Cyrenians, NHS Lothians LEAP, and Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership have been successful in a recent Corra Foundation grant bid to develop and implement a Women’s Recovery House in Edinburgh.
The House, for patients moving on from residential recovery in the LEAP program, offers women who do not have a safe home to return to the opportunity to continue their recovery supported by their peers.
The first of its kind in Edinburgh, the house creates a level playing field for women, who until this point have had limited options available upon completing the 12 week LEAP programme.
Amy Hutton, Director of Services at Cyrenians said, “This is a fantastic step forward in supporting the recovery community, particularly women who have been underserved in this area for quite some time.
‘We know, from experience, that highly traumatised women don’t fare well in standard service delivery environments, so to be able to offer a bespoke, safe home, truly is groundbreaking.
‘Men in Edinburgh completing the LEAP programme have benefited from a similar model for many years, so this new Women’s House really levels the playing field and helps us continue providing peer support to women who otherwise would be isolated in their recovery.”
This new funding not only allows the partnership to provide accommodation beyond the LEAP programme, but will also support the development of a Wellbeing Coordinator, providing assistance to patients throughout the LEAP programme and during their stay at the Recovery House.
Viki Fox, LEAP Manager for Cyrenians added: “The number of women attending our LEAP programme has been increasing year on year. To have this move on option available for those who would otherwise be discharged into an unsafe home, or indeed, homelessness, is a fantastic step forward to improving their quality of life and ability to stay in recovery.
‘By providing additional support through our wellbeing coordinator we will be able to offer practical and emotional support that will help build self-esteem and independence.
‘Recovery is only the first step – learning to live again beyond addiction takes time, and without support can feel overwhelming and thankless. The support from Corra Foundation allows us to address this need directly, and ultimately will provide women in Edinburgh the chance to rebuild their lives on their own terms.”
Queensferry One’s storied past as a naval dockyard began in the early 1900s, supporting the Royal Navy’s operations throughout both World Wars. The Rosyth Dockyard played a crucial role in shipbuilding, repair and refitting, with its expansive dry docks and cranes becoming iconic landmarks. After the decline of naval activities, the site shifted focus, adapting to the needs of the modern industrial economy.
In recent years, Queensferry One has embraced its role as a hub for new industries. The shift from military to civilian use has paved the way for extensive redevelopment, positioning the site as a strategic asset within the Forth Green Freeport.
The Role of Scarborough Muir Group in Queensferry One’s Transformation
A driving force behind the redevelopment of Queensferry One has been Scarborough Muir Group (SMG), a 50:50 joint venture between the Yorkshire-based property developer, Scarborough Group International, and Inverkeithing-based contractor, Muir Group. Since acquiring the site in the late 1990s, SMG has been instrumental in transforming the former naval dockyard into an oven-ready development site.
Following planning permission for enabling works in 2003, SMG embarked on an extensive land remediation strategy to prepare the site for development.
This ambitious project included the challenging task of demolishing a bomb-proof bunker that had stored fuel for naval ships during wartime. The bunker, comprising over one million tonnes of reinforced concrete, was meticulously broken up using explosives.
The resulting material was repurposed as hardcore for various infrastructure projects throughout Fife, showcasing a sustainable approach to redevelopment.
The comprehensive remediation works were completed in early 2023, laying the groundwork for the creation of up to 1.2 million square feet of employment space across 120 acres of land.
A Strategic Gateway to Renewable Opportunities
With the designation of Special Tax Site status under the Forth Green Freeport, which became effective from 12 June 2024, Queensferry One is ideally positioned to attract a diverse range of businesses, particularly those in the renewable energy and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The Freeport’s incentives, including tax reliefs and streamlined customs processes, alongside the site’s oven-ready status, provide an attractive proposition for companies looking to invest in Scotland’s industrial and economic future.
