Book Week Scotland programme launched

Book Week Scotland: Monday 16 November – Sunday 22 November

Scottish Book Trust has launched Book Week Scotland’s 2020 programme, which focuses on the theme of Future. Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has worked closely with partners to ensure the celebration will go ahead this year in a digital format due to the current pandemic.

Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing and it returns for its ninth year from Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November. Although there will be no face-to-face events this year, the Digital Festival has a stellar line-up including award-winning author Denise Mina; actress and comedian Ruby Wax; bestselling crime writer Louise Welsh and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

To kick off the programme, writer Luke Winter joins Book Week Scotland for Dial a Story, a live writing service that will take place in Edinburgh on Monday 16 November.

Stationed at the Scottish Book Trust phonebox, Luke will be available to write personalised stories on his typewriter, which will be mailed to the participant. Members of the public can call Luke on 07818 173 266 between 11am and 2pm.

There will also be the opportunity for the public to take part in an online treasure hunt via Scottish Book Trust’s social media for the chance to win a Zoom appointment with Luke Winter. During the session, he will write a unique story for the winner: a perfect Christmas present for a loved one or friend.

An avid reader herself, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will join #BookShelfChat: sharing favourites from her own bookcase. The public are also encouraged to join in on Tuesday 17 November by sharing photographs of their own bookshelves using the hashtag.

Libraries and community groups across Scotland are also taking part in Book Week Scotland, with digital events in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. More information can be found here.

50,000 free copies of the Future book, which includes real life stories from people around the country, will be available from libraries and other community venues during Book Week Scotland. A selection of 30 stories are featured in the book, which also includes work from author Abir Mukherjee of A Rising Man and poets Romalyn Ante of Antiemetic for Homesickness and Dean Atta of Black Flamingo.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Book Week Scotland will look different this year. However, we’re still excited to present a diverse and engaging programme with some of the biggest names in the Scottish literary scene and beyond.

“Whether it is joining our Digital Festival, reading the Future book or voting for the novel that sums up 2020, we hope everyone is able to take part this year in some form. Thanks also to our partners for working hard to make Book Week Scotland possible despite the difficulties.”

Viccy Adams, Literature Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Book Week Scotland connects people and communities across the country with the joys of reading for pleasure every year and sparks the imagination of the nation.

“In these difficult and uncertain times, this programme will help people access the solace and support that books bring into our lives and homes.”

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of The Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) said: “SLIC is delighted to support Book Week Scotland. The power of literature has never been more important than in 2020. While library buildings may have closed during lockdown, readers still managed to turn to books as a welcome escape from the pressures of the pandemic and we witnessed an unprecedented spike in downloads of our digital reading resources.

“As such, I’m sure there will be a big appetite for Book Week Scotland’s Digital Festival. Libraries across Scotland are enthusiastically planning online content. There are some terrific names on the programme and it will provide the perfect opportunity for people of all ages and interests to engage, learn and be inspired by the joy of reading.”

Book Week Scotland event highlights:

Monday 16 November

  • 11am – 2pm: Luke Winter will be available via telephone (07818 173 266) or by visiting the Scottish Book Trust phonebox (George IV Bridge, outside Bank of Scotland). The event will operate within COVID-19 restrictions.
  • 12.30pm: Scottish literature and slavery – a walk along tour with the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. Lisa Williams, director of ECA takes playwright and poet Hannah Lavery on a literary-inspired tour of the capital city. The event will explore Edinburgh’s deep connections with Africa, Asia and the Caribbean from the 16th century to the present day.

Tuesday 17 November

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joins #BookShelfChat with a tour of her bookshelf.
  • 8-bit game ‘Robert Burns Saves the World’ featuring Scottish literary characters launches – play as Jackie Kay, Muriel Spark, Robert Louis Stevenson, Nan Shepherd and many more notable figures.
  • 8pm: Comic writer Neil Slorance hosts Comic Jam via Twitch.

Wednesday 18 November

  • Book Week Scotland vote result announced: if 2020 was a book, what would it be? Vote now for your favourite here.
  • 12.30pm: Author Ross Sayers has a rallying cry for young writers in a new film.
  • 8pm: Award-winning author Denise Mina in conversation with Red Handed, true crime podcasters Suruthi Bala and Hannah Macguire.

