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“We have listened to concerns”: Wood burning stoves to be permitted in new homes in Scotland

Review addresses concerns from rural communities

Wood-burning stoves, bioenergy and peat heating will now be permitted in new homes and buildings following a review of the New Build Heat Standard commissioned by ministers earlier this year.

An amendment to regulations made today permits the installation of bioenergy and peat main heating systems – and any type of secondary heating systems – in new buildings from 1 January 2025, while maintaining the prohibition on mains gas and oil boilers as a main heating system.

Alasdair Allan, Acting Minister for Climate Action said: “The New Build Heat Standard is crucial to help reduce emissions from new buildings, preventing the need for retrofit in the future and ensuring a cleaner and greener Scotland.

“Heat from our homes and buildings makes up almost a fifth of Scotland’s carbon emissions so we must tackle the most polluting forms of domestic heating to reach net zero.

“We have listened to concerns from rural and island communities about resilience in times of bad weather or power outages, as well as the wider use of bioenergy and peat for other reasons. These changes address these concerns whilst retaining the spirit of the original legislation, which aims to eradicate polluting gas and oil boilers from new homes and buildings.

“I would like to thank all of those who submitted evidence and views, particularly those from rural and island communities – their input has been vital in delivering his positive outcome.”

Luke Fraser, Vice Chair of the Scottish Islands Federation said: ‘The Scottish Islands Federation is delighted that the points raised by our members and others, as part of the review of the New Build Heat Standard, have been taken into account.

“We believe there is a need to help sustain and support the resilience of households in rural and island communities through the use of wood burning stoves and burning of peat, and the changes to the NBHS announced today have taken this on board.

“While we are in support of the need for climate action, progress must be made in tandem with developing and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of our communities, not at their expense. This change is a positive step in that direction.’

Updated New Build Heat Standard regulations: ICIA – New Build Heat Standard (Amended) 2024 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

New Build Heat Standard: factsheet – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Healthy Heart Tip: Protein and heart health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Protein and heart health

Many people know the benefits of protein for muscle growth and repair, but do you know the other benefits for your health? Protein is one of the main forms of nutrients you need for your body to function.

In the UK, on average, there is an over consumption of the recommended amount of protein but often from few sources. 

It is essential that your body is getting protein from a range of different foods to ensure you meet all your body’s requirements. Did you know that approximately 16% of the UK population follow a meat-free diet? These people may need to focus more attention on meeting their protein requirements than those who regularly eat meat. 

In this healthy tip we discuss the importance of protein, different sources and how to get protein into your diet: 

Importance of protein 

Protein is required for general health, growth and maintenance of the body’s tissues. It helps your bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and skin to stay healthy and have structure, strength and elasticity. Protein helps your muscles to repair and rebuild after exercising and helps to increase your muscular strength.

It also supports the immune system by helping to form antibodies that fight against disease-causing bacteria and viruses.  

Protein has a satiating effect on the body and helps you to feel fuller for longer. It provides energy to your body, but only as a last resort if all your carbohydrate and fat stores have been used up. It should make up 10% to 35% of your total daily energy intake.  

Sources of protein 

Animal proteins are often more known and more commonly consumed than other protein sources.

These include meat and poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, and dairy products.

However, more people are beginning to follow a diet rich in plant proteins and consuming more nuts and seeds, beans, chickpeas, lentils and tofu.  

Getting protein into your diet 

You should try and include a portion of protein in every meal of the day, as well as in the snacks you eat. This will help to keep you feeling fuller for longer and reduce those cravings for foods with low nutritional value. 

For better heart health you should aim to eat a diet that is rich in plant foods. This simply means you need to consume lots of plant-based foods and proteins, and lower amounts of proteins from animal sources. This will not only benefit your heart health but also the sustainability of the planet.  

If you are consuming animal proteins, then red meats and processed meats are often high in fat and it is more beneficial for your health to consume leaner protein sources such as plant proteins, poultry and fish where possible. 

Police: Cowgate incident victim named

A man who died after being struck by a bus in the Cowgate has been named as Michael Leneghen, 74, from Edinburgh.

His family has released a statement, which said: “We wish to thank all the members of the public and emergency services involved. We would now ask for privacy at this time.”

The incident happened around 7.25pm on Saturday, 2 November in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh.

Michael Leneghen was on foot and the incident also involved a single decker bus.

Sergeant Paul Ewing, of the Road Policing Unit in Edinburgh, said: “Our thoughts remain with Michael’s family and friends, as well as everyone affected by this tragic incident.

“Our enquiries remain ongoing. We have already spoken to a number of people who were in the area at the time and work is ongoing to check public and private CCTV footage.

“We are still keen to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to police. If you have any information about what happened, then please get in touch.

“Anyone with information is asked to call the police via 101. Please quote incident number 3395 of Saturday, 2 November 2024.”

