Edinburgh’s Brie Read is finalist in Natwest 2021 everywoman Awards

UK’s leading awards programme for women in business unveils short list 

Nineteen extraordinary women from across the country have today  been unveiled as the 2021 finalists in the UK’s leading programme for female entrepreneurs, the NatWest everywoman Awards. Among them is Edinburgh’s Brie Read (above), founder of Snag Tights.

Brie is based in Edinburgh and came up with the idea for Snag Tights after her own tights fell down in public!

Frustrated and uncomfortable she simply took them off. Reliving the moment and the story, Brie was quick to draw on her decade of experience working in marketing for fast growth companies and her passion for inclusivity.

The ideas aligned and she knew she had the beginnings of a great entrepreneurial idea. Despite hosiery boasting a $53 billion industry there were no properly fitting tights for women and all tights were made to one size model… 

Brie’s next step was to work with Italian factories to manage the recondition of machines that had been making one size tights since the 1950s. 

This vital innovation and investment meant Snag tights would be the only ones available in every possible size from a 2 to a 36. Today the business has a £10m turnover drawn from 1 , 500 different product lines, employs 120 staff, and exports globally. 

When lockdown saw sales fall by half , Brie initially put her effort into 24,000 free pairs of tights for NHS key workers and hoped for support, but it soon became clear there was none and funds would run out in six months.

Brie called out to her Snagglers and in just five days £1.5 million was raised in SOS ‘Save Our Snag’ advance pay vouchers, providing Brie with the cashflow she needed for the business to survive.

A leading voice in size inclusivity, Brie cites a passion for no woman to feel excluded as being her driver. Environmental consideration is key, and the newly reconditioned machines have also allowed Brie to pioneer the first recyclable tights.

Brie is one of the finalists in the Demeter category of the everywoman Awards- sponsored by Nutriment- awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading from 3 to 5 years. 

Selected from nearly 1,000 entries, the finalists’ stories  tell of success in the face of adversity and demonstrate that even they are not immune to the  challenges of the past 18 months. 

Now in their 19th year, the NatWest everywoman Awards celebrate female entrepreneurs from  all walks of life, providing a platform for them to share their achievements. From the founders  of multi-million-pound empires to those spearheading social enterprises for the greater good,  this year’s finalists are the role models whose success will inspire future generations of female  entrepreneurs.  

The 2021 finalists span diverse industries – from home accessories and cooking supplies through  to law and architecture, from IT and energy to health supplements, and from milk to gin. The  2021 finalists were chosen by a judging panel comprising some of the UK’s top business figures including Chrissie Rucker OBE (The White Company), Helen Pattinson (Montezuma), Rosaleen  Blair CBE (Alexander Mann Solutions), Roni Savage (Jomas Associates), Annoushka Ducas MBE  (Links of London/Annoushka), Melissa Odabash, Kelly Hoppen CBE and Sam Smith (FinnCap). 

Female entrepreneurs face many complex challenges in setting up, growing and sustaining their  businesses. From gender sterotypes to a lack of access to finance, a range of barriers can  prevent women’s businesses from thriving.

Earlier this year the Cherie Blair Foundation for  Women reported that 1 in 10 women cited the pandemic to be the greatest challenge they had  ever faced and 4 in 5 reported a negative impact on their business.

Many of this year’s finalists  were forced to pivot their businesses as the pandemic hit and their journeys, with successes  and failures, serve as a handbook to future generations of how to survive and thrive against the  odds. 

The award winners will be announced at a ceremony on 7 December 2021 when the cream of  business will once again unite to celebrate the achievements of these extraordinary women. 

