Hi Everyone,I have been experiencing network issues today. There will be no further posts until this is resolved, hopefully later this afternoon (fingers crossed!)Apparently my call is very important to my service provider, so, although I am in a queue, this should be sorted with minimum fuss … !
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Community Grants available
Change local lives with a grant of up to £5,000
We’re so pleased to let you know that the 7th round of the University of Edinburgh’s Community Grants scheme is open.
The scheme helps the development of projects, community activities and sustainable local action through funding and collaboration.
The deadline to submit your application is 5pm on Friday 25th September 2020.
Who can apply?
Applications are welcome for projects which could benefit people living in the City of Edinburgh and/or the neighbouring local authority areas, and should show how they could grow relationships between local communities and the University.
If you’re thinking of applying and don’t currently have a relationship with the University, the University’s Community Team is happy to try and put you in touch with members of the University who might be interested in your work.
What about Covid-19?
Projects which could help local communities adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic are welcome, but this is not a requirement.
How much funding can I get?
Applications for substantially less than £5,000 are welcome. However, if you require £500 or less, you may also be interested in the University’s Micro-grant scheme.
Since the University launched its Community Grants scheme in 2017, it has awarded over £270,000 to around 80 local organisations.
Emergency funding for culture
Creative Scotland has published details of the Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund, the first of five emergency funds to be delivered over the coming weeks.
The Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund is a £3.5million fund from the Scottish Government. The aim of the Fund is to help secure the survival of Scotland’s independent cinemas, enabling them to re-establish and adjust their business models in response to Covid-19.
The fund addresses the critical financial need faced by Scotland’s independent cinemas to enable them to return to full-time operation, significantly reducing the risk of wide-spread redundancies and closure of vital community assets.
Guidelines for applying to the Fund have now been published ahead opening for applications on Monday 14 September.
Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotland said: “We very much welcome the First Minister’s recent announcement of £31.5m in emergency funding for culture in Scotland and are pleased, as part of that, to be able to quickly offer £3.5m of that funding to support Scotland’s independent cinemas.
“These cinemas not only present a broad range of high-quality creative programming to a varied audience, but they also serve as community hubs in geographically diverse parts of Scotland, including some of our more remote places.
“This fund will offer a vital lifeline to those independent cinemas which have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, helping them to return to full-time operation and protect jobs.”
The Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund is the first of five new emergency funds to be delivered by Creative Scotland over the coming weeks as follows:
- The £15m Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund will support organisations that provide opportunities for cultural engagement and who have been unable to trade due to the impact of Covid-19. It includes both organisations who provide opportunities for audience engagement (such as galleries, performing arts spaces, commercial theatres, comedy clubs and nightclubs) as well as those that enable and deliver cultural activity (such as production facilities, music and dance companies). Eligibility criteria and guidelines for applying are currently in development and will be published on Thursday 10 September. The fund will open for applications on Thursday 17 September and awards will be made by the first week in November.
- The £5m Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund will address the current financial hardship being felt by creative freelancers who normally work in the culture sector, but whose work has been impacted by Covid-19. We are currently working to appoint partners to ensure a wide spread of coverage of this fund and we anticipate opening for applications from early October.
- The £5m Sustaining Creative Practice Fund will support artists to continue developing new creative work that will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19. This includes £1.5 million for the Culture Collective programme, mentioned in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, supporting organisations employing freelance artists to work in and with communities across Scotland. The remaining £3.5m will be added to Creative Scotland’s existing open fund which is open for applications from individuals now.
- The £3m Youth Arts Fund will ensure creative opportunities for children and young people continue to exist across Scotland despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund will include targeted and open funding to youth music and wider youth arts organisations, a scheme to devolve grants locally to artists who work with young people and small grants delivered directly to young people to support them fulfil their creative ambitions.
Details of all funds will be published on the Creative Scotland website and publicised through media and social media communications.
Volunteering Matters: The Massive Get Together
For the first time, 10 UK charities are uniting to respond against the impact that COVID-19 is having on the charity sector by staging The Massive Get Together – an online charity event comprising of celebrity entertainment, performance, prize draws and lots of laughs, in a bid to raise £500,000!
This special collaborative, relaxed, and fun variety event, the brainchild of one of the UK’s leading charities Volunteering Matters, will be hosted live from London by TV and radio presenters Gaby Roslin and Amanda Byram.
