All mainland health boards will offer drop-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination clinics from Monday as the programme nears completion of first doses for all adults in Scotland.
Everyone aged 18 and over can attend for their first dose or – if eight weeks have passed – their second dose. Separate queues will be in operation for those with a scheduled appointment.
From Monday, mobile vaccination units run by the Scottish Ambulance Service will visit local communities and busy city centre spots in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a two week period.
Anyone who has not yet received an invitation or would like to rearrange an existing appointment can continue to self-register on the NHS Inform site.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our route out of this pandemic is getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible, that is why I am urging people to get jagged in July.
“The vaccination programme continues to progress at pace and, as always, I want to thank everyone involved and all those who have taken up the offer of vaccine.
“As we approach the final stages of the first COVID-19 vaccination programme we are increasing the options available for how and when you choose to be inoculated.
“You can attend one of the drop-in clinics being run in all mainland health boards or pop into a mobile unit. You can also rearrange the location of your appointment online if, for example, it is more convenient for you to be vaccinated closer to your work than home.
“You can find out where your nearest drop-in clinics are by visiting NHS Inform which will direct you to the latest information from your local health board.
“All those aged 18 and over can also self-register to receive their appointment by text or email which will be convenient for anyone who has recently moved house or is new to Scotland.
“All of the evidence says that the vaccines are working as we continue to battle the faster-transmitting Delta variant which is now dominant so I urge everyone to take advantage of the vaccination programme which is open to every adult in Scotland.”
Mr Yousaf’s appeal follows the announcement of 4234 new cases in Scotland yesterday – a new record.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has stressed Scotland’s commitment to making sure people across the world benefit from a just transition to net zero.
Speaking yesterday at the Austrian World Summit on a panel including climate activist Greta Thunberg and UN Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, the First Minister said that the world must seize its chance to tackle the climate crisis fairly at COP26 in Glasgow.
Building on the role of Scotland’s Climate Assembly in domestic policy-making, £100,000 of funding is being made available to support the Global Climate Assembly, an initiative which will bring together 100 participants from the global north and south to learn from each other, and to make recommendations which will feed into COP26 discussions.
Further funding of £190,000 is also being made available to support a fourth year of the Malawi Climate Youth Leaders Project, in recognition of the inter-generational impacts of climate change.
The First Minister said: “The climate crisis – with its inter-related threats of climate change, nature loss and pollution – remains the single biggest challenge the world faces. COP26 represents the world’s best chance – and possibly one of our last chances – to limit global warming to 1.5°.
“One of the great injustices of the climate crisis is that the people and countries who are worst affected are usually those who have done least to cause it.
“At Glasgow, their needs must be recognised, and their voices must be heard. The Scottish Government is determined to help with that process.
“All of us – and governments in particular – now need to summon that same sense of urgency in tackling the climate crisis. If we do, COP26 can become a global turning point – one which ensures that as we recover from the pandemic, we create a greener and fairer world.”
While the First Minister may have enjoyed her appearance on the world stage yesterday, it’s back to urgent domestic matters today.
A record 4234 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Scotland yesterday and national clinical director Prof Jason Leitch has admitted that the huge increase in Covid-19 cases is putting considerable strain on Scotland’s contact tracing system.
Public Health Scotland figures suggest it is now taking longer to contact infectious people and to track down their close contacts, leading to wider spread.
Ms Sturgeon will face the press when she holds a media briefing at lunchtime today.
Police have confirmed that three teenage girls, aged 15, 14 and 13, have been charged in connection with the assault of a 13-year-old girl and 31-year-old woman which happened in Leith Link Park around 5.40pm last Sunday (27 June).
Reports have been submitted to the Children’s Reporter.
A new programme of events will put the voices of young people in Scotland at the heart of the climate conversation during COP26.
Young Scot, Keep Scotland Beautiful and YouthLink Scotland will lead on delivering a youth climate programme across the country backed by £450,000 of Scottish Government funding.
Young people will co-design the programme, recruiting local champions from every local authority to help connect with communities to tackle climate change.
Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform Mairi McAllan met the North Lanarkshire Youth Climate Ambassadors at Strathclyde Park to discuss the climate issues that are important to them.
Ms McAllan said: “Young people in Scotland are driving the cause of climate action. This programme will give them a platform to make sure their voices are not just heard, but acted upon.
“Scotland has world leading targets to be net zero by 2045 and we are already more than half way there. With COP26 in Glasgow this year, all of us have a unique opportunity to advance the society and economy-wide transformation demanded by the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
“We’re taking action and putting people at the heart of all we do. Young people have been demanding change for a better future and this programme will empower them to go even further. I look forward to hearing their ideas and engaging with them as we work together to end our contribution to climate change.”
Heather Ashworth, former Climate Action Intern with Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We can work together by talking, sharing our knowledge and our success stories. We need to support each other to learn and understand climate issues and the actions we can take.
“Young voices must be heard, but regardless of age or background, we all need to come together to ensure Scotland becomes a net zero nation.”
The youth programme will run up to and beyond the UN climate conference in November and will include a range of activities to support young people as they engage in the fight against climate change, along with the chance to receive accredited training.
In addition to the programme, Young Scot, Keep Scotland Beautiful and YouthLink Scotland will deliver a COP26 Scottish Youth Summit ahead of COP26, including a Scottish Youth Climate Declaration.
Young people with an interest in climate change can apply to be part of the programme by visiting the Young Scot website.
Metro Bank’s Bereavement Team Offers a Practical Guide to Bereavement Administration
When someone dies there is a lot of official paperwork that needs to be completed – some even comes with deadlines and fines if not processed properly and timely. As the UK’s community bank, Metro Bank has a specialist bereavement team to support anyone processing the administration at every stage through the bereavement process.
The team has created a practical guide to help everyone to understand what they need to do when dealing with the key stages of administration that surrounds a death.
“Losing someone is hard enough, without having to deal with all the official paperwork that has to be completed,” explains Dave Craggs, director of customer support, Metro Bank. “Our bereavement team has the empathy and expertise to guide and support at these difficult moments and this practical guide explains the key steps in the process that need to be taken.”
1. The medical certificate of cause of death.
When someone dies, a doctor needs to issue a medical certificate for the cause of death. This is the first stage of managing the paperwork needed to process every aspect of bereavement administration.
The certificate needs to include the name, age, place and cause of death about the deceased. If the cause of death is clear, this certificate can be issued straightaway, otherwise you can expect a delay until further investigations have been carried out. Once any investigations have been completed, a Coroners Certificate of fact of death will be issued and the death can then be registered.
2. Registering the death
Every death has to be legally registered. If you’re in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you will have five days to register a death. In Scotland you have up to eight days.
You will need to make an appointment at the register office near to the place of death and bring the medical certificate of cause of death with some identification proof such as the deceased’s passport, driving licence or birth certificate to the appointment. Once you have registered the death the registrar will issue you with the Death Certificate.
Full details can be found on the government website and the registrar will also explain about this government web page that enables you to tell the government about the death, so all of its agencies are simultaneously informed at once including- for example – state pension, disability benefits and council services.
3. The Will & The Estate
If the deceased has a Will the named executor/s will deal with the estate. They will need to obtain a Grant of Probation by completing a probate form which can be found online here.as well as an inheritance tax form or by calling 0300 123 1072.
If there is no Will, a relative will be appointed as an administrator to deal with the estate. They will need to obtain Letters of Administration.
The deceased person’s property and belongings are called the estate.
Part of managing the estate includes the disposal of assets, payment of outstanding bills and debts as well as advising all the relevant organisations such as telecoms, social media, energy, financial services including insurance and banking for which there may be direct debits and standing orders as well as money and investments.
4. The Bank
The deceased’s bank will play an integral part in the bereavement administration and each bank’s processes may vary slightly. If the deceased banked with Metro Bank, you can inform us in person by visiting your local Metro Bank store, by phone, or via post and ask for the support of the bereavement team.
