First Minister: Virus spead is down to our own decisions

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 14 August):

Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us again today, let me firstly give the usual update on the Covid-19 statistics. I can confirm that an additional 65 positive cases were confirmed yesterday.

That represents 1.6% of people newly tested yesterday, and takes the total number of cases now to 19,238.

The full health board breakdown will be available later as usual, but I’ll give the provisional information and that is 28 of the 65 new cases are in the Grampian health board area.

Nine are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and 12 in Lanarkshire – which between them may reflect a cluster in north-east Glasgow. And there are two cases reported in today’s figure for Orkney.

A total of 253 patients are in hospital with confirmed Covid, which is five fewer than yesterday.

Three people are in intensive care which is the same as yesterday.

I’m also very pleased to say that yet again in the past 24 hours, we have had no deaths registered of patients who had tested positive  for Covid so the number of deaths under that measurement remains 2,491.

Obviously that overall figure is a reminder of the impact of the virus and again I want to send my thoughts and condolences to those who have lost a loved one.

And as always, to say a very big and heartfelt thank you to everybody in whatever capacity they are working to get country through this difficult period.

I am joined by the Justice Secretary, who will talk in a moment about some arrangements for high court trials, and also cover today’s announcements in relation to quarantine requirements for people returning from holiday from countries such as France, Malta and the Netherlands. And then Jason Leitch will say a word or two before we take questions.

There are a couple of issues I want to say a bit more about today before any of that. Firstly, I’ll provide some further detail about the ongoing outbreak in Aberdeen.

I mentioned a moment ago that 28 of the 65 new cases reported today are in Grampian. I can say that on the latest figures we have available, since the 26th of July, there have been a total of 328 cases identified in Grampian.

And as of now, we believe that 198 of these are associated with the cluster linked to Aberdeen pubs, and 1032 contacts have now been identified from these 198 cases. Contact tracing continues for what remains a very large and a very complex outbreak, and I am grateful once again to our health team and our test and protect teams.

I think it is clear from the numbers I have just given, that we will continue to see new cases and new contacts identified in Aberdeen in the coming days. But we are hopeful that this is an outbreak that will be brought firmly under control.

We are also continuing to monitor developments in relation to smaller clusters that I spoke about yesterday and I’ve referred to already today,  firstly on Orkney, and secondly in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde are around north-east Glasgow, which will have potentially an impact on the Lanarkshire figures as well.

The other item I wanted to update on today relates to the new rules and guidance which are coming into force today for the hospitality sector. We know that pubs and restaurants are higher risk locations for transmission of COVID and we are seeing that reflected in our data right now

When the hospitality sector reopened, the Scottish Government published guidance on issues like physical distancing, hygiene, and the collection of customer details.  

Many businesses, I believe the majority of businesses, have complied well with those measures, and I am grateful to all of them.

But I also know there are premises where that has not been the case. 

We’ve had a particular concern over venues where crowding has become an issue – due to poor compliance with physical distancing, or premises exceeding their safe capacity. 

We want to do everything possible to ensure that our hospitality sector, now that is has reopened, can remain open safely.

But it is absolutely essential that we guard against future outbreaks. The volume of cases that we are still dealing with in Aberdeen – many of which seem to have been the result of transmission in pubs – shows the importance of that.

So for that reason, two important new measures are coming into force today. Firstly, it is now mandatory for hospitality businesses, including cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars to collect customer and visitor contact details.

That requirement already exists in guidance – and I know many businesses are already doing this. But it is now the law.  It is an essential step to ensure that our Test and Protect system can function as effectively as possible.

So from now on, all hospitality businesses must collect contact details for all visitors to their premises. That includes obviously customers and staff but also people such as cleaners and delivery drivers.  And let me make this point clear as well, particularly to members of the public, if customers refuse to provide these details, they should not be served in the place that they are trying to be served in.

The second measure, is that we have today issued new statutory guidance relating to hospitality. 

By making the guidance statutory – so that premises must take account of it – we are aiming to ensure greater compliance with the guidelines.

The guidance makes clear, for example, that there should be no indoor queuing in these premises. And if there has to be queuing outside of the premises which we are asking premises to avoid, but if it is necessary for safety reasons, people queueing must be physically distanced.  

The guidance also states that people should not be standing together in a bar or restaurant. People should be seated only, with table service to them.

Physical distancing must be possible. Customers must be at least, in a hospitality premise, one metre apart – unless they are part of  the same household group.

Businesses must therefore review their layouts to ensure that one metre distancing – at least – is possible. They should clearly signpost the requirement for distancing. And they must not admit more people than can safely gather in their premises abiding by the physical distancing rules.

And they are reminded – as customers are – of the current law on indoor and outdoor gatherings. Friends should not be meeting indoors in groups of more than eight people and those eight people should be from no more than three different households.  If larger gatherings seem to be forming in a pub or a restaurant, then that should be challenged by those employed  running the business.

