A ground-breaking gathering of crypto enthusiasts and Bitcoin Angels at Stirling Castle has raised £13,500 – and counting – for cancer charity Maggie’s.
In addition to the £5000 donated directly from artist and organiser Trevor Jones he is also willing to match contributions up to 5 Ethereum, as more continues to come through in donations of the crypto currency.
A fine art graduate and traditional painter, Trevor has worked at the intersection of art and technology for more than a decade, experimenting with QR code paintings and augmented reality (AR). When he invested in Bitcoin in 2017 it inspired a new creative direction, leading to his crypto-themed AR paintings and his emergence as a pioneer of non-fungible tokens (NFT) in art.
He staged the Grand Party at the historic castle last month (July) as a celebration of art, tech innovation and community, bringing together hundreds of NFT art enthusiasts from across five continents.
Billed as the year’s most exclusive crypto event, with an exclusive Special Edition Castle Party 2022 NFT available only at the gathering, it featured acts including magicians, drum and pipe bands, Highland warriors from Combat International, a caricaturist and musicians.
Trevor said: “We’re over the moon that the event already raised £13,500 for Maggie’s cancer charity, a cause close to the heart of the NFT community since the passing earlier this year of the well-loved crypto artist Phillipe Fatoux aka Alotta Money.
“The Castle Party was an unforgettable experience – even the temperamental Scottish weather was on our side with blue skies followed by a beautiful sunset. And we’ve already begun organising Castle Party 2023!”
Anyone who wishes to support the 2022 initiative can donate to Maggie’s or donate through this ETH address until the end of the year.
Mark Cooper, Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s says: “Everyone at Maggie’s is so grateful to the NFT community for their support.
“The funds raised will make a transformational difference to people with cancer and their friends and family living across Edinburgh.”
The event was also supported by a number of sponsors:
NFT whisky marketplace Metacask, Nova Finance digital asset investments, Tokenframe digital screens for NFT artwork, Saga cigars hand crafted in the Dominican Republic, Apollo NFT, a leading NFT consulting firm and production studio, and wilderness foragers and flavour alchemists, Buck & Birch.
Is sustainability your bag? Sign up to Second Hand September and show the world that any outfit looks fabulous when it’s helping to protect the planet!
By shopping only second hand for 30 days with Oxfam, you can give everything from t-shirts to trousers a brand new lease of life.
Plus, you’ll reduce demand for new clothes, help reduce damage to our planet, and raise money to help communities hit by poverty and the climate crisis.
Sign up to get:
Handy tips and tricks on how to revamp your wardrobe sustainably
20% discount code for the Oxfam online shop
The chance of winning front row tickets to the Oxfam London Fashion Week show
Share your eco-friendly outfits on socials using #SecondHandSeptember and tag @OxfamGB
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, many university students will be looking for ways to cut back.
A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that a third of students are living on less than £50 a month after paying rent and bills. With the cost of living soaring, 96 per cent of students are cutting back on spending as a result.
Which? has nine tips for students wanting to save money while they study:
1. Choose the best student bank account
Choosing the best student bank account should be a priority. When looking for an account to suit your needs, Which? recommends finding one with a generous 0% overdraft that lasts for the length of your course.
Student bank account providers offer different perks and offers – so it’s worth making sure you get the deal best suited to you. For example, Santander offers a free four-year railcard which is worth around £90 but it doesn’t offer the largest interest-free overdraft and you’ll need to pay in £500 per term.
While NatWest offers one of the largest overdrafts for first-year students, the freebies, such as its one-year Tastecard membership, aren’t as valuable. Other accounts offer cash incentives of up to £100.
2. Consider what kind of laptop or computer you need
Most students find a laptop, rather than a desktop computer, better for university as they’re easy to carry around and don’t take up too much space. Don’t overspend on a laptop that’s too powerful for your needs. Between £250 and £400 should be enough if you’re only going to be researching and creating Word documents.
It’s worth searching for student discounts and deals on laptops. For instance, Lenovo offers up to 30 per cent off for students, but you might need to show a valid student ID. You can often find the best deals direct from manufacturers’ websites. For example, HP offers £150 cashback if you trade in an old laptop for a new one. Buying second hand or refurbished laptops is another way to save.
