Six businesses lined the banks of the River Forth to compete in the annual Dragon Boat Race in aid of St Columba’s Hospice Care. Among those was full-service law firm Thorntons, who entered a team from its Edinburgh office at Citypoint, raising £2,100 for the charity.
St Columba’s Hospice Care, which has a state-of-the-art hospice facility in the capital, provides care through dedicated support in people’s homes and local communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as working with partners on education and further research.
The Dragon Boat Race is one of the highlights of the fundraising calendar which supports the organisation’s efforts to provide palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Thorntons Senior Solicitor and Dragon Boat Race competitor Hannah Dossett, said: “This was a new experience for our team with lots of nervous energy but also laughter as we stepped into the boat.
“We soon got into a rhythm and had a great time. It was the first event since the pandemic where we could do something as a team and everyone really enjoyed themselves.
“We didn’t win fastest or best dressed but our ‘Thorny Dragons’ team name did win us a prize. We are really proud of our efforts as a team, and the great sum raised – we’re already talking about taking part again next year.”
Amanda Southey, Corporate Development Manager at St Columba’s Hospice Care, said; “It was great to see all the teams, as well as members of the public, pull together to raise money and support the Hospice in such a unique way.
“I’m also excited that several of the competitors enjoyed it so much they have signed up for next year, which is already set to be bigger and better than ever! I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who helped or took part in what was a really fun event.
“We are very grateful for the donation from Thorntons, as £1,000 alone could fund a Hospice at Home service for a day, enabling the team to provide home visits to patients in the community.”
Headquartered in Dundee, Thorntons now has 13 offices ranging from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Montrose to St Andrews, Arbroath and Perth.
Christine Miller is celebrating her 102nd birthday in style this week at Mathieson House Care Home in Edinburgh.
All the stops have been pulled out to ensure Christine and all her friends in the home can enjoy her special day, including balloons, music, singing and, at Christine’s request, lots of cake!
A special guest is also on the invite list, as Christine’s only son Robin flies in from America to mark the special occasion with her.
Christine celebrated her Centurian birthday in 2020, receiving a treasured letter from the late Queen Elizabeth to mark the occasion.
When asked about what receiving her letter meant to her, Christine said: “It was a great honour to receive a letter from our late, great Queen. She worked tirelessly to serve our country over her rein and was someone I admired greatly. I treasure my letter from her dearly.
“I know there are others out there keenly awaiting their letters from our new King. For me it was very exciting to receive the letter, especially as COVID restrictions had put a rain check on my party plans. ”
Christine, originally from Windygates and Methil, Fyfe, was born on the 12th of October 1920. Her 102 years have been packed with adventure, moving to Malaysia in 1956 and living within the Sarawak for the next sixteen years
One of Christine’s great loves in her life has been travel, extensively exploring America and Asia in her youth.
When asked the secret to a long and happy life, Christine responded: “Travel the world with people you love and see as much as you can – while you can. I have had many adventures across Malaysia and the USA in my time.
“Experiencing new cultures keeps you young at heart. I have made so many happy memories to look back on now.
“Thank you to all the staff at Renaissance Care for ensuring that I can spend this day having fun with my loved ones. It has been a birthday party to be remember!”
To coincide with Restart a Heart Day 2022, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has rolled out the use of a life-saving app to the whole of Scotland, which can alert those with CPR knowledge to attend a nearby cardiac arrest.
Every year about 3,200 people in Scotland are treated by the Ambulance Service after having a cardiac arrest. Every second counts when someone has had a cardiac arrest and by equipping bystanders with the tools to help, through dialling 999, starting CPR and using a defibrillator, those suffering a cardiac arrest have a greater chance of survival.
The GoodSAM smartphone app is a mechanism that allows the ambulance service to alert responders in the community to the location of someone suffering a cardiac arrest. Once alerted, and the alert is accepted, it instantly shares the location of a 999 call, to notify those who are registered with the app and are within 1000m of the incident, so that they can quickly respond to provide potentially lifesaving cardio-pulmonary life support (CPR).
SAS first began using the app in 2020 to alert off-duty ambulance service staff to a nearby out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The app has also been successfully trialled with Community Cardiac Responders in the Grampian region since 2021, and now it will be used by SAS across Scotland.
GoodSAM has been adopted by other ambulance services around the world, including ambulance services in the UK and in Australia. There are currently 1,500,000 users worldwide and since the app was launched there have been over 3,000,000 alerts globally.