We also recommend that face coverings should be used for front of house staff rather than face visors because there is now some evidence that they are more effective.

And finally, there should be no background music – or volume from a television because we don’t want people having to shout to be heard or lean in to each other because we know that increases the risks of transmission.

Now let me say on that point, I know, absolutely all of us know, that atmosphere in pubs and restaurants is important, so we are willing to work with the sector to see if it might be possible to agree a more nuanced position based on an acceptable decibel level, but as you will gather just from what I have said there that will not be simple and it will take time.

So, in the meantime the rule is there should be no background music in pubs and restaurants.

I want to stress that most of these changes will not represent new burdens on businesses. They should already be doing most or all of these things.  But the changes should now ensure that all businesses are doing everything possible to make their premises safe.

Ultimately, this is in everybody’s interest.

Self-evidently, it’s in the public interest to reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted in pubs and restaurants – and to ensure that where there are outbreaks Test and Protect can contact everybody it needs to contact.

And it is also in the interests of the hospitality trade. The rules and guidance that take effect today are vital in ensuring that the sector can stay open safely now and into the winter period.

Alongside the guidance for hospitality businesses, we are publishing guidance for customers. 

This will appear on the Scottish Government’s website, and if you are planning to go to a pub or restaurant I would ask you to take the time to read it, because the responsibility for ensuring that these rules operate effectively does not just belong to government, or indeed to businesses. It lies with all of us.

In particular, I want to remind everyone that the rules on indoor and outdoor gatherings apply, not just in your own homes although they are very important in your own homes or gardens, but they also apply in bars and restaurants.

No more than three households, with a maximum of eight people, should be meeting together indoors, whether that is  a house, pub, restaurant or cafe. Outdoors, the maximum group size is 15 people, from no more than five households.

And within any group, people from different households must physically distance.

I know that sticking to that can be difficult. But it is really crucial.

Keeping our distance from other households, is an essential part of minimising the risk of transmission.

And finally, we are asking customers to  minimise the number of premises you visit in any one day.

The more settings you go to, the more likely you might be to get Covid, and the more likely you might be to spread it. Visiting lots of pubs in a single day or evening massively increases as well the workload potentially of Test and Protect.

So please think about that. It makes a really big difference if you stay in one pub, or whether you go to several.

And more generally, if you are going out a lot at the moment, and this is a really difficult thing to ask people to do, but I am going to ask you to think about that. If you are going out to pubs or restaurants or going to other people’s houses regularly because as I have said before  this is not easy – nobody’s life should be feeling absolutely normal yet. Nobody’s social life should feel exactly as it was before Covid struck.

The guidance we are publishing today will only work if all of us, as customers, individuals, as citizens, play our part. So I would encourage everybody to read the guidance, think about it, and help our hospitality businesses stay open.

This is not easy and I am very aware as I have just read through the rules and regulations there, that it is complicated. So please, if you are going out, take the time to familiarise yourself with the guidance first and try to stick to it when you are out.

And as I said yesterday, I have said before, wherever you are, assume the virus is in the room with you, because it very possibly is and therefore everything you do in sticking to these rules is denying it the opportunities to spread.

And lastly, just let me repeat my warning yesterday about house parties or gatherings. They pose a real risk and again the data we have from Test and Protect show that they are a driver of transmission right now, just as hospitality premises are.

So remember, in your own home or in a friend’s house, no more than eight people from no more than three households should be gathering together. And you must keep a 2 metre distance from people from different households. It’s  pain for everybody to be living this way but it is better than having this virus run out of control.

So please, I am appealing to everybody, to be very conscious about everything you are doing in this regard right now.

And that brings me to the fundamental point but the one  I want to end on, and it is one you have heard me make so many times before but it is really important that we all understand it.

Ultimately, the spread of this virus, whether it accelerates again or we manage to keep it under control, comes down to the decisions all of us are making as individuals.

So we need to think very carefully about those decisions. It’s quite simple, if we all stick to the rules and the guidance,  then we don’t completely eradicate the risk of this virus because that’s not how viruses work, but we massively reduce the risks of it spreading from one of us to another and from one household to another.

So, please think carefully about this. Aberdeen tells us that we can go backwards in this journey out of lockdown just as easily, perhaps more easily if we are not careful than we can go forwards.

So, I’ll end with my usual reminder of the FACTS campaign. It is so important that everybody follows these five golden rules.

Face coverings, shops, public transport already the law of course, but in any enclosed space

Avoid crowded places. That obviously is really important indoors but it is important outdoors as well

Clean your hands obsessively and clean hard surfaces, that you are touching, obsessively as well

Two metre distancing remains the rule

and Self isolate, and book a test, if you have any of the symptoms.

Let me remind you what the symptoms are because I have heard one or two suggestions in recent days that people are still not familiar with the symptoms to look out for, which is understandable, so let me remind you.

