For the second year running, Under 12s football clubs in West Lothian have been given the opportunity to enter a sports kit sponsorship competition, courtesy of The Centre, Livingston, following the success of the partnership with Mid Calder Colts 2014s team last year.
The sponsorship is part of The Centre, Livingston’s ‘Support in the Community’ initiative aimed at helping various local sports clubs, organisations and local charities and social enterprises to raise awareness, funds and to benefit from sponsorship opportunities.
All football clubs with Under 12s teams are being invited to enter the competition by highlighting why their team should be picked to win the kits.
Last year the management team were inundated with entries, with the Mid Calder Colts 2014s application standing out for many reasons including the dedication and team spirit of the young players, the commitment from all of the coaches all year round to make sure all the kids have fun and the welcoming of players from Craigshill Thistle FC which folded due to financial difficulties.
Applications should be emailed to enquiries@thecentrelivingston.com by Thursday, 20th June at 5pm, to ensure the winning team receives the new shorts and branded tops in time for their first football match after the summer holidays.
Gary Anderson, Operations Manager at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Supporting organisations in our community who are going the extra mile and local sports clubs is very important to us.
“By sponsoring another local football club it gives us the chance to help build the team morale even more, by looking and feeling the part when they play their first match in the Autumn, and help them to get off to a flying start.”
All details and terms and conditions can be found at www.thecentrelivingston.com
Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group has launched an important awareness campaign aimed at engaging primary school children about the dangers of entering a construction site.
Hill is rolling out the campaign to all primary schools nationwide during Child Safety Week, 3-9 June, which is run by the Accident Prevention Trust. The campaign is centred around an educational video featuring Hill’s safety mascots, Jack and Jill, who demonstrate to children the rules that must be observed around building sites.
Child safety is a vital topic for the housebuilding industry; the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports that each year, two or three children die after gaining access to building sites, and many more are injured.
The video, along with downloadable activity worksheets, will be accessible on Hill’s website, and the housebuilder will be engaging directly with primary schools in proximity to its current and forthcoming developments.
Rhodri Williams, Technical and Sustainability Director at HBF, said: “Health and safety is vital in our industry, particularly as our members engage with communities where homes are being built.
“We are pleased to see child safety given a platform promoting awareness of best safety practices and protecting children. This will complement existing health and safety site practices in fostering safer communities for all.”
Lucie Wright, Head of Strategy at CITB, said:“Engaging with children to demonstrate the need for health and safety on a construction site is not just important for their wellbeing, but also provides an opportunity to introduce and promote the construction industry to younger generations – an urgent need for the industry.”
“Having workers that are trained and qualified in health and safety standards is vital for ensuring an employer’s workforce can keep themselves and those around them safe. It’s brilliant to see The Hill Group launch this initiative and raise awareness of health and safety on construction sites for children.”
The campaign was launched at Newport Primary School in Essex. Hill’s Charlotte Blair, the presenter on the awareness video, was on hand to deliver an assembly to the school on the importance of construction site safety with the help of mascots, Jack and Jill.
The assembly included a screening of the campaign film to all of the children and teachers at Newport Primary School which is located near Hill’s highly sustainable Hollymead Square development, where the housebuilder has collaborated on various school community activities since starting on site in February.
Rebecca Littler, Group Sales and Marketing Director at The Hill Group, commented “A construction site may seem like a fun place to explore for young children, but the risks of entering can be extremely serious.
“As a responsible housebuilder committed to prioritising health and safety, we actively engage and inform local communities about the work that we do, and site safety is a particularly important message to share.
“I’m very grateful to Newport Primary School for allowing myself, Jack, and Jill to present to the children, and we look forward to rolling out the campaign to more schools over the weeks ahead.”
Sherlyn Ramsey, Interim Head Teacher at Newport Primary School, commented: “It’s wonderful to see The Hill Group working towards safeguarding children in this way and informing them of the risks posed by construction site activity.
“The assembly was a great success, with the awareness video and campaign messages able to convey vital information in a fun and informative way to primary school children of all ages.”
Some readers may still recall an awful accident in Muirhouse back in August 1999, when brother and sister William (6) and Danielle (5) Welsh were killed by a reversing lorry when they played hide and seek on a construction site off Pennywell Road.
Homebuilder’s team in Edinburgh supports Alzheimer Scotland with fitness challenge
Miller Homes Scotland East is supporting Alzheimer Scotland with a donation of £10,595 following recent fundraising efforts that saw the homebuilder’s Edinburgh team complete a month-long step count challenge, alongside other colleagues in the East of Scotland.
For each mile a Scotland East employee stepped during the challenge, Miller Homes pledged to donate £1 to Alzheimer Scotland, resulting in thousands raised for Scotland’s dementia charity.
