Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson for Culture, Foysol Choudhury MSP, has today emphasised the need for Scotland to re-focus on engaging with community culture organisations.
Mr Choudhury was speaking following a meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Culture and Communities which he convened on Wednesday 28th February.
The CPG saw presentations from groups Science Ceilidh, Art27 and Development Trusts Association Scotland and focused on the matter of Cultural Democracy in light of the ongoing Local Governance Review and Democracy Matters conversations.
Key themes which emerged from the presentations and subsequent Q & A were the needs to encourage communities to participate in their local culture and use it to address current topics by transmitting the community’s standpoint on local, domestic and international affairs.
Mr Choudhury says this is something he will continue to support community cultural groups in doing: “Culture is so important-it is the means by which we can understand our history, preserve our languages and traditions, and share our diversity with others in a vibrant multi-cultural society.
“That’s why it’s so important that communities are encouraged to engage in cultural endeavours-both to explore and transmit their own culture and to socially engage with a multitude of issues from their own cultural perspective.
“However, we must prioritise cultural democracy and make it easy for communities to engage with cultural exploration – this was made clear from the CPG meeting this week.
“I will continue to work hard as Convener of this CPG to reach out to grassroots cultural community groups and progress words into action, to ensure that the discussions we have at Holyrood can be translated into actual opportunities for communities.”
MSP Choudhury, who is also chairperson of community organisation ELREC, says he looks forward to hosting more CPG meetings soon and will invite the Minister for Culture to give all cultural community organisations an opportunity to have their voice heard by those in Holyrood.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Hydration and heart health
Hydration is an essential part of nutrition and can benefit or impact your heart’s ability to work effectively.
Studies have found that having adequate hydration is associated with reduced long-term risks for heart diseases.
Did you know that over 66% of the UK population doesn’t drink enough water? With Nutrition and Hydration Week coming up from 11th to 18th March, we are sharing some information on the importance of hydration and your cardiovascular system.
Importance of being hydrated
Water makes up over half (60%) of your body weight and fluids are critical for good health and heart health. Hydration is when you drink more fluids than your body loses.
Being hydrated helps your heart pump blood more easily through the blood vessels and to your muscles. This means that your muscles, including your heart, don’t have to work as hard to achieve the same results.
Risks of being dehydrated
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than it takes in. Fluids can be lost through sweat, urination, vomiting or diarrhoea. When these are not replaced your body may feel tired, you might feel thirsty, have a dry mouth, have dark-coloured urine and suffer from headaches.
Being dehydrated means that your heart needs to beat faster to pump your blood around the body.
This is because your blood reduces in volume and thickens which will impact your circulation, as well as increase your heart rate and blood pressure. This increases your risk of heart diseases.
Sources of hydration
On average an adult needs six to eight glasses or 1.5 to 2 litres of fluid a day. If it is a hot temperature or you carry out physical activity, you’ll need more.
Drinking water is the best way to remain hydrated however, other non-alcoholic drinks such as milk, juice and herbal teas can also hydrate you.
Food such as fruits and vegetables can also help to hydrate you, with around 20% of your body’s water intake per day coming from foods like these.
A women’s charity in Edinburgh has received a £2,000 donation from the Amazon Development Centre Scotland team in the city.
Smart Works Scotland provides unemployed women with clothing for interviews, coaching and confidence training to have a better opportunity of securing employment. Opening its doors in 2014, the charity has supported thousands of women into employment.
Stacy Lundquist, Software Development Engineer at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, nominated the charity for support because of its positive impact over the last decade. She said: “I nominated Smart Works for support due to the impactful work that they do.
“Not only does the charity operate in communities across Scotland, but it effectively and actively combats many issues that UN Women has frequently highlighted, such as women’s economic empowerment.
“The staff and volunteers at Smart Works ensure that no unemployed woman is left in the dark about the next steps to a career.”
