We are delighted to welcome our new permanent CEO, Sarah Van Putten, to the LifeCare family.
Sarah joins us as an experienced third sector Chief Executive, with a career in health and social care spanning 3 decades. For the last 6 years, Sarah has been supporting Befriending Networks across the UK, and tackling loneliness and isolation by influencing public policy.
On her appointment, Sarah said: “I am delighted to have joined the LifeCare team as permanent CEO.
“I bring a long track record of working within and managing social care organisations. I knew of LifeCare as my great Aunt was a client and I have always been impressed by the work they do.
“Since taking up post, the commitment and passion of the team has already become evident – with staff continuously going above and beyond for the people they support. I look forward to working closely with staff, our board of trustees and most importantly the clients to identify our priorities for the next 3 years.
“I hope to bring my wider experience of social isolation policy work to help Lifecare amplify the voices of those who use our services, so that we can continue to offer those “extra years of Zest” to the people in our communities that need it most.”
The route for the UCI Men’s Elite Road Race has been announced. This forms part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, the “biggest cycling event ever.”
The race will begin in Edinburgh on Sunday 6 August 2023 at 9.30am. We expect the event to attract many visitors from across the world to follow the race as it makes its way from the capital to Glasgow. The city will be busy and some roads will be closed as the event passes through.
Route
Competitors will start off in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat and the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood Park. The race then heads up the Royal Mile and through Edinburgh’s Old Town, passing under Edinburgh Castle.
They will then head down the Mound and towards Stockbridge before moving onto Queensferry. Competitors will then cross the Firth of Forth via the Queensferry Crossing. The race will eventually finish in Glasgow’s George Square, covering a distance of 270km.
Road closures
These roads will be closed from 6:30pm on August 5 to 12 noon on 6 August:
Queens Drive
Horse Wynd
Dukes Walk
These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 1:45pm on 6 August:
Canongate
New Street (between East Market Street and Canongate)
These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 11:15am on 6 August:
High Street (between South Bridge and St Giles Street)
Lawnmarket (between St Giles Street and Bank Street)
These roads will be closed from 11:59pm on August 5 to 12 noon on 6 August:
High Street (between St Mary’s Street and South Bridge)
The following roads will be closed from 8:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:
Abbeyhill (between Canongate and Abbeyhill Crescent)
Calton Road (between Abbeyhill and Abbeyhill Crescent)
The following roads will be closed from 9:00am to 9:45am on 6 August:
George IV Bridge (between Lawnmarket and Victoria Street)
Lawnmarket (between Bank Street and Castlehill)
Bank Street
North Bank Street
The Mound
Hanover Street
Queen Street Gardens East
Heriot Row (between Dundas Street and Howe Street)
Howe Street (between Heriot Row and South-East Circus Place)
South-East Circus Place
Circus Place
North-West Circus Place
These roads will be closed from 9:10am to 9:45am on 6 August:
Kerr Street
Deanhaugh Street
Raeburn Place
Comely Bank Road
Craigleith Road
These roads will be closed from 9:15am to 9:50am on 6 August:
Queensferry Road (between Craigleith Road and Hillhouse Road)
Hillhouse Road
These roads will be closed from 9:20 to 9:55am on 6 August:
Queensferry Road (between Hillhouse Road and Maybury Road)
These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10am on 6 August:
Queensferry Road / A90 South-eastbound (between the dual carriageway section and Whitehouse Road)
These roads will be closed from 9:40am to 10:40am on 6 August:
Queensferry Road / A90 North-westbound (between Maybury Road and the boundary of City of Edinburgh Council’s responsibility).
Vehicle crossing points on closed roads
On 6 August, traffic will be held at the junctions with the race route for up to 10 minutes while the race passes. Once the final support vehicle passes, traffic will be able to flow as normal. The timings may change slightly to fit with the event as it passes through Edinburgh.
