New app to make repairing shared properties easier

The City of Edinburgh Council and its partner Novoville are proud to announce the release of Novoville Shared Repairs, a new app dedicated to improving the condition of property in co-ownership in Edinburgh, and all of Scotland.

Born out of the Scottish Government’s CivTech Accelerator programme, Novoville’s Shared Repairs helps private homeowners carry out the maintenance and repairs of shared (common) areas in their tenement, or housing block. The often lengthy and onerous common repairs process can be managed from the app from start to finish.

The free Novoville app, which is available on Google Play and the App Store, allows users to create their ‘virtual tenement’ and report a repair or maintenance issue to fellow proprietors. Then, app users can hire contractors that are members of Edinburgh’s Trusted Trader scheme. Receiving quotes and recording of votes is also fully supported.

Steve Richardson, Director of Scotland Trusted Trader, said: “This is going to be a massive benefit for those looking to organise shared repairs, backed up with the reassurance that Trading Standards vetted members are being used from Edinburgh Trusted Trader.

In order to further expedite the payment process and simplify the process, Novoville Shared Repairs allows app users to create a dedicated e-money account for their tenement with FCA-regulated partner, Modulr. It is no longer necessary to create a traditional treasurer account with a bank or building society in order to gather funds and pay them out to the chosen contractor.

The app is designed to help users carry out repairs in compliance with the Tenement Management Scheme of the Tenements Act (Scotland) 2004. Furthermore, it speeds up decision-making, eliminates much of the complexity and friction associated with coming to an agreement amongst owners, and increases transparency between all participants.

Before the official launch, nearly 50 stairs in Edinburgh have already created their ‘virtual tenement’ in-app through word-of-mouth alone.

Commenting on the app’s release, Fotis Talantzis, CEO of Novoville said: “We are proud to support one of the UK’s greatest architectural assets, the built environment in Edinburgh, with our Shared Repairs app.

“The CivTech programme where it all started was a tremendous experience, and we are very happy that the City of Edinburgh Council decided to continue to support and fund the project afterwards. We have got tons of ideas to take it from there and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with Edinburgh, for Edinburgh and Scotland at large.”

Cllr Rob Munn, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “A tremendous amount of work has gone into producing this app and it’s fantastic news that it’s now available for people to use.

“There are around 170,000 tenement flats and other shared buildings with multiple owners in Edinburgh and a lot of these buildings are still in need of urgent repair. This app will make it much easier for owners to get together and take responsibility for their buildings.

“I’d like to thank our staff for recognising the need for this product and rising to the challenge using the Civtech Challenge to produce this innovative app with Novoville.”

Joan Griffiths, Vice Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “As a city we’re already leading the way in this area and our Shared Repairs Team is doing a fantastic job supporting people who live in shared buildings helping them through the steps they need to take to carry out repairs to their properties properly.

“We’re a member of the Parliamentary Working Group looking at the issue nationally and I’m sure there will be interest in the app outside Edinburg as well.”

Held in our Hearts launches new Thrive for Five campaign

Baby loss charity Held In Our Hearts announce their new fitness-focused campaign – ‘Thrive For Five.’ This campaign directly encourages the charity’s supporters to set themselves weekly goals and challenges in order to build up their ability over a number of weeks to run a 5k. 

The ‘Thrive For Five’ campaign is framed around the concept of 8 weekly challenges where Fundraising Manager, Tracy Watt, an ultra-runner herself, will release encouraging and motivating videos setting out the fitness guidelines of the week – this will enable the campaign to be inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to participants of all fitness levels. 

Tracy Watt, Fundraising Manager said; “We know that now an end to lockdown is in sight, many people may be feeling uneasy at the changes taking place, or lacking in confidence at leaving the house.

“So we wanted to create a challenge that is inclusive and encouraging to Thrive For Five! Our hope through the campaign is to get our supporters out the door moving again and feeling happier, healthier and aiming to complete their virtual 5k with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival at the end of May.”

Fitness-focused campaigns can be a daunting challenge for some, so Held In Our Hearts notes that it is critical for this type of campaign to express to participants that everyone begins their fitness journey at different starting points, with different goals.

The main focus is that participants challenge themselves and thrive towards a new goal which will help manage some of the anxieties we are all feeling coming out of lockdown. 

