Uncategorized – Page 207 – The NEN

STV Appeal raises over £2.6m for children in poverty

This year’s STV Appeal has raised an incredible £2,610,427 for children living in poverty in Scotland. Popular presenter Lorraine Kelly revealed the fantastic total live on STV tonight.

The big finale of this year’s STV Appeal, STV Appeal 2014 – The Big Live, brought together celebrities and fundraisers who have made the STV Appeal 2014 an overwhelming success.

Hosted by Lorraine Kelly from STV’s Pacific Quay studios in Glasgow, the programme was packed with live entertainment including music from Nicholas McDonald, celebrity appearances by Des Clarke and Team Scotland, and inspiring fundraising stories from across the country.

Co-presenter Michelle McManus and Fred MacAuley joined Lorraine in Glasgow, with Sean Batty from RBS Gogarburn in Edinburgh, links to Andrea Brymer at Codonas in Aberdeen, and Nicola McAlley in Inverness.

Lorraine also made a surprise appearance on stage at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow during Still Gamewhere Jack and Victor got the audience on their feet to text the STV Appeal, raising over £10,000.

Cheques from a range of fantastic STV Appeal fundraising challenges, including freshnlo Pedal for Scotland, Lorraine Kelly’s Shimmy across Scotland and Sean Batty’s Highland Fling, were presented across the country with Lorraine bringing the evening to a close by revealing the total sum raised for this year’s STV Appeal.

The STV Appeal raises money for children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland.

Lorraine Kelly, presenter and STV Appeal trustee, said: “It has been a fantastic evening here at STV and the perfect way to celebrate the fundraising efforts of this year’s STV Appeal. The incredible amount of money raised tonight and throughout the campaign will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland. A huge thanks to everyone who has given generously to this hugely important cause. There is still time to donate for the STV Appeal, so please keep giving!”

Sir Tom Hunter, STV Appeal trustee, said: “Central to the referendum debate was the issue of social justice and poverty. Once again Scots have backed the STV Appeal brilliantly in the full knowledge that every penny raised up to the first one million pounds is doubled by the Scottish Government and then channelled to support young people challenged by poverty and social justice. Not one penny goes to administration; every last penny goes to helping those most in need. Congratulations to everyone who supported the STV Appeal it’s a fantastic effort from all across Scotland and makes me hugely proud to have co-founded the Appeal.”

Garreth Wood, Trustee of The Wood Foundation, said: “The hard work, commitment and generosity from individuals, communities and businesses means that this fantastic total will go a long way towards helping tackle the poverty crisis facing too many of Scotland’s children. To think that one in five children in Scotland today are living in poverty, families struggling to meet their basic needs, is a particularly difficult statistic to accept and one that, together, we can work to change.

“Over the last year, since The Wood Foundation first became involved with the STV Appeal, it has been a privilege to be involved in events and cheque presentations across Scotland. To witness first-hand the difference these donations are making is overwhelming and to meet some of the inspirational young people who have been affected by child poverty really highlights the key role that local charities play in supporting young people and their families. The Wood Foundation hopes that our continued involvement and contribution to the STV Appeal will make a clear difference to the lives of Scotland’s most vulnerable children.”

Rob Woodward, chief executive of STV, said: “2014 has been an incredible year for the STV Appeal and we have seen some fantastic support from fundraisers all over the country, with everything from charity concerts and quiz nights to bag packing and bake sales taking place to raise money and awareness for children affected by poverty in Scotland.

“The STV Appeal is committed to investing in projects that will make a real difference in their lives and the amazing total of £2,610,427 will go a long way to achieving this. We could not have done this without the support of local communities, corporate fundraisers and STV viewers and we would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously to this year’s STV Appeal.”

A visit to Granton could improve your health – and maybe your wealth!

A visit to Granton Information Centre could improve your health – and may also improve your wealth! The local advice centre received top marks from clients in a satisfaction survey conducted over the summer.

Highlights of the survey include:

• Around 71% of GIC clients have a medical condition – but almost half of them feel GIC has helped to bring about an improvement in their health

• 48% of clients received additional income following GIC’s intervention – and with another 22% awaiting decisions it’s very likely that this figure will rise to over half. Additional income includes both one-off payments and ongoing benefits entitlements – ranging from a few pounds to five-figure sums.

