The Brunton, in association with David Ross and Tommie Travers, is delighted to announce open auditions for an exciting new amateur production of SUNSHINE ON LEITH – one of Scotland’s most popular and successful musicals.
Written by Stephen Greenhorn and with songs by The Proclaimers, SUNSHINE ON LEITH will be overseen by a professional creative team and will be staged at The Brunton from Wednesday 16th – Saturday 19th February 2022, six performances in total.
Auditions take place at The Brunton on Saturday 30th October, between 2pm – 6pm and Sunday 31st October, between 12noon – 4pm.
Applicants will be allocated a 5-minute audition slot on their chosen date, on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must be aged 18 or over and must also be available to rehearse on Tuesday evenings, from 7pm – 9pm, approx.
The Heart of Scotland Appeal, a fundraising campaign by national charity Heart Research UK, have partnered with Scottish Squash to encourage more people to play the sport on the 9th October – TODAY, World Squash Day.
The Heart of Scotland appeal was launched in 2019 to raise awareness of the problem of heart health in Scotland, and to generate vital funds for pioneering research at Universities’ and hospitals across the country. Recently, Heart Research UK funded almost £300,000 worth of research at universities in Glasgow and Dundee to investigate links between COVID-19 and heart disease.
Coronary heart disease is Scotland’s single biggest killer, with lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise directly impacting upon a person’s risk.
In an effort to combat the statistic that more than a third of adults in Scotland do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity, the Heart of Scotland appeal has teamed up with Scottish Squash to inspire people across Scotland to get more active, and ‘Squash the Stigma’ that squash can be a difficult and inaccessible sport to get into.
They are calling for players across Scotland to get on court this World Squash Day to #SquashTheStigma by post a #SweatySelfie and donating to the Heart of Scotland appeal.
The best selfie from the day will win brand new squash equipment for their club.
In a survey by Forbes magazine, squash was ranked as the healthiest sport in the world. Forbes consulted with personal trainers, coaches and exercise physiologists, and ranked sports as being the ‘healthiest’ in terms of cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, calories burned in 30 minutes and injury risk.
Dr Sue Robertson, who is the current Scottish Women’s over-55 champion, played squash as a child before focusing on a medical career. After 17 years without playing, she picked up the game again.
She said: “I was truly terrible when I started again, and for a couple of years just played occasionally.
“I was introduced to Masters Squash (for over 35’s) and made so many new friends I wouldn’t have otherwise met. I was the fittest and happiest I’d been for 20 years, because it’s so good for your mental health, as well as your physical health.
“It fits into that busy life really well, way less time than a good gym session, but it’s so much more fun. Sport is just so key to a happy life.
“I work in an admissions unit in the hospital as a physician, so I see people every day with heart problems for lots of different reasons.
“I know about the benefits of sport and the benefits of physical activity, and if we have a society that encourages and educates people on that, then we will have a healthier society.”
Amanda Donaldson, Senior Fundraiser for the Heart of Scotland appeal, said: “We all know that physical activity is beneficial for our wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Here at the Heart of Scotland Appeal, we want to encourage as many Scots as possible to get more active, and what better time than World Squash Day!
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Scottish Squash to promote the sport as a great way to get fit, meet new friends and improve your heart health, and to raise awareness of the Heart of Scotland Appeal and the life-saving research that we fund.
“We can’t wait to see everyone’s #SweatySelfies as they take part in games across the country and help to raise vital funds for the Heart of Scotland appeal.”
Allan McKay, Director of Development at Scottish Squash, said: “We’re really pleased with our partnership with the Heart of Scotland Appeal as we share common values across both organisations to promote physical activity and healthy living. Through this partnership we can also raise awareness of the great work that the Heart of Scotland Appeal carry out every day.
“By linking the partnership to the 2021 World Squash Day on Saturday 9th October we hope more people will get on court and experience the excellent physical and mental health benefits that squash can offer to people across Scotland while support hear research.
“Make sure to share all your #SweatySelfies across social media on World Squash Day!”
