If we have the political will we can make this the last year where people have to go hungry, Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has said.
Foysol Choudhury is calling on parliamentarians to support Rhoda Grant MSP’s ‘Right to Food’ bill, which would enshrine the right to food in Scots Law.
The MSP said that food poverty in the City of Edinburgh is at unacceptable levels. The Trussell Trust reported that it has distributed some 8,974 food parcels to people in Scotland in the six months from April to September this year, including a shameful 2,948 distributed to children.
In August, the Food Foundation reported that 10.3 per cent of Scots were experiencing food in security.
With the Tory cut to Universal Credit set to push families across Scotland further and further into poverty, Edinburgh Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury is calling for urgent action to tackle food poverty.
Foysol Choudhury said:“There is no reason at all why anyone should be going hungry in a wealthy nation like Scotland.
“The evidence is clear – thousands of Scots are in food poverty and many more are being put at risk due to Tory cuts.
“These appalling figures show how many families in the City of Edinburgh are relying on food banks to get by.
“We simply cannot stand back and allow this situation to continue.
“If we have the political will we can end food poverty in Scotland by enshrining it as a human right in Scots Law.
“This will send a powerful message to the country that we are serious about tackling the scourge of food poverty and force us into action.
“Let’s make this a reality, so no-one in Edinburgh has to go hungry next Christmas.”
St Andrews Brewing Company are delighted to announce the release of “Mistaken Identity” which supports the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
As with their previous rugby release “38 Year Itch” which celebrated the Scottish Rugby Team’s historic victory at Twickenham, all profits from the sale of Mistaken Identity will be donated to the foundation.
The name Mistaken Identity is a reference to Doddie’s defence when he was alleged to have broken curfew on the 1997 Lions Tour to South Africa.
Philip Mackey, St Andrews Brewing Company MD, said “We are delighted to be supporting such a fantastic cause in our own unique way. In what remain challenging times for many people we hope that Mistaken Identity will bring a little festive cheer and will prove the beer of choice for the opening weekend of the 2022 6Nations Championships.”
Mistaken Identity can be purchased exclusively from the St. Andrews Brewing Company website www.standrewsbrewingcompany.com
The 12 Online Safety Tips Of Christmas for Children with New Devices.
Edinburgh Police & The City of Edinburgh Council’s Christmas wish is to #KeepXmasSafe for young people whilst online & keep parents & carers more informed.
With just four days left to get ‘boosted by the bells’ all remaining over-18s are being urged to come along for their COVID-19 booster.
Latest published figures show 73.5% of eligible adults aged 18 and above in Scotland have now received their booster or third dose, giving them the best possible protection against coronavirus.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf visited the vaccination centre at the Dewars Centre in Perth yesterday to thank staff for their ongoing efforts over the Christmas period, and encourage people to keep coming forward.
Mr Yousaf said: “Since the emergence of the Omicron variant there has been a monumental effort by everyone on Scotland’s vaccination programme to make sure we can deliver booster vaccines as quickly as possible. That’s because it is the single best way to protect people’s health, and the NHS.
“This week we are calling on everyone in the country to rally round and do their bit by coming forward for their booster dose.
“I know that many people will have some well-deserved time off at this time of year. And if you haven’t yet had your covid booster, there is bound to be a vaccination clinic or drop-in centre near to you.
“Please have a look on the online portal to book an appointment, or check your local NHS board’s social media channels to find out where the vaccine is being offered, so you can join the thousands of others who have been boosted by the bells.
“If you’ve yet to have your first or second dose, it still isn’t too late for that either. Our vaccination teams are waiting for you, so please come along. The sooner you have your first dose, the sooner you can then get your second, and then your booster, for the extra protection that gives.”
COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise
Breakdown of daily figures over the festive break
Provisional data indicates an increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Figures for 25, 26 and 27 December are the highest daily totals recorded in Scotland since the start of the pandemic.
While the figures for each day covers tests reported in the preceding 24 hour period, the lag in reporting means that the majority of these cases will relate to tests done before the Christmas break.