Rachel Shields, from Smart Works Scotland, added: “Thank you to Stacy and the team at Amazon Development Centre Scotland for their support and recognition of our hard work.71% of our clients go on to get a job within one month of their time with us and, with donations like this, we can continue to help unemployed women reach their full potential.”
The donation forms part of Amazon’s Volunteer Cash Donation Programme, where Amazon employees nominate causes where they volunteer their time, to receive a cash donation. In collaboration with hundreds of community organisations around the world, Amazon employees are encouraged to volunteer and support causes they’re passionate about.
Community cash donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.
In 2022, Amazon co-founded the Multibank initiative with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families experinecing poverty. The first Multibank, ‘The Big Hoose’, opened in Lochgelly, Fife providing surplus essentials like nappies, toilet rolls, toothpaste and school uniforms, donated by businesses like Amazon and others, directly to those in need.
The initiative has gone on to donate more than 2 million goods to over 200,000 families across Scotland and Greater Manchester.
Amazon also helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good, including more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in partnership with Magic Breakfast.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief to help people tackle poverty and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose.
Last year, together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon raised over £2.7 million to fund projects that support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and tackle issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, and food insecurity across the UK, and around the world.
Amazon has supported more than 500,000 students across the UK with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer.
Almost 4 in 5 of people in Scotland think that complacent attitudes pose a danger to those with allergies, new research from training provider High Speed Training reveals.
The survey, which forms part of the Safe to Serve report, polled over 2,000 UK adults to highlight levels of awareness and understanding of food allergies and hypersensitivities, and the impact that hypersensitivities have on daily life.
The survey shows that across the region, 79% of people are concerned about complacency around how food allergies are handled in eateries, and that 65% of respondents believe food businesses should do more to cater to people with food allergies. Based on the results, it’s evident that the reality of eating out for those with food allergies can be a stress-inducing and ostracising affair, and the public are calling for change.
As a leading provider of Food Allergen Awareness training, High Speed Training’s latest report aims to raise awareness of the importance of food businesses having the correct practices in place to help safeguard customers with food allergies.
Out of those surveyed, 88% of people in Scotland believe allergies are a serious issue, yet 49% of people think that people with allergies are often perceived as fussy or overstating the severity of their condition. This is a stigma that needs to be broken, as allergy safety is, for so many people, a matter of life and death.
The report also reveals that food allergies in the UK are a growing epidemic, with younger generations far more likely to develop a food allergy than ever. Over 2 million people in the UK have a diagnosed food allergy, and out of those 25% will at some point experience a severe anaphylactic reaction [1]. Furthermore, 1 in 5 live in fear of death by anaphylactic shock.
This fear is not unfounded, as evidenced by numerous deaths resulting from a lack of allergen awareness in eateries. Owen Carey tragically lost his life to an allergic reaction after dining out in 2017 due to a lack of clear allergen labelling and communication amongst restaurant staff.
Since Owen’s death, the Carey family have founded the Owen’s Law Campaign, which seeks to mandate allergen labelling on restaurant menus and advocates for proactive communication between restaurant staff and customers regarding potential allergens, alongside thorough staff training in allergen awareness.
Recently, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have openly backed the measures called for by the Owen’s Law Campaign and have written to make this recommendation to Ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are responsible for taking this forward. Despite this progress, there’s still a long way to go as the danger for allergy sufferers eating out is still very real.
High Speed Training, whose Food Allergen Awareness course is the first to be endorsed by the Owen’s Law Campaign, offers key advice in their report for businesses to help ensure they’re following best practice when it comes to allergy safety.
A third of people surveyed had, or knew someone close to them with, a food allergy, meaning a large portion of group bookings will be dependent on restaurants safely catering for those with allergies.
While it may initially seem overwhelming to have appropriate safety precautions in place that manage food allergens effectively, High Speed Training emphasises that a number of small actions will have a big impact.
Dr. Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, says: “Food businesses have a responsibility to follow best practice when it comes to allergen safety, as ultimately lives are at risk.