· Jeanette Winterson, Ian Rankin, Mark O’Connell, Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Piers Torday, Glastonbury performer Spoz, K.N. Chimbiri, Jodie Chapman confirmed to take part
· BookTokers celebrating Bookshop Day for the first time
· Author events in-person, charity initiatives, community space take-overs, poetry competitions, stunning window displays, spoken word performances are just some of the reasons to visit your local bookshop
Plans for Bookshop Day, the annual celebration of bookshops across the UK and Ireland (Saturday 9th October), include author events and signings with Jeanette Winterson, Ian Rankin, MarkO’Connell, Val McDermid, K.N. Chimbiri, Piers Torday and many more; exciting bookshop exclusives and promotions; charitable initiatives with Book Aid and other charities; BookTokers celebrating Bookshop Day on TikTok for the first time; window displays by local illustrators; poetry competitions; spoken word performances by Glastonbury artists, and much more.
Celebrating bookshops big and small, Bookshop Day is the annual reminder that bookshops are so much more than just places selling books. With Christmas fast approaching, the Booksellers Association is encouraging customers to “Shop Early, Shop Local” this autumn, and to start thinking about their Christmas shopping earlier.
Booksellers will be on hand to help customers choose the perfect gifts for their loved ones, both in-store and via their websites, phone or email.
EDINBURGH SPOTLIGHT
To mark Bookshop Day, the city of Edinburgh will be taken over by a series of colourful billboards featuring Dapo Adeola’s artwork and ‘Choose Bookshops’ messaging.
The 21 billboards were unveiled on Monday in the run-up to Bookshop Day, in locations including Prince St, Haymarket, Portobello, Fountainbridge and more.
They will be on display until Monday 18th October. Using the artwork created by Dapo Adeola for this year’s Limited-Edition Bag, they will be encouraging consumers to choose bookshops this Bookshop Day.
BOOKSHOP EVENTS
With events taking place across the country, highlights include:
· Jeanette Winterson, best-selling author of 12 Bytes,and MarkO’Connell, author of Notes from an Apocalypseand To Be a Machine, will have a fascinating discussion at ManchesterCentral Library about what humanity might do next, in partnership with Waterstones. Part of Manchester Literature Festival, the event is in partnership with Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester and hosted by writer Kate Feld. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 6pm).
· Lara Maiklem, bestselling author of Mudlarking and most recently A Field Guide to Larking, will be doing an event at Festival in a Factory in Stoke-on-Trent, in partnership with Waterstones Hanley, where you’ll be able to discover the treasures just beneath our feet, hidden in rivers, streams, fields, beaches and connect with people of the past through the everyday items left behind. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 11am).
· Robin Ince will be at Mount Florida Books in Glasgow on Bookshop Day as a part of his #100Bookshops tour to celebrate the release of his new book, The Importance of Being Interested. More info about the Mount Florida event here (Saturday 9th October, 8pm). Other shops include The Chorleywood Bookshop (the bookshop of his childhood), Our Bookshop in Tring (his current local bookshop) and shops in St Helens, Stewarton, Carlisle, Settle, Ilkley, Wootton-Under-Edge, Bristol, Sidmouth and Exeter.At each stop he will ask the booksellers to recommend the book that has piqued their curiosity the most and will create a site charting the path of the tour and the recommendations. All the shops taking part in the tour are listed here.
· Nigel Warburton will interview Amia Srinivasan, the author of the recently-released Sunday Times bestseller The Right to Sex at Blackwell’s Oxford. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 11am).
· Max Hastings, in his signature brilliant style, will give a thrilling narrative of this little-known but crucial naval battle, retelling the intense action which perfectly encapsulates the spirit and power of the Royal Navy, as part of the Dorchester Literary Festival, in partnership with Waterstones. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 2pm).
· Raynor Winn, bestselling author of The Salt Path, will be doing an event as part of Dorchester Literary Festival, in partnership with Waterstones, where she will discuss his latest book, The Wild Silence, which tells the story of one couple’s inextricable connection to the land; and how by exploring their past, Raynor comes to terms with their future. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 4pm)
· Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Shetland, Vera and Two Rivers novels will be doing a signing at her local bookshop, The Bound in Whitley Bay, Northumberland (Saturday 9th October).
· Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie A. Carter, authors of Grown: The Black Girls’ Guide to Glowing Up will be doing an event at the newly opened Bookhaus Bristol. Founders of Black Girls’ Book Club will be sharing stories and offer honest, practical advice on how to own your choices, to live your truth without fear and to be grown on your own terms without limits or apologies. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 4pm).
· Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre will be hosting a Kevin VS The Unicorns series of events at Max Minerva’s Marvellous Books in Bristol. More info here (Saturday 9th October, sessions at 10am, 10:45am, 11:30am).
· Graeme Macrae Burnet will be doing a mystery drop-in tour of bookshops in the North of England, starting at The Book Case, Hebden Bridge, to sign copies of Case Study and say hello.
· Phil Earl, author of When The Sky Falls, will be visiting over 20 bookshops in Lancashire and Yorkshire in the lead-up to Bookshop Day to sign copies of his book.
· Alexandra Page, debut author of the YA novel Wishyouwas, will be doing an in-store signing at The Rocketship Bookshop in Salisbury. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 11am).
· Joe Shute, Yorkshire-based journalist and author of Forecast: A Diary of the Lost Seasons, will be doing at event at Ilkley Lit Festival with books sold by The Grove Bookshop. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 12:30pm).
· Catherine Menon and Neema Shah will have a panel discussion about their debut novels. Fragile Monsters by Menon traces one family’s story from 1920 to the present day, while Shah’s Kololo Hill is set during the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin and follows an Asian Ugandan family whose lives are torn apart in 1972 as they must leave the country. The event is part of Ilkley Literature Festival in partnership with The Grove Bookshop. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 3pm)
· Piers Torday, author of The Wild Before, will be recording a special episode with award-winning podcast Writers Routine, to be released just in time for Bookshop Day. More info here (Saturday 9th October).
· Tim Weaver, bestselling crime author of Missing Pieces, will be visiting bookshops around Bath to sign copies of his book, including Waterstones Bath, OldfieldBookshop and Mr B’sEmporium (Saturday 9th October, 11am-1pm).
· Really Big Pants will be performing at Pickled Pepper Books in Crouch End. The show will be Clare and Cory Share a (Glorious) Story with an accompanying longer form picture book, illustrated by the award-winning Steve Smallman. More info here. (Saturday 9th October, 10-11:30am).
· James Norbury will be doing a bespoke painting in the shop window of Book-ish in Crickhowell for his new release, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon on Friday 8th October. The following day, he will then be in the shop for the day to sign copies of his book (Saturday 9th October).
· Brummie poet and Glastonbury performer Spoz will be doing a live performance poetry outside The Bookshopon the Green in Birmingham, to launch his new children’s poetry collection Canaligator. Children can then get creative and create their own chocolate raps with Spoz after each performance. (Saturday 9th October, 11am and 1pm)
· K.N. Chimbiri, author of The Story of Afro Hair, and Vanessa Taylor, author of Balelr Boys, will be doing a signing with Book & Kulture on the weekend of Bookshop Day, as part of a collaboration with BlackWall StreetLondon, a permanent retail store on Camden High Street focused on products by diverse makers and crafters. Over the weekend, Book & Kulture will be taking over the basement space and turning it into a bookshop for two days. More info here (Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th October, 10am-7pm).
· Jodie Chapman, Ashford author of the debut novel Another Life, will be doing a signing at Waterstones in Ashford. Another Life is set in Ashford and explores love, hope and sacrifice, and was a BBC 2 Between the Covers pick. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 11am).
· Poet Zaro Weil, author of and Cherry Moon current CLiPPA Award winner, will be hosting an event for families at The Book Nook in Hove on Bookshop Day. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 11am).
· Local author Lynne Francis will be signing copies of her ‘Margate Maid’ series TheSecret Child and A Maid’s Ruin at Waterstones in Dean. More info here. (Saturday 9th October, 11am-2pm).