• 97% of clients would recommend GIC’s services to others

• 96% found GIC assistance ‘very helpful’, 98% found staff ‘very approachable’ and 74% found the help and support they had received ‘more than expected’.

Two hundred clients were chosen at random from GIC’s live cases database and invited to participate in the Satisfaction Survey, which was carried out over the summer. The results are based on the final total of 108 respondees.

GIC manager Caroline Pickering said: “There has been an increased demand on GIC’s service over the past few years and our management committee thought this would be an ideal time to review the services we provide – to look at what we are doing, what works well and what can be improved.

“The best people to guide us in this are the people who use those services, so we are very pleased with the positive results of the survey. It’s great for staff to be recognised for the hard work they do. Some of the comments we received from grateful clients were really touching.”

GIC chairperson John Mulvey said: “We know the staff are working exceptionally hard in difficult circumstances so we’re delighted to see how much service users and the wider community appreciate their efforts. The organisation has been working in North Edinburgh for thirty years now but it’s clear that GIC’s services are needed as much today as they ever were.”

Ebola in Scotland: risk ‘relatively low’ but health chief urges vigilance

The Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) met last night to discuss preparedness related to the Ebola situation in West Africa. The meeting was chaired by First Minister Alex Salmond.

The First Minister said: “It is crucial our health service is geared up to deal with any potential confirmed cases of Ebola in Scotland.

“That was the basis of the meeting and I am confident our NHS is ready to respond. But we must not only asses our preparedness in Scotland, we must also ensure we are doing all we can to support the efforts to contain the spread of Ebola in West Africa. I have asked for an urgent assessment of what we can do to build on the £500,000 we have already provided to the World Health Organisation and Scotland will do whatever we can to assist.”

Health Secretary Alex Neil was also part of the meeting, along with experts in infectious diseases from Health Protection Scotland and acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Aileen Keel.

Mr Neil said: “Our public health experts, including those at Health Protection Scotland, have been monitoring the position very closely since the outbreak began and putting in place the awareness and advice to ensure our health service is as well prepared as possible to respond.

“While the risk remains relatively low, we are ensuring that we have the robust procedures in place to identify cases rapidly. Our health service also has the expertise and facilities to ensure that confirmed Ebola cases would be contained and isolated effectively minimising any potential spread of the disease.

“Indeed, the CMO has written to clinicians across our NHS today to reinforce the need to be vigilant and take the appropriate steps in any suspected or high risk cases.

“Scotland’s NHS has proved it is well able to cope with infectious diseases in the past, such as swine flu, and I am confident we will be able to respond effectively again.

“We will go on monitoring the situation and maintain a high state of vigilance across our health system. SGoRR will meet again in the coming days to continue to closely monitor developments and ensure robust resilience arrangements are in place.”

Earlier yesterday the Prime Minister chaired a COBR meeting on plans to protect the UK against the Ebola virus and combat the disease in West Africa.

A Number 10 spokesperson said:

“The Prime Minister chaired a COBR meeting on Ebola this afternoon. The attendees included the Chancellor, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Health Secretary, Transport Secretary, International Development Secretary, Public Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Scientist and Dr Paul Cosford from Public Health England. The Foreign Secretary in the US and UK team in Sierra Leone joined via a video link.

“The meeting covered both the UK preparedness for potential cases of Ebola in this country and the UK’s efforts to combat the disease in West Africa.

“There was a detailed discussion about plans for protecting the UK against Ebola. The Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, and Dr Paul Cosford set out that the UK had some of the best public health protection systems in the world and the risk to the UK remained low. The Chief Medical Officer detailed the procedures in place for dealing with any Ebola case in the UK, and the training and preparation that had already taken place with key organisations and staff, including ambulance medics, hospitals, NHS 111, GPs and other key public health workers.

“The case of Will Pooley had demonstrated the UK’s ability to deal with an identified case without wider infection, with a world-leading specialist unit at The Royal Free. Contingency planning would continue and will include a national exercise and wider resilience training to ensure the UK is fully prepared. The Chief Medical Officer has now issued further advice to medical professionals across the country and would continue to do so in the coming weeks. Information posters for passengers would be put up in UK airports.