Police act following intelligence of planned firework-related disorder

Following intelligence relating to planned disorder and firework related crime in Moredun, Niddrie and Gracemount tonight, Police will be utilising Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

Please report any concerns about firework related criminality to the police.

UK Men’s Shed Association announce Shed of the Year Awards finalists

UK Men’s Shed Association (UKMSA) has announced the finalists for this year’s Shed of the Awards, their national award scheme which recognises groups and individuals that make a difference in their Men’s Shed and local communities.

Rob Lloyd, chair of the Trustees of UKMSA, said: “Each year entries get better and better. With more submissions than ever, and of such a high standard, this year’s finalists have really highlighted the excellent work they are all doing in their local communities.

“We know how well Men’s Shed participation helps with loneliness, social isolation and both physical and mental health. These finalists demonstrate the breadth, depth and creativity of the projects they each undertake and the impact they have on participants and the wider community”.

Last year’s overall winner, Bootle Tool Shed has designed and made the bespoke Shed of The Year trophy to hand over to the 2024 winner.

This year’s finalists by awards category are;

Health and Wellbeing Impact of the Year

  • Caerau Men’s Shed
  • Medway Men In Sheds
  • Hythe Shed (at the pier)

Shed Partnership of the Year 2024

  • Pontypridd Men’s Shed
  • Letchworth Men In Sheds
  • Broadstairs Town Shed

Shed Volunteer of the Year 2024

  • Mark Mantle, Ludlow Men’s Shed
  • David Finch, Men’s Shed Blaenau Gwent
  • Chris Oldfield, Bethlem Community Men’s Shed

Community Project of the Year 2024

  • Rhyl Men’s Shed
  • Heatons’ Men In Sheds
  • Llanfyllin Shed

Shed of the Year

  • Petersfield Men’s Shed
  • Poringland and District Men’s Shed
  • Shrewsbury Men’s Shed

All finalists have been invited by Mr Speaker, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP to the Shed of the Year Awards and Afternoon Tea taking place in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House in the House of Commons on International Men’s Day, Tuesday 19th November 2024.

The Shed Awards are sponsored by TiteFix, with specially designed trophies for the winners created by Carveco.

For more details please visit: https://menssheds.org.uk/shed-awards-2024/

ENU student Sophia travels to celebrate graduation following recovery from colon cancer

A resilient Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) student has celebrated her graduation after recovering from colon cancer – and thanked the staff who supported her along the way.

Sophia McIntosh studied for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from her home in Kingston, Jamaica, alongside her work as a university lecturer there.

She took time out from her studies after receiving her cancer diagnosis in 2019 but was later able to return to and complete the course.

Sophia crossed the stage at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Wednesday to collect her degree, having travelled from the Caribbean with her mum for the ceremony.

Sophia said: “I am just so full of joy, not just for me but for all of my family members and friends who have supported me.

“I am happy that I went on this journey, I am liberated and more confident. The doctorate is the icing on the cake, but the journey has transformed me.

“I still have my thesis on leadership sitting on my table at home and sometimes I just open it to have a look!

“I’m so proud of myself – I never knew I had it in me to read and learn so much.”

Having felt unwell for some time, it was through a chance meeting with a doctor at church that Sophia was referred for health checks and discovered her cancer diagnosis.

She underwent surgery and chemotherapy in the autumn of 2019, followed by more treatment the following year.

She said: “When I was told the news, I just went numb. I was told we would have to move quickly and have surgery.

“All the horror stories about chemotherapy happened to me. I had complications from my surgery, and my parents came down from another part of Jamaica to look after me.

“I had two major surgeries, and we lost my adopted brother around the same time. But despite these traumatic events, I resumed my studies after the year.”

Sophia’s graduation comes after taking time out from the course because of illness and the Covid pandemic. She is now receiving checks every six months.

Now that Sophia has completed her degree, she has paid tribute to ENU staff members past and present who supported her, including Dr Ciarán McFadden-Young, Dr Janice McMillan, and Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith  – as well as Professor Alison McCleery, who sadly passed away last year.

“It was difficult going back to the doctorate, but my research supervisors helped me settle,” Sophie added. “They were patient with me and not judgemental. They were respectful and they gave me space.

“I can’t find the words to thank them – they held my hand. I never felt alone, I never felt unsafe. I had them all behind me.”

Sophia has graduated alongside fellow students from Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School today.

ENU’s autumn graduation ceremonies were held at the Usher Hall between 29 – 31 October.

New graduate Keri hopes to make late dad proud

A new Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) graduate is hoping to make her family proud – thanks to a New York internship that unlocked her passion for her studies.

Keri Kilbride, who was the first member of her family to go to university, has graduated with a BSc (Hons) Sound Design, and is now studying for an MSc User Experience Design at ENU.