The ‘Thrive For Five’ campaign also offers the participants practical training to participate in the upcoming virtual Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF) – a challenge which subsequently supports Held In Our Hearts through vital fundraising. 

Fundraising through the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is vital in constructing community bonds, developing connections, and is critical for generating income to ensure the charity can continue its services for bereaved families. 

Held In Our Hearts have continued to run a full service to bereaved families throughout the crisis, and have seen a successful adaptation to the shifted landscape of support services directly linked to the current pandemic and various restrictions and regulations.

Free online event will look at impacts of pandemic on children and how best to support families in Edinburgh

Supporting children during the pandemic and beyond, is the focus of a free online event being held for people working with families in Edinburgh.

The virtual event has been organised by Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and NSPCC Scotland to mark the end of a year-long campaign launched to encourage families in the city to access support and advice.

Anyone who works with children or families in Edinburgh can sign up to the event, which is being hosted on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, April 13th, between 2pm and 5pm.

Speakers will look at how the pandemic has impacted children, the ways in which organisations have adapted to help struggling families and what has been learned during the last year.

Attendees will hear about the All of Us campaign, which was launched to prevent child neglect by encouraging families to get help at an early stage and giving advice on how to support those who were struggling. There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss how to better support children and families in Edinburgh in the future.

Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland local campaigns manager, said: “The pandemic has presented many hardships for families, including financial pressures, school closures, relationship strains, isolation and ill-health, and it has been more important than ever that people feel they can reach out for support and advice and get help.

“Organisations in Edinburgh have worked hard to find ways to adapt and support families while social distancing measures have been in place. This event will give us the opportunity to look at what we have learned over the last year and how we can best support families in Edinburgh in the future.”

Jackie Irvine, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “We know that even as we move out of lockdown, people will continue to experience the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

“Protecting young people and supporting families remains a priority for us and we want everyone across the city to be aware of where to turn for help if they or someone they know is struggling.

“It is crucial that we work together to find the best ways of supporting families across the city during this difficult time and beyond.”

Early last year, as part of the campaign, a number of community events were held across the city but further ones were cancelled because of Covid-19 and all activities were moved online, including workshops, seminars and a family fun-day.

In April, the partnership brought together information on its web page about organisations and contacts where families could go for help and support during lockdown. 

This included information on support offered by public services, voluntary agencies and charities. Some examples were food banks, financial advice, crisis loans, mental health support, activities for children and support and advice on home learning.

The information was sent in food boxes to more than 300 families across the city and via email to parents through schools, and it was highlighted through social media campaigns. This resource has continued to be regularly updated throughout the pandemic.

The campaign raised awareness among communities and professionals about the early signs of child neglect and how to help families who were struggling through lunchtime learning sessions and webinars.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus.

To sign up for the online event visit bit.ly/3w3UCjK or email allofus@safefamilies.uk.

For parenting advice and support visit NSPCC helpline or call 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm. People can also contact Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2324.

Shelter Scotland shops opening up to receive donations

Selected Shelter Scotland charity shops are set to open their doors next week to accept donations ahead of opening to the public on April 26th.

The first wave of stores opening up for public donations (on 12th April from Monday to Friday) are as follows:

  • Forrest Road (39 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QP)
  • Morningside (104 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 4BY)
  • Stockbridge (104 Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH4 1HH)
  • Stockwell Street (Granite House, 37-43 Stockwell Street, Glasgow, G1 4RZ)
  • Botanics (679 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 8RA)
  • Paisley (6 High Street, Paisley, PA1 2DQ)

All other Scottish shops will be accepting donations from 21st April when the teams return to work.

Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “Like so many other charities, the pandemic has been tough on our fundraising efforts, so we are delighted to announce today that some of our much-loved shops will be opening up next week in order to receive donations from the public.

“The hope is that people will have spent a least a little time during lockdown doing something of a spring clean and they may have a bag or two of unwanted items that we’d love for them to donate to us. We are fighting every day to end Scotland’s housing crisis and the public’s support for our shops up and down the country is a vital part of that fight.”

Police Scotland: Break the chain of labour exploitation

Businesses across Scotland, here and now, are directly, or indirectly, involved in the exploitation of workers. Labour exploitation is a very serious criminal offence. Victims suffer psychologically, physically, emotionally and financially.

