’s national charity for older people has written to Edinburgh councillors in support of proposals for an increase in the availability of public toilets in the city.

The proposals, outlined in the “Future Provision of Public Conveniences” report, are set to be discussed by members of Edinburgh City Council’s Transport and Environment Committee today (22 April) and include recommendations for investment in 15 current public toilet sites as well as highlighting six areas where future facilities are being considered.

Age Scotland believes that there should be an increase in availability of public toilets in the city and says these proposals would be hugely beneficial, giving many older people and those with disabilities the much-needed confidence to get out and about.

They believe that the public toilets in Colinton should remain as part of the council’s network, resisting any proposal to close them, and urge that all existing public toilets in Edinburgh are reopened, made safe for use and available to residents as soon as possible, particularly given increased demand due to recent easing of lockdown measures and travel restrictions.

The charity advised that councillors should carefully consider accessibility of any new facilities if charging was to be established, given the large number of older people and people on low incomes who do not use contactless cards or do not have a bank account, preferring cash as a means of payment and budgeting.

Age Scotland’s Chief Executive Brian Sloan said: “Ensuring good access to clean, safe and accessible public toilets is so important and something which older people and people with disabilities raise with us regularly.

“This would be a positive investment in the city, for residents and tourists, and go some way to helping people feel confident to travel throughout the city, contribute to the local economy and improve their quality of life.

“We know that without good access to public conveniences many people, older and with certain medical conditions, can be discouraged from leaving their home which is harmful to their physical and mental health.

“While these new proposals look to the future, people must be supported to reconnect with others, take part in activities and boost the economy as a matter of urgency. It will be harder to support this, and tackle the effects of loneliness and social isolation, without ensuring that all existing public toilets are reopened.”

Inexorable rise in food bank use

1.9 million meals distributed – and latest statistics DO NOT include pandemic period

Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, the Trussell Trust’s food bank network distributed 1.9 million three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, a 18% increase on the previous year. More than seven hundred thousand of these went to children.

Across Scotland, more than 237,000 were distributed – 80,000 of which were for children.

Food bank use has increased by 74% over the last five years, the charity reports. The top three reasons for referral to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network in 2019-20 were low income, benefit delays and benefit changes.

Releasing the charity’s latest annual statistics, Trussell Trust’s CEO Emma Revie said: “This year has been an extraordinarily difficult one, with many more people across the country facing destitution as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Food banks carry on, working as tirelessly as ever, to support people in crisis through the unprecedented challenge the pandemic continues to pose.

“The statistics in our 2019/2020 report show the situation in food banks up until the end of March, before the true economic impact of the pandemic had hit. Despite this, we see a rise in the number of people being forced to use a food bank yet again.

“This constant rise in food bank use, year after year, cannot continue. More and more people are struggling to eat because they simply cannot afford food – and when we look to the year ahead, it’s likely even more people will be forced into destitution. This is not right.”

“We know this situation can be turned around – that’s why we’re campaigning to create a future where no one needs a food bank. Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty and while additional government measures have helped some people stay afloat this year, clearly more needs to be done.

“That’s why we united with partners from across the charity sector in urging the UK government to make sure everyone can afford the essentials through the economic downturn.

“And we want to see governments at all levels doing everything in their power to protect people from financial hardship.

“We have outlined what needs to be done – it’s in our power to protect one another, we’ve seen it during this health crisis, and we need it to continue during this economic one.”

Big increase in online job posts as economy continues to recover

The latest jobs indicator released by Internet Association shows a large increase in the number of full time and part time job postings online as the UK economy continues its recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The new data shows that over 250,000 full-time jobs were posted online in March 2021 – a 112 percent increase on March 2020. That figure also represents a 21 percent increase since February 2021, following a 5.9 percent rise since January 2021 – pointing to accelerating growth in the full-time jobs market. 

There is also encouraging news for part-time work revealed by the new data. While January 2021 saw a 10 percent decrease in part-time online job postings, February 2021 saw a 12.2 percent increase, and March 2021 saw a 4 percent increase.