“The Prime Minister was updated on the situation on the ground by the UK team in Sierra Leone, where the number of cases continues to rise. The UK was already taking a leading role in the efforts to support the government to deal with the outbreak. Using British expertise and local building contractors, the UK has committed to build at least 5 new Ebola Treatment Facilities with a total of 700 beds near urban centres including Port Loko, Freetown and Makeni.

“The package will help up to nearly 8,800 patients over a 6 month period. The UK was also supporting infection training for workers and support to ensure burial sites, and the Department for International Development is undertaking a rapid trial of 10 local community care units to isolate Ebola cases more quickly, with clinics providing swift and accurate diagnosis and appropriate care.

“It was agreed that the UK will increase the level of support further. This will include more training capacity, new treatment centres and helicopter support.

“750 Ministry of Defence personnel will be deployed in total to help with the establishment of Ebola Treatment Centres and an Ebola Training Academy. This will include:

the deployment of RFA Argus to take and support 3 Merlin helicopters, aircrew and engineers in the region to provide crucial transport support to medical teams and aid experts. This will involve around 250 personnel.

over 200 military staff will be deployed to run and staff World Health Organisation-led Ebola training facility that will assist in the training of healthcare workers, logisticians and hygiene specialists who are needed to staff treatment units

300 military personnel making up the existing UK taskforce plans focussed on delivering support to the Sierra Leone government.”

Pilton attack: third man charged

A third man has been charged with attempted murder following an attack on a Chinese takeaway shop owner in West Pilton last week.

Jie Yu, 37, was punched, kicked and stabbed in a horrific attack last Wednesday evening in in West Pilton Park. The owner of the Pekin Garden in Ferry Road Drive remains in a “serious but stable” condition having now been moved to St John’s hospital in Livingston.

Since the attack Police Scotland has followed a positive line of enquiry and senior officers were confident that the attackers would be tracked down.

Police Scotland confirmed that a 19-year-old man has now been arrested and charged with attempted murder. He will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court later, as will another 24-year-old man who was charged yesterday.

An 18-year-old man was charged with attempted murder and appeared before the Sheriff Court on Monday.

Retired sub named among Britain’s ‘most boring men’

We really do need people like this …!

Retired sub named among Britain’s ‘most boring men’.

We’ve had enough!

Angry Pilton residents demand action over crime and antisocial behaviour

Local residents packed into West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre last night to demand that firm action is taken to tackle a wave of crime and vandalism that is blighting the area. Police, politicians and council officials say they will continue to work in partnership with the community to resolve the problems – but add that the justice system must also do more to help communities.

Last night’s event was scheduled to be an ordinary monthly West Pilton West Granton community council meeting, but recent local events meant that the regular business agenda was ditched as dozens of angry residents packed the meeting. The attempted murder of local business owner Jie Yu in West Pilton last week brought matters to a head and has galvanised local people to say – enough is enough: we won’t accept this any more. The community is sick of what they see as a lack of activity in tackling crime in their area, and listening to comments last night Pilton sounds like an area under siege. Speaker after speaker talked about slow or non-existent response to calls to the police, the scourge of motorbikes, a lack of punishment if wrongdoers are caught and primary school-aged children wandering the streets after midnight. They talked of gangs of youths – many of whom live outside North Edinburgh – roaming the streets at all hours, leaving local children too afraid to go out to play. Older people afraid to leave their homes, vandalism, break-ins, assaults, robberies and threats – all things that undermine and can ultimately destroy any quality of life. The meeting was well-attended by those whose job it is to support and protect communities like West Pilton. Senior police officer Chief Inspector Bob Paris, local PC Stuart Mitchell, North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm and local councillors Cammy Day – who is also council community safety spokesman – and Vicki Redpath were all there, as was Ruth Stanley, community safety manager at the local North Neighbourhood Office. They can have been left in no doubt over the mood of the meeting. What happens next? Unbeknown to most residents, the Forth area is currently served by a Task Force, established earlier this year to tackle many of the issues raised at last night’s Neighbourhood Centre meeting. Members of that Task Force will now be invited to attend a local public meeting to both hear the concerns of residents for themselves and explain what exactly they are doing to address crime and antisocial behaviour in the area. Malcolm Chisholm will also be seeking an urgent meeting with the local area commander on her return from holiday. You get the impression that reassuring words about effective partnership working just won’t wash this time around – a community has reached the end of it’s tether and is calling for action. Punish the wrongdoers. Enough is enough.