With the longer turnaround time for test results at the moment, the actual number of positive COVID-19 cases may be higher.
The figures are:
25 December 2021: 8,252 cases
26 December 2021: 11,030 cases
27 December 2021: 10,562 cases
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “While these figures are provisional, the steep increase in cases we have been expecting is now materialising, and this reflects the significantly increased transmissibility of Omicron.
“We would expect to see case numbers rise further in the days ahead – though it is worth bearing in mind that they are likely to have been even higher but for the compliance of the public with the guidance issued in the run up to Christmas.
“These figures underline how important it is that we don’t underestimate the impact of Omicron – even if the rate of hospitalisation associated with it is much lower than past strains of the virus, case numbers this high will still put an inevitable further strain on NHS. This level of infection will also cause a significant and severely disruptive level of sickness absence across the economy and critical services.
“So even though we are all thoroughly fed up with the impact of Covid on our lives, it is really important that over the new year period we follow guidance to help slow the spread of the virus while we complete the accelerated booster programmes.
“In addition to observing good hand hygiene and wearing face coverings, I am asking everyone to limit contacts as much as possible, to keep any essential indoor gatherings to a maximum of three households, and to get boosted by the bells.
“I know sticking to all of these measures is really hard – especially at this time of year – but there’s no doubt whatsoever it will help keep us safer.”
Skyrora has created Skyprint 2, the largest hybrid printer of its kind in Europe, to optimise the speed and efficiency of manufacturing rocket parts. By allowing printing and machining on the same bed, it will drastically reduce process complexity, cost and printing time by around 30% compared to other printers.
Another key advantage of Skyprint 2 is that it can be manufactured via subtraction or addition processes, which means it can repair parts and machine items that were not originally printed.
Following on from Skyprint 1, and when it starts production in Q2, the bespoke Skyprint 2 will offer a cost-effective, bi-metallic, hybrid manufacturing service to meet the growing demand for small satellite launches and enables Skyrora to take full control of the manufacturing process. Skyrora’s vision is to meet this increasing appetite by combining proven technology with cutting-edge innovation in order to create economical, responsive access to space.
Skyprint 2 will use Inconel, a superalloy known for its mechanical strength at high heat which comprises most of the mass of Skyrora’s rocket engines and makes use of the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process.
This is an additive manufacturing process in which focused thermal energy is used to fuse materials by melting as they are being deposited.
One of the key features of Skyprint 2 is its ‘near net shape’ process of DED, which minimises material usage. Any residual material that would be otherwise lost due to blowout is instead collected and recycled, enabling greater material efficiency and making the manufacturing of parts more sustainable.
With standard, bulk methods of manufacturing Inconel alloy engine parts (oxidation-corrosion-resistant materials well suited for extreme environments subjected to pressure and heat), it can take around 10 weeks from concept to production, not to mention quality modifications.
Using Skyprint 2, the time needed to manufacture key rocket engine components has been significantly reduced to only two weeks due to 3D printing’s direct forming capabilities. Combined with the increased design dexterity – allowing for greater changes in design between iterations – Skyprint 2 is radically altering what is possible in hybrid manufacturing services.
Volodymyr Levykin, Skyrora’s founder and CEO, said: “Skyprint 2 reinforces our ambitions to not only be the first company to launch from UK soil, but also to do so in the most sustainable way possible.
“By taking greater control of the design and manufacturing process of our parts using our custom-built industry-leading 3D printing technology, we are taking another crucial step closer to offering a significant space service from our own soil.
“Creating this cost – and time-effective solution encapsulates the innovation and talent that resides at the heart of the UK space industry. As an asset, Skyprint 2 is a real game-changer – it will transform Skyrora’s operations and expand the limits of what is possible when it comes to space engineering in general.”
Following Skyrora’s announcement in October 2021 of a multi-launch agreement with SaxaVord that will enable the company to complete 16 launches a year by 2030, the ability to fully design and print parts using Skyprint 2 will substantially reduce the timeframe needed for Skyrora to manufacture its rockets from 2022.