A new cough, a fever, or a loss of or change to your sense of taste or smell. Any one of these symptoms or anything that is worrying you around with that,don’t wait to see if you feel better. Go to NHS inform and book a test straight away and apart from going to get the test, self-isolate immediately because that helps us straight away reduce and break those potential chains of transmission.

So, thank you again for doing all of this and please, my final point before handing over to the Justice Secretary, is for those of you watching this and hearing this directly, please help me get this message to as wide an audience as possible by passing it on to your family members, who might be at work or school, passing it on to your friends, people you work with.

We all have a job to do here to make sure everybody knows what we should be doing and shouldn’t be doing and all of us stick to that.

UK to observe two-minute silence to commemorate 75th anniversary of VJ Day

A two minute silence will be held this morning (Saturday 15 August) at 11am to remember and thank all those from the many nations who fought for the freedoms that we enjoy today.

Union Flags will fly at full-mast on UK Government buildings and the UK will observe a two-minute silence on Saturday 15 August to mark the 75th anniversary of the day Japan surrendered that brought the Second World War to an end after six years of fighting.

  • World leaders come together in a poignant video message giving thanks to all those who served
  • The Red Arrows will conduct flypasts over Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff and will conclude their UK tour over London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea
  • Images of veterans will be projected on video screens across the nation
  • UK will fall silent at 11am and Union flags will fly at full mast

As the nation falls silent to remember the end of the Second World War, world leaders will give thanks to all those who served as part of a poignant video message commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The Friendship of Nations will see world leaders including the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, and US President, Donald Trump thanking veterans.

As well as world leaders, members of the Royal Family and the Prime Minister will pay tribute at a series of events to mark the anniversary. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales will lead a national moment of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. As part of the UK’s commemoration event, the Prime Minister will read the Exhortation ahead of a national two minute silence.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge will feature in a special programme broadcast on BBC One, and pay tribute to all those who sacrificed so much during the Second World War.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will feature, alongside other veterans, on a number of large screens across the UK including the Piccadilly Curve and National Rail stations in a photomontage showing veterans during their time in service and as they are now.

In the first such flight since the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Red Arrows will conduct a specially designed UK wide flypast tribute over Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff and London with its path including The Royal Hospital Chelsea, home to three Burma Star recipients.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “On this 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we pay tribute to the heroes deployed thousands of miles away in the mountains, islands and rainforests of Asia.

“Unable to celebrate the victory in Europe, and among the last to return home, today we recognise the bravery and ingenuity of those who, in the face of adversity, restored peace and prosperity to the world.

“Their immeasurable sacrifice changed the course of history and at today’s commemorations, we take the opportunity to say what should be said every day – thank you.”

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “Today marks the 75th anniversary of VJ day, and our thoughts are with all those who made such huge sacrifices to secure our country’s freedom. Finally, the war was really over.

“But the war in Japan was brutal, and many of those who returned were never able to speak about their experiences. The courage of those who fought and endured, so we are able to live freely, must never be forgotten.

Today, we remember them, we honour them, and we thank them.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Today we remember all those who served in the Second World War as we mark the 75th anniversary of the peace they secured.

“We must not forget the millions of men, women and children who were drawn into this terrible conflict. I want to call on everyone, wherever you are, to join us in giving thanks to the veterans who came home with the burdens of war on their shoulders, and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“Our commemorations today are with our nation’s deepest gratitude for the freedoms they won us.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “VJ Day is sometimes seen as the forgotten victory, but this year, on its 75th anniversary, our celebrations are rightly focused on paying special tribute to the Greatest Generation and their service and sacrifice in the Far East.

“These commemorations have been specially designed to include our veterans and pay tribute to the wartime generation as much as possible despite these challenging times.

“The number of veterans still able to share these moments with us may become fewer each year, but our gratitude to them remains undiminished.

“As the Second World War recedes from living memory, our responsibility to educate future generations about the conflict is more important than ever. Today, I will be thinking of the unique hardships faced by those who served, and thanking them for all they did for us.”

Plans for the day include:

  • The day will begin with a piper playing “Battle’s Over” at the Imperial War Museum’s HMS Belfast in London at sunrise as part of a tribute entitled ‘Waking Up to Peace’.
  • Military pipers will also be playing at dawn in India, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal.
  • The national service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire attended by veterans, descendants, the Prime Minister and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
  • At 10:15 AM, the Friendship of Nations will be broadcast on BBC One and online featuring 10 world leaders paying tribute to all who served, including the UK Prime Minister.
  • His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, and the Prime Minister will lead a national moment of silence from the National Memorial Arboretum. The ceremony will involve Armed Forces musicians and a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
  • His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will appear in a photo montage series alongside other Second World War veterans. Each veteran is pictured with an image of themselves from their time in service in a touching tribute broadcast on large screens across the country marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the war.
  • The Red Arrows will conduct flypasts over Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff and will conclude their tour of the UK over London.
  • VJ Day 75: The Nation’s Tribute will be broadcast on BBC One between 2030 – 2200 with a tribute from His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge.