“Despite recent development in allergy safety regulations such as Natasha’s Law, our report shows that there is still a long way to go in providing customers with food hypersensitivities with safety and confidence whilst dining.
“For food businesses, catering to all potential customers, regardless of dietary requirements, will be beneficial in increasing the amount of potential customers and the quality of service they receive. Regardless of the advantages to business, taking all possible measures to safeguard customers with hypersensitivities is the right thing to do given the potential consequences.
“Promoting effective communication amongst staff and with customers, completing thorough food allergen training, and displaying accurate allergen information are three key actions food businesses should take to ensure the safety of your customers and to comply with future changes expected in the industry.”
To view the report in full, and to learn more about the reality of eating out with a food allergy, please click here.
Community Officers and Special Constables from #NEST conducted a joint operation with @DVLAgovuk and @Edinburgh_CC Street Enforcement and Licensing in the #Leith area yesterday.
Hostelling Scotland, a not for profit, self-funded charity that provides great value and welcoming hostelling accommodation throughout Scotland are looking for new Trustees to help them shape their future.
‘Would you like to inspire all, especially young people to experience and enjoy Scotland?’
Previous Board experience is not required as training will be provided, and Hostelling Scotland believes this would be a great opportunity for anyone wishing to take their first steps in charity governance.
The organisation is very keen to receive applications from as wide a range of talented people as possible irrespective of their religion or belief, gender, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, political belief, relationship status or caring responsibilities.
Margo Paterson, CEO of Hostelling Scotland, said: “Hostelling Scotland is open to all. We are committed to inclusion and diversity, and we want our Board of Trustees to be representative of the wide range of talented people we have in the communities we serve throughout Scotland.
“We value greatly the benefits of having different points of view and experiences on our Board. We welcome applications from first time Trustees and highly motivated individuals across all age groups and backgrounds.
“We are particularly keen to hear from anyone with experience in Property, Finance, and IT. If you have the enthusiasm and drive to help shape the future of hostelling in Scotland, we would love to hear from you.’’
Road policing officers are appealing for information after a pedestrian was struck by a bus in Edinburgh.The incident happened on Oxgangs Road North, near the junction with Oxgangs Avenue, around 8.50pm last night. (Friday 16 February).
The 74-year-old male pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to serious injuries.
No one on the bus was injured.
The road was closed until around 3.25am this morning (Saturday, 17 February) to allow for an investigation at the scene.
Sergeant Grant Hastie, of the Road Policing Unit in Edinburgh, said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may have information to get in touch.
“We would be keen to speak to anyone who was on the bus who hasn’t yet spoken to an officer, or anyone who may have dashcam footage from the area around the time of the collision.
“Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting reference 3657 of 16 February.”
A PREMIER four-star city centre hotel and restaurant is giving back to residents with a chance to rediscover the magic of the city with an exciting exclusive ‘Drinks and Dining’ offer in February.
In partnership with Forever Edinburgh Resident Rewards, Ten Hill Place Hotel is providing the perfect opportunity to relax and recuperate with £50 of food and drink for just £25 per person, saving 50%.
Located on the prime location of Nicholson Street in the buzzing Southside district, the exclusive offer allows guests to experience its relaxed and contemporary restaurant and enjoy locally sourced seasonal dishes paired with carefully selected drinks including its exclusive in-house 1505 gin and 1505 Ale for less.
Mark McKenzie, General Manager of Surgeons Quarter said: “We wanted to help Edinburgh locals beat the winter blues by offering an exclusive offer to city residents.
“The offer is a fantastic opportunity for people to escape in their own city and enjoy a top-class meal for half the price.
“The response so far has been fantastic, and it has been great to have a buzz in the hotel and campus – making for a perfect Valentine’s Day treat.”
Forever Edinburgh works with members, partners, and stakeholders to maintain the profile of Edinburgh as a world-class destination to visit, invest, live, work and study though championing Scotland’s capital city locally, nationally and internationally.