Earlier this year, Skyrora also successfully completed trials of the third stage of the Skyrora XL rocket, including its orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) – a vehicle that once in orbit can refire its engines around 15 times to complete tasks such as acting as a space tug or maintenance and de-orbiting of defunct satellites.
The development of Ecosene – a rocket fuel made of otherwise unused plastics – also highlights the sustainable innovations that are at the core of Skyrora’s business as it strives to solve the biggest issues facing the space industry.
Temporary measures to limit the spread of the Omicron variant whilst the accelerated booster vaccination programme takes effect have come into force.
From 05:00 yesterday (26 December), attendance at large events has been limited to:
100 people for indoor standing events
200 people for indoor seated events
500 people for all outdoor events (seated or standing)
Taking effect from 05:00 this morning (27 December), one metre physical distancing has been reinstated in all hospitality and indoor leisure settings including pubs, restaurants, gyms, theatres and museums amongst others. Table service is also required in settings where alcohol is served for consumption on the premises.
Nightclubs are also to close for a period of at least three weeks from 27 December however they will have the option of remaining open if they operate with table service and physical distancing, in line with the requirements for other hospitality businesses.
All of the temporary measures are to be reviewed after three weeks on Tuesday 11 January.
The restrictions are backed by £375 million in business support with full details to be announced shortly, following discussions with business organisations and local authorities. Hospitality businesses are already eligible for top up funding through the December and January Business Top Up.
Further guidance has also been published to support businesses to take reasonable measures to limit the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: “These temporary restrictions are targeted at reducing the spread of Omicron while the accelerated vaccination programme takes effect.
“I understand how difficult this has been for businesses in recent weeks but we must reduce our contacts and limit the spread of the virus. We’re providing £375 million in business support, which is a significant investment, to support those who have experienced cancellations and help them get back on their feet in the new year.
“The best way to support business sustainably, is to get the virus back under control. Please get your boosters and stay at home as much as possible just now.”
The total package of support available to businesses is £375 million, including the previous £100 million announced by the First Minister on 14 December 2021.
The unique light and wild landscape of the East Cairngorms has long attracted curious creatives for whom the wilderness is their inspiration and subject matter. But more recently, the surrounding rural villages of Ballater, Braemar and Crathie are attracting international audiences for their art and cultural offerings.
Awash with galleries, craftspeople, and artists; the East Cairngorms offers a coveted combination of cosy inside spaces where visitors can absorb the works of famed and local artists whilst indulging in the variety of gastronomical delicacies available; as well as a chance to get out into the rugged wilderness of the surrounding hills to experience first-hand the dramatic scenery and skies that have long served as inspiration to artists, poets, writers, and musicians.
International art audiences will likely be familiar with the boutique hotel, The Fife Arms in Braemar; the Victorian construction, consciously restored by co-founders of the acclaimed global gallery Hauser & Wirth. Here, you can sleep and dine amongst masterpieces from Picasso and Lucian Freud; vast murals by Argentinian Guillermo Kuitca as well as countless local artists and hundreds of priceless antiques.
Tom Addy, construction manager of the Fife Arms restoration, and artisan furniture maker and owner of Tor Workshop in Braemar says, “It’s not what you expect to find in a rural Scottish Village – there’s internationally famous artworks at the Fife, a French patisserie, and some really niche artisan shops run by unique makers that hark back to yester year.”
“The Fife attracts an art aware audience and people who deeply appreciate beautiful art, and objects that are made well and made locally with story and meaning behind them. And its presence has caused a ripple, giving local artists, makers, and creatives the confidence to step forward with their own ideas.
“We’ve seen a wave of events, activities and enterprises emerge in recent years and now have a diverse range of craft shops, places to eat and activities for locals and visitors.”
Addy says it is, “the juxtaposition of the wild nature and the comfort of home and hearth that has created a culture of its own here. It is when people come in off the hills and reflect, write, paint, create and tell stories of their experience: that’s where the magic lies.”