The use of the GoodSAM app is supported by The Save a Life for Scotland campaign, to help everyone living in Scotland learn how they can help save a life when someone suffers an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). They can do this by recognising there is a problem, calling 999 and starting CPR with the support of an ambulance service call handler.
Programme Lead for Out-of-Hospital-Cardiac Arrest, Steven Short, who is leading the campaign, says: “With this roll-out of the GoodSAM app, anyone who has CPR knowledge can be a life-saver. When someone is in cardiac-arrest, immediate bystander action can mean the difference between life and death.
“By alerting those who are closest, they can begin CPR while waiting for help from the ambulance service to arrive. This may mean that people from all walks of life will turn up to an incident, and with their knowledge, they can begin the CPR, vital in keeping someone alive until help arrives.”
The GoodSAM app can be downloaded from a smartphone app store by anyone with CPR knowledge, and once registered and validated, the user will be sent alert if there has been a 999 call to a cardiac arrest within 1000 metres.
Ian Hendry is a SAS Wildcat Cardiac Responder, who uses the GoodSAM app to respond to emergency calls across North East Scotland.
Ian says: “Providing the immediate care required for patients is vital should an out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest occur, and being able to arrive quickly and commence CPR is essential. Upon arrival, the technicians and paramedics will assume the lead, and we’ll focus on supporting the family or loved ones, and 2that aspect is also very rewarding.
“As a responder, it can at times be challenging depending on the situation we are faced with but we receive regular training, have the opportunity to meet other responders where we can share different scenarios and experiences, and we also have great support from the team at the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“It is humbling to witness the amazing care the SAS staff deliver to patients on a daily basis and to be able to support them in a small way is very rewarding.”
Lisa MacInnes, Director of the Save a Life for Scotland campaign said: “Our aim is to equip everyone living in Scotland with CPR and skills and help them be CPR ready, because when someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts.
“When someone has a cardiac arrest, they need urgent help and with the launch of the GoodSAM app in Scotland, you could be that help.
“We’re asking anyone in Scotland who knows CPR to sign-up and make themselves available to this life saving service. When the minutes are so important you could be the difference in helping a stranger in need who’s just around the corner or a neighbour who needs your help.”
To find out more about the GoodSAM app rollout, refresh your CPR skill and sign up to the app, please visit the Save a Life for Scotland GoodSAM pages at savealife.scot/goodsam
CHANCELLOR Kwasi Kwarteng has been sacked, carrying the can for the ill-judged ‘mini-budget’ which has caused economic turmoil since it was announced three weeks ago today.
‘I’m going nowhere’ Kwarteng, Prime Minister Liz Truss’s choice as Chancellor, was recalled from an IMF meeting in Washington DC this morning to be told the news.
Prime Minister Liz Truss will desperately hope that the departure of close ally Kwarteng will appease the markets. She made the following brief statement confirming a humiliating U-turn this afternoon:
Good afternoon,
My conviction that this country needs to go for growth is rooted in my personal experience.
I know what it’s like to grow up somewhere that isn’t feeling the benefits of growth.
I saw what that meant and I am not prepared to accept that for our country.
I want a country where people can get good jobs, new businesses can set up and families can afford an even better life.
That’s why from day one I’ve been ambitious for growth.
Since the 2008 financial crisis, the potential of this great country has been held back by persistently weak growth.
I want to deliver a low tax, high wage, high growth economy.
It’s what I was elected by my party to do.
That mission remains.
People across this country rightly want stability.
That is why we acted to support businesses and households with their energy costs this winter.
It’s also the case that global economic conditions are worsening due to the continuation of Putin’s appalling war in Ukraine.
And on top of this, debt was amassed helping people through the Covid pandemic.
But it is clear that parts of our mini budget went further and faster than markets were expecting. So the way we are delivering our mission right now has to change.
We need to act now to reassure the markets of our fiscal discipline.
I have therefore decided to keep the increase in corporation tax that was planned by the previous government. This will raise £18 billion per year.
It will act as a down-payment on our full Medium-Term Fiscal Plan which will be accompanied by a forecast from the independent OBR.
We will do whatever is necessary to ensure debt is falling as a share of the economy in the medium term.
We will control the size of the state to ensure that taxpayers’ money is always well spent.
Our public sector will become more efficient to deliver world-class services for the British people.
And spending will grow less rapidly than previously planned.
I met the former Chancellor earlier today. I was incredibly sorry to lose him. He is a great friend and he shares my vision to set this country on the path to growth.
Today I have asked Jeremy Hunt to become the new Chancellor.