Streaming live and online on Thursday 17th September at 20:00 to an anticipated audience of more than 20,000, these 10 incredible charities are inviting us to ‘take the night off’ and relax with them to enjoy their fun online event which promises to have ‘something for everyone’ – including no 1 hits, comedy, and surprise special guest appearances.
UK charities are facing over £12bn1 loss in income due to the COVID-19 restrictions as critical funding and crucial fundraising events ceased overnight. This means that the UK voluntary sector is expected to face a colossal funding shortfall by the end of the year.
Chief Executive of Volunteering Matters and Founder of the Massive Get Together Paul Reddish said: “This year the nations’ charities have been critical to so many. They’ve been at the heart of much of the COVID-19 response – from delivering food to supporting those most isolated in every community throughout the UK.
“Their staff and volunteers continue to provide these vital services, such as end of life care and key support for the vulnerable, despite of the ongoing conditions created by this pandemic.”
Charities have seen demand rise, and the sector is expecting to see over £12bn loss over the course of 2020. One in 10 charities2 are at risk of closure if things continue as they are. Charities and organisations that do manage to survive will face major constrictions and capabilities to operate the way they once did. Even with the gentle easing of restrictions, large scale fundraising events will not be able to function for many months to come.”
The unique aspect of this campaign is the cooperation and unity of all 10 charities who have seamlessly united together for a common goal of responding to the ongoing challenges and impact COVID-19 is having on their sector.
In the face of coronavirus, charities are #NeverMoreNeeded for the essential support they provide in crisis and beyond, and how they shape our society for the better.
Paul continued: “We thought if leading members of the charity sector could come together and join forces, then collectively we could unite and help each other respond on mass to the impact of COVID-19. That’s the thinking behind the Massive Get Together – When charities unite, to entertain us all.”
2 https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/one-in-ten-charities-at-risk-of-closure-within-six-months-due-to-coronavirus.html
The Massive Get Together will provide an evening of entertainment and variety, surprise and intrigue, whilst fundamentally facilitating valuable fundraising for the 10 amazing charities involved – Marie Curie, The Children’s Trust, FareShare, St John Ambulance, Royal Voluntary Service, Love Your Neighbour, Crisis , The Conservation Volunteers, Thames Hospice and Volunteering Matters.
For just £10 audiences will be supporting all 10 incredible UK charities, making a positive difference within action against homelessness and hunger, protecting the vulnerable, connecting communities, supporting end of life care and volunteer provision, as well as helping emergency and crisis response services.
Tickets for The Massive Get Together go live today – people can access the event by donating just £10 to help 10 charities at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-massive-get-together.
The Massive Get Together online event will be hosted live from London by TV & radio broadcasters Gaby Roslin and Amanda Byram.
Gaby Roslin said “The Massive Get Together is a really unique online event, with charities coming together to put on a fabulous variety show. The past few months have been challenging for everyone, and this evening will offer entertainment that people can enjoy from the comfort of their own home, whilst raising much-needed money for 10 vital charities.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to present The Massive Get Together with Amanda, and do my bit to help these charities, who have all been affected by the impact of COVID-19.”
Amanda Byram said “We find ourselves living in extraordinary times and I think it’s incredible that charities are coming together in this way to support each other. It is such a feel-good event and I am so honoured to be a part of it and also over the moon to be working with the wonderful Gaby for this very special online evening.”
Lifetime supply of ice cream to be given away by Mackie’s of Scotland
Family brand unveils huge haul as climax to summer giveaways
A BRAND renowned for its sweet treats is set to grant a popular wish – by awarding a lifetime supply of its famed ice cream to a lucky fan.
As the culmination of its “Summer of Simple Pleasures” promotion, Mackie’s of Scotland are offering the chance to win a lifetime supply of their ice cream – two litre tubs every month for life. Entries are open this week and all entrants from the 10 weeks of giveaways will be included in this final draw.
The campaign is the Aberdeenshire family firm’s largest ever on-pack and online competition, with ten weeks of carefully curated prizes intended to provide the winners with simple joy.
