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Let’s make Bonfire Night the safest ever

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is appealing for the public’s help to ensure that 2014’s Bonfire Night is the safest ever for Scotland:

Bonfire Night is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the SFRS with the number of emergency calls typically seeing a 40% increase throughout the period. SFRS is up to four times busier on 5 November than any other night of the year.

From 2009 to 2012, the number of secondary fires, which includes bonfires and refuse fires, averaged 1118. In 2013 there was a significant drop in this number to 517 bonfires on November 5th, with an overall drop in secondary fires of around 40% compared to 2012. SFRS aims to maintain and improve upon this decline in calls for Bonfire Night 2014.

The Service is appealing to the public to stay safe this Bonfire Night by attending organised events rather than staging their own bonfires or fireworks displays.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Director of Prevention and Protection for the SFRS said: “This year we want Bonfire Night to be the safest one on record. I’d ask every member of the public who is thinking of holding their own bonfire or fireworks display to attend an organised event instead. These events are well organised, much more spectacular than a DIY display and most importantly it’s much safer for you, your family and friends.

“When our crews are called to attend bonfires it means we have to divert resources away from other emergencies and life threatening calls – that could end tragically for anyone who truly needs our urgent help.

“We want everyone to be able to celebrate on 5 November and have fun, but in a safe way that doesn’t require the intervention of the emergency services.

“In the run up to Bonfire Night 2014 our Service personnel will be going to schools across Scotland to teach children about the dangers associated with bonfires and fireworks.

“We can all play a part in making this time of year safer. It is against the law for fireworks to be sold to children and young people. If you are aware of this happening please report it to Police Scotland or Trading Standards. We would also encourage the public to report unsafe or dangerous bonfires or bonfire materials and any suspicions of deliberate fire setting. In doing this, we can keep our communities safer together.

“The public are requested to pass on any information about who may be responsible for fire setting to Police Scotland using the 101 non-emergency number or Scotland Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.”

Daren Mochrie, Director of Service Delivery at the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “Every year our ambulance crews and hospital departments treat people for severe burns and other firework night related injuries. Fireworks are safe when used properly but the consequences can be tragic and life changing if the appropriate precautions are not followed and we recommend that people go along to a professionally organised display.

“In the event of someone suffering from a burn or scald, you should act quickly and:

Stop the burning process as soon as possible. Do not put yourself at risk!
Use cool water to cool a burn and reduce pain (no more than 30 mins of cooling and be aware of hypothermia due to prolonged cooling).
Remove clothing and jewellery but do not remove burnt clothing that has stuck to skin.
Do not use any creams or oils on injuries. Cover with a clean dressing or ideally cling film.

The majority of minor burns and scalds can be treated at home and if unsure you can contact NHS 24 on www.nhs24.com/SelfHelpGuide or phone 111 for further advice. If injuries are serious, seek urgent medical help and call 999 and ask for ambulance”.

Superintendent Danny Hatfield, Head of Prevention and Interventions, Police Scotland, said: “We want people to listen to safety advice and attend organised events so families can keep safe and enjoy the Bonfire celebrations. The best way of keeping safe is to attend official bonfire events which will also help reduce the number of unnecessary call outs for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

“We can all play a part in making this time of year safer while having fun. Remember it is against the law for fireworks to be sold to children and young people. Please help us keep people safe by reporting any concerns to Police Scotland by calling 101.”

SFRS have produced lots of guidance and safety tips about Bonfire Night 2014, available online now at http://bit.ly/SFRSbonfire2014.

Advice includes information about bonfire and fireworks safety (including a bonfire and fireworks safety leaflet available for download) along with links to our TV, radio and press advertisements.

SFRS will be offering tips on staying safe in the lead up to Bonfire Night through our social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

Scotland’s armed forces community still needs the poppy

On the day the 2014 Poppy Appeal is launched Poppyscotland’s Chief Executive Ian McGregor explains why your support is as important as it’s ever been:

This year has been one of significant military anniversaries and milestones, in particular the centenary of the First World War. Without a doubt, the war changed our world and our communities forever.

Scotland punched above its weight in the war effort and, proportionally, lost more men than anywhere else in the UK. There was not a village, town or city left untouched by the war’s devastating impact.

From this horror and destruction grew the poppy, both as the nation’s collective symbol of Remembrance, and as a way to raise money to support those left destitute and with horrendous physical injuries and torturous mental scars.