VJ Day 75: The Nation’s Tribute will be broadcast on BBC One between 2030 and 2200 on Saturday 15 August.

Filmed at Horse Guards Parade, alongside veteran testimony His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge will give an address which pays tribute to the veterans and the wartime generation, as the Nation honours, thanks and remembers all those who sacrificed so much during the Second World War.

The pre-recorded programme, developed with the Ministry of Defence and involving members of Armed Forces personnel, will highlight the scope and diversity of the British military in 1945. It will include a host of famous faces reading tributes, military bands and dramatic visual projection.

The timings of the Red Arrows are as follows:Edinburgh: 1130

Belfast: 1400

Cardiff: 1445

London: 1730

Visit ve-vjday75.gov.uk to find out more about our plans to commemorate VJ Day and how you can get involved safely from home.

VJ DAY 75: GET INVOLVED

There are many ways you can get involved with VJ Day, either outdoors while following social distancing guidance, or online.

Here’s a selection of some of things you can do and ways you can find out more:

Get Involved with VJ Day
Get Involved with VJ Day

Discover your WW2 history

You can use these online resources to discover your local and family Second World War histories and connections:

To help commemorate VJ Day, Ancestry is opening selected worldwide records and sharing expert advice to help you research the untold stories of the war. Discover more about your family’s history.

Share your WW2 history

Do you have a Second World War or VJ Day connection? Share it with us at ve-vjday75@dcms.gov.uk

On social media

Share your Second World War stories, family histories and messages of remembrance on social media. Use #VJDay75 to join the conversation now.

Find your local memorial

You can use these resources to find out more about memorials near you:

If you find out more about your family’s history or your local community’s contribution and would like to share what you’ve learned, use #VJDay75 or email us at ve-vjday75@dcms.gov.uk

VJ Day in your home

Other ways to get involved

Learn more about the history of VJ Day

MND Recognition at Scottish Charity Awards

MND Scotland chairman Lawrence Cowan has been shortlisted for an SCVO Scottish Charity Award, which pays tribute to the inspiring individuals who help transform our society every day. 

This year has been monumental in our fightback against MND – January saw the launch of the UK’s biggest MND drugs trial, thanks to the many fundraisers, researchers and leaders in our community.  

Lawrence is in the running for the ‘Charity Champion’ award because of everything he has done both personally and professionally in the fightback against MND.

Lawrence’s best friend Gordon Aikman died of MND when he was just 31 years old. Gordon spent the time he had left campaigning for the rights of people affected by MND and fundraising to find a cure. Before Gordon died, Lawrence made a promise to do everything he could to help bring drugs trials to Scotland. This year that promise became a reality.

Personally, Lawrence has helped raise over £700,000 for cutting-edge research, and during his leadership as MND Scotland’s chairman, the charity achieved its highest income to date and invested £1.5 million into the pioneering drugs trial MND-SMART – the largest investment into research the charity has ever made.  

Through this nomination, Lawrence is now being recognised for his contributions to the cause and is following in the footsteps of his late friend, who won this award in 2016. 

Lawrence said: “This year we’ve made an historic leap forward in our fightback against MND. A few years ago drug trials for people with MND in Scotland were just a dream. Now almost everyone will be able to get on a drug trial in Scotland.  

“We’re now at the cutting edge of treatment trials in the UK. We got here through people moving mountains for those they love – and those they’ve lost. This nomination is for everyone in our MND community who have made history and I hope I can do them proud on the night.” 

Lawrence is joined by MND charities My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Euan’s Guide, who have also been shortlisted for awards.  

The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, which has been nominated for Charity of the Year, was founded by rugby legend Doddie Weir OBE. Since his diagnosis in 2016 he has spent his time raising awareness of the disease by sharing his story and raising funds to find a cure. The foundation has also donated £280,000 to MND Scotland’s grants programme, to help families in Scotland who are struggling financially because of MND.  

Euan MacDonald, also shortlisted in the Charity Champion category, was diagnosed with MND in 2003 and driven to help find a cure, he established the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research. This centre at the University of Edinburgh is home to the clinical drugs trial MND Scotland helped fund. As a powerchair user, Euan also founded the charity Euan’s Guide, a disabled access review website which gives disabled people the information they need to visit places with confidence. 

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said: “Much of the work celebrated this year predates the pandemic.  All aspects of our lives have been disrupted in 2020. Our communities and the charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises they rely on have been under enormous pressure.

“Scotland’s voluntary sector has never been more needed and will be essential to Scotland’s recovery. At SCVO we know that fantastic work is going on all the time and we are delighted to celebrate these achievements and successes through the Scottish Charity Awards.

“This year’s shortlist of 45 finalists showcases just how diverse our voluntary sector is, and highlights the fantastic work that has been going on across the country since the last Awards until March this year.

