Category: North Edinburgh News

Events planned to celebrate 200 years of the Union Canal

A line-up of events is being developed to celebrate the Union Canal’s bicentenary next year.

The City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Canals and partners will join to mark the 200th anniversary of the 16km waterway, which links Edinburgh with The Falkirk Wheel in Tamfourhill and onwards to the Forth and Clyde Canal.

On Thursday, members of the Transport and Environment Committee agreed to take forward a programme of projects celebrating the history of the Union Canal, as well as renewing the vision for its future and accelerating landmark initiatives along the route. Members also approved recommendations to co-fund a fixed term post, along with Scottish Canals, to take forward the programme.

Amongst activities proposed for 2022 are the refresh of the Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy, commemorating the canal’s heritage through various events including a special edition of the Edinburgh Canal Festival in June 2022 and work to secure a new future for the Lockharton Bridge Boat House.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “It’s wonderful that we’re going to be able to celebrate the Union Canal and its rich historical and social significance. Not only does it shed light on our industrial past but now serves as a haven for boating, walking, cycling and spending time.

“Over the coming months I’m looking forward to getting to work with Scottish Canals, Edinburgh Union Canal Society, our Canals Champion Councillor Gavin Corbett and other partners to finalise plans fitting for this iconic route.”

David Blair, Revenue and Regeneration Director at Scottish Canals, said: “Scottish Canals are delighted to be working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to celebrate the bicentenary of the Union Canal in 2022.

“The Union Canal has a rich history, once powering the industrial revolution in the city it has been transformed for the 21st century and almost 200 years on from its opening it remains a hub of activity. The anniversary will not only celebrate the heritage of the network but will also create new and exciting opportunities for canal side communities to learn more about the canal’s past as well as its present use.”

The Union Canal, which is managed by Scottish Canals, stretches from the Lochrin Basin in Fountainbridge to The Falkirk Wheel in Tamfourhill and was originally opened in 1822 as a means of transporting goods. It was closed in 1965 with the advent of freight trains and heavy goods vehicles but was reopened in 2001 as part of the Millennium Link project.

Earlier this year the Leamington Lift Bridge, near the canal’s Lochrin Basin terminus, was awarded a ‘Red Wheel’ by the National Transport Trust, recognising its historical importance to transport heritage.

The bridge was originally installed at Fountainbridge in 1906 but was moved to its current location in 1922 when the canal was shortened to make Lochrin Basin its terminus.

Other potential projects to mark the bicentenary are the formation of a canal-based ‘Blue-Green’ community development trust, launching a citizen science programme with nearby schools to promote biodiversity and completing the WaveGarden at Ratho.

While the programme will focus on the Edinburgh section of the Union Canal, discussions would be held with other communities along the route such as Broxburn, Linlithgow, and Falkirk.

Find out more about the history of the Union Canal on Our Town Stories.

Read the full report, Union Canal Bicentenary, on the Council website.

NHS 24 launches new resources on the menopause

To mark World Menopause Day tomorrow (18th October), NHS 24 has launched new resources on the menopause on NHS Inform, Scotland’s trusted health information site.

Working in partnership with Scottish Government, the resources support the ambitions laid out in the Women’s Health Plan and include information about what to expect whether you’re going through the menopause or want to support someone with symptoms.

https://youtu.be/ddzdgEUOGlk

Women’s Health Minister Maree Todd said: “Women have told us, and evidence shows, that when they are well informed about the menopause, and know what to expect, their experience can be more positive. Knowledge, information and myth busting is powerful.

“I am pleased to see this comprehensive menopause platform on NHS Inform, a key deliverable from our recently published Women’s Health Plan.

“We want to ensure that anyone experiencing menopause has the care and support that they need, and this platform is an important step in achieving that aim.”

Dr Laura Ryan, Medical Director at NHS 24, said: “Menopause can affect everyone differently, and many of us are still unfamiliar with the common symptoms, how these might present, and what to expect if you or someone you know is going through ‘the change’.

“World Menopause Day aims to raise awareness of these and the support options available for improving health and wellbeing.  Our new resources on NHS Inform are clinically assured and contain lots of information on signs of menopause, potential treatments, managing your wellbeing, and supporting others through their own symptoms.

“The resources also include ways to manage symptoms with some self-care, and what to do if you feel concerned that your experiences are unusual.

“Sometimes the menopause can have impacts on lots of aspects of life including self-esteem and mental health. These resources are a great way to feel knowledgeable about the experience and empowered in taking any next steps.”

Visit NHSinform.scot for updated information, including a range of videos aimed at dispelling common myths about the menopause.