Labour exploitation takes many forms. Wages are deducted at source for obscure or unjustifiable reasons. People are forced – through threats, intimidation and violence – to work long hours with few or no breaks. Workers’ ability to move between employers is restricted or completely controlled. They are forced to work without appropriate equipment in potentially dangerous situations. Employment rules are ignored, rules that other legitimate businesses have to follow by law.

Business owners, managers, employees – and the wider public – all have a role to play in reducing, and ultimately ending, labour exploitation. The information here is designed to give you the tools to identify and act upon the signs of exploitation and abuse in the workplace.

Labour exploitation occurs in many different industries, in every part of the country. But sectors regarded as being particularly at risk include farming, fishing, food processing, packaging and fulfilment. Police Scotland saw a 135% increase in labour exploitation case referrals in 2019.

Victims of exploitation can be Scottish nationals or workers from elsewhere in the UK and other countries. Research suggests that labour exploitation is a significantly under-reported crime.

Labour exploitation is a form of modern slavery. The primary motivation of offenders is financial gain, regardless of the human cost to victims.

Any business can be affected, although those with high ongoing or seasonal labour needs will always be at higher risk. It’s the responsibility of owners, managers and employees to make sure their business does not become involved in labour exploitation, either intentionally or through poor practice.

Ending workplace exploitation isn’t just the responsibility of business owners and employees. We ask you to play your part by:

  • Staying alert
  • Learning to recognise the signs of exploitation and abuse
  • Reporting suspicions to police
  • Reporting known cases of abuse to police.

Majority of pupils to go back after Easter break

Nearly all pupils will return to full-time school when the Easter holidays end. However, children who are on the shielding list are advised to stay at home until 26 April, in line with advice from the Chief Medical Officer. All other pupils, will return to school once the summer term starts.

Strict 2 metre physical distancing between pupils in secondary schools will be removed and schools will consider how they can strengthen other mitigations.

Following the national expansion of lateral flow testing, twice-weekly tests are available for all school staff in primary, secondary and special schools and for secondary school pupils.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This I know, will be a huge relief to many children and young people – and of course to many parents and carers.

“I know though that the return to school, particularly for older pupils, will cause concern and anxiety – to pupils, to parents and of course to teachers and others who work in schools. So let me give an assurance that we will continue to give paramount consideration to safety.  

“The return to school will involve the removal, where necessary, of strict 2m physical distancing between pupils in secondary schools – but we are asking schools to consider how they strengthen other mitigations. Twice-weekly lateral flow testing is already available for all school staff, in primary, secondary and special schools and also for all secondary school pupils and I would encourage as many staff and pupils as possible to make use that testing.

“We will, of course, continue to study and assess the data, in order to quickly identify and limit any outbreaks that do arise, and make sure that we are also learning from them. For now, let me thank everyone who is working to make this return to school possible. For many teachers and school staff, I know, this  has been the hardest year of your professional lives. I am very grateful for the way in which you have adapted to such difficult circumstances.”

Edinburgh’s education leaders have welcomed confirmation from the Scottish Government that schools will fully reopen in Edinburgh on Tuesday 20 April.

All pupils will be back in school on that day except for those shielding who are advised to return on Monday 26 April, in line with the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.

Cllr Ian Perry, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is the news that families of our high school pupils have been looking forward to hearing and it’s great that they have confirmation their children will be back in school full time after the Easter holidays.

“There’s been excellent home learning involving our young people, teaching staff and parents taking place but everyone knows there’s no better place for children than being back in school with their peers and learning face to face.”

Cllr Alison Dickie, Education, Children and Families Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: I’m delighted that our young people will be back in school after the school holidays.

“These are really challenging times for many families and it’s so important for children’s learning and development that they’re back in school where they belong.

“We will make sure our schools continue to be safe learning and teaching environments for all our young people and staff by following the latest health advice.”

The First Minister’s confirmation that there will be a full pupil return post-Easter is of little surprise but the EIS continues to urge great caution.

The removal of physical distancing between pupils, particularly older pupils, represents a heightened risk that more pupils will be infected and the larger numbers in classrooms also creates more risk of airborne transmission, which is why face coverings remain important, including the provision of medical grade face masks for staff.