So far more than 50,000 people have entered to win prizes celebrating ice cream but also many other simple pleasures such as cooking for friends and family, listening to music, receiving unexpected flowers – and even the simple pleasure of clean new sheets with a bed makeover.
Karin Hayhow, Marketing Director at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “We couldn’t host our summer campaign about simple pleasures without incorporating our favourite simple pleasure of all…which is, of course, ice cream!
“We are having fun helping people celebrate the simple things in life, because they can often be the best and bring the most joy.
“The response so far has been great and we are looking forward to making someone’s childhood dream of winning a lifetime supply of ice cream become a reality!”.
500,000 tubs of Mackie’s original and bestselling “Traditional” ice cream have been specially designed to coincide with the UK-wide campaign. Its ice cream is made simply and naturally, using fresh milk and cream on the fourth generation family dairy farm in rural Aberdeenshire.
It’s not the first time Mackie’s has given away the lifetime supply prize, with a fan from Swindon securing the big prize four years ago, coinciding with Mackie’s 30th anniversary producing ice cream.
The company’s ‘sky to scoop’ ethos sees it create everything from milk to its packaging on-site, renewable energy is a cornerstone of the business – with four wind turbines, a 10-acre solar farm and a biomass energy plant providing over 80% of the company’s energy requirement.
The lifetime supply of ice cream winner will be drawn at random on Monday 7th September (closing midnight on Sunday 6th September) – the simple entry form is at www.mackies.co.uk/simplepleasures
To find out more about Mackie’s, please visit: https://www.mackies.co.uk/
Drive-in Movies off to a flyer!
Edinburgh International Film Festival and Unique Events, organisers of Edinburgh’s brand new Drive In Movies event, have hailed the opening weekend a huge success.
Over 4,000 people flocked to Edinburgh Airport to experience a 4-day outdoor cinema extravaganza, supported by Edinburgh Live, for people of all ages which included family favourites, all-time classics and thrilling blockbusters.
Tickets for the next Drive-in Movies (24 – 27 September) are now on sale at edinburghdrivein.co.uk with another packed programme of cinema classics including Back to the Future, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mamma Mia! Rocketman, Toy Story and Mean Girls, among others.
The opening weekend of Drive-in Movies saw thousands of people from Edinburgh and Lothians enjoying a fantastic outdoor cinematic experience in the comfort of their own vehicles and in the unique surroundings of Edinburgh Airport.
Strictly following the health and safety regulations and the Scottish Government’s advice, Drive-in Movies offered a safe and fun environment for people of all ages to experience what was the first post-lockdown outdoor event for many.
A top-notch selection of films was shown on a state of the art 100sqm LED screen, one of the largest mobile screens in the world with the audio broadcast straight to cars, for audiences to control the soundtrack.
Audiences sang along to Sunshine on Leith and Grease, shed a tear at Up, fell in love during William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet and enjoyed the planes landing and taking off nearby which was a particular treat at the screenings of Con Air and Airplane!
Prior to each film, audiences had a chance to sample some of the best fish and chips in the country from seafood specialists Alandas and those not behind the wheel, Edinburgh-based award-winning brewery’s Cold Town Beer.
Nairn’s Oatcakes distributed their ever-so-popular Oat Bars as a special treat for families who came to see Up and Mary Poppins Returns. Popular Edinburgh DJ Stewart Calverto became Captain Calverto as he warmed up the crowds with car disco and quizzes with spot prizes.
Audiences took to social media to share their views of the event:
‘Great afternoon at #Edinburghdrivein @EdinburghAirpo1 Brilliantly presented by @UniqueEventsltd and @edfilmfest’
‘Had an epic time tonight at seeing alien at #EdinburghDriveIn, great set up’
‘brilliant night out at #EdinburghDriveIn’
‘Dreamy night at the drive-in. Thank you for the brilliant escape @edfilmfest @UniqueEventsltd’
Drive-in Movies’ opening weekend. Credit Lloyd Smith.
Drive-in Movies continues during the last weekend of every month for the rest of the year. September dates are confirmed as 24 to 27 September and the organisers are now pleased to reveal first titles for the event, an exciting selection of cult films and blockbusters: Back to the Future (1985) with some of the most recognisable lines and the inimitable Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, Big Trouble in Little China with Kurt Russell (1986), John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), all-time family favourite Toy Story (1995), teen comedy classic Mean Girls (2004), Drive (2011) with Ryan Gosling, and more recent hits, a homage to ABBA featuring Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia! (2008), Spike Lee’s Blackkklansman (2018), Incredibles 2 (2018) and Elton John’s biopic, Rocketman (2019).