If you plan to work from home most of the time and you’re on a tight budget, a desktop computer might be a cost-effective option, especially if you already have a computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. Desktops typically have a faster processor, more ports and more RAM and storage, compared to the same-priced laptop.
Most universities have computers around campus for students to use, and some have laptops that can be used in their libraries.
3. Find out what additional support is available
Most universities offer additional financial support, particularly – although not exclusively – to students from lower-income families. The most common examples are bursaries and scholarships to help with some or all of a student’s tuition fees or living costs. Companies, charities and special-interest groups are all common sources of funding, too. Bursaries and scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit (i.e. achieving high grades at A-level), a talent or skill, and extracurricular achievements.
If you have a disability or dependants who rely on you for care or financial support (for example children, or parents you care for), you might be eligible for grants or allowances to help you. Students will be asked about this when applying for student finance, but it’s worth researching what your university, charities and other groups offer, too.
4. Share subscriptions with your flatmates
Lots of student accommodation doesn’t come with a television or TV licence, and many students rely on streaming services as a result. You can cut this cost by sharing streaming subscriptions within a household. Most services have plans that could help users save money, without losing their personalised features. For example, Spotify offers a Premium Duo plan for £13.99 a month for two people in the same household, saving £71.88 a year compared to the price of two individual subscriptions.
For larger households, the Spotify Premium Family plan for £16.99 a month allows up to six users to get premium benefits, saving a whopping £515.40 a year over six individual subscriptions. Amazon Prime also allows users to share benefits with another person in their household, halving the cost of having two separate accounts.
5. Buy books second hand
Students will no doubt be presented with a long list of books that they’ll need to buy as part of their course. Tutors often insist you buy them all, but it might be worth checking how many are mandatory and how many are ‘nice-to-haves’. Find out if any necessary books are available in your library to borrow, or if the relevant bits are available online to download for free. Some departments have their own second-hand book schemes, and many university bookshops sell second-hand copies as well. It could also be worth searching for cheaper second-hand copies on online marketplaces.
6. Find student discount codes
It’s always worth checking if you can pay less with a student discount, whether you’re going out for a pizza with friends or treating yourself to a new pair of jeans. Discounts can range from around 5 per cent to 40 per cent, so there are often big savings to be made. While students can typically use their physical student card in shops and restaurants, there are also online cards and schemes you can sign up for such as Totum, Tastecard, Unidays, Student Beans and International Student Card. Each service offers its own exclusive online discounts, so you’ll get different deals with each.
7. Look for freebies
Several companies offer freebies for students, so it’s worth searching for the best ones. For example, Amazon Prime offers six months free when you sign up to an Amazon Prime Student Trial. Students can also sign up for Microsoft’s Office 365 Education for free with their university email address. McDonald’s also offers a free cheeseburger, mayo chicken, or McFlurry Original when you buy any extra value or wrap meal and show a valid student or Student Beans ID.
8. Save money on bills
While those living in student accommodation will likely have their utilities included, students living off campus usually need to pay for this themselves. Think about ways you could reduce energy use for cheaper bills, such as cooking with housemates, charging your laptop on campus and not leaving gadgets on standby. Students are also exempt from paying council tax.
9. Save on transport
There are several ways to save on transport as a student. For example, the 16-25 railcard gives a third off rail journeys for just £30 per year, or £20 a year if you purchase via the Trainline before 31 August 2022.
You can also buy a railcard with £10 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers. National Express offers a Young Persons Coachcard for £15 that grants a third off journeys as well. It’s worth checking if you can get local travel cards or bus passes – different cities around the UK will have different options.
It might also be cost-effective to take a bike with you to save on transport costs. Some universities have their own bike loan schemes, so it’s worth checking when you arrive.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Senior Shopping and Money Editor, said: “University is already expensive and the rising cost of rent, food, energy and train fares, as well as books and other student essentials, means that many will be feeling the squeeze and looking for ways to cut back.
“There are ways to stay on top of things. Try sticking to a budget to keep track of your spending. Find a student bank account that offers a decent 0 per cent overdraft and perks that meet your needs. You can also save in a wide range of shops and restaurants with student discounts and offers – so it’s always worth keeping an eye out for deals.”