The 2021 awards finalists are:  

• ARTEMIS – sponsored by Mastercard – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running  a business trading for 18 months to 3 years: 

o Emma Parkinson, International Energy Products, from Chesterfield 

o Julie Bishop, IT Naturally, from London 

o Anshu Ahuja & Renée Williams, DabbaDrop, from London 

• DEMETER – sponsored by Nutriment – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running  a business trading from 3 to 5 years: 

o Sarah Bolt, Forth, from Chepstow 

o Brie Read, Snag Group, from Livingston 

o Alice Stephenson, Stephenson Law, from Amsterdam 

o Ellen Wakelam, In The Welsh Wind Distillery, from Cardigan Bay, Wales 

• ATHENA – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading from 6  to 9 years: 

o Hannah Dale, Wrendale Designs, Brigg 

o Nicola Lando, Sous Chef, from London 

o Monica Ludwiczak, Sleek Brows, from London 

• HERA – sponsored by Saunderson House – Awarded to the most inspirational woman  running a business trading for 10 years or more: 

o Barbara Griffiths, DairyLink UK, from Stone, Staffordshire 

o Johann Muldoon MBE, Manor Architects, from Northern Ireland 

o Farzana Rahman, The Desi Doll Company, from London

• GAIA – sponsored by Montezuma – Awarded to the most inspirational and successful  female founder of a social enterprise who has combined strong community benefit with  a sustainable business model: 

o Rosie Ginday MBE, Miss Macaroon, from Birmingham 

o Ebinehita Iyere, Milk Honey Bees, from London 

o Monique & Eliza Ribeiro, Lives Not Knives, from Croydon  

• APHRODITE – sponsored by Daily Mail – Awarded to a woman who founded her business  whilst raising a child/children aged 12 or under: 

o Georgia Metcalfe, The French Bedroom Company, from Haywards Heath 

o Pauline Paterson, Dr PAWPAW, from Bromley 

o Lottie Whyte, MyoMaster, from London 

Speaking about the finalists, Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman, said: “For  nearly two decades these awards have provided a platform to share the stories of hundreds of  entrepreneurs; encouraging, emboldening and empowering other women to follow suit.

“Against  a backdrop of Covid, these women have shown how innovation and enterprise have helped their  businesses to thrive under extraordinary trading conditions. We hope their experiences will go  onto inspire others and provide the motivation and inspiration that will be the backbone of the  UK’s economic recovery.” 

Jen Tippin, Chief People & Transformation Officer at NatWest Group, says: “This year we  celebrate the 19th year of the NatWest everywoman Awards which continue to celebrate and  showcase the wealth of female talent from across the UK.

“Shining a light on the phenomenal  femle entrepreneurial talent and those inspirational role models has never been more  important during these uncertain times. I want to congratulate all the shortlisted finalists and  look forward to the Awards on the 7th December.” 

For further information or to book a table at the virtual awards ceremony, visit:

www.everywoman.com/ewawards

Ten-year housing investment plan on track despite construction slowdown, Council insists

The city council says it is on track and committed to delivering on its ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2027, despite the UK-wide impact on the development of affordable homes following the global pandemic.

In its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2022-27 report being presented to the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee next week (4 November) councillors will be asked to approve the proposals ahead of submission to the Scottish Government.

The SHIP 2022-2027 highlights the progress being made which includes the projection that 7,500 new affordable homes will be approved by 31 March 2022 and 5,790 completed. There are currently over 2,100 homes under construction on 34 sites across the city. 

A ‘strong pipeline’ has also been identified of 11,118 affordable homes that could be approved for site start and 10,124 potential completions by 2027.

Despite over 18 months of disruption for the entire Scottish house building sector, it is anticipated that the delivery of the interim milestone of 10,000 homes will be achieved midway through 2023. There are currently 25 projects, equating to 1,456 approvals, that have been delayed, primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 75% of these projects have just slipped into the subsequent year.

This comes in the wake of national pressures on the UK and Scottish house building sector. In the Scottish Government’s “Housing statistics quarterly update: September 2021” it sets out that in June 2021 affordable housing approvals were down 36%, compared to the same time last year. Affordable housing completions are also down 5% year-on-year, but when compared to 2019, there is a reduction of over 15%.

Added to this, as construction projects worldwide have recommenced post-pandemic, a surge in materials demand and prices has been seen which build on the pressures being seen as a result of the UK’s exit from Europe. The Office for National Statistics projects a rise of 7-8% in material prices, with increases for certain materials, such as timber, expected to more than double during the course of the year.

Councillor Kate Campbell, Convener for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee, said: There are extreme pressures on housing in Edinburgh and a desperate need for more affordable homes.

