Edinburgh: an inclusive city?

A new campaign building on the City of Edinburgh Council’s work to create an inclusive and diverse workplace has been launched.

Designed to foster a culture where all people feel their differences are valued, respected and accepted, Inclusivedinburgh will highlight the many benefits that a diverse workforce brings.

Guided by the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy which was approved by councillors last year, the City is working to attract and retain a representative Council workforce which reflects the diversity of Edinburgh’s citizens. It is hoped that the internal campaign will help to make sure that everyone’s voices are heard and that all employees feel welcome.

Councillor George Gordon, Equalities ‘Champion’ for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’ve worked extremely hard to grow as an inclusive employer and bring our diversity and inclusion strategy to life.

“Following many months of meetings, I’ve seen firsthand how this has involved tremendous efforts by our HR team and our colleague networks plus input from unions. I’m pleased to have been involved and I’d like to thank everyone who has got us to this point.

“It’s fantastic to now see all of the measures we’ve put into place brought together under Inclusivedinburgh. We’re committed to advancing equalities in everything we do and there is no better place to further foster an inclusive culture than within our own workplace. We are a disability friendly employer and we have solid networks in place to support all colleagues to achieve their best. Our LGBT+ and BAME networks are also thriving.

From developing our understanding of colleagues’ personal situations to creating our own benchmarking tool so that we can keep track of progress – we’re continuously bettering our policies and recognising the value of a diverse workforce. This campaign is about sharing best practice and helping staff while also striving to be even better.

“We’re proud of how far we’ve come and this new campaign helps our ambitions for workplace equality to stand out. For Edinburgh to be a fair City, we must do all we can to improve the quality of life for those who face inequality. Better still, we must aim to stamp out discrimination and prejudice, wherever it occurs.”

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Chair of the Council’s Cross Party Working Group on Equalities, said: “As the City of Edinburgh Council, and as a major employer, it is vital to listen and to learn from the lived experience of colleagues from groups which are under-represented in our workforce and our city.

“The enthusiasm and participation of staff in our LGBT+  and our BAME colleague networks has been and continues to be crucial to how well we listen, learn, and respond proactively in our efforts to ensure we are an employer, in both word and deed, which values diversity and difference as a strength and key measure of our organisational health.

“I warmly welcome the launch of the Inclusivedinburgh campaign to promote respect and equality within and throughout all management tiers and service areas of the Council. This cements our commitment to attracting and retaining a workforce more reflective of all the Edinburgh citizens we represent and serve. 

“Recent progress towards this includes introducing guidance and support for those who are transitioning; and those who are going through the menopause; Unconscious Bias e-learning for Council managers is also happening which supports our aim that no-one experiences discrimination of any sort during our recruitment process; and creating and circulating a colleague calendar which raises awareness of dates and events of particular significance throughout the year, for example, Ramadan and Carers Week.”

The Edinburgh City Vision 2050 states that Edinburgh aspires to be a fair, inspired, thriving and connected city. The Inclusivedinburgh campaign aims to work towards that vision and the Council’s ambition to place respect, equality and rights at the heart of the workplace.

Commenting on the brand, staff member Bobby Nwanze said: “As the chair of the Council’s BAME colleague Network, it’s refreshing to receive such amazing support.

“Working closely to promote cultural awareness and tackle discrimination in the workplace will help us to become a truly diverse Council.”

Equalities ‘champion’ George Gordon explained this further when he wrote in the Evening News this week: “To become a fairer city where everyone can benefit from Edinburgh’s success, we need to take united action against inequality. 

“So, as we rebuild our communities and the economy from the COVID-19 crisis, we’ll be taking lessons learned from lockdown and listening intently to the voices of residents from our minority and traditionally disadvantaged groups. We have a chance to shape a ‘new normal’ for the city and this is an opportunity we will not miss.

“Within the Council, we’re already seeking out views from our colleague networks on how we can better promote diversity and inclusion amongst staff and in our recruitment processes. Just this week we’ve launched a new campaign to highlight the policies we have in place to make our workplace culture one of the most inclusive in Scotland.

“The Poverty Commission is pulling together feedback from people who have been unfairly disadvantaged by COVID-19 and I’m in touch with equalities networks to truly understand how certain groups have been impacted. 

“We’re on the cusp of a global recession and we need to make sure we put the right measures in place to support people at risk of unemployment or reduced opportunities, so that we can aim to create a more level playing field in a post-COVID economy.