He is one of the most experienced and widely respected government ministers and parliamentarians.
And he shares my convictions and ambitions for our country.
He will deliver the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan at the end of this month.
He will see through the support we are providing to help families and businesses including our Energy Price Guarantee that’s protecting people from higher energy bills this winter.
And he will drive our mission to go for growth, including taking forward the supply side reforms that our country needs.
We owe it to the next generation to improve our economic performance to deliver higher wages, new jobs and better public services, and to ease the burden of debt.
I have acted decisively today because my priority is ensuring our country’s economic stability.
As Prime Minister, I will always act in the national interest.
This is always my first consideration.
I want to be honest, this is difficult. But we will get through this storm.
And we will deliver the strong and sustained growth that can transform the prosperity of our country for generations to come.
Kwarteng’s replacement – and the UK’s fourth Chancellor in a tumultuous 2022 – is none other than veteran former health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Hunt supported Rishi Sunak – who’s predictions on the economy have been proved painfully accurate – in the recent Tory leadership election.
Hunt himself was an early casualty in the recent Tory leadership election and was also once voted as the most unpopular front-line politician of all time!
Clearly another popular choice … what could possibly go wrong?
HM Treasury issued the following statement this evening:
Government update on Corporation Tax
The Prime Minister has set out that the way the government is delivering on its mission to achieve a low tax, high wage, high growth economy is to change.
The legislated increase in the Corporation Tax rate from April 2023 will go ahead, with most small businesses benefitting from the new small profits rate.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver the Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October, detailing action to get debt falling as a percentage of GDP over the medium term.
The government has today [Friday 14 October] announced that Corporation Tax will increase to 25% from April 2023 as already legislated for, raising around £18 billion a year and acting as a down payment on its full Medium-Term Fiscal Plan.
The decision has been taken in recognition of the need to ensure the UK’s economic stability and reassure markets of its commitment to fiscal discipline, after elements of September’s Growth Plan went further and faster than markets were expecting.
The Prime Minister has set out that the government is prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure debt is falling as a share of the economy in the medium term and to ensure that taxpayers’ money is well spent, putting public finances on a sustainable footing.
The previously announced small profits rate of Corporation Tax will be maintained. Smaller or less profitable businesses will not pay the full 25% rate, and companies with less than £50,000 of profit – the large majority – will not see any increase at all, continuing to pay Corporation Tax at 19%.
The UK’s corporate tax regime will remain competitive and supportive of growth at the 25% rate, continuing to be the lowest rate in the G7. As part of the forthcoming tax review, the government will look at how the tax system can go further to promote growth and investment.
The government is committed to growing the economy and taking forward supply-side reforms that will ignite strong and sustained growth that delivers prosperity for the UK.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt will set out the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Plan on 31 October, alongside a full forecast from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
Campaign to explore Britain’s hidden gems by train launches
A national awareness campaign, uniting communities across Britain to showcase the delights and benefits of ‘Days Out by Rail’, launches next week.
The three-week initiative is raising awareness about rail as one of the greenest ways to travel with the family – especially when combined with walking, cycling and buses – avoiding traffic jams, parking and pollution, while enabling exploration of lesser-known spots as part of a day out, short break or staycation.
Days Out by Rail, developed by Community Rail Network, draws on local insights and ideas from community rail, a grassroots movement spanning Britain, which involves communities and volunteers with their local railways and stations.
The campaign is being delivered through Community Rail Network’s tourism initiative, ScenicRailBritain.com, and aims to provide inspiration for families looking for days out during the October half term and throughout autumn.
The campaign will include tips on how to have a low-cost railway-themed day out, ideas for things to do with the kids as well as highlighting some of Britain’s fascinating hidden gems off the beaten track, all accessible by train.
And it’s not all about the destination, whether families decide to play travel games, enjoy a packed lunch or play I-spy from the window, taking the train can be so much more than just a journey.
Most of the lines featured in the campaign are supported by community rail partnerships and station volunteer groups working at grassroots level to engage local communities and promote rail as a key part of sustainable, healthy travel.
The movement works to improve rail connections, advising railway partners on local needs to help more people be able to access rail.
Community Rail Network, the non-profit organisation that operates Scenic Rail Britain, supports, connects and champions those working and volunteering in community rail across Britain.
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “Many people don’t realise the scope for seeing Britain’s stunning landscapes, pretty villages and historic sites by rail – and making use of our wonderful, often little-known, community rail lines and stations is a great way to do this.