Although times have changed, the reality of modern-day conflict means Servicemen and women are still risking their lives in our names and there is still a real need to support those who have served, those still serving and their families.

Problems can start for them on the battlefield, they might arise when making the transition to civilian life on leaving the Forces, or they might emerge years later.
Another important and very recent milestone has been the UK Forces’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, after 13 years of combat operations.

However, the demands placed on our Servicemen and women are by no means restricted to theatres of war. One only has to look at humanitarian efforts to tackle the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone, involving British military medics, to see that serving in the Armed Forces can be hazardous in less obvious ways.

The aim of Poppyscotland is to address the problems faced by those in the Armed Forces community, by raising money through the Scottish Poppy Appeal, Scotland’s biggest street collection. The poppy is unique in bringing the country together in a simple yet powerful act of Remembrance but, importantly, it changes lives by providing much-needed support to those who need it most.

Despite the continuing difficult economic environment, the Appeal raised £2.64 million last year, thanks to a wonderfully generous Scottish public. The impact of this support is huge. There are seven common areas that the Armed Forces community can struggle with; Poppyscotland uses money that the public donates to tackle these issues in ways that are both practical and carefully focused.

Tailored Support & Funding – Everyone’s needs are different and these needs can change over time. That’s why Poppyscotland’s support is adapted to suit every individual’s circumstances. The range of support is wide and can include helping with a train fare for a job interview, funding an essential home adaptation or a replacement battery for an electric wheelchair.

Advice – Knowing where to turn for advice when times get tough is the key to a better future. However, with so many different organisations out there, knowing where to start can sometimes be confusing. Poppyscotland puts those in the Armed Forces community in touch with the right people via its welfare centre in Inverness and the Armed Services Advice Project – a major collaborative project with other Service charities, delivered by the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Employment – One of the biggest challenges for those leaving the military is getting a job. Finding suitable work can be difficult and transferring military skills to the civilian workplace is often a daunting prospect for Service leavers. Poppyscotland helps veterans find sustainable civilian careers by offering a range of services from re-training through to supporting those with mental health issues.

Mobility – Whether someone has suffered a battlefield injury, is experiencing a debilitating condition, has an existing injury which is worsening with time or is feeling the effects of getting older, Poppyscotland’s mobility services help veterans live independently by providing occupational therapist assessments, home adaptations and mobility aids.

Respite – The military lifestyle can be tough, particularly for the families of Servicemen and women who are often left at home and can become isolated while a loved one is away on operational duties. A short break can make an enormous difference, both to serving families and to veterans and their dependants. Our Poppy Breaks provide much-needed respite for those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity.

Housing– Finding suitable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing people leaving the Armed Forces. Many go straight from school into the military so finding and keeping their own homes on their return to civilian life can be hugely stressful. Money from the Scottish Poppy Appeal funds home improvements and adaptations, as well as support to specialist housing organisations.

Mental Health – While most leave the Armed Forces in a good frame of mind a significant minority experience mental health problems, which can include nightmares, flashbacks, isolation and insomnia. Poppyscotland works with other specialist organisations to fund and support services for veterans suffering from mental health difficulties.

Putting a donation in a poppy tin this November gives people an opportunity to remember and honour those who lost their lives but it also enables Poppyscotland to change lives for the better. Both history and continuing world events remind us that the Armed Forces community is likely to need the poppy for a long time to come.

To find out more about Poppyscotland and the Scottish Poppy Appeal visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk

Driving licence fees ‘slashed’ from next week

Driving licence fees to be cut by up to a third

Drivers will save up to £150 million over the next ten years as the cost of getting a driving licence is slashed, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander and Transport Minister Claire Perry announced today.

The changes, which follow a recent public consultation, come into force from 31 October 2014. Drivers applying online will see the fee for a provisional driving licence fall from £50 to £34 and online renewals after ten years fall from £20 to £14. The fee for driver tachograph cards – used by businesses to record how far their staff are driving – will fall from £38 to £32.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander said: “Giving savings back to the taxpayer is a key element in this government’s drive for a stronger economy and a fairer society. That’s why we’re slashing the cost of getting a driving licence and giving it straight back to young people and businesses, saving £150 million over ten years.”

Transport Minister Claire Perry said: “The cost of driving, especially for young drivers, can be significant and we are committed to cutting costs where we can. Thanks to DVLA making large scale savings to their running costs, we have been able to cut the cost of the driving licence which will save drivers and businesses £150 million over the next ten years.”

