Residents and staff at Strachan House in Edinburgh celebrated all things Irish for St Patrick’s Day last week.
The home was decorated with colourful green white and orange designs and Irish music rang out from all the corridors.
Mandy, Head of Activities, said: “We love a party at Strachan House and St Patricks Day is always a popular celebration to open our doors and welcome everyone in from the community to join in with our residents and staff”.
Held on March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day actually observes the death of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but the day has come to be a huge celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
Staff and residents at the home marked the day by learning about the history as well as many green themed antics. From making shamrock decorations, learning some Irish words and phrases, themed menu and landing a good old knees up party.
Mr and Mrs Barrie who reside at Strachan House, have been together for 70 years and demonstrated you’re never too old to have a good time. Mrs Barrie said “it was lovely to spend an evening with my husband, although I think he preferred the Guinness he was holding in his hand rather than me in the other”
General Manager, Gordon Philp said: “Our residents have all had a brilliant day today, everyone has enjoyed the festivities – I think we all agree St Patrick’s Day is the best of all the saints’ days! We had a fantastic time at our Irish party and sampling a few Guinnesses!”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Top 11 authorities by value all see price reduction
Fife sees largest fall in prices on a weight-adjusted basis
Average Scottish house price now £222,668
Monthly change down 0.9%, annually 4.6% up
Table 1. Average House Prices in Scotland for the period January 2022 – January 2023
Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments:“The headline figures this month mark the first real change in direction for house price growth in Scotland since 2012.
“We are likely seeing a conflation of factors that have resulted in this fall. On a purely seasonal note, January and February are traditionally slower months for housing transactions in Scotland – partly as a result of estate agency Christmas closures and reduced daylight hours for viewings.
“However, a fall in the average house price was perhaps inevitable given the sudden rise in the cost of mortgage finance and the economic turmoil brought about by the Truss-Kwarteng mini-budget.
“But a fall in the average has not meant a fall across all property types. If we look beyond the headline average house price fall of 0.9%, we can see how the varied types of property stock fared differently over the month. During January it was the price of flats that fell the most, by -2.0%, followed by terraces, down by -1.6%, and semi-detached properties down by -0.6%.
Meanwhile, the average price of detached homes remained steady during the month, with 0.0% price change. This is less surprising in so far as the more expensive detached properties tend to attract wealthier and more resilient buyers who are less impacted by the rising cost of mortgage finance.
“So, the average house price fall requires some perspective. We need to remember that in spite of the fall, the current average house price still remains some £9,700, or 4.6%, above the average price of twelve months earlier.”
Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst
The January housing market
In January 2023, average house prices in Scotland fell by -£1,921, or -0.9%. Ignoring the price movements associated with the introduction of the LBTT tax in April 2015 and the termination of the LBTT tax holiday in April 2021, this is the largest fall in a single month since December 2012. During January it was the price of flats that fell the most, by -2.0%, followed by terraces, down by -1.6%, and semi-detached properties down by -0.6%. Meanwhile, the average price of detached homes remained steady during the month, with 0.0% price change.
So why the price fall? January and February are typically the weakest months of the year in Scotland’s housing market. Transaction levels are at their lowest in these two months, which is in part to do with Christmas, when many estate agents remain closed over the holiday period, and in part due to the lack of daylight hours and inclement weather associated with these two winter months. When sales levels are low, minor trends – which might otherwise have been obscured by the larger number of sales in the other months of the year – can stand out. For example, estate agents have been reporting that the number of sales of properties which have previously been in the rental market is becoming more noticeable, with the government rent cap and future regulation changes deterring investors in this sector.
Even a small exodus of private investors in buy-to-let properties will have an impact on prices in the winter months. In Edinburgh, for example, the price of an average flat fell from £286k in December 2022 to £274k in January 2023, while in Glasgow average flat prices fell from £180k to £175k over the same period – with these two cities accounting for 42% of Scotland’s flat sales in January.
Despite reporting the largest monthly fall in prices of the last ten years, the current average house price still remains some £9,700, or 4.6%, above the average price of twelve months earlier. Indeed, as can be seen from Figure 1 below, taking a view of price movements in Scotland over the last five years, the dip in prices in January 2023 is barely perceptible. The average house price in January 2018 was £174,637 compared to £222,668 in January 2023 – a £48,000, or 27.5% rise over the period. This increase in price equates to a compound interest rate of 5.0% over the five years – which is a reasonable rate of return, given that the official bank rate over this period was mostly lower than 0.75%.