Simon McCabe, Chief Executive at Scarborough Group, said: “Scotland’s push towards a net-zero future is accelerating and, with significant renewable energy projects slated for development, the demand for high-quality, strategically-located industrial and logistics space is at an all-time high.
“Queensferry One offers unparalleled opportunities for businesses to establish a presence within the Forth Green Freeport, providing a flexible accommodation options tailored to their operational needs.”
Spanning over 120 acres, Queensferry One boasts ample room for development, offering flexibility and space for businesses to grow and innovate. With its proximity to the Forth’s deep water access points, and excellent transport links including rail and motorway connections, the site is primed for companies in the renewables and manufacturing sectors.
A Vision for the Future
The inclusion of Queensferry One in the Forth Green Freeport initiative brings a wealth of opportunities not only for businesses but also for the local community. The expected influx of investment and development is set to create significant employment opportunities, reinvigorating the local economy and fostering long-term growth.
The strategic location of Queensferry One offers businesses direct access to the vibrant energy sector in Scotland. With the ongoing development of offshore wind farms and other renewable energy projects in the North Sea, the site provides an ideal base for companies looking to capitalise on Scotland’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Simon McCabe added: “Our focus is on providing a platform where businesses can thrive in a supportive and innovative environment.
“The combination of Queensferry One’s rich history, strategic location and Freeport benefits creates a compelling case for companies seeking to relocate or expand their operations in Scotland.”
As Queensferry One continues to evolve, it stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of adaptation and growth. From its roots as a naval dockyard to its future as a linchpin in one of Scotland’s two Green Freeports, Queensferry One is set to play a pivotal role in the country’s journey towards a sustainable and prosperous future.
Supporting sustainable and regenerative farming and crofting
MSPs have backed legislation that will transform how the Scottish Government supports farming and food production.
The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill will ensure the Scottish Government can help farmers and crofters to produce more food more sustainably, supporting their essential role in climate mitigation and nature restoration. It will allow for a framework of payments that is responsive to the sector’s needs.
This legislation will also drive support for rural communities, the economy, and for land management and the environment.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “Agriculture is vital to our economy. Our Vision for Agriculture sets out how the Government will support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
“The Bill provides a future framework that will help deliver this Vision, supporting farmers and crofters to meet our immediate and long-term food needs sustainably and to adapt to new opportunities and challenges. It will enable the delivery of support schemes that will ensure that agriculture continues to play its part in cutting emissions, mitigating climate change, enhancing nature and biodiversity, together with food production.
“Our food and farming sectors have a critical role to play in a sustainable, resilient food system. As we transition to a new framework of support, we will do this in a way that is just, that ensures no cliff edges in support and by taking our agricultural industry and rural communities with us.”
Road policing officers are appealing for information after an 83-year-old female pedestrian was seriously injured in a crash in the Colinton area.
The crash involving a red Vauxhall Corsa, happened on Woodhall Road, Edinburgh at the junction with Dreghorn Loan shortly after 3.44pm yesterday (Tuesday, 18 June).
The 47-year-old female driver of the Vauxhall was not injured.
The 83-year-old woman was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.
The road was closed to allow for crash investigations to take place.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances and officers are appealing for witnesses.
Road Policing Sergeant Fraser Mitchell said: “Our investigation into this crash is ongoing and I would urge anyone who has information to get in touch.
“We would be keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the red Vauxhall before the crash occurred. If anyone has any dashcam footage from the area, please let us know.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 2168 of 18 June, 2024.
EVOC has announced a strategic review that puts a renewed commitment to supporting the community and voluntary sector in Edinburgh at its heart.
The ongoing cost of living crisis is hitting groups and organisations hard and this is a chance to refocus on creating a strong sector for a strong city.
An engagement programme will take place in the coming months, involving the sector in shaping a new EVOC strategy, and to ensure stakeholders are fully briefed on the changes.
After 3 years, Bridie Ashrowan has decided to step down as Chief Executive of EVOC to concentrate on research interests around nature-based learning and biodiversity recovery.
