North Edinburgh News – Page 1783 – The NEN

OYNB to offer 25% discount on all products for Cyber Week 2020

Substantial discounts will support people towards regaining control of their relationship with alcohol amidst UK’s crisis

Discount deals will run from 24th November 00:01 GMT until 30th November 00:00

Recent data shows that millions are turning to alcohol to cope with the pandemic – leading to a decline in both physical health and mental health for many across the nation.

In a bid to support those in need and encourage them to kick start their ’New Year Now’, the online toolkit for surviving modern alcohol-free society, OYNB will be offering a blanket discount of 25% across all of their products for this year’s Cyber Week.

Ruari Fairbairns, Co-Founder and CEO of OYNB comments: “It’s absolutely devastating to read these recent reports confirming the number of people drinking at ‘high risk’ levels has doubled to almost 8.5million since February.

“By offering a huge discount on our products at the end of this month, we really hope that it will encourage people to invest in themselves and turn things around now so that they can move into the new year feeling happier and stronger both physically and mentally.”

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People interested in addressing their relationship with alcohol will be able to bag themselves discounts on all of the OYNB Challenges which are designed to cover 28, 90 and 365 days.

They will also be able to purchase discounted Alcohol Free Me bundles as well as Accelerator calls and the OYNB Mastermind aimed specifically at anyone who has been alcohol free for 90 days or more.

Fairbairns continues: “Many people are already aware of the fact that they drink too much, but it’s more important than ever for them to address this and work towards going into the new year in a positive mindset.

“Through offering these discounts as part of this year’s Cyber Week we really hope that people will start to take action now! And for those who want to delay this a little, for whatever reason, we are also offering people the opportunity to delay the start date of their challenges to the 1^st January.”

OYNB has recently launched their New Year Now campaign which aims to support people towards making positive lifestyle choices now, rather than waiting for key milestone dates like Dry January or the start of 2021 to kickstart their path to recovery.

The sole mission behind the campaign is to encourage people to acknowledge the impact that C19 has had on their drinking behaviour and support them in committing to a longer alcohol-free streak than just one month. That commitment will empower them to start 2021 off with a really solid foundation for physical and mental health and wellbeing.

For more information, and to purchase any of their challenges, visit https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

Residential outdoor education centres fund is now open

A fund to help residential outdoor education centres mitigate the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has openeds for applications.

Centres which are facing financial challenges can apply for funds to help with running costs and to enable staff to deliver outdoor learning in and around schools.

Science Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Residential outdoor education centres are facing severe challenges. As well as providing much-needed support, this fund will mean pupils can continue to benefit from outdoor learning, which is an important aspect of Scotland’s curriculum and can play a vital role in supporting children’s wellbeing and attainment.

“I hope this funding, along with third sector and youth work funding streams which are already available, alleviates some of the pressures and allows centres to offer meaningful experiences to young people.

“Funding on its own will not address all of the challenges facing the sector. We will continue to engage with local authorities to support the important role that outdoor education centres and their staff can play during the period when overnight residential stays are not permitted for public health reasons.”

To coincide with the opening of the support fund, Mr Lochhead has written to local authority directors of education, inviting them to share new advice and support materials for schools as they work with centres in the coming months.

Martin Davidson, of the Outward Bound Trust and #SaveYourOutdoorCentres Campaign, said: “Outdoor education centres welcome the COVID-19 Residential Outdoor Education Centre Support Fund, which will provide vital support during these financially extremely challenging times.

“Supporting fixed facility costs, the fund will ensure that many centres that would have closed permanently are still available for the benefit of future generations of young people.

“In addition, in the short term, the fund will also support outdoor centre instructors to work with young people in schools and local communities, meeting their significant emotional and social needs at this time of unprecedented uncertainty in their lives.”

The fund will be administered by the charity YouthLink Scotland. Applications for essential running costs are invited between 23 November, and 11 December 2020. Applications for funding to support outdoor learning in and around schools are invited between 11 Jan 2021 and 5 Feb 2021.

YouthLink Scotland CEO Tim Frew said: “We welcome the launch of this fund. It will be crucial to the future of our outdoor residential centres, which are a key part of the fabric of Scotland’s wider education system, including youth work. Access to these opportunities is an important part of education recovery as we move through and past the pandemic.

“Outdoor learning contributes to young people’s health and wellbeing and builds essential life and work skills, while connecting them in a special way to their immediate environment and to the wider world and its issues. The value of outdoor learning cannot be underestimated – so it is critical that we ensure the survival of our outdoor centres.”

