“Putting” their rivalry aside, Hibs and Hearts legends sign up for inaugural Auld Reekie Cup

All “fore” a good cause – Don’t miss your chance to play in Edinburgh’s exclusive charity golf tournament

It’s a rivalry that has kept football fans on the edge of their stadium seats for almost 150 years – that between Edinburgh’s Hibernian F.C and Heart of Midlothian F.C.

And now that competition is set to hit the golf course as footballing legends from Hibs and Hearts prepare to tee off in an exclusive charity golf tournament. What’s more, local supporters are being offered a unique opportunity to play alongside these football icons as entries into the inaugural Auld Reekie Cup teams officially open to the public.

Taking place on Thursday 26th October at the historic Royal Burgess Golfing Society, the Auld Reekie Cup is set to be a memorable golf day with a difference, featuring friendly competition and banter, with great prizes and bragging rights up for grabs. 

Switching the pitch for the fairway will be fitba stars Scott Brown, Mixu Paatelainen, Steven Whittaker, Derek Riordan, Gordon Hunter, Steven Tweed, Ally McLeod, John Blackley and John Brownlie playing for Hibernian, and Jim Brown, Scott Crabbe, Eammon Bannon and Graeme Shaw playing for Hearts. More big names will be confirmed in the coming days.

And it’s all in aid of a great cause. Thanks to the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation and the Big Hearts Community Trust, all money raised will be used to support projects promoting young people’s mental health.

Speaking ahead of the event, Hanlon Stevenson Foundation Ambassador Paul Demarco said; “Uniting old rivals for a common cause, this charity golf day will bring Hibs and Hearts together on the green to tee up support for young people’s mental health.

“Hanlon Stevenson Foundation are delighted to be working with Big Hearts Community Trust, proving that when it comes to making a positive difference, our shared purpose is stronger than any rivalry.”

Big Hearts Community Trust Chief Executive Craig Wilson added; “We are thrilled to have been asked to be part of this exciting new event alongside The Hanlon Stevenson Foundation which will allow us to support even more young people across Edinburgh.

“We already do a host of work in this area and know the challenges that exist. We hope to have a full team of golfers joining us and our playing legends on what will be a great day at such a historic venue, all for a great cause.”

The Auld Reekie Cup will take place at The Royal Burgess Golfing Society on Thursday 26th October.

Entries into both teams are now open. Teams of 3 plus a playing legend are priced at £900 +VAT. To purchase a ticket for the Hibernian team please email graeme@hanlonstevensonfoundation.co.uk

To purchase a ticket for the Hearts team please email kirsty.coutts@bighearts.org.uk.

Public urged to help save lives by joining the GoodSAM App Movement

Over 3,000 people in Scotland have an out of hospital cardiac arrest every year and every second counts. The public can help by dialling 999, starting CPR – or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – and using a defibrillator it can help save lives.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has urged people up to GoodSAM, an app which has shown a substantial increase in survival by supporting early intervention, ensuring a quicker response by community responders and Scottish Ambulance teams.

The benefit of using GoodSam was highlighted at the annual Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium held in Edinburgh (6 September 2023).

Michael Dickson, SAS Chief Executive said: “When a cardiac arrest occurs we know every second counts, the earlier CPR happens the greater the chances of survival. The public can help by joining GoodSam and find out how to carry out CPR.

“I would encourage everyone to find out more by visiting www.savealife.scot/GoodSAM – you can really make a difference.”

Dundee-based Chris Allison read about the app in a newspaper article, which inspired him to register a few years ago. Chris volunteers for the HM Coastguard and wanted to further help out his local community by becoming a GoodSAM responder.

He was lying in bed early one morning when he received a GoodSAM notification for a cardiac arrest happening around the corner. He quickly raced to the scene.

He found the patient’s wife administering CPR whilst quite distressed, so he took over until the paramedics arrived shortly after. He stayed with the paramedics to assist and after a lot of hard work from all involved, they managed to get a pulse then transport the patient to hospital.

Chris said: “As I had previous experience of emergency medicine through my work, I felt it my duty to register as a GoodSAM responder.

“There is no right or wrong when it comes to CPR, but family members can often find it hard when they are highly distressed.

“The GoodSAM app is extremely valuable as it gives local people in their communities the ability and system to provide life-saving support.”

GoodSAM-Further-InformationDownload

Big Swap Event on 14 October

SATURDAY 14th OCTOBER from 11am – 2pm

ST MARTINs CHURCH, DALRY ROAD

Join us on Saturday, October 14th, 2023, at St. Martins Church (232 Dalry Rd, Edinburgh, EH11 2JG) to find clothes, toys, books, DVDs, kitchen utensils, and more, all available for FREE! 🌍

Expect to explore a diverse selection of items, such as:

– Women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing

– Toys

– Books, CDs, and DVDs

– Kitchen utensils

– … and much more!

