Come Forth: Treasure Your River!

Scottish communities called on to join UK’s largest ever collaboration to reduce river litter

Keep Scotland Beautiful are delighted to be part of a the new Treasure Your River, campaign, wich launched this week. The campaign will help reduce the huge amount of litter entering the River Forth and subsequently the sea.

We are working with Hubbub to call for businesses, community groups, residents and other organisations situated along the River Forth and its estuary – from Stirling, down to Edinburgh and along the Fife and East Lothian coastline – to get involved.

The campaign will run over the next six months and the programme of activities includes visiting robot boats and a recycled fishing for litter punt, an exciting art installation and litter surveys and clean up activity.

Organisations across the UK, including the Angling Trust, Scottish Canals, Canal & River Trust, Keep Wales Tidy, Mersey Rivers Trust, Sustainable Hive, Thames 21, The Rivers Trust and companies like Coca-Cola and Costa have already pledged to do their bit.  Now, in Scotland we are on the look-out for volunteers to support the campaign.

In 2019, Hubbub’s polling1 found that 75% of UK adults wanted to do more to help tackle marine litter. After a year of lockdown people’s appreciation of nature has risen further and Treasure Your River will provide more opportunities for people around the UK to get involved and help protect our rivers and seas.

Treasure Your River will engage the public on how they can make a difference through simple changes such as taking their rubbish home with them, providing tools and guidance for litter picks and responsible disposal of fishing tackle. 

As well as tackling littering behaviour with eye-catching bins and activities, the campaign aims to create a legacy for each river, with an army of regular volunteers and litter-clearing infrastructure.    

Barry Fisher, KSB CEO said: “We’re delighted to be working with Hubbub to bring ‘Treasure Your River’ to the communities along the River Forth. This exciting campaign complements our source-to-sea litter activity on other iconic Scottish rivers. 

“Our data shows that we are facing a litter emergency in Scotland, and with 80% of marine litter coming from land, often via our waterways, we are looking forward to collaborating with others across the UK to tackle this global issue.

“Increasing awareness of lockdown litter levels have galvanised action across Scotland and we have seen an upsurge in positive activity as people pledge to litter pick the places they love – now we’re eager to build on this by supporting those living and working along the Forth to unite with others to take collective action to stop litter entering the sea via the river and its tributaries.”

Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-founder of Hubbub said: “As lockdown restrictions are lifted there is increased concern about the amount of litter in our public and green spaces. Treasure Your River aims to make the connection between litter in our towns and cities and plastic in the oceans, and to offer people something positive they can do about it.

“The majority of plastics in the oceans are carried there by rivers; the River Mersey for example has proportionately higher levels of microplastic pollution than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We invite any individual or organisations along these rivers to come together and help halt the flow of litter into the sea. 

“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a local business, a sailing club, a school, a charity or a resident.”  

Treasure Your River aims to be the UK’s largest ever collaborative effort to prevent and reduce the amount of litter in our waterways, tackling six of the UK’s largest river systems: the Avon, Forth, Mersey, Severn, Thames and Trent and their tributaries. 

The campaign is being run by environmental charity Hubbub with funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation. It will initially focus on preventing litter from entering the rivers and clean-up activities in seven major cities based on these rivers and the waterways that flow into them – Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham, which between them are home to 1 in 6 of the UK population. 

Check out our Treasure Your River webpage for more details. 

Two thirds of adult Scots have now received their first jag

More than three million people vaccinated in Scotland

The vaccination programme has delivered first doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to more than three million people  –  66.6% of Scotland’s adult population.

The landmark was reached on Friday 14 May. Nataliya Dasiukevich from Milngavie was among those vaccinated on the day the milestone was reached. The 45 year old received her first dose at the Allander Leisure Centre in Bearsden.

The national vaccination programme is now moving through those aged 40 – 49 years old and more than 50% of this age group have come forward to receive their first vaccination.

As the programme progresses through this group, appointments are being scheduled for those aged 30-39 years old. In line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) people in this age group will be offered an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine when it is appropriate to do so.

Meanwhile 1,599,519 of the population have received their second dose which offers greater and longer lasting protection against the virus.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said; “It is down to the enormous efforts of our vaccination teams around the country that more than three million people in Scotland – two thirds of the adult population – have received their first dose and I would like to say a huge thank you to them and all those who have taken up their offer of a vaccine.

