North Edinburgh News – Page 2059 – The NEN

‘Stark disconnect’: Charity’s call for better understanding of the far-reaching impacts of epilepsy

42% of people with epilepsy in Scotland want you to know this one thing … (Purple Day, 26 March)

New research shows that public understanding of epilepsy doesn’t always match with the reality faced by those living with the condition. Friday 26 March is Purple Day, the global day for epilepsy, and a chance to redress the balance. There are over 55,000 people living with epilepsy in Scotland.

In Epilepsy Action’s new poll, nearly 1,000 people affected by epilepsy were asked for the one thing they wished the public knew about the condition.

42% of those surveyed in Scotland said they wished people knew that the impact of living with epilepsy goes far beyond seizures. Side-effects of medication, memory problems and impacted mental health are just some of the things that can affect people.

A quarter (24%) of people said their biggest wish was for better awareness of the many different seizure types. Other hopes included more understanding that not all seizures are triggered by flashing lights and that epilepsy is a fluctuating condition.

However, new figures suggest much of the general public remains unaware of the ripple effect of the condition and are dismissive of how it affects people long-term.

One in four people (23%) thought that epilepsy has no impact on a person’s life, aside from having seizures. A third said that the condition does not impact on a person’s mental health.

In one revealing statement, two thirds agreed with the suggestion that people ‘just need to be more positive when living with health conditions’.

Yet, with a similar number of people (68%) saying they would be afraid to even witness someone having a seizure, the charity says this exposes a stark disconnect in understanding and compassion towards people with the condition.

Louise Cousins, director of external affairs at Epilepsy Action, said: “These new insights are stark but not surprising. The impact of living with epilepsy can take a huge toll on people’s lives, their happiness and wellbeing.

“Everyone’s experience of epilepsy is different, but it can’t be overcome just by ‘being more positive’. This attitude needs to change. Lack of knowledge and empathy feeds into fearful, harmful assumptions and people with epilepsy feeling further misunderstood and dismissed.

“By giving them a voice and encouraging conversations on Purple Day, we can really improve society’s knowledge and compassion and close the gap on this chasm of understanding.”

Yorkshire comedian Maisie Adam was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 14. She is backing the campaign: “It’s totally normal for people to have those misconceptions about epilepsy, because of the information that’s out there at the moment. So much is frustratingly simplified, Hollywood-ified, it’s very bite-sized.

“It’s just the understanding that’s important and I think that comes from both sides. It’s about us being understanding of why people have those misconceptions but just hoping that people don’t assume – that they can hold back on any assumptions until the facts have been given. Epilepsy is so different for every single person.

“Be open to that huge variation. You’ll have your misconceptions, but don’t assume.”

Epilepsy Action has released a new awareness video on YouTube to coincide with Purple Day and to promote understanding of the condition. The charity is also urging supporters to take part in virtual fundraisers and to celebrate #purpleday on social media.

Support and information for anyone affected by epilepsy are available at epilepsy.org.uk or by calling the Epilepsy Action helpline on 0808 800 5050.

To support Epilepsy Action’s Purple Day appeal and help people affected by epilepsy, visit epilepsy.org.uk/purple

Pirniehall Primary’s Mrs Ryan is retiring: send her your message!

After 35 years as Pirnie Headteacher Mrs Ryan is approaching her well deserved retirement!

Did you attend Pirniehall Primary over the last 35 years or are you the parent/carer of a pupil? If so please send us a message of any good wishes, memories you have of Mrs Ryan or any pictures.

Please include your name and the year you attended.

Please send a private message to Pirniehall’s Facebook page, comment or write a message and post to Pirniehall Primary School, 4 West Pilton Crescent, Edinburgh EH4 4HP.

We would love to hear from you!

Organ donation law change comes into effect today

Scottish organ donation law changes to an opt out system today (26 March 2021). This means that if you die in circumstances where you can donate, you will be considered to be a donor when you die, unless you have chosen to opt out or are in an excluded group.

Your loved ones will still be consulted about your views to ensure that donation does not proceed if you would not have wanted it to. Organ and tissue donation remains a personal decision and you have a choice.

New report urges the Government to bring in alcolocks without delay

An expert report issued today is urging the UK Government to implement an alcolock programme without delay to help reduce the number of drink drive related incidents.

Westminster’s Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) report, which IAM RoadSmart contributed to, highlights that the greater use of alcolocks will have a positive impact on road safety.

