North Edinburgh News – Page 2497 – The NEN

Edinburgh Leisure to close venues

Edinburgh Leisure will be closing all its venues and golf courses from close of play today (Thursday, 19 March). Community access to the 22 high schools that it manages on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council have also been suspended.

The news follows the announcement from First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon that schools will close from Friday, 20 March.

June Peebles, CEO of Edinburgh Leisure said: “These are unprecedented and challenging times for everyone and we are communicating this news to all our stakeholders which includes staff, customers, service providers, tenants, partners, suppliers and volunteers as soon as possible.

“Like so many others affected by this pandemic, it is worrying times for everyone including our staff. Edinburgh Leisure is a charity; and every penny we receive from memberships, lets, events and funding is reinvested back into our venues and funds the services that we provide – therefore shutting our venues and therefore freezing customers’ memberships has huge consequences for us and also the health of Edinburgh.

“Whilst our customers won’t be able to keep active with Edinburgh Leisure for the time being, we will be looking at offering advice to our customers on tips for keeping moving remotely and access to classes via ‘Les Mills on demand’ so that customers can workout at home. And providing advice from Public Health Scotland allows people to not require to totally self-isolate, there is also the option of going for a walk or run outside.

“We really hope that once the situation passes that customers will return to Edinburgh Leisure venues to keep active and stay active once again and to continue supporting us as they have done for the last 22 years.”

There is currently no indication as to how long the venues will remain closed – reopening will be guided by advice from the Government and Public Health Scotland.

Like every customer facing business, Edinburgh Leisure has been receiving a high volume of calls to their Customer Accounts and Customer Enquiries team, which has meant a delayed response.

An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “We have been receiving a really high level of enquiries over the last week from customers. We would urge customers to bear with us and we will be back in touch with customers directly about their memberships in the coming days.”

Schools out ’til summer?

Schools and nurseries will close to pupils from the end of this week, the First Minister announced yesterday.

The Scottish Government is working closely with local authorities to mitigate the impact on three groups as a priority:

Vulnerable pupils and those receiving free school meals
Pupils undertaking coursework and preparing for exams
Key workers including doctors, nurses and emergency service workers who have children

Later today Education Secretary John Swinney will address Parliament to explain the measures being put in place and to address key questions that parents and pupils have.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This has been one of the hardest decisions we have faced so far as we tackle the coronavirus. SAGE – our expert scientific advisers – are examining new advice that is very likely to tell us to close schools.

“We also know more and more schools are approaching a point where they have lost too many staff to continue as normal. At this stage I cannot promise schools and nurseries will reopen after the Easter break.

“There will require to be a lot of local flexibility and we are working closely with local authorities to put those arrangements in place.

“Teachers, school staff and those in the nursery sector will have a vital role in the weeks ahead and we will work with you to minimise the impact on all our young peoples’ education, and in particular the most vulnerable groups.”

This poses a number of challenges and questions for the government:

Up to 250,000 children in Scotland live in poverty and currently receive free school meals. How will these children receive their meals?

What can parents and carers do to educated their children at home?

More parents will have to take time off work to look after their children, further affecting the economy

Students’ exam results are important in determining their future. If exams are cancelled, how will student grades be asessed and university places allocated?

Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson, said: “We have been working closely with the Scottish Government and our local authority partners to consider the implications of the closure of schools and nurseries.

“It is vital that we support staff, parents and children and young people in these exceptional circumstances.

“We will continue this partnership work to ensure that local authorities get the right support and have the flexibility to make the decisions based on local circumstances. This will include support to the most vulnerable, our young people involved in exams and those who provide critical public services.”

New community takeaway service from Royston Wardieburn

The community centre has been organising a community lunch in the centre on a Thursday for the last month as part of a new initiative to promote our classes and groups.

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel all our adult education groups and classes in the centre including our Thursday activities and sit down lunch. We will, however, be providing a take away service on Wednesday and Thursdays between 12 and 2 for the next few weeks.

The freshly cooked food will be served in take-away containers and can be heated up at home or frozen for future use. We have already paid for this food, so there will be no charge.

To protect yourself and others, please wash your hands carefully on entering the building and minimise your contact with others.

For people who are unable to pick up the food (ie over 70’s, people with health conditions, families with sick children and people who are self-isolating) we will be offering a limited delivery service.

If there’s anyone you know who would benefit from this service, please ask them to get in touch (email lynn.mccabe@ea.edin.sch.uk or phone the centre on 552 5700) and we will do what we can to help.

A meeting of local organisations to co-ordinate support across North Edinburgh will be taking place at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre at 2.30pm this afternoon and we hope to pull together an information sheet containing information on what services are available locally.

Keep an eye on local facebook pages for future updates.

Filmhouse closed

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED

In line with the UK Government and Scottish Government’s public health advice we are sad to announce that we will be closing both Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen from today (Wednesday 18th March) until further notice.

We are also announcing the postponement of the 74th EIFF in June, and are looking at which elements of the Festival can be delivered later in the year.