Figure 1. The average house price in Scotland over the five-year period January 2018 to January 2023
Local Authority Analysis
Table 2. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing January 2022, December 2022 and January 2023
Table 2 above shows the average house price and percentage change (over the last month and year) by Local Authority Area for January 2022, as well as for December 2022 and January 2023, calculated on a seasonal- and mix-adjusted basis. The ranking in Table 2 is based on the local authority area’s average house price for January 2023. Local Authority areas shaded in blue experienced record average house prices in January 2023.
Annual change
The average house price in Scotland in January 2023 has increased by some £9,700 – or 4.6% – over the last twelve months. This annual rate of growth has decreased by -2.0% from December’s revised 6.6%, which is the largest reduction in the annual growth rate of the last fourteen months.
However, in January 2023, 26 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland were still seeing their average prices rise above the levels of twelve months earlier, only three fewer than in December. The six areas where values fell over the year were, in descending order, Na h-Eileanan Siar (-5.8%), Aberdeen City (-4.5%), Stirling (-3.8%), Scottish Borders (-2.8%); Dundee City (-0.8%) and Fife (-0.5%).
The area with the highest annual increase in average house prices in January 2023 was Clackmannanshire, up by 25.0%. However, there were only 33 transactions in Clackmannanshire in January 2023, which falls below the desired sample size to obtain a reasonably accurate average price. Consequently, we suggest that the result for Clackmannanshire is treated with a degree of caution this month. The same ruling also applies to the three Island groups of Na h-Eileanan Siar, the Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands, where there were only 6, 14 and 16 sales in the month respectively.
On a weight-adjusted basis – which incorporates both the change in prices and the number of transactions involved – there were six local authority areas in January which accounted for 51% of the £9,700 increase in Scotland’s average house price over the year. The six areas in descending order of influence are: – Edinburgh (23%); North Lanarkshire (7%); Glasgow (6%); Aberdeenshire (5%); East Renfrewshire (5%); and South Lanarkshire (5%).
Monthly change
In January 2023, Scotland’s average house price fell in the month by some -£1,900, or -0.9%. This is the largest fall in a single month since December 2012, some ten years ago, ignoring the rather artificial falls around the months relating to the introduction of the LBTT in April 2015, as well as the ending of the LBTT tax-holidays in April 2021.
In January 2023, 23 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced falling prices in the month, which is eight more than in December2022. Of the 23 local authorities with price falls, 11 out of the top 11 areas when ranked by price all had price falls. Overall, it was the price of flats that saw the largest falls in the month, down by -2.0%, followed by terraces, down by -1.6%, with semi-detached properties down by -0.6%, while the average price of detached properties remained constant, with 0.0% change.
On a weight-adjusted basis, there were four local authority areas in January which accounted for 53% of the -£1,900 decrease in Scotland’s average house price in the month. The four areas in descending order of influence are: – Fife (-16%); Glasgow (-15%); Edinburgh (-15%) and Falkirk (-7%). It is not surprising to find Glasgow and Edinburgh in this listing, given the fall in flat prices, as they are the two authorities with the highest percentage of flats being sold each month, at 67% and 63% of their respective transaction totals. On a similar theme, Fife has the highest proportion of terraced sales of all the 32 local authorities in Scotland at 27% – terraced properties also being popular among buy-to-let investors, who may have decided it is time to sell.
Peak Prices
Each month, in Table 2 above, the local authority areas which have reached a new record in their average house prices are highlighted in light blue. In January, there are 4 such authorities, down from 6 in December.
Scotland transactions of £750k or higher
Table 3. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – January 2023
Table 3 shows the number of transactions per month in Scotland which are equal to or greater than £750k. The threshold of £750k has been selected as it is the breakpoint at which the highest rate of LBTT becomes payable.
