Category: North Edinburgh News

Free period products for Edinburgh Napier students at home

Delivery scheme sees nearly 200 orders placed in first week

Nearly 200 students have taken advantage of Edinburgh Napier’s free period product scheme after it was extended to include home delivery during lockdown.

Thanks to Scottish Government funding, the University teamed up with social enterprise Hey Girls last year to provide a range of free period products to students in various locations across Edinburgh Napier property.

The scheme has recently been extended to give students living in the UK the chance to order period products to be delivered to their home – for free.

Within the first weeks of free delivery being available, a total of 177 orders had been placed, meaning students who were in lockdown, or at home for the summer holidays, could continue to benefit from the initiative.

Jamie Pearson, Environmental Sustainability Manager at Edinburgh Napier, said: “The deliveries build upon the fantastic work carried out by the University cleaning supervisors and student-led Bleedin’ Saor team to ensure all students at Edinburgh Napier have access to free period products. 

“We’re very grateful to the Scottish Government for providing funding to enable this initiative.”

Social enterprise Hey Girls’ mission since being founded in 2018 is to eradicate period poverty in the UK.

Since 2018, Hey Girls has been working with local authorities, schools and colleges in Scotland and since 2020 in Wales to deliver free period products to students, constituents and service users.  Products were made widely available in 2020 in Scottish public spaces.

Celia Hodson, Founder Hey Girls said: “We don’t believe anyone should be denied access to period products, during a global pandemic or not.  Access to period products is a human right, yet sadly there is still work to be done across the UK to recognise this.

“It’s been incredible to witness, however, the acknowledgement from so many local authorities and educational institutes that this issue is so important, especially during Covid-19. Working with our partners to provide period protection during the coronavirus pandemic hopefully means that women and girls in these settings have one less thing to worry about and can feel confident whilst on their periods.”

“We are working to expand this initiative across the UK, and welcome the opportunity to work with new councils, schools and colleges to keep everyone period protected during Covid-19.”

The home delivery of free period products is the latest in a number of projects Edinburgh Napier has spearheaded which aim to make products available to anyone who needs them alongside helping put an end to the stigma surrounding ‘that time of the month’.

Last year, a student collective called ‘Bleedin’ Saor’ successfully worked with the University, Hey Girls and PR agency Wire to successfully deliver the first-ever University Bloody Big Brunch as part of a national campaign to raise awareness of period poverty.

The same collective also worked with Hey Girls and the University’s Property and Facilities team to develop a new dispenser for its range of period products. This dispenser can now be found in key bathrooms across the University and is also being used by Hey Girls’ clients throughout the country.

Later this year, Bleedin’ Saor will also debut an exciting new collaborative documentary project about period poverty.

Filmed and edited by Edinburgh Napier BA Film and BA Television students, the film takes its inspiration from the Scottish Government’s ground-breaking initiative to provide free products in all schools, colleges and universities. The film will also cover the collective’s trip to Uganda where it researched international contexts and projects tackling period provision.

More information on Edinburgh Napier’s free period products and where to find them can be found here.

More information on Hey Girls can be found here.

More information on Bleedin’ Saor can be found here.

Barnton cyclist incident: can you help?

At about 8.30pm on Friday 19th June, a 32 year old man was cycling his dark red Genesis Hybrid pedal cycle on Barnton Avenue.

About 20 yards from the junction with Cramond Road South, the rider became unseated from his bike and sustained injuries. The exact cause of the incident is unknown, however there is the possibility that another vehicle may have been involved.

Images of the bike are attached and at this time it is unconfirmed if any other vehicles were involved.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 2977 of 22 June.

Rioters can expect ‘robust response’

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said Police Scotland will continue to provide a robust response to any potential disorder across the country.

He said: “We are aware of a few planned demonstrations and protests which are due to take place across Scotland this weekend. We live in a democratic society and Police Scotland is absolutely committed to respecting people’s rights to freely and peacefully express their views.