Details about the fund and how to apply can be found here

Downton Abbey stars give support to Hearts & Minds Christmas appeal

A galaxy of stars from the much-loved TV series & movie Downton Abbey are giving support to the new Christmas Appeal launched by Edinburgh charity, Hearts & Minds for their Elderflowers Programme helping people living with dementia and their carers.

The Downton stars have pledged to make a very special personalised Christmas video message for a number of lucky supporters.

Phyllis Logan, best known for her role as Downton Abbey housekeeper Mrs Hughes, is an Honorary Elderflower and huge supporter of this Scottish charity as she has had personal experience of loved ones living with dementia.

She came on board in 2016 and has been an active ambassador, so when the call came to ask for her support for the Elderflowers Christmas Appeal she went above and beyond and rallied her Downton Abbey co-stars to help support this charity that is close to her heart.

Phyllis and fellow Downton stars including Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael and Lesley Nicol have kindly agreed to send a selected number of personal Christmas video messages to a number of lucky people chosen at random in the Hearts & Minds Christmas Appeal for the Elderflowers.

For just £5 a lucky person could receive a special Merry Christmas video from Lord Grantham!

The stars are waiting in the wings to wish a Merry Christmas to the lucky supporters whose names will be picked at random on 7 December. Each Downton star will be sent the name of their lucky recipient and they will make them a very special personalised Christmas video message.

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and those who care for them. Isolated and unable to be with loved ones, much of what gives life it’s meaning has been stripped away.

Our Elderflowers, trained in the art of therapeutic clowning, have continued to provide joy, laughter, and meaningful connections to people who need it most throughout the pandemic, and your support will help us continue to do so into the future.

To support Hearts & Minds Elderflowers Christmas Appeal people should visit the Hearts & Minds Christmas Appeal page:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=elderflowerchristmas

Closing date: 7 December at 12 noon

Terms & conditions

Minimum donation is £5. You can donate as many times as you wish. You must be over 18. Names will be chosen at random. There is no guarantee that you will receive a personalised video, but all money donated will support the Elderflower programme. By donating you are spreading joy, smiles and laughter to adults living with dementia.

Connecting Scotland: More funding to help families get online

Thousands of disadvantaged young people are being helped to develop valuable digital skills through the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland programme.

More than 23,000 iPads and Chromebooks are being distributed among digitally excluded low-income families and care leavers, as part of the latest phase of the £43 million programme.

As well as a new device, recipients also receive mobile data and help to use the internet confidently and safely for up to two years.

Connecting Scotland works with local authorities, public bodies and third sector organisations to reach people across the country.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Access to the internet brings huge benefits, especially during these challenging times. It provides a way to keep in touch and keep us informed, and is also an important way for people of all ages to further their education, find work and training opportunities.

“That’s why in this year’s Programme for Government we further committed to our world-leading Connecting Scotland programme by pledging to reach a total of 50,000 digitally excluded or marginalized people by the end of 2021. The combination of a device plus ongoing support means that everyone can get the most out of their laptop or tablet, and develop their skills.

“So far more than 8,700 people have received this package, and the stories fed back to us from local organisations show the real difference it’s making to households across the country.”

The full-time carer of a child who received a laptop through the programme said: “Thank you so much, the laptop is amazing. We downloaded Google Classroom and Ruby* did all her schoolwork.

“It was so fantastic to see her enjoy looking at a decent sized screen – it’s been a struggle to have Ruby do homework on an old mobile phone which is past its best. To be able to help her home school on a proper laptop is wonderful.”

Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government programme set up in response to COVID-19. It provides iPads, Chromebooks and support to develop skills for people who are digitally excluded and on low incomes and is delivered in partnership with SCVO, all 32 local authorities and hundreds of third sector organisations across Scotland.

Phase 1 (April – July 2020) focused on those who were at high risk of contracting coronavirus because they were in the extremely high vulnerability group (‘shielding’) or the higher risk of severe illness group.

Phase 2, round 1 launched on 18 August and is focused on households with children, or where a child is normally resident (this includes pregnant women with no child in the household) and care leavers up to the age of 26 (in line with eligibility for aftercare support).

The next round of phase 2 opens tday (24 November)and will close on 18 January at 11am.

Applications can be made by organisations who support eligible groups via the Connecting Scotland website.

Care home residents join mass singalong to commemorate fallen heroes

Residents at two Edinburgh care homes joined hundreds of people across the UK in a virtual singalong to celebrate the life of the late Dame Vera Lynn.

Men and women from Mansfield Care’s Haugh House and Craighall House care homes sang the iconic ‘We’ll Meet Again’, with over 900 care home residents taking part throughout the country.