The bereavement team will take you through the process step by step. You will need to supply them with some documentation including the original death certificate, or an interim death certificate plus proof of your identification (i.e. passport, driving licence etc.) as well as the original Will.
If there isn’t a Will the bereavement team can still help you with collecting a person’s estate, in line with Government guidelines.
Once the bereavement team has all the necessary documents, they can help organise any money, property and possessions held with us. We will then guide you through what happens with each type of account – be it current, savings, joint, loans, investment or credit cards and how any funeral invoices and inheritance tax can be paid and settled.
You’ll need to either visit us in store, email the Bereavement Team – bereavement.services@metrobank.plc.uk or via post to make these final arrangements and complete the necessary forms. We can also help with paying for the funeral – for example if there are sufficient funds belonging to the deceased in an account held with us, we can pay funeral costs directly to the funeral director. All we need is a final invoice.
Alternatively, we can reimburse the funeral costs you have already covered. All you need to do is send us a proof of the payment and the person who made it, along with the final funeral invoice.
5. Useful Links
Dave Craggs: “A person’s life is full of meaningful activity and interactions – each of which has to be closed off properly when they die. Managing this entire process can take months and be complex depending on the volume of their personal contacts, possessions, property, money and investments, but help is at hand.”
There are many organisations that can help with this process including:
New and future food and drink entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their business ideas for the chance to win a free place on a weekend interactive programme.
Applications are now open for the two sessions which are part of THRIVE – a collaborative initiative launched by Queen Margaret University, Abertay University and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) to support sustainable growth in the country’s food and drink sector.
There are up to 60 places available on the online Saturday workshops in November which will bring together expertise from all three institutions, as well as external industry professionals.
They will help students and recent graduates gain an understanding of the skills and knowledge they need to start a business in the sector – whether that be offering new food and drink products or a service to the industry.
Dr Carol Langston, Reader in Rural Entrepreneurship at SRUC, said: “This programme is an ideal opportunity for a student or recent graduate to really explore their business idea and commence planning their start-up journey.
“It is also an invaluable occasion to build their personal network in the Food and Drink sector – which is vital to helping to build a successful business.”
Dr Jon Wilkin, of Abertay University, said: “These workshops will be hugely valuable for students and recent graduates looking to get into the food and drink sector.
“With COP26 coming to Glasgow this year, the eyes of the world will be on our approach to sustainability, and this project is a great example of an initiative that can help new businesses or entrepreneurs set up ventures with climate change in mind.”
Miriam Smith, Innovation and Enterprise Manager at Queen Margaret University, said: “Venturing into the world of entrepreneurship is an exciting but daunting prospect for anyone, especially when funding and knowledge is limited.
“So many business ideas don’t even get off the ground. We want to ensure our graduates have the very best chance of success and are equipped to develop their business idea so they can turn it into reality.
“THRIVE will provide students with an outstanding insight into the food and drink industry by equipping them with the essential skills for product development along with marketing, legislative, and business knowledge that will be essential in executing their vision and creating a sustainable food business.”
THRIVE is aimed at third and fourth-year students, as well as recent graduates, with applicants asked to pitch their ideas as part of the process.
Premium German appliance manufacturer, Miele has opened a new Experience Centre within the exciting new district of St James Quarter.
This is the third Miele Experience Centre in the UK after London and Oxfordshire, and the 100th worldwide.
The carnival inspired opening featured a spectacular floral installation over the entrance to the new store created by Edinburgh-based Wild Flowers.
Guests were treated to cookery demonstrations and ‘street food’ style treats and bites from the renowned and award-wining Scottish chef, Mark Heirs.
An exclusive ‘Spin the Drum’ competition enabled 100 visitors to win one of 100 prizes including a washing machine, dishwasher, coffee machine and a vacuum cleaner as well as vouchers to use in store.
Renowned and award-winning Scottish private chef, Mark Heirs giving cookery demonstrations and serving up ‘street food’ style treats and bites made using Miele Appliances
The purpose of the Experience Centre is to bring Miele products to life and to provide customers with the opportunity to fully interact with live appliances and experience new technology.