Thursday 19 November

  • 12pm -2pm: The popular #ReadingLunch returns! The public are encouraged to post their lunch and their current read on social media with the hashtag.
  • 4pm: Writing The Cutting Room: a film premiere featuring behind the scenes stories from Louise Welsh’s debut, award-winning novel.
  • 8pm:New Suns, Different Futures – Faridah Àbíké-Íyímíde and Andrea Hairston, chaired by Nyla Ahmad, discuss the anthology which showcases emerging and seasoned writers of colour telling stories of speculative fiction.

Friday 20 November

  • 10am: Punching the Air: award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Dr Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five discuss their powerful YA novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated – chaired by award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.
  • 12.30pm: See You in 10 Years: a film exploring the journey with Scottish Book Trust, patron Val McDermid and National Library of Scotland, who have worked together to develop a time capsule that will include writing from young people of Scotland. Glasgow Artist Ali Forbes has been commissioned to design the capsule.
  • 4pm: Big Book Week Scotland quiz: join Scottish Book Trust for this fun literary quiz to fundraise for the charity.

Saturday 21 November

  • #BookSwoonScotland: join in online and post the best book covers you own.
  • 4pm: Writing Disabilities in Fiction: author Ever Dundas and crime writer Nell Pattison discuss the barriers they have faced during publication and what equals good representation in fiction.

Sunday 22 November

  • 10.30am: Futures, Connecting and Faith with author Leila Aboulela and poet Nadine Aisha Jassat.
  • 4pm: To the Future with Love – actor and comedian Ruby Wax ends the week on a high with historian and author Rutger Bregman, hosted by writer Heather Parry.

On all week

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour will run from Monday 16 – Friday 20 November with Robin Stevens, author of the best-selling Murder Most Unladylike series.

Robin will be beaming digitally into 60 schools across 22 Scottish local authorities. For schools not attending the virtual tour, they can still take part on Twitter with a murder mystery takeover including fun activities for the classroom.

The Book Week Scotland 2020 programme is now live and can be found here.

British sign language and closed captions will be available for all the panel events.

Gorgie Farm robbery: man to appear in Court

Police Scotland has confirmed that a 52 year old man has been arrested and charged in connection with an incident which saw a man threatened with a weapon and a three figure sum of cash stolen.

This incident happened on Friday, 10 July at Gorgie Farm on Gorgie Road.

The accused is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance following our appeal for information.

Lauriston Farm community consultation is under way

 Edinburgh Agroecology Co-operative CICI is putting forward a proposal to the council for a new Urban Agroecology project at Lauriston Farm, with three main areas of focus: food growing at scale, habitat creation and biodiversity enhancement, and community engagement and activity.

It is really important to us to get the views of the local community and find out what they think of the proposed plan and if and how they would like to engage with or get involved with our project.

We would have loved to have hosted a community event but current circumstances mean that we will be hosting an online community consultation instead.

The consultation is now live and will be open until the 20th November – NOTE NEW DATE.

We would like to get input and feedback from as many people from the surrounding local community as possible.

Please see above for details.

You’ll find the site link for the community consultation at Lauristonfarm.scot

Edinburgh Agroecology Co-op

Protection Levels: First Minister addresses the nation

Address to the nation following the confirmation of local authority protection levels – Thursday 29 October: 

Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to all of you for the sacrifices you’ve made, as we’ve faced this Covid challenge together.

For some of you, these sacrifices have been compounded by the loss of a loved one, serious illness, or worry about your job and paying the bills.

This has been difficult for everyone, but truly awful for many. No words can make that better.

And I am sorry to again ask for more.

But Covid is still with us. And it is still dangerous.

Europe is now firmly in the grip of a second wave. Some countries, including France and Germany, are back in full lockdown.

Here in Scotland, we see rising cases, more people in hospital and, tragically, more lives being lost.

But we also have grounds for cautious hope.

The difficult restrictions introduced a few weeks ago to limit household visits and hospitality are slowing the rate of increase.

Restrictions are still necessary, but this slowdown is allowing us to act in a more targeted way.

Today I confirmed the different levels of protection that will apply, from Monday, to different parts of the country, depending on the levels of infection.

Detailed information about the level in your area is available on the Scottish Government website. And from Monday a postcode checker will let you find out exactly what the rules are in your area at any given time.

These levels will be reviewed weekly.

But I want to emphasise two restrictions which, for now, apply everywhere.

The first is household mixing. 