Tickets are on sale now at edinburghdrivein.co.uk
SCHEDULE
Thursday 24 September
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (15, 1986) 10:00pm
Friday 25 September
INCREDIBLES 2 (PG, 2018) 2:00pm
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (12A, 1987) (CAPTIONED) 6:00pm
DRIVE (18, 2011) 10:00pm
Saturday 26 September
TOY STORY (PG, 1995) 10:30am
MAMMA MIA! (PG, 2008) (CAPTIONED) 2:00pm
BACK TO THE FUTURE (PG, 1985) (CAPTIONED) 6:00pm
BLACKKKLANSMAN (15, 2018) 10:00pm
Sunday 27 September
MARY POPPINS (U, 1964) 10:00am
MEAN GIRLS (12, 2004) 2:00pm
to be announced 6:00pm
ROCKETMAN (15, 2019) 10:00pm
Tickets available now at www.edinburghdrivein.co.uk priced from £27.50 – £35.00 (+ booking fee) per vehicle for up to 5 persons.
How are communities responding to Covid-19?
Public Health Scotland would like to understand more about how communities have responded to the impact of Covid-19 on the way we live our lives, right now and in the next few months, and how local community groups and organisations have supported this.
We are looking for examples in two areas:
- Firstly, how communities have adapted to the challenge of how we get around – has the way you travel changed as a result of Covid-19? Perhaps by walking, wheeling and cycling more, or as a result of changes to public and community transport services. What impact has this had?
- Secondly, we are looking for examples of how communities and organisations have used their local areas differently by adapting streets and spaces, for example for children’s outdoor play or for leisure and relaxation, or how they have used or changed existing spaces for example parks, areas with trees or grass.
If you have examples to share you can submit your information and we will be in touch with you.
Did your community group or local project receive copies of the COVID Food Group August newsletter? If not, don’t worry – a few are still available!
Email northedinnews@gmail.com to arrange delivery.
Heart Research UK Healthy Tip: Eatwell guide
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK
Using the Eatwell Guide to plan your meals
A healthy, well-balanced diet is important for managing your weight and preventing serious health problems, including heart disease. The Eatwell guide is a visual tool that represents government guidelines on healthy eating.
In this Healthy Tip, we give you some tips for planning a healthy, well-balanced diet using the Eatwell Guide.
What is the Eatwell Guide?
The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of different types of food that make up a healthy diet. This is represented as a plate, which is divided into five food groups.
The Eatwell Guide is appropriate for most people, but it should not be used in meal-planning for very young children.
It is not essential to achieve this balance with every meal, but it is good to try to get the proportions right over a day or longer. Try to consume a variety of foods from each of the food groups to ensure you consume a range of nutrients.
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables should make up over a third of the foods in your diet as they are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. However, most people do not eat enough.
Fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced fruit and vegetables all count.
Fruit juice and/or smoothies should be limited to around 150ml a day due to their high sugar and low fibre content. Try adding fruit to breakfast cereals and increase the amount of veg or salad in your lunches and evening meals.
Potato, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy carbohydrates
Starchy foods, such as pasta, rice, bread, breakfast cereals and potatoes provide us with energy and essential nutrients. These starchy foods should make up just over a third of your diet.
Choose wholegrain versions, such as wholemeal pasta, brown rice, wholemeal bread and wholegrain breakfast cereals.
You can also try to leave the skin on potatoes for extra fibre. Get your day off to a good start with a bowl of wholegrain cereal or a slice of wholemeal toast with some fruit.
Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins
Try to include beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat or other protein with most meals.
These foods are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Try to choose a lean cut of meat, such as chicken without the skin, as it is lower in saturated fat.
If you eat fish, aim to have two portions every week, including a portion of oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel or sardines as these contain the essential fatty acids that are good for your heart.
Oils and spreads
Try to choose unsaturated oils and spreads, such as rapeseed, vegetable, olive and sunflower oils. Try to cut down on butter, hard margarine, coconut oil and animal fats as these are all high in saturated fat, which can increase your risk of heart disease. When cooking fatty meats, such as bacon, cut away as much of the fat as possible. All fats are high in calories (energy) and should be consumed in small amounts.