“Recent disorder in George Square saw people hijacking a peaceful event with the intention of violence and thuggery.

“This remains completely and utterly unacceptable and we will not tolerate these scenes, including attacks both physical and verbal on the public and our officers.

“My message to those who have been involved in the disgraceful scenes witnessed over the last couple of weeks is that if you continue to behave like this then be prepared to be arrested.

“We have a comprehensive policing plan in place with access to additional resources that can be deployed very quickly to respond to incidents of disorder anywhere in Scotland.

“However, I would remind people that the lockdown restrictions remain in place and people should only leave their homes for very limited purposes. Anyone who wishes to protest should find another way of doing so that keeps everyone safe.”

Police officer fights for life following Glasgow stabbings

Six in hospital following incident at Park Inn Hotel

Constable David Whyte has been named as the police officer seriously injured in yesterday’s stabbing attack at a Glasgow hotel. The 42-year-old officer’s condition is described as ‘critical but stable’.

PC Whyte was one of six people injured in the attack at the Park Inn hotel, which is currently housing asylum seekers. The suspect was shot dead by police.

Late last night, Chief Constable Iain Livingstone made the following statement on the incidents in West George Street, Glasgow:

“Terrible incidents such as we have seen today are, thankfully, very rare in Scotland. This event has understandably shocked the people of Glasgow, and indeed, the whole country.

“My thoughts and very best wishes are with those who have been injured and their families, including our colleague Constable David Whyte who was seriously injured in the course of doing his duty. I offer my personal support to all those affected.

“Officers have once again run into danger to protect their fellow citizens. Their professionalism as police officers was outstanding. I pay tribute to their bravery, selflessness and commitment to protecting the public.

“I briefed the First Minister and the Prime Minister earlier today on the circumstances and advised them both that we are not treating the attack as a terrorist incident.

“It is essential enquiries are now carried out to establish the full circumstances and all speculation must be avoided.

“Scotland is a safe place to live and work. We have cohesive communities who work with their police service to maintain our peaceful and respectful way of life.

“In the context of the current health emergency, and to respect those injured today and the people of Glasgow, I ask everyone to exercise personal responsibility. Please, do not gather in crowds this weekend.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has responded to the serious incident in Glasgow’s West George Street.

The First Minister said: “First and foremost my thoughts are with all those people who have been caught up in this terrible incident, particularly the six injured people taken to hospital for treatment, as well as residents and staff at the hotel.

“I also want to thank all of those police officers whose quick and decisive actions contained the incident – one of whom was among those taken to hospital – as well as the work of the other emergency services. The Justice Secretary and I have been kept informed through the afternoon and briefed by the Chief Constable.

“While such a serious incident is rare in Scotland it is another reminder of the courage and professionalism of our police officers who are willing to run towards danger in order to protect the lives of others.

“Clearly there is already much speculation around this incident, which remains under investigation.

“I would urge everyone to avoid such speculation, to not share potentially harmful or upsetting material on social media and to follow police advice while investigations are underway.”

10 Downing Street issued the following statement:

The PM has this afternoon spoken with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about the incident in Glasgow.

He has also held a meeting with the Home Secretary and senior police officers, in which he was updated. The Prime Minister thanked the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Iain Livingstone, for the exceptional bravery of his officers at the scene.

The PM’s thoughts remain with the injured and their loved ones.

Over 200 young people take part in FDF Scotland’s Lockdown Food Challenge

To help keep pupils engaged with food education during lockdown, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland challenged young people across Scotland to design an innovative street food dish that they and their families would love.

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UK’s internet use surges to record levels

Adults in the UK are now spending more than a quarter of their waking day online with services such as TikTok and Zoom seeing unprecedented growth, according to Ofcom’s latest study into the nation’s online lives.

