Category: North Edinburgh News

Tesco shopper selects Firrhill High School to receive a £5,000 donation

Firrhill High School is celebrating after being selected by a Tesco customer to receive a £5,000 donation.

On Saturday 21st September, Tesco customers in Edinburgh were given the chance to take part in a lucky dip to find a specially created gold version of Tesco’s famous blue voting token.

Firrhill High School was one of three local charities that customers could vote for to receive the £5,000 Golden Grant as part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme.

Alexa Brown, Pupil Support Officer at Firrhill High School, said: “£5000 will make an enormous difference to us – it will mean security for the Breakfast Club and the ability to continue providing a healthy and nutritious breakfast to ensure the best start to the day for all our pupils.”

Over one hundred Tesco stores across the country took part in the Golden Grants event, with £500,000 in total being donated to good causes that help children and young people.

Golden Grants are awarded twice a year as part of Tesco’s £8 million Stronger Starts grant programme, in partnership with the charity Groundwork UK.

Stronger Starts grants help schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, as well as purchasing equipment for healthy activities.

Claire De Silva, Tesco Head of Communities said: “We know that £5,000 can make a huge difference to a school or community project, so we are incredibly proud to have been able to award Golden Grants to over one hundred schools and local projects to support the vital work they do for our children and communities.

“Our Stronger Starts programme continues to support our local communities year-round, and we encourage all customers to get involved by using a blue token to vote for a local project they feel will benefit people in their community.”

Since Tesco launched its Community Grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.

Construction industry: Emily takes home Local Hero award for Scotland 

Emily Carr from Kier Construction takes home Local Hero award for Scotland at this year’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction 

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is delighted to announce the winners for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards 2024. Congratulations to Emily Carr from Kier Construction, who took home the Local Hero award for the Scotland. 

The awards ceremony, which celebrates and honours the outstanding individuals within the sector, took place on 30 September at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel at the start of UK Construction Week.

The Awards Ceremony was hosted by National Federation of Builders, and showcased the influential women that work in construction, making female and non-binary role models more visible and accessible to inspire others, and demonstrating that the sector is open to everyone.  

The category winners were: 

  • Local Heros – exceptional women from nine different regions across the United Kingdom who are currently working at an operational or site level role in construction 
  • Scotland: Emily Carr, Kier Construction  
  • Northern Ireland: Melanie Dawson, Origin7 
  • Wales: Katherine Evans, Bold as Brass  
  • North East: Denise Cherry, YIRTG 
  • North West: Melissa Fazackerley, Dimension H&S Ltd  
  • Midlands: Kayleigh Merritt, Winvic Construction Ltd 
  • East of England: Suzanne Moss, Ringway Infrastructure Services 
  • South East: Chloe Xidhas, Independent Consultant 
  • South West: Danielle Haskings, MCS 
  • Women on the Tools – for those working within a specific trade within the industry who have or are striving to inspire the next generation of construction workers 
  • Nettie Taylor, Eliza Tay Lady Decorators 
  • The Influencer – for those who have made a considerable and real impact at an organisational or national level within an organisation in one of three sub-categories (client, designer and contractor) 
  • Designer: Sam May, WSP 
  • Client: Liz McDermott, QuickFix Profiles 
  • Contractor: Carolyn Jay, Ringway Infrastructure Services 
  • Allies – the only category that recognises people, no matter the gender, within the industry who are acting as key influencers in supporting inclusion and change 
  • Alice Brookes, On the Tools 
  • Claire Brown, Turner & Townsend 
  • Clare Yelland, Friel 
  • Gail Farley, HMS Works 
  • Jason Newton, Redrow NW 
  • Joanna Strahan, C2C Group 
  • Lade Ogunlaja, Turner & Townsend 
  • Magdalena Stefanick, Tilbury Douglas 
  • Tony O’Sullivan, CPI Mortars Ltd 
  • Kelly Cartwright, Core Recruiter 
  • One to Watch – for industry newcomers leading the way in championing equality, diversity, inclusion and equity 
  • Kynleigh Parker, Lovell Partnerships 

The Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction were also unveiled at the awards with the UK’s Most Influential Overall accolade awarded to Katherine Evans from Bold as Brass. 

Danny Clarke, Engagement Director, England at CITB, said: “Congratulations to our award winners and to all of those who were shortlisted for the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction. We are delighted to recognise the incredible women and allies who are driving real change in the construction industry.  

“The award ceremony and Top 100 shortlist celebrate the women that work at every level within the sector and their phenomenal achievements, while inspiring others and encouraging the next generation to pursue careers in this field. We are proud to showcase those who are leading in our industry and hope to see more even more applicants next year.”  

Richard Beresford, Chief Executive Officer at National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “It was a privilege to attend the Top 100 Most Influential Awards event and celebrate the outstanding women and allies that have gone above and beyond this year.  