It remains the case – in all parts of Scotland – that we should not meet up in each other’s homes. That is incredibly hard for all of us. But household mixing – especially indoors – is one of the biggest risks of transmission.

And secondly travel.

A regional approach to restrictions will only be sustainable if we don’t spread the virus from high to lower prevalence areas.

So if you live in a level 3 area, you should only leave your own local authority for essential purposes, such as work, education or caring responsibilities.

And if you live in a level 1 or level 2 area, do not travel to a level 3 area, except for the same essential purposes.

These restrictions are tough but please believe me when I say they are still necessary.

Of course, I wish I could tell you when things will return to normal.

I can’t do that yet. I can only be straight with you.

And given the challenge we face, I cannot guarantee that we won’t have to return to the highest level of restrictions across the whole country.

But I do know the best way for us to avoid that – and I hope secure some degree of Christmas cheer –  is to keep abiding by all the rules and guidance. I know that because it is starting to work already.

Doing that – as it has always been – is fundamentally an act of solidarity, compassion and love.

It is how we make each other safer, protect our NHS, and save lives.

This all gets so much harder after seven months and as winter and Christmas approach. I know that. I feel that.

But we need to dig deep. And we need to stick with it. We will get through this. Let’s keep doing it together – and for each other. Thank you.

Do we still need to reach higher and go further for Scotland’s student carers?

Carers Trust Scotland investigates the challenges for student carers

New Carers Trust Scotland research shows the key challenges for Scotland’s student carer population.

Key findings from student carer respondents:

  • 47% find it difficult to attend class.
  • 75% struggle with finances and budgeting.
  • 35% find handing in coursework on time challenging.
  • 61% struggle to concentrate in class.

Since October 2019, Carers Trust Scotland has been undertaking research into the experiences of student carers across Scotland’s colleges and universities. This study was made possible due to generous funding by Mr and Mrs JMB Charitable Trust.

It is estimated that there are over 30,000 students in Scotland, studying alongside providing unpaid care for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems.

Student carers, carer services and college and university staff from across Scotland’s colleges and universities were invited to participate in the research through interviews and surveys. Their perspectives have shaped the research, which illuminates the challenges for student carers and the support that can improve their experiences.

From application stages, through to the experience of studying, student carers face unique challenges. Unpaid carers give their caring role a great amount of thought when applying to college or university.

For many students, studying is an opportunity to move away from home and into student accommodation. Student carers, however, may be unable to move away from their caring responsibilities.

For those that stay at home, it is important that they can travel from college or university to the person they care for as quickly as possible, and so the location of course is given consideration.

Studying itself can present challenges for unpaid carers, with their time under pressure from caring responsibilities, their studies and in many cases, part time work.

Attending class, concentrating on work both at home and on campus, and meeting coursework deadlines are difficulties faced by many. A lack of time and competing responsibilities can take its toll, with 84% of student carers surveyed finding it challenging to keep good mental health while studying.

Finding time to socialise is also difficult for student carers, which can leave many feeling isolated from their peers, and the wider college or university community.

College and university staff, are aware that studying is challenging for unpaid carers and want to provide comprehensive support. However, it can be difficult to reach unpaid carers within student populations, meaning that it is only at crisis point when recourse for action is more limited, that student carers become known.

Supporting student carers can be challenging for college and university staff who are managing large caseloads and working with many students requiring support.

Considering the challenges student carers face, and the barriers that college and university staff face in supporting them, the Student Carer Experience in Scotland makes recommendations and suggestions that could improve the studying experience for student carers.

Visible, proactive and flexible support, with individually tailored and practical solutions can help student carers on their college and university journey. Despite challenges, with the right support in place student carers can, and do succeed in their studies.

Hannah Martin, Research and Engagement worker for Carers Trust Scotland said: “Studying can be a real challenge for student carers. There are many barriers, unique to their circumstances, that they can face from application right through to completing their course.

“The good news, is that there are measures that can support student carers, that college and university staff can take on.”

Not all Halloween has to be at home …

Drive-in Movies at Edinburgh Airport offers a fright-filled cinema experience for the whole family to enjoy in a safe, outdoor environment.

Presented by Edinburgh International Film Festival and Unique Events and supported by Edinburgh Live, Drive-in Movies is the go-to event for people of all ages this Halloween! Between 29 October and 1 November, film buffs and Halloween enthusiasts alike will be transported into the ghoulishly terrifying world of cinema classics: from family favourites and cult titles to recent blockbusters.

