Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre are looking to appoint a Project Co-ordinator to devise and deliver a Warm Hub at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre on a freelance basis from December 2022 – March 2023 (4 months).
Role Description
Project Co-ordinator
To organise Community Hub events at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre: two evenings per week and a Sunday (open to the public 6 – 8pm evenings and 12 -2pm on Sunday)
– Prepare for the events and programme of activities – Organise food and refreshments (likely number of attendees up to 20 families) – Advertise the events using social media and local networks – Recruit and organise Volunteers – Work with other organisations in North Edinburgh, to put together a programme of activities at the events – Organise tavel (for participants) – Set up, attend, oversee, and take down at the events, – Review the events after one month and report to the Board with any changes needed.
21 hours per week, Fee: £1,250 per month for four months
Proposed allocation of weekly hours:
– Setting up programme, advertising, working with other organisations, appointing volunteers and other necessary jobs to ensure attendance at the events: 7 hours – Preparation for events: 3 hours – Setting up events, attending events, take down and closing building: 10 hours – Monitoring the activity and reporting to the Board, to include written reports for funders: 1 hour.
Please return your CV with a covering letter, to the email below, stating relevant skills and experience, by 21st November 2022.
Interviews will be held on the morning of Friday 25th November at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre with a quick start date thereafter.
More than 200 prominent individuals – including actors Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Steve Coogan, and Dame Joanna Lumley – have united through an international open letter to call on world leaders at the COP27 climate conference to end factory farming and transform our global food system.
The letter – organised by Compassion in World Farming as part of its new End of the Line for Factory Farming global campaign – highlights the urgent need to transform our global food system and calls on world leaders to support and deliver a global agreement on food and farming at the United Nations General Assembly. It is being released on Solutions Day at the conference.
208 peoplefrom around the world have signed the letter, including:
Hollywood actors Brian Cox, Alan Cumming,Steve Coogan and Eva Green
British TV personalities Chris Packham, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Dr Amir Khan GP and actors Dame Joanna Lumley, Kate Ford,Peter Egan and Miriam Margolyes.
Award-winning authors Michael Morpurgo, and Barbara Kingsolver
Religious leaders Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford, Chair of CAFOD and Rabbi David Rosen CBE, International President, The World Conference on Religion and Peace
Eminent experts Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, Founder – the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace; Frans B. M. de Waal, Ph. D., C. H. Candler Professor Emeritus, Primate Behaviour, Emory University; Peter Singer, AC Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics Princeton University; Carl Safina, PHD, President, The Safina Center, Endowed Professor for Nature and Humanity, Stony Brook University
Business leaders Dale Vince OBE, owner, green electricity company Ecotricity; Julian Richer, business owner
The letter states: “If the global community is to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement targets and the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, action must be taken now to end industrial animal farming.
“From pollution to the climate crisis and wildlife extinctions. From animal cruelty to human hunger and malnutrition. Take a closer look at almost any global challenge, and you’ll find food at its core. A system based on overproduction and unhealthy food is propped up by intensive farming methods.
“The livestock sector produces more greenhouse gases than the direct emissions of all the world’s planes, trains and cars combined. Without urgent action, intensive animal agriculture threatens our very survival. We need a food transformation. Our people, animals and planet cannot wait any longer.”
End of the Line for Factory Farming is the new global movement dedicated to ending this cruel and unnecessary practice.
Launched this week by Compassion in World Farming with partner NGOs from all over the world, the campaign aims to get a global agreement to end factory farming and transform our global food system so that it benefits people, animals and the planet.
New YouGov research released by Compassion this week shows that almost two thirds of people (63%) in 13 countries polled believe factory farming puts profits ahead of climate and environment.
Stage, TV and film actor, Alan Cumming OBE FRSE, known for roles in The Good Wife and X2:X-Men United, said: “The amount of human edible food we produce just to feed the animals we slaughter for meat is beyond wasteful – especially when millions of people around the world go hungry every day. q
“We need a food system that is fair, kind and sustainable. That’s why I’m supporting Compassion in World Farming’s End of the Line for Factory Farming campaign – to help change this broken system once and for all.”
Dr Nick Palmer, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “This is the first campaign action from the new End of the Line for Factory Farming global movement dedicated to ending this cruel and unnecessary practice as it’s causing a climate and nature emergency – one third of global warming is driven by food production and consumption.
“Our open letter, released on Solutions Day at COP27, sends a clear message to world leaders highlighting the urgent need for action. It’s quite simple – without ending factory farming and transforming our food system, it will be impossible to meet climate targets. What’s needed is for world leaders to put forward a global agreement that meets our climate and SDG commitments before it’s too late.”
For more information about the campaign visit END.IT
The busiest time of year for shopping is fast approaching and there are many deals to be had. However, it’s important to keep ourselves safe from hackers and scammers that target online shoppers.