The event took place on Remembrance Sunday while also marking the release of the singer’s farewell album ‘Keep Smiling Through’ in partnership with Decca records.

The singalong was organised by Shapeshifter Productions which collaborates with care homes around the UK through their participatory singing project, The Smiling Sessions.

The charity provides weekly singing sessions for residents in care homes, which can be accessed through a newly developed website and app due to the pandemic. Songs can be streamed or downloaded.

Artistic Director of Shapeshifter Productions, Alison Jones, (above) said: “The Smiling Sessions was a project conceived over 10 years ago which enables residents at care homes throughout the country to sing with one another through weekly sessions.

“Unfortunately, with the pandemic we were forced to hold our weekly singing sessions virtually, but with this change we came up with new ideas such as a virtual jukebox – allowing residents to pick the songs they want to sing together remotely.

“It became a huge hit with homes all over the country, and so we decided we wanted to have a mass singalong to commemorate those on Remembrance Sunday. It took a lot of effort to set up, but we were overwhelmed by the popularity of the singalong with over 10,000 residents all coming together to sing.

“Dame Vera Lynn is so iconic, and is a symbol of resilience and strength for so many during an unprecedented time, and you can see how much the song meant to all the residents, it provided a real sense of occasion for them.”

Haugh House and Craighall House were approached by Shapeshifter Productions over the phone after learning the mother of Pete Baikie, co-founder of The Smiling Sessions, was staying at Haugh House.

Care Home Manager, Jo Dickman, said: “One of residents, Rae Baikie (above), has a son who is involved in musical therapy for care homes down in England, and so he regularly comes up to do singing sessions with our residents.

“Through him we found out about the big singalong and we had many of our residents eager to join. They absolutely loved it, and you could see just how much it meant to those who took part in it.

“It made the residents feel very reminiscent of their childhoods, and we even have two residents who served in the forces so it was particularly poignant for them.

“Singing plays a huge role in the care of our residents, and seeing each of them after the performance, and when we showed them the video back, it obvious to see how much of an impact singing can have on their well-being.

“We are always trying to find new and unique ways to provide activities for our residents in a time were visits and sessions can be difficult. We will definitely be collaborating with the Smiling Sessions project in the future.”

Mansfield Care specialise in small, friendly residential care homes in Edinburgh, Borders and west of Scotland; each designed to an exceptional standard with state-of-the-art facilities.

The Mansfield Care ethos is inspired by the kind of care we would wish for ourselves in later life – supportive, friendly, bright, positive, empathetic, respectful and homely.

Gift yourself 12 Days of Fitness

After a bah-humbug 2020 when staying active hasn’t always been a priority, take some time for yourself this festive season. Boost your immunity, manage stress and your mental health by gifting yourself 12 Days of Fitness.

Available to buy online only from 23^rd November to 31^st December, Edinburgh Leisure, a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active and healthy lives, has launched its seasonal promotion, 12 Days of Fitness, with the aim of encouraging people to stay active in November and December.

The 12 Days of Fitness promotion offers 12 consecutive days of membership, from the moment you buy, for only £12. And if you get the fitness bug, you’re not restricted to one pass per person either – if you wish to buy a second pass after your first pass expires, it’ll mean you’re doubly on the way to reaching those fitness goals ahead of New Year.

The pass gives you 12 consecutive days access to Edinburgh Leisure’s climb and fitness facilities, subject to COVID-19 restrictions. With Edinburgh currently in Tier 3, only their gym, swim and climb facilities are available. If Edinburgh is moved into Tier 2, fitness classes will also become available.

Edinburgh Leisure’s facilities are second to none and offer choice and great value, across various city locations.

Their gyms feature some of the latest fitness equipment and while things are a little different from before with physical distancing measures in place, and the need to book your gym, swim and climb sessions in advance, you will be assured a warm welcome, with helpful staff ready to help you reach your fitness goals.

They also have numerous swimming pools across the city, from historic baths to the famous Olympic-sized Royal Commonwealth Pool and Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho.

For further information about Edinburgh Leisure venues and services and the 12 Days of Fitness Promotion visit: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

MUIRHOUSE DESERVES BETTER: Day Of Action

Thurs 26th 13:00 at Pennywell Road shops: https://fb.me/e/LVcOQRcz

Living Rent Muirhouse members are inviting local residents and union members to draw in chalk their housing problems which are not being dealt with by their landlord – Edinburgh City Council.

Members and residents will then hand in a list of their demands about repairs to the Edinburgh City Council offices. This has gone on for long enough: Muirhouse Deserves Better!

