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Edinburgh excels at Literary Awards

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A trio of Edinburgh writers and an Edinburgh Publishing company have won prestigious awards as part of the 2016 Saltire Literary Awards, announced last night at Central Hall in Tollcross.

Beating off strong competition from publications ranging from a true life thriller set in a remote crofting community to an evocative historical account of the Sutherland Clearances, Edinburgh raised Edinburgh University alumnus Kathleen Jamie’s latest poetry collection, The Bonniest Companie was named 2016 Saltire Society Book of the Year after winning the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the Year Award at this year’s awards ceremony.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh born John Kay, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and fellow of St. John’s College, Oxford, won the Saltire Scottish Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award for his most recent work, Other People’s Money: Masters of the Universe or Servants of the People?, a critical and revelatory tour of the financial world as it has emerged from the wreckage of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Edinburgh based freelance journalist Chitra Ramaswamy was named joint winner of this year’s Saltire Scottish First Book of the Year Award for her first novel Expecting, a beautiful, terrifying, and emotional reflection on her own pregnancy. University of Glasgow graduate Isabel Buchanan was a joint recipient of the First Book Award for her inaugural novel Trials, an examination of justice and injustice from the perspective of inmates on Pakistan’s death row.

Edinburgh publishing company Floris Books won the Publisher of the year award and, as part of the Saltire Society’s 80th anniversary celebrations, a fully funded placement on the renowned Yale Publishing Course, a week-long intensive classroom-based course hosted on the beautiful and historic Yale University Campus in New Haven, Connecticut in the USA. Floris Books Design and Production Manager Leah McDowell also emerged as the inaugural winner of the Emerging Publisher of the year award, a new addition to the 2016 awards roster in celebration of the Saltire Society’s 80th year.

Meanwhile, University of Edinburgh student Daniel Shand won the Saltire Society International Travel Bursary, supported by the British Council Scotland, which will allow him to travel to Berlin to research European history for his next novel through visits to the Museum of European Cultures, as well as the Stasi Museum, Jewish Museum, and the Topography of Terror.

Now firmly established as Scotland’s most prestigious annual book awards, the Saltire Society Literary Awards are supported by Creative Scotland and celebrate and support literary and academic excellence across six distinct categories. The winner of each individual book award wins a £2,000 cash prize and goes forward to be considered for the Saltire Book of the Year award and an accompanying cash prize of £6,000.

Other award winners this year included His Bloody Project, Graeme MacraeBurnet’s engrossing novel about the true 19th Century case of a multiple murder in a remote crofting community and winner of the Saltire Scottish Fiction Book of the Year award. Set Adrift Upon the World, an evocative account of the Sutherland clearances by James Hunter, was named winner of the History Book of the Year award while Sebastiaan Verweij’s indepth examination of Scottish literary history The Literary Culture of Early Modern Scotland, took the Research Book of the Year award.

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Scottish Poetry Book of the Year award winner Kathleen Jamie (above) said: “I’m delighted that The Bonniest Companie has been named ‘Scottish Poetry Book of the Year’, but also a bit embarrassed. It was a terrifically strong shortlist, any of us could have won.  Scotland makes very good poets – a fact that’s still not acknowledged as it ought to be.  I’m grateful to the judges. It couldn’t have been an easy decision.”

Saltire Scottish Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award winner John Kay said: “I am honoured to receive this award. I have tried to write clearly and comprehensibly about money and finance. I am delighted at this recognition of that effort and hope it will encourage others in the same endeavour.”

Commenting on winning the Saltire Scottish First Book of the Year Award, Chitra Ramaswamy said: “I’m so delighted to have won First Book of the Year for Expecting. It means so much to have my first book recognised by such a prestigious award and to join such an impressive roll call of previous winners. Thank you!”