Whether a customer is looking for a replacement washing machine or researching a full suite of appliances for their new dream kitchen, knowledgeable sales consultants and home economists can help guide them on the products that are right for them.
A customer taking a new Miele Cordless vacuum cleaner for a test drive
John Pickering, managing director for Miele GB says, “We have received an incredibly warm welcome to Edinburgh by local people who visited our new Miele Experience Centre.
“Our mission is to create quality products that improve our customers’ lives, that are designed, built and tested to last – many for up to 20 years. We are looking forward to helping customers from all over Scotland make informed decisions about buying new sustainable appliances and ensuring they get the absolute most out of them.”
100 prizes were up for grabs in the online ‘Spin the Drum’ competition
The new Edinburgh Miele Experience Centre will be a destination of discovery, where a range of sustainable appliances will be on display including laundry, cooking, dishwashers and floorcare.
Carefully curated interactive ‘Discovery Classes’ will also be introduced from September, to help customers to see and feel why Miele products are different.
The classes will cover everything from key product features and benefits, quality of design and manufacture through to cooking and recipe demonstrations.
An expert Miele sales consultant explaining the features and benefits of a new Miele oven
The new Experience Centre will be managed by Ewan Laing who will be supported by a team of sales consultants and home economists. The new store creates eight new jobs and is centrally located in the new St James Quarter, a vibrant new shopping and food destination in Edinburgh.
Products on display in the Miele Experience Centre
The new Miele Experience Centre can be found at 243 St James Crescent, EH1 3AD. Doors open at 9am on 24 June 2021.
For more information about Miele visit miele.co.uk
HRH The Earl of Forfar KG GCVO paid a visit to Saughton Park yesterday to join Keep Scotland Beautiful as they celebrated the commitment of volunteers and supporters dedicated to improving our environment.
During his visit, to the recently restored, and Green Flag Award winning park, The Earl of Forfar met with city council staff and a number of groups and individuals who work with the charity to tackle litter, combat climate change and improve local places.
His Royal Highness met with volunteers from the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis Park community group who shared their experiences of the Green Flag programme across Scotland and in particular the role they play.
He also heard about the longstanding Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood programme in Scotland, meeting a passionate judge and assessor, Colin Ainsworth, and volunteers from Friends of Saughton Park Group and Bonnie Blantyre and Pals Community Group who discussed the challenges and opportunities facing community improvement projects during the pandemic.
A young reporter, Callum Alexander, who is eager to raise awareness of the importance of improving our environment, and KSB’s education team were then able to share their experiences with The Earl of Forfar before he was introduced to KSB’s June Clean Up Scotland Hero, Jason Wilcox, who highlighted his litter picking activity with the West Lothian Litterpickers and the scale of the problem as we have eased out of lockdown.
His Royal Highness also met with representatives of Keep Porty Tidy a group involved in our My Beach Your Beach campaign at Portobello.
Finally, The Earl of Forfar was introduced to a number of volunteer Charity Trustees and was invited to present our outgoing Chair Lindsay Montgomery CBE, and John Frater with Fellowship Certificates to make their long service to the charity.
Tom Brock OBE, KSB Chairman said, “It was an honour to be able to introduce His Royal Highness, The Earl of Forfar, to some of the truly amazing volunteers we work with, from our outgoing Charity Trustees to the communities, local authorities and young people who are all working tirelessly to keep Scotland beautiful.
“Our connection and need for clean, green spaces has never felt more important and it was a privilege for us to celebrate and showcase the work being done across the country by passionate individuals all striving to improve places and neighbourhoods and play a key role in Scotland’s green recovery.
“I would like thank The Earl for showing such an interest in the work we, and those we work with, do to make Scotland clean, green and sustainable for everyone.”
There will be biscuits, cakes and tea by the pot this August as Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea returns to raise cash for needy kitties near you.
The popular fundraising celebration provides cat-lovers with the opportunity to host an afternoon tea in a style of their choosing to raise money for the Cats Protection centre or volunteer-run branch of their choice.