· The Book Nook in Stewarton is holding ‘Activities with Authors’ throughout Bookshop Day, where authors will be chatting to customers, signing books and doing specially planned activities. Authors include Petra Baillie, author and illustrator of a range of children’s books including Illustrateyour Own books and The Strangeand Wonderful Adventures of Pippa; Sharon Baillie, author of Magenta Opium; Jerry Brannigan, author of Robert Burns in Edinburgh; Lindsay Littleson, author of a range of children’s books including The Titanic Detective Agency, Secrets of the Last Merfolk and Guardians of the Lost Unicorns; and Hannah Willow, expert in mindfulness for children, author of Just Be (Saturday 9th October).
· Chicken and Frog Bookshop in Essexwill be hosting a number of events throughout the week including a poetry slam hosted by local DJ and poet Stuart Pink (Thursday 7th October, 7:30pm), the book launch for Frankie Durkin’s latest release, followed by a Book Club dinner (Saturday 9th October) and an online event with Melissa Welliver, debut YA author of The Undying Tower (Sunday 10th October, 7pm).
· Owl and Pyramid Bookshop in Devon will be hosting a number of events to mark Bookshop Day, including a book treasure hunt for children, blind date with a book for adults and children, raffle for book bundles, adults and children, free £5 voucher with every spend over £35, 10% off any Christmas books, games and Christmas cards and the launch of their new loyalty system and subscription service.
· The Ivybridge Bookshop in Devon will be hosting children’s storytelling and activities with local authors including Clare Helen Welsh and Holly Ryan for a morning of stories featuring dragons, mermaids, pirates, princesses, owls, terns, peacocks and elephants! (Saturday 9th October, 10am).
· Truman Books in Leeds will be hosting a number of events, including a late-night shopping event with free glass of bubbles (Thursday 7th October) and storytime for under-fives, a kids writing and a drawing competition to win a £10 book token, a free tote bag with all purchases over £30 (Saturday 9th October).
· Picaresque Books & Galerie Fantoosh in Dingwall will be holding a “Gathering of Authors” for Bookshop Day, with local authors donating signed copies of their books to go for auction in aid of Book Aid. Signed books by Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Graeme Macrae Burnett and S.G. Maclean will be available and local authors including Barbara Henderson, Helen Sedgwick, Brian Devlin, Margaret Kirk, Virginian Crow, Morven-May McCallum, Verity Walker Eley, Sharon Gunnason Pottinger and Norman Newton will pop in the shop during the day (Saturday 9th October).
· Typeset Space, a new community bookshop and co-working space in Rotherham, will be giving £5 vouchers to people who bring them a five-line poem (known as a “quintain” – this could be a limerick, a verse of a sonnet, a Japanese-style tanka, or any other format you like!). They will select five poems per day to award with vouchers, to be used in store. More info here (Tuesday 5th – Saturday 9th October).
· Mostly Books in Abingdon will be turning into Pixies to celebrate Bookshop Day. They are planning to drop gift wrapped books around town for people to find and keep. They will also be offering every customer who spends £20 or more the chance to win a hamper full of book related goodies as well as offering every customer who spends over £50 a free Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Bag (Saturday 9th October).
· Cambridge University Press Bookshop will be offering 10% off all books on Bookshop Day for all customers who mention “Bookshop Day”. They are also offering a free branded tote bag with every associated purchase (Saturday 9th October).
· B For Butterfly Books inSale, Greater Manchester will be holding a ‘Family Fun Day’ to mark Bookshop Day. The event is free to attend, but the bookshop is asking attendees to consider donating to one of the charities supported by Emporium M3, including clean empty crisp packets to Cyril Flint Befrienders, plastic milk bottle tops to Pathfinder Dogs, used postage stamps to Nightingale Centre at Wytheshawe Hospital, pet food to Cats of M33, and second hand bras, football kits and boots to Bras for Africa. More info here (Saturday 9th October, 10am-5pm)
· Review Bookshop in Peckham will be putting together a special window display to promote their favourite books of 2021 so far, and their favourite books by local writers in Peckham and Southwark – including Featherhood by Charlie Gimour, The Upper World by Femi Fadugba, The Actual by Inua Ellams, Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson and more.