Online safety expert Chris Bluvshtein at VPNOverview.com gives his top ten tips for keeping yourself safe while shopping online during the holidays.
Stick to websites you know
You might be tempted by a Google link promising an amazing deal but before you click, look at the name. If it’s not something you recognise, don’t go there. Hackers can use similar names to high-street brands to trick you into giving up your data so double check the site is the one you know. Google also tells you if you’ve visited the site before so it’s worth taking your time and checking for those details.
Check the URL bar
Every website should have a valid security certificate and you can tell by the little padlock icon next to the URL. If a website doesn’t have one of these then don’t give your bank details or valuable information.
Check your bank statements
You might not even be aware of your details being stolen until it’s too late, but by making it a habit to check your account and statements you’ll be able to catch any suspicious activity early on. Your bank will have information on any time limits they have for fraudulent purchases, so be sure to keep an eye on your statements.
Use a password manager
The safest thing you can do is use a unique, randomised password for all your accounts. But instead of writing those down on post-it notes or in notebooks, use a password manager to keep them all in one place. Password managers lock your information behind a master password and many of them autofill the website logins for you, keeping you safe from keylogger attacks.
Don’t shop on public Wi-Fi
You might be tempted to hop onto your favourite shopping site while having a coffee at your local cafe, but that public wi-fi connection is extremely dangerous to use. Public Wi-Fi rarely has safety protocols such as passwords in place and hackers can piggyback and steal unsecured banking details and sensitive information without you knowing.
Use mobile payments
Apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay can protect your banking details so if a website accepts them, it’s best to use them instead of your debit card.
Use a credit card
If something is high value, don’t use your debit card to pay for it. Consumer law in the UK means that you could get refunds or claim your money back if your card is stolen. Credit cards also have more protections than debit cards.
Set up a temporary bank account
By opening an online only bank account such as Revolut or Monzo, you can control the amount of money you have access to with transfers from your usual account. This way, even if your details are compromised, the hacker can’t do anything to your real bank account.
Use a VPN
A VPN protects your data from prying eyes. Everything you send is encrypted so even if a hacker can see you on a network, they won’t be able to access your sensitive information. VPNs connect you to a remote server and hide your IP, using one along with any of our other tips can make your online shopping super secure.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
Be careful with any adverts for amazing deals. You might never get the item or there could be hidden dangers. This old saying still rings true with online shopping.
Lisa Webb, Which? Consumer Law Expert, said: “Fraudsters are always on the lookout for new ways to part people from their hard-earned cash and unfortunately, the Black Friday sales are no exception.
“Scammers can easily set up fake websites so if you see a good offer from a company you don’t know, look online for reviews and do your research to make sure it’s genuine.
“If you think you’ve paid money to a scammer, you should report this to your bank and Action Fraud.
You may be able to claim back your money through the chargeback scheme if you used a debit card or use a section 75 claim if you paid by credit card and the value was more than £100.”
A group of employees from the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline recently participated in Scotland’s Memory Walk with the aim of raising money and awareness for Alzheimer Scotland.
Scotland’s Memory Walk is an annual event run by Alzheimer Scotland that encourages its supporters to unite across Scotland to walk in memory and in honour of loved ones with dementia.
The team started the fundraising walk at Edinburgh Airport, with the goal of finishing a 12-mile journey at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline in four hours.
The team arrived at the fulfilment centre after 5 hours, raising a final total of £2,200 for Alzheimer Scotland through the walk.
Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s national dementia charity. They aim to ensure nobody faces dementia alone by providing support and information for people living with dementia, their carers and their families in Scotland.
The donation from Amazon will be used to deliver social and therapeutic activities across Alzheimer Scotland’s 24 Dementia Resource Centres and within the community, ensure families are supported by Dementia Advisors, fund vital dementia research and keep their 24hr Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000) operating.
UNP – Amazon EDI4 – 44015 Memory Walk
From left, John Aitken, Aoife Considine with Juno, Murray Tweddle, Bonginkosi Ndlovu and Stuart Penny.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We are so proud of the team from Amazon in Dunfermline who took part in Scotland’s Memory Walk.
“Their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they should be very pleased with the amount they raised for such an important charity.”
John Aitken, an employee at Amazon in Dunfermline who took part in the fundraising walk, added: “I am very proud to have completed the walk, especially with such a great team by my side throughout the journey.
“Alzheimer Scotland is very close to my heart so it’s great that I could lend a helping hand to support the charity.”
UNP – Amazon EDI4 – 44015 Memory Walk
From left, John Aitken, Aoife Considine with Juno, Murray Tweddle, Bonginkosi Ndlovu and Stuart Penny.