Ofcom’s annual Online Nation report shows that in April 2020, during the height of the coronavirus lockdown, UK adults spent a daily average of four hours and two minutes online. This is up from just under three and a half hours in September last year.

With people looking for new ways to keep connected, informed, entertained and fit during the pandemic, video-sharing and video-calling services are surging in popularity.

TikTok, which allows users to create and share short dance, lip-sync, comedy and talent videos, reached 12.9 million UK adult visitors in April, up from just 5.4 million in January. Twitch, the popular live streaming platform for video gamers, saw visitors increase from 2.3 million to 4.2 million adults.

The proportion of people making video calls has also doubled during lockdown, with more than seven in 10 doing so at least weekly. Houseparty, the app which combines group video-calls with games and quizzes, grew from 175,000 adult visitors in January to 4 million in April. But the biggest growth was seen by Zoom, the virtual meeting platform, which grew from 659,000 users to reach 13 million users over the same period – a rise of almost 2,000%.

A nation of content creators

Sites and apps such as YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, which allow people to create, upload and share videos online, have never been so popular.

Our report reveals that nine in 10 adults, and almost all older children aged 8-15, with access to the internet used at least one of these in the last year, with many doing so several times a day. One third (32%) of online adults now spend more time viewing video-sharing services than broadcast television.

And we’re not only watching but creating and broadcasting our own content too. Two in five adults (40%) and 59% of older children who use video-sharing sites and apps now create and upload their own videos, driving an explosion in short-form, user-generated content.

Vlogging is also a money-making enterprise, with 17% of adults who create and upload videos receiving revenue or gifts in return. With some vloggers going on to achieve global celebrity status, the proportion of children under 13 who aspire to become a ‘YouTuber’ had increased by 19% by the end of 2019 compared to 2018. Boys in particular are more likely to consider it as a career.

A graph showing how many users of video-sharing services upload videos.

How the pandemic is changing communications

Our study shows that, before the pandemic, many people were moving away from more established forms of communication – particularly landline calls and SMS text messages – and adopting newer methods.

A graph showing that adult internet users are as likely to send a message by WhatsApp and they are to send an SMS.

In the 12 months to February 2020, more people were sending daily text messages using online messaging platforms (52%), such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, than using SMS (41%) or email (26%). Daily use of online voice calls (31%) was only slightly lower than mobile calls (38%).

The pandemic appears to have sped up the adoption of online services to keep in touch. More than seven in 10 people in the UK are now making video calls at least weekly, up from 35% pre-lockdown. This trend is particularly noticeable among older internet users; the proportion of online adults aged 65+ who make a least one video-call each week increased from 22% in February 2020 to 61% by May 2020.

Confident but cautious

For many adults and children, watching or creating content on video-sharing sites or apps is a positive experience. But 87% of adults – and 79% of 8 to 15 year olds – have concerns around children using these platforms. Bullying or trolling, harmful or age-inappropriate content and receiving private messages from strangers are among the top concerns.

Adults’ trust in sites to remove illegal, offensive and harmful material has grown by seven percentage points since last year, to 54%. Nevertheless, most adults (57%) continue to support greater regulation of video-sharing platforms (64% in 2019).

Ofcom is preparing to take on new duties for the regulation of UK-based video-sharing platforms. This summer, we will be publishing a call for evidence to inform our guidance on how platforms should protect users from harmful content.

Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s Director of Strategy and Research, said: “Lockdown may leave a lasting digital legacy. The coronavirus has radically changed the way we live, work and communicate online, with millions of people using online video services for the first time.

“As the way we communicate evolves and people broaden their online horizons, our role is to help ensure that people have a positive experience, and that they’re safe and protected.”

Schools Out for Summer with Forth 1

Forth 1 DJs, Callum Gallacher and Boogie, are celebrating the end of what has been an unusual school term with the ultimate Schools Out for Summer parties.

There’s no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we learn, work and socialise, but the Forth 1 DJs are refusing to let it change the way we see in the school summer holidays while raising funds for Cash for Kids.