Whilst some Councils have made progress in relation to monitoring and improving ventilation, others have dragged their heels.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “The full return of pupils needs to be treated with great caution. It will undoubtedly lead to an increase in school Covid outbreaks which will require to be dealt with quickly, particularly for senior pupils who will be in the final stages of their qualification work.

“If we had made more progress on the EIS demands of ventilation, vaccination, and facemasks, we would be in a stronger position. Improving such mitigations is still possible.

“Notwithstanding their concerns, however, teachers will be keen to engage positively with pupils to support their well-being and their progress in learning. There will be a particular challenge for senior pupils as lockdown has squeezed the time available for the alternative certification model.”

Celebration: Booker Prize winner joins call for Scotland’s stories

Scottish Book Trust opens annual Your Stories for submissions

Booker Prize winner and Glasgow born author Douglas Stuart has joined forces with national charity Scottish Book Trust to encourage people of Scotland to submit their real-life stories.

The ‘Your Stories’ campaign is open to everyone, regardless of writing experience.

This year’s theme is Celebration, with the hope of shedding light on the positives of an otherwise difficult year. The submission can be about celebrating yourself, celebrating a loved one, or sharing how you celebrate.

Douglas Stuart won the 2020 Booker Prize for his debut novel, Shuggie Bain (Picador), set in Glasgow in 1981, exploring love, poverty and pride.

Douglas Stuart said: “As someone who grew up in a home without books, I understand the importance of stories. They bring together families, friends and communities.

“Your Stories is an opportunity for the people of Scotland to pick up their pen and share their experiences: from the small steps to the bigger milestones. Our nation is rich with culture, language and traditions, and this is the perfect time to celebrate and treasure them.”

Submissions can be made in English, Scots, or Gaelic in any form – story, poem, comic strip, play or letter – of up to 1,000 words.

Every entry will appear on Scottish Book Trust’s website and a selection of pieces will be published in a free book distributed to libraries, community groups and schools during Book Week Scotland (15 – 21 Nov 2021) – the national celebration of books and reading.

Scottish Book Trust has also commissioned authors to share their stories to mark Celebration. Author Elle McNicoll will explore her journey writing Show Us Who You Are (Knights Of)during lockdown, and the overwhelmingly positive response she has had from the neurodivergent community.

Poet Courtney Stoddart will celebrate writing as a form of resistance. Author Ross Sayers will share fond memories of his English teacher, reflecting on school as a writer now himself.

Morag Law, author of Cuibhle an Fhortain (Wheel of Fortune, Luath Press), describes the pleasures of a new garden built during lockdown, and poet Eòghan Stewart will explore celebration in a poem about joy, salvation and the many nuanced translations of the Gaelic word gàirdeachas.

His first collection, Beum Sgeithe (Wing Beat), will be published by Acair Books later this year.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: “Sharing stories is a great Scottish tradition: whether over a drink or around the dinner table, we have a long-established culture of telling tales for comfort or entertainment.

“For many, Your Stories has been the tentative first step of sharing their writing. At Scottish Book Trust, we look forward to hearing about what you have celebrated over the last year, from the small successes to the bigger milestones.”

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “This year’s theme challenges us to find reasons for celebration in the midst of adversity.

“We hope Gaelic speakers will embrace the invitation to celebrate their language and tell their own stories – with some to be published alongside Morag and Eòghan’s pieces in this year’s Book Week Scotland publication.

“We are delighted once again to be working with Scottish Book Trust to encourage everyone to love reading and try their hand at writing.”

Scottish Book Trust will share a variety of prompts through their website and social networks to help inspire those hoping to submit.

There will also be free, digital workshops run by poet Alice Tarbuck, writer Samina Chaudhry, playwright and poet Hannah Lavery, and film and TV writer Michael Lee Richardson.

The digital nature of the workshops will allow the writers to engage with an audience no matter their location, allowing the opportunity to be as inclusive as possible.

Given the current climate, online workshops can provide the public with a safe space to be creative, supporting positive mental health and wellbeing.

For more information and to sign up to a workshop, visit Eventbrite 

Scotland Gas Networks: Helping people stay safe from abuse

SGN has partnered with crisis charity Hestia, their ‘UK Says No More’ campaign and Royal Mail Group to provide Online Safe Spaces for victims of domestic abuse to access specialist support and information through our website.