“We’re doing all we can to drive forward our house building programme so that our residents can have permanent homes that are energy efficient, safe and affordable. There are constraints, from Brexit and Covid, which have had a severe impact on supply chains, material costs and the labour market, which are affecting housebuilding across the UK.

“That said, the good news is that this is the largest ever SHIP brought forward. It sets out a positive long-term picture and shows we are on track to deliver a programme for 20,000 affordable homes over ten years.

“We’ll continue to work hard with our housing association partners to build more homes for social rent. But we need to look at what more we can do. We were the first local authority to develop an Affordable Housing Policy through planning – where 25% of the land on any new development must be given for affordable housing. Now, through the City Plan, we’re proposing to increase the affordable allocation from 25% to 35%.

“We have a strong track record in delivering new social rented homes. This has resulted in an additional £36 million of grant funding being given to Edinburgh over the last five years. We’ll work hard to make sure this continues, alongside making the case to the Scottish Government for increased investment in social housing in our city.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener of the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee said: “The Edinburgh housing market has remained resilient throughout the pandemic, however the full impact of lockdown & the continuation of restrictions, combined with Brexit, on the wider economy & the job market is not fully known. 

“Those on low incomes will continue to be the greatest affected and therefore affordable housing needs to play a key role in a green and sustainable recovery.”

In term of delivery, funding and land supply remain two key challenges for delivery. The SHIP will require £329.6m in grant funding, or £65.9m per annum on average, or a 29% required annual increase, based on current benchmarks in order to meet the overall ambition of 20,000 homes. The Council will continue to work with Scottish Government and its partners to stretch available grant funding as far as possible to maximise the number of social rented homes that can be delivered.

While our Registered Social Landlord (RSL) programme is almost entirely dependent upon private developers bringing forward sites for development through the Affordable Housing Plan (AHP), we’re looking to mitigate this risk, through our Land Strategy by working on 20-minute partnerships with private sector & RSLs, inviting interest from the private sector to bringing forward opportunities for Council led delivery and working closely with public sector partners.

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COP 26: Ground-breaking summit hosted by the UK begins today

The UK-hosted COP 26 climate change summit begins today – Sunday, October 31 – with the UK and Pakistan working closely on a greener future for the planet.

It comes as the British High Commission’s #26For26 campaign continues to smash its target of having 26 Pakistani companies commit to halving emissions by 2030 and getting to net zero by 2050. 28 companies have so far signed up.

COP26 is the largest international event of its kind ever to be held in the UK with more than 25,000 delegates arriving in the city of Glasgow- including world leaders, opinion formers and top businesses. It will work to prevent global temperatures rising above 1.5C and protect our planet and people from the impacts of climate change.

The UK has already achieved notable successes so far. Around 70% of the world’s economy is now covered by net zero targets, up from less than 30% when the UK took on the Presidency of COP26. This will help the most vulnerable countries like Pakistan.

Pakistan is the 8th most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. Some experts have warned that Karachi could be completely submerged by 2060 if the current trajectory of rising sea levels continues.

Temperatures in Karachi this year have already been the highest in 74 years and by 2030, property damage due to coastal storm surges and rising sea levels is set to increase tenfold.

By 2100, rising temperatures mean 36% of glaciers along the Hindu Kush & Himalayan range will be gone. The critical situation means Pakistan needs to act now, alongside the rest of the international community.

The UK is already working closely with Pakistan on climate change, and will provide £7m this year in grant financing and technical support to help Pakistan achieve its climate change objectives.

Earlier this year the UK launched a new programme in Lahore to promote cleaner brick production practices which will help improve air quality, reduce smog and fight climate change.

Pakistan’s leadership on some environmental issues has been recognised globally. The UK Prime Minister praised the country’s 10 billion tree tsunami at last month’s United Nations General Assembly.

Earlier this week, HRH the Prince of Wales spoke to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and agreed on the need for greater global cooperation on climate change and protecting the environment.  HRH the Prince of Wales congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan on the 10 billion tree tsunami initiative.

Climate finance will be key at COP26. To support the transition to net zero, climate resilient economies, getting public and private finance flowing is crucial, especially to emerging markets and developing economies.

Under the UK’s COP26 & G7 Presidencies, we have seen clear moves towards this goal. G7 countries have committed new finance towards the $100bn in climate finance goal, including more funding for adaptation.