Katy Lockwood-Holmes, Publisher & Chief Executive at Floris Books, winner of the Saltire Publisher of the Year award said: “Floris has had a sparkling year, but the honour of being named Scottish Publisher of the Year is undoubtedly the crowning achievement. We’re so proud that children’s books, in particular, are being recognised at the highest level. This award is dedicated to the people who have built Floris over four decades: our brilliant authors and illustrators, our creative and tireless team, and the wonderful Scottish literary community who has supported us throughout.”kathleen-jamie
Leah McDowell, Design & Production Manager at Floris Books, winner of the inaugural Saltire Emerging Publisher of the Year Award added: “I’m truly delighted to have won this inaugural award which celebrates all the amazing, emerging talent that makes the Scottish publishing industry so rich and lively. Publishing is a team effort so big thanks to Floris Books, which has supported me from the beginning, and of course to the immensely talented illustrators I have the privilege to work with every day.”

Executive Director of the Saltire Society Jim Tough said: “This has been another terrific year for the Saltire Literary Awards and an extra special one as we celebrate our 80th anniversary. Every one of the individual book awards were hotly contested, making the judges’ decision a particularly challenging one. The same was also true of this year’s Publisher of the Year Award and new for this year, the Emerging Publisher of the Year Award.

“My congratulations to all of the winners and my heartfelt thanks to the judging panel and to all of our partners and supporters who helped to make the 2016 Saltire Literary Awards such a resounding success. We are proud to have seen these awards grow to embrace every aspect of literary Scotland; the emerging and the established, the academic and the poetic, fiction, non- fiction and publishing. Excellence is the common thread, built on the integrity and freely given commitment of our expert panels.”

Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the shortlisted authors, category winners and to Kathleen Jamie on winning the 2016 Saltire Book of the Year. A visionary and moving response to a year charged with energy, passion and politics.  It was a great pleasure to be part of the judging panel for the 2016 Saltire Society Literary Awards and to read through this impressively diverse list of books. Awards such as this are important as they offer an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding quality and range of literature in Scotland and raise the national and international profile of talented authors.”

Book your seat at Edinburgh’s biggest Burns Supper

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One of the biggest Burns Suppers in Scotland, and the biggest in Edinburgh, is to be hosted by TV star Mark Cox – best known as Tam Mullen in the hit BBC comedy Still Game. The evening of Scottish food, entertainment and tradition will take place on Friday 27 January at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange.

The Burns Supper celebrates Scotland’s national bard, Rabbie Burns, and will feature the traditional address to the haggis, the immortal memory, the reply from the lassies and much more. The address to the haggis will be performed by James Macsween of Macsween Haggis – which will also be served on the night.

Joining Mark Cox and James Macsween will be comedian and after dinner speaker Eric Davidson, Taggart actress Lindsay Lee Wilson, and Burns aficionado Iain McSporran.

Following a three course dinner, a nip of whisky, and the toasts – guests will take to the dance floor for the ceilidh and party in to the small hours, accompanied by live music from Corra.

Tickets cost £35 each and include dinner, a nip of whisky and all the live music and entertainment. VIP tickets cost £45 and include everything standard ticket holders receive plus a private drinks reception, preferential seating, and a chance to meet the night’s entertainment before the evening begins.

Edinburgh’s biggest Burns Supper is organised by St Columba’s Hospice, and the event raises funds to ensure the Hospice can continue providing the very best specialist end of life care to patients and support to their loved ones, across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Tickets can be bought online at www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk or by calling 0131 551 1381.

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Man in court over local Bonfire Night incidents

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An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of anti-social behaviour incidents, which occurred on Bonfire Night. He has also been changed with an offence under the Explosives Act 1875 and will  appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

A 15-year-old boy has also been charged in connection with antisocial behaviour and an offence under the Fireworks Act 2004 (Scotland). He will be reported to the Children’s Reporter.

Enquiries are continuing to trace other that were involved in anti-social behaviour on Bonfire Night.

Chief Inspector Jimmy Jones, Area Commander for North-west Edinburgh, said: “All incidents of anti-social behaviour are unacceptable, and we are working hard to bring those responsible for these incidents in North Edinburgh to account.