BOOKTOKERS
Bookshop Day will be working with TikTok influencers for the first time this year, with some of the most popular BookTokers in the UK helping celebrate bookshops, and encouraging their thousands of followers to do the same.
Coming from up and down the country, from Wolverhampton to Surrey to Sunderland, confirmed BookTokers include: caitlinreadsbooks (61.1k followers), whatbritreads (46.8k followers), the_caffeinatedreader (31.5k followers), anya.reads (54.2k followers), cultofbooks (48.2k followers) and more.
They will be creating exclusive content in their local bookshops, as well as showcasing their favourite books to read on Bookshop Day and beyond.
LIMITED EDITION BAG
Award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola is the creator of this year’s Books Are My Bag Limited-Edition Bag, which will be available exclusively in bookshops from Bookshop Day.
Joining the likes of artists and illustrators such as Charlie Mackesy, Sir Peter Blake, Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin and Orla Kiely, who have designed previous editions of the bag, due to popular demand Dapo’s bag has had the biggest run a Limited-Edition Bag since Bookshop Day began.
Bookshop.org, the book-buying website on a mission to support independent bookshops and literary culture, will be offering free shipping on all purchases made through their website on Bookshop Day.
Bookshop.org encourages customers to shop at their local bookshop as much as possible, and offers a brilliant ethical alternative to anyone who wants to purchase their books online while supporting bookshops across the UK.
BOOKSHOP OPENINGS
Opening its doors just after Bookshop Day, Afrori Books will be the UK’s biggest supplier of books by Black authors, and Brighton’s first Black-owned bookshop. After operating online for more than a year, owner Carolynn Bain launched a crowdfunding effort on her website to raise £10,000, allowing her to open a bricks and mortar bookshop.
Meanwhile, the independent community bookshop Once Upon a Time Bookshop in Alston, Cumbria will be moving into a new shop and will be reopening on Bookshop Day, as they opened their previous shop three years ago on Bookshop Day 2018.
Piers Torday, author of The Wild Before, said: “My favourite bookshop is Pickled Pepper Books in Crouch End, North London – not just because they have supported my books from the very start, but it is a wonderful shop, so welcoming to children and families.
“Steve and Urmi are always ahead of the curve, and understood early on how the bookshop experience was changing; they converted a room above the store into a children’s theatre, they went full on into supplying school events (including mine) and can also happily fulfil any order, children’s or adult.
“They’ve just opened a new pop-up shop in Enfield, and I hope to be popping by there soon, because buying a book at Pickled Pepper is always a joy.”
Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at the Booksellers Association,said: “One week to Bookshop Day, and we’re already buzzing with excitement! From organising poetry competitions and spoken word sets to secretly dropping books around town, to mind-blowing window displays – the creativity of booksellers knows no limit, and they will have something in store for everyone this Bookshop Day.
“As the beating hearts of their communities, bookshops getting involved in charitable initiatives is a real testament to the incredible contribution they bring to the high street, and the local communities they serve. We wish everyone a wonderful Bookshop Day!”
SOME household dental care products can now be disposed responsibly in Edinburgh after Scotland’s largest dental group introduced a breakthrough scheme to divert waste from landfill.
Bellstane Dental Case in South Queensferry, Earl Grey Dental Practice, Gilmore Dental and Fairmilehead Dental Practice & Implant Centre, all based in the capital, have joined Philips’ Dental Care Recycling Programme, in partnership with TerraCycle®, the world leaders in recycling “hard-to-recycle” waste with patients and practices from the Highlands to the Scottish Borders benefiting.
The practice is part of Clyde Munro Dental Group, which is introducing the scheme north of the border to 48 of its 51, (the scheme is currently unable to collect from Orkney), reaching more than 360,000 patients – making it the biggest introduction of the programme in Scotland.
As well as used electric toothbrush heads and covers, it recycles the “non-recyclable”, including plastic floss holders, floss containers, electric flosser nozzles and interdental brushes from all brands.