In terms of mobilising international finance the UK is committing funds to help Pakistan develop innovative climate financing instruments, including Nature Performance Bonds.

The UK will invest more in Pakistan over the next 5 years, helping communities adapt to climate change and improve community level resilience and supporting the efficient use of water resources.

As hosts of COP26 (co-hosted with Italy), the UK has been driving international action and support to adapt to the effects of climate change, which are already impacting lives, livelihoods and natural habitats across the world.

Thirty five countries have joined the Adaptation Action Coalition, and over 2,000 businesses, investors, regions, cities and other non-state actors have joined the Race to Resilience. Over 40 countries and organisations have joined the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership, committing to make 1 billion people safer from disaster by 2025.

By signing up to the Race to Zero, over 3,000 companies and 170 investors, have committed to halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, with transparent and robust action plans.

Under the UK’s G7 Presidency, the first net zero G7 saw all countries commit to deep emission reduction targets in the 2020s and put an end to funding fossil fuels & coal power this year.

The UK has been leading the way and shown that green growth is possible – over the last 30 years our economy has grown by 78% while cutting emissions by 44%. The UK was the first country to commit to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 and is on course to be the fastest G7 country to decarbonise cars and vans by 2030.

As part of the brick kiln programme launched earlier this year, the UK will support a targeted training programme on “Zig Zag” technology for the brick industry to substitute coal and reduce emissions.

This programme will be implemented in collaboration with Government of Punjab, Brick Kiln Owners Association of Pakistan (BKAOP) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

In 2015, the National Institute of Oceanography warned that Karachi could be completely submerged by 2060 if the current trajectory of rising sea levels continues.

Story Valley: Cities of Literature meet in Edinburgh to forge new ideas for improving literacy skills

Edinburgh, UNESCO’s first City of Literature, last week played host to the first meeting of a unique European partnership group, The Story Valley initiative, to coincide with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott.
 
The City of Edinburgh Council, together with Edinburgh College, welcomed Story Valley partners from three other European UNESCO Cities of Literature – Leeuwarden, in the Netherlands, Ljubljana, Slovenia’s Capital and Nottingham, UK – as the group came together to create new policy ideas.

This is part of its manifesto to use storytelling to improve literacy skills, while preserving and enriching cultural heritage through collaboration. 

As part of the visit, the programme has brought together the city’s literary sector and cultural partners – Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) and Scottish Storytelling Centre – and showcased the exciting work and projects taking place in Edinburgh.

During the three-day programme Story Valley partners visited Edinburgh College to see the project in action, share best practice and explore potential collaborations, visited the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and spoke to representatives from innovative projects happening across the city.

These included: Super Power Agency, a creative writing programme, using writing for confidence building amongst hard to reach 8-18 year olds in Edinburgh; the Creative Words for Well-being project by the Scottish Poetry Library; Street Reads Library, a safe space connecting homeless people with books; the Digital Storytelling project by the Scottish Book Trust; and EIBF’s Citizen Project. 

The programme was topped off by a light spectacular on Thursday (28 October) as the Granton Gasholder, recently brought to life in partnership with Edinburgh College, as part of the £1.3billion Granton Waterfront project, was lit up in Story Valley colours. 

The Story Valley initiative is funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme of the European Union.

The City of Edinburgh Council, Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Donald Wilson, said: “As the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, we’re very proud to be hosting the Story Valley partner cities in Edinburgh for the first time, sharing ideas, inspiring one another and working together with the ultimate goal of improving literacy across Europe through the wonders of telling stories of our past.  

“Through this visit’s programme our Edinburgh partners have captured our Scottish culture and Edinburgh’s passion for its literary and cultural heritage while also showcasing our world-renowned Storytelling Festival. Everyone has gained a lot from this experience and I’m sure will be taking a lot away with them while planning the next gathering to progress the initiative.”

Ali Bowden from Edinburgh City of Literature, said: “We’re really pleased to be working with Edinburgh College, the Council and our sister Cities of Literature on Story Valley.

“Edinburgh has a strong storytelling tradition and it’s great that the students and organisations working on this project are finding new ways for storytelling to make a difference in people’s lives.”  