We’re excited to launch our Days Out By Rail campaign with help from community rail partnerships and station volunteers across the country. This campaign is all about drawing on the local knowledge and insights from the community rail movement, and sharing that with families, day-trippers and holidaymakers.
“We hope to inspire more people to explore our beautiful countryside and fascinating heritage through green and scenic journeys by rail, avoiding the stress and pollution of driving and parking.”
A mum whose daughter fell into a scalding bath when she was just three-years-old has urged other parents to be aware of the dangers of burns.
Little Courtney, now seven, spent years battling back to full health after she suffered devastating burns to more than a quarter of her body.
The schoolgirl, from Kirkcaldy, had to undergo numerous painful procedures and physiotherapy at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) in Edinburgh following the accident.
Now on “Burns Awareness Day” (12th October), her mum, Chloe Abrahams, is warning other parents to be aware of potential burns hazards around the home.
Chloe said: “I would never have thought that tap water could burn so badly.
“The pain Courtney went through just from lifting her into a different position on the hospital bed still breaks my heart when I think about it. Seeing my daughter in that state was the worst thing I’ve ever been through.”
Courtney’s accident happened in 2018. She was reaching for a toy when she tumbled into a bath that was filling with scalding water.
Chloe said: “We heard horrendous screams and found that Courtney had fallen into a scalding hot bath. I quickly scooped her out of the bath, stripped her clothes off and wrapped her in a wet towel.She was covered in massive bulging blisters and we rushed her to hospital. But at this point, I didn’t realise how much damage had already been done.”
Courtney was immediately transferred to the high dependency unit in the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) where she was sent to theatre every few days to get her burns scrubbed and redressed to prevent any infections.
Her little thighs and feet received the worst damage as her socks and pants had held the scalding water close to her skin.
After being released from hospital, Courtney’s feet had to stay bandaged for over a month, meaning that she was struggling to walk for up to two months.
She received regular physiotherapy alongside numerous other appointments for over a year to aid her recovery and to help with the inevitable scarring.
Chloe added: “I honestly can’t thank all the amazing doctors and nurses at the RHCYP enough. Courtney is now seven and is doing great. She has lots of scars but she doesn’t let them define her.
“I would like other families to know that you can turn the water temperature down on your boiler. If we had known that – things might have been different for us.”
According to the Burns and Plastics Clinic at the RHCYP, burns are the most common household injury with over 7,000 children suffering serious burns or scalds in the UK in 2021.
As Halloween and bonfire night approaches Rosie Bainsfair, Burns & Plastics Nurse Specialist at the RHCYP, said: “Many of the children we see at the RHCYP in Edinburgh are injured in accidents around the house, involving very common things like hot drinks, irons or hair straighteners.
“If your child has a burn or scald, follow this simple ‘STOP’ first aid advice:
“Strip clothes, jewellery or nappies off (unless they are stuck to the skin).
“Turn on a cold tap or shower and run the burn under cool water for 20 minutes whilst keeping the child warm. Do not use ice.
“Organise medical assistance – attend A and E or dial 999.
“Protect the burn with cling film, provide painkillers and keep the child warm.”
To find out more about how you can prevent burns from happening at home, please visit the Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents website here.
Families can test their sea survival skills at the National Museum of Flight this half term. Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, special workshops and activities will take place at the museum in East Lothian on 15 & 16 and 22 & 23 October.
Sea Survival will offer visitors the opportunity to get hands-on and discover skills and equipment used by RAF’s Coastal Command.
Outdoor workshops will teach children aged 7 and up how to survive on a desert island, from safely lighting a fire to bushcraft.
Families can also climb aboard a real-life raft in the Concorde Hangar and handle equipment used by the RAF from the Second World War to the modern day, before exploring the historic airfield and hangars filled with fascinating aircraft and interactive displays.
The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Sea Survival is free with museum admission.
Steve Mclean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “We are delighted to offer free family activities this half term, thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
“We hope our young visitors will enjoy diving into the stories and skills of the RAF’s Coastal Command while exploring everything the National Museum of Flight has to offer.”
Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This Sea Survival event is a fascinating and fun way to learn about the history of the RAF’s Coastal Command.
“We are thrilled that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting this brilliant programme of family activities at the Museum this half term. Player support has enabled many such initiatives. To date, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £900 million for thousands of good causes”
Visitors to the National Museum of Flight this October can also take part in Operation Sabotage, Scotland’s only escape room experience on an historic airfield. Taking place on 29 and 30 October, the experience is suitable for those aged 14 and over.
The Museum is home to Scotland’s only Concorde and visitors can see an example of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.