“During the last few months, we saw our usual way of life and leisure activities taken away from us. But not being able to enjoy society fully with a trip to the theatre or day out with family is a battle people with certain disabilities face year in, year out.

“That’s why the Scottish-government backed Spaces for People programme which promotes wheelchair and wider access to high streets and other parts of the city is such an important measure for Edinburgh. As businesses re-open again, we want to make sure everyone can get out of lockdown and enjoy everything which makes Edinburgh such a great city to live in.

“All of us have also experienced a very different type of August without the buzz and packed High Street of the Fringe. And, as we develop plans for re-introducing events next year and designing our winter festivals, we also need to push for accessible routes for those who need them.

“Of course, our moves to make Edinburgh a more disabled friendly and equal city are not merely a response to the current crisis. This is something I’ve been championing since coming into my Equalities role and we’ve worked hard to highlight the rights and needs of disadvantaged residents in everything we do.

“Our ban on ‘A’ boards has been hailed as a success by equalities groups like the RNIB and Edinburgh Access Panel. I’m proud that Edinburgh was the first city to introduce this. We were also the first to bring in new-build planning rules to promote the latest, safest design for disabled residents. 

“Personally, I’m pleased we were also able to reach an agreement on necessary wheelchair spaces on buses and our swift and ongoing response to the Black Lives Matter movement is also going to change our City for the better.

“I stand ready to advocate for what we need to keep achieving, now and over the next 12 months to come.”

Canonmills Garden Show Home Opens to the Public

Edinburgh Homes Development Reveals the ‘Wow Factor’ for  Post Lockdown Living 

The much-anticipated Canonmills Garden show home and marketing suite has opened to the general public, giving potential home buyers a fascinating insight into the possibilities of post-lockdown living. 

There’s been a huge amount of interest in the show home so far, with an online booking system in place allowing tours to be carried out safely and in a controlled environment. 

Priority tours have already been carried out for existing purchasers at the niche development by Artisan Real Estate, which is a spectacular mix of 180 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and colony-style properties overlooking the Water of Leith in Canonmills, to the north of Edinburgh city centre.  

With almost two-thirds of apartments now sold since the development first hit the market last year, purchasers have been delighted with their first glimpse of what their new homes could look like. 

“There’s definitely been a ‘wow factor’ as our customers experience the size and scale of the apartments for the first time,” explains Artisan’s Sales Supervisor Christie Turner. 

“Up to now, we have sold all 64% of the properties off-plan, so it’s great to be able to now reveal to our purchasers exactly what they have bought. 

“And so far, their reaction as they walk in has been amazing to see – especially when they experience the light and airy living spaces for the first time, as well as the quality of the flooring and the fittings in the kitchen and bathroom.” 

The show home has been designed by well-known Scottish Interior Designer Carol Yates, with post-lockdown living very much in mind. Scandinavian influences combine with the solid oak flooring, adding a natural texture to the rooms.  And while it is a minimalist layout, accents of colour and vibrancy have been introduced with soft-layered fabrics and cushions to bring depth, warmth and vibrancy to the show home. 

Sales at Canonmills Garden are continuing apace despite the challenges of recent months with two first-phase blocks now sold out, with only one colony property remaining.

And with consumer confidence returning following the easing of lockdown, prices and value are also increasing at Canonmills Garden with the average value of apartments growing by seven per-cent since the development’s marketing launch in 2019.  

A range of apartments is now available at Canonmills Garden with prices starting at £249,500. For more information, visit: www.canonmillsgarden.com.  To book an exclusive VIP tour of the new show home, click here: 

https://canonmillsgarden.simplybook.it/v2/

Latest homelessness figures: ‘still work to do’

The annual update on homelessness statistics covering 2019-20 has been released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

Findings for that period show:

  • There were 36,855 applications for homelessness assistance. This was an increase of 84 (0%) compared with the 36,771 applications made in 2018/19.
  • There were 31,333 households assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. This is an increase of 1,097 (4%) compared to 30,236 in 2018/19.
  • These households contained 51,365 people, including 35,654 adults and 15,711 children.
  • There were 11,665 households in temporary accommodation at 31st March 2020, an increase of 676 (6%) compared to 10,989 at 31st March 2019.
  • There were 7,280 children in temporary accommodation at 31st March 2020, an increase of 485 (7%) compared to 6,795 at 31st March 2019.
  • Homelessness applications that closed in 2019/20 that used temporary accommodation spent 184 days in temporary accommodation on average.
  • There were 4,595 cases of homeless households not being offered temporary accommodation in 2019/20. 3,835 of these were in Glasgow.
  • There were 500 breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order in 2019/20, compared to 645 in 2018/19. 375 of these were in Edinburgh.
  • Of homelessness cases that closed in 2019/20, 82% (20,806 out of 27,002) of homeless households secured settled accommodation in 2019/20, increasing from 63% in 2002/03. Other outcomes included ‘Other’ (8%), ‘Returned to previous/present accommodation’ (5%), ‘Moved in with friends/relatives’ (5%) and ‘Hostel’ (1%).

The full statistical publication is available on the Scottish Government website.

Commenting on the latest statistics, Maggie Brunjes, Chief of Executive of Homeless Network Scotland, said: “We know homelessness is not always prevented or responded to quickly enough and today’s figures from 2019/20 show there is still work to do, despite such a determined policy environment in Scotland. 

“The system itself is outdated and too often doesn’t reflect what actually works and what matters. This is changing but change on the ground can be slow and the pandemic has heaped uncertainty onto an already complex problem. 

“The causes of homelessness are predictable and most often rooted in disadvantage, which restricts people’s options. The figures also highlight housing supply and housing access issues and increasing the supply of suitable homes for families and individuals is pressing.  

“Effective prevention can stop homelessness before it starts and a top-level group is working on how we can get better at this. If someone’s homelessness is not prevented that person should be accommodated quickly in normal, settled housing with the right support – this is the focus of Scotland’s rapid rehousing and Housing First approach. 

“The statistics released today do not include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on homelessness: the ‘overnight’ success in lifting people out of rough sleeping, a ban on evictions and urgent measures by charities, councils and government to plan ahead for this winter.

“Nor do they fully reflect the first year of Scotland’s ground-breaking rapid rehousing plans coming into effect. However, the figures are a reminder that the big, structural systems change needed to end homelessness, which is well underway, must continue at pace.” 

NOTE: The figures in this publication report data up until 31st March 2020, so this only crosses over with around a week of coronavirus restrictions and changes in practices being in place. Therefore, changes in trends in homeless data as result of coronavirus will be extremely minimal over this reporting period.

Craigroyston FC seeks volunteers

Helping the local community

Committee members and volunteers required

As many people will know there’s been a background staff changeover for the season ahead with a new chairman, committee and management team taking over the running of the club.

While we are moving in the right direction we would like to extend an opportunity for anyone interested to come on board as a committee member or match day volunteer.

We have a fantastic set up down at St Marks Park and would like to continue the fantastic work that the previous committee have done in running the club. We are effectively starting from scratch so we are very keen to add to our committee and volunteers as we look to build for the next 44 years.

As a committee member, you will play a major part in how the club moves forward. As part of the committee you will be involved in the general running of the club and be involved in fundraising etc. There will be regular committee meetings to discuss new ideas, and general club matters.

As a volunteer you will be involved on home match days helping with the various jobs before, during and after matches. If you are interested, we will find a job for you to help with, there’s something for everybody! From setting up goals and barriers to serving teas and coffee, to taking in gate money or hanging up kits.

Anyone interested please message us directly on our Facebook page and we can have an informal chat over the phone or a cup of tea down the club. Please do not be put off if you’ve never been involved with a club before, If you have good ideas then we would love to hear from you.

Clubs at our level rely on volunteers, they are the people that make the club run, without you we simply couldn’t do it.

Craigroyston FC committee

Fundraise for Held In Our Hearts this September

Held In Our Hearts are looking for your help in virtual events in September

The Edinburgh Marathon weekend was due to take place on 5th and 6th September and now will be a virtual event.

You can sign up and run your chosen distance anytime between now and the end of December  and fundraise for Held In Our Hearts. You will still receive that all important blue t -shirt and medal. https://virtual.edinburghmarathon.com

The Edinburgh Kiltwalk was due to take place on 13th September  but will now go ahead as a virtual event.

You can still sign up and walk your chosen distance and fundraise for the charityhttps://thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/edinburgh

Held In Our Hearts is a local charity proving baby loss counselling and support to families. Formerly known as SANDS Lothians, we have 40 years’ experience of offering compassionate care bereavement care in the community.

When a family’s baby dies, it is an incredibly traumatic and extremely lonely time as parents struggle to find