There were 52 such transactions recorded by RoS relating to January 2023. Currently, this is the third-highest January total recorded to date, but there is likely to be an increase to this figure next month, as RoS process additional sales – we will have to wait and see whether the increase is sufficient to make the total the second highest of the last nine years. There does however appear to be a slight decrease from the number of high-value sales occurring in 2022 – but it is too early to be confident that the total of such sales will be higher or lower in 2023 than in the previous year.
There were three properties sold in Scotland in January having a value of £3 million or higher: an architect-designed 4 bedroom 2012 property in Maidens, Ayrshire, with views over the Firth of Clyde, which sold for £3.1 million; a “Baronial Style” 6 bedroom detached home in Colinton, Edinburgh, 3½ miles south-west of the city centre, which sold for £3.075 million; and a detached home, about a mile from the Muirfield golf course in Gullane, North Berwick, which sold for £3.0 million. It is good to know that, alongside the potential gloom in January’s housing market, high-value homes in splendid locations are continuing to attract willing buyers.
Transactions analysis
Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period from January 2007 to January 2023, based on RoS (Registers of Scotland) figures for the Date of Entry (January 2023 totals are based on RoS Application dates).
The graph starts in 2007, which was something of an exception, with close to 150,000 domestic property sales in the calendar year. The 2007 sales total is the largest of the last 18 years, although the period from 2004 to 2006 came close, with an average 139,000 sales on an annual basis.
However, during 2008 the banking industry began to suffer its credit crisis, with home loans becoming difficult to obtain, especially for first time buyers. Accordingly, the number of housing transactions fell to approximately 70,000 per year over the period from 2009 to 2012.
Normality was slowly restored from 2013, with sales rising to a yearly average of 87,500 over the period from 2013 to 2015, rising to an average 102,000 sales per annum from 2016 to 2019.
The effect of the Covid pandemic – which started in March 2020 – can be clearly seen on the graph. Housing transactions in April 2020 plummeted with the arrival of the pandemic, to be followed by a slow rise in sales as confidence began to return. Then followed a period when sales exceeded previous levels, from September 2020, as lifestyle changes and the LBTT tax-holiday pushed up demand – especially for properties with space to allow for working from home.
Figure 2. The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date from 2007 – 2023
In Figure 2, three peaks can be seen after March 2020: in October 2020 (pent-up demand from the low transaction levels earlier in 2020) and March and June 2021 (LBTT and SDLT tax-holidays encouraging sales in both Scotland and England). The dip in housing activity in January and February of each year is also clearly visible. For the record, the average number of transactions in January and February over the ten-year period from 2013 to 2022 was 6,476 and 5,717 respectively, compared to an average 8,633 sales for the remaining ten months.
In 2022, transaction levels have averaged 8,358 sales per month, which is down 2.4% on the 8,561 average sales that took place in 2019 – the last full year prior to Covid.
Heat Map
The heat map below shows the rate of house price growth for the 12 months ending January 2023. As reported above, 26 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland have seen a rise in their average property values over the last year, the six exceptions being Na h-Eileanan Siar, Aberdeen City, Stirling, the Scottish Borders, Dundee City and Fife. The highest increase on the mainland over the twelve months to January 2023 was in Clackmannanshire at 25.0%, although this was based on a relatively small number of sales. In second place on the mainland was Moray at 11.4%. 5 of the 32 local authority areas had price growth of 10.0% or higher – one fewer than in December 2022.
Comparisons with Scotland
Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-January 2023
Figure 4. A comparison of the annual change in house prices in Scotland, England and Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2020–January 2023
Scotland’s Eight Cities
Figure 5. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities from November 2021–January 2023
Figure 6. Average house prices for Scotland’s eight cities January 2023
The Home Secretary has hailed the strengthening of the partnership with Rwanda as both countries vow to step up efforts in dealing with global migration challenges.
Under the innovative Migration and Economic Development Partnership, people who make dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys to the UK, such as by small boat, will be relocated to Rwanda, where they will be supported to rebuild their lives.
Suella Braverman travelled to Kigali yesterday for official engagements with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr Vincent Biruta, this weekend (March 18 and 19).
The Home Secretary and Dr Biruta reiterated their desire to deliver the partnership, amid a global migration crisis that has seen 100 million people displaced and people smugglers cashing in on human misery.