Eleanor Lee, Digital Marketing Lead at Forever Edinburgh said: “Resident Rewards Edinburgh, now in its third year, is an exclusive initiative for Edinburgh residents, offering substantial savings and a chance to try new experiences in the city we all call home.
“The enthusiastic participation of local businesses including the return of partners like Surgeons Quarter underscores the programme’s success and since July 2023, the Resident Rewards landing page has attracted over 57,000 visitors.
Edinburgh is bucking the trend when it comes to footfall to our city centre and was recently declared the top performing city in the UK, and I have no doubt that this is in part thanks to the incredible range of attractions on offer and initiatives like this.”
Ten Hill Place is run by Surgeons Quarter, the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RSCEd) with profits supporting the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgical standards worldwide.
The offer is valid from Monday 1st February to 29th February 2024 from 1pm-9.30pm, to learn more about the offer, visit: https://edinburgh.org/residentrewards/
More information about Ten Hill Place hotel can be found at:
Callum Lancashire appointed Engagement Manager for Sight Scotland
Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, in partnership with Visibility Scotland, have appointed Callum Lancashire as their new Engagement Manager to oversee the launch of Sight Loss Councils in Scotland.
Sight Loss Councils, funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust, are led by blind and partially sighted people who use lived experience to tackle local and national issues to improve the accessibility of services. The work of Sight Loss Councils is driven by three key priority areas: employment and skills, health and well-being, and inclusive communities.
Callum Lancashire, who has vision impairment, previously worked for Visibility Scotland as a Patient Support Worker, where he provided help and support to blind and partially sighted people at the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.
Callum is tasked with spearheading the establishment of Sight Loss Councils throughout Scotland, commencing with the Central Belt in March 2024.
He explains: “I am delighted to get started in my new role, as I believe it aligns perfectly with my skills and experience both from a professional point of view and a personal one.
“If I wasn’t in my current role, I would aspire to join the Sight Loss Councils, as I really believe they have the opportunity to create a tangible impact by amplifying the voices of individuals who are blind or partially sighted.
“I lost my sight when I was fifteen after a blow to the face caused macular degeneration. It was obviously a huge shock and extremely hard to take. What made matters worse is I was given no help or support; the doctors basically told me that at some point I was going to go blind and there was nothing they could do.
“After my accident I had huge problems at school and found myself in a bad place, I was constantly angry and upset. I just pushed it all down and as a result my mental health was all over the place. I want to try and make sure this does not happen to anyone else.
“I want these Councils to speak up for people with vision impairment, to show that their rights and well-being are just as important as anyone else’s and to create a supportive community where members feel empowered to share.
“My life changed when I started to speak to other people who had vision impairment, it was like something switched in my brain. Just talking to these people brought up feelings I didn’t know I had. I began to understand that I could still live my life although I had vision impairment, and that I didn’t have to feel sorry for myself. I began speaking to people more, my family and friends, and tried to explain to them what I was going through. I didn’t want extra help, I just needed them to understand.
“This is why the Sight Loss Councils are so important, as we want people to talk, share their experiences, share the things they like, their struggles and hopefully collectively we can make real changes for the better. Everybody has the right to be treated the same, whether that is going to work, the shops, football, rugby, or concerts; people with vision impairment shouldn’t be looked at as a problem, inclusivity should be a necessity.”
Callum adds: “I am incredibly proud to be in this job and to be representing the vision impairment community.Blind and partially sighted leaders bring firsthand experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those with vision impairments ensuring their perspectives are accurately represented, leading to more informed decision-making.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “I am delighted that Callum Lancashire has joined us to spearhead the launch of Sight Loss Councils in Scotland.
“These councils will use lived experience to amplify the voices of blind and partially sighted people, helping to make vision loss the priority it needs to be in Scotland.”
Could Lauriston Farm be part of an active travel route for you?
If there is community interest, we would be able to apply for funding to construct accessible paths that would allow you to walk, wheel or cycle across the farm without getting muddy.