Our first priority is the health and wellbeing of our staff, filmmaker guests and audiences, and we wish you all health and strength through this difficult time.

Tickets purchased online for future screenings will be automatically refunded, however at this challenging time for the Filmhouse and Belmont cinemas we would ask you to consider converting your refund into a donation towards sustaining our charity and the work we will do in the future.

For tickets purchased at the Box Office, refunds will be available to customers when we re-open.

Memberships will be frozen until we are able to resume operating, but if you are able to consider continuing your membership payments it would be a significant support.

Other ways you can consider supporting the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse is through the purchase of vouchers to gift or enjoy when we are able to resume our screenings programmes. Please consider making a donation or supporting the Festival by becoming an EIFF Friend.

Opportunities to support can be found on our websites www.filmhousecinema.com, www.belmontfilmhouse.com and www.edfilmfest.org.uk

We look forward to a brighter time when our cinemas can bring us all back together in a shared celebration of film, and its role in giving us a window on the best and most diverse stories and story tellers from across the world.

Meanwhile we’ll be doing our best to keep everyone’s spirits up and conversation going through our social media and digital channels and hope that many of you will engage with us, retaining what we can of our sense of community and sharing our passion for film.

CEO of Filmhouse in Edinburgh, Belmont Filmhouse Aberdeen and Edinburgh International Film Festival, Ken Hay said: “It is with huge regret that we have taken the necessary decision to both close the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and the Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen for the foreseeable future, as well as postpone Edinburgh International Film Festival 2020.

“Both Filmhouse and Belmont Filmhouse provide unique windows on the world for their local communities, however the health and wellbeing of our staff, filmmaker guests and audiences has to be the first consideration.

“As the longest running film festival in the world we are keen to continue even through these hard times, and we are looking at which elements of it may be delivered later in the year. We will keep you informed as plans develop.

“For now, we would like to thank our funders, sponsors, partners, staff, donors, patrons, filmmakers, sales agents, distributors, members and audiences for their loyalty, support and understanding in these unprecedented times.’

Coronavirus crisis being used as an excuse to fleece motorists at the pumps?

15 pence per litre of Wholesale falls being held back from drivers despite 50% drop in the Oil Price.

Since Christmas to March 13th:

Oil has fallen by 89% in Sterling
Fuel supply chain businesses have increased profit from drivers when they fill up, by 242% for petrol and 175% for diesel.
Wholesale petrol has fallen 24% yet retail has only fallen 1%
Wholesale diesel has fallen 19% yet retail has only fallen 3%
Since Christmas, the Average family car is paying £8.25 more to fill up their tank than necessary.

Since March 3^rdto March 13th:

Oil has fallen by 50% in Sterling
Fuel supply chain businesses have increased profit from drivers when they fill up, by 95% for petrol and 69% for diesel.
Wholesale petrol has fallen 15% yet retail has not changed
Wholesale diesel has fallen 8% yet retail risen by 1%

Petrol and diesel should now be at least 15 pence/litre lower at the pumps.

Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK Campaign said: “The faceless fuel supply chain does it again, this time using a national crisis to line their already fat wallets.

“The Government must act now by putting in place a fuel pricing monitoring watchdog. The perennial cheating of the world’s highest taxed motorists, everytime oil prices change, must be scrutinised by an independent PumpWatch body. It borders on criminal behaviour.”

Data Analysis: https://www.fairfueluk.com/CoronaVirusPumpPrices.png

Data Source: FairFuelUK PumpWatch, Portland Analytics, RAC Foundation

Sainsburys acts to stop stockpilers

An update from Sainsburys:

Learn to Play Days Cancelled

Following the government’s announcements and the ongoing daily developments in regard to Coronavirus, the decision has been made to postpone the nationwide Learn to Play Day events that were planned for the weekend of 28th/29th March 2020.

Paul McManus, CEO of Music for All, the organisers of Learn to Play Day, said: “The safety of all event organisers and participants is of the utmost importance to us. This is a very current and fast-changing situation with the risks to people’s health likely to escalate alongside growing public concern.

“We understand that this decision comes as a disappointment, but ultimately, we all want the same thing – the health and safety of our communities. We will of course keep everyone updated as time progresses but, for now, we’d like to thank you and our partners for your understanding and patience during this difficult period.

“Despite the cancellation of Learn to Play, we do still encourage all musicians to keep playing for their own self-enjoyment and the physical and mental benefits of making music.”

£1.5m National Lottery boost for Scottish Groups

Over 220 arts, sports and community groups across Scotland are sharing in a National Lottery cash boost of £1,570,035 announced today.

The funding comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland – a quick and simple way to access small National Lottery grants of between £500 and £10,000.

Three Edinburgh-based organisations received funding in the latest round. Citadel Arts Group receives £5620 to produce a new play, ‘Beyond The Ash Tide’, about coping with loss and bereavement, and there’s £9900 for Indian Arts Connection, who plan to produce a festival showcasing the best of British talent in the field of classical music and dance.