The UK’s largest independent road safety charity welcomes this latest report and the use of alcolocks – which require the driver to blow into a breath-testing instrument that is connected to the vehicle ignition system to prevent it from starting if the driver is over the limit.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research said: “Worldwide, integrating technology, such as alcolocks, with rehabilitation courses, has been shown to be the most effective way to stop drink drive reoffending and reduce crashes.

“Since 2010, there have been around 240 deaths a year in Great Britain involving a driver over the legal drink driving limit and in contrast to the previous decade, no progress has been made in reducing these numbers.”

The PACTS report mirrors recent research by IAM RoadSmart of over 2,000 motorists, which reveals overwhelming support from motorists to fit alcolocks in all new cars. 90 per cent of motorists support all new cars having built-in technology that immobilises the vehicle if the driver is over the limit.

From 2022 all new cars sold in Europe will be ‘alcolock enabled’ but it is up to the Government to decide how they will be used. IAM RoadSmart has previously stated they will be a useful tool to get drink drive offenders back to safer driving after a ban.

Neil added: “The evidence is clear. Nearly all motorists want new cars fitted with alcolocks to help stop the daily carnage on UK roads from drink driving and this latest PACTS report is even further endorsement.

“Apart from the human suffering caused, previous campaigns from IAM RoadSmart have found that the personal cost of a drink drive conviction could be as high as £70,000 when considering factors such as legal fees, higher car insurance premiums, alternative transport costs and potential loss of earnings following conviction – and that’s on top of possible imprisonment, lengthy bans and substantial fines.

“In the meantime, our message is clear. It must always be None for the Road”.

Read the full findings of the PACTS ‘Locking out the drink driver – using alcohol interlocks to reduce drink driving in the UK’, here.

14% increase in first-time buy-to-let landlords

With the pandemic driving interest rates into the ground, it’s only natural that people are searching for a more lucrative return on their investments.

Research by insurance and personal finance comparison experts Quotezone.co.uk reveals that 85% of those looking for landlord insurance own just one property – suggesting this is a buy-to-let investment rather than their full-time job.

The data, which covers a sample of landlord insurance quotes from 2019 to 2020, suggests redundancies and furlough has perhaps created an emerging trend of small and first-time landlords.

Although the majority of the 19,000 landlords Quotezone.co.uk sampled have owned their property for five years or more, there is a recent spike emerging, with properties owned for ‘less than 1 year’ in Scotland seeing a 14% year-on-year increase during the pandemic.

The data also showed that the average age of a landlord in the UK is 51 – these people are likely at least a decade from retirement and looking to invest their skills and savings in a more long-term asset that may offer higher returns than other investment options out there.

And with only 52% of landlords using cash to purchase during 2020, the lowest figure on record* – buy-to-let is an increasingly viable option for many UK buyers, even those with a relatively modest amount of capital to invest.

The average rent landlords can expect from their investments differs dramatically across the UK, with data from Statista revealing that Greater London has the highest average at £1,556, while the cheapest region is the North East where the average rent is just £539. The UK average is currently £832.

The best interest rate available from savings accounts currently stands at just 3%. By contrast, the average rental yield in the UK is currently 5.2%***, and buy-to-let property in some parts of the country even offers rental yields in excess of 7%.

However, there are overheads a landlord needs to consider such as a managing agent, utilities inspection reports and certificates, landlord licence (£500 every 5 years), safety equipment such as fire alarms and extinguishers and routine maintenance to the property. Landlord insurance is another vital element but by comparing policies on comparison platforms, there are competitively priced policies available.

The research also showed that the majority of tenants were employed professionals followed neck-and-neck by short-term Airbnb lets and DSS / unemployed occupants.

Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, Greg Wilson, comments: “It is interesting to see that 85% of people in our data, who class themselves as landlords, own just one property – suggesting that actually first-time landlords with other occupations could be adding this asset to their portfolio as an additional revenue stream or an alternative to pension investments.

“Covid has created a temporary shopping spree within the housing market with the government’s stamp duty holiday, however I fear this temporary boost in sales may be short-lived as the economic aftermath of the pandemic is yet to be revealed and the stamp duty holiday is due to expire at the end of next month.

“However rental properties haven’t gone untouched by the crisis with many tenants on furlough or facing redundancies and social distancing creating physical barriers to the properties making routine maintenance and repairs difficult.