“The vaccination programme is one of the main ways – along with restrictions and testing – that we are working to beat this virus and so it is crucial that everyone attends for their appointments when they are offered. This is equally important for those receiving appointments for their second dose as these offer longer lasting protection against COVID-19.

“It is great news that more than half of 40-49 year olds have now come forward and had their vaccine. Everyone has a role to play in helping to bring this virus under control and we want to see our high uptake rates continuing through all the age groups. I would urge all 40-49-year-olds to take the chance of getting vaccinated when your chance comes.  

“The latest advice from the JCVI regarding 30- 39 year olds is clear that it is based on the current low prevalence of the virus and the availability of alternatives to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. If the situation changes the advice is that vaccination of adults aged 30-39 years with any of the UK authorised vaccines is always better than no vaccination, except where there are specific medical reasons for not doing so.

“Supplies permitting, we still expect to offer a first dose to all adults in Scotland by the end of July.”

Ms Dasiukevich said: “I am delighted to have had my first vaccine and I hope it encourages everyone in my age group to take up their offer of a vaccine as it is by doing so and following restrictions we can start to think about a return to normal life.

“I want to thank everyone at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – all the staff were reassuring and the process was clearly explained. I was also give a leaflet with further information. I look forward to getting my second dose in around twelve weeks’ time.”

Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Dr Linda De Caestecker said: “Thank you to everyone who has come out to get their vaccination so far. The rollout has been the most significant of any vaccination programme ever undertaken by the Health Board and the numbers of doses administered both within NHSGGC and across Scotland is hugely encouraging.

“Our staff have been the driving force behind the local rollout, and we thank them for their ongoing dedication and enthusiasm during this difficult period.

“The vaccine provides our best way out of the coronavirus pandemic and a return, in time, to the things we’ve all missed. We continue to urge everyone to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

More than 36 million people in the UK have now been vaccinated with 1 dose and 20 million have received 2 doses.

Local organisations team up to promote good health

A new name will be appearing on Civil Service Strollers shirts this season as a result of a new local partnership.

Strollers club secretary Keith Stewart explained: “We are delighted to announce that this season we have entered an agreement with Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP).

“We are currently looking at the ways that we can work together to promote and deliver effective health and wellbeing practices.

“Here at the Strollers, the tough year that we have all had has opened our eyes to the view that if you are healthy, you are wealthy. So, this season, instead of seeking sponsorship in the current economic climate, we have decided to support PCHP by promoting them on our youth and Lowland League teams shirt fronts and around the pitch at our own expense.

“We look forward to building a strong relationship with PCHP.”

PCHP’s Dawn Anderson said: “Pilton Community Health Project are delighted to announce a new partnership with Civil Service Strollers FC. This opportunity to work alongside Civil Service Strollers will help even more local people take steps to better health and increase access to a wide range of wellbeing initiatives tailored for the Club’s members and their families.

“Together, we hope to increase the impact of our resources locally, sharing ways to cope with the multiple impacts of the pandemic on our community, and ultimately feel stronger through looking after ourselves and each other.

“We welcome this innovative approach by the Civil Service Strollers and look forward to working with their members and developing a strong community partnership.”

Services restored at Santander

Santander has apologised to customers for a ‘techinal problem’ which saw customers unable to pay bills or access cash yesterday. The problem has now been resolved and the bank says some branches will open today.

In a statement issued last night Santander said: “All of our banking services are now working as normal.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience you’ve experienced today. If you need help, some of our branches will be open on Sunday from 10am to 12pm. We’ll publish a list of these tomorrow.”

The bank has yet to fully explain the cause of the problem.

Gareth Shaw, Head of Money at Which?, said: “These technical issues will be causing stress for many Santander customers – with people reporting that they have been unable to make online payments or in some cases purchase food in their local supermarket.

“Customers can incur fines, penalties and fees when they’re not able to access their finances, so the bank must offer compensation to all those who have been impacted in this way.

“These problems demonstrate why it is vital that banks invest to ensure their systems are up to the task of protecting their customers’ accounts and maintaining the services they rely on.”

Over twenty arrests following Rangers victory celebrations

Chief Superintendent Mark Sutherland, Police Scotland’s Divisional Commander for Greater Glasgow, issued a statement last night following the scenes across Glasgow as Rangers fans celebrated their title victory:

“During the evening of Saturday, 15 May 2021, Rangers supporters continued to gather and celebrate the awarding of the league championship trophy in George Square.