Musselburgh Racecourse’s final hurrah of the summer is set for an invasion of superheroes with next month’s Musselburgh Gold Cup Family Raceday.
Proving that racing isn’t just for the adults, the whole family is invited to embrace Superheroes Day with entertainment celebrating some of Marvel and DC’s most daring characters – from Batman and Spiderman to Captain America and Bumblebee.
Taking place on Sunday, September 11 and marking the last of The Sensational 7 Series of the year, the event invites youngsters to dress up as their favourite superhero or character in costume for a day at the races filled with family fun.
In the words of Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, with great power comes great responsibility – to enjoy yourself … !
Children 17 years and under are admitted free, when accompanied by a paying adult, and can enjoy the Clip Clop kids zone with children’s rides and superhero shows, prizes for the kids in the best dressed superhero or character costume, chill out tepee, bubbles and the ever-popular face-painting – all included in the ticket price. If that isn’t enough, they can also enjoy the day at the kids disco.
Alongside all the family fun, the East Lothian track is hosting an afternoon of equally exciting, top-quality racing and the raceday packages Musselburgh is renowned for, including picnic table reservations, dining at the Harris Tweed Bistro plus Fish & Chips and Gourmet Hot Dog options.
The Musselburgh Gold Cup over two miles, is one of the three feature races carrying £25,000 in prize money. Last year it was won by Haizoom, trained at Carluke by Keith Dalgleish and four out of the last five favourites have been successful.
Dumfriesshire-based Iain Jardine is another trainer from Scotland that has won this staying event which has also gone to horses from Newmarket and Yorkshire in the past.
Aisling Johnston, Commercial Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse said: “We’ve had a fantastic summer season and we want to go out on a high, with an event that brings together the whole family for a spectacular finale.
“We can’t wait. Bring on the invasion of the superheroes, we’re ready for them!”
Tickets for The Musselburgh Gold Cup Family Raceday are now on sale and booking before midnight on the 26th August will save £10.00 off the raceday gate admission price (£30.00). Children 17 years and under are admitted FREE at Musselburgh Racecourse when accompanied by a paying adult.
Concession tickets are available at the gate on the day for £15 per person.
Tickets for the Summer Finale Raceday on Saturday 10th September are also available for purchase. To find out more information about this day and the additional 28 fixtures throughout the year, please visit https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
A red plaque has been unveiled to commemorate seven firefighters who lost their lives in a fire in Glasgow, Scotland, 50 years ago.
Andrew Quinn, Alistair Crofts, Iain Bermingham, Allan Finlay, William Hooper, Duncan McMillan, and James Rook were responding to a warehouse fire on Kilbirnie Street when they were killed after a ceiling collapsed while trying to rescue Rook, who was trapped.
It was one of the highest losses of life for the UK fire and rescue service at a single incident in peacetime.
The plaque is part of a national Red Plaque Scheme run by the Fire Brigades Union and funded through the Firefighters 100 Lottery, aiming to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The unveiling took place at the site of the fire on Kilbirnie Street on Sunday (28 August), three days after the 50 year anniversary of the incident.
Ben Selby (FBU Vice President), Colin Brown (FBU Executive Council Member for Scotland), Ross Haggart (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer) and Bailie Norman MacLeod (Glasgow City Council) spoke at the unveiling and paid tribute to the sacrifice of the seven firefighters who died.
Seona Hart, FBU Scotland Regional Treasurer, said: “This incident was a tragedy which had a huge impact on firefighters and the community locally.The plaque will help us all remember the huge sacrifice these firefighters made keeping the public safe.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line, and their selfless work to protect others deserves to be remembered. The Red Plaque Scheme plays an important role for the loved ones of firefighters who have died in the line of duty, so that their sacrifices are not forgotten, as well as sharing their stories with the community.”
The Red Plaque Scheme is fully funded by proceeds from the weekly Firefighters 100 Lottery which has been able to create several Plaques each year since it began in 2017. Over time, as supporters of the Lottery continue to grow, more Red Plaques can be placed at the heart of communities affected by firefighter fatalities.
More information on the Red Plaque Scheme can be found at:
We are nearing the day when young people can come and enjoy FetLor once again! Our clubs start back one week today – on September 5th. There has been a couple of small changes in our timetable from last year. See the flyer for all clubs and times.