“The Awards are a great way of celebrating and recognising the people and organisations who make our voluntary sector a crucial part of every part of life in Scotland. Our finalists are fantastic and I would encourage everyone to support their favourite by voting in the People’s Choice Award.”

Cast your vote!

Lawrence, Euan and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation are also in with a chance of winning the People’s Choice Award which is decided by a public vote.

So give MND your vote by Friday 4th September at 5pm: https://scvo.org.uk/scottish-charity-awards/finalists-2020. 

The results will be announced on Friday 25th September. 

New safety regulations for hospitality from today

From today it is mandatory for hospitality settings to collect the contact details of visitors to their premises in support of Test and Protect. The new regulations apply to restaurants, cafes, pubs and hotels in which food or drink are sold for consumption on the premises.

These businesses must now record the name and contact number of an individual – or lead member of each household in a group – that visits the premises.

They must also record the date of the visit, the time of arrival, and where possible the departure time.

The new regulations include customers, staff working on a particular day and visitors such as delivery drivers or cleaners.

Premises must store the information for 21 days and share it when requested to do so by public health officers within 24 hours.

New statutory guidance for the hospitality sector has been published which explains how to keep a record of customer and visitor contact details securely ensuring data protection principles are upheld.

The Scottish Government has also published updated guidance for hospitality customers to reinforce key safety measures.

This includes the need to maintain physical distancing and the strict limits on the number of households that can meet at a time – 8 people from up to 3 households indoors and 15 people from up to 5 households outdoors.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “While many hospitality businesses have acted responsibly by adhering to the voluntary approach of collecting customer details, unfortunately too many others have not, and so – given the established high risk of virus transmission within hospitality settings – we have decided to make this mandatory.

“Strengthening this requirement to collect and share the data by moving it from guidance into regulations ensures that in the event of an outbreak, through the Test and Protect process, it will be possible to get in touch with anyone identified as a close contact who was present at the same time as an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“This will help us break chains of transmission while continuing to allow us to socialise and support our local businesses.

“It is worth stressing that for those hospitality venues which are already complying with guidance, they will see minimal change to their procedures and operations.”

Chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association Emma McClarkin said: “The majority of Scotland’s pubs and bars had already gone above and beyond in putting measures in place to keep customers safe during this time.

“These changes today will help ensure those premises which have fallen short no longer do so, and we welcome that clarity.

“We’re all in this together and the stronger we are now, the sooner we will be able to see these restrictions disappear.”

Read the regulations

A failure to have the required arrangements in place will be punishable by a Fixed Penalty Notice under the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020. A continuing failure could be enforced by repeated fines of up to £960.

Read the hospitality statutory guidance

Read the guidance on the collection of customer contact details

Read the hospitality and tourism customer guidance

Pavement parking ban campaign shortlisted for charity award

Living Streets campaign shortlisted for national award

Living Streets’ campaign to ban pavement parking in Scotland has been shortlisted for a national charity award, following a ten-year campaign to make streets safer for pedestrians in Scotland.  

Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector. This year’s shortlist includes 45 individuals and organisations from charities and voluntary groups across the country.

In October 2019, the Scottish Government passed a bill implementing a nationwide ban on pavement parking, following a decade-long campaign from Living Streets and disability charities as part of the Responsible Parking Alliance. 

Living Streets Scotland has been recognised as a finalist in the ‘cracking campaign’ category and is encouraging people who support safer streets for walking and wheeling to vote for them. 

Voting opens today – Friday 14 August – and runs until Friday 4 September. While a judging panel will determine the winners under eight distinct categories, members of the public can have their say by voting for their favourite overall entry in the People’s Choice Award by visiting scvo.org.uk/vote.

Stuart Hay, Director of Living Streets Scotland, said: “We’re so pleased to be shortlisted for this year’s charity awards. Our pavement parking campaign spanned ten years, bringing in partners and members of the public from across Scotland calling for safer streets for walking.  

“Pavement parking is incredibly dangerous, particularly for people who use wheelchairs and mobility aids, people living with sight loss and families with buggies. There will be a real impact from the ban, creating safer and more welcoming streets for everyone.  

“We’re thankful to SCVO for the nomination and for the work of others in the Responsible Parking Alliance for their support during the campaign.” 

The full list of finalists can be found on the SCA website. Due to the impact of coronavirus, this year the Awards will run a little differently. Winners will be announced on 25 September (rescheduled from June) and will now take place online so that all finalists and attendees who wish to attend are still able to join the celebrations in a safe way, regardless of lockdown phase or shielding status.  

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said: “Much of the work celebrated this year predates the pandemic.  All aspects of our lives have been disrupted in 2020. Our communities and the charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises they rely on have been under enormous pressure.

“Scotland’s voluntary sector has never been more needed and will be essential to Scotland’s recovery. At SCVO we know that fantastic work is going on all the time and we are delighted to celebrate these achievements and successes through the Scottish Charity Awards. 