Finally, Scottish Child Law Centre is awarded ££5929 to stage their annual conference, which this year focuses on teh rights of children and yong people with additional support needs.

Thanks to an award of £6,552, the Amputee Football Association Scotland will be able to appoint a Development Officer who will with both the senior and junior teams over the next 12 months as they prepare to take part in major events in Scotland and Poland.

Ashley Reid, Founder and CEO, Amputee Football Association Scotland, said: ‘This is an enormously exciting year for amputee football in Scotland.

“Not only will we host the nation’s first ever junior residential ever junior residential football camp, but we will see our Scotland squad compete for the first time in the Amputee Football European Championships in Krakow in September.

“Neither of these life-changing events would be possible without the support of The National Lottery, which has given us the means to grow the game of amputee football in Scotland from grassroots to international level.”

Dundee City Disability Sport will use their award of £7,500 to run training sessions for all of their coaches which will help them deliver a wider range of sporting activities for people with physical, learning and sensory disabilities across the city.

Stuart Gray, Chairperson, Dundee City Disability Sport, said: ‘On behalf of everyone we would like to express our gratitude to National Lottery players for this wonderful award.

“This funding means we can work with our member clubs to develop new programmes, support coach education and buy much needed equipment.”

An award of £9,790 means that Elgin Amateur Athletic Club can celebrate their 50^th birthday in style by taking their athletes to training camps in athletic venues across Scotland to use their facilities.

The club will also be able to organise a series of events later in the year for the wider community to join in the celebrations.

Scott Hamilton, Head Coach and Chair, Elgin Amateur Athletic Club, said: We have nearly 100 members with 40 competing regularly at a high level. These camps will provide them with the skills and experience they need to take it to the next level.

“This funding is essential for us and now we are looking forward to the year ahead and to celebrating our half century as a club with lots of excitement and hope for the future.”

A National Lottery Awards for All Scotland spokesperson said: “This is National Lottery money making a real impact in communities across the country.

“The variety and scope of the 222 groups receiving funding today showcases the wide range of projects that can be funded through this programme and the difference that the smallest amounts of money can make.”

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland awards grants of between £300 and £10,000 to local groups.

To find out how what it could do for your community visit our website https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/ or phone 0300 123 7110.

Not-for-profit lender marks record year

Not-for-profit lender DSL Business Finance had a record year in 2019, providing funding of £4.5 million to small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises in Scotland, up from £3.1m in 2018.

The Glasgow-headquartered alternative finance provider supports enterprise in Scotland by offering loans of up to £50,000* to organisations that would not generally be able to access traditional sources of funding.

DSL has increased its loan book dramatically in the last five years – in 2015 it provided total funding of £917,502. Its funding gives a major boost to the Scottish economy by supporting entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses.

Between January and December 2019, DSL gave 207 loans to 173 enterprises and the average loan size was £21,616. This funding created 233 new jobs and maintained 1,012 existing positions.

DSL loans also led to further injections of funding, totalling £1.8m from the private sector and £318,150 from the public sector last year.

One business benefiting from DSL funding is the Nether Bow Café and Bistro on Edinburgh’s High Street, run by husband and wife team Levent and Filiz Celik who have more than 17 years of combined experience in the hospitality trade.

They had always wanted to run their own business and in April 2018 the opportunity arose to take over the coffee house they were working in and develop it as a café and bistro.

DSL provided the couple with a loan to refurbish the property, which included opening up the kitchen preparation area, increasing the customer cover space to 40 and other modernisation to allow the business to grow. The restaurant employs up to 11 people during the busy Edinburgh Festival season and has been proving popular with customers.

The hard work of DSL in supporting small and medium sized enterprises has also been recognised recently.

DSL and two businesses it funded have been shortlisted in the Responsible Finance Citi Foundation’s Microentrepreneurship Awards, an annual celebration of Britain’s microentrepreneurs who have accessed alternative business finance from a Responsible Finance member.

DSL is a finalist in the Resilient Award category, up against other responsible finance providers from across the UK.

Zero waste store The Refillery, set-up in the southside of Edinburgh last year by entrepreneur Kelly Wright with funding from DSL, has been named as one of three UK finalists for an Environmental Sustainability of the Year award.

Former school friends Zander Macgregor and Allan Nairn who launched Wester Spirit Co in 2018, Glasgow’s first rum distillery for over 300 years, with funding from DSL, have been shortlisted in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category.

Stuart Yuill, DSL Business Finance executive director (above), said: “Despite economic uncertainty, primarily around Brexit, it’s rewarding that we are able to support more small and medium sized enterprises than ever before across Scotland.

“We are already building on the record year we had in 2019 to continue to fund organisations and entrepreneurs that would otherwise struggle to get started or grow. Our funding supports job creation and benefits the wider economy.

“I’m proud that our work, and the achievements of the organisations we fund, have been recognised by the Citi Foundation which celebrates entrepreneurship.”