Please remember to bring your own bags to help us minimise waste. 👜

Important note: We will not be accepting donations on the day of the event. If you’d like to make donations, please visit the ELREC Office at 14 Forth Street, EH13LH, on Wednesday, October 11th, or Thursday, October 12th, between 10 am and 5 pm.

Secure your free event tickets here: meetup.com/edinburgh-sustainable-meetup/events/296531170/

If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at cfc@elrec.org.uk or anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk.

This event is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), Granton Goes Greener, NKS – Networking Key Services & SCOREscotland, and is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

#sustainableliving

#circulareconomy

#circularfashion

#bigswap

#thrift

#reusereducerecycle

How Edinburgh’s Family and Household Support Service works to ‘get it right for everyone’

Edinburgh’s Family and Household Support Service has prevented at least 350 households from becoming homeless, a council report has revealed.

At a meeting of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee this week, councillors heard how the service is providing a citywide approach to ‘getting it right for everyone’ – with the aim of helping vulnerable residents before it’s too late.

Through referrals from sources such as teachers, housing officers and social workers to police officers and politicians, it has been possible to intervene early in many cases to help households in Edinburgh access the right advice and support.

Around £300,000 in welfare has been sourced to support families referred to the service, alongside advice on issues as varied as parenting, addiction, employment and health and wellbeing, according to the council report.

Working directly with teams which handle antisocial behaviour complaints and neighbourly disputes, the service is also working to prevent repeat instances of antisocial behaviour by working holistically with those involved to assess any support needs.

The Committee also heard how the service is successfully helping tenants sustain their tenancy once they move into a new home. Edinburgh’s ‘Keys and a Kit’ programme as it has been dubbed features sessions on finances, health and local community resources and activities to help new tenants settle in, which can be particularly important following a long period of homelessness.

By making the best use of limited resources by working collaboratively with charities and others, it is also estimated that this preventative approach has provided a saving to the council of close to £6m since 1 April 2022.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Every day, our tenants are interacting with council services – be it for health care, school, or welfare. These services need to be joined up so that we can better support the whole life of a tenant and it’s great to see the difference this ‘getting it right for everyone’ approach is making.

“Thanks to early intervention from council workers and from our partners, we’ve prevented homelessness for hundreds of households. Families entitled to benefits have been helped and tenants moving into new homes have been supported.

“Plus an extra advantage of this has been £4.5m of costs associated with homelessness avoided in the last year alone, at a time when our finances are under immense pressure.

“I hope to see us build on this even further now that the Family and Household Support Service reports into the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee.

“I’m confident that we’ll be able to draw this work together even more and build in other measures, such as noticing when a tenant’s home may be suffering from damp or is in need of an essential repair.”

NHS Lothian to make amends for historic links with slavery

NHS Lothian yesterday (Thursday) said it would make amends for its historical links with slavery, following publication of new research.

Although the health board cannot provide any traditional financial reparation, it has agreed to raise awareness, provide education and forge new relationships as part of a bid to begin acknowledging its legacy and making amends for the past.

Board members have agreed to implement a series of recommendations provided by an independent advisory group following a two-year research project.

The research, which was funded and conducted by the NHS Lothian Charity following engagement with staff and local public, began investigating historical links, particularly with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Initial research found that an estimated modern-day equivalent of £39.1m in funding provided to the RIE came from its ownership of an estate in Jamaica and the enslaved people of African descent attached to it, and from donations from people with connections to slavery.

Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, said: “This important work was carried out to help give us a greater understanding of the history that has shaped our society and institutions.

“Tackling racism helps us reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for our diverse population and ensures a better experience for everyone who works with and for us. This work is vital to delivering this ambition.

“We have a duty to use this understanding to take action that will create meaningful change.

“We will now begin work to plan how we will implement the recommendations to ensure they have an impact.

“The timing of this research is particularly important as we, in NHS Lothian, recognise Black History Month to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture. It is an opportunity for Black and Minority Ethnic staff and their allies to share their experiences and to collaboratively bring change to the organisation.

“It also provides us with a further opportunity to reflect on the past, as well as look forward and opens up conversations about how we tackle racism, rising health inequalities and modern slavery.”

The research, which began in 2021, was presented to board members of NHS Lothian at a meeting on October 4, alongside a series of eight recommendations.

It found that in 1750, 39 enslaved people of African descent on Red Hill pen, a small estate in St-Thomas-in-the-East in Jamaica, came into the ownership of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh through the will of a Scottish surgeon in Jamaica, Dr Archibald Kerr.

The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh owned Red Hill pen for 143 years. For almost 90 of those years, the exploited labour of the people who worked on Red Hill pen – generations of enslaved people – provided considerable wealth for the Infirmary.