St Mary Street – Jeffery Street at Canongate/ High Street 9:25am to 9:35am
North Bridge – South Bridge at High Street 09:25am to 9:35am
Princess Street at The Mound/ Hanover Street 9:25am to 9:35am
Queen Street at Hanover Street/ Queen Street Gardens East 9:25am to 9:35am
East Fettes Avenue – Comley Bank Avenue at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
Orchard Brae – Crewe Road South at Comely Bank Road 9:30am to 9:40am
Telford Road – Strachan Road at A90 Hillhouse Road 9:30am to 9:40am
Quality Street – Craigcrook Road at A90 Queensferry Road 9:30am to 9:40am
Jay Crawford has announced his return to the airwaves on Edinburgh’s new local radio station, Edge 2
Edge Radio Group, led by Jay Crawford, has taken over another DAB licensed station MIX 1 to create Edge 2, Edinburgh’s new local station which will deliver the best music of the last 50 years.
Following huge investment in new studios and equipment in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge, Edge 2 brings fresh ideas, an updated music selection and the triumphant return of one of Edinburgh’s best loved radio DJs. Edge 2 aims to captivate listeners with a curated selection of timeless classic hits and local news.
This expansion further solidifies Jay Crawford’s influence and impact in the radio industry, showcasing his passion for music and commitment to providing engaging content for his listeners.
Jay said; “This was a golden opportunity to build on the success of Edge Radio and an exciting development for the local radio scene. I saw a gap in the market and felt that Edge 2 could be it. I cannot wait to return to the airwaves to play classic tracks every Monday to Friday.”
At the new Stockbridge home for Edge Radio, Jay continued; “Dedicating an entire station to the best music of the last 50 years offers immense appeal. We will be showcasing hits from the rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1950s to vibrant disco in the ‘70s, pop hits of the ’80s, through to the alternative and grunge movements of the ’90s.
“With such a vast and eclectic pool of music to draw from, the new station is poised to cater to a wide range of listeners, ensuring there is something for everyone.”
Jay Crawford’s experience and expertise as a veteran DJ will undoubtedly shine through in the programming and curation of the playlist.
Listeners can expect a well-crafted selection of songs that not only represent the best of the last 50 years but also showcase the breadth and depth of musical talent that has shaped our cultural landscape.
Edge 2 will go live on Monday 10th July playing music from the last 5 decades broadcasting online, on mobile, smart speakers and DAB+
Jay Crawford will be on air every Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm.
Presenters include: Breakfast with Sam Hinks, Jay Crawford and Afternoon Drive with award winning comedian, Billy Kirkwood.
Edinburgh Central MSP Angus Robertson and Inverleith Ward Councillor Vicky Nicholson visited the newly completed bridge crossing the Water of Leith at Bell Place, which can be raised during high water periods. The bridge was completed recently by the City of Edinburgh Council flood prevention team.
Increased incidences of high water in recent years have caused stress for residents and damage along the Water of Leith, including to the old bridge. The new rising bridge forms one part of the flood prevention team’s work to bolster defences.
Levels in the Water of Leith can rise from ankle-deep to 5 metres in a matter of hours.
Along with the rising footbridge, Edinburgh Council’s flood prevention team have been installing removable flood barriers that can be inserted on top of existing walls to prevent water breaching.
Angus Robertson MSP said: “The work City of Edinburgh Council flood prevention team are doing is really impressive. The rising footbridge means water will not be caught and diverted over the side by the bridge and, having spoken to a constituent on our visit, I know the insertable walls are giving peace of mind to residents.
“Councillor Nicolson and I have been working hard with locals, the council and other groups to ensure the risk of flooding is reduced all along the Water of Leith in our constituencies and I am very thankful we have such an expert and dedicated flood prevention team to help tackle the issue.”
Councillor Nicolson said: ‘We are seeing more and more bouts of heavy rain and, consequently, there is an increased risk of flooding in many areas along the Water of Leith.
“Gordon McOmish and the whole flood prevention team are doing a brilliant job making sure the City is better prepared for these events, and I can’t thank them enough for the work they do.
“Angus Robertson and I remain available to constituents who are concerned about water level risk and we will continue to work with all to ensure no one has to go through the awful experience of being flooded and our public areas are better protected from damage.”
Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to market George Mewes Cheese, two high turnover artisan cheese shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
George Mewes Cheese was first established in 2010 when former chef, George opened his Glasgow store, followed by a store in Edinburgh in 2015. Since then George has built an award-winning business which sources the finest cheeses from Britain and Europe, working closely with Hervé Mons, a top affineur based in France, and British affineur Neal’s Yard Dairy of London.