Edinburgh College Assistant Principal of Curriculum for Creative Industries, Jakki Jeffery, said: “We’re really excited to welcome our partners from Leeuwarden, Ljubljana and Nottingham to Edinburgh as part of the Story Valley project and are looking forward to showcasing the work of Edinburgh College’s Creative Industries faculty and sharing examples of good practice between the VET and further education institutions.

“Partners will have the opportunity to work on each of the Intellectual Outputs face-to-face for the first time and to meet some of our staff and students involved in the project to see first-hand what they have been working on.”

Financial support for families in need this winter

£41 million Winter Support Fund for low income households

Funding to help people struggling financially during the winter is part of a new £41 million support package. The Winter Support Fund will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness against a backdrop of rising living and fuel costs.

The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund. 

Key elements of the package include:

  • £10 million to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills
  • £25 million flexible funding to help local authorities support wellbeing and respond to financial insecurity based on local needs
  • £6 million for third sector partners to support low income families

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know that many families are struggling financially due to the increased costs they are facing right now. This package of measure aims to ease some of that strain by providing direct support to people.

“The Scottish Government has invested £2.5 billion to support low income households in 2020-21, with around £1 billion focused on supporting children as a cornerstone of our national mission to tackle child poverty and homelessness.

“That includes doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per child per week, with our plans to do so set out in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.

“We are passing on every penny of the £41 million we received in UK Government consequentials.

“However, this in no way makes up for the recent £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit, which has taken an estimated £460 million from the pockets of the people in Scotland who need it most.”

Support for those struggling with fuel bills will include access to fuel top-up vouchers, advice to manage fuel debt and support for those in remote and rural areas.

The Winter Support Fund will continue to promote cash-first responses in line with our draft national plan on ending the need for food banks as a primary response. In some cases help may also be offered to tackle social isolation and support mental health.

In addition to helping people heat their homes and meet rising food costs, funding will help to ensure no-one is faced with rough sleeping this winter. 

The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund. 

Research reveals the ultimate Halloween playlist

  • ‘Thriller’, ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘This is Halloween’ top the list 
  • Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder and Billie Eilish also feature 
  • Listen to the ultimate Halloween playlist here 

New research has revealed the ultimate playlist for Halloween, with ‘Thriller’, ‘Monster Mash’ and ‘This is Halloween’ crowned the most popular songs. 

The study, conducted by Gala Bingo, the nation’s favourite bingo site, analysed thousands of Spotify playlists1 that contain the words ‘Halloween’ or ‘scary’ to identify the tracks which appear the most frequently. 

Other spooky classics, such as ‘Ghostbusters’, ‘I Put a Spell On You’ and ‘Time Warp’ also feature highly, as do artists like Billie Eilish, Rihanna and Lana Del Rey. 

The top 25 Halloween songs are: 

1) Thriller – Michael Jackson 

2) Monster Mash – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett 

3) This is Halloween – The Citizens of Halloween 

4) Halloween Theme – John Carpenter 

5) Spooky, Scary Skeletons – Andrew Gold 

6) Season of the Witch – Lana Del Rey 

7) (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult 

8) Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell 

9) Spooky, Scary Skeletons (Undead Tombstone Remix) – Andrew Gold 

10) Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr. 

11) Stranger Things – Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein 

12) Time Warp – Little Nell 

13) I Put a Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 

14) Disturbia – Rihanna 

15) Superstition – Stevie Wonder 

16) Highway to Hell – AC/DC 

17) Psycho Killer – Talking Heads 

18) Calling All the Monsters – China Anne McClain 

19) Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo 

20) People Are Strange – The Doors 

21) bury a friend – Billie Eilish 

22) Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics 

23) The Addams Family (Main Theme) – Vic Mizzy and His Orchestra and Chorus 

24) Oogie Boogie’s Song – Ed Ivory 

25) The Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley 

Karina Adrian, head of brand marketing at Gala Bingo, said: “Halloween is a time of celebration and parties, and a good playlist can really set the tone!  

“Our ultimate Halloween playlist is packed full of the best spooky songs, both old and new, so you can create the perfect atmosphere this weekend.” 