The 29-year-old from Edinburgh was presented with her degree during a ceremony at the Usher Hall yesterday.

She said: “It feels amazing to graduate. No-one in my family has done it before. I lost my dad in 2019 and a lot of the things I do are in the hope that he would be proud of me.

“I also want to show to my younger cousins that studying is a great way to find something that you enjoy.

“My time at university wasn’t always easy, but the lecturers and support staff were absolutely accommodating and understanding. They just wanted the best for me.”

As part of her studies, Keri was part of a group who completed an internship in New York with counterparts from Farmingdale State College.

It was a trip which helped cement her plan to forge a career in user experience – a term used to describe how people interact with digital technology in their day-to-day life.

“The opportunity to go to the USA helped me navigate what I was wanting to focus on,” Keri added. “We were working with a baseball team out there, making things that fans could use. I helped come up with an app and reward system they could use.

“It was such a great experience being able to make something like that happen from scratch.

“If I hadn’t gone to university, I would never have experienced something like that.”

Keri was among the students from Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment who graduated during a ceremony at the Usher Hall.

ENU’s autumn graduations conclude for 2024 later today, following six ceremonies across three days.

Charity launches global Digital Science Festival to boost STEM for all

  • Techfest, a Scottish charity, is set to launch a worldwide Digital Science Festival to promote STEM access to everyone.
  • Scotland’s Digital Science Festival (SDSF) is an exciting, virtual event that aims to bring science straight into homes through expert talks, interactive workshops, and an online escape room.
  • The festival will feature a range of speakers including TV Doctor, Tharaka Gunarthne, YouTuber, Dr Tom Crawford, and BBC Blue Planet’s, Doug Allan.
  • SDSF is designed to make STEM accessible and inclusive for all ages.  
  • Sarah Chew, Managing Director of Techfest, said: “Scotland’s Digital Science Festival is an opportunity for people of all generations to discover the excitement and possibilities that STEM can offer in today’s digital world. By making these fields more accessible and engaging, we hope to spark a lifelong curiosity that leads to innovation and empowerment.”

Scottish Charity, TechFest, has organised a free Digital Science Festival to take place on the 1-8th November to encourage engagement in STEM for all ages.

The week-long festival will be hosted entirely online including workshops, presentations and interactive sessions, led by professionals across STEM.

The festival will feature a variety of speakers who aim to demonstrate the relevance of STEM subjects in everyday life. One of the speakers, Dr Tom Crawford, also known as Tom Rocks Maths on YouTube, will be combining his passion for mathematics and Pokémon.

Additionally, Doug Allan from BBC’s Blue Planet will be attending the festival to discuss “An Eye Below Zero, a Long-Term Look at the Poles.”

Other speakers at the festival include Scottish Influencer of the Year 2024 and climate activist Laura Young, and Dr Vivienne Ming, a visionary neuroscientist and AI expert who works towards unlocking the human potential.

The festival will close with the unique ‘Universilly Challenged’ pub-style quiz experience, hosted by the one-of-a-kind science troubadour Jonny Berliner and renowned biologist Simon Watt.

TechFest is a charity focused on making STEM more engaging and inclusive for everyone throughout the country and beyond whilst helping to connect STEM to various sectors.

Scotland’s Digital Science Festival has been developed to address the accessibility barriers for rural communities and provide a global platform for participants to join from anywhere in the world.

Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “I’m incredibly proud to launch Scotland’s Digital Science Festival, powered by TechFest, in our efforts to bring fun and engaging STEM discussions to people across the globe.

“It is vital that we have more initiatives like this to inspire the next generation of talent and encourage people of all ages to engage with and rediscover their love for STEM.

“We want to challenge outdated perceptions that STEM subjects aren’t ‘cool’, are male-dominated, or too difficult by showing their relevance to exciting career paths demonstrated by our speakers.

“The power of connectivity allows us to bring these incredible speakers and activities directly into homes around the world free of charge.”

Walkies & Movies at West Pilton Park

DOG OWNERS WANTED!

We would love for you are your four legged Friend to come join us for a dog walk at West Pilton Park next Wednesday 6th November.

Come walk your dog with us and other dog owners, to chat about dog life, share walking stories or perhaps you just want to let us know how special your four legged friend is💚🐕 And make them a movie star!

📌THE DETAILS:
6TH NOVEMBER 2024
WEST PILTON PARK
5:30-6PM

IMPORTANT: Please have all dogs on leads 😍

Man charged in connection with fatal crash in Loanhead

A 51-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fatal road crash that took place in Loanhead on Tuesday, 19 December, 2023.

The crash took place on Knivensknowe Road where an 88-year-old man was struck by a Honda Civic car. He was taken to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries on Saturday, 23 December, 2023.

The 51-year-old driver of the car has been charged in connection with a road traffic offence.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.