Sarah Cheung, Stakeholder Engagement Leader for Alzheimer Scotland, added: “On behalf of myself and the team at Alzheimer Scotland, I would like to say thank you to Amazon in Dunfermline for its kind donation.
“I would also like to extend a huge thank you and well done to the inspiring team of staff who took part in our Memory Walk – you should all be proud of your achievements.”
The donation to Alzheimer Scotland was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities around its operating locations across the UK.
As winter approaches, families with disabled or seriously ill children face dauntingly grave financial challenges, according to latest research findings.
In its latest poll, national charity Family Fund shows how prospects for the families it supports continue to worsen, as they grapple with the ever-rising cost of living for day-to-day needs.
As the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising disabled and seriously ill children, on the lowest incomes, Family Fund provides essential goods and services to families including kitchen appliances, clothing, bedding, play and sensory equipment and much-needed family breaks.
Last year, it delivered over 170,919 grants and services, worth over £37 million, to families on low incomes across the UK.
The charity’s Cost of Caring report, published last month for the first time, showed deteriorating conditions for families with disabled and seriously ill children. The report covered four quarterly polls in the year that followed the pandemic.
However, the latest quarterly poll, from September this year, shows an ever worsening picture, with families facing hunger and spiralling debts as they struggle to meet the needs of their children.
Families face a triple whammy of sky-high costs on top of severely reduced incomes, due to intense caring responsibilities and three-times-higher costs to look after a disabled child.
Over 70% of parents and carers report not being able to work at all, or as much as they want to, because of the care their children need, a post-pandemic reduction in support services for children, and parents being furloughed and living on reduced benefits.
Cheryl Ward, Family Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, said:“Our latest figures show that families with disabled and seriously ill children continue to face daunting financial challenges, which are worsening as winter approaches.
“The majority of families who have been supported by Family Fund have shared with us how they are struggling to cover mounting debts and worry constantly about how they are going to clothe and feed their children, fund transport for medical appointments and heat their homes. .
“We are doing everything we can to support families whose costs are already three times higher to care for, and raise, their disabled children than costs for other children. We urge families who need support with urgent and essential items this winter to go to our website (Family Fund) to see if we can help them.”
Key findings from latest quarterly poll with UK families raising a disabled child or young person:
Impact on households:
average household income for families has fallen by over £660 in the last 12 months;
almost 60% of families (59%) report an increase in household bills of more than £100 a month;
9 in ten families report they are struggling or falling behind on household bills (92%);
one in five families (21%) say their debt levels have risen by more than £1,000 in the last 12 months;
nearly 80 per cent of families (78%) have no savings to fall back on;
75% of families say they would not be able to save £10 a month;
58% have cut or skipped meals;
40% have gone hungry because there was not enough money for food;
48% are cutting back on energy;
over one third (35%) of families are cutting back on transport costs;
over one third (31%) of households said they have gone without carpets because they can’t afford them;
11% have gone without a cooker or fridge;
23% have gone without curtains;
20% have gone without beds;
27% have used a food bank;
Impact on disabled children:
63% of families have cut back on play and recreational activities with their disabled child;
31% are cutting back on toys or sensory toys for their disabled child;
16% said they would like fresh fruit or vegetables every day for their disabled child;
10 % said they would like a warm winter coat for their disabled child;
76 % said their disabled child’s health and wellbeing had declined in some way over the last 12 months.
A prestigious evening Awards Ceremony recognising the best of the independent care home sector will be held on Friday 18 November 2022 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.
The National Care Home Awards is a night of celebration, where excellence in care homes around the country will receive the recognition it deserves.
90% of all care home support in Scotland is delivered by the independent sector, with these services caring for over 32,000 older individuals and employing nearly 44,000 people.
Scottish Care, the representative body for independent social care services across Scotland and organisers of the event, are encouraging those working in the sector and the wider public to join in on the celebrations online using the hashtags #celebratecare and #careawards22.
Winners will be announced by the Awards Host – Scottish singer, TV and radio presenter, Michelle McManus.
Awards will be presented over fourteen categories:
Ancillary & Support Staff Award
Meaningful Activity Award
Nutrition & Eating Well Award
Training, Learning & Staff Development Award
Emerging Talent Award
Outstanding Achievement Award
Leadership Award
Palliative & End of Life Care Practise Award
Nurse of the Year Award
Care Worker of the Year Award
Specialist Service/Unit of the Year Award
Care Home Service of the Year Award
Positive Impact Award
Strategic Contribution Award
Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care and the co-host of the Awards Ceremony said: “Care homes are places where people can live the fullest possible lives despite medical conditions or factors which might limit them. They are places of entertainment, activity, conversation and friendships. The Care Home Awards is an opportunity to show the real brilliance of the Scottish care home sector.