Making a real difference to the lives of people living in and around the communities Miller Homes is building in, this challenge allowed employees in Edinburgh to stay fit through a variety of exercise methods, from hill walking and running, to taking part in basketball, netball and football games.
Neil Gaffney, Sales Director for Miller Homes Scotland East, is exceptionally proud of the fundraising efforts from the Edinburgh team. He said: “The team members from our head office and West Craigs Manor development in Edinburgh certainly know how to accept a challenge and this charity fundraiser was no different.
“Each employee took this incentive in their stride, quite literally, raising a staggering total for Alzheimer Scotland, a charity we know is close to so many of our employees’ hearts.
“Not only have we been able to provide a cash boost for a great cause, we’ve also been able to encourage our employees in Edinburgh to come together through exercise and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”
Tom Pavey, Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator for Alzheimer Scotland said: “We are delighted to receive this very generous donation from Miller Homes, the support from its employees throughout this partnership has been extraordinary.
“Alzheimer Scotland depends on fundraising and every penny raised will help us to continue to fund our vital network of Dementia Advisors, Dementia Centres and 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline, that all provide critical support for people living with dementia and those who care for them.
“This donation from Miller Homes helps us to Prevent Today, Care Now and Cure Tomorrow.”
For more information on Alzheimer Scotland, visit www.alzscot.org/.
To find out more about Miller Homes’ community work, visit:
AS Scotland’s new Low Emission Zones come into force across Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, the RAC has issued fresh guidance for drivers.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers in Dundee should be prepared for Low Emission Zone (LEZ) enforcement from this Thursday, while those in Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be impacted from Saturday.
“Drivers with a diesel car registered before 2016 need to check if their vehicle is liable for the daily charge. Meanwhile, most petrol cars registered prior to 2006 will also have to pay the fee. The best advice to drivers is to use Scotland’s Low Emission Zone checker to see if their vehicle is compliant.
“There are some exemptions, for instance for Blue Badge holders and owners of historic vehicles, although it may be necessary to apply for the exemption to avoid having to pay the charge.
“All Scotland’s LEZs use the same penalty charge structure, which means that if motorists fail to pay the daily charge, they’ll instead face a fine which starts at £60 but gets progressively higher for future breaches.
“While motorists were given a two-year grace period to prepare for these new LEZ enforcements, it’s important to realise they’ve had 24 months of extremely high fuel prices, an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and insurance premiums at an all-time high, making it very challenging for drivers of older vehicles to upgrade.
“Those on low incomes who live within 12 miles of a LEZ boundary may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000, so it’s well worth checking the Energy Saving Trust’s website.”
Works on the upgrade of the bouldering facilities at Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho will begin on Monday, 3rd June following a major funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund. There will be a steady schedule of works across the summer and autumn as the changes occur.
The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena received £100,000 towards bouldering redevelopment to improve opportunities to progress at all levels of the sport.
As the UK’s largest climbing gym and the only international competition venue, it has hosted European Championships and World Cup for Lead and Speed in recent years, but the bouldering facilities needed an upgrade to enable it to host all three IFSC (International Federation of Sport Climbing) and Olympic disciplines.
The new state of the art competition bouldering wall, designed by the Rockcity team, means that Ratho becomes the only climbing centre in the UK with Olympic standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines (lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering). Meanwhile, the ‘real rock’ freeform iconic boulders are being repurposed to a new site in the west of Scotland.
As Mark English, Managing Director of Rockcity explained:“The arena will host additional modern flat panelled bouldering walls and another freestanding boulder to give the Edinburgh community the best facilities in the city and surrounding area, using an unrivalled climbing hold selection and world class route setting.
“When the work’s complete you can expect to see Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing experience jump into the future and host some amazing competition and circuit-based bouldering later this year.”
The investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.
Welcoming the investment, Emma Ogilvie-Hall, Head of Operations at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We’re delighted and very grateful to receive the sportscotland funding that means our outdated bouldering facilities at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) can be replaced.
“With indoor bouldering now the most widely practised form of climbing it will ensure that the EICA can continue as a world class venue for all three climbing disciplines – lead, speed, and bouldering – while continuing to provide climbers of all ages and abilities with access to opportunities to participate in and progress through the sport.
“It will also mean that Scotland is able to host bouldering competitions and national training camps and allow the EICA to keep our national and international profile as a world-class climbing facility.”
Stuart Younie, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland said: “This is incredibly exciting news for Ratho and its regular customers but also the wider climbing community in Scotland.
“Not only will it enable EICA to host major events featuring all three Olympic disciplines but as our national centre for climbing in Scotland it will provide a first-class training venue delivering the performance environment needed to help support the development of our young climbers in Scotland.
“With Paris 2024 around the corner and new climbing centres appearing all over the UK to meet the increasing demand for the sport, this investment from sportscotland could not have come at a better time. We are looking forward to working with Edinburgh Leisure and the team at Ratho to maximise the opportunities the new bouldering wall will provide.”