You can listen to the ultimate Halloween playlist here: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/57yJGdxaWtgA7BRk4FVhxm?si=55d052aa380b452d  

Care residents celebrate Halloween with a week of spook-tacular activities

HALLOWEEN celebrations are well underway at an Edinburgh care home with a dedicated activity planner designed for the occasion.

After celebrations were reduced last year due to restrictions, dedicated staff at Cramond Residence were keen to put on a bumper of activities.

The programme kicked off with Halloween arts and crafts, autumnal pumpkin carving, a scary film festival and traditional Halloween party with spooky treats, a costume competition and pumpkin smashing.

Residents also travelled to different countries from the comfort of their art chair to learn about Mexican culture and celebrate The Day of the Dead.

Dariusz Miszta, Lead Lifestyle Coordinator at the 74-bedroom home, said: “Residents and staff have really been getting in to the Halloween spirit with a series of ghoulish games and activities. expertly planned by our lifestyle team.

“We’re closing the celebrations with a home wide Halloween Party with staff and residents coming together to get dressed up and play traditional Halloween games.

“The variety of activities on offer ensures mixed abilities are catered for and residents can pick and choose what they would like to attend. We’ve made sure there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

The Halloween activities feature part of the varied activities programme on offer and are designed to keep residents stimulated, learning and having fun.

Other activities on offer throughout the month include cheese and wine evenings, afternoon tea trips, physio-led exercise classes as well as an Oktoberfest celebration where residents were treated to their very own beer tasting event from local brewery, Pilot.

Cramond Residence caters for 74 residents, in nine perfectly appointed small living concepts the home provides a combination between luxury combination and the highest quality of care.

Residents are guaranteed a luxurious individual room with en-suite facilities, catered delicious food and a tailored care plan from an expert team who endeavour to maintain a minimum 1:4 of care ratio of care staff to resident during day time.

The home also offers a ranges of amenities, including onsite gardens, a library, hair salon and cinema room.

Places in the care home start from £1850 a week.

To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

Police must allow young people to protest peacefully at COP-26, says Children’s Commissioner

Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson is urging police to treat young people peacefully protesting at COP-26 with respect and dignity – and has reminded them that children’s rights must be upheld for everyone under 18.

To support this approach, the Commissioner’s office has published a human rights guide today  ‘Under 18? Your Human Rights at Protests: What you need to know’ for children who plan to make their voices heard at the UN climate summit in Glasgow.

The guide has been used as part of Police Scotland’s training for COP-26 and was informed by children’s views and experiences.

Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner said: “I have written to Police Scotland and have received strong commitments that they will facilitate peaceful protest with human rights at the heart of their approach, and it is important that this happens.

“Police officers have a duty to uphold children’s human rights during COP-26, which include the rights to peaceful assembly and association, alongside their rights to expression, participation, information and protection.”

Climate justice has been consistently raised by children and young people as one of their biggest human rights concerns.

Emma, 16, a Young Adviser to the Commissioner, said: “The right to protest is important as it gives people the opportunity to create change. It gives us a voice and the ability to hold institutions accountable for their actions.

“It is one of the only ways young people can be heard and immediately have a connection with one another, creating a sense of unity. It promotes equality and allows for individuals and groups views to have a chance to be recognised.  The information in this guide about our rights to protest is really useful as we make our voices heard at COP-26 and beyond.”

The Commissioner added: “Children have shown incredible leadership on the issue of climate justice and continue to act as human rights defenders for everyone’s rights across Scotland and internationally.

“They have led powerful, peaceful movements in the streets, for example during school strikes, online, and in court. It is essential that children and young people are empowered to participate and engage in their right to peaceful protest.”

The Commissioner’s guide includes rights information and support, in the event of a child under 18 being arrested or detained by police.

Mr Adamson said: “Arresting a child should always be a measure of last resort, however, it may happen, and children need to know their rights if it does. We’ve included information about children’s rights to contact their family, social worker and to speak to a lawyer, to complain and to ask for release. Any child arrested or detained must be treated with human dignity and respect.”  

The Commissioner repeated his call that no child should be punished for taking part in peaceful protests: “There must be no reprisals or sanctions for children who peacefully protest during COP-26 and schools should support children to participate in the opportunities that COP-26 affords them.”