“This year’s shortlist of 45 finalists showcases just how diverse our voluntary sector is, and highlights the fantastic work that has been going on across the country since the last Awards until March this year.

“The Awards are a great way of celebrating and recognising the people and organisations who make our voluntary sector a crucial part of every part of life in Scotland. Our finalists are fantastic and I would encourage everyone to support their favourite by voting in the People’s Choice Award.” 

World Villages For Children hosts world’s largest birthday party

20,000 children who have been lifted out of poverty celebrate their birthdays in world’s largest one day celebration of its kind 

World Villages for Children, a UK charity that works to lift children out of poverty through education, has announced the launch of the world’s largest single birthday celebration for over 20,000 of the children in its care.

The event, named ‘Every Child’s birthday’ will take place Saturday August 15th across six countries globally, and will mark the birthdays of some of the world’s poorest children; many of whom don’t have the luxury of knowing their own birthdates.  

World Villages for Children has been supporting the poverty relief programmes of the Sisters of Mary since 1998 and its mission is to lift the world’s children out of extreme poverty and into an independent and secure future, through education.

So far over 150,000 of children have been housed, cared for and educated by the programmes, with over 20,000 children aged between 11-18 still currently in their care. This celebration marks a significant and special moment in the calendar year for the children, as without it, many would not have the experience of celebrating their own birthday.  

Nicola Lawson, U.K. Manager & Trustee, World Villages for Children comments: “When the world’s poorest children come into our care, many of them have sadly suffered the numerous hardships that accompany extreme poverty. They are often severely malnourished and affected by early years of neglect and abuse, leaving them significantly under-developed.  

“But they also suffer in less obvious ways. Most have missed out on the luxuries of childhood; such as playing, making friends and celebrating the milestones that so many of us take for granted – like birthdays.  

“The majority of children that come to us don’t know their birthdays, and many don’t know their ages, and so our Every Child’s birthday event ensures that all 20,000 of our children get to have this very special experience’’.  

With the support of World Villages for Children’s donors and the Sisters of Mary, this global event is celebrated through a lesson-free day, games, sports, competitions and a party with cake at each of the six schools worldwide. Each and every one of the 20,000 children also receives an individually wrapped essential gift. 

To find out more about World Villages for Children or to make a donation, please visit https://www.worldvillages.org.uk 

The Green Team shortlisted for Scottish Charity of the Year Award

The Green Team is a finalist for the Scottish Charity of the Year Award, the only environmental charity to make the shortlist in this category. Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.

For 25 years the Green Team has been using fun outdoor activities and practical conservation tasks to support young people to connect with nature, others and themselves.

The last year has been one of huge change: improved governance structures and strategy, a new website and brand, and the sourcing and diversification of much-needed income. While all this change was going on, invaluable opportunities were provided for over 1,100 young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to use nature for education, respite, social development, learning new skills and to take positive action for the environment.

While a judging panel will determine the winner of the Charity of the Year award, members of the public can have their say by voting for their favourite overall entry in the People’s Choice Award.

The Green Team is encouraging those in the Edinburgh and Lothians area, and those who are passionate about the environment and youth work, to vote for them for the People’s Choice Award – by visiting https://scvo.org.uk/scottish-charity-awards/finalists-2020/charity-of-the-year/the-green-team – before 5pm on Friday 4 September 2020.

Penny Radway, Chief Executive of The Green Team, said: “We are delighted and thrilled that in the year that the Green Team celebrates 25 years of connecting with young people through environmental action, we are finalists for the Scottish Charity of the Year Award.”

The full list of finalists can be found on the SCA website.

Due to the impact of coronavirus, this year the Awards will run a little differently. Winners will be announced on 25 September (rescheduled from June) and will now take place online so that all finalists and attendees who wish to attend are still able to join the celebrations in a safe way, regardless of lockdown phase or shielding status.

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of SCVO, said: “Much of the work celebrated this year predates the pandemic. All aspects of our lives have been disrupted in 2020. Our communities and the charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises they rely on have been under enormous pressure.

“Scotland’s voluntary sector has never been more needed and will be essential to Scotland’s recovery. At SCVO we know that fantastic work is going on all the time and we are delighted to celebrate these achievements and successes through the Scottish Charity Awards.

“This year’s shortlist of 45 finalists showcases just how diverse our voluntary sector is, and highlights, the fantastic work that has been going on across the country since the last Awards until March this year. The Awards are a great way of celebrating and recognising the people and organisations who make our voluntary sector a crucial part of every part of life in Scotland.

“Our finalists are fantastic, and I would encourage everyone to support their favourite by voting in the People’s Choice Award.”

Granton Waterfront among Council projects nominated for design awards

The city’s plan to regenerate Granton Waterfront has been shortlisted for the Scottish Design Awards 2020.

Selected as a finalist for the best Architecture Masterplan award, the Council’s development plan with Collective Architects sets out to boost affordable housing, transform streets to promote active travel and respond to the climate emergency in Granton. The award nomination recognises the project’s ‘fresh approach to creating a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable coastal quarter’ in Edinburgh.