SOCIALLY DISTANCED/ COVID MEASURES

– online tweets and fb posts for those shielding
– masks and hand sanitiser provided
– physically distancing measures enacted

‘Tis the season to be jolly … but ’tis also the season to be jolly careful – PM Boris Johnson

Lockdown to end in England next week

It seems that almost every week we learn of some new scientific breakthrough to help us beat Covid. Last week it was good news about the vaccine from Pfizer BioNTech and then Moderna.

This morning we heard the fantastic news that the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine has been highly effective in clinical trials – there are more tests to be done, but the signs are that this vaccine – financed partly by British taxpayers, working in partnership with a great British company – this vaccine could be both affordable and easy to use and highly effective.

We have ordered 100m doses, and thanks to the work of the Vaccines Task Force we have secured more than 350m doses of potential vaccines of all kinds – but we are not out of the woods yet

We can hear the drumming hooves of the cavalry coming over the brow of the hill but they are not here yet.

Even if all three vaccines are approved, even if the production timetables are met and vaccines notoriously fall behind in their production timetables it will be months before we can be sure that we have inoculated everyone that needs a vaccine and those months will be hard.

They will be cold – they include January and February when the NHS is under its greatest pressure and that is why when we come out of lockdown next week we must not just throw away the gains we have all made. So today we have published out Covid Winter Plan which sets out a clear strategy to take the country through to the end of March.

We will continue to bear down hard on this virus. We will use tough tiering – in some ways tougher than the pre-lockdown measures and details of those tiers are on the gov.uk website later this week when we have the most up to data and we will be sharing details of which tier your area is going to be in.

I should warn you now that many more places will be in higher tiers than alas was previously the case, and we will simultaneously be using the new and exciting possibilities of community testing – as they have done in Liverpool – and there will be a clear incentive for everyone in areas where the virus prevalence is high to get a test, to get one of these rapid turnaround lateral flow tests and do your best for the community.

Get a test to help to squeeze the disease and reduce the restrictions that your town or city or area has endured and that way – through tough tiering and mass community testing we hope to let people see a little more of their family and friends over Christmas.

Now I know that many of us want and need Christmas with our families; we feel after this year we deserve it but this is not the moment to let the virus rip for the sake of Christmas parties.

‘Tis the season to be jolly but’ tis also the season to be jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives.

And working with the Devolved Administrations we will set out shortly how we want to get the balance right for Christmas and we will be setting this out later this week.

Christmas this year will be different and we want to remain prudent through Christmas and beyond into the new year, but we will use the three tools that I have described to squeeze the virus in the weeks and months ahead: tiering, testing and the roll-out of vaccines, employing all three techniques together so as to drive down R and drive down the infection rate.

And I really am now assured things really will look and feel very different indeed after Easter and that idea of and end goal or date is important because at last – if the promise of the vaccines is fulfilled – we do have something to work for a timescale, a goal around which businesses can begin tentatively to plan and with luck and with hard work we will be seeing improvements before then.

But for now the problem is not a shortage of hope or a lack of optimism, not with the amazing news that we are getting from the laboratories in this country: the challenge now as we face this difficult winter ahead is to fight down any over-optimism to master any tendency to premature celebration of success.

That success will come all the faster if we work together to follow the guidance maintain the basic disciplines as people have done so heroically over the last few months: hands, face, space and get a test if you have symptoms because that is the way we will beat it together.

A less wasteful Christmas will bring added joy this year, says Zero Waste Scotland

As Scotland prepares for an unusual festive period filled with firsts, Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging Scots to start their own new tradition this Christmas.

The organisation is a launching a campaign to help Scots with practical ideas and tips on small changes to cut our carbon footprint linked to waste, calling on everyone to retain the joy in what for many will be a different festive period.

Many Scots have embraced lifestyle changes that benefit the environment during lockdown – from making the most of food to repairing clothing, and recycling as much as they can.

Now Zero Waste Scotland is challenging the nation to apply that ethos to Christmas and come up with a ‘Christmas first’ that’s good for the planet and spreads a little joy.

Jenny Fraser, consumer campaigns manager at Zero Waste Scotland, said: “It has been wonderful to see how people across Scotland have continued to do their bit for the planet during lockdown – whether that’s by making or buying reusable face coverings, baking yummy treats from leftover ingredients, upcycling furniture or making the most of every available space in their recycling bins.

“It has been a challenging year for many and lots of people will be experiencing Christmas ‘firsts’ because of circumstances beyond their control this season. We’re encouraging people to take the opportunity to set their own – and we’re excited to hear all about them via the hashtag #ChristmasTrimmings.”