“It is testament to the positive changes taking place in the industry and we must build on its success and continue to empower and support women in construction.”  

Housing: Briggs slams ‘out of touch’ Housing Minister

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has slammed the Housing Minister over his statement to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday last week saying “Paul McLennan should be ashamed of his out-of-touch statement, which seems to be an embarrassing attempt from the SNP to congratulate themselves on their own failures.”

Mr Briggs highlighted the damage that rent controls have done to the rental sector, as well as the disastrous impact of SNP Ministers slashing £200 million from the housing budget.

Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian and East Lothian have received a total of 6,513 homelessness applications in the last year. The number of live homelessness applications across the four local authorities is 9,971.

The shockingly high number of children living in temporary accommodation, across Lothian local authorities, has risen to 3,700, well over the a third of the total number of children living in temporary accommodation across Scotland, 10,110.

Miles Briggs spoke in Labour party business on Housing last week to again raise the issue of homelessness as well as lack of appropriate housing stock in Scotland.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Over the last eight years in which I have served as an MSP, I have never seen a more out if touch statement delivered by a Government Minister.

“After 17 years of this SNP Government homelessness across Lothian is dramatically worse than when the SNP came to power.

“The number of children living in temporary accommodation is shockingly high, with local authorities in Lothian having over a third of all children living in temporary accommodation across Scotland.

“SNP Ministers have made blunder after blunder leading to a national housing crisis, which could have been avoided with better leadership.

“We urgently need to see a new Scottish Government, with new ideas to start tackling Scotland’s homelessness crisis.”

Main+tables_Homelessness+in+Scotland+2023-24Download

Promotion of Community Councils

MS Teams Meeting on Tuesday 22 October 2024 from 6-7:30pm

In advance of Community Council elections in February 2025, we are reaching out to invite you to the above meeting to discuss how community councils and the Council can collaboratively work together to promote community councils.

Some of the areas we are keen explore are:

  1. Positively communicating to the public who community councils are and the work they do.
  2. Encouraging membership to community councils.
  3. Promoting upcoming community councils elections in February 2025.

If you would like to attend, please use the MS Teams link below:

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 315 878 447 216

Passcode: BsEd9c

Support for Boyack’s Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill


Over 130 organisations, including NGOs, social justice charities, think tanks and economists, have come together to urge First Minister John Swinney to give the government’s backing to Sarah Boyack MSP’s Member’s Bill.

In a letter organised by WEAll Scotland, they tell Mr Swinney that “this is a key opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to work together to pass world leading legislation that delivers for the people of Scotland”.

Ms Boyack’s Member’s Bill aims to create better outcomes for future generations by placing new definitions of sustainable development and wellbeing into legislation.

It also seeks to establish a Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Commissioner to end short-term thinking in policy decisions.

The bill received cross party support but has not yet been formally endorsed by the SNP.

In the SNP’s 2021 manifesto they committed to bringing forward a Wellbeing and Sustainability Bill, however only put a consultation forward after Ms Boyack published her bill.

In the open letter, signatories highlighted the benefits of this bill and urged Mr Swinney to support Sarah Boyack in bringing it into law

Commenting on the support, Ms Boyack said: “It is great to have such a wide range of support from stakeholders across sectors, for my bill.

“There is clearly a deep recognition of the benefits that this bill can bring Scotland.

“This gives us in Scotland the opportunity to be a real leader in this field.

“I hope the First Minister listens to these stakeholders and supports my bill to ensure that we can finally embed wellbeing into the heart of Scotland’s politics.”

WEAll Director Aileen McCleod added: “In a just and compassionate Scotland, everyone should have the opportunity to live a good and dignified life.

“We know that people are struggling as we face multiple crises for people and planet. It doesn’t have to be this way.

“Right now, the Scottish Government is not utilising the full extent of their devolved powers. The recent Programme for Government was a missed opportunity to deliver lasting change.”

Sarah Davidson, Chief Executive of Carnegie UK also commented: “New wellbeing legislation could help Scotland make headway with the biggest challenges of our time by forcing more long-term thinking.

“The Scottish Parliament should get behind Sarah Boyack’s Bill because the only way we’re going to tackle issues like climate change or child poverty is through thoughtful action, co-ordinated across government and the wider public sector.”

WEAll stakeholder letterDownload

Travel back in time at the National Museum of Flight this October

Visitors to the National Museum of Flight this half term can travel back in time to experience life on the Second World War airfield.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, families will be transported to the 1940s with new activities, tours and opportunities to learn wartime espionage skills from 16 Oct – 18 Oct 2024.

Set on one of the best-preserved Second World War airfields in the UK, half-term activities will bring this extraordinary history to life with costumed interpreters and genuine military flying equipment from the period.