The EICA:Ratho was among 18 projects across Scotland to share a total of £1,506,263 from sportscotland to develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The aim of the Sports Facilities Fund is to support sustainable and inclusive projects with their ambitions of using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of their local communities. This investment would not be possible without National Lottery players who continue to raise vital funding for sport across Scotland.
“The physical and mental health benefits of sport are well documented, but equally important is the ability to create a space where everyone is welcome to participate at their own level.
“Projects like this one at the EICA not only create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity but can also provide a place for communities to come together.
The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation, and for under-represented groups.
In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.
A fly-through artists impression of what the new boulders will look like can be viewed by clicking here.
The kids may be counting down the days until school’s out for summer, but many parents are worried about making their money stretch in the coming months.
Whether it’s the cost of essential childcare or activities to keep the kids entertained, many are concerned they just won’t have enough to pay for school uniforms when the new academic year finally rolls around in August, so are having to make cut-backs in response.
And it’s understandable. The latest research shows parents spend an average of almost £300 per year on primary school uniforms and more than £400 per year on secondary school uniforms. And so, to help ease the pressure,
The Leith Collective is launching its free school uniform exchange on Saturday 1st June.
The exchange will take place at all four of The Leith Collective stores – at Edinburgh’s Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird, Glasgow Fort and their brand new store at Dundee’s Overgate. The Community Interest Company is calling on locals to donate good quality uniforms, shoes, schoolbags and lunchboxes to those in need. Items will be available for anyone to collect completely free of charge, no questions asked.
The initiative is the brainchild of The Leith Collective founder, Sara Thomson, who has just returned from 10 Downing Street after receiving a personal invitation from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
This was Sara’s third visit to Downing Street, having previously been invited by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the positive impact of The Leith Collective’s important work on the community.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the free school uniform exchange, Sara said; “The cost of living crisis is seemingly relentless, and there is now a generation of children growing up who have never known anything other than cut-backs and stressed out parents struggling to make ends meet.
“So, we’re taking action to help lighten the parent’s load by removing the expense of buying a new school uniform and helping the ‘cut-back kids’ get the best possible start to their education.”
M&S café has unveiled its latest seasonal menu and it’s not one to miss!
Topping hot weather wish-lists will be the new range of iced drinks, including a Rhubarb & Raspberry Frappe and a Watermelon Lemonade with juicy watermelon garnish. M&S café baristas will also be blending up Tiramisu Iced Lattes, full of the famous creamy coffee flavours of one of the nation’s favourite puds!
And that’s not all … Enjoy a taste of summer with the new range of salads, including the Chicken and Basil Pesto and the Moroccan inspired Feta and Fruity Couscous salad that’s full of colourful grains, feta and a mint and beetroot dip.
The law surrounding the misuse of pyrotechnics at football will be the focus of a new short-life working group set up by the Scottish Government.
The group will consider the evidence on, and possible barriers to, the use of Football Banning Orders as a penalty for pyrotechnic possession and misuse.
It is already a criminal offence to take or try to take a pyrotechnic into football matches, while carrying pyrotechnics in public without a reasonable excuse was recently made an offence through the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022. The Act gives police powers to stop and search someone where they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person may be in possession of a pyrotechnic in a public place.
Football Banning Orders (FBOs) can be imposed by a Court for up to ten years for violent offences at matches, which could include throwing a lit pyrotechnic as a weapon. The working group will consider if extending the scope of FBOs would be an effective way to further deter the carrying and misuse of pyrotechnics at football.
The expert working group includes representation from the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and Scottish Football Association, Football Safety Officers Association, Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and is expected to report next year.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of a football match without the fear of serious injury from pyrotechnics.
“We have considerably strengthened pyrotechnic laws, and those who carry fireworks and pyrotechnics in public and into football stadia can face fines and up to six months in prison. Despite this, pyrotechnic misuse at football matches remains an issue.
“We have been working closely with football’s governing authorities and with police on what more can be done to stop this antisocial and dangerous behaviour at football matches.
“Football Banning Orders of up to 10 years, are already an effective measure courts have at their disposal to deal with violent behaviour and I have asked this working group to consider whether extending their reach would be a further deterrent to pyrotechnic possession and misuse.
“Consisting of representatives from football and the justice sector, their review will also take views from clubs, fan groups, as well as front-line services.”
Calum Beattie Chief Operating Officer of the SPFL, said: “The dangers of pyrotechnics in crowded football stadia are significant and our clubs are keen to work with the Scottish Government, police and the courts to find meaningful ways of tackling this growing problem.
“Recent surveys have also shown that most fans believe there is no place for these devices at games. We are looking forward to playing an active role in this group to examine further how football banning orders can form part of a package of deterrence for any fans tempted to smuggle these dangerous items into grounds.”