“Throughout the day Police Scotland had managed the gathering appropriately tackling anti-social behaviour and encouraging dispersal under Scottish Government Coronavirus regulations.

“As celebrations continued sections of the crowd became increasingly disorderly, property was damaged and people were assaulted. Our officers became the focus of the crowd’s attention with missiles and flares being  thrown at them. Our policing response has been proportionate. We have responded appropriately and consistently to the behaviour of those gathered.

“This disgraceful behaviour which clearly endangered public and officer safety could not be tolerated and officers dressed in full public order equipment and, after appropriate warnings were given, moved in to disperse those present.

“Although most of those present dispersed, a number remained and confronted officers with violence and aggression. Missiles were thrown and officers came under direct attack as George Square and the surrounding area was cleared.

“I strongly condemn the behaviour of these supporters who have not only placed our officers at risk but have sought to damage the image and reputation of this great city, especially during this critical period of the pandemic.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the police and partners who manged this incident, especially those officers who put themselves in danger to bring this violent and disorderly gathering to an end.

“So far we know that three officers have been injured and more than 20 people have been arrested.

“We will be continuing our enquiries and my message is clear that if you have been involved in these ugly scenes then we you will be identified and arrested.”

Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said last night:

Rangers FC have yet to make a public statement on last night’s events, and neither SPFL or the SFA have commented so far.

Fountainbridge regeneration preferred development partner to be approved

The City of Edinburgh Council’s flagship regeneration of a major brownfield site in Fountainbridge is set to pass another milestone next week.

On Thursday, agreement will be sought from councillors at the Finance and Resource Committee to appoint a development partner for the next stages of the project.

Following a competitive procurement process, it is recommended that the £1.1million contract for the pre-development services for the brownfield site be awarded to award-winning housebuilder Cruden Homes (East) Limited ahead of the full development starting in early 2022.

During the pre-development, work will be carried out to prepare for construction, including finalising designs and selecting a net zero carbon energy solution for the entire site, contributing to the Council’s ambitious target to reach net-zero emissions by 2030.

The masterplan for the site was approved in 2016 following an extensive programme of community consultation and regular engagement on proposals for the site has continued with the Fountainbridge Sounding Board, a forum bringing together the area’s key stakeholders.

The masterplan will enable the transformation of the site into a mix of uses including; new homes, offices, shops, social enterprise and community spaces knitted together by high quality public realm.

The development will complement both the new Boroughmuir High School to the west and Vastint Hospitality’s “New Fountainbridge” development to the east.

The housing element of the development will see a total of 436 new homes built. This will comprise 113 homes for social rent, with over 10% wheelchair accessible, 64 homes for mid-market and market rent and 259 homes for private sale or rent.

Commercial, social enterprise, retail and community spaces will feature within both the affordable and private housing phases, along with a 100,000 square foot office building which will provide space for early-stage tech companies to “scale up”.

A cohesive, high quality public realm will create attractive new spaces to socialise on the banks of the Union Canal while a wide range of community benefits and fair work proposals will also be delivered.

These will include a £100,000 community fund for projects to enhance the canal towpath, creating park, commissioning local arts projects, work experience placements and apprenticeship opportunities for Boroughmuir High School pupils and the long-term unemployed, and summer internships paying the Real Living Wage.

Councillor Rob Munn, Finance and Resource Convener, said: “An extensive process and strong scrutiny has gone into this procurement process to get us to this point. We’ll look to discuss this at committee next week and hope to agree that we have a pre-development partner in place that shares our vision while also offering us best value.

“Since the purchase of this underused brownfield site, and the development of the new Boroughmuir High School, we now want to deliver more social and affordable housing and space for businesses, particularly creating space for the data driven and digital sectors that are so important to Edinburgh’s economic recovery.

“It’s important that we build affordable homes across the city and in the areas that people want to live so it’s great that these homes are located so close to the city centre.

“The development will provide homes that are both cost effective to heat and wheelchair accessible and will be a mix of council housing and mid-market homes, which will be managed by the council’s Edinburgh Living.”

 Councillor Joan Griffiths, Vice Convener, said: “Seeing our masterplan getting closer to becoming a reality is very exciting and I look forward to seeing the site start to take shape and realise our ambitions for Fountainbridge.

“This development will bring a great regenerative feel to this area of the city and through the community benefits programme we have agreed as part of this development contract we also hope to bring new jobs and training opportunities for local people, offer opportunities for local artists while also enhancing existing public spaces in and around Fountainbridge.”