The positive increase points to the likely preparation ahead of the recent reopening of non-essential retail, hospitality and other sectors that are reliant on part-time work.  

Key findings from IA’s ‘Industry Indicators: Jobs (3i Jobs) Q1 2021 Report’:

  • The number of full time jobs being posted online are at their highest for over a year. And despite the sharp fall during the height of the pandemic, the number of postings online in March 2021 is 112 percent higher than March 2020. 
  • The part-time job market is beginning to recover – albeit slower than the full-time market. March 2021 saw a 4 percent increase in online job postings, following a 12.2 percent increase in February 2021. The number of jobs posted in March 2021 also represents a 37 percent increase on March 2020. 
  • A fifth of UK adults (21 percent) now use the internet to earn money online – with the most common amounts being around £10-20 per month, through to over £100 a month. This rate has remained stable throughout the year, suggesting that people are beginning to use the increased flexibility of home working to earn additional income online. 
  • The top postings for full time positions in March 2021 were Sales Assistant, Retail Sales Associates and Client Advisors. The top postings for part time positions were Crew Members, Cashiers and Sales Advisors – again pointing to the big employment boost expected from the reopening of retail last week. 

The new data, part of IA’s ‘3i Report’ series, presents monthly insights on the UK job market using data from national and internet-based resources.

The report tracks month to month trends in the online job market and presents unique information on hiring, openings and an online income tracker that identifies the amount of additional income being made by people online through, for example, selling products on platforms like Etsy or Ebay.

The tracker shows that over a fifth of UK adults are using the internet to earn money online, with 9 percent of those earning more than £100 a month online. 

The report also highlights how the internet is a vital tool to help people find work and create income in a variety of ways – with the latest update a cause for optimism for the UK full-time and part time jobs market.

It shows rapid growth in online job postings after a difficult period during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and a stabilising rate of people earning money online. 

To read the full report, click here

Rapid Corinavirus Test Centre opens in Craigmillar Library

Rapid coronavirus (COVID 19) testing is now available for people without symptoms in the Craigmillar area as the Capital’s first Asymptomatic Testing Centre goes live.

The community testing initiative, in partnership with the Scottish Government, aims to drive down local COVID 19 rates and transmission by identifying positive cases more quickly, as people can spread the virus to others before symptoms appear.

Residents who do not have any of the three COVID symptoms (a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell) are encouraged to get tested.

There is no need to book and testing is available from Craigmillar Library from today, 21 April, until Sunday 2 May 2021 inclusive. The ATC will be open daily from 9am to 6pm. 

This site is only for people without symptoms. Anyone with COVID 19 symptoms should self-isolate and book a test in the usual way via nhsinform.scot or by calling 0800 028 2816.

Residents will be tested using lateral flow devices (LFDs), which can give people their results in around 45 minutes. Any positive cases will then be confirmed by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.

Anyone who receives a positive LFD or PCR test result will be asked to self isolate. Dedicated support is available to anyone who needs to self isolate, including food packages and financial support. 

Further advice and information on what support is available for people who need to self isolate is available from nhsinform.scot / www.edinburgh.gov.uk 

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Things are definitely moving in the right direction now that we’re in a position to unlock gradually, but there’s absolutely no room for complacency – we need to keep on top of case numbers and make sure any localised outbreaks are minimised as much as possible.

“It’s really important we give people in areas where cases are higher the chance to come forward for a test even when they don’t have any symptoms. That way we can monitor and help check the spread of the virus in our communities. 

“Edinburgh citizens have gone above and beyond to help us tackle the pandemic by following public health guidance. These new ATCs will help us make even more progress in reducing the spread of this dreadful virus.

“Centres will be rolled out in targeted areas across Edinburgh in response to public health data over the coming months. The next centre is due to open in Wester Hailes Library from 3 – 9 May and future locations will be publicised as soon as they’re confirmed.”

Depute Council Leader Cammy Day said:  “Recent research has shown that asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases can contribute to more than 40% of Covid19 transmission. it’s quick and easy to get tested – these Lateral Flow swab tests don’t need to be sent to a lab for analysis and the results are available within an hour.