DVLA is reviewing all fees and the reduction in driving licence fees is a result of the first part of this ongoing review. Other fees being considered in the review include vehicle first registrations and duplicate registration certificates.

A million ‘first licence’ applications are processed every year and the fees drop will save new drivers £82.2 million over ten years. Over 77% of these applications are made by 17-24 year olds. In addition 2.1 million photocard licences are renewed every year and the changes will save motorists £61.3 million over a decade.

Businesses make another 85,500 renewals a year and will save £2.44 million over ten years while the cost savings to tachographs will save another £3.58 million over the decade.

Type of licence	Current fee	New fee online	New fee postal application
Provisional licence	£50	£34	£43
Renew Photocard licence	£20	£14	£17
Driver and Company Tachograph cards	£38	Postal service only	£32

Move to lower drink drive limit in Scotland

Reduced legal level could be in place by festive period

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has moved to reduce the drink-drive limit in Scotland.

The Justice Secretary today introduced an order in Parliament which will mean that, subject to approval, a reduced drink-drive limit will come into effect on 5 December.

Under the plans, Scotland’s blood alcohol limit will be reduced from 80mg in every 100 ml of blood, to 50 mg in every 100 ml of blood, bringing Scotland into line with most other European countries.

The Scottish Government previously announced the intention to reduce the limit following a consultation which found almost three quarters of those who responded believed the drink-drive limit should be reduced.

The consultation responses suggested the likely benefits of a lower limit would be fewer road accidents and fewer casualties, with Scotland’s roads currently seeing 20 deaths a year involving drivers who had been drinking and driving.

A multi-media marketing campaign to raise awareness of the new lower limit will be launched in the coming weeks.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “I have said before that I am determined we do everything we can to make our roads safer and save lives. Drink driving shatters families and communities and we must take action to reduce the risk on our roads.

“The latest estimates show that approximately one in ten deaths on Scottish roads involve drivers who are over the legal limit and research shows that even just one alcoholic drink before driving can make you three times as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. As a result, 20 families every year have to cope with the loss of a loved one and around 760 people are treated for injuries caused by someone who thought it was acceptable to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel and drive. We cannot let this continue.

“That’s why I have today introduced legislation to lower the drink drive limit in Scotland so that, subject to parliamentary approval, new laws will be in place in time for the beginning of the festive period.

“This new limit will bring Scotland into line with most of Europe and send a clear message to drivers who continue to ignore the warnings that there is never an excuse to drink and drive.

“Getting behind the wheel after drinking can have fatal consequences, the advice is simple; if you have had any alcoholic drink whatsoever, don’t drive. No one should be drinking and driving and the new lower limit only reinforces what should already be the case with drivers taking full responsibility and not putting lives at risk.

“Lowering the drink drive limit will help make Scotland’s roads safer, it is the right thing to do, and most importantly, it will save lives meaning that fewer families have to go through the heartache of a loved one lost”.

The initiative has been welcomed by safety campaigners. Sandy Allan, RoSPA’s Road Safety Manager, Scotland said: “RoSPA welcomes and strongly supports the Scottish Government’s decision to lower the drink-drive limit in Scotland, which we believe will save lives and prevent injuries on Scotland’s roads. There is a considerable body of research which shows that reducing drink-drive limits is effective in reducing drink-drive deaths and injuries. We would like to see the rest of the UK follow Scotland’s example.”

Cenotaph vigil launches Poppy Appeal

Armed Forces personnel joined members of the public taking part in “The Watch” – a vigil to launch The Royal British Legion’s annual appeal yesterday.

At the vigil in Central London members of the Armed Forces, Royal British Legion volunteers, members of the public and celebrities stood at the four corners of the Cenotaph from sunrise to sunset. The tribute, called “The Watch”, is inspired by the images of the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior in 1920 where Guards of the Watch kept a vigil by the coffin as a mark of respect.

The Watch started at just after 7.30am as the Last Post was sounded by Ben Beavis, a Bugler from the Grenadier Guards (below).

Taking part in the first vigil was singer Joss Stone, who recorded this year’s official Poppy Appeal single with Jeff Beck, former Royal Marine Commando and Legion beneficiary Pete Dunning, 18-year-old Cadet Sergeant Kamil Cesarz and the Legion’s Director of Fundraising, Charles Byrne.

Pete Dunning lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan in 2008, aged 23, when the armoured vehicle he was travelling in struck an improvised explosive device. The Royal British Legion has helped to make adaptations to his family home to aid his daily living.