Did you know Marion?

Hi,

My mother, Marion Fyfe Reilly (nee Banks) was involved in protesting and squatting in Lochend Gardens and West Ferry Road sometime around 1943-46. She had her first child in July 1943 and raised him alone while her husband was still overseas in the army.

She died (aged 95) last week and I only became aware of this yesterday from her younger sister (aged 90). There were apparently reports and photographs in the newspapers at the time. I am amazed and impressed.

I was wondering if you had any records from that time as I would love to share her struggle with friends and family at her funeral on Friday. It feels like it may be a very important aspect of her character that wasn’t known to us. I have viewed the Scotsman digital archive with no luck.

Thanks

Steven Reilly

If any reader remembers Marion please get in touch and we will forward details to Steven Reilly

We’ll discover Scotland’s Real Heroes a week tonight

Can local youth club Fet-Lor win Community Project of the Year? Come to that, can Sid the horse win Hero Animal of the Year? All will be revealed a week tonight …

RBS-Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes: The Awards will air on STV at 8pm next Tuesday (14 October). The star studded event is hosted by Carol Smillie (pictured above)and will recognise local champions from across Scotland.

The hour long programme will see a total of 11 awards handed out by famous faces, including Nicholas McDonald of The X Factor, actor Bill Paterson, actor Clare Grogan and Taggart star Alex Norton, to Scots who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in their local area.

The Scottish public were asked to nominate friends, neighbours or groups who they thought deserved to be recognised earlier this year and the judging panel revealed a shortlist of nominees after an overwhelming response. Each week six nominees in ten categories were showcased for the RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes series in which the viewers were invited to vote for the candidate they believed most deserved to collect an award.

A winner from each category will be revealed in STV’s programme on Friday 14^th October then one extraordinary hero, selected from the final category winners, will collect the RBS Scotland’s Real Hero of the Year Award.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “To stand out from thousands of entries, our nominees are all doing something pretty remarkable. But their commitment, energy and inspiration are typical of the truly inspiring Scots who go the extra mile for their community. This awards ceremony on STV is a great way to celebrate and reward their achievement.”

Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said:“We’re really pleased at how successful this year’s series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes has been and the way the Scottish public has got behind all of the finalists. It’s important to celebrate the extraordinary lengths people in communities all around Scotland go to make a difference to the lives of those around them. We’re really looking forward to finding out who the Scottish public has voted as their Real Heroes and giving them the recognition they deserve at the awards ceremony.”

The following individuals, groups and organisations have been shortlisted for an RBS Real Hero award:

COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Jim McConkey – Govan, Glasgow

Vicki McCarthy (REACH for Autism) – Greenock, Inverclyde

Ross Cowie (Lucky2BHere) – Portree, Isle of Skye

SPORTING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Elaine McKenna (Special Olympics Lothian) – Blackburn, West Lothian

Pat Bannan (Bannan Fitness Club) –Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Andrew Campbell (Camran Taekwando) – Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

HERO NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR

Ann Graham – Riverside, Stirling

Mo and Roxy Razzaq – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Margaret (Garry) Robertson – Wick, Caithness.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Bathgate Street Pastors – Bathgate, West Lothian

Jackie McIntosh (MS Therapy Centre Inverness) – Inverness, Highlands

Margaret Gibb (West of Scotland Play Scheme) – Bellshill, South Lanarkshire.

RBS COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Fet Lor – Crewe Toll, Edinburgh

The Driving Force – Bonnybridge, Falkirk

The Serenity Cafe – Edinburgh.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Saltburn Woodland Walk – Invergordon, Highlands

Yooz Reuse & Recycling – Bellshill, North Lanarkshire

Killie Can Cycle – Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES COURAGE AWARD

Dean Reilly (Dean Reilly V’s MS) – Portobello, Edinburgh

Amanda McTaggart (Wigbank Glasgow) – Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire

Jenny Cook (Wee Jenny Cook) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

CARER OF THE YEAR

Nell Graham (Portobello Monday Centre) – Portobello, Edinburgh

Maw’s Mafia (The EK Hangout) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire

Anne Swartz (Scottish Kinship Care Alliance) – Dumbarton, W. Dunbartonshire.