“People’s relationship with the land is at the heart of the art here. You cannot remove one from the other. For me and many artists and makers here, provenance is so important. Respect for the landscape and materials we use and communicating the stories, history and meaning through the objects we create.”
Andrew Braidwood who owns and runs Braemar Art Gallery adds;
“A lot of folk come here to do site specific art – because it is so easy to get off the beaten track; to be alone and uninterrupted. That peace is not always that easy to find elsewhere.”
“You can take in the incredible skies and light we get here – which you see reflected in so much of the art created here throughout time. We’re so lucky to have so little light and sound pollution. It makes it a special place for artists.”
“I’ve noticed a shift towards artists here getting involved with the environmental rewilding movement, considering how the landscapes are used and how we can repair it. There is recognition of art as a medium to slow us down and connect us more deeply with nature.”
In acknowledgement of the East Cairngorm’s growing presence as a hub for art and culture, a new campaign was launched in November by Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG).
The campaign, which includes a website, promotional video, digital trail map, trip planner, is the second in a series of five which aim to inspire visitors to explore the East Cairngorms as a year-round destination for outdoor activity.
Issue by Jane Craigie Marketing on behalf of Ballater Business Association and Braemar Tourism Group. For additional press information, please contact Alana Black on 07596 122184 or alana@janecraigie.com.
Click on the images to download.
Information about Ballater Business Association
Ballater Business Association represents businesses who trade within the Dinnet to Crathie area, who have a common interest in sustaining a thriving community through the local economy. The BBA work in partnership with the Cairngorm Business Partnership and Visit Cairngorms to support our businesses. In April 2021 the BBA began a collaboration with Braemar Tourism Group to work together on projects of mutual benefit and the promotion of the ‘East Cairngorms’ is the first of these initiatives, funded through a Visit Scotland Grant. For more information contact Susan Stewart on the email secretary@visitballater.com
Information about Braemar Tourism Group
Braemar Tourism Group is a thriving association, promoting Braemar and Crathie to visitors and locals alike. Membership has increased recently to 55 members, all working together to encourage people to visit, stay longer and return. Braemar is in the very heart of the Cairngorms National Park (we have a close bond with the Cairngorms Business Partnership/VisitCairngorms) but we are also in Royal Deeside. Forming a collaboration with Ballater seemed the perfect opportunity to work together for mutual benefit, in promoting the Eastern Cairngorms as a year-round destination. Please contact Sarah, Chair of the BTG for more information sarahhubbard21@gmail.com
The Hearts Women Team supporting Big Hearts’ Gift Back initiative: Clare Williamson & Addie Handley.
This Christmas, hundreds of families in Edinburgh and the Lothians will receive Christmas essentials thanks to the incredible efforts from 274 award-winning Big Hearts Supporters linked to Heart of Midlothian’s charity.
For this second Christmas of the pandemic, Big Hearts Community Trust is going on the road to bring some festive cheer directly to people’s homes. The official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, based at Tynecastle Park, is focusing on providing practical support to various groups referred by the local schools, social workers and partner charities.
Earlier this month, Big Hearts revealed that the number of referrals had doubled since 2020. A call for Hearts fans to become Big Hearts Supporters enabled the charity to meet the demand.
No less than 274 individuals have come forward to help, by volunteering in their own time or at the Stadium, making Big Hearts’ festive activity the biggest to date. A total of 400 pre-cooked Christmas dinners, 500 bags of tailored presents and 100 food parcels will be distributed in time for Christmas Day.
Hearts fans volunteering at the Stadium to wrap up and prepare Christmas gifts deliveries
Andrew McKinlay, Big Hearts Trustee and Chief Executive of Heart of Midlothian FC said: “The festive holidays can be a challenging time for many. Throughout the pandemic, football has remained a force for good and it’s heart-warming to see a record number of Hearts fans joining Big Hearts, the charity operating from Tynecastle Park, to help provide much needed support across the community this Christmas.
“They are a credit to our Club, and our shared family and community values. A big thank you to all involved, your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Hearts Players visit Broomhouse foodbank. L- R: Taylor Moore, Craig Gordon, Alex Cochrane & Beni Baningime.