The Council and its agreed development partner, alongside the local community will work together to finalise the plans for the area over the coming months. Thereafter construction on the site will commence subject to final agreement amongst the parties.

At the end of the pre-development period, should both parties wish to proceed, further Committee approvals will be sought to proceed to the construction phase.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/fountainbridge

Police Scotland teams with Selectamark as part of Pedal Protect

Police Scotland has once again partnered with a national security company to help tackle bike thefts as part of the ongoing Pedal Protect campaign.

Selectamark Security Systems PLC, which owns BikeRegister, have previously provided the service with a number of their SelectaDNA tagging spray kits, which were used successfully in Edinburgh to address the issue of crimes being committed on motorcycles.

In addition SelectaDNA property marking kits weredeployed as part of Operation Kapel, which took place within the Gorbals area of Glasgow and reduced housebreaking by 100%.

Prior to the launch of Pedal Protect, each local policing division within Police Scotland received a free BikeRegister starter kit from Selectamark to establish if they would be of use to the campaign.

Now, divisions have begun ordering various quantities of these kits to distribute to communities across the country free of charge.

The kit contains two highly durable and tamper-resistant QR barcode labels, which can be scanned with a smart phone to identify your bike on the BikeRegister website, and determine whether it is stolen. 

Each kit marks one bike and serves as a visible deterrent, as well as providing police with an enhanced investigative tool in the event a cycle is stolen and subsequently recovered.

Pedal Protect was launched on Friday, 26 March, 2021 and the initiative aims to reduce a national rise in bike thefts throughout Scotland by providing the public with a range of crime prevention and security advice, as well as offering services such as bike marking and registering at various locations.

In addition, policing teams will continue to carry out evidence gathering and enforcement activity to bring bike thieves to justice and reunite stolen cycles with their rightful owners.

Superintendent Matt Paden, Police Scotland’s Acquisitive Crime Lead, said: “On a number of previous occasions, we have successfully worked with Selectamark Security Systems to reduce various crime trends that have occurred in Scotland.

“We are confident this latest partnership will also be equally beneficial, not only to our investigative approaches, but to deterring and preventing bike crimes taking place in the first instance.

“Registering your bike on the BikeRegister is of vital importance to ensuring that, in the event, your cycle is taken, that we have all opportunities at our disposal to get it back to you. I’d encourage all members of the cycling community to visit www.bikeregister.com for more information on the BikeRegister or to request your own personal membership kit.”

James Brown, Managing Director of Selectamark, said: “Police Scotland continues to work tirelessly to reduce bike crime and have used BikeRegister bike marking kits for many operations across the country to tackle cycle theft.

“Not only does BikeRegister help reduce instances of cycle theft, but it also enables cyclists to be reunited with their bikes after they have been stolen.

“Police Scotland are one of the top forces for recovering stolen bikes which they have achieved through their own operational methods including working closely with second-hand cycle shops to make sure they are checking BikeRegister before they buy and sell cycles to ensure they are not registered as stolen.

“We would also encourage all cycle retailers to play their part in the fight against bike crime and mark and register all new bikes they sell.”

New research shows most dangerous roads for young drivers

  • AA Charitable Trust launches interactive map highlighting riskiest rural roads for young drivers
  • Research shows 71% of fatal crashes involving young drivers are on rural roads
  • Research shows young drivers over-represented in rural crashes by 9%
  • Rural crash risk varies by time of day and day of week
  • Single vehicle rural crash risk varies depending on weather conditions
  • Substance impairment is more likely to be a contributory factor on Sundays and in the early hours
  • Worst rural roads for young drivers are the A229 in Kent and the A6076 in County Durham
  • Research funded by The Road Safety Trust looked at more than 70,000 young drivers involved in crashes on rural roads over 6 years

New research shows for the first time which rural roads pose the greatest danger to young drivers. The study, launched by The AA Charitable Trust, was funded by The Road Safety Trust.

The campaign will help raise awareness that 71% of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur on rural roads.

Overall, the research shows young drivers (aged 17-to-24) are over-represented in rural crashes by 9%, relative to all roads, with the over-representation highest for those aged 17 (27%) and decreasing with every subsequent year.

Young drivers were also shown to face a higher risk of death (2%) or serious injury 15.2%) when involved in a crash on a rural road compared to an urban road (0.6%; 11.3%).