Dairy and alternatives
Try to include some dairy or a dairy alternative with each meal. Products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are a good source of protein as well as some vitamins. They are also a key source of calcium which is vital when it comes to keeping your bones strong. Choose lower fat and sugar dairy products where possible. This includes reduced fat cheese or fat-free and sugar-free yoghurt.
High fat, salt and sugar foods
Foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar should be consumed in small amount.
These foods, which can be eaten as an occasional treat, include chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sugary soft drinks, butter and ice cream.
Water, lower fat milk, sugar-free drinks.
Aim to drink around six to eight glasses of fluid every day. Water, lower fat milk and low sugar/sugar free drinks (including tea and coffee) all count. Fruit juice and smoothies can also count towards our fluid consumption. However, they can be high in sugar and low in fibre, so we should drink no more 150ml of these in a day.
You can find more healthy tips, recipes and advice at heartresearch.org.uk.
Remember these retro racing games? This is what they could be worth now
Motoring experts from LeaseCar.uk have researched nine retro racing games from the 80s and 90s and revealed how much they could be worth now.
Many of the games are worth just shy of £100 – with one classic fetching as much as £1,700!
Can you remember these retro racing games?
This is what they could be worth now
Racing fans and gamers have been told to check their attics for retro driving game favourites that could be worth as much as £1700 now.
Motoring experts from LeaseCar.uk have researched and revealed nine classic racing games from the 80s and 90s that could fetch a pretty penny on the resale market.
Collectors and enthusiasts are willing to pay serious money for copies of their favourite racing games of yesteryear.
From Mario Kart and Stunt Racer to Spy Hunter and Top Gear, nostalgia seekers will shell out hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of pounds to experience a blast from the past.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said: “If you’re around 25 or older, chances are you’ll remember at least a few of these pioneering games of yesteryear.
“And if you’re lucky enough to have a copy tucked away somewhere, you could be sitting on a significant cash cow.
“The prices we’ve listed below relate to pristine, sealed copies, but even used copies can fetch a fair sum.”
Here are nine retro racing games and what they’re worth now:
1. F-Zero on Super Nintendo
(Image credit: https://medium.com/j-king-s-labratory-project/nintendo-should-make-another-f-zero-game-47383d6dba15)
Factory sealed copies of futuristic racing game F-Zero can fetch around £50-£60 on average, which is a good deal more than it would have cost to buy when it was released in 1991.
2. Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing on Gameboy Advance
(Image credit: https://lutris.net/games/rock-n-roll-racing/)
If you happen to have a sealed copy of Rock ‘n’ Roll Racing for Gameboy Advance, you could resell it for about £90-£100.
3. Ivan ‘Ironman’ Stewart’s Super Off Road on Nintendo NES
(Image credit: https://thegamesdb.net/game.php?id=2794)
In this game, up to three players compete against each other or the computer in racing around several top-view indoor off-road truck tracks of varying difficulty. The resell value can be as much as £60-£70 now.
4. Top Gear on Super Nintendo
(Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_(video_game)#/media/File:SNES_Top_Gear_cover_art.jpg)
In this Super Nintendo classic, players could choose between four cars to face 32 challenging courses in locations around the world. If you’re lucky enough to have a copy stored away, it could be worth as much as £85-£90.
5. Rad Racer on Nintendo NES
(Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rad_Racer#/media/File:Rad_racer_box_front.jpg)
In this game, originally released in Japan as ‘Highway Star’, players drive a Ferrari 328 or a generic Formula One racing machine through a racecourse. It’s one of the most profitable games on the list, worth up to £210-£220 for pristine, sealed copies.
6. Spy Hunter on Nintendo NES
(Image credit: https://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/spy-hunter/cover-art/gameCoverId,120902/)
Drawing inspiration from the James Bond films, the object of Spy Hunter is to drive down roads in the technologically advanced “interceptor” car and destroy various enemy vehicles with a variety of onboard weapons. The potential resale value for this one is massive – up to £370-£380!