They outlined the global leaders’ commitment to working on bold and innovative migration policies to redress the balance between legal and uncontrolled migration. The government of Rwanda reiterated the country’s readiness to receive thousands of individuals, process their claims and house them before they are moved to longer-term accommodation, with necessary support services including health and education provisions.
The Home Secretary and Dr Biruta also signed an update to the memorandum of understanding, expanding the partnership further to all categories of people who pass through safe countries and make illegal and dangerous journeys to the UK.
This will have the added benefit of preparing the UK to deliver on the measures proposed in the Illegal Migration Bill, as it will mean that anyone who comes to the UK illegally – who cannot be returned to their home country – will be in scope to be relocated to Rwanda.
The new bill, which was introduced to Parliament last week, will see people who come to the UK illegally face detention and be returned to their home country, or a safe third country such as Rwanda.
The scheme is uncapped and the government of Rwanda have confirmed they are able to take thousands of people eligible for relocation.
In December, the UK government secured an important victory in the High Court on the legality of the partnership and will continue to defend the policy against ongoing legal challenge, while working with Rwanda to ensure flights can operate as soon as there are no legal barriers.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “We cannot continue to see people risking their lives crossing the Channel, which is why I am pleased to strengthen our agreement even further with the government of Rwanda so we can address the global migration crisis head on.
“The Migration and Economic Development Partnership is key to breaking the business model of people smugglers while ensuring those who genuinely need protection can be helped to rebuild their lives.
“Rwanda is a progressive, rapidly growing economy at the forefront of innovation – I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing first-hand the rich opportunities this country can provide to relocated people through our partnership.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vincent Biruta said: “If we are to successfully tackle the global migration crisis, we need innovative, urgent action.
“This Partnership addresses the opportunity gap at the heart of the migration crisis, by investing in Rwanda’s capability to continue offering migrants the opportunity to build new lives in a safe, secure place, through accommodation, education, and vocational training.
“For these reasons, we are pleased to once again renew our commitment to our ground-breaking Partnership with the UK, which shares our determination to solve this crisis.”
On the visit, the Home Secretary will spend time meeting refugees, who have been supported by the government of Rwanda to rebuild their lives. She will also see new housing developments, which will be used to relocate people.
She also visited new modern, long-term accommodation that will support those who are relocated to settle in Rwanda.
The Home Secretary also met with investment start-ups and entrepreneurs to discuss the range of business and employment opportunities available to people in Rwanda.
The partnership with Rwanda is just one strand of the work the government is doing to tackle illegal migration. Last week the Prime Minister agreed a package with France which will see a new detention centre established in France as well as the deployment of more French personnel and enhanced technology to patrol beaches.
POLICE are appealing for information after a man was found seriously injured in the Calder Road area yesterday (Sunday, 19 March, 2023).
The 30-year-old man was found unconscious in Calder Road underpass around 12.05am.
He is described as white, male, average build, 5ft 10 ins with brown hair. At the time he was wearing jeans, grey hoodie and white Converse trainers. He could have been walking west on Calder Road near to Saughton Mains Avenue.
Detective Sergeant Alan Sharp said: “There is nothing at this time to suggest that any crime has taken place, however we are carrying out enquiries to find out how the man came about his injuries.
“I’d appeal to anyone who saw a man matching the above description walking in the Calder Road, Saughton area, or drivers with dash-cam footage who may have passed him as he was walking home to contact us on 101 quoting incident number 0064 of March 19.”
OVER the next few weeks there was a period of adjustment back into civilian and domestic life. My demob leave lasted until February 1947. Initially I spent most of the time with Helen an the family at home and making numerous visits to see relatives and friends, many of whom I had not seen in a long while.
All this was undertaken against the backdrop of one of the coldest winters on record, with freezing temperatures and snow that lasted for months.
Rationing was also quite extreme and there were shortages of almost everything. Coal was in very short supply and consequently so, too, was electricity. Food was scarce and making do was still very much the way most people were living day-to-day – but at least the fighting was over and we were grateful for our survival.
A feeling among many at this time was that winning the war against a repressive and brutal regime had been essential, although at an awful cost. But people now talked about ‘Winning the Peace’ and there was much to do.
In the mid-1930s I had started to think about the problems affecting working people and how to change things for the better. Why were there problems of unemployment poverty and hunger – and why were these problems not being solved?