Top 10 most dangerous rural roads for young drivers:

PositionBy Collision DensityBy Percentage of all Crashes (relative risk)
1A229 in KentA6076 in County Durham
2A2 in KentA704 in West Lothian
3A3 in SurreyA419 in Gloucestershire
4A1 in HertfordshireA388 in Cornwall
5A243 in SurreyA41 in HertfordshireA846 in Argyll & Bute
6A414 in Hertfordshire
7A1 in WakefieldA5093 in CumbriaA885 in Argyll & ButeA4068 in PowysA436 in Gloucestershire
8A322 in Surrey
9A249 in Kent
10A595 in Cumbria

The proportion of crashes on rural roads on Sundays is 24% higher for young drivers than it is for other drivers. Young drivers are also at a higher risk of a single vehicle collision on rural roads.

The dataset behind the research covers six years of crash data (2013-2018). Analysts at Agilysis and the Road Safety Foundation studied 74,919 young drivers involved in crashes of all injury severities on a rural road.

The results sit behind an interactive map (AA Young Rural Drivers (arcgis.com)), which shows the relative risk of collisions involving young drivers on rural routes across the country.

Map users can see the most dangerous rural roads for young drivers by collision density and as a percentage of all crashes indicating the relative risks young drivers face on these roads compared to other drivers.

Data will be shared with relevant and interested local authorities to help highlight those roads which appear to pose the greatest risk.

Edmund King, AA Charitable Trust director, said: “This ground-breaking analysis shows, for the first time, the most dangerous rural roads for young drivers as well as an in-depth study of contributory factors involved in those crashes.

“Many young drivers and indeed parents are unaware that rural roads pose a specific and significant risk to young drivers and potentially are much more dangerous than motorways or urban roads.  71% of fatal car crashes involving young drivers take place on rural roads. The research should help target driver education at the times and places young drivers are most at risk.

“Our data clearly shows that the rural road risk is highest for the youngest drivers on our roads and decreases with each year of age. This is a clear sign greater education and exposure to rural roads helps alleviate the risks they pose.

“This is just the first stage in what we plan to be an ongoing campaign to really improve the education of young drivers on rural roads.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Rural roads are often narrow with blind bends, which is why it’s essential we raise awareness among young people on how to drive safely on them.

“I strongly support the AA in their work to improve the education of drivers. Our award-winning THINK! campaign challenges social norms among younger drivers – including attitudes to speeding and driving on rural roads –and I look forward to working together to prevent further tragedies.”

Sally Lines OBE Chief Executive from The Road Safety Trust, said: “We are pleased to have funded such informative and insightful research.  It is important to be able to clearly identify risks to young drivers on rural roads and take steps forward to address those, whether it is through education, infrastructure improvements, or both. 

“We want to make UK roads safer for all road users and these findings provide the platform to be able to help reduce the risk of death or serious injury to young drivers.”

James O’Kennedy, Team Leader, South Central Ambulance Service has seen the aftermath of the risks rural roads pose to young drivers during his career as a paramedic.

In his experience, each rural crash involving a young driver which he has attended has had a number of contributory factors including high speeds, slippery conditions around farms, adverse weather and failure to allow sufficient passing space on tight country lanes.

James said: “Attending any road death is always a difficult experience but to attend an incident where a young driver, or those travelling with them, have lost their life is especially traumatic.

“As well as being deeply tragic for those involved, these incidents can have a significant life-long effect on the emergency services personnel who attend the scene.”

Young Rural Driver Crash Fact file:

  • July, August, October and November most concerning months for crashes involving young drivers on rural roads
  • Proportion of crashes involving young drivers which are on Sundays is 9% higher on rural roads than on urban roads
  • Single vehicle collisions account for 27% of all young driver crashes on rural roads compared to 16% for drivers of all ages.
  • Substance impairment attributed to a young driver in 9% of young driver rural road crashes on Sundays compared to an average of 4% on other days

Call to action:

Show home heats up with Michelin-star chef test

A RENOWNED Michelin-star chef cooked up a storm at a high-profile Edinburgh development, describing the designer kitchens as ideal for creating home-cooked family meals.

To celebrate local Scottish producers and the reopening of Edinburgh’s lively hospitality scene, Michelin-star Chef Tom Kitchin collaborated with CALA Homes (East) for a cook along at its Boroughmuir development in Bruntsfield.