YOUNG REAL HERO OF THE YEAR

Danii McArthur (Young Carer) – Barrhead, Glasgow

Mitchell Kinnen(Bright Lights Theatre Group) – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

The Volunteers of the Glasgow 77^th (Disabled) Scout Group – Glasgow.

HERO ANIMAL OF THE YEAR

Barra the Dog (K9 Search and Recovery Scotland) –Luss, Argyll & Bute

Sid the Horse (Aberdeen RDA) – Milltimber, Aberdeen

Ben the Dog (Therapet) – Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.

For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes

or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes

or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes

North Edinburgh Theatre: play your part!

News from Stephanie at the North Edinburgh Theatre Project:

Hello everyone,

Music Workshop

This is a special reminder for everyone who is interested in the music side of the 1d Tenement Opera project:

Lynda Peachey, our Musical Director, is leading a Music Workshop on Saturday 11 October (11a.m. – 2p.m) at North Edinburgh Arts.

Design & Costume

Ali Maclaurin, our Designer, is leading a Costume and Design Workshop on Saturday (11 October) 11a.m. – 2p.m. at North Edinburgh Arts.

You are very welcome to join in with these Workshops, even if you are not a regular participant; it will be great fun and of course we have a crèche, as well as tea and coffee during the break.

Our regular Theatre Workshop is on Friday 10 October 6 pm – 8pm at North Edinburgh Arts.

Please get in contact if you have any questions and we look forward to welcoming you.

Stephanie Knight,
North Edinburgh Theatre project

01578 750694

0 7817 359703
stephaniejaneknight@gmail.com

A living memorial for Mikaeel

MY Adventure reach Towford target

Money raised to pay for a memorial for little Mikaeel Kular has been donated to a local youth project in Muirhouse. The money has helped MY Adventure to upgrade an adventure centre for thousands of local children to enjoy for years to come.

MY Adventure used a crowdfunding site to try to raise £6000 for urgent repairs to Towford, a dilapidated outdoors centre near Jedburgh. The social enterprise was over halfway toward it’s target when trustees of the Mikaeel Kular Memorial Fund decided to contribute the donations they had received – over £3000 – to the Towford venture, making the MY dream become a reality.

It’s great news for MY Adventure and proof that joy can spring from tragedy.

Jonny Kinross, Director of MY Adventure, said: “Towford Outdoor Centre will be an affordable outdoor resource for children, families, communities and businesses to stay or use for years to come. The centre, which was formerly a 19th century school, will be entrusted to the Muirhouse community and safeguarded by registered local charity Muirhouse Youth Development Group.

“Our centre will be accessible to thousands of local people, groups, businesses and school pupils all year, next year and for generations to come.

“Eighty official backers have surpassed our target of £6000, with £35000 raised from individual supporters and local organisations in just two weeks. ‘These people felt either connected to Muirhouse or inspired by what the centre will come to be and mean to local people.

‘It was this that inspired the Mikaeel Kular Memorial Fund to pledge such a large amount to our campaign. That money will secure his legacy and will specifically help create a children’s play area in the 17 acre grounds dedicated to him.

“‘It’s a testament to how his community showed strength, solidarity and compassion at a time of their greatest need.”

Three year old Mikaeel Kular died in his Muirhouse home in January after being subjected to three-day beating by his mother. Rosdeep Adekoya claimed her son had gone missing, sparking off an unprecedented local search, but Mikaeel’s body was found two days later. She was subsequently jailed for eleven years.

Mikaeel’s disappearance galvanised the local community and thousands took part in the search for the wee boy. When the tragic truth became known a fund was set up to create a memorial to remember Mikaeel – and MY Adventure’s Towford Centre will now ensure that Mikaeel’s memory will live on.

Robert Pearson, chairman of Tenants & Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM), who initiated the collection for the memorial, said: ”Our thanks to everyone who donated, I know Mikaeel’s’ family are touched by the response of our community. It was always going to be difficult to decide just what to use the money on.

”Reading all the suggestions and talking to residents who visited the community shop, I got a sense of outdoor, play area and family activities are what people are looking for. When a resident mentioned the Towford Centre, I immediately thought it ticked all boxes. Mikaeel wasn’t allowed to grow up and enjoy his childhood – his legacy will ensure other children can.’