Fiona Wood, Chief Operating Officer with Clyde Munro, said: “Household dental waste has long been problematic, in that you can’t recycle it in the usual way from home.
“It means plastic inevitably going to landfill, because there wasn’t an alternative option. With Terracycle, through our partnership with Philips, we now have that solution.
“We hope that our patients will embrace this – and help us do everything we can to reduce our footprint.”
TerraCycle® programmes allow consumers to send in traditionally non-recyclable products and packaging free of charge, which is then recycled into a format that is used to make new products.
The participating Clyde Munro practices will all offer a collection point within their reception area for patients to drop off dental care products at their next scheduled appointment.
As a further benefit, the practices will receive a charitable donation from TerraCycle® depending on the weight of the recycled material, with all that money donated to Clyde Munro’s partner charity, Alzheimer Scotland, or a local charity of each practices’ choice.
Clyde Munro was founded by Jim Hall in 2015 with the acquisition of seven practices. Since then, it has enjoyed rapid growth through acquisition and has plans to continue expanding. It now comprises 51 practices across Scotland, with more than 430,000 patients and 400 staff.
● Grosvenor Casino Glasgow Merchant City’s Gaming Academy upskills aspiring casino dealers to help kick start their careers
● Four-week programme trains applicants in how to run popular games at the casino as well as safer gambling modules to develop their skills and career opportunities
● The Gaming Academy is part of a wider recruitment charge from Grosvenor Casinos with a range of other job opportunities available for Scottish job seekers
It is aces high for job seekers based in Glasgow and Edinburgh, who have been offered a helping hand to kick start their careers as a casino dealer.
Grosvenor Casino Glasgow in Merchant City is running a four-week gaming academy to help teach local job seekers how to deal some of the most popular casino games with the offer of full-time employment if they qualify.
6 aspiring male and female casino dealers, aged between 18 – 37 years old, are being put through their paces on the Grosvenor Casinos gaming academy which includes training on Blackjack, Poker and Roulette.
From learning casino terminology, the difference between odds and pay-outs, as well as the correct way to spin the roulette ball, the academy will help applicants to learn how best to manage the fast-paced nature of bets placed by guests when they visit the casino.
Those taking part will also be tutored on the times tables up to thirty-five and receive tips and tricks on how to improve their dexterity when it comes to collecting and gathering bets and chips, to ensure they can deliver the best possible service in the quickest way possible.
As part of Grosvenor’s commitment to safer gambling, the academy will also focus on safeguarding guests and educating team members about the importance of ensuring all guests always play responsibly.
Emma Sulton, (37), a mother of one from Livingston, said: “I lost my job in February last year, so I applied for a job as a receptionist at the Grosvenor Casino in Edinburgh.
“That role was filled but the team contacted me and made me aware of the gaming academy and I jumped at the chance, as I love roles that keep my mind engaged and let me interact with the public. It’s been amazing to work with such a range of different people and learn so many news skills that will help me start a brand-new career.
Drew Murray (18) from Uddingston in Glasgow, added: “Before I joined the gaming academy I worked in construction and the course has been a new challenge which I have really enjoyed, especially working out the odds as well as how the games work.
“We’re also paid the over 25 living wage which for me at 18 is brilliant and I am excited to start this new career with Grosvenor Casinos.”
General Manager at Grosvenor Casino Glasgow Merchant City said: “We have a strong track record for providing training opportunities for the local workforce to upskill and join our team. A career as a casino dealer is a highly skilled profession that offers flexible working as well as the chance to travel and work all over the world.
“It’s been a challenging year for everyone in the industry and now our casino is re-opened, we are determined to offer all applicants of the gaming academy the chance to work for Grosvenor Casinos and become part of the team here.”
Alongside the Gaming Academy, Grosvenor Casinos is carrying out a recruitment drive for job seekers across Scotland with a range of roles available to those looking for job opportunities.
All those interested can check their local club’s social media pages for more details and to learn more about Grosvenor Casinos, what it’s like to work for the business and the reasons why a career in the casino industry could be for you visit https://www.rank.com/careers.