With some screenings sold out or with limited tickets available, audiences are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment. The line-up includes such hits as Coco, E.T., Labyrinth and Jurassic Park, among many others – all presented in a safe, outdoor environment strictly following the health and safety measures.

The pre-screening entertainment includes Halloween-themed sing along, film quiz with spot prizes, competition for best costumes and carved pumpkins displayed on the dashboard, all run by the event’s MC, Edinburgh DJ Stewart Calverto who becomes Count Calverto…

Food and drink available to purchase on site include seafood specialists Alandas, offering some of the best fish and chips in the country, and Cold Town Beer, born and brewed in Scotland.

All designated drivers at screenings of 15+ films will be offered a free Heineken 0.0% beer.

Ticket and full line-up information available here: www.edinburghdrivein.co.uk

LaunchMe gears up for sixth intake of applications

LaunchMe, Scotland’s social enterprise accelerator has opened its sixth round of applications, looking for innovative social enterprises with the ambition to grow and achieve social impact at scale.

Delivered by social enterprise agency Firstport, LaunchMe supports social enterprises to grow by providing a comprehensive business support package, seed funding to get them investment ready and direct access to investor networks. Since 2014, the programme has helped 37 social enterprises to scale and increase their impact, 13 of them have gone on to raise over £1m of private investment.

Social enterprises, like most businesses, have suffered as a result of the pandemic. In Scotland, 97% of them reported negative impacts whilst experiencing a marked increase in the demand for their services at the same time. This is hardly surprising given that social enterprises operate in areas including mental health, social care, employability, and homelessness.

From providing emergency food aid and childcare to vulnerable children to mental health support and more, social enterprises have played a key role supporting the emergency and recovery efforts of the last six months.  While the future remains uncertain and a recession looms, backing social enterprises with the potential to scale seems more critical than ever before.

One LaunchMe participant that is ready to step up to the challenge is Brave, Strong, Beautiful, CIC (BSB).

Founded by Edinburgh-based Kerry Anderson, it is the only hair and beauty salon in Scotland providing training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged young people.

Despite being forced to close during the national lockdown, BSB is now ready to scale and plans to open two more salons in the next 12 months to provide training, employment and mental health support to disadvantaged and vulnerable young people living in areas of deprivation. With the unemployment rate at its highest level in three years and young people being particularly affected by this, social enterprises such as BSB are needed to tackle the challenges ahead.

Kerry Anderson, founder of Brave, Strong, Beautiful, CIC, said: “I set up Brave Strong Beautiful because I became aware that some young people were being overlooked by society. I realised that the most vulnerable were struggling to find training and gain employment whilst dealing with difficult home lives.

“Coming from a challenging background myself, I understand first-hand the difficulties young people face. This is why I decided to use my skills as a hairdresser, employment development worker and counsellor to offer opportunities for young people to gain a trade skill in hairdressing, whilst also offering a support package so we can ensure they achieve success.”

Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive of Firstport, said: “LaunchMe has a well-established track record of supporting scaleable social enterprises to grow and increase their social impact.

“As the effects of the pandemic and lockdown measures continue to take hold, we need strong, adaptable, and resilient social enterprises to rise to the challenge and create social impact at scale. Whilst the future is uncertain, LaunchMe is well placed to provide the support that social enterprises need right now to pursue and achieve their growth plans in the future.”

Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell said: “The Scottish Government is delighted to continue to support the LaunchMe accelerator programme.

“The Scottish social enterprise sector has seen consistent growth over the past decade and we continue our partnership with Firstport. At a time of unparalleled challenges across society, the social enterprise sector remains at the forefront as we move forward towards recovery, and LaunchMe is well placed to support social entrepreneurs and social enterprises.”

Margaret McSporran, Head of Social Enterprise Development, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “The additional challenges we have faced this year have shown just how vital social enterprises are to the Highlands and Islands economy and to community resilience, particularly in some of our most rural areas.

“We very much welcome this latest round of applications for LaunchMe and would encourage innovative and ambitious social enterprises to consider applying.”

LaunchMe-A-Model-For-Scaling-UpDownload

Applications for LaunchMe are now open and close on Monday 14 December. More information is available on the Firstport website.

8 best films to watch this Halloween

Pete Appleyard, a tutor at Ealing’s world famous MetFilm School, has a massive interest in the genre of Horror. He’s taken time out to pull together this haunting selection of spooky films from the last 100 years!