“It is perhaps more important than ever to ensure landlord insurance policies are thorough, accurate and up to date so that landlords are fully protected should a claim be needed.”

Policies vary from one landlord insurer to another, but in general can cover any damage to the building caused by insurable events like fire, flood, storms, subsidence, theft and vandalism.

Landlord contents insurance, landlord liability and unoccupied property insurance can also be added as well as extra tailored features such as rent guarantee insurance, landlord home emergency cover and legal expenses.

Recommended by 97% of reviewers, Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products

Full scale of Britain’s job crisis uncovered in new research

Seven new private sector jobs will be needed to create one viable job post-pandemic

Cities will lead economic bounce back but most new jobs are expected to be low-skilled and low-paid.
Government must upskill workers and encourage higher-skilled businesses to invest in cities – particularly in the North and Midlands.

New Centre for Cities’ research in partnership with HSBC UK reveals that Britain’s jobs crisis is bigger than realised as the economy will need to create almost ten million new private sector jobs just to reverse the damage done by the pandemic.

Analysis of Britain’s ‘jobs miracle’ from 2013 to 2019 – when the national economy created 2.7 million net new jobs – finds that 19.3 million private sector jobs were created during this period and 16.6 million were lost. This meant that seven new private sector jobs were needed to create one viable job.

If this pattern repeats post-Covid then 9.4 million new private sector jobs will be needed to get the 1.3 million people who lost their jobs during the pandemic working again.

After the financial crisis big cities created the vast majority of new jobs and are expected to do so again post-Covid. London created one in four of all new private sector jobs (790,300) – equal to 17 Scarboroughs, or 25 Hartlepools. Other big cities also played an outsized role: in Manchester, 152,100 new jobs were created; in Birmingham 99,100 were; and in Glasgow 40,800 were.

In total, Britain’s ten largest cities created almost half (45.6%) of jobs during the ‘jobs miracle’, despite accounting for just 3.5% of land. In contrast, smaller towns and rural areas created 36% of new jobs. These findings underline the important role that big cities will play in helping the country recover from Covid-19.

Contribution of cities and non-urban areas to job creation, 2013-19

Source: ONS, Business Structure Database (BSD)

Many of the jobs lost in the pandemic were in sectors such as hospitality and tourism. While they are expected to recover quickly once the economy reopens, with an estimated three quarters of new jobs likely to come from sectors such as these, relying on them for new jobs will not address years of poor productivity and pay stagnation, particularly outside London and the Greater South East.

After the pandemic, the productivity problem that UK cities face will need to be addressed.

To do this the Government should invest in adult education to train people for higher-paid jobs in emerging industries. It should also recognise the crucial role that cities will play in building back better from the pandemic. It should invest £5 billion in a new City Centre Productivity Fund to make struggling city centres more attractive places for high-skilled businesses to locate.

The paper’s other proposals to help the country build back better from the pandemic include reforming business rates, which in their current form are a tax on business investment, and devolving more economic powers and resources to local government – particularly England’s metro mayors.

Centre for Cities’ Chief Executive Andrew Carter said: “Britain’s biggest cities will play a central role in our recovery from the pandemic, as they did after the last economic crisis when London alone created a quarter of all new jobs.

“We must use Covid-19 as an economic reset and address many of the long-standing problems that the economy has faced in recent years such as stalled productivity and stagnant pay. To do this the Government will need to focus on investing in adult education to train people for higher paid jobs.

“Addressing these problems will be be essential if the Government hopes to attract higher-skilled businesses in emerging industries to cities and large towns in the North and Midlands and meet its levelling up objectives.

Ian Stuart, CEO, HSBC UK said: “The employment challenge ahead for the country’s economy cannot be underestimated.

“Beyond the sheer volume of new jobs required, the UK will need to create high value, export-led employment across all regions, if it is to address the age-old productivity puzzle.

“Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will only truly succeed in levelling up the country if the challenge is shared between government and the private sector with a focus on reskilling our people and attracting new business growth and international investment in the sectors where we have a real competitive advantage.”

Think inside the box for your Easter lunch eggstravaganza

– Scotch Lamb and Thyme 2 Dine join forces for Easter dining experience –

One of Scotland’s finest ingredients is forming part of a luxury home dining delivery service to help bring restaurant quality cooking to homes for Easter.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and Glasgow-based Thyme 2 Dine have teamed up on a second limited edition Easter menu, this time featuring Scotch Lamb PGI, which will be available for two weekends over the Easter holidays (2-3 and 9–10 April).