The Masterchef guest judge regular demonstrated how home cooks could replicate restaurant-quality dishes from home, using local ingredients from his favourite suppliers across the city.

On the menu was Scottish salmon fillet from Welch fishmongers in Newhaven, with peas, lettuce, radish and broad beans.

More than 4500 users have tuned in across Facebook and Instagram to watch the decorated Chef cook live from the show apartment.

Chef Kitchin is the Chef Proprietor of four businesses across Edinburgh and East Lothian (The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie, The Bonnie Badger & Southside Scran). Scotland’s youngest winner of a Michelin star, he took the opportunity to thank CALA for helping to shine a light on Edinburgh’s hospitality industry and local suppliers.

He said: “Edinburgh’s hospitality scene is so vibrant with so many ventures going on. For years we were the laughing stock – culinary wise – and now we can showcase some of the world’s best restaurants.

“It’s so different to other cities – it’s the most beautiful – and it’s a city that makes you smile. Each area is so unique.

“The restaurants we have in the Kitchin group are in such different parts of Edinburgh. I love being in The Kitchin in Leith, it has a totally different vibe to the Southside. But the great thing is, regardless where you are, you can get around the whole city so easily.

“I’ve really enjoyed cooking in a CALA kitchen. It has all the modern appliances you need – and is perfect for creating a home-cooked family meal.”

Chef Kitchin gave the show home kitchen, designed by Kitchens International, a grilling at the event, making full use of the integrated Siemens appliances throughout – bringing the meal together on the Siemens induction hob, located on a kitchen island – an ideal setting for entertaining.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “This event was a first for us and it surpassed all of our high expectations – it was an honour to have one of Scotland’s most renowned chefs cook in our kitchens.”

CALA offers buyers a range of homes and apartments across its three Edinburgh developments. Boroughmuir, in the heart of Bruntsfield, Waterfront Plaza in Leith, and The Crescent, located near Haymarket.

To find out about CALA’s developments across Edinburgh, visit:

https://www.cala.co.uk/edinburgh/

Lothian MSP encourages capital residents to get involved with Covid-19 vaccination trials

Lothian MSP Miles Briggs is encouraging Edinburgh residents to get involved with Covid-19 vaccination trials.

Miles Briggs said: “Phase 3 of Valneva Covid-19 vaccination trials are pivotal for getting the new vaccinations into production.

“Two thirds of adults have had their first dose of a vaccine and a third their first dose, but booster doses will likely be required later in the year.

“The distribution of vaccines to other countries across Europe and globally will also be important, with most countries being behind Scotland and the UK in their vaccine rollout.

“I would encourage anyone over 18 who is interested in being involved with the Valneva vaccine trial to sign up at ukcovid19study.com”

In January 2021 we started commercial manufacturing of our COVID-19 vaccine at our site in Livingston, which is a globally qualified manufacturing site for viral vaccines.

We are producing our COVID-19 vaccine on our established Vero-cell platform – leveraging the manufacturing technology for our licensed Japanese Encephalitis vaccine. This video provides a snapshot of manufacturing at our site in Scotland. 

We are also significantly expanding our facilities at Livingston to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity, which is creating new jobs in the area.  

Last month we reported positive data from the Phase 1/2 trial of our inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, which found that it was well tolerated, with no safety concerns identified, and highly immunogenic. 

Alongside NIHR and NHS Research Scotland, we have now initiated a pivotal Phase 3 trial at around 25 sites, including the Western General in Edinburgh.

Unlike earlier COVID-19 vaccine trials, which involved a placebo dose, everyone involved in this trial will receive two active vaccine doses.

Even as existing vaccines are rolled out, there is an ongoing need for people to volunteer for vaccine research.

If you’re over 18 and haven’t had a #vaccine yet, you could be eligible to take part in the Phase 3 trial of Valneva’s inactivated #COVID19 vaccine. Find out more at: ukcovid19study.com #BePartofResearch

The #Valneva vaccine being manufactured in Livingston is the only inactivated #COVID19 vaccine in development in Europe and it’s now being trialled in #Edinburgh.

To find out about the #vaccine and getting vaccinated, take a look at: ukcovid19study.com

As we roll out existing #COVID19 vaccines, experts are working on new ones & boosters to protect us over time. Crucially, volunteers are still needed for trials.

To find out about the Valneva #vaccine trial, taking place in Edinburgh, visit: ukcovid19study.com