Category: Wardie

Local Tesco store supports local hospice with five figure donation

As part of their ongoing commitment to the local community, a Tesco Superstore in Edinburgh has raised £19,382 for St. Columba’s Hospice Care through instore fundraising and other initiatives.

The store, located on Broughton Road, has spent eight years raising vital funds for the hospice, which provides people in Edinburgh with end-of-life care, as well as supporting their families.

Recently, members of the Tesco team took part in the 7 Hills of Edinburgh Challenge, a long gruelling walk of around 27km with over 700m of climbing involved, in which they raised nearly £2,000 for the hospice alone.

In September, the team will be taking part in the famous Edinburgh Kiltwalk, part of Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event with over 178,000 people taking part since 2016.

Year-long fundraising in store includes a book donation point, which was started by store colleague Caroline Phillip, where customers are encouraged to take a book and make a small donation, which is then given to the hospice – with a current sum of £17,432 donated so far. Books are provided by local businesses and customers.

Ross Wallace, Store Manager at the Superstore, said: “We have supported St. Columba’s Hospice Care for many years and are delighted we have been able to give them such a fantastic donation of over £19,000.

“The hospice has provided help to not only colleagues in store, but our customers as well, so it’s a cause very close to our communities’ hearts.

“I’m extremely proud of all my staff for going the extra mile to raise funds for a vital service which supports so many people in the area, and I’d like to thank everyone who kindly donated over the years too.”

Amanda Southey, Partnerships Fundraiser, said: “We’re incredibly thankful to the team at Tesco for their continued commitment and generosity over the years.

“Their support makes a real difference to families across Edinburgh and the Lothians, allowing us to deliver expert, compassionate care, so no one has to face the end of life alone.”

Tesco Superstore is located at 7 Broughton Rd, Edinburgh, EH7 4EW.

Donations can be made to the store’s Kiltwalk efforts at: 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosswallace-688924857d8396eb850a9ec7.

For more information on St. Columba’s Hospice Care and how to support, please visit https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/.

St Columba’s: Immediate action needed on hospice funding

Scottish Government and local partners must act now to protect vital palliative care services

St Columba’s Hospice Care and Marie Curie Edinburgh are warning that essential palliative and end-of-life care services are now at serious risk due to funding decisions made by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and inaction by the Scottish Government. 

The HSCP has chosen to reverse a 3% inflationary uplift in funding to hospices, which they committed to earlier in the year. This decision was taken in reaction to the Scottish Government announcement of an additional £5 million to help hospices address workforce pressures.

That £5 million was solely intended to support hospices with the recruitment and retention of skilled staff during a time of extreme pressure, not to replace existing funding agreements.  

This decision from HSCP undermines the purpose of the allocation and places essential palliative and end-of-life services across the Lothians at risk. To date, St Columba’s Hospice Care has not received its share of the £5 million, which is approximately £496,000. The delay is creating further financial uncertainty and threatening frontline services for patients and families.  

We call on the Scottish Government and HSCP to: 

  • Reinstate the 3% inflationary uplift immediately. 
  • Release the national pay parity funding without delay. 
  • Commit to a national review of hospice funding to ensure equity and sustainability across Scotland. 

Jackie Stone, CEO, St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “Hospice’s are being pushed to make very difficult decisions that may impact on our patients and families. This reversal sends a devastating message to our staff and to the families we care for that fair pay and essential services are negotiable. They are not.  

“The Scottish Government made a public commitment to fair pay and sustainable services, but we are being left with broken promises and growing deficits.

“We urge the Scottish Government and local partnerships to act now before we are forced to withdraw services that thousands of people across Edinburgh and the Lothians rely on every year.” 

 Hospices are an integral part of Scotland’s healthcare system and must be treated as such. They need sustainable, equitable funding. The government must act now to ensure a consistent national approach to hospice funding.

Hospices deliver vital, high-quality care that the NHS relies on, and they must be supported, not penalised, for working to achieve fair pay for their staff. 

Iona Cafe at St Columba’s

Temporary Closure Notice – Iona Café

Due to a combination of staff/volunteer holidays and illness, the Iona Café will be closed from Monday 7th July to Sunday 20th July.

We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding.

We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on Monday 21st July!

Outdoor experts name Wardie and Portobello beaches among the UK’s paddleboarding hotspots

TWO EDINBURGH BEACHES IN PADDLEBOARDING TOP TEN

Boscombe Pier has been named the best place in the UK for paddleboarding with a score of 9.73. Located in Bournemouth, the beach has an excellent water classification making it an ideal spot for paddleboarders.

With almost 1,700 hours of sunshine each year and an average wind speed of 8.63 m/s per 10m, the conditions are well-suited for getting out on the water.

Lessons and equipment are available at local rentals such as Sorted Surf School and there are several cafes and restaurants along the pier which are perfect for refuelling after a paddleboarding session.