The third watch, between 8.30am and 9am, was kept by current members of the Armed Forces, both Regular and Reservist, from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force. Among them was Corporal Donna White (above), an Army Reserve combat medic, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and currently works as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police.

After keeping The Watch, Donna said: “t was a real honour to take part and I had a great morning that I won’t forget. Standing on watch at the Cenotaph gave me a unique opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices that men and women in the Services before me have made.”

Members of the Armed Forces also joined Royal British Legion volunteers at Downing Street to present the Prime Minister with his own poppy for the appeal. The vigil continued until sunset at 5.55pm.

Further information on this year’s Poppy Appeal can be found on the

Royal British Legion website.

Inverleith Community Conference: still time to book your place

Inverleith’s annual community conference takes place on Thursday 30 October from 6 – 9pm in Broughton High School. The theme of this year’s event is ‘increasing walking and cycling in Inverleith‘ – and there’s still time to book your place …

Come join us on Thursday 30th October from 6-9pm at Broughton High School to find out about tips, advice and support available to help you get started, to share your thoughts on how we can get people in Inverleith walking and cycling more, and what the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership can do to make this happen!

The evening will include marketplace where organisations and businesses will be on hand to showcase their work and services and offer tips and advice to take up or increase your walking and cycling. Then we will have a chance to share views, discuss issues and consider solutions to increasing physical activity in Inverleith. Teas, coffees and biscuits will be provided.

Email Anne Brown to book your place here

or book quickly and easily here through eventbrite

Email Elaine Lennon for more information.

Sharp focus: clean sweep for photography students

Edinburgh College photography students named UK’s best

Edinburgh College has scooped all the top prizes at the British Institute of Professional Photography’s (BIPP) UK Student Awards, beating off competition from the country’s universities and colleges. Two current students and a recent graduate were named the country’s best student photographers, taking first place in the three categories.

BA Professional Photography student Kinga Kocimska won the BIPP National Student of the Year Award, recent BA graduate Jamie Mellor won the Student Open Award for students who are not BIPP members and fellow BA student Sandra Vijandi won the BIPP College Award.

Sandra was also the runner up for the Student of the Year Award and another student, Antonio Castro, came second in the Student Open. Three others were also highly commended in the categories.

Edinburgh College curriculum manager for broadcast media and photography Marjory Crooks said: “We’re delighted that the emerging photography students from Edinburgh College are winning such prestigious awards in the industry. Their future commissions and careers will be greatly enhanced by this as they’re already building fantastic profiles while they’re studying with us.”

Kinga’s winning entry in this year’s UK-wide competition consisted of five images from her second-year portfolio, ‘Deceptive Mind’, which showcased her surreal, witty approach to her photography as well as her technical skill (above).

Sandra took her win and runner-up position for her portfolios ‘Unexpected Journeys’ and ‘Glass Houses’, which demonstrated her flair for fashion photography, featuring stylised, heavily art-directed images (below).

Jamie won for his portfolio ‘Remnants’, featuring shots of eerie hinterland locations (below).

Each winner received a prize of £500.

Kinga said: “I did not expect such an amazing distinction and I’m very pleased that the time and effort I have invested in learning new skills have already started yielding such good results. I’m really grateful for the tuition and development opportunities I have received at Edinburgh College. This award has motivated me even more to continue improving my skills and working hard to gain more experience as a photographer. After all, the biggest challenge of making my way into the photographic industry is still ahead of me.”

These awards continue a winning streak for the college’s photography students that includes five years of multiple successes at the BIPP Scottish Region Image Awards, culminating in 30 awards this year including Student Photographer of the Year and Professional Photographer of the Year. Former student Lee Howell was also runner up in last year’s BIPP Student of the Year Award.

Photography lecturer Jon Lee added: “We’ve been overwhelmed in recent years with the talent of our students and I’m extremely pleased they’re continuing to do so well in these awards. The achievement is down to the hard work of our students and also our staff, who come from a range of commercial photography backgrounds. Many of our part-time staff also still work in the industry, which means our students gain that essential insight into developments in the professional word and ensures they’re prepared when they enter it.”

The college’s BA Professional Photography course currently has 24 students, the HND Professional Photography 1 has 38 and the HND Professional Photography 2 has 34.

Youth Parliament Chair encourages candidates to stand for election

‘grasp this opportunity to ensure young people are continually at the forefront of shaping our society’ – Louise Cameron, Chair SYP

The Scottish Youth Parliament elections will be held in March next year and the call is now open for young people all over the country to register their interest and stand as candidates to represent young people in their area.