Superintendent Chris Stewart of Police Scotland said: “The public have the right to feel safe when they attend football matches and we work with a range of partners, including the clubs, to make sure these events are safe and secure.
“We will engage with the review and support partners involved.”
• The Edinburgh International Festival unveils the first Community Connections Hub following an open call out earlier this year
• Space @ The Broomhouse Hub will work with the Edinburgh International Festival over a period of at least 18 months to explore opportunities for collaboration and connection
• In August, the Community Connections Hub will host a free VR Experience where visitors can use a VR headset to be fully immersed in a 360° concert by the Philharmonia Orchestra
The Edinburgh International Festival today announcesSpace @ The Broomhouse Hub as the very first Community Connections Hub.
Space @ The Broomhouse Hub was chosen following an open call out by the International Festival for an Edinburgh-based community organisation for a partnership that will last at least 18 months and will explore opportunities for collaboration with the International Festival and the local community in Broomhouse.
In August, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub will host a free VR experience from resident orchestra Philharmonia. This 360° experience of Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending makes its UK premiere and features Festival Director Nicola Benedetti as the solo violinist.
This will allow the user to sit right in the heart of the orchestra through Virtual Reality, allowing them to experience the performance in astonishing detail.
As well as hosting the Philharmonia VR Experience, this partnership will be a fully collaborative process, and will be entirely shaped by Space @ The Broomhouse Hub and the International Festival’s shared ideas and activities.
This new residency model is designed to deepen understanding between the International Festival and the local community, strengthen connections and enrich the local community and the spirit of the Festival.
The Edinburgh International Festival is committed to developing long-term connections with Edinburgh’s Communities by exploring what our core values of discovery and connection mean for Edinburgh’s citizens whilst finding ways to reflect the ideas, ambitions and creative interests of different communities within our organisational commitments.
The International Festival wants to build long-term and sustainable connections and have chosen a residency model working with one focused partner to allow for deepening two-way understanding, allowing time to mature connections and realisation of joint ambitions.
Caroline Donald, Head of Discovery & Participation, Edinburgh International Festival said: “The Edinburgh International Festival are really looking forward to working with our new community partners Space @the Broomhouse Hub and working together to make new connections, getting to know all the families and people in the community to create and share cultural experiences.”
Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, said: “This is fantastic news for Broomhouse and Southwest Edinburgh. This partnership will open up the Edinburgh International Festival to new audiences, allowing local people and families to enjoy cultural experiences our communities don’t normally access.
“We look forward to seeing all the exciting things the partnership will bring this summer and the coming year.”
More information on the Edinburgh International Festival’s Discovery and Participation programme, which runs year-round, can be found here:
Laura Buchanan, 41, from Edinburgh, will be taking part in the Edinburgh Half Marathon later this month (Sunday 26 May,) raising funds for the Stroke Association.
Laura’s husband Craig (42,) had a severe stroke 18 months ago. He was left unable to walk and with limited speech, and the family were told to prepare for the worst.
After three weeks at The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Craig was transferred to The Astley Ainslie hospital where he underwent intensive therapy for 9 weeks.
With the help of NHS physiotherapy, occupational health and speech and language, 5 days a week, Craig was quickly able to begin to make small improvements. Through sheer grit and determination, Craig continued to recover.
After three months, he walked out of hospital with the help of a tripod – an incredible achievement, and one they’d never imagine he would make. Craig has gone from strength to strength and has now gone back to work, working 12 hours a week.
He has a very supportive family and an amazing group of friends; their support was massively important in his rehabilitation.
Laura said: “I’m absolutely not a runner. I am doing this for my husband, and the Stroke Association. Craig never complains, he just gets on with it. Before the stroke, I didn’t think it would have been possible to love Craig any more than I did, turns out I was wrong. I am in awe of everything he does and so proud to be his wife. When training is hard my mantra is, if he can learn to walk, I can learn to run.
“I knew nothing about strokes, until this happened. Having a stroke is a terrible thing, turning peoples’ lives upside down. I want others to know a stroke could happen to them. Even if you are young, a stroke doesn’t discriminate. By raising awareness, I hope more people will look out for the signs and symptoms of a stroke, no matter what age.”
Claire Pell, Product Officer at the Stroke Association said: “A stroke can happen to anyone at any time, and changes life in an instant.
“About a quarter of strokes happen to people of working age. Fortunately, it is treatable and recoverable, but it is often a long and slow recovery, and the impact can be lifelong. With the help of our fundraisers like Laura, we can help many more stroke survivors rebuild their lives again.
“What Laura is doing is admirable. Attempting a half marathon is no mean feat. The hard work that Laura is putting into this now, and on the day, will be a huge effort of respect to Craig. Thank you, Laura, for raising all the funds you have so far.
“Your fundraising efforts will help raise awareness, fund research, and support people who have had a stroke and their families.”