In the meantime, two interims have been appointed to lead EVOC through this period of change – David Peace (Interim Chief Executive) and Claire Ritchie (Strategic Advisor to the Board).
Bridie’s tenure at EVOC has brought many successes. She has been a strong advocate for investment in the community and voluntary sector, to support organisations through the ongoing cost crisis, and to strengthen sector capabilities to lead change.
Against a background of decreased funding and increased running costs, EVOC is focused on reducing costs and delivering a balanced budget for the year ahead. This will include an analysis of the current organisational structure.
EVOC Convenor, Diarmaid Lawlor said:“Firstly, I would like to thank Bridie for her commitment, passion and advocacy for the voluntary sector during her tenure at EVOC and we wish her well in her next ventures.
“Our focus continues to be the wellbeing of the many community and voluntary organisations who play such a vital role in the city. We are working with partners and funders to make sure that remains our top priority throughout this strategic review.”
David Peace added: “As Interim Chief Executive, I will be working with staff, Claire and the Board to refocus our efforts and ensure we continue to support voluntary and community groups in delivering core programmes and activities in the city.
“As a sector leader we remain focused on building a strong, sustainable and resilient future for our sector. I welcome engagement with the sector, partners and funders to help shape the way ahead collectively.”
We are more used to seeing him sitting high up in the coach’s box at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on matchday, but Scotland Rugby Head Coach Gregor Townsend yesterday swapped one lofty position for another as he ascended the iconic Forth Bridge to help launch a much-loved Barnardo’s fundraiser.
The charity’s ‘Your View’ event – now in its sixth year – affords members of the public one of the most sought after and unique experiences in Scotland; namely the chance to ascend 361 feet up the historic bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic view of the Edinburgh and Fife coastline.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience has brought joy to thousands and raised vital funds for the work of Barnardo’s Scotland.
Gregor Townsend said: “I have long admired the work that Barnardo’s Scotland undertakes to support thousands of children, young people and their families across the country, so it is a pleasure to be a part of the launch of this year’s Your View event.
“Standing on top of the world-famous Forth Bridge has been a superb experience – the views are amazing – and I would encourage people to take this rare opportunity to climb the bridge. As well as enjoying this bucket-list moment, you will also be contributing to the work of Barnardo’s as it continues to do so much to help young people all over Scotland.”
Your View 2024, which is run in conjunction with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, will take place from Friday, 20th to Sunday, 22nd September, with tickets going on sale at 10am on Thursday (20th June).
To date, more than 5,200 visitors have experienced the event and there have been no fewer than ten marriage proposals on the vertiginous viewing platform.
Best of all, though, the event has raised more than £325,000 to fund the work of Barnardo’s Scotland. To find out more, or to book tickets for the event, please visit: www.barnardos.org.uk/events/your-view-forth-bridge.
Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “Your View is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for those lucky enough to secure a ticket. Not only is it a never-to-be-forgotten experience for those atop the iconic bridge, it is also a crucial fundraiser for Barnardo’s Scotland as we continue to support children, young people and their families throughout the country.
“We cannot thank Gregor Townsend enough for his support for the event and the wider work of our charity. I must admit that it was one of the more surreal moments of my career to be alongside the Scotland Rugby Head Coach more than 350 feet above the Firth of Forth!”
Martin Crewe added: “As I am often reminded, tickets for Your View sell out very quickly indeed, so I would urge all of those keen to attend to sign up as quickly as possible. And, who knows, we might even get to enjoy another Your View wedding proposal this year!
“Your View would not be possible without the generosity of Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, and I wish to thank both organisations and our wonderful volunteers for making this special weekend happen.”
Colin Hardie, Construction Superintendent for Balfour Beatty, said: “At Balfour Beatty, we are committed to giving back to the communities we serve. The Your View event is one example of how we do just that, raising valuable funds to support disadvantaged children and families in Scotland.