Having served in the army for over five years it had given me, like so many other young men and women, opportunities to talk about these issues and develop a determination not to return to the bad times of the 1930s, but instead to work for a better world. Surely, now, in peacetime, things had to change?
In the future there should be no acceptance of unemployment or poverty, but a need to secure good working conditions, annual leave, sick pay and to tackle the many other issues that needed to be addressed.
New research reveals almost half (47%) of pet owners are worried about how they’d afford to pay for vet bills if their pet fell ill or became injured – increasing by 17% since 2022. The data comes from a report by leading vet charity PDSA, which is providing frontline support for desperate owners, as more struggle with the cost of living crisis.
The charity’s 2022 PAW Report also highlighted that a worrying 61% of cats and 39% of dogs were uninsured, meaning thousands of owners could find themselves in financial trouble with an unexpected vet bill should the worst happen.
With the cost of living not set to ease any time soon, PDSA Vet, Claire Roberts, shares her expert tips to save money when caring for your pet.
Claire said: “The cost of living continues to rise, with daily essentials out of budget for millions of people. Our latest PAW report found many people are already reducing their energy consumption to ensure they can care for their pets.
“We know there are certain expenses associated with pet ownership that can’t be avoided, including food and treatment costs if they should fall ill or become injured. However, there are still ways to reduce your pet-related outgoings while maintaining your furry family member’s health and happiness.
Prevention is better than cure
“One of the best ways to safeguard your beloved pet and avoid unplanned costs for medical care is to keep on top of their preventive healthcare.
“Cutting back on pets’ annual booster vaccinations or regular flea and worming treatments may appear to save money in the short-term, but avoiding these measures puts their overall health at risk. Not only this, but if they do become ill as a result, the subsequent treatment is likely to cost substantially more than the preventive options.
“Likewise, neutering your pet prevents unwanted pregnancies, reduces the likelihood of them developing some serious illnesses and can lessen certain behaviours like spraying, aggression and roaming.
Don’t ignore insurance
“If your pet does become ill or injured, insurance can ensure any treatment they need will have less of an impact on your finances. The monthly cost of insurance will depend on a range of factors, including the level of cover as well as your pet’s breed and age.
“Cheaper policies are often ‘accident only’ and may not cover anything illness-related, while more expensive lifetime policies tend to provide cover for any accidents or illnesses (though they don’t usually cover vaccinations or other preventive treatments) as long as the policy is continued, without a break. So make sure you read the small print carefully.
“When considering insurance, we always recommend researching any breed-related illnesses your pet may be prone to, that way you can review which policies cover those, for extra security.
Watch the pounds
“It’s important to monitor your pet’s weight and take action if they are gaining extra pounds – this will help avoid weight-related health problems which can require costly lifelong medication. The best way to help furry friends maintain a healthy weight is by incorporating daily exercise into their routine and ensuring they eat a complete, well-balanced, nutritious diet. Treats should also only make up 10% of your pet’s daily food allowance, which is also a great way to cut back and save, if you are over-indulging your pet with snacks!
Buy in bulk
“Pet food is typically more cost-effective when bought in larger quantities, with bargains to be had by shopping around.
“If your financial situation means that you are considering switching to a cheaper food, make sure you choose one labelled ‘complete’ – a nutritionally balanced diet is vital in supporting pets’ overall health and helps to avoid potentially costly medical treatment in the long term.
Learn to groom your pet at home
“Grooming costs soon add up, especially for long-haired pets or those with tightly-curled coat types, such as Poodles and their crosses. Brushing regularly can also help you spot any skin problems before they develop into anything more serious.
“There are lots of free resources that offer cost-saving tips and advice on maintaining your pet’s health available on the PDSA website. Personal circumstances can change at any time and if you do find yourself struggling to afford your pet’s veterinary care, see if you are eligible for free or low-cost support by using the charity’s eligibility checker.”
PDSA relies on donations to deliver life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals in the UK.
To help keep families together, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support more than ever to prevent vulnerable people having to make a truly heartbreaking decision.
Stop It Now! Scotland and NSPCC Scotland are calling on the Scottish Government to develop a national strategy to tackle child sexual abuse that focuses on prevention to make the country a safer place to grow up.
The two charities hosted an event in partnership with the Scottish Parliament this week (Wednesday, March 15) with leading experts in the field.
They discussed the devastating harms and long-lasting impact that sexual abuse can have on victims, that punishment alone will not eradicate this problem and what we can do to prevent children being abused in the first place. They also talked about the next steps we need to take to guarantee Scotland is the safest country for children to grow up.
They are urging the Scottish Government to develop a comprehensive and coordinated national approachto prevent child sexual abuse, which involves health, police, education, community safety, children’s services, social services, housing and the wider community. The child protection charities say it is vital that everyone understands what child sexual abuse is and knows how they can be part of preventing it.
A review of UK data revealed that 15 per cent of females and 5 per cent of males will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16.
This means at least 80,000 children in Scotland will have been affected by this issue before they leave high school. Although this is thought to be an under-representation of the scale of the problem and the actual number of children who have experienced sexual abuse in Scotland is not known.
The charities say that to understand the numbers of children in Scotland affected and the scale of the suffering it is crucial that a prevalence survey is conducted.
Professor Elizabeth Letourneau, Director of the Moore Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, said: “Child sexual abuse affects about one in nine children – 12 per cent of all children – globally. Victims are at risk of immediate harms, such as fear, injury, and pregnancy, and a broad array of serious health problems can emerge and last across the lifespan.
“Only one in five cases of child sexual abuse are ever reported to the authorities. This means that we miss at least 80 per cent of cases, so punishment will never be enough if we are to effectively address this public health problem.
“I believe our failure to focus on prevention stems from a general misgiving that child sexual abuse really is not preventable. That people who are at risk of perpetrating abuse are monsters and their behaviour cannot be predicted or prevented, and they will only respond to punishment.
“But we know this is not true. We already have good evidence that we can effectively prevent child sexual abuse perpetration.”
Pat Branigan, Assistant Director of NSPCC’s Together for Childhood, said: “One of the most important messages from today is that child sexual abuse is preventable and not inevitable.
“The ultimate goal is to develop a framework, based on evidence of what we know already works, which can be used to support agencies and organisations to work together and prevent child sexual abuse in communities.
“We need to create strong local partnerships between social care, schools, health, voluntary groups, the police and communities that focus on preventing people from offending, and empower and educate children and adults to recognise the signs of abuse and how they can report their concerns.
“Ultimately it will not be governments, experts or professionals who eradicate child sexual abuse, it will be individuals, families and communities.”
Stuart Allardyce, Director, Lucy Faithfull Foundation / Stop It Now! Scotland, said: “Last year we helped 7,000 people across the UK through our Helpline. Not all were adults worried about their own sexual thoughts, feelings and behaviour, but around half of them were.
“We also had adults who were worried about another adult, or because they had found evidence their partner has been seeking out child sexual abuse material online.
“We believe that if you build prevention initiatives, people will come – professionals, protective adults, but also those who worried about the risk that they may present to children. We can no longer say that people won’t use self-help prevention resources, because the evidence is that they can and do and that prevention works.”
Childlight, based at the University of Edinburgh, also launched the first comprehensive global data repository this week, which will look at all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), with the aim of being able to show the scale and nature of this abuse.
Children and young people can contact Childline for free, confidential support and advice 24 hours a day online at www.childline.org.uk or on the phone on 0800 1111
Anyone with concerns about a child’s wellbeing can contact the NSPCC Helpline on help@nspcc.org.uk. The NSPCC practitioners provide free and confidential help and advice and can take appropriate steps to help keep children safe. If a child is in immediate danger, please call 999.
The NSPCC also has advice and resources for parents, carers on how to have simple, age appropriate conversations with children to help prevent sexual abuse through their Talk PANTS campaign. This helps children understand that their body belongs to them and to recognise when something is not okay and how to tell someone.
This Mother’s Day, mother and daughter Aileen Robertson and Eilidh McMillian share stories about their special time performing together at the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade as part of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Connected through their family bond and mutual love of dance, they have been involved with the Tattoo for many years, with Eilidh having performed on the iconic Edinburgh Castle Esplanade and Aileen leading the Tattoo Dancers as Dance Director since 2014.