It’s a mixture of classics, blockbusters and unusual but worthy finds.

Pete’s final choice – Host – was written, shot, edited and released during the Covid-19 lockdown … it will make you think again when accepting an unexpected Zoom call invitation …

Nosferatu – 1922

This early, unofficial adaptation of Dracula by F.W Murnau still holds every bit of its gothic power almost 100 years after it was made. Its filled with iconic gothic imagery and features an amazing central performance by stage actor Max Schreck as the terrifying Count Orlock (who’s name translates as Max Fear). It also works as a wonderful introduction to silent film for those new to early cinema.

Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LOOhc2eML4

Frankenstein– 1931

The first Horror blockbuster and the film that made a star of Boris Karloff. Few films can claim to be as iconic as this classic from universal pictures. From the gothic production design to the incredible Jack Peirce make-up for the Monster, Frankenstein feels like the definitive version of Mary Shelley’s morality tale of man playing god.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8K-4osNb0

Dead of Night – 1945

One of the few Horror films produced at Ealing Studios during its golden era, Dead of Night is one of the earliest examples of the Horror Anthology film. Essentially a collection of short films linked together by a wraparound story, the anthology format became a staple of British horror films through to the 70’s and 80’s but rarely was it done as well as here. The scenes of Michael Redgrave being menaced by an evil ventriloquist dummy remain terrifying to this day.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UCJz617E8s

Night of the Living Dead – 1968

With his debut feature George A Romero managed to do some incredible things. First and foremost he re-invented the Zombie film moving away from the voodoo stories of old to the flesh eating ghouls we know and love today. Secondly, he cast the genre’s first black lead actor, the amazing Duane Jones. And finally, Romero managed to hide biting social commentary on the civil rights movement and the US’s role in Vietnam amongst the gore and mayhem. Political horror at its best.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8vZhSjES8

Nightmare on Elm Street – 1984

The horror boom of the 80’s gave birth to a number of new horror icons but king amongst them has to be Wes Craven’s ultimate boogie man Freddy Kruger. A killer who stalks you in your dreams, Kruger was brought to life by the classically trained Robert Englund. Whilst the sequels are imaginative and fun it’s the original film that has all the scares, including a very gory encounter with a young Jonny Depp.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCVh4lBfW-c

The Ring – 1999

The late 90’s saw and explosion in new Japanese horror cinema and the most terrifying of all has to be The Ring. The set up is simple, once you have watched the cursed VHS tape you have 7 days to live unless you pass the curse onto another. Blending MR James with Japanese folk law, The Ring is a slow burn of a film with an explosive and horrifying final. Forget the watered down American remake and numerous sequels, the original is the real deal.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Z-MOqAvtY

Raw – 2016

Julia Ducournau’s Raw starts as a coming of age drama about a young woman joining her older sister in a French veterinary school but soon morphs into something more sinister. A strange mix of John Hughes and David Cronenberg, it’s one of the most effective body horror films in recent years and represents a new wave of female directed horror.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlXVX2af_Y

Host – 2020

The haunted Zoom call film! A great example of what you can do with very limited recourses, Host was written, shot, edited and released during the Covid-19 lockdown. Drawing its influence from other format bending films such as The Blair Witch Project and Ghostwatch, it has more atmosphere, jokes & scares packed into its lean running time than most horror films made for 10 times its budget.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNlKbqHqGcY

James graduates with distinction – the hard way

MBA journey included two redundancies and serious illness in the family

Determined James Homan was awarded a degree with distinction after an extraordinary journey which saw him twice made redundant and his wife diagnosed with cancer.

The dedicated student and dad-of-two refused to give up on his Master of Business Administration dream despite having to juggle his academic work and family challenges with living in Edinburgh and having demanding jobs in Dubai and London.

James collected his MBA this week – one of hundreds of Edinburgh Napier students to graduate after completing their final year during a global pandemic. He is still searching for work and his wife is undergoing chemotherapy, but he spoke today of his pride in securing an impressive degree in difficult circumstances. 

Sales and marketing executive James, 44, from Currie, had no idea of the obstacles which lay in wait when he set out on his online MBA in January 2018. Even though he lived in Edinburgh, he opted for distance learning due to work and family commitments.

However, just one month later, James – who is married to Lindsey, 48, and has two daughters, Olivia, 14, and Ruby, 11 – had to rethink his plans after losing his job in the capital.