This year’s tea will take place throughout August to enable people to meet outdoors or indoors if they wish, while following the latest government guidelines.
Abi Young, organiser of Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea, explains: “You could hold a tea party at home, a bake sale for your office, or enjoy a picnic outdoors – the choice is yours.
“We have some great tutorials online if you’d like to bake your own cat-shaped treats but whether you bake or buy your delicious goodies to share, every slice you sell helps give down-on-their-luck moggies a second chance.
“Each penny donated makes a big difference, for example £20 raised will feed four cats in care for 25 days, £50 will provide eight tiny kittens with milk for 14 days or £110 will pay for an x-ray for an injured cat. Our branches and centres couldn’t help unwanted cats and kittens without the kindness of our wonderful supporters baking and brewing to keep them on their paws.”
Videos showing how to make a variety of kitty bakes can be found here:
To find more information about your nearest Cats Protection branch or centre visit www.cats.org.uk/find-us and to take part in this year’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea you can register your tea at www.pawsometea.org and receive top-tips as well as a party pack filled with everything you need to ensure your sale is a great success.
Safety advice to prevent avoidable fires in the Scottish countryside is being pitched at campers this summer.
Warmer weather and the increased numbers of people visiting the countryside as pandemic restrictions ease create a greater risk of fire.
Not using candles in tents or never leaving camp fires unattended are just some of the tips being highlighted for a safer summer.
The advice comes as new data shows the number of grass fires more than doubled in some parts of Scotland last summer, such as Aberdeenshire & Moray and Highland – see table below.
A nationwide increase of nine percent was recorded, with incidents going up across Argyll & Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Midlothian and Scottish Borders, Edinburgh City, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife, as well as Aberdeen City.
Between June 22 and August 24, 2020, fires affecting grassland, woodland and crops went up from 656 total incidents in 2019 to 712 in 2020.
Many outdoor fires are started deliberately or are due to careless or irresponsible behaviour.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry, SFRS Head of Prevention and Protection, said: “We want people to enjoy spending time outdoors, but it’s important to create a safe environment for you, your loved-ones and the surrounding environment because even small fires have the potential to turn into a wildfire.
“Before lighting any outdoor fires, check for any restrictions or permissions required by the landowner and make sure you use a fire safe pit or container that can be properly extinguished before you leave.
“The vast majority of us wish to keep our country beautiful, but litter can seriously injure wildlife and items such as glass bottles in strong sunlight have the potential to start a fire. Remember to keep your area tidy and always clear up when done.”
There are also other dangers associated with camping as DACO Perry continued:
“Be aware that fire destroys tents very quickly, so use torches instead of candles.
“Never take a portable or disposable barbeque inside a tent to cook or to use as a heat source because Carbon Monoxide is also a potential risk.
“And gas barbeques should also be used in a well-ventilated area.”
Those choosing to go away in caravans for a staycation are also being reminded to have a working smoke alarm fitted.
A fire in a caravan or mobile home spreads much more quickly than it would in a house or flat and there are on average almost 100 caravan fires in Scotland every year.
Summer also brings with it the temptation to swim outdoors, but lochs, rivers and reservoirs also pose a risk to those enjoying nature.
Cold water shock can leave people gasping for breath and it’s potentially fatal. Therefore, the advice is to avoid unsupervised waterways.
Don’t forget – if you’re leaving your home for an extended period of time this summer, remember to switch off electrical appliances before you set off.
All grassland, woodland and crop fires:
LSO Area
24/06/2019 to 26/08/2019
22/06/2020 to 24/08/2020
Aberdeen City
23
27
Aberdeenshire, Moray
27
65
Angus,Dundee City, Perth & Kinross
55
55
Argyll & Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire
13
22
Dumfries & Galloway
15
8
East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire
77
56
East Lothian,Midlothian, Scottish Borders
42
46
East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire
38
30
Edinburgh City
59
82
Falkirk, West Lothian
81
74
Glasgow City
54
52
Highland
32
65
Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands