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New graduate Charlotte wins the Simon Pullin Award

A student nurse has been honoured for her outstanding caring skills on the day she graduated from university with distinction.

Charlotte Milliken was presented with her Bachelor of Nursing (Mental Health) degree at the Usher Hall on Thursday and was also named the winner of Edinburgh Napier University’s Simon Pullin Award for 2021.

The award was established to recognise the human side of nursing and midwifery, and the judging panel agreed Charlotte was a worthy winner after reading her insightful account of her experiences on placement with community mental health teams at different stages of her degree.

Mother-of-one Charlotte, 31, of Uphall, West Lothian, underlined the importance of compassionate care and wrote of techniques she had learned to empower patients and build their independence and self-worth.

She told how an experienced nurse showed her mental health improvement is always possible by introducing her to a patient who had turned his life around, established a supportive network of family and friends, and was maintaining a home.

Charlotte, who as a first year won a Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland prize for her work on a placement, also wrote of another patient who used new skills they had worked on together to defuse an anxiety attack.

Her submission for the award was reinforced by glowing tributes from a less experienced placement student she had supported and a community psychiatric nurse who had mentored her.

Simon Pullin Award Winner Charlotte Milliken EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY

Charlotte, who is married to Tom, a staff nurse in oncology who supported her through her degree, and has a three-year-old daughter named Niamh, said: “It has been a challenging but enjoyable five years, including maternity leave.

“I am thrilled to be graduating with distinction but to also be named as the winner of the Simon Pullin Award, having read about the achievements of some of the University’s previous winners, is just the icing on the cake.”

The new graduate, who currently works at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, added: “I am proud of the skills I have learned over my years as a student. I have worked hard to develop my practice to be person centred and holistic, practicing the techniques I have been taught by my mentors and colleagues, and I hope to continue to learn more as I progress through my career as a mental health nurse.”

Edinburgh Napier’s Simon Pullin Award was created in memory of Senior Nurse Simon Pullin, who played a key role in the university’s Compassionate Care Programme up until his death from cancer in July 2011.

Pam Logan, Charlotte’s Personal Development Tutor at the University, said: “Charlotte has been well respected by practice colleagues due to her commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centred care and her ability to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships that are based on shared understanding and respect.

“Practice feedback has commended Charlotte on consistently working in a non-judgmental manner, approaching ethical challenges appropriately and for her support of junior students.”

Dr Stephen Smith, from Edinburgh Napier’s School of Health & Social Care, who led the awarding panel, said: “Charlotte’s ability to intrinsically value each person in her care and adopt a consistently positive approach to individual recovery was a key factor in her winning the award this year.”

COP26: “We need to lead by example”, say council leaders

Edinburgh’s ‘Capital Coalition’ council leaders have laid out the scale of Council climate action and investment in Edinburgh to date as part of moves to secure a legacy of climate action from COP26.

The City of Edinburgh Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has set an ambitious target of becoming a net zero city by 2030, 15 years ahead of the national Scottish target.

Major programmes of work  including: £1.3bn Granton Waterfront development – the largest net zero redevelopment undertaken in the city –  and a £2.8bn Council House building investment programme and domestic building retrofit programme, are key projects which will encourage change in Edinburgh at the speed and scale needed.

The Council also committed £0.5m in funding this year along with £4m of related capital investment to improve Edinburgh’s parks, food growing sites and urban forests.

And over the next 10 years, the Council is committed to spending £68m to improve road safety and to further develop infrastructure to make it easier to walk, cycle and wheel around the city.

The Council has also been developing a 2030 Climate Strategy for the city which lays out how it will enable, support and deliver action to meet the city’s net zero ambition by working with leading strategic partners in Edinburgh. The final strategy and accompanying implementation plan are set to be published at the end of November following the global climate conference. 

Council Leader Adam McVey said:  “The issue of climate change affects everyone in our world, Edinburgh faces the same challenges and opportunities in tackling the climate crisis as those world leaders will discuss at COP26.  

“Scotland’s seven major cities make up half of the nation’s emissions and have the greatest opportunity and potential to deliver innovation and rapid acceleration of climate action. As Scotland’s capital city, we need to lead by example.  