Police continue to be made aware of an increasing number of so-called “sextortion” crimes recently, with more and more social media users falling victim to this unpleasant type of scam.
These usually involve the victim being enticed to send nude or explicit photos or videos to someone who has befriended them online, then being blackmailed into sending money (or in some incidents, gift cards) to prevent them being distributed to people they know.
Detective Sergeant Oliver Healy from Gayfield Police CID said: “The perpetrator’s aim is to build trust and convince the victim that they are interested in becoming involved in an online sexual interaction with them which often takes place via a video chat platforms initiated by the perpetrator.
“During the video chat, the perpetrator will persuade the victim to expose themselves which they record without the victim’s knowledge. This will be followed up by a demand for money from the victim and the threat of sharing the recordings with their friends and family.
“We would ask people to consider what they share and who they share it with. They should, ideally, only share pictures online that they are happy with their friends, family and others seeing. Switching communication from one platform to another is a tactic used during these scams to gain as much information about a victim.
“The simplest way to avoid falling victim is to refrain from accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.
“If you find yourself being blackmailed or extorted in this way, contact us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You will be given support and your report will be taken in utmost confidence.”
Further information on keeping safe online can be found on the website – http://ow.ly/yT4C50GmHjz
Fort Kinnaird is advertising over 30 job roles on its website, with vacancies available across retailers, restaurants and facilities.
There is a selection of part-time, temporary and full-time positions available across over 14 brands – ranging from beauty therapists and retail customer advisors to chefs and security officers.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “It’s been a really positive time for us and our retailers since we’ve reopened. With new brands coming to the centre in the next few months, it’s great to see such a variety of roles available via our partners at the Recruitment & Skills Centre based at Fort Kinnaird.
“We’re looking forward to bringing even more job opportunities to the city.”
Here’s a selection of some of the opportunities available:
ProCook
If you’re a customer focused and target oriented team player with an interest in cooking, ProCook is a recruiting for a number of roles at its newly opened Fort Kinnaird store. In return for providing excellent customer service and exceeding sales targets, you’ll receive fantastic company benefits, with opportunities for development and performance related progression.
Current vacancies: Deputy Managers (closes 29th October), Temporary Christmas Staff (closes 30th November 2021), Sales Advisors (closes 24th November),
Beauty lovers, this is the job for you! The MAC store within Boots at Fort Kinnaird is looking for a Retail Manager. You’ll be responsible for all areas of your business, inspiring your team day in and day out in a fast-paced environment to deliver world-class customer experience.
If you’re a commercially minded, inspirational leader with a knack for creating a real buzz around sales and artistry, you can apply for the role via the Estee Lauder website.
Three
Three’s Fort Kinnaird store is looking for friendly and ambitious individuals to join its award-winning retail team as a Customer Advisor. There will be lots of opportunities to develop and show your drive to succeed in an environment that supports and prepares you for the next level of your career.
The current vacancies available are full-time and part-time (12 hours per week) Retail Customer Advisors, with vacancies closing on 2nd November. You can find more and apply via the Three website.
PizzaExpress
If you’ve got a passion for high standards, food or just an interest in learning, PizzaExpress can help you develop a career where the sky’s the limit.
PizzaExpress opened its first restaurant over 50 years ago. Over 600 restaurants later, its passion to create hand crafted authentic pizza remains the same.
There are plenty of ways to progress your career into senior kitchen, supervisory or management roles and lots of opportunity to earn more, with plenty of benefits too.
The current vacancies available are a part-time Potwash (closing date 10th October) and part-time Front of House Support Team (closing date 17th October).
Find out more and apply via the PizzaExpress website.
For the latest job vacancies at Fort Kinnaird and further guidance, please visit www.rscfortkinnaird.co.uk.
First physical event in two years contributes £2.2m following 100% top up
Scotland’s legendary Kiltwalk Kindness has raised a remarkable £8.4 million for more than 1,200 charities across the country this year after 15,500 heroes put on a bit of tartan and took part in events.
