We will be running Tai Chi classes in the Hub space at Ferry Road Drive from Wednesday 7th June from 1.30 – 2.30pm. This is a very relaxing form of light exercise, good for the mind and body!
We have spaces for 10 and people don’t have to come every week, if they prefer to drop in week to week as it suits them, they can.
Please share with your networks and ask people to sign up by emailing me if they are interested: Abigail@freshstartweb.org.uk
Abi
The latest figures from the Water Incident Database (WAID) indicate that drowning fatalities in 2022 decreased in Scotland.
The database, which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) and focuses on gathering information related to water-based incidents, also shows a decrease in accidental drownings last year. The figures show that there were 45 accidental water-related fatalities in Scotland. This forms part of the total water-related fatalities in Scotland which stands at 96 for last year.
Water Safety Scotland (WSS) produces an annual trend report which provides detail on the latest figures in comparison to previous years and the baseline figures in Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy (SDPS).
Carlene McAvoy, Founder of WSS and the Data Subgroup Chair, said: “The recent figures for accidental water-related fatalities shows a 10 per cent decrease in comparison to the SDPS baseline – bringing the number of accidental water-related fatalities back down after a particular difficult year in 2021.
“WSS continues to work hard and has taken a number of significant steps to help reduce accidental water-related fatalities, including the introduction of the Drowning and Incident Review (DIR), the creation of free education resources for teachers and practitioners, and free consistent water safety messaging for partners to use across Scotland.”
DIR is a new process introduced in Scotland which aims to gather all relevant data and information in order to systematically and rigorously review each accidental water-related incident with a view to preventing a future occurrence.
DIR is envisioned to provide practitioners and local partners with much more comprehensive information about each incident, which can be used to help inform local and national prevention efforts. DIR is now available across Scotland for use by local Partnership Approach to Water Safety (PAWS) groups and the only UK nation with such a process.
WSS education resources, which have been created with Education Scotland, are free to use and are age and stage appropriate. Linked intrinsically to the Water Safety Code, the resources are consistent across curriculum levels for use with pupils from nursery to S6 and aim to equip young people with the skills and knowledge to make wise and informed choices around water.
WSS has also created a full communications toolkit which local partners can use to again provide greater awareness of water safety and consistency across the board.
As summer approaches, Water Safety Scotland wants to remind the public to stay safe and follow the three part Water Safety Code:
James Sullivan, Chair of Water Safety Scotland, said: “The decrease in the 2022 figures is as a result of the combined efforts of partners across the country working collectively to raise awareness of water safety.
“Water Safety Scotland will continue to coordinate these efforts to further improve safety and reduce drowning incidents in and around Scotland’s waters.”
Come and join us for War Graves Week this May!
It’s a chance to discover more about the World War Heritage on your doorstep, through a variety of free events happening all over the UK.
Join us for a free tour, demo, workshop or talk, where you can hear the incredible stories of the casualties we commemorate, as well as learn about our work across the world.
Click the ‘learn more’ button below to see what’s on in your area. All our events are free. We look forward to seeing you!
One way to foster good password habits both safely and easily is by using a password manager. With that in mind, cybersecurity experts VPNOverview.com have revealed exactly how password managers can help and how to find ones that are trustworthy to use.
How Password Storage Helps Your Online Security
Emails, Google, web shops, social media – you name it. The likeliness is that you have countless accounts on several different websites and platforms. For almost every account you create, you have to think of a password that will allow you to access any secured data without being hacked easily. This means that you will have countless of passwords to remember – unless you use a password manager.
Password managers – for example, Blur or 1Password – allow you to store all of your passwords safely in their ‘password vaults’. From the moment you have installed one, you are only required to remember your master password, which will give you access to every single password you have saved within.
That means you do not have to write passwords down on a piece of paper that could be stolen or keep a word document with sensitive information that could fall into the wrong hands. Your password manager ultimately has you covered with one simple app.
The Advantages of Using a Password Manager
Password managers help you to remember all of the passwords you use online, but there are some additional advantages to using them. In fact, password managing apps help you to make your system far safer and more efficient. Here’s why:
· Password managers encrypt your passwords so no one but you has access to them.
· They save you time as you can log into your accounts automatically or with just one click.
· They create unique and strong passwords for all of you accounts, so none of them are easy to guess.
· They work on different devices, meaning you can log into your accounts on both your computer and smartphone with minimal effort.
Are All Password Managers Safe?
Anyone who spends a lot of time online should install a password manager, so it can keep track of all your passwords and sensitive information.
However, not all password managers are 100% safe. As you will be giving the password manager access to all your passwords, it is important to choose one you can trust. Some self-proclaimed ‘password managers’ misuse that trust to gather your personal information and use it against you.
Similarly, other password managers are simply not secure enough and could be compromised – even though they may have better intentions. Ultimately, if they are incapable of keeping your information safe, you should not risk using them.
Luckily, VPNOverview.com have tested several password managers on their security and ease of use. Not sure which manager to choose? Checkout their top picks via the links below.
The Best Password Managers of 2023: Our Top 5 Picks
The Best Free Password Managers of 2023: Our Top 5
A murder inquiry has been launched following the death of a 33-year-old woman in Constitution Street, Leith..
Around 7.55pm on Thursday, 18 May, 2023, officers were called to a report of a disturbance.
The woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment where she died a short time later.
A post mortem examination is being carried out to establish the exact cause of death, however, police are currently treating the death as suspicious and a murder inquiry has been launched.
Her next of kin have been made aware.
A 16-year-old male youth has been arrested and charged in connection with the death.
Detective Inspector Bob Williamson of the Major Investigation Team (East) said: “I want to reassure the community that we are treating this as an isolated incident.
“You will see a significant police presence in the area whilst we carry out investigations. Officers will be carrying out door-to-door enquiries and gathering CCTV footage which could provide the inquiry team with additional information.
“Through our investigation so far, we are aware that a number of members of the public were in the area at the time, some of whom witnessed the incident and others who came to her aid and we are asking them to come forward.
“I would asked anyone who was in the area of Constitution Street between 7.45pm and 8pm to get in touch.”
Detectives have set up an online portal to encourage members of the public to submit information, including any recorded footage.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to the major investigation team and can be accessed here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT23S22-PO1
Police can also be contacted by calling 101 and quoting incident number 3555 of Thursday, 18 May, 2023. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Edinburgh’s leading independent convenience retailer is set to expand thanks to £725,000 funding from HSBC UK.
Margiotta is set to open up a new store in the city’s Shandon area on Harrison Gardens after using the funding to purchase and fit out the 2,000 sq ft premises, which was previously owned by an architecture firm.
The store will be the family-run business’ second outlet in the Shandon area of Edinburgh. The new space will be used to host food and drink from local suppliers, such as Fortitude Coffee and Heather Hills Honey, as well as a wide range of homeware products. The existing store will remain as a newsagent confectioner with the addition of homemade gelato, paninis and artisan coffee for sit in or take away.
The new premises is almost double the size of its current store in the area and will enable Margiotta to significantly increase its offering of locally sourced produce, as well as kitchenware items.
The new store is due to open in summer this year and is expected to create 16 – 20 new jobs.
Franco Margiotta, Founder and Managing Director of Margiotta, said: “Both we and our customers value local produce from quality suppliers, so we’re looking forward to being able to expand our product range with our increased footprint.
“HSBC UK’s support has helped us to grasp the opportunity to buy this new space, and explore a new venture as we bring to life our first café-style venture at our older store.”
Ash McBrearty, Corporate Relationship Director at HSBC UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see an independent business born and bred in Edinburgh grow and thrive. We’ve enjoyed working with the Margiotta family to help them expand their retail portfolio and diversify their offering.”
Margiotta currently works with over 45 local suppliers.
The store was established in the early 1970s by Franco Margiotta and his brother. Together they opened their first shop in Marchmont selling food and wine. The family business has gradually expanded over the years and Margiotta has 10 shops across Edinburgh and East Lothian, with its 11th store soon to open on Harrison Gardens.
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store has announced its local Helping Your Community Grow winner, seeing Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners receive gardening products, advice, and support to enhance their outside space.
Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners is a community initiative run by volunteers who aim to make a difference in the local area from gardening to litter picking.
Dobbies will provide the group with watering butts, plants, bulbs and seeds, alongside support from its horticultural experts to help bring this project to life.
Dobbies’ own-brand peat-free multipurpose compost, recycled and recyclable containers, UK-sourced plants and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate to its winner.
Jenna Bavidge, General Manager at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store said: “We are delighted to be supporting Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners this year and look forward to seeing the community garden project come to life with our support.
“We’ve been truly overwhelmed with the response to our campaign in Edinburgh! The team and I would like to thank all the worthy causes that got involved in the application process and our customers who helped us crown our Helping Your Community Grow winner by voting.”
Dalkeith Guerrilla Gardeners said: “We are thrilled to have been crowned the local Helping Your Community Grow winner for Edinburgh and would like to thank those members of the public who voted for us.
“Dobbies’ backing will allow us to brighten up our local area in a sustainable way, and we can’t wait to see Dalkeith bloom.”
In addition to the local win, Nest Nurseries Garden Project located in Keston has been crowned the national winner for the initiative and will receive additional funding and support to help their garden project thrive.
This will include advice, gardening products and plants to help young children explore the outdoors, learn about nature, improve their physical development and better understand the world around them.
For more information on Dobbies’ Helping Your Community Grow campaign, visit Helping Your Community Grow | Dobbies Garden Centres
BBC Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips says: “What an incredible Contest! It was unforgettable, unmissable event television on a scale never seen before delivered by the BBC to viewers across the UK and millions more watching around the world.
“Sweden took home the trophy in spectacular style and 2022 winners Ukraine were at the heart of the show.
“Liverpool welcomed the world’s biggest singing competition with open arms and embraced it beyond all of our expectations.
The fact that so many millions of people tuned in reflects just how significant Eurovision has become and truly underlines the theme behind this year’s contest, United by Music. We really hope we did Ukraine proud.”
Proposed legislation to update and strengthen charity law has passed its first parliamentary stage.
MSPs have voted to support the general principles of the Charities (Regulation and Administration) Bill which improves accountability and transparency of charities and increases the powers of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
Welcoming Parliament’s unanimous support at Stage 1 of the Bill, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Our focus is to ensure the best possible conditions for the sector, which plays a vital role in our society, to thrive.
“Current charity law is now over 17 years old and the sector has changed significantly in that time. That is why we want to strengthen, modernise and improve charity regulation to ensure it meets the needs of charities.
“Scottish charities have a combined income of £14 billion each year so it’s crucial the way they are regulated remains fit for purpose.
“Charities are widely supported by the public. Trust in them and what they deliver is high, and we want to keep it that way.”
The Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Bill is a 2022-23 Programme for Government commitment.
Provisions in the Bill include:
The Scottish Government consulted on proposals put forward by OSCR in 2019 and consulted again on a number of specific reforms in 2021 and found a majority of support for the changes.
Paper airplane building crafts tomorrow (Friday 12May) from 2:30 – 3:30 @ Granton Library
Come along to test your aerodynamic skills – no need to book just come along!