The hospital relied on this money to enable it to buy medicines, construct a new building, employ staff, and heal Edinburgh’s ‘sick poor,’ and did so for longer than the NHS has currently existed.

The recommendations accepted by the board said NHS Lothian should publish an apology and create an Implementation Group to deliver anti-racist interventions to tackle current racial inequalities in employment and health.

It is also proposed that commemorative works should be commissioned, via the NHS Lothian Charity, a review of its current arts and culture activity be carried out and work to share the findings of the research.

The recommendations urged NHS Lothian to explore partnerships with organisations in Jamaica and West Africa and undertake further research into the health board’s connections with slavery.

Finally, NHS Lothian should also encourage research partnerships on the impact of slavery on British medicine and healthcare systems.

Work is now underway to develop the recommendations into a work programme.

ELREC: Art through Language project

*** Starting next Monday 9th October ***

ELREC are organising a very exciting workshop in partnership with Heriot-Watt University exploring people’s perception of their language and how it can be reflected in a form of art.

Join us for this very creative course. Attendance at all the sessions is not necessary, you can come along to as many sessions as you wish. All materials and food are provided😄

Need more information? email mrostami@elrec.org.uk

#art

#language

#linguistics

#community

Almost 250,000 early birds file Self Assessment in first week

Almost 250,000 Self Assessment customers filed their 2022 to 2023 tax return during the first week of the tax year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.

The number of customers choosing to file on the first day of the new tax year (6 April) has increased in recent years. Those opting to file in the first week of the new tax year has increased by nearly 100,000 customers since 2018.

The data, which examined numbers of customers who filed between 6 and 12 April, also revealed the most popular day to file a tax return during that week was 6 April and that Self Assessment customers enjoy a day of rest with the Sunday being the least popular day to file.

The increase in early bird filers means more customers are benefitting from filing their tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year well ahead of the deadline on 31 January 2024. Those who file early have more control over their financial affairs can take advantage of finding out what they owe and budget for it. If they are owed money, they can get their refund much sooner.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Our figures show more and more customers are benefitting from filing early which means they can relax knowing their tax return is complete, know what they owe and can budget.

“For those who haven’t yet thought about their tax return, go to GOV.UK, search ‘Self Assessment’ to get started.”

If customers are unsure whether they need to complete a tax return, they can check if they need to complete a tax return by using the free online tool on GOV.UK.

If customers need support to file a  tax return, there is no need to ring as HMRC has a wide range of resources online including a series of video tutorials on YouTube, help and support on GOV.UK, as well as a webchat service.

Customers who have already filed their tax return can now take their time to plan to pay in the best way that suits them and their cash flow which may mean setting up a budget payment plan to manage their bill to pay before the deadline.

Customers who file early will also find out if they are owed money sooner and can go ahead and claim the refund once their tax return is submitted and processed. Customers can also check if they are due a refund in the HMRC app once they have filed their return.

If customers think they no longer need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, they should tell HMRC – so that HMRC can issue a withdrawal notice – before the deadline on 31 January 2024 to avoid any penalties. 

HMRC has produced two videos explaining how customers can go online and stop Self Assessment if they are self-employed and those who are not self-employed.

It is important that customers let HMRC know of any changes to personal details or circumstances, such as a new address or name, or if they have stopped being self-employed or their business has closed. Don’t assume someone else will update HMRC, customers can make changes via GOV.UK.

Customers need to be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.

Filing figures for the first week of the tax year

Year201820192020202120222023
Filing date17/1818/1919/2020/2121/2222/23
6 April36,939*35,25596,51963,76866,49277,517
7 April*18,145*22,53648,23738,19237,06731,715
8 April*15,20132,60239,67430,97128,645*18,896
9 April23,98328,76534,64125,119*18,989*14,377
10 April22,06024,42624,391*19,561*17,19029,284
11 April20,52222,516*15,904*17,27731,38138,006
12 April19,39021,126*11,55028,02328,97336,415
Total156,240187,226270,916222,911228,737246,210

*Weekend

These figures do not include paper returns or amendments for previous years.

Art UK launches free visual literacy programme for every primary school

NATIONAL charity, Art UK, has launched a free programme, The Superpower of Looking®, to equip young people with the visual literacy skills that have become essential to successfully navigate the modern, image-saturated world.   

In the UK, it is estimated that young adults have a combined total of approximately 10 million photographs on their smartphones. Additionally, recent analysis found that by 2030 there will be 382 billion images on Google Images.

Against this expansive backdrop of our increasingly visual world and the rapid developments of AI, it is vital that young people are empowered to fully embrace the opportunities of digital advancements of the evolving world around them and the future advancement still to come.  