As well as the thriving retail business, George Mewes Cheese has built a reputation as a leading wholesaler, supplying cheeses to prestigious Scottish hotels and restaurants.
These profitable stores are ideally positioned in affluent areas of both cities. George Mewes Edinburgh is located on Dean Park Street, in the vibrant area of Stockbridge while George Mewes Glasgow is situated on the cosmopolitan and eclectic Byres Road in the West End.
Having successfully navigated the Covid pandemic, and now generating consistently high sales in-store and online, George believes the time is right to pass over the reins to a new owner who can build on the current success.
Liam Bain, Business Agent at Christie & Co’s Scottish Retail team, is handling the sales process comments, “I am excited to assist George with selling the business he has worked tirelessly to build over the last 13 years.
“With two fantastic sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow, I’m sure this will pique the interest of business owners and entrepreneurs across both retail and hospitality sectors and beyond.”
LifeCare Edinburgh launches new dementia-friendly hairdressing service helping local older people “feel like themselves again”
COVID restrictions taught us all how much we value a visit to our local hairdresser to help us feel like ourselves, boost our self-esteem and to simply enjoy a chat and a catch-up with a friendly face.
Sadly, for people living with dementia this lockdown experience can be a permanent feature in life as visiting an everyday salon can be inaccessible, overwhelming, and without the right training, difficult for a hairdresser to deliver well.
However, things are changing in the capital as local charity LifeCare has launched the city’s first dedicated dementia-friendly hairdressing service providing essential haircare services for people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.
LifeCare’s new ‘Forget-Me-Not’ hair service involves an experienced, caring and dementia-trained mobile hairdresser visiting people in their homes so that they can continue to experience the joy of a haircut.
The benefits of a hairdressing experience for a person living with dementia can be significant. Haircare helps people to maintain their appearance but also impacts how they feel, their personal identity, and their overall self-esteem.
For a person living with dementia, hairdressing can be a unique multi-sensory experience providing a valuable opportunity for touch and physical contact which is often missing outside of practical interactions.
Regular visits and time for conversation can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Feelings of self-worth and positive self-image are boosted and this increased confidence can mean people are more likely to be motivated to attend other activities and stay engaged with their community.
Evidence shows haircare services support reminiscence activities as scents and experiences involved can be incredibly evocative and personal appearance can relate to people’s life stories and relationships.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said“It’s sad and unfair that people living with dementia struggle to access ordinary haircare services that many of us take for granted.
“The typical busy, hot and noisy hair salon environment can just be too overwhelming for some and a lack of understanding amongst hairdressers can make the experience really difficult for everyone. Mobility issues and transport concerns also create problems.
“At Lifecare, we have a proud 80-year history of providing essential care services for local older people, ensuring no-one is left alone or isolated and that everyone can continue to enjoy the joy in their lives. So, we’re absolutely delighted that we are now able to launch this dedicated service which will make an immediate positive and life-changing difference to our older clients and their carers.
“We are already hearing from clients how they “feel like themselves again” and “can’t wait for their next appointment”. I’m looking forward to hearing more of these stories as the service continues to grow.”
Audrey McDonald, LifeCare’s dementia-friendly hairdresser said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be helping to deliver this fantastic service. From my own personal experience, I understand how frustrating it can be for a person to be shut-out of these important pleasurable activities.
“Even a small trim can cheer a person up for the day. In just a few short weeks, I have already seen how much joy the service is bringing for local people.
“Together we are enjoying a giggle, a chat about old times and everyone is left feeling a million dollars.”
The charity relies on support from its funders to deliver all of its essential services. The Forget-Me-Not Salon has been made possible thanks to financial support from Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government.
Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, Dr Kainde Manji said “We are excited to support LifeCare in their delivery of a dedicated haircare service for people with lived experience of dementia, and we recognise the importance of this type of community-based support in enabling ordinary activities that make a big difference to individual wellbeing.
“We know that increasing wellbeing and tackling social isolation can empower people with lived experience of dementia to take a more active role in their communities.”
The “Forget-Me-Not” hair service has been initially set up as pilot project offering the service to clients for free to ensure that it is accessible to all.