We want as many local people as possible in the Craigmillar area to come forward for a test if they’re not displaying symptoms of the virus, to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. If we can keep case numbers low in the city as a whole, we’ll all see the benefit as things begin to open up again in a Covid-safe way.” 

Trish Lindsay, who lives in the local area, was one of the first people to come forward for a test at the new ATC in Craigmillar Library. She said: “I’d never thought about coming for an asymptomatic test before but, when the centre opened, I thought that I would come along for one.

“As we’ve heard on lots of news reports, there are so many people that are asymptomatic, so the more people that can come along and get tested, the faster we’ll eventually get rid of this pandemic.”

Katie Dee, Interim Director of Public Health, NHS Lothian, said: “We are aware that COVID-19 is often spread by people who don’t have symptoms or they have symptoms that are so subtle they do not recognise the infection.

“Asymptomatic testing enables us to identify the infection so that people are not spreading the infection to their families, colleagues and the wider community. It will also allow us to better understand the rate of infection in people who are not showing signs of COVID-19.

“The centres will also give advice about support for isolation for people with a positive test. By participating in asymptomatic testing, you will help reduce the overall spread of COVID-19.”

Anyone with the symptoms of COVID 19 – a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell – should go online to nhsinform.scot to book a test or call 0800 028 2816 if you cannot get online.

How to self isolate effectively Information and support for people who are asked to self isolate because of COVID 19

Remember FACTS for a safer Scotland:

F Face coverings
A Avoid crowded places
C Clean your hands regularly
T Two metres distance
S Self isolate and book a test if you have symptoms

From Monday 26 April, everyone in Scotland will be able to access rapid #coronavirus testing.

Free lateral flow home test kits will be available for people without symptoms to test themselves twice a week.

Breadwinners need to earn more than £40k for their household to live the UK’s average lifestyle

  • New research shows how much is needed to live the life of the UK’s average household
  • One person would need to earn £42,781, while a couple would need to be paid £18,714 each
  • A UK household would need one person to earn an annual salary of £42,781 to be able to live an average life.

The average household is made up of 2.4 people, and has annual outgoings of £30,571, while also saving £2,160 per year, according to statistics from the ONS.

Research from IVA Advice reveals that a single breadwinner in the household would need to earn £42,781, giving them an after tax income of £32,731 to account for the UK’s average spending and saving.

Despite covering the typical outgoings of a UK household, the salary itself is 37% above the national average.

According a range of job websites, positions paying an average of £42,781 per year include the role of Team Leader in Warwickshire County Council, an environmental engineer in Strood, and a Pharmacy Manager in West Bromwich.

Alternatively, if two people are bringing in a salary, they each need to earn £18,714 a year, which equates to a net wage of £16,366 each. The annual income is 18% below the national average, but two people earning the amount would be able to live the UK’s average lifestyle.

Jobs in which people can make around £18,714 a year include a Forklift Counterbalance Operative, a Production Factory Operative, a JD Sports Fashion Assistant Manager, or a Legal Assistant.

The average UK household budget breaks down to £2,548 a month, with some of the biggest monthly costs including housing, i.e. paying a mortgage or rent, at £309, food and drink at £279 and recreation and culture, such as pet and TV fees costing £205.

The study was conducted by IVA Advice to raise awareness of the importance of keeping track of household finances.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for IVA Advice said: “These figures show that a person needs to earn a considerable wage for their household to live the UK’s ‘average’ life.

“People often feel under pressure to have the newest and best things, never mind just the ‘average’. So it’s not surprising that people can easily overspend and find themselves in debt trouble very quickly.”

www.iva-advice.co

Aldi launches New Scottish Summer Ice Cream Range

Aldi customers are set for a sweet taste of the warmer months ahead following the launch of the supermarket’s delicious range of new ice cream flavours.  

There is no need to play flavourites as customers can pick and choose from three refreshing new ice cream creations as part of Aldi’s much-loved Strachan’s range: Peach Melba, Mixed Scottish Berries, and Raspberry Pavlova. 