Online Safe Spaces is a portal that you can access via the logo in the footer of our website. By clicking on the Safe Spaces portal, you will access the Online Safe Space, which holds a directory of national domestic abuse helplines, a directory of local specialist domestic abuse services, and an assessment questionnaire. It also leaves no trace in the user’s browser history.

The portal is accessible in a variety of languages and has a quick exit button, taking the user back to the original page they were on, thereby providing a degree of safety to the user.

It comes at a crucial time for keeping people safe during the pandemic. Recent figures show that:

  • One in five offences recorded by police during and immediately after the first national lockdown in England and Wales involved domestic abuse.
  • In the year ending March 2020, 2.3m adults are estimated to have experienced domestic abuse over twelve months.
  • In Scotland, there were 30,718 charges reported in 2019-20 related to domestic abuse. It’s the highest since 2015-16, and is 5.7% higher than the year before.

Around 20 organisations have signed up including eBay, Royal Mail Group including the Post Office and Parcelforce, Ministry of Defence, and Thames Water. It’s estimated that in the last four months of 2020, there were nearly 4,000 visits to Online Safe Spaces every single day.

Claire Barnett, Executive Director of UN Women UK, said: “Covid-19 has led to increases in violence against women that threaten to roll back achievements in gender equality by decades.

“UN Women has been working with local partners to create safer public spaces for the past ten years, including through our project Safe Spaces Now. I am delighted to see the Online Safe Space initiative innovating by using existing platforms and partners to share critical information on women’s services.”

Maureen McIntosh, our Head of Customer Experience, added: “We regularly provide additional support and help to our customers who are living in vulnerable circumstances, and I’m pleased we’re going even further now by providing important information to also help people who are experiencing abuse.

“Sometimes people don’t know where to turn to for help, in what can be really difficult or dangerous situations, and I hope we can help people further and they are able to find the extra safety and security they need.”

Lyndsey Dearlove, Head of Domestic Abuse Prevention at Hestia said: “Businesses have a unique role to play in breaking the silence around domestic abuse and ensuring victims can access the help and support they need.

“Lockdown restrictions due to Covid-19 have provided an opportunity for businesses to step up their response to domestic abuse for their staff and customers through digital platforms. With the launch of Online Safe Spaces, we are delighted to work with SGN to provide their first online safe space to provide a vital lifeline to victims of domestic abuse.”

We’re proud to be the first energy network to launch the portal on our website.

Safety is at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to doing all we can to keep our people and the communities we work in safe in as many ways as possible.

Edinburgh College student named runner-up in Scottish Nature Photography competition

An Edinburgh College student was named runner-up in a national photography competition for a selection of images he created as part of his degree programme.

BA Professional Photography student Stephen Rodger took second spot in the student category at the Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2020 for his portfolio titled Swan Lake on Fire, which depicts a number of swans swimming on a lake in the early morning sun.

The Scottish Nature Photography Awards was launched in 2010 to provide a platform to celebrate Scotland as a key destination for nature photographers and to acknowledge the excellence of the photographic work that is undertaken here.

The annual competition invites entries of images taken in Scotland by professional or amateur photographers from around the world.

Stephen said: “It was tremendously exciting to be told I’d been awarded second place in the Student category this year. I’m now in the final year of my BA Professional Photography course at Edinburgh College.

“As I write this, none of my class have yet stepped onto campus and so being awarded this prize is especially valuable for one’s spirits in times such as these.

“All three pictures were shot in April last year. As the seasons change, you can on occasion get these incredible mornings where the mist rises from the loch and is spectacularly backlit by the very first rays of the sun.

“This mute swan was out for the first leisurely paddle of the day. The light was incredible, but fleeting, lasting not much more than half an hour.”

Edinburgh College curriculum manager for Performing Arts and Photography Ethelinda-Lashley Scott said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Stephen on gaining this recognition from the Scottish Nature Photography Awards for his Swan Lake on Fire portfolio. 

“We are very proud of all the hard work and dedication that Stephen has demonstrated throughout his studies. Our photography department has a strong record of award success which is a testament to the breadth of talent studying here, as well as the hard work and dedication of our lecturing staff.”