Best paddleboarding spots in the UK:

RankLocationLocal AuthorityCountryWater classificationAverage annual sunshine hoursAverage annual rainfall (mm)Mean wind speed (m/s) per 10mPaddleboarding lessons Paddleboarding score /10
1Boscombe PierBournemouth, Christchurch and PooleEnglandExcellent1,6949198.36Yes9.73
2River DartDevonEnglandGood1,7299018.35Yes8.82
3WhitbyNorth YorkshireEnglandExcellent1,5679069.41Yes8.73
4Wardie BayCity of EdinburghScotlandExcellent1,4289338.56Yes8.37
5Cotswold Water ParkCotswoldsEnglandExcellent1,5147909.98Yes8.00
5Marazion BeachCornwallEnglandGood1,7531,0038.50Yes8.00
7Cullen BeachMorayScotlandExcellent1,4551,0059.73Yes7.55
8Portobello BeachCity of EdinburghScotlandSufficient

River Dart follows in second place with a score of 8.82. With over 1,700 hours of sunshine each year, the area benefits from plenty of bright days which are perfect for heading out on the water.

The location also has relatively low average annual rainfall and a mean wind speed of 8.35 m/s per 10m, making for stable paddleboarding conditions. Paddleboarding gear can be hired nearby from providers such as Totnes Kayaks and Paddle Devon.

Whitby completes the top three with a score of 8.73. Known for its excellent water quality, it offers clean and safe water conditions for paddleboarders to enjoy. With mean wind speeds of 9.41 m/s per 10m, it is a great spot for those looking for more challenging paddleboarding conditions.

Visitors can hire equipment and lessons from local experts, including providers like the Whitby Surf School.  

Edinburgh’s WARDIE BAY comes in a fine fourth and Portobello also features in the UK top ten, featuring eight on the list.

Sam Chadwick, author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors comments: “As the weather gets warmer, many are looking to go outside and enjoy the UK’s water.

“Paddleboarding is a fantastic way to experience the outdoors and there are several places across the UK to enjoy this activity, but safety is the most important thing.

“Since paddleboarding can involve being in deeper water, always wear a buoyancy aid no matter your swimming ability. Weather conditions can change quickly, and waters can rapidly become rough, so check the forecast before going out on the water. While on the paddleboard, keep the paddleboard leash securely attached to your ankle to ensure your board stays close by if you fall in. 

“Even on warm days, deep water can be cold so always opt for a wetsuit to keep your body warm in case you fall into the water. It’s also important to stay within designated paddleboarding zones and be mindful of other people enjoying the water nearby.

“Always paddleboard with a buddy, let someone know your plans and expected return time and remember to only paddleboard within your capabilities.”

St Columba’s: Time to Remember

FRIDAY 20 JUNE from 2 – 2.45pm

You’re invited to join us on Friday 20th June as we gather together to remember loved ones who have died.

This free event on the theme of ‘The Longest Day’ will feature quiet music, readings and reflections, an item to make and/or take home as well as the chance to pause and think about about loved ones.

Everyone is welcome at this inclusive, non-religious event, suitable for all ages.

Time: 2pm-2.45pm

Venue: No17, 17 Boswall Road, EH5 3RW

A seat must be booked for each person attending, including children. Book your place(s) today on our website:

https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/events/time-to-remember

or email wellbeing@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.

TODAY: Cherry Blossom Picnic at Starbank Park

A quick ask for folks to bring baking donations and plants for the stalls please.

We are very excited about our picnic and look forward to seeing you all there this afternoon!

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#communityevent

#blossomdays

#hanam

i#homebakingdonations

#freeevent

#allwelcome

Waterfront Walks with St Columba’s

Join our next block of Waterfront Walks each Monday in May to discover Edinburgh’s new memorial art installations, located between McKelvie Parade and Granton Harbour.

Each week, our Community Artist Isla Macleod and Emma Ritchie from Caledonia Funeral Aid and Caledonia Cremation will lead the group to see a new element of this historic installation.

Isla and Emma will facilitate conversations and creative activities around bereavement, change & loss, and how we can make sense of these feelings through the arts.

This group is open to people who have been bereaved in the past year, and who are seeking a creative minded space to be amongst peers with similar shared experiences.

Limited places available – booking essential!

Please email Isla on imacleaod@stcolumbashospice.org.uk or Emma emma.kelso@funerals.scot to register.

Great Granton Beach Clean

TUESDAY 15th APRIL from 1pm

We are very excited about our next BEACH CLEANING event at Granton Goes Greener.

This time, we will be working on the Brick Beach (marked as Granton Beach), which is just across the road from Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden and next to the pitt.

Thanks to our friends from R2, we will have enough rubbish picking equipment for everyone. if you have any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk💚💚💚

St Columba’s Light Up a Life campaign raises £130,000

We are delighted to announce that our Light up a Light Appeal raised an incredible £130,000 for St Columba’s Hospice Care over the festive period.

This sensational amount will make a huge difference to our patients and their families at a vitally important time in their lives.

Thank you again for your support.

St Columba’s Open Music Space sessions resume next week

Our Open Music Space sessions resume for the new year next Friday – 10th January!

People are welcome to attend one session, a few, or all. The sessions are relaxed and informal, and no previous experience of making music is required.

People can book a place on a session by going to the Wellbeing section of the Hospice website, by phoning the Hospice, or by talking to a member of staff!

Sessions take place between 11 & 12 in the music studio, and this block will run until 14th March 2025.