At just £1.99 per litre, each tub takes advantage of the best produce Scotland has to offer and are the perfect treat to cool down with on a warm summer’s day. 

Peach Melba is swirled with sweet raspberry and peach pieces; Mixed Berries uses various Scottish berries to create an indulgent fruit compote; and Raspberry Pavlova boasts a smooth dark pink raspberry ripple, as well as crunchy meringue pieces.  

On sale now, the new Strachan’s ice cream flavours are 100% Scottish and are made in Scotland using Scottish milk and cream.  

If you’re more of a chocolate ice cream fan, then why not try Aldi’s recently launched indulgent Specially Selected Belgian Chocolate ice cream? 

Created by Equi’s, who currently offer Specially Selected Double Cream and Madagascan Vanilla and Specially Selected Scottish Isles Sea Salt and Caramel, it is guaranteed to go down a treat with anyone looking for a little indulgence this summer, customers can scoop this up for only £1.99 per 500ml. 

Aldi’s new summer flavours are sure to be the ice cream of the crop and are on sale now at all 96 Aldi stores in Scotland.

You can find your nearest Aldi store here. 

Aldi currently works with over 90 Scottish suppliers, and after reaching their initial goal of stocking over 450 Scottish products by the end of 2020, the supermarket has now increased this target to stock over 500 locally sourced products in the next two years. 

Coping with the New Normal

The final of our four new Mental Health and Wellbeing projects is “Coping with the New Normal”

The 6 week course will help to manage your wellbeing and recognise stress and anxiety as we begin to adapt to the changes we are seeing in the world

Please follow the details above

Raise awareness for World Meningitis Day

LEADING UK meningitis charity Meningitis Now has launched a new Signs and Symptoms video to help raise awareness of the deadly disease to mark World Meningitis Day on Saturday 24 April.

The charity is also calling on local supporters to raise awareness with friends, family and in their community and help #DefeatMeningitis. 

In a second video released for the annual day, an initiative of the worldwide Confederation of Meningitis Organisations, charity supporters Holly and Lewis Andrews, from Worcester, are also helping to spread the word by telling their story.

In the video Holly and Lewis talk about how they had already watched their son Theo battle bacterial meningitis in 2018. Fortunately, he recovered. When his baby brother Jasper became unwell in March 2020 they couldn’t believe that history seemed to be repeating itself.

“Meningitis can wreck lives and it’s vital that everybody understands how serious it can be for individuals and families. That’s why we’re supporting World Meningitis Day. 

“By telling our story, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms and increasing vaccine knowledge, we hope to raise the profile of this devastating disease,” they said. 

Thankfully, Jasper, who was diagnosed with viral meningitis, also went on to make a good recovery.

Holly added: “I couldn’t get my head around the fact that both our babies had contracted meningitis. I had so many questions, so many whys? What ifs? How could this have happened again? What did we do wrong?

“I reached out to Meningitis Now again, and shared all my concerns and all my questions, and they were great. They told me about a Facebook support group, which has been a huge help for me.

“Both boys are doing fantastic, they’re both so happy, so content and are already the best of friends, they love each other so much.

“We still can’t quite believe that in the last three years meningitis has hit our little family twice and I don’t think you can ever get over the constant worrying and panicking, but I think it’s just something you learn to live with.”

The family’s full story is on the charity’s website at www.meningitisnow.org/support-us/news-centre/meningitis-stories/jaspers-story

Meningitis Now Chief Executive, Dr Tom Nutt, said: “We want to use World Meningitis Day to help spread the word and raise awareness of the signs and symptoms and reinforce that, on World Meningitis Day, as on every other day, we are here to help and support those who need us.

“With the impact of Covid-19 leading to some people missing their immunisations and the number of meningitis cases expected to rise when people start to gather again it’s important that we keep meningitis awareness on everybody’s radar.

“Please join us on 24 April for World Meningitis Day, take action and #DefeatMeningitis.”

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by bacteria or viruses.Early signs and symptoms can be similar to ‘flu, tummy bug or a hangover and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.

More specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash, which doesn’t fade under pressure. Symptoms can occur in any order and some may not appear at all.