As Scotland’s circular economy expert, Zero Waste Scotland helps consumers and businesses reduce waste and emissions to combat climate change.

The organisation has come up with the following ‘Christmas firsts’ as examples of actions that keep the joy of Christmas without a hefty carbon footprint:

Ask for a second-hand gift. Research from Zero Waste Scotland shows most Scots would be happy to receive a pre-loved gift – but many would be unlikely to buy one for someone else². Why not turn that around this year by asking gift-givers (and Santa) to shop second-hand – either in person where Scottish Government coronavirus guidance allows or on online auction sites likes Gumtree and eBay?

Give a gift that keeps on giving. Subscriptions, donations and sponsorship are a great way to share the love without the ‘stuff’ – and support a good cause. Why not invest in a streaming platform like Netflix for the movie buff in your life, subscribe to a comic or magazine, sponsor an animal, or donate to a charity close to a loved one’s heart?

Make your own wrapping paper. With Scots using upwards of 19,000 miles of wrapping paper in previous years, a DIY effort could be a fun way to cut your carbon footprint down to size. Why not use kids’ drawings to wrap gifts, or if you have received a delivery recently jazz up the brown paper it was stuffed with? Just remember to avoid glitter and foil as paper mixed with these can’t be recycled.

Have a ‘Christmas dinner conference’. We all know how hard it can be to please everyone, so with smaller gatherings this year it’s the perfect time to get everyone involved in planning the Christmas shopping list. Whether you’re hosting an extended household (following Scottish Government coronavirus guidance) or just the immediate family, why not start a conversation about what you’ll eat come Christmas? Planning ahead will help you buy only what you need and stop good food going to waste.

Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging Scots to share their own ‘Christmas firsts’ on social media using the hashtag #ChristmasTrimmings.

The campaign aims to help everyone in Scotland have a happy Christmas without the waste, whatever way they’re celebrating this year.

Industy body warns ‘clock is ticking’ for plumbers operating under ‘Grandfather Rights’

Plumbing and heating professionals in Scotland who are operating under historic grading “Grandfather Rights” are being warned that time is fast running out for them if they want to retain their Grading Card, without which they will be ineligible to work on sites.

As part of a shake-up by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), significant changes are being made to the Scottish and Northern Ireland Joint Industry Board (SNIJIB) Grading Card Scheme with effect from January 1, 2021.

The changes mean that plumbers will not be able to renew their SNIJIB/CSCS Plumber, Advanced Plumber and Technician Plumber cards without being able to show that they have attained an SVQ Level 3 Certificate or a City and Guilds Certificate in plumbing.

Industry sources are concerned that the new regime will hit experienced workers who have obtained their SNIJIB/CSCS cards on the strength of an employer’s recommendation rather than the achievement of an Industry recognised qualification.

Stephanie Lowe, Industrial Relations Manager for the Scotland and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) and Secretary of the SNIJIB, said that her team had written to each individual concerned at the end of last year, but that the response had been disappointing.

She said: “The industry’s Grading Cards carry the CSCS recognised hologram and CLC imprimatur, so the Joint Industry Board needs to meet their criteria. These bodies want to ensure that everyone on site is appropriately qualified so that customers, as well as other personnel, can feel safe and confident.

“Active registered plumbers who previously qualified under ‘Grandfather Rights’, must now achieve and submit plumbing occupational qualifications before the expiry of their current Grading Card if they wish to renew it.

“For anyone who cannot provide evidence of qualifications, the last opportunity to seek a Grading Card will be at the end of this year and the card will expire in 2025, since current Grading Cards have a five-year lifespan.”

The SNIJIB team is also urgently engaged on an industry-wide pilot study to help identify levels of experience in the “Grandfather Rights” cohort in order to see if the SNIJIB can create an Applied Prior Learning scheme for them.

It has already gained qualifications for some 300 active plumbers, but there remain around 1000 plumbers without proof of qualifications who, if they do not act on their Grading Cards by December 31, will not be allowed on site”.

Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of SNIPEF, said: “SNIPEF has made great efforts to maintain communication with its 750 member firms which employ 3500 plumbing and heating professionals. If companies are concerned about the changes to the SNIJIB Grading Card Scheme, they should get in touch with the SNIJIB now.

“CSCS cards are proof of training and qualification to work on construction sites. A card-carrying workforce ensures that a business is compliant with safety standards and regulations. For workers, it is an easy way to display the ability to perform certain jobs on a construction site to a specific standard”, she said.