Thyme 2 Dine’s head chef and co-founder Peter Carey has crafted the menu using high quality, locally sourced Scottish ingredients to deliver top quality dining to homes in Scotland in their iconic thyme green box.

Taking centre stage among the main course options is a succulent, slow cooked Scotch Lamb PGI shoulder in cumin and marsala wine, pickled celeriac and kalamata olive sauce.

Diners can take their pick from two equally delicious starter options and satisfy their sweet tooth with a salted caramel Easter egg dessert, while complementing the entire meal with their choice of red or white wine chosen by Thyme 2 Dine co-founder Lukas Krischke.

Thyme 2 Dine said: “After the huge success of our sell-out Hogmanay partnership with QMS, it was an easy decision for us to collaborate with them again on our Easter menu.

“We know that Easter is a special celebration for lots of people, so we hope that enjoying one of our Scotch Lamb Easter boxes will make it even more memorable for them and their loved ones.

“Given the popularity of our Hogmanay box, we’ve decided to offer our Scotch Lamb Easter box over two consecutive weekends – giving more people the opportunity to indulge and treat themselves to a delicious restaurant standard Easter meal at home.”

Thyme 2 Dine is committed to using only the best quality ingredients and the inclusion of Scotch Lamb in its Easter box aligns with their sourcing policy. Scotch Lamb is sourced from local Scottish farms that adopt best practice regarding animal welfare and production methods, whilst also supporting local farmers.

Lesley Cameron, Director of Marketing and Communications at QMS added: “Despite Easter looking somewhat different to what many people would have hoped for this year, we are confident that Thyme 2 Dine’s Scotch Lamb Easter box will help make it a very special occasion for them to enjoy.

“We hope this collaboration will give everyone a chance to put their feet up on Easter Sunday and instead spend quality time with their household while enjoying a delicious meal with minimal effort involved!”

Prices for Thyme 2 Dine’s Scotch Lamb Easter Box start from £60.00 for a box for two and are available to order online at www.thyme2dineglasgow.co.uk/

Full Thyme 2 Dine Scotch Lamb PGI Easter Menu –

Starters

· Chorizo scotch egg, pickled fennel, herb emulsion

· Heirloom tomato & roasted red pepper pressing, basil crusted Buffalo mozzarella, Gordal olive & pine kernel dressing (V)

Mains

· Slow cooked Scotch Lamb shoulder in cumin & Marsala wine, pickled celeriac & kalamata olive sauce

· Caramelised shallot & Blue murder tart tatin, charred baby gem and balsamic glaze (V)

Sides

· Garlic & herb rosti, Heather honey roasted root vegetables, Wilted spring greens with almonds & lemon, Rapeseed roasted red rooster potatoes & our giant Yorkshire pudding (V)

Dessert

· Milk chocolate Crémeux & salted caramel Easter egg, honeycomb, salted caramel gel (V)

Wine

· Petit Ballon Blanc, Southern France 2019

o Refreshing lemon, green apple and hints of stone fruit combined with vibrant and zesty acidity

· Petit Ballon Rouge, Southern France 2019

o Classic blend of Syrah and Mourvedre spicy and black fruit dominated, great match with lamb dishes

Cheese – optional add-on

· Isle of Kintyre apple smoked cheddar, spiced pineapple chutney & Scottish biscuits (V) (4.95 for 2/ 9.90 for 4)

Deliveries will be made on 2-3 and 9–10 April 2021.

For Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork recipe videos and inspiration visit www.scotchkitchen.com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Edinburgh’s Peter, Lucy and Keiran are Young Scot finalists

Three young people from Edinburgh have been announced as finalists in this year’s Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards in recognition of their incredible achievements.

All three impressed an esteemed panel of judges with their outstanding contributions to their communities.

Peter Sawkins, winner of last year’s Great British Bake Off, is a finalist in the Entertainment category.

The Edinburgh University student became the first Scot and the youngest ever winner of the popular TV show when he took home the crown last year. He is passionate about Scottish produce and enjoys taking inspiration from locally sourced ingredients when designing his bakes.