“Our vision is that by 2030, Edinburgh will be a net zero and climate resilient city. To get there we need to improve our air quality, protect our green spaces and make it easier for more people to walk, cycle and wheel for every day journeys. We also need to build warm, good quality places to live and work.

“The Council will keep on working with communities, businesses and residents to help deliver the aims in our draft climate strategy. Edinburgh has a strong record of climate action and together we can make fast progress and be at the forefront of funding opportunities to invest in change.”

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019 the Council has also:

  • Joined the Race to Zero, a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth. Edinburgh has also joined Race to Resilience, its sister campaign, helping to prepare for the impacts of climate change that are already set to happen
  • Been awarded the maximum of six badges by the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – in recognition of the city’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts
  • Become the only local authority in Scotland (so far) to sign up to the newly launched national Civic Charter on Climate
  • Committed to developing Edinburgh as a sustainable food city  after becoming a signatory to the International Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration.

The Council has also taken a number of actions within its own organisation including:

  • Invested £1.1m in beginning the task of retrofitting our public buildings in 2021
  • Committed to ensure that we no longer develop public buildings with boilers we will need to retrofit;
  • Committed to all new council buildings being Passivhaus standard
  • Delivered 60% reduction in Council organisational emissions – substantially overshooting original targets
  • Become a founding signatory to the Edinburgh Climate Compact, pledging to reduce operational emissions in line with the city’s target 
  • Committed to invest in providing training to colleagues to develop their awareness and understanding of climate change and what changes they can take in their professional lives which could lead to a reduction in emissions

Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Edinburgh offers a huge opportunity to invest in net zero action to build a better future for us all.

“Council action already under way across the city will support the reduction in harmful greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change and will also make Edinburgh a better healthier place to live.

“However, no individual partner has the knowledge, skills, capacity or resources to deliver our net zero target on their own.

“Whether that’s the choices people make in their everyday lives, the way small businesses operate, or the strategic, policy and spending decisions made by public and private sector organisations, It will only be through collective effort that we will ensure Edinburgh can make fast progress to meet our climate targets and be at the forefront of funding opportunities to invest in change.

“And we will continue to build on our successes as a city and collaborate to make sure we achieve a legacy to COP26 for the good of the planet and all future generations who will live, work and visit this amazing place.”

Next steps for Council climate action 

As part of the legacy of COP26, the final 2030 Climate Strategy for Edinburgh and accompanying implementation plan are set to be published at the end of November.

Annual city and Council emissions will also be disclosed publicly at the end of the month through CDP (formally the Carbon Disclosure Project) and the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report. 

Progress will also continue of the seven areas of work identified as having the most impact on Edinburgh’s emissions. These include:

  1. Creating a partnership of financial investment and delivery organisations to develop a business case for how all Edinburgh’s citizens will be able to affordably retrofit their homes in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust. 
  2. Developing an Edinburgh Community Climate Forum to help empower citizens, encourage behaviour change and community activism on climate action. It will be sponsored by the Council and delivered independently by EVOC and Our Future Edinburgh.
  3. Bringing forward business case proposals for community energy generation schemes across the city, with Energy for Edinburgh.
  4. Working with Lothian Buses to decarbonise their bus fleet  and developing a plan for shared public service charging hubs.
  5. Developing a costed climate change risk assessment for the city and a new city adaptation plan by 2022/23, alongside a regional approach.
  6. Establishing a business led Economic Transition Forum and also a new Business for Good programme through Edinburgh CAN B to provide practical support and training for businesses across the city to transition to net zero. 
  7. Developing a citywide programme/pipeline of green investment proposals with a Climate Strategy Investment Programme Board.

Additional action and investment towards net zero

In 2021-22 the Council committed to:

  • £8.4 million to finish upgrading our street lighting to energy-efficient LED lights
  • Trams to Newhaven project including £2.4 million to support local businesses
  • £7.6 million to continue to replace more than 200 vehicles with lower emissions ones
  • £250,000 to expand EV charging infrastructure for the Council’s own fleet, ensuring that the Council leads by example by making our vehicle fleet carbon zero.
  • £200,000 to improve the Council’s recycling performance.
  • £500,000 to drive forward the delivery of 20-minute neighbourhoods, making it easier for people to get to and access the services they need in their community.