Safe as houses: Which? annual mortgage survey reveals best and worst mortgage lenders

First Direct and Nationwide have come out on top in Which?’s annual mortgage lender survey, with both named Which? Recommended Providers (WRPs) for offering a combination of excellent customer service and consistently competitive rates. 

With speculation that interest rate rises could be on the way, it is more important than ever that prospective homeowners and remortgagers do their research and find the right deal and provider. 

The consumer champion surveyed more than 3,500 homeowners and analysed thousands of mortgage deals to find which providers offered impressive customer service and the best rates. 

Lenders were scored on multiple aspects of customer service, including: keeping customers informed, clarity of mortgage statements, transparency of charges or penalties, dealing with queries and complaints, flexibility of payments, online access and value for money. 

First Direct came out on top, receiving an impressive customer score of 81 per cent. Its customers gave it five stars across the board, and the lender consistently offered some of the cheapest deals on the market. 

Nationwide earned an overall customer score of 77 per cent and was also named a WRP for the eighth year in a row. The building society achieved five-star ratings for value for money and clarity of its mortgage statements.

Coventry Building Society received the joint-top score of 81 per cent, achieving five stars for customer service, clarity of mortgage statements and keeping you well informed, among others. However, it missed out on becoming a WRP because it did not offer enough market-leading deals. 

Royal Bank of Scotland received the lowest score in this year’s survey, with an overall customer score of 64 per cent. RBS received three stars for its general customer service, flexibility of payments and online access, among other criteria. 

While nearly nine in 10 (87%) respondents told the consumer champion that they were satisfied with their mortgage provider, a quarter (24%) said they had had a problem with their lender. The most commonly cited issues included poor customer service, a lack of flexibility on payments and poor interest rates. 

When asked why they chose a lender, around one in five (21%) respondents said the size of monthly repayments was important, while the same number said the overall cost of the deal was key. One in six (16%) respondents said an existing relationship with the lender (for example, having a bank account with the provider) was a key factor. 

Seven in 10 (72%) of survey respondents had a capital remortgage payment plan. However one fifth (20%) had interest-only mortgages. While the majority of respondents with interest-only mortgages had a plan for repayment at the end of the term, worryingly 9 per cent said they did not know how they would repay their loan – meaning they could be forced to sell their home at the end of the term to repay the balance.

Gareth Shaw, Head of Which? Money, said: “Buying a house is the most expensive purchase most of us will make in our lifetime, so finding a mortgage deal that’s right for you is essential – especially when the outlook for interest rates in the year ahead is uncertain. 

“Recently, we’ve seen reputable lenders offering record-breaking low rates, meaning it’s possible to find a deal that combines value for money with great customer service. As ever, doing a bit of research and talking to a whole-of-market broker before committing is likely to pay off.”

Heartbreaking: Britons lose £204.5 million to dating scams, hacking and more in past 12 months

  • The UK reports losses of around £204.5M over the past 12 months due to personal, digitally driven crimes
  • Almost 23,000 cases of fraudulent activity relating to plastic cards and online bank accounts have been logged since September last year
  • Alarmingly, 49% of Brits don’t know if their smartphone has security software installed, or have none at all

Following last week’s Twitch data leaks on 4chan, a new study reveals that the UK’s public has lost as much as £204.5 million to personal, digitally driven crimes in the past 12 months. Additionally, as many as 26 million British adults – 49% of residents over the age of 16 – report either not knowing whether their smartphone has security software installed, or having none at all.

App development company Bacancy Technology analysed statistics drawn from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), focusing on crimes more likely to befall members of the public – such as dating scams, personal and social media hacking, computer viruses and banking app fraud.

In total the UK has filed a total of 60,297 reports of criminal activity dating back to September of last year, culminating in a total loss of £204.5M to the personal finances of British citizens.

Across the selected categories, cyber-assisted crimes involving cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts have seen the highest number of incidents, at 22,981 reported cases, with an overall personal financial loss of £102.3M – an average of £4,451 per case.

Social media and email hacking ranks second highest in the list in terms of the number of reported incidents, standing at 12,225 reports over the last 12 months. However, the high volume of cases is offset by an average loss per case of £204 – amassing to an overall financial loss of a lesser £2.5M.

With Dating scams, it’s the opposite. A smaller number of reported cases (9,388 over 12 months) has resulted in Brits taking financial losses of £97,600,000 – with each individual case costing over £10,000 on average.