Pupils and listeners across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk will be treated to playlists curated especially by DJ Callum Gallacher and Boogie In the Morning DJ, Boogie, to get the summer vibes started as schools across Scotland break up for the end of term.

Last night, with so many young people across the country unable to mark the occasion with friends and teachers, pupils had the chance to join Callum Gallacher’s Summer Prom – and the partying continues today with Boogie’s Summer Party via Facebook Live from 3pm.

Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the special shows to hear their favourite summer tunes and the biggest hits, while at the same time having the chance to give shout outs to their friends, school mates and teachers. There will also be an opportunity to donate to Cash For Kids.

Callum Gallacher hosted a School Prom with guest mixes from Friday night GBXperience DJ, George Bowie and Saturday Night Anthems presenter, Garry Spence, from 7pm, for pupils across the country who are finishing up for the summer with no school prom.

Photograph by Martin Shields Tel 07572 457000 www.martinshields.com © Martin Shields

Callum said: “It’s particularly hard for pupils who are finishing up their school careers, knowing that it’s unlikely they’ll have the chance to say a proper goodbye at the end of this very unusual school term.

“There’ll be no shirt signing, no ties on heads, no school prom – we feel for them – so we want to make sure we give them a great night.”

Following the School Prom, listeners can join Boogie on Facebook Live from 3pm today. Boogie In The Morning presenter, Boogie, said: “The last day of school was always the most fun, so we want to make sure pupils across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk aren’t missing out.

“There’s no denying that lockdown has been tough for many young people and at Forth 1 we are trying to bring some sense of normality to our listeners with music, a laugh and a fair bit of daftness! I’m really looking forward to this continuing with our end of term Summer Party!” 

Join Boogie from 3pm on Facebook Live today. Get in touch with  via the Forth 1 Facebook page with your song requests and shout outs to your friends, school and teachers. Find out more about the Schools Out For Summer party here.

Listen to Forth 1 on FM, DAB radio, online, via our app & on your Smart Speaker.

All donations to the Cash for Kids Appeal welcome. Text FORTH TO 70905 or donate online at https://planetradio.co.uk/forth/cashforkids/.

100% of donations will go to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk.

Concerns over playpark openings

Jon Dalton, Board Member of the The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII), said: “While we are pleased that the Scottish Government have announced the date for the re-opening of outdoor playgrounds in Scotland on Monday (29th June), we are aware that some owners and operators of playground facilities have halted safety inspections of playgrounds altogether during the lockdown period.

“The Register of Play Inspectors International (RPII) is calling for all playground owners in Scotland to make sure they have carried out an in-depth inspection prior to the re-opening of any facility and ensure that all inspection schedules are brought fully up to date.

“The RPII is expecting playgrounds to be very heavily used during the Scottish summer holidays and the eagerness of the public to start using them again, so it is vital that playgrounds are thoroughly inspected to ensure a satisfactory level of safety is in place.

“Owners and operators of playground facilities also have a responsibility to open playgrounds safely and remove any temporary barriers that may have been put up during lockdown which may also be hazardous.”

The RPII is providing the following guidance for families that plan to visit a playground safely:

1.     If the playground facility you visit has not yet officially been opened, please do not attempt to use, or access the equipment or area.

2.     Do not remove any temporary barriers to the playground or plastic fencing or unravel any swing seats or cables that may have been secured to put them out of use – this must be done safely by the owner or operator of the facility.

3.     Follow the current social distance guidelines when visiting and encourage your children to do the same.

4.     If the playground is busy, consider coming back at a later time. Talk to your children about this possibility before visiting.

5.     Wash your and your children’s  hands before and after visiting. Take hand sanitiser with you and consider taking a bottle of water for if your children’s hands get covered in mud. Ensure your children are using hand sanitiser frequently.

6.     Follow and adhere to all current government advice in addition to the above guidance.