7. Stunt Racer 64 on Nintendo 64
(Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunt_Racer_64#/media/File:Stuntracer64.jpg)
New and sealed copies of this Nintendo classic fetch a whopping £1650-£1750, but even used copies are worth around £600!
8. Mario Kart 64 on Nintendo 64
(Image credit: https://n64today.com/2017/11/26/mario-kart-64-review/)
Another Nintendo 64 family favourite, the original Mario Kart game is now worth as much as £310-£320!
9. Outrun on Sega Genesis
(Image credit: http://segascrutiny.blogspot.com/2011/01/genesis-game-reviews-outrun.html)
Known for its pioneering hardware and graphics, nonlinear gameplay, and selectable soundtrack, sealed copies of Outrun are now worth around £95-£100.
Same Again?
Sober Scots’ drinking habits since lockdown
Scots are the most likely in the UK to be drinking same or less since before lockdown was imposed
Lockdown was predicted to cause a sharp rise in alcohol consumption and binge-drinking but most UK drinkers (65%) actually drank the same, less or stopped drinking altogether during lockdown compared to previously.
In the weeks following the reopening of the hospitality sector, this trend has continued. Brits are continuing to drink in moderation, but more and more are choosing to do so at the pub.
Scotland is no exception to this trend and, though Scottish pubs only recently reopened their doors, close to a third (30%) of Scots have returned to the pub at least once.
Scots continue to drink in moderation despite the reopening of pubs
The latest YouGov survey commissioned by the Portman Group (2,296 UK adults, 12-13 August) shows that the moderate majority continues to prevail in the UK, even with the much-celebrated reopening of pubs.
The survey data for Scotland shows that:
- 92% of Scottish drinkers are drinking the same (59%), less (27.5%) or have cut alcohol out altogether (6%) since the hospitality sector reopened compared to before lockdown.
- Scots are the most likely in the UK to be drinking the same, less or have stopped compared to drinkers in England (85%), Wales (88%) and Northern Ireland (89%).
- Concerningly 5% of Scottish drinkers said they were drinking more since the hospitality sector reopened than before lockdown. We encourage anyone concerned about their own, or another persons’, drinking to visit Drinkaware or the NHS online for free advice and guidance.
- The moderate majority of Scottish drinkers (69%) continue to drink responsibly, within the Chief Medical Officer guidelines of 14 units per week. Weekly intakes remain similar to before lockdown.
- Scottish drinkers are also slightly more moderate than their English (66%) and Welsh (68%) counterparts in terms of remaining within the guidelines.
More than a quarter of Scottish pubgoers return to their local
While many of us continue to drink at home, a great number of Scots have resumed much loved habits of gathering at their local pub. Pubs have put in place diligent social distancing measures to ensure that communities can revisit pubs while feeling safe and secure. Scots are responding well to the ‘new normal’ with almost three quarters (76%) saying social distancing has not deterred them from a return to the pub.
It’s not just drinkers who have been making the most of the pubs reopening; pubs have long been a happy and inclusive environment for all members of the community.
The recent period has seen Scots making a cautious return to many much-loved venues outside of just hospitality, including shops and beauty salons, and it seems that, despite one in eight (12%) feeling the pinch after months of furlough or even job losses, we are still setting aside time and money to return to our favourite institutions, something that has been made clear with the popularity of August’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Pubs in Scotland opened their doors once again on 15 July. Despite this, close to a third (30%) of Scottish adults have made their way back to the pub, slightly higher than Northern Ireland (26%) but lower than Wales (37%) and England (42%).
Speaking about the results of the survey, John Timothy, CEO of the Portman Group, the social responsibility and regulatory body for alcohol in the UK, commented: “During the course of the COVID-19 crisis there has been a fear that many people would turn to alcohol and that misuse would increase.
“Yet Scots are showing continued moderation both at home and, happily, now back at the pub. It’s great to see people supporting their community pubs while drinking sensibly and maintaining social distancing.”
Commenting on the results in Scotland, Douglas Meikle, Head of Alcohol Policy at the Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership, said: “It’s encouraging that so many Scots continue to drink within the CMOs’ guidelines of 14 units a week, in spite of the unprecedented nature of lockdown, with many deciding to drink less.
“As things get back to being more normal it will be important to continue that trend and encourage those who want to go back to our pubs and bars that they can do so safely”.