Three further regeneration projects by the Council and city partners have also been shortlisted for the Scottish Design Awards 2020.

A housing development in Greendykes featuring modern, energy efficient Council homes has been nominated for the best new affordable housing award, while the restoration of the Edinburgh Printmakers and landscaping for the Calton Hill City Observatory renewal – both part funded by the Council – are also up for awards.

The winners are expected to be announced by the Scottish Design Awards at a virtual ceremony on 10 September.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Our City is growing and adapting and the new homes and communities being built are meeting the demands of our rising population and meeting our environmental responsibilities.

“We have one of the largest house-building programmes of any local authority and we’re making good progress towards our target of building new affordable and social homes. These homes are not only low carbon but are prioritising the wellbeing of current and future residents by ensuring sustainable communities and delivering high quality design.

“The £1.3bn transformational plans we have for Granton and our sustainable new homes in Greendykes are perfect examples of how we’re working to achieve this.

“Granton is one of the country’s leading sustainable developments and offers us the opportunity to work with the local community to create a new and eco-friendly waterfront neighbourhood, and it’s fantastic to see these projects nominated for national architecture awards.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: Our regeneration of Granton will deliver thousands of fantastic and much-needed new homes, creating countless new jobs and apprenticeships in the process.

“I’m looking forward to seeing us transform the area into the destination waterfront it has always deserved to be. We’ve also made a commitment to become a net-zero carbon city by 2030 and projects like this will help us deliver on that goal.

“We face big decisions about how we continue to regenerate parts of our City going forward, and recognition like this from the Scottish Design Awards – for how the Council is leading the way in sustainable, desirable new home design and supporting the restoration of incredible historic spaces – is very welcome.

“Now that construction can get back underway, we’re also seeing a number of other high profile sites take shape which will further reinvigorate derelict and underused parts of Edinburgh. We’re committed to building on this and our Choices for City Plan 2030 sets out a number of bold options for how our Capital can continue to flourish if we make certain planning, design and redevelopment decisions.”

Nominated for best Masterplan Design: Granton

The Granton Waterfront Development Framework offers a new approach to creating a vibrant, healthy and sustainable coastal quarter in Edinburgh.

Led by Collective Architects, the framework sets out an ambitious place-based, inclusive approach to regeneration which positively responds to the climate emergency.

It offers Edinburgh and the wider region the opportunity to make a step-change in how it develops in a sustainable, resilient and responsible way. Approximately 3,000 new homes of mixed size, typology and tenure feature in the plans alongside pedestrian-centred streets which promote active travel.

Nominated for best Affordable Housing Design: Greendykes

Anderson Bell Christie was appointed to deliver 75 new energy efficient homes for social and mid-market rent in Greendykes.

The result is a ‘Lifetime Neighbourhood’, appropriate for all generations and accessibilities with a community growing space, a communal heating system and building design with natural light, mental wellbeing and dementia friendly elements in mind. The site sits next to a new play park, providing excellent outdoor space for the family homes which are adjacent.

Nominated for best Building Re-use: Edinburgh Printmakers

The Edinburgh Printmakers is located within the former headquarters of the North British Rubber Company.

The redevelopment project by Page/Park Architects has transformed a derelict building into an accessible multi-use arts complex centred around printmaking production. It features a visitor attraction with two galleries, shop, café, education space, an office, archives and large print studio, with many original materials retained or upcycled.

Nominated for best Public Realm Landscaping: Calton Hill City Observatory

HarrisonStevens developed a concept design around constellations and planetary orbits to complement the restoration of the City Observatory on Calton Hill.

Working with the Collective Gallery’s artist in residence, Tessa Lynch, the design creates a sense of place and time, with landscaping to link up geological features with architectural, planting to illustrate the passing of the seasons and the use of traditional alongside contemporary materials.

Edinburgh Direct Aid leads relief effort by Syrian refugees in Beirut

The small Scottish charity Edinburgh Direct Aid has deployed a team of carpenters and other construction workers, trained in their vocational training depot in Arsal, Lebanon, to repair windows and doors destroyed by the recent blast in Beirut port.

Maggie Tookey, EDA’s international aid director, has arrived in Beirut to lead and plan the work. EDA is one of the very few NGO’s, so far, to begin actual repair work.

For over 6 years Edinburgh Direct Aid has been helping 50,000 Syrian refugees in Arsal, a small Lebanese town high above the Bekaa valley, near the Syrian border. All this aid has been passing through Beirut.

Now EDA has brought a team of Syrian refugees from Arsal to Beirut to carry out emergency repairs after the explosion at the port on August 4th. The team is drawn from graduates of construction courses at EDA’s vocational training centre in Arsal, which are run in partnership with the German “Green Helmets” organisation.