If someone is ill and getting worse seek urgent medical attention.

Of those who contract bacterial meningitis one in ten will die and one in three survivors will be left with life-changing after-effects.

The awareness day takes place as Meningitis Now launches its new five-year strategy aiming to defeat meningitis in the UK within a generation.

The charity is working towards a future where no one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need.

It does this by funding research into vaccines and prevention, raising awareness so people know what to look for and what action to take if they suspect meningitis and rebuilding futures by providing dedicated support to people living with the impact of the disease.

For more information visit www.meningitisnow.org

Redundancy fears as cancer charity’s services are suspended

All staff at Breast Cancer Haven are at risk of redundancy after trustees announced its services would be suspended because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. 

In a statement published on its website on Friday, the charity said it had taken the decision to suspend operations “for the time being”, putting all of its staff – believed to be 26 people – at risk of redundancy.

According to the charity’s latest accounts, for the year to the end of May 2020, it employed 67 staff and reported a total income of £3.8m. Total spending was nearly £4m.

But the charity said it had already made about 40 staff redundant since the pandemic began, and had been forced to close its five centres and other in-hospital face-to-face services. 

The charity’s healthcare professionals will still provide individual support as well as online groups and classes up until the end of June, Breast Cancer Haven said, and it will honour all existing individual therapy appointments, while endeavouring to honour existing visitors’ full treatment plans if possible.

In addition, visitors with first consultations booked before 23 April will still be able to access a maximum of four hours of individual therapy time, the charity said. 

Breast Cancer Haven still has to raise a further £100,000 to deliver these services up until the end of June, and the charity said it welcomed any continued donations its supporters can give.

The statement said: “It is with huge sadness that Breast Cancer Haven’s board of trustees has made the extremely difficult decision to suspend operations for the time being.

“This means we will be pausing the delivery of our live online service and, with great regret, putting all our staff at risk of redundancy.

“Despite a series of cost-cutting measures, including saying goodbye to valued colleagues, we are not able to continue normal operations at this time. 

“This means that we will be pausing the delivery of our live online services that have helped around 1,800 people by providing over 10,000 appointments since lockdown began in March 2020.”

The charity thanked its staff, volunteers and therapists and said it would make further announcements regarding its future as soon as possible.

2/3 of Scottish workers may be suffering from poor mental health due to the pandemic, says report

The COVID-19 pandemic is feared to have had a detrimental impact on Scottish workers’ mental health, with 65% of managers saying their staff’s mental health worsened over the pandemic, according to new research by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). 

This compares to only just over half (54%) of managers saying their staff’s mental health worsened over the pandemic in Yorkshire and Humber, and 56% in London. 

A survey of 1,274 managers across England and Scotland which looked into the impact of mental health in the pandemic and employer mental health support found that the North West ranked highest overall in terms of the impact of the pandemic on workers mental health and employer support for mental health in the workplace.

The final ranking is as follows: 

  • 1.North West
  • 2. South East
  • =3. East Midlands
  • =3. West Midlands
  • =5. London
  • =5. South West
  • =7. Yorkshire and the Humber
  • =7. Scotland
  • 9. North East
  • 10. East of England 

The research also found that employers across the regions are on the whole fairing well in relation to the provision of mental health support – with the highest satisfaction with services being 8.2 out of 10 in the South East, compared to the lowest being 7.6 in the East of England.

However across the regions over at least a fifth of all managers are apprehensive about using their employers Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). 

Commenting on the regional statistics of CMI’s research, Niamh Mulholland, Executive Director of External Affairs said: “Coming back to the workplace is going to be stressful for a lot of people, who may worry about if it’s safe for them to return, what will the office be like and the commute amongst other things.

“As a result, people may need extra support from their employer and although employers are doing well overall, they may need to look at the support they currently have, in case there’s anything additional that their teams may need.

“In Stress Awareness Month, we are partnering with Kooth to ensure that these needs are highlighted and that all managers know that CMI can support them if they are worried or don’t feel able to access their Employee Assistance Programme.

“Simply visit our website managers.org.uk/StressAwareness.”