The Scottish Youth Parliament is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people and campaigns on a wide range of issues, and represents young people all over Scotland. It gives young people a national platform to voice their issues, turn them into positive actions, and influence Scotland’s decision makers.

To register interest to represent a local constituency, young people aged 14-25 should complete a Candidate Expression of Interest Form by Friday 31 October. Further information is available atwww.syp.org.uk/elections.

Louise Cameron, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “During what is such an exciting time to be involved in the heart of Scottish politics, I am delighted to announce that the call for candidates is now open for the SYP Elections 2015.

“The Scottish Youth Parliament is an entirely youth-led organisation, and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament represent the views of young people across Scotland and strive to make a real difference by campaigning on the issues that matter the most to young people.

“Being a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament is a truly life changing experience. I would like to encourage young people from all over the country to consider standing as a candidate and to grasp this opportunity to ensure young people are continually at the forefront of shaping our society.”

Current Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) have produced a promotional video to encourage others to get involved in this opportunity to stand as a candidate and potentially become an MSYP.

The SYP Elections promotional video can be viewed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdPFjHPgD6Q&list=UU3lS9jY21U4jVSnhYkAK3kw

Now, listen: Scottish Storytelling Festival starts tomorrow

The 2014 Scottish International Storytelling Festival begins tomorrow (Friday 24 October) and runs until 2 November. The programme is themed Once Upon a Place and celebrates Edinburgh’s reputation worldwide as a city bursting with culture, as well as being the world’s first UNESCO designated City of Literature.

Scotland is welcoming the world in 2014 and in this Year of Homecoming, the Storytelling Festival is an important event on the Homecoming calendar, bringing together home-grown talent and acclaimed storytellers from across the world to tell tales and enthral audiences.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is the perfect event for everyone from home or abroad who wants to explore what is distinctive and special about Scotland and its international connections, with a programme that combines storytelling ceilidhs with talks, landscape tours and specially commissioned performances, and the finale weekend marks the ancient Celtic New Year of Samhain/Hallowe’en.

Festival Director Donald Smith said: ‘We are delighted to present the programme for this year’s festival; it’s packed with exciting events and a fantastic mix of homegrown storytelling talent and as well as global visiting storytellers. The theme of place is key to us, as Edinburgh is such an inspiring city.

‘Over the years it has produced an array of wonderful writers, some of whom we’ll pay our respects to during the festival, and as an ever evolving vibrant place it continues to inspire year on year. I’m also very pleased that we are able to reach out beyond the city limits with a programme of events taking place throughout Scotland.’

This year’s programme really is packed with highlights – see brochure below for full details:

SSC Fest 2014 Webv2

Spread the word!

Partnership puts students on the right track

Edinburgh College and VGC Labour Solutions partnership leads to jobs for railway engineering students

Edinburgh College has launched a new railway engineering course that equips students with all the skills they need to gain employment within the rail and construction industry. Ten students have already started the 16-week NVQ Railway Engineering course, and VGC Labour Solutions is guaranteeing job interviews for all graduating students.

Students who pass will have the chance to go straight into a job with VGC, working on regional projects such as the £650m Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), a major enhancement of the rail links between Scotland’s main two cities.

The training is delivered at the college’s Granton Campus, where students learn practical skills in a safe simulation environment. A key part of the training is ensuring the students are aware of the main safety risks when working on the rail infrastructure. To achieve this, one trainee per day acts as the controller of site safety (COSS), as if the team were working on a live railway.

Graham Piggott, director of VGC Labour Solutions North, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Edinburgh College. The students are learning key skills from experienced trainers who are passing on their knowledge of working safely on construction and rail. At the end of their course we will gain well-trained, keen members of our local workforce, who will work on Scotland’s important infrastructure projects.”

John Laing, head of the Institute of Construction and Building Crafts at Edinburgh College, said: “This project is a great example of working with industry partners to deliver work-ready employees that meet their needs and will help them develop their business. It’s also a brilliant opportunity for students to find employment and work in an industry that’s delivering some really exciting projects.

“Within just 16 weeks, students will learn the practical skills and knowledge to hit the ground running when they enter the workplace, and which will allow them to develop their careers over the long term and find new opportunities.”

As well as the NVQ level 2 Railway Engineering, students will also receive a full personal track safety (PTS) and track induction (TIC), a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card and a full medical, which will allow them to begin work immediately.