A previous Champion Dancer, Eilidh first performed at the Tattoo in 2014 and performed with the illustrious Show for three years before becoming the Dance Captain working alongside her mum. For both Aileen and Eilidh, dance is a central component of their lives, and the opportunity to be part of the world-famous Tattoo is a career highlight.
Speaking about her experience at the Tattoo, Eilidh said: “I danced for the first time when my Mum took over in 2014 and I absolutely loved it and have great memories.
“After I became Dance Captain, I made a very good reserve dancer for the team and in fact was required to dance in the Show most recently in 2018.”
Aileen added: “The Tattoo is always a highlight every year and I’m always excited to see the Show coming together.
“It is great to work with a talented team of people to produce the show. It’s exciting to feel the buzz from the audience as they arrive onto the Esplanade. You are surrounded by excitement and an audience waiting in anticipation to view the Show.”
It has never been a challenge for Aileen and Eilidh to work together. Eilidh explains that like all her dance classmates, she had to prove that she wanted to dance for herself and earn her place in the team. Being able to work together at the Tattoo was a special time for them both, as they were able to share in and experience the diversity and the global connection that the Tattoo brings.
Aileen continued: “We both have a passion for what we do, and working together is always great fun. We have a close relationship so I can rely on her loyalty and commitment, both professionally and personally. She is always by my side if I need her.”
When not supporting the production of the Tattoo, Aileen can be found at her own Dance School in Ayr running classes four nights a week. She is also a Fellow and Examiner of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA), a Life Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) and an Adjudicator on the Worldwide Panel of Adjudicators of the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
Eilidh works closely with her mother teaching full-time at the Dance School, covering all classes when Aileen is overseas or on Tattoo business. Like her mother, Eilidh is a Fellow and Examiner of the SDTA and an Adjudicator on the Worldwide Panel of Adjudicators of the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.
A mother herself to two-year-old Thomas, Eilidh concluded: “Everything good about me, came from my mum. If I can be half the mother that she is, I will consider motherhood a success.”
The special connection, sparkling creativity, and outstanding talent that Aileen and Eilidh both bring to the Tattoo shines through in their contribution to each rehearsal, performance, and Show. As the Tattoo prepares to bring Stories to the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade this coming August, Aileen and Eilidh’s story is a reminder of what the Tattoo represents.
Jason Barrett, Chief Operating Officer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “This year’s Tattoo Show Stories brings people together from every corner of the world to share tales of the joy of each other’s cultures.
“It’s the people, like Aileen and Eilidh, that truly bring the Tattoo story to life and come together to make, build, and strengthen relationships each and every August.
“Under the stars at the landmark Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, our performers – our very own Tattoo family – will bring a collection of unique stories and experiences this August that will delight audiences near and far.”
Stories will run from 4-26 August 2023, featuring the military at the heart of the showcase with the Royal Air Force confirmed as the lead service.
Audiences can expect the magnificent sounds of the Massed Pipes and Drums filling up the Esplanade alongside performances from the incredibly talented Tattoo Pipes and Drums and Tattoo Dancers.
Further details about Stories will be announced in the coming months.
To purchase tickets for the summer’s Show, visit edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or call 0131 225 1188.
Scotland’s newest camping festival, Otherlands, adds Six by Nico to its line-up for 2023
Partnership marks new direction for Six by Nico with first-ever ‘al-fresco’ experience
Otherlands Music & Arts Festival has announced that it’s adding flavour to its line-up this summer by teaming up with leading restaurant brand Six by Nico. Festival goers can look forward to a one-of-a-kind woodland sensory dining experience, bringing a bespoke gastronomic story to life.
The festival lands at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland, this summer (11th-13th August 2023) for its second edition, bringing some of the most influential global and home-grown musical talent to its stages.
With 11 locations across the UK, including Edinburgh – the restaurant – will be dishing up its classic six-course menu across August 12th and 13th. Six by Nico will reveal the brand-new menu, exclusive to Otherlands in coming months. It will also be the group’s first-ever al-fresco dining experience.
Otherlands Arts and Music Festival was founded by Tom Ketley, owner of FLY – an event promotion company which has been hosting music events across Scotland now for over a decade. The festival boasts everything from live and electronic music, to punk, rock and rap.