Ranking fourth and fifth on the list are reported crimes surrounding computer viruses/malware and personal hacking – which relates to hacked devices, rather than accounts. Despite a large number of reported incidents over the past 12 months (7,893 and 6,649 respectively), each of these crimes have resulted in smaller average losses per case, with figures under £100.

Top 5 personal digital crimes – UK, over 12 months (Oct 20 – Oct ’21)

Type of crimeNumber of reported crimesReported financial loss (in GBP)Average loss per case
Cheque, Plastic Card & Online Bank Accounts22,981£102,300,000£4,451
Hacking – Social Media & email12,225£2,500,000£204
Dating Scams9,388£97,600,000£10,396
Computer Virus/Malware/Spyware7,893£348,400£44
Hacking – Personal5,649£511,900£90

Despite the variety of security apps readily available on both the Apple and Android stores, around 26 million Brits – a total of 49% – may be at risk.

Further data drawn from an ONS survey shows that one in three Brits (32%) are unaware of whether their smartphones have security software installed, while almost one in five (17%, or nine million adults) reported not having security software of any kind – leaving them open to potential cyber-crime and fraudulent activity.

Do you have security software installed on your smartphone?

 All16-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465+
Automatically installed/provided with operating system40394636443738
Installed/subscribed118914131211
Do not have smartphone security1727181915911
Don’t know32262731294241

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Bacancy Technology said: “Recent events in the news have highlighted the importance of maintaining security over our personal data and finances.

“Even so, it seems that while the British public are aware of the potential dangers of online activities, many are failing to take steps to adequately protect themselves and their loved ones. Digital security is of the utmost importance, and everyone with a smart device should take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.”

This research was conducted by app development company Bacancy Technology, an exclusive hub of top software developers, UI/UX designers, QA experts and more, offering development services aimed at the creation of high-end, enviable applications.

Scotland’s UNESCO Trail

Did you know Scotland is home to six World Heritage Sites, two Biosphere Reserves, two Global Geoparks, and three creative cities? That’s a supersized helping of history, nature and culture right on your doorstep!

If you aren’t sure what UNESCO status means, it’s similar to how National Park status helps to tell you a place is special.

Scotland is now the first country in the world to bring these truly unique sites together into trails to enjoy at a pace that suits you.

Discover destinations with a difference:

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£15 million to help improve mental wellbeing in communities

A new fund has been established to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic. The £15 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund aims to support adult community-based initiatives across Scotland.

Grass roots community groups and organisations will be able to benefit from the funds to deliver activities and programmes to people to re-connect and revitalise communities building on examples of good practice which have emerged throughout the pandemic.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart launched the fund at Saheliya in Edinburgh, a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black and minority ethnic women and girls.

Mr Stewart said: “This funding reflects the importance we place on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those in distress and will help develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities.

“It is vital now, more than ever as we start to re-open society that we support the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. I am very keen that this benefits communities across all of Scotland.

“I was pleased to be able to visit Saheliya this morning and meet some of the people involved with running and the project, and some of the people they help.”

A range of charity-support bodies and social enterprises, known as third sector interfaces,  will manage the fund in partnership with local integrated health authorities and other partners including Community Planning Partnerships and local authority mental health leads.

The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is part of the wider £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund announced in February 2021 to ensure delivery of the commitments set out in the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan in response to the mental health need arising from the pandemic.

My Beach Your Beach makes a splash at Portobello

Litter down as summer campaign comes to a close

Snapshot litter surveys on Portobello Beach carried out by Keep Porty Tidy, as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s campaign My Beach Your Beach, show a decrease in litter this summer. 

A total of 64 items of litter were counted across 100m of the beach and prom at the end of the summer, versus 114 items on the same stretch at the start of the summer, and 293 items counted last year.

A combination of campaign activity, which encouraged beach goers to help care for the sand and sea, as well as the efforts of the growing Keep Porty Tidy group, which has been tackling litter head-on at the site are likely to have contributed to these results.

Funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA, My Beach Your Beach has been running since 2018 to support bathing water quality improvements at a growing selection of Scottish beaches including Portobello, Fisherrow Sands and Kinghorn on the east coast of the country, and Ayr, Troon, Irvine and, this year’s addition, Saltocoats/Ardrossan on the west.

The campaign encourages beach stewardship and raises awareness of bad habits that can impact on the sand and sea. This includes leaving litter or dog poo on the beach, feeding and attracting gulls to the bathing water and blocking pipes by flushing ‘unflushables’ down the toilet or pouring fats, oils or greases down the drain.

The latest litter surveys highlight the importance of beach goers taking responsibility for their litter and using the bins provided, with 51% of litter (discounting cigarette stubs) coming from people eating and drinking on or near the beach.