“We will not tolerate this type of criminality. If you have witnessed disorder or anti-social behaviour in your local area please contact us, either through 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“The information will be noted in confidence and used to help progress enquiries that help keep our communities safe.”

Holyrood calls for halt to welfare cuts

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The UK Government must use the Autumn Statement to reverse its freeze on benefits and the damaging reduction of the benefit cap, and ensure low income families will not face any further welfare cuts Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said. 

He urged the Chancellor to reverse the further lowering of the benefit cap which came into force last week – which the Chartered Institute of Housing’s recent report estimates will affect up to 20,000 children in Scotland, and to reconsider the on-going freeze to working age benefits and cuts to work allowances in Universal Credit.

Mr Mackay also asked for confirmation that the UK Government will not add to the welfare cuts already planned to be imposed on Scotland which are expected to reduce annual spending on social security by around £1 billion by 2020.

Mr Mackay said: “Low income families have faced the brunt of the UK Government’s damaging welfare reform agenda to date so it’s only right that the Chancellor provides some reassurance that they will be protected from further attacks in the Autumn Statement.

“The impact of cuts and changes to benefits over the last few years, alongside a discredited sanctions regime, has widened the poverty gap, left families on low incomes worrying about putting food on the table, heating their homes and paying their bills, and driven the rise in the need for foodbanks.

“With £1 billion expected to be annually cut from benefits by 2020 UK Government policies will plunge significant numbers of households into financial difficulties – the UK Government should recognise it has squeezed enough from the welfare budget and low income families.”

Social Security Secretary Angela Constance added: “We will continue to urge the UK Government to reverse changes to the benefit cap and the on-going freeze to working age benefits as it is harming our poorest households.

“We are already spending £100 million a year in mitigating the worst of the welfare cuts inflicted by the UK Government, including fully protecting people from the bedroom tax. This is money which would be far better spent on lifting people out of poverty.”

Continue reading Holyrood calls for halt to welfare cuts

Co-Production Week Scotland

 

Fiona Garven, Director of SCDC and Chair of the Scottish Co-production Network looks at the progress co-production has made in Scotland – and where it can go next:

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It doesn’t feel like so many years ago that we started talking about co-production in Scotland. In fact, in relation to the time it takes to make a system shift towards new ways of working, it has actually been no time at all!But, since it started in 2011, the Scottish Coproduction Network has grown to a membership of almost 1,000 made up of people active in their own communities, practitioners from across a range of sectors, and others interested in how to make coproduction fundamental to public policy.

Co-production has been championed in Scotland for a long time, in the work of many community and voluntary sector organisations, and by those who believe in the importance of participation and the contribution of all in helping to achieve better outcomes. Through the Scottish Co-production Network, we’ve been able to share examples of citizens and services working together to produce innovative solutions to many social issues, from working with vulnerable young people to maximise their life chances through to support for older people to live well and independently for longer – there are many other examples besides.

But, although these examples of good practice are making a positive impact on people’s lives, we have yet to reach the stage where working alongside citizens or service users as equal partners, or recognising and supporting independent community action, is at the foundation of how we deliver public services in Scotland.

Over the last few years we have seen a significant move at government level towards an empowerment agenda, with specific legislation in the shape of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, but also supported by policy initiatives in respect of reforming public services, new thinking on ‘what makes us healthy’, and addressing inequalities – all with an emphasis on community participation and the involvement of citizens.

Co-production is at the heart of nearly all of our policy ambitions, and with Co-production Week Scotland, it’s time to build on the enthusiasm and messages for a national campaign where we can all contribute our ideas, thoughts and examples of where this way of working and thinking has made a real difference.

We still face the impacts of austerity in Scotland, and new global challenges in the manifest distrust of political and governance systems. Now, more than ever, is the time to promote and celebrate the difference co-production can make in shaping Scotland to be a more inclusive, participative and equal place to live.

Learn more about Co-production Week Scotland and get involved at #CoProWeekScot