Despite his newfound fame, Peter, who grew up watching the show, is committed to finishing his accounting degree and is appreciating having time to bake for friends and family.

Lucy Challoner, 22, is a finalist in the Young Hero category, which celebrates young people who have shown amazing courage, battled the odds or showed incredible perseverance in the face of adversity.

When Covid restrictions prevented Lucy from visiting her mum in her care home, she made the brave decision to move her home where Lucy took on the role of her mum’s fulltime carer.

The social work student, who acts as her brother’s kinship carer, has also been campaigning for face-to-face visits with her 98-year-old gran in her care home – recognising the negative impacts visitation restrictions were having on her mental wellbeing.

Lucy’s campaign was eventually successful, and her tireless efforts have given a voice to all care home residents and their relatives.

Kieran Miller, 17, is a finalist in the Enhancing Education category, which awards young people who are determined to make a positive difference in improving education for others.

A passionate advocate for mental health support, Kieran assisted in the delivery of his school’s first Boys Mental Health Day. He played a pivotal role in the day, discussing his personal experiences with younger students and encouraging pupils to talk openly about their own challenges.

The talented footballer has overcome adversity in his own life and was recently voted head boy of his school.

The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards aim to recognise and inspire the nation’s young people. This year’s winners will be announced during a live online ceremony on 22 April – marking the Award’s fifteenth year of championing and celebrating the achievements of young people from all communities across Scotland.

The finalists join a prestigious roll call of previous recipients including Sir Andy Murray, Olympian Laura Muir, and top vlogger Jamie Genevieve. Recent winners include actor Ncuti Gatwa from Netflix’s Sex Education and the team behind Fridays For Future Scotland.

Louise Macdonald OBE, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said: “Peter, Lucy and Kieran’s inspiring achievements show how important young people are to Scotland and their incredible contribution to communities in Edinburgh.

“A huge congratulations to all of the 2021 finalists – we can’t wait to celebrate their achievements at the Awards ceremony!”

Edinburgh Festivals welcome £1 million UK Government support

Edinburgh Festivals – the biggest combined festivals in the country – will benefit from £1 million from the UK Government this year

Half a million pounds will fund a new digital platform to promote UK talent and content to both international and domestic producers

£500,000 will be made available for Festival organisers to increase their digital capabilities

The UK Government will fund two new projects to expand the digital potential of the Edinburgh Festivals with £1 million investment, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced.

The Edinburgh Festivals are the biggest combined festivals in the UK, attracting audiences of nearly 5 million every year, generating £313 million for Scotland’s economy alone, and providing unparalleled opportunities for artists across the country.

Last year many shows at the Edinburgh Festivals had to move online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The challenge of moving to a combination of physical and online events, and the increased demand for British virtual cultural content around the globe, revealed the need to expand the Edinburgh Festivals’ digital capabilities as part of the cultural sector’s post-Covid recovery.

The UK Government is providing £1 million in funding for digital improvements that will enable more ways for people to virtually access the events across the country, increase opportunities for UK artists and ensure Edinburgh’s landmark events will continue to be major contributors to the UK’s economy and cultural landscape.

The 11 festivals in the Festivals Edinburgh event portfolio will be able to apply for a share of a new £500,000 fund which will support innovative virtual solutions to the challenges of commissioning, producing and promoting festival programmes in an increasingly digitised cultural sector.

The funding will help encourage collaboration between events and develop hybrid events with live and digital elements.

Another £500,000 will be provided to create a new digital platform that will help national and international buyers and producers search for talent and content from the festivals’ hugely varied programmes, which showcase thousands of artists and performers every year, and promote the work of British artists and performers around the world.

The funds will be available to Festivals Edinburgh this financial year. Events with live audiences at limited capacities in Scotland will return no earlier than 17 May, and further details about the planning for this year’s Edinburgh Festivals will be released in due course.

This funding builds on £100,000 previously awarded to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 to better connect UK artists with international producers. As part of ongoing support for culture in Edinburgh, the UK Government provided £10 million for the Dunard Centre, through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

It will be the city’s first dedicated new space for music and the performing arts in 100 years. Scotland also received £97 million from the UK Government’s Culture Recovery Fund to provide support for the nation’s arts and cultural sectors.

Lothian MSP candidate for Edinburgh Southern, Miles Briggs, said: “This funding from the UK government is a very welcome investment into the arts and supporting the Edinburgh festival.