“It has been an honour to work alongside Barnardo’s Scotland once again, to offer members of the public this memorable experience on one of the most iconic, unique and admired structures in the world – the Forth Bridge.”
Also featuring over the weekend will be the famous ‘Briggers’. The Briggers are a Forth Bridge research and presentation group of volunteers based in South Queensferry. Named after the bridge workers, the group was formed to identify the names of the 73 men and boys who died constructing the Forth Bridge, they provide details on the history of the bridge and the people involved in its construction.
In the past year, Barnardo’s has provided essential support to more than 11,500 children, young people, parents and carers in Scotland through more than 150 specialised community-based services and partnerships across the country.
The charity works to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.
Campaign to empower LGBTQ+ community to share their stories
Leading Scots charity calls for Edinburgh to share what Pride means to them
A Scottish charity is calling on members of the LGBTQ+ community to come forward and have their voices heard on what makes them proud to be a part of Pride.
The new campaign, #ProudBecause, launched by LGBT Youth Scotland, aims to gather unique stories and perspectives of what makes people proud as part of Pride celebrations.
Set to run in conjunction with the historical (Un)seen (Un)heard campaign, launched last summer, workshops will be held at five Pride events across the country, including Edinburgh Pride Youth Space on 22nd June.
Mhairi Crawford, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, said: “After the inspiring stories we heard last year through the (Un)seen (Un)heard project, we’re eager to see even more people get involved this year with #ProudBecause.
“It’s vital that we make sure that voices of young people are heard within the LGBTQ+ community as they after often greatly underrepresented.
“This project will aim to give members of the LGBTQ+ community the chance to come forward and share what Pride means to them, this is a brilliant chance for them to share their stories.
“We’ve got a full calendar of workshops we are due to run this Pride and I can’t wait to see everybody out in full force celebrating what it is that makes them unique, it’s always a fantastic experience speaking to young people at Pride, and it gives me real hope for the future.”
Beyond physical events, LGBT Youth Scotland champions digital participation, offering an online platform where young people can contribute to the evolving (Un)seen (Un)heard archive.
This digital space ensures accessibility and broadens the reach of the campaign, allowing for a diverse collection of experiences and stories to be shared and celebrated.
When asked what Pride means to them, one participant said: “It’s a combination of celebrating who we are, celebrating how far we’ve come and sending a message that we need to keep moving forward onwards and onwards as the years go by.”
Another added: “Pride events, do kind of connect me to the history of LGBTQ people as a community.
“I think pride is something that cements these very disparate groups of people who only really are connected by the fact that they’re discriminated against for various queering features of themselves, it’s kind of an event that brings people together as a unified whole that makes them go: “oh wow, we’re actually not just individual people. We are a group of people”.
“I think even if somebody is an objectively extremely weird person, pride is a way to say “Look, I’m here, and I’m a human being that is here, now, in front of you.”
Launched in 2023, the (Un)seen (Un)heard project held 43 workshops, gathering almost 200 submissions from over 340 participants.
By integrating the key messages of pride, participation, and visibility, the #ProudBecause campaign and (Un)seen (Un)heard workshops are set to leave a lasting impact on Scotland’s cultural and social landscape.
LGBT Youth Scotland continues to lead in promoting health, well-being, and equality, marking itself as a cornerstone of support for the nation’s youth.
With the 2024 European Championships around the corner, a new report by leading online betting and gaming brand Betway has revealed that Scotland’s “Flower of Scotland” is the most popular national anthem of all time in Europe.
The Euros 2024 guide, produced by the bookmaker, scoured through every team’s national anthem to understand which national anthem takes the top spot in fan’s hearts as the most streamed on Spotify.
In first place, Scotland’s national anthem “Flower of Scotland” by The Corries had almost 5 million streams on Spotify. An estimated 200,000 Scottish fans are expected to be proudly singing their national anthem at the Euros this summer as they initially take on Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in their group matches.