SPITFIRE TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN THE NEW HANGER AT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, EAST FORTUNE.

Visitors can discover real stories from the Second World War in Scotland with clothing and equipment worn and used by RAF Coastal Command pilots during the Second World War as well as tour the newly refurbished blast and air raid shelters.

Families will also be able to learn some of the skills needed by Special Operations Executive reconnaissance organisations, some of whom trained in nearby Belhaven in East Lothian, as part of the Special Operations Executive Skills sessions.

The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Half term: Second World War Scotland is free with Museum admission.

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “As one of Scotland’s best days out, the National Museum of Flight is the perfect destination for families this half-term.

“We are delighted to be able to offer these free activities thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery and I hope our visitors will enjoy learning about the Second World War in Scotland.”

The National Museum of Flight is home to a world class collection of aircraft, from a Supermarine Spitfire to Scotland’s only Concorde. The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aircraft fly.

They are also able to learn more about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.

Funds are raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded through Postcode Culture Trust.

Leaders speak out on anniversary of 7th October attacks

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statement on one-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks:

7 October 2023 was the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. One year on, we stand together to remember the lives so cruelly taken. 

Over a thousand people were brutally murdered. Men, women, children and babies killed, mutilated, and tortured by the terrorists of Hamas. Jewish people murdered whilst protecting their families. 

Young people massacred at a music festival. 

People abducted from their homes.

Agonising reports of rape, torture and brutality beyond comprehension which continued to emerge days and weeks later. 

As a father, a husband, a son, a brother – meeting the families of those who lost their loved ones last week was unimaginable. Their grief and pain are ours, and it is shared in homes across the land. 

A year on, that collective grief has not diminished or waned.

Yet their strength and determination to cherish the memories of those they had lost continues, and our determination to bring those still captive home endures. I stand firm in our commitment to bring the hostages home, and we will not give up until they are returned.

One year on from these horrific attacks we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country. We must never look the other way in the face of hate. 

We must also not look the other way as civilians bear the ongoing dire consequences of this conflict in the Middle East. I reiterate my call for immediate ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, and for the removal of all restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza.

We will not falter in our pursuit of peace and on this day of pain and sorrow, we honour those we lost, and continue in our determination to return those still held hostage, help those who are suffering, and secure a better future for the Middle East.

First Minister John Swinney expresses sympathy as he calls for peace:

First Minister John Swinney expressed his sympathy to the Jewish community as he remembers all those who lost their lives in the Hamas 7 October terror attacks a year ago.

Since the attacks, the Scottish Government has consistently called for the immediate release of all hostages, a ceasefire in Gaza, the urgent provision of humanitarian aid to all who need it, and a two-state solution with sovereign Israeli and Palestinian states.

The First Minister said: “The atrocious attacks carried out by the terrorist organisation, Hamas, on 7 October resulted in the worst single loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Jewish communities across the world, including here in Scotland, are deeply traumatised by the attacks.

“As we remember those who died, I express my sympathy to the Jewish community and all those who mourn. 

“I also remember the thousands of innocent people who have been killed in the crisis over the last year. Now more than ever, an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza, and the Middle East.

“As communities across Scotland reflect on the 7 October terrorist attacks and the subsequent loss of further innocent life that has followed, I pledge the unwavering support of my government to ensure our communities remain united, that all communities are kept safe and that we live in a Scotland where people of all faiths, and none, can live in peace.”

Oyster Stringing with Heart of Newhaven

🦪🐟🐙🌊 Help us to restore native oysters to the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years!! 🦪🐟🐙🌊

Free lunch and refreshments provided as well as return transport from The Heart of Newhaven on Monday 14th October 🦪🐟🐙🌊

FOR MORE INFO AND TO SIGN UP:

Email: Admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

#RestorationForth #MarineConservation #OceanConservation #Biodiversity #oceanrecovery #restorationproject #oysterrestoration #RestorationForth #wwf #oysters #seagrass #Environment #seagrassrestoration #environmentalwork #VolunteerOpportunity

Bin Your Gum!

In partnership with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who has awarded a grant of £25K to the Council, a Chewing Gum Task Force is cleaning up gum and reducing gum littering on the Capital.

 Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Environment Convener said: This grant is very welcome as gum takes about five years to break down and is costly to remove.

“Our task force is starting in busy areas and in the next couple of weeks we are concentrating on removing discarded gum on Leith Street. It’s important that we get the message out that it is not OK to drop gum in our beautiful city and we’re putting up effective signage to try to prevent littering in the future.

“I’d like to ask all of our residents and visitors to support this campaign and please bin your gum.”

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome. 

“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”

The council is one of 54 across the country that has successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again. 

Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.  

Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million. In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56 million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement – an area equivalent to the Vatican City. 

By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.