He found new employment within weeks in the shape of a contract role in Dubai. Leaving his family in Edinburgh, he jetted out to the Emirate, landing in Dubai at 7.30am and starting his new job two hours later.

It was an extremely demanding job – long hours, big budgets, more than 120 staff and on call seven days a week – and his MBA work and visits home had to be crammed into any spare time he could find.

James said: “The job also involved plenty of travel around the Middle East and over to Africa. I remember sitting in Lagos airport completing one of my module assessments.”

The contract ended in August last year and he was able to return to Edinburgh to family life and some study at Edinburgh Napier’s Craiglockhart campus, but by December he was on his travels again after being offered a job based in central London.

James settled into a life of London during the week and Edinburgh at weekends, the carriages of the Edinburgh-King’s Cross service becoming his new study area.  Then came Covid-19 and lockdown, followed three months later by James being placed on furlough.

The anxiety didn’t end there though.  James said: “In June this year, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, which knocked us all sideways.  It was time to take stock and focus on what was important in life, which perhaps meant putting the final part of my MBA – the research project – on hold.

“After liaising with my wife, my tutor and even my kids, and after very careful deliberation, we decided I should continue the project, push through and hit the August deadline. As long as I could provide my wife and family with the necessary emotional support and be able to focus there was no reason to put the project on hold.”

James did push on and hit his deadline – but not without the added stressful complication of again being made redundant.

He said: “The decision had been made though, and with continued academic support from my tutor and emotional reinforcement from my wife, despite her condition and regular visits to the hospital to begin chemotherapy, I completed the project in August.”

James concluded: “My 32-month MBA journey has had its twists and turns, but despite being placed on furlough, made redundant twice, moving abroad and moving back and my wife being diagnosed with cancer and starting her treatment, I managed to obtain a distinction as my final mark.

“I guess undertaking a tough academic programme such as an MBA and expecting a smooth passage throughout would be naïve. Maybe the elements of adversity that popped up throughout the course actually helped me focus more. Whatever the case, I feel proud to have achieved my final mark which I could not have done without my family’s love, tolerance and support throughout.”

His wife Lindsey added: “He always made me smile because mid-way through each module he would complain that it was the hardest unit he had done yet – no matter what the subject was – yet every time he would pull it out of the bag and he managed to achieve an overall distinction.

“Through sheer determination and hard work he did it, and we’re so proud of him.”

Anna MacVicar, James’s MBA dissertation supervisor at the University, said: “James was always a highly motivated, focussed dissertation student.  I would have completely understood if he had wanted to pause his efforts and told him so, but I also reassured him that I was sure he could pass.

“I was absolutely delighted when his work achieved distinction level.”

Pictures: Allan Shedlock

New Playground unveiled at St. Columba’s to support grieving children

St Columba’s Hospice Care was delighted to unveil its new children’s playground, which will help to support children whose family members are receiving care.

The Hospice, which provides specialist care and support to people from the age of 16 with terminal conditions across Edinburgh and the Lothians was due to open the play space in June, but had to push this back following delays caused by COVID-19.

As well as allowing children to express themselves and have an outlet for their emotions through play, the playground will allow parents, carers and family members who are patients at the Hospice to watch their children safely enjoy the space which was opened this month.

The installation of the playground space was made possible by donations made by SPIFOX and the Morrisons Foundation, the charitable arm of the supermarket.

Donna Hastings, Family Support Team Worker said: “We hope that any children visiting the Hospice will be able to use the play areas. It will allow them to play and express themselves and have an outlet for their emotions through play.

“Play is simply having fun – a spontaneous activity and normally part of their everyday lives. Having a play space at the Hospice will help promote that continuity of normal family life. We are grateful to the Trustees of SPIFOX and the Morrisons Foundation who agreed to fund the project and enabled it to go ahead.”

David Scott, Morrisons Foundation Trustee, said: “St Columba’s is a charity close to the hearts of many people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“We are absolutely delighted to see the vision that was presented to us come to life and know that this will have a long lasting legacy. The playground is warm, welcoming and embodies the positive family environment that makes St Columba’s so widely admired.”

The Morrisons Foundation was set up by Morrisons supermarket in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help improve people’s lives.  Since launching over £32 million has been donated to hundreds of charities across England, Scotland and Wales.

Local charities are encouraged to visit www.morrisonsfoundation.com to find out how to apply for a grant.