An evidence-based programme, The Superpower of Looking accelerates curriculum development by providing free resources that empower students to critically observe, analyse, question and interpret images and communicate with confidence.

This includes bespoke films, full lesson resources, teacher training videos, a lesson toolkit and access to Art UK’s digital database of artworks, which includes more than 300,000 pieces of work by more than 500,000 artists across more than 3,400 British institutions.  

This launch follows the completion of two successful pilots in partnership with 70 schools in England and Scotland which found that The Superpower of Looking:   

  • Increases pupils’ confidence  
  • Improves visual literacy skills across all assessed areas, including understanding new concepts, substantiating points with evidence during peer discussions, critical thinking and more  
  • Achieves high pupil engagement with lesson materials  
  • Increases pupils’ interest in cultural education spaces.  

Additionally, 95 per cent of teachers that participated in the pilots reported feeling confident incorporating the resources into their classes and 92 per cent said they would recommend the programme to their peers.  

Adele Darlington, EYFS Teacher and Art Lead at Leighfield Primary School, said: “The Superpower of Looking brings art to life in the classroom, for both students and their teachers. I’ve seen how the programme inspired my pupils to stop and look at the world around them through a more critical lens and with deeper focus, and have seen them carry this into other areas of their learning.  

“Watching my pupils’ enthusiasm in the classroom grow after The Superpower of Looking lessons has been inspiring. For children who may never have engaged with arts and culture or been to visit a gallery before, it’s been a genuinely transformative experience.”  

Katie Leonard, Head of Learning at Art UK, said: “At a time when digital mediums and imagery play an increasingly important and influential role, it is vital that we are empowering young people with the knowledge, confidence and skills to successfully navigate the world around them.  

“By launching The Superpower of Looking today, we are making more than 300,000 works of art from more than 3,400 British institutions available to young people across the country.

“It is our hope that by doing so, this programme will help embed visual literacy in the primary curriculum and make art an integral and accessible part of every primary school classroom in the UK.”  

The Superpower of Looking is supported by Freelands Foundation. For more information about The Superpower of Looking and to sign up to the programme, please visit: artuk.org/learn/the-superpower-of-looking.  

Scotland’s children have their say

New National Charter sets out what children want from school-age childcare services

Kindness, community, fun and fairness are the priorities children in Scotland have identified for a future funded school-age childcare offer, according to the new Children’s Charter launched this week.

As part of the Children’s Charter – which will be used to co-design a system of school-age childcare – young people also shared their views on why childcare is needed, how it is funded, the people who should run it and the sorts of activities it should include.

Around 125 children from primary schools across Scotland created five local Charters for the best out of school care for their community. The groups of children later went on to collaborate on a National Charter, which will guide a future nationwide system of school-age childcare.

Children’s Minister Natalie Don met with some of the participants to the Charter during its formal launch at St Mungo’s School in Alloa.

Ms Don said: “Developing a system of school-age childcare is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Giving children the opportunity to get involved at the heart of policy making ensures that we design services that better meet their needs in the future.

“As we publish the Charter during Challenge Poverty Week, all of the children that took part share our ambition to put fairness at the forefront in a future childcare system. Not only will it reduce barriers for children to access a wide range of activities and support, it will also allow parents and carers to enter or sustain employment or increase their hours at work.

“I am grateful to all of the children who participated so meaningfully in this important exercise. Their input is a vital part of our Delivery Framework, which I am also pleased to be publishing today.

“The Framework sets out our key action areas for building a new system of school-age childcare and how we will continue to involve children, parents, providers and communities in delivering this.”

Irene Audain MBE, Chief Executive at Scottish Out of School Care Network said: “I welcome the launch today of the Children’s Charter for School-Age Childcare and the School-Age Childcare Delivery Framework.

“I firmly agree with the children’s priorities of Kindness, Fairness, Choice, Happiness, and Fun, in their ideal services, rooted in local communities where everyone is respected and looks out for each other, as this too is our ideal good quality service.”

Councillor Graham Lindsay, Education spokesperson at Clackmannanshire Council, said:  “Our approach as a Scottish Government School Age Childcare Early Adopter Community has reflected the ambition of Clackmannanshire Family Wellbeing Partnership to tackle poverty and inequalities.

“Our Child Wellbeing Project has encouraged community groups and childcare providers in Alloa to work together to provide school-age childcare which is funded for priority families and this is already making a huge impact.

“St Mungo’s children thoroughly enjoyed participating in creating the National Children’s Charter for School Age Childcare and it is wonderful to see their hard work reflected at the launch today.”

Currently, all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are able to take up 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in Scotland. Work is underway with local authorities and other partners to phase in an expanded national offer for families with two-year-olds, as well as targeted early delivery of all age childcare for low income families. 

School age childcare: national children’s charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)