The record-breaking sum includes £2.2 million raised last week by the first physical Kiltwalk in two years.
Scotland’s Kiltwalk, held on Sunday September 26 in Glasgow, attracted 4,000 walkers of all ages. Together they raised £1.1 million for almost 500 charities desperate for assistance following lockdown. In a video message Sir Tom Hunter revealed their fundraising total is being topped up by an astonishing 100% after The Hunter Foundation added 50% and the Kiltwalk itself provided a further 50%.
April’s Virtual event saw 11,500 Kiltwalkers raise £4.1 million, with an additional £2.05 million donated from the Hunter Foundation; assuring a massive £6.15 million for Scottish charities big and small.
Sir Tom Hunter said: “Last week we all got together to walk for charities we care about and the smiles on everyone’s faces said it all: Kiltwalk is back!
“Scotland’s Kiltwalk raised just over £1.1 million for the charities but after speaking to walkers we were so struck by how much of a lifeline Kiltwalk has been that we are topping up this figure not by 50% but by 100%; with 50% coming from The Hunter Foundation and 50% coming from the Kiltwalk itself. So that’s an amazing £2.2 million for Scottish charities.
“I’m also proud to confirm that 2021 is our biggest year ever, raising a staggering £8.4 million for more than 1,200 Scottish charities. At a time when those in need really needed help, the Kiltwalk community went beyond the call of duty, so I want to thank them and all of our sponsors, Royal Bank of Scotland, Arnold Clark and Johnston Carmichael for their Kiltwalk Kindness. We look forward to seeing you all in 2022.”
News of the 100% top up was welcomed by charities, who have faced a variety of challenges as a result of the pandemic.
Caroline Speirs, co-founder, Calum’s Cabin, which offers retreats on the Isle of Bute for families struggling with childhood cancer, said: “Kiltwalk is the largest fundraising annual event for Calum’s Cabin.
“It brings together Calum’s Cabin supporters from all walks of life including those who have been through the journey of their child suffering from cancer, families who are still going through the journey and tragically families who are walking in memory of their children.
“Receiving a 100% top up will be a great boost for us and will help make a real difference to the life of a child suffering from cancer.”
Fiona Leslie, senior community and challenge events fundraiser, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), said “After a phenomenal 100% top up from Sir Tom Hunter and the Kiltwalk CHAS walkers raised an amazing £67,832 at Scotland’s Kiltwalk, which will help our mission to reach every single baby, child and young person who needs us, despite the current situation.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have been one of the biggest charities taking part and we’d like to say a massive thank you to every walker who took on the challenge – we know it wasn’t easy! It was fantastic to be back at a live event after the pandemic.”
The Kiltwalk’s 50% top up of £550,000 was donated from the charity event’s reserves, which were built up from registration and sponsorship fees, and the ongoing support of staff and volunteers.
Public bodies to prepare plans making good quality food accessible to all
Health boards and local authorities will develop wide-ranging plans to help ensure good quality, locally sourced and produced food is a practical everyday reality for everyone under new legislation.
The Good Food Nation Bill will ensure Scottish Ministers and a range of public bodies will produce good food nation plans to support social and economic wellbeing, the environment, health and economic development.
The Bill lays the foundation for Scotland to become a Good Food Nation where people from all walks of life take pride and pleasure from the food they produce, buy, cook and eat each day.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “We are committed to ensuring everyone in Scotland has access to healthy, nutritious fare and that businesses and public kitchens commit to producing, selling and serving good food.
“Organisations can play a leading role in this process – looking at how they boost local procurement, cut down food waste and packaging, use in-season produce as well disposing of food waste in an environmentally friendly way.
“But that’s not all. For example, a wide ranging food education can equip school pupils with the key skills they need to cook tasty, nutritious meals using the incredible array of world-class produce we have, but also to make informed food choices when they are away from home.
“We have been working across government through an extensive programme of measures to deliver on our ambition to be a Good Food Nation and our work to deliver action and practical measures will continue throughout this Parliament, not least to encourage the use of sustainable local produce and to help our children eat well.”