“The care home workforce is full of individuals who behave with dignity, compassion, professionalism and skill. We are hosting the awards to express our gratitude and to recognise the particular skills of a few.
“It is also a night to acknowledge all the individuals, teams and companies delivering care at an incredibly high standard in a challenging period and within an increasingly demanding work environment.”
The awards have been hailed a huge success in recognising individuals, teams and companies. This year saw a record number of entries from care home staff, residents and relatives nominating their peers, colleagues and local services.
The Care Home Awards follows a full-day conference for the care home sector with speakers including the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care – Humza Yousaf MSP, Chair of the Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny & Regulation – Dame Sue Bruce, and Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate – Jackie Irvine.
The Scottish Care National Care Home Conference & Exhibition, which is now in its 23rd year has incorporated an awards ceremony for the last 18 years. The conference, exhibition and care awards are the largest of their kind for the care home sector in Scotland.
Emergency services, prosecutors and health colleagues are among those supporting a National Assault Pledge underlining a joint commitment to reduce violence and abuse against workers.
The National Assault Pledge builds upon Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone’s Assault Pledge, developed in response to a concerning increase in violence and abuse against Police Scotland officers and staff. The Chief Constable’s Assault Pledge was published in August 2020 with the support of the then Lord Advocate and Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
Since then, local pledges have been developed by services in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
The national partnership group includes British Transport Police, NHS Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and others. The group will share best practice, develop preventative measures and use consistent messaging in their workplace to support and encourage staff to report incidents.
The National Assault Pledge was agreed by signatories at an event at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan, on Tuesday, 15 November.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor QPM has been leading Police Scotland’s drive to reduce the impact violence and abuse has on officers and staff and introduce measures to improve their safety.
DCC Taylor said: “Being the victim of an assault can have a long lasting impact both physically and mentally. It’s not simply part of the job.
“Working in partnership with a number of key organisations highlights our collective approach and united pledge to reduce assaults at work.
“I want our officers and staff to feel supported and this partnership adds to work already ongoing in this area.”
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC said: “Assaults on front line workers will not be tolerated and Scotland’s prosecutors will help protect their safety through robust action.
“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service work closely with police to ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of crime.
“Any criminal behaviour that threatens public safety and the safety of front line workers will be taken very seriously.”
In 2021/22, there were 7,858 common assaults against emergency workers – an increase of 12 per cent compared to the previous year. Over 7,000 of these were against police officers and staff.
Improved operational safety training, a Taser uplift programme and partnership with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to introduce impact statements are some of the work that has been driven within Police Scotland to support officer and staff safety.
Sarah Boyack has warned against a “cliff-edge” in housing support in Lothian as a report reveals the number of open housing advice cases hit its highest point on record after pandemic protections were stripped away.
“Housing Options” services provide support and advice for people facing homelessness or other housing issues. Most people who seek advice through this system will go on to make a homelessness application, with this being the outcome in 55 per cent of cases in 2021/22.
In Edinburgh, in 2021/22 the number people approaching this service fell by 2 per cent, however, the average time taken for the local authority to deliver this support rose by a shocking 179%, up to 148 days in 2021/22 from 53 days in 2020/21, making it highest increase among all local councils.
The number of open cases in Edinburgh climbed by 13 per cent to the highest point since records began in 2014/15.
The number of people in Scotland approaching the service at risk of homelessness because of termination of tenancy or mortgage due to rent arrears or default on payments soared by a staggering 53 per cent in a single year.
This sharp increase is likely the result of emergency protections introduced during the pandemic ending. Labour have called these figures a “stark warning” and urged the SNP government not to repeat its mistakes when measures introduced to manage the cost of living crisis come to an end.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack said:“This damning report lays bare how badly tenants and homeowners were abandoned after the pandemic.
“In Edinburgh, the council is struggling to cope with rising demand, with the need for high quality, affordable housing being more pressing than ever.
“People arriving from Ukraine are also in desperate need for accommodation.
“What will happen when the current rent freeze and evictions ban draw to an end?
“No-one should lose their home because of this cost of living crisis – we need a real long-term plan to prevent homelessness, protect tenants, and help homeowners, before a second wave of homelessness hits.”
Table 4a: Number of open PREVENT1 approaches as at 31 March, in Edinburgh: 2015 to 2022
2015
2,555
2016
2,875
2017
3,210
2018
3,515
2019
3,880
2020
4,725
2021
6,520
2022
7,370
Change 2021 to 2022 %
13%
Table 6a: Reason for PREVENT1 approach: 2014-15 to 2021-22
2020-21
2021-22
Change 20-21 to 21-22 %
All Approaches
37,412
40,062
7%
Homelessness type reasons:
Termination of tenancy / mortgage due to rent arrears / default on payments