Craig Wilson, General Manager at Big Hearts Community Trust said: “Our priority this Christmas is ensuring families can enjoy a fresh Christmas dinner from the comfort and safety of their home and receive presents to open on Christmas morning.
“The fact that our charity saw a 100% increase in requests for support this year just shows how many more individuals are struggling over the festive season – with some facing poverty or loneliness for the very first time.
Big Hearts Christmas Hampers distributed to isolated older people in partnership with the SPFL Trust.
“Alongside our dedicated staff team, Big Hearts Volunteers are playing a vital role in supporting the 500 adults and children on our list. Our award-winning Big Hearts Supporters Movement was designed to do just that: use the incredible power of football to join forces and help others in need.
“We are incredibly grateful to all who decided to sign up and donate their time and skills to make a difference. Thank you.”
Christmas is nearly with us, but it is not only the goose getting fat! Scammers, are ready, able, and keen to target the pubic, say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
Fiona Fernie, a partner at the firm, said: “Christmas and the January sales may be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but they are also a time of mixed emotions, the desire to buy presents for friends and family, and anxiety about being able to pay the bills. Scammers are just waiting to take advantage.
“Scamming is a huge issue, which we all need to recognise and take action to mitigate.
“The increase in on-line shopping during the pandemic has provided scammers with an extra opportunity to obtain credit card details. People have had their online accounts hacked enabling their credit cards to be used which has caused a great deal of distress.”
Fiona said: “There is also increasing evidence of people receiving emails purporting to be from major retailers such as the supermarkets, saying that the individual has been selected to receive some sort of reward for customer loyalty if they just key in their bank details.
“Such emails play on concerns about the cost of Christmas and can look very much like the real thing, so it pays to be vigilant.”
She added: “It is always sensible to pay for items online using a credit card rather than a debit card and to check statements carefully each month. Any item which you do not recognise should be reported to the credit card company immediately for investigation.
“In addition, anybody who receives an email or SMS message suggesting that they are due a reward or owe money should take some basic precautions:
Use passphrases with a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols when online shopping.
Use different phrases for different online accounts.
Ensure that two-stage authentication is triggered on all credit cards and online bank accounts – preferably this will include sending a passcode to your mobile phone as well as using the appropriate passphrase.
Click on/hover over the “display name” email address from which you have received any email which offers you a reward. This will show you the full details of the sender and will help to determine whether the email is likely to be from a legitimate source. For example, I am currently receiving emails purporting to be from Amazon and Aldi but sent from websites and email addresses that are clearly not them.
If this happens to you:
Do not reply to the emails or SMSs;
Do not call the phone number listed in an SMS;
Do not click on any links or open any attachments in emails;
Do not visit websites detailed in the messages;
Do not provide personal or financial details.”
Fiona said: “The problem does not stop with the order process either.
“I have heard of several examples of deliveries being made to the doorstep but disappearing before individuals could take them in, so it is clearly sensible to have a reciprocal agreement with neighbours for taking in parcels when the intended recipient is not at home.
“Don’t let scammers or opportunists spoil your Christmas!”
Edinburgh Police have released images of three men they believe may hold information which might assist in relation to a serious assault that occurred on Pilton Drive North at around 2330 hours on 24 November.
Male 1 is described as white, 18-23yrs, average build, short brown hair, wearing blue tracksuit top and bottoms.
Male 2 is described as white, 18-23yrs, average build, short brown hair, wearing a black puffa jacket and dark trousers.
Male 3 is described as white, 18-23yrs, stocky build, red hair and facial hair, wearing grey tracksuit top with black triangle on LHS of chest, grey tracksuit bottoms with black patches to rear of his knees.
Detective Constable William Doughty from Corstorphine CID said: “I would urge each of these three men, or anyone who has information relating to any of these three men depicted in the images to make contact with the Police.
“Members of the public can contact Police Scotland via the 101 non-emergency telephone number quoting incident number 3662 of 24 November 2021.
“Alternatively, calls can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