The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly.
They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.
Postal workers union CWU has responded defiantly to an announcement by Royal Mail’s parent company International Distribution Services PLC’s that they plan to slash up to SIX THOUSAND jobs due to mounting losses.
The union says Royal Mail’s announcement is nothing more than ‘their latest misjudged scare tactic to threaten members into submission’.
CWU said: ‘We (CWU) will meet Royal Mail Group today because we continue to act in good faith. We will also bring you a fuller update from the unions leadership later as well.’
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward said: “The announcement is the result of gross mismanagement and a failed business agenda of ending daily deliveries, a wholesale levelling-down of the terms, pay and conditions of postal workers, and turning Royal Mail into a gig economy style parcel courier.
“What the company should be doing is abandoning its asset-stripping strategy and building the future based on utilising the competitive edge it already has in its deliveries to 32 million addresses across the country.
“The CWU is calling for an urgent meeting with the Board and will put forward an alternative business plan at that meeting.
“This announcement is holding postal workers to ransom for taking legal industrial action against a business approach that is not in the interests of workers, customers or the future of Royal Mail. This is no way to build a company.”
One of Edinburgh’s most famous streets is set to be significantly revitalised by an exciting range of independent retail businesses which are due to be opening their doors during the next few months.
Drum Property Group has unveiled a host of new tenants for its refurbished ‘Red Sandstone’ building which extends from 106 to 154 Leith Walk. Following a major redevelopment project the distinctive two-storey building, first completed in 1933 in the Scottish Art Deco style, now provides flexible space for up to 10 ground floor retail units, together with a range of open-plan first-floor business suites overlooking the foot of Leith Walk.
New retail tenants include Hobz Bakery, Cornelius Wines, vintage clothing store Rhinestone Cowboys, Chorrito Sauce Company and Design Eat Repeat, a design store and gallery space.
They join Leith Depot, an established bar, restaurant and music venue which has been based at the location since 2015 and has recently signed a new lease expanding the venue and extending its stay at the retail parade.
Known simply as ‘The Red Sandstone’, the building forms an iconic gateway to Drum’s £50 million transformation of the 2.9-acre Stead’s Place site, which will bring 148 new homes to the rear of the development linking Leith Walk to Pilrig Park and beyond.
Graeme Bone, Drum Group’s Managing Director, is excited by the widespread level of interest in the Red Sandstone – both in the retail units and in the office suites above. He said: “The Red Sandstone, as a distinctive entry point for our new development, will provide both a new focus and destination for the foot of Leith Walk.
“And with more tenant and business announcements to be made shortly, the eclectic mix of occupiers attracted to the building will bring something a little different to the city centre, continuing the rich tradition of diversity and independence which makes this area such an exciting destination in which to live, work and visit.”
Hobz, which means ‘bread’ in Maltese, was established in early 2021 by Matt Mallia, who began selling his bakery produce at the Leith Walk Police Box and at Leith Arches, and quickly established a devoted customer base.
Matt said: “I immediately felt welcomed to the Leith area, and quickly began looking for a ‘brick and mortar’ shop in Leith. The Red Sandstone soon emerged as the top contender in my search for a permanent home for Hobz and we’re so glad to be able to launch in an area with so many other artisan producers.”
James Wrobel, owner of Cornelius Beer and Wine added: “For almost two decades, Cornelius gained a reputation as one of Edinburgh’s very best off-licenses, with a very wide range of drinks that manage to be both affordable and slightly outside the mainstream.
“We are very excited to now be opening on Leith Walk, one of Edinburgh’s most historic and important thoroughfares, with both a thriving local community and a lot of commuter traffic.”
Leith Depot has been based in the Red Sandstone since 2015 and is now set to be expanded and improved as part of the building’s refurbishment. Owner Julie Carty said: “Everyone at Leith Depot is looking forward to an exciting and prosperous future for all who will reside in the Red Sandstone Building at Steads Place.”
The Chorrito Sauce company specialises in producing small-batch, handmade hot sauces in a range of exotic flavours – including Chipotle, pineapple and garlic and Carolina Reaper honey and Bourbon. Design Eat Repeat is an ever-changing space celebrating creativity with a shop that showcases leading independent British design brands, together with gallery space for emerging designers.
For more information on The Red Sandstone and its mix of retail and office spaces, visit: www.theredsandstone.com or contact office agents Culverwell on 0131 243 9617.
For more information on Drum Property Group’s Stead’s Place site, visit: www.steads-place.com