Georgina Massouraki, Campaigns Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is very encouraging to see litter levels drop at Portobello beach this summer. These results show what can be achieved when everyone steps in to play a part.

“It has been great working in collaboration with the council and Keep Porty Tidy and seeing all the efforts that are being made locally to protect the sand and sea at this beautiful beach.

“We hope that everyone who enjoys Portobello is moved to support these efforts, never leaving litter for volunteers to clean up, stepping up and joining a beach clean, and also making sure they understand how their habits can impact on the quality of the beloved bathing waters we all share.”

With the summer bathing season over, My Beach Your Beach will continue to engage people near the campaign beaches through the winter months, particularly around indoor habits relating to pipes and drains in collaboration with local councils, businesses and schools. 

A new classroom resource has been rolled out to 18 secondary schools locally, with an introduction to bathing water quality focusing on the two Portobello bathing waters – Portobello Central and Portobello West. 

A writing assignment encouraging students to reflect on their favourite aspect of the beach and explain why that makes it worth protecting will be featured as part of the campaign going forward.

For more information visit:

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/mybeachyourbeach  

Penumbra: Lived and living experience should be at the heart of self-harm strategy for Scotland

Pioneering mental health charity, Penumbra, has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government to introduce a national strategy on self-harm.

Penumbra is a leading mental health charity which supports 2500 adults and young people each week across Scotland through a range of compassionate, recovery focussed support services including in the areas of self-harm, distress support and suicide prevention.

The charity’s pioneering non-medical approach to mental health recovery support has seen it become the leading employer of peer support colleagues within the mental health field: 20% of the charity’s colleagues are employed in peer support roles.

Penumbra has dedicated self-harm support services across Scotland: Aberdeen; Edinburgh; Dundee; South Ayrshire; North Ayrshire; Fife, and operates the Edinburgh Crisis Centre.

Stephen Finlayson is the Head of Innovation and Improvement for Penumbra and has welcomed the news: “This is a welcome announcement from the Scottish Government on plans for Scotland to become the first country in the world with a dedicated strategy to supporting people who experience self-harm.

“Currently the national picture remains fragmented and many people continue to experience stigmatised attitudes. In addition to support, there’s an urgent need for more research to really understand the factors that lead people to feel the only way to manage their emotional distress is by causing harm to themselves.

“A coherent national approach will take this a long way forward. Key to this process will be listening to and working alongside people with lived and living experience of self-harm.

“At Penumbra, we support many people who self-harm in locations across Scotland each year and we know that with good, compassionate support, there is real hope for people who self-harm. Accessing the right support at the right time is critical.”

Women Supporting Women Autumn/Winter programme

Pilton Community Health Project’s Women Supporting Women programme offers different groups and activities to women in Muirhouse, Wester Drylaw, West Pilton, Granton, Royston and Wardieburn.

Get in touch with Sally or Carla if you’d like to sign up or if you’d like to know more.

Army called in to support struggling NHS

In response to the immediate pressures on the NHS because of COVID-19 and the backlog in care caused by the pandemic, military assistance has been requested for NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Borders.

Acute services in both health board areas are operating at capacity because of workforce shortages associated with the virus.   

A total of 63 military personnel will be deployed to NHS Lanarkshire – this includes three nurses, 45 military medics, 12 General Duties Troops and three drivers who will be working in acute settings.

In NHS Borders, 14 military medics, two nurses and four additional military personnel will provide assistance in acute settings. A military driver will provide transport. Two military medics will oversee operations from the army’s headquarters in Scotland.

Military support within the two health board areas is due to start on 19 October and continue initially until 10 November 2021 though this will be kept under constant review.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The NHS is experiencing significant pressure at the moment because of COVID-19 admissions and the backlog in care built up during the pandemic and we are taking a range of steps to introduce additional capacity in order to help with the unprecedented pressures on the health and care system.

“Earlier this month we announced a record winter package funding of £300 million to support a range of measures to maximise capacity in our hospitals and primary care, reduce delayed discharges, improve pay for social care staff, and ensure those in the community who need support receive effective and responsive care.  

“In the NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire areas, staff shortages because of COVID-19 are affecting bed capacity and temporary military assistance has been requested to support the boards at this time.

“With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact it is expected that this winter COVID-19 will circulate alongside respiratory viruses, such as flu, adding to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS.

“This military support will allow both boards to support existing staff to reduce waiting times, enhance care and provide a better experience for our patients.     

“As always I would like to thank all those involved in our healthcare systems for their continuing hard work and dedication over this particularly busy time.”