As always clubs require registration. This needs to be completed by everyone.
To register simply click the link to take you through our digital form:
POLICE are appealing for information following a serious assault on Northfield Broadway, Edinburgh, on Thursday, 25 August, 2022.
At around 10pm, a 46-year-old man was attacked near to the traffic lights by two male youths on electric scooters. He attended Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.
The two suspects are both described as: white, slim build, mid-late teens, wearing dark coloured clothing.
They were seen heading off towards Portobello Road.
Detective Sergeant Kimberly Tennant of the Violence Reduction Unit, Gayfield, Edinburgh, said: “This was a violent attack which took place on a fairly busy street with pedestrians and vehicles despite the time.
“It was just after a football game and the pubs had been busy with people out watching it.
“Think back were you in the area and did you see anything which may help us identify these youths?
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are relying on members of the public to provide us with as much information as possible.
“If you can assist then please contact us on 101, quoting reference incident 4192 of 25 August, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
COSLA last night expressed its disappointment with the Local Government Trade Unions reaction to ‘one of the best pay deals for their workforce in decades’.
The offer, negotiated on behalf of Scotland’s 32 councils, is an overall package worth half a billion pounds, giving 5% to all staff plus an additional cost of living payment to our lowest paid employees. Based on a 37-hour week no member of staff will get less than an additional £1925 and for those earning under £20,500 at least a £2,000 pay increase – for this year and also next year.
This has been designed to address the concerns and firm view of Trade Unions that the lowest paid must be protected during this crisis and demonstrates Local Government’s commitment to not leave anyone behind.
Councils continue to strive to lead the way in pushing up minimum rates of pay and as well as this are including an extra days annual leave this year.
Councillor Katie Hagmann COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson said: “Council Leaders have said consistently throughout these negotiations that we absolutely value and are grateful to all of our local government workforce.
“It is perhaps only when waste starts piling up and there is the prospect of further disruption to life with school closures that others see the hidden value local government services deliver each and every day of the year in our towns, villages and cities.
“It is for this reason that we as employers have done everything possible to put the best offer we can to our workforce. But we are now at the absolute extremes of affordability and this is already an offer which is stretching our already stretched finances like never before.
“This year’s offer is significantly better and different to previous offers and would have helped to support our Council workforces across the country at this difficult time.
“That support is crucial at any time but particularly now, during the cost of living crisis the country is facing. This is why we are so disappointed with the response to it from our Trade Union colleagues.
“Given our commitment as Employers to get to this point, we are disappointed that Trade Unions will not suspend planned strike action whilst they put this offer to members to allow workers to get back to doing what they do best, delivering high quality, essential services right across Scotland.
“My final point to the Trade Union colleagues is that we have done everything we possibly can to get to this stage and that this offer – which is still on the table – is as good as it gets.”
UNISON responded: ‘Strikes to continue – We will recommend UNISON council members vote to reject the latest LG pay offer in a digital consultative ballot in the coming days.’
GMB Scotland and Unite, the two other unions locked in the local government dispute, also rejected the latest pay offer. GMB says the council pay offer feathers nests of service directors over frontline staff.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Keir Greenaway said: “A flat rate award is a key demand from unions to ensure more consolidated money goes into the pockets of frontline workers and not the highest paid in our councils. COSLA knew this but instead tabled this offer as an across-the-board percentage rise that only feathers the nests of service directors.
“This was unacceptable to our local government committee members. It’s not credible that in the grip of the biggest cost-of-living crisis in forty years, and with inflation and energy bills soaring, a head of service gets four times the consolidated increase than a bin collector, cleaner or carer.
“That’s why we have written to COSLA again this evening urging them to return to talks as soon as possible and to negotiate a new offer based on a flat rate increase. If they don’t do this, then when our committee reconvenes tomorrow, we will outline our plans to fully consult GMB members.”
The big clean up begins in Edinburgh this morning – but unless a pay deal can be thrashed out we could be facing another round of industrial action in Auld Reekie as earky as next week.
UNITE members rallied outside the City Chambers yesterday to mark the end of the first wave of strikes – but made clear this dispute is far from over.
A Unite spokesperson said: “Unless they get an offer Local Authority workers deserve, Edinburgh will be joined by 19 other Councils to take further action from September 6th.”