In second place is the French’s “Marseillaise”, with 4.2 million streams, while Italy’s “Il Canto degli Italiani” came in third place with 3.4 million streams.
England’s traditional “God save the King” came in 4th place with just over 1.5 million streams, while the Euros host country Germany came in 5th place, with 1.3 million streams for “Deutsche Nationalhymme”.
At the other end, Poland and Spain ranked in 9th and 10th place, with 525,613 and 502,656 streams respectively.
The 10 most-streamed national anthems
Rank
Country
Title
Artist
Spotify streams
1
Scotland
Flower of Scotland
The Corries
4,823,383
2
France
Marseillaise
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
4,246,923
3
Italy
Il Canto degli Italiani
National Anthem Band
3,440,658
4
England
God save the king
Traditional
1,566,902
5
Germany
Deutsche Nationalhymne (Lied der Deutschen, nur dritte Strophe)
Nationalhymne Deutschland
1,353,505
6
Netherlands
Het Wilhelmus
Universal Band
1,034,824
7
Switzerland
Schweizerpsalm
Kpm National Anthems
687,498
8
Turkey
İstiklâl Marşı
Ossi Orkestrasi
680,498
9
Poland
Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
Krakowski Chor Kameralny/ Polish Chamber Choir
525,613
10
Spain
Marcha Real
Jose Angel Tello
502,656
Chad Yeomans, spokesperson at Betway, said:“The Scottish Government may not have officially adopted Flower of Scotland yet, but our research shows there’s no more popular national anthem in Europe!
“National anthems sung before a fixture kicks off have the power to unite travelling fans like nothing else can.
“One thing is for sure, when Scotland faces Germany in the opening match of the Euros the Tartan Army will be in full voice and are sure to produce a rousing and goosebump-inducing rendition of the famous song.”
Consider the following security tips to keep you motorcycle safe and secure:
• Fit a combined alarm and immobiliser.
• Fit a tracker.
• Use chains and disc locks. The more security on your bike the longer it takes to overcome them and so the less attractive it is to a thief.
• When using chains and locks, ensure they are secured to a solid anchor point. Keep them off the ground where possible as this makes them more difficult to cut off.
• Cover your motorcycle and ensure the cover is attached to the security device.
• Use industry tested products. Thatcham, Sold Secure and Secured By Design are recommended security testing schemes in the UK. Always activate the steering lock.
• Do not leave your helmet or other possessions on the motorcycle or in luggage space or panniers.
• Where possible use Parkmark accredited parking, as these areas should be more secure. See https://orlo.uk/Rcf4T for a list of accredited car parks. Alternatively, park in well-lit areas, ideally where there is CCTV.
• Ensure you have a note of your vehicle identification number.
• When travelling abroad you may wish to enquire about secure parking facilities at your destination.
For further Crime Prevention Information visit https://orlo.uk/usorG or contact your local Community Officer by calling 101
If you have any Information in relation to stolen motorcycles, please contact Police Scotland telephone numbers on 101 or 999 in an emergency or report crime anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
The morning after the general election, 5 July, will be a historic moment for the UK. Whether it is delivered by a re-elected or newly elected Prime Minister, their speech to the nation will be a moment of national significance.
It’s a moment that should be accessible to every voter in the UK, including the 87,000 members of the Deaf community who use British Sign Language (BSL).
The Deaf community has continually been excluded during these key broadcasts from No. 10 because of the lack of a BSL interpreter. RNID has long tried to work with the Government to ensure that access is provided for the Deaf community.
A public service announcement is just that, but by not including deaf people the Prime Minister is removing their right to have the information at the same time as everyone else.
RNID has written to both Sir Kier Starmer and Rishi Sunak offering them the use of our interpreter for their victory speech on 5 July. Their speech to the nation will be the start of a new chapter in our country’s history and they cannot lock the Deaf community out.
I encourage all your readers to join our call and sign our letter to make this election inclusive of everyone at rnid.org.uk