“It has been an exceptionally challenging year for artists and performers, many of whom have needed to adapt to virtual audiences.

“This investment will pave the way for hybrid Edinburgh Festival performances, which will allow people around the globe to see the creativity and talent on show in Edinburgh.”

Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary, said: “Edinburgh’s Festivals have long been a springboard for the very best of British talent and a vital part of culture in Scotland and the UK.

“The UK Government’s investment will promote it to a worldwide audience online, helping the UK’s biggest combined festival build back better from the pandemic.”

“This is on top of £97 million we provided last year to the Scottish Government to support Scotland’s arts organisations through the pandemic. Like everyone else, I look forward to our fantastic arts and culture coming back better than ever before, as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Iain Stewart, UK Government Minister for Scotland, said: “Edinburgh is world-famous for its festivals, bringing wider benefits to Scotland’s economy, tourism and arts sectors.

“We know the last 12 months have been difficult for the culture sector. This £1 million funding boost will support organisations to improve their digital capabilities and engage with audiences here in Scotland and further afield.”

Sorcha Carey, Chair, Festivals Edinburgh, said: “While live events in Edinburgh will remain the backbone of our world-class festivals, it’s crucial that we enhance our digital operations and so we’re delighted with this incredible support from the UK Government which will help reposition our work, and the work of creatives, across the digital world.”

Sir James Macmillan, Composer, said: “I’m delighted and encouraged to see this significant and notable support being given to the Edinburgh Festivals at this crucial point.

“The arts have been seriously affected by the pandemic and it is wonderful that the UK Government is showing its tangible commitment to culture in Scotland by investing in one of Scotland’s and Britain’s most important arts organisations.”

Pro-EU organisation urges Scottish Government to set up its own Erasmus programme

Scotland’s leading pro-EU organisation, the European Movement in Scotland, has urged the Scottish Government to follow the Wales Government and establish its own version of the Erasmus education exchange programme.

With Brexit, the UK government has withdrawn from the EU’s Erasmus scheme, which offered student exchanges as well as school links and work experience.

Its replacement, the Turing Scheme, includes a fraction of the benefits provided to students under Erasmus+.

Free tuition and travel expenses have been scrapped, except for the most disadvantaged students and the cost-of-living allowance has been slashed by a fifth. In addition the Turing Scheme does not extend to apprentices and trainees.

The Turing scheme does not extend to staff exchanges. Funding will also not be reciprocal, meaning that international partner institutions will not be supported for any exchanges coming to the UK.

Around 2000 Scottish students and staff used Erasmus+ each year and now many will be denied the chance to study and travel in 27 other EU countries as the new scheme puts financial barriers in front of them.

In contrast, the Welsh Government said its scheme would “support, as far as possible, the entire range of activities that have been available to learners in Wales” under Erasmus+.

The new programme will fill in many of the gaps Turing leaves, including, crucially, the commitment to long-term funding, the retention of the principle of two-way exchanges and the inclusion of youth work.

Scotland attracts proportionally more Erasmus participants from across Europe – and sends more in the other direction – than any other country in the UK. Through associated youth work projects, the scheme is estimated to deliver at least £7 in value for every £1 it costs in public cash, and its value to the economy has been estimated to be worth nearly £34 million annually since 2014.

The Scottish Government had lobbied the EU for continued membership but its hopes were quashed last month by Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, who told MEPs that, as a “constituent nation” of the UK, Scotland could not rejoin. Students studying at institutions in Northern Ireland can take part in Erasmus thanks to an arrangement with the Irish government.

Mark Lazarowicz, Chair of the European Movement in Scotland commented: “The loss of Erasmus is an act of cultural vandalism and we would urge the Scottish Government to follow Wales and fill the immense gaps presented by the Turing scheme.

“Erasmus brings different countries and nationalities together and generates such massive cultural and educational benefits, its loss is a huge blow. It allowed many thousands of young people, no matter their background, to continue to improve their futures, their access to global opportunities, and their development as citizens of a connected world.

“Over 2000 Scottish students, staff and learners used the scheme each year. Indeed, Scotland attracts proportionally more Erasmus participants from across Europe – and sends more in the other direction – than any other country in the UK.

“A unilateral replacement, such as the proposed Turing scheme, will never be able to replicate the wealth of opportunities for all young people, or raise the same reciprocal benefits of the Erasmus Programme.”