Acts already announced for 2023 include the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Skin On Skin, Nia Archives & Overmono. Headline acts in 2022 included DJs BICEP, Jamie XX and Honey Dijon, while there were daytime live performances from singers Joesef, Maverick Sabre and Biig Piig.
As well as a carefully curated line-up of forward-thinking artists spanning multiple stages, the festival will also boast immersive art installations from leading Scottishartists, and will even host comedy direct from Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, DJ Workshops, and inspiring industry talks and panel discussions with industry leaders.
Sam Joss, Otherlands Festival Director said: “We’re so excited about this partnership!
“With food at festivals being more important than ever, this collaboration really aligns with our ethos and pairs well with boutique camping, a stunning location and of course, a globally recognised musical line-up.
“We can’t wait to see how our guests react to the creativity of the Six by Nico menu and enjoy this multi-sensory dining experience in the unbeatable setting that is Scone Palace”.
Andy Temple, Chef and Chief Creative Officer at Six by Nico, said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Otherlands on this unique event.
“It’s something completely new for us, and I believe it represents a new creative turning point for our company. A multi-sensory dining idea pushes us outside of our comfort zone and is an exciting move in a new direction for Six by Nico, as part of our mission to innovate and challenge ourselves in designing a new menu every six weeks.
“Otherlands takes a multifaceted approach to their festival, celebrating music, wellness, and arts, and Six by Nico is excited to add to that with our new on-site dining experience. The festival itself brings people together to celebrate, and our team is delighted to be a part of it”.
Early-bird Festival tickets are now sold out, but limited first release tickets are still available – ranging from £180-£189 for camping and non-camping options with Day Tickets becoming available at the end of March. Six by Nico ticket add-ons will go on sale following the launch of the menu in May.
As part of the collaboration, a competition will also be launching soon, where three lucky winners will bag two weekend camping tickets, a pair of tickets to the multi-sensory dining experience and a table for two people at Six by Nico. Another six runners-up prizes of £20 Six by Nico vouchers will be up for grabs.
Scientists in NHS Lothian have helped to develop national infection controls after studying COVID-19 transmission between hospitals and care homes.
The teams found that 99 per cent of patients discharged from hospital into care homes during the first wave of the pandemic did not introduce COVID-19 into care homes.
The study, conducted with the University of Edinburgh, focused on patients in Lothian discharged from hospital into 130 care homes from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020.
Of the 787 discharges in this time, the researchers found that the majority – a total of 776 – did not introduce COVID-19 into care homes as a result of their hospital stay.
Forty-one of the discharged patients had a positive COVID-19 test within two weeks of leaving hospital and genome sequencing was used to identify if these cases could be linked.
The study found that 30 patients likely contracted this in the care home or from the community.
The results of 10 patients were inconclusive and one patient was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 during their stay in hospital.
Very sadly, this patient later passed away and a number of residents in their care home subsequently contracted COVID-19.
Dona Milne, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said: “This study has shown that 99 per cent of hospital discharges didn’t introduce COVID-19 cases into Lothian care homes during the first wave of the pandemic.
“However, we’re able to say with certainty that one care home outbreak in this time originated from us. We are deeply saddened by this, and our heartfelt apologies and condolences are with the families and loved ones of those affected.
“We began testing symptomatic care home residents very early in the pandemic, so it’s been really important for us to use this information to find out what we can learn about how the virus was contracted and spread and how this linked to our hospitals.”
Before the nation went into its first lockdown when testing wasn’t widely available, NHS Lothian built capacity into its labs specifically to PCR test those who were symptomatic in hospitals and care homes.
Because of this early testing of symptomatic patients, in-depth data was available to the research team to enable them to genome sequence the transmission of the virus as part of the study.
Dr Kate Templeton, Head of Molecular Diagnostics for NHS Lothian who led the study, said: “Testing was a priority for us from the beginning and we were the first health board in Scotland to build capacity in our labs specifically for care home residents.
“This early testing has enabled us to genome sequence the virus and track where this was acquired and how this spread, leading to the creation of an outbreak methodology which has informed best practice at both Scotland and UK-level.
“This methodology not only has applications to COVID-19 but other viruses too and has been vital in learning lessons around infection control. It also clearly shows that the protection of the most vulnerable in society needs to involve not just health authorities but the community too.”