EDA and Green Helmets, are working together in Karantina, a poor residential area of Beirut near the port. Many living in this area have lost not only friends & family, but also their jobs at the port, & have suffered heavy damage to their houses.  

While many NGOs in Beirut are providing food & medical supplies, or carrying out damage assessment, the EDA – Green Helmets team is one of very few (so far) actually working to shore up & repair houses.

The team brought with them woodworking & other machinery from Arsal, now set up in a marquee on some nearby waste ground, & is using its specialised skills to make & replace doors & windows & their frames as needed, & to carry out other repairs to ensure the traumatised local people have shelter.

Working conditions are grim. The need for precautions against coronavirus is ever prevalent; the midsummer heat is relentless; access to supplies & communications in the city is erratic.

MAGGIE TOOKEY, Edinburgh Direct Aid’s international projects director, is leading the team in Beirut. OnWednesday, she wrote from the scene: 

“Beirut is complete chaos. It feels to have lost all its spirit but the strength of the continuing protests seem to belie that. Maybe it’s the depth of anger that everyone seems to hold, apparent in everyone I speak to about how the explosion and the economic collapse came to pass. The city seems to have no guidance and no authority to control anything. It’s almost lawless despite the state of emergency and the presence of the Lebanese army on the streets.

“Traffic congestion is the worst I’ve ever known. It takes me almost 2 hours to get to our work site near the port – a distance of 6 kilometres. I’ve now measured it. The army closes roads at random. Inside the city, thousands of volunteers are sweeping up glass and masonry and endless streams of small trucks come to take it away, choking up the narrow streets even more. Much of it gets left – swept into big piles in any corner behind houses and kiosks, probably destined to remain there for months/years.

Maggie’s ‘office’

“The port area which I pass every day, is a sort of Ground Zero. Nothing is recognisable in the blast area. A desert of twisted metal overlooked by huge and ruined silo towers, still standing but spilling out their contents to form a grain mountain.

“People come to stare in the evening when it’s cooler. They come from all over Lebanon taking selfies and endless pictures of the disaster. They come in big 4 wheel drive cars, blocking the roads and preventing those of us trying to get to work. It’s very hard not to get out and yell at them when stuck at a chaotic road intersection for 20 minutes unable to move. The police are useless. They do nothing. They’ve given up.

“The blast was terrifying. 50% of the force went out to sea towards Cyprus. The other 50% went deep into the city. God only knows what would have happened had the blast not been on a small peninsula by the sea.

“Karantina is an area of roughly 1 sq km, the nearest part being less then 500 meters from the epicentre of the blast. The community is mostly poor Lebanese and a few Syrian families. EDA, along with our partners, the Green Helmets, have set up a carpentry workshop with machinery brought from our base in Arsal and a team of EDA refugees trained in setting up shelters and repairing housing in Arsal.

“The workshop is on a patch of rough land by several blocks of 3/4 storey flats which have all suffered damage. As with many buildings the explosion blasted out windows and doors.

“There’s also some structural damage: we have an engineer in our team to check possible problems. Many men in these families are port workers; some were killed or injured and most have lost friends in the explosion.

“The team is making window frames, door frames on site in the makeshift workshop and every night, 2 of the team take turns in sleeping there to guard the valuable, rented machinery. We have a target of 200 windows but of course the need is endless. We will see how the project plays out in terms of funding. Right now it’s hot, hard, noisy work but the residents are delighted to get our help.

Meanwhile in Beirut the protests continue; sometimes the army fires off their guns to clear the streets which causes alarm when it’s close by.”

Edinburgh Direct Aid initial target is to repair 100 apartments at a cost of around $10,000. With more cash we could do much more, to help out not only with repairs in Beirut, but also in mitigation of the terrible effects of the hyper-inflation & lock down in Arsal.

To help pay for this work by refugees making some repayment for the sanctuary they have received from a desperately beleaguered country, donations can be made, please, at:

https://www.edinburghdirectaid.org

or by cheque to: EDA, 29 Starbank Rd., Edinburgh EH5 3BY

or by ringing 0131 552 1545.

Police appeal following Shandon robbery

Police in Edinburgh have released CCTV images of a man that officers believe may be able to assist them with enquiries into robbery at a shop in the city.

The incident happened at premises on Shandon’s Ashley Terrace around 7pm on Tuesday, 23 June, 2020 and a three figure sum of cash was stolen.

Officers believe that the man shown in the image may have information that will assist with their investigation and would appeal to any members of the public who recognise him to come forward.

The man is described as black, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, of a medium build and around 5ft 10ins tall. He is shown in the image wearing a dark grey suit jacket, a black hooded top, black trousers and black leather shoes.

Detective Constable Zaira Marker of Corstorphine CID said: “Nobody was injured but this was a frightening experience for staff and customers alike. Our enquiries are ongoing and I would urge anyone who may be able to identify the man in the images to come forward.

“If you can assist with this or have any other information at all please call 101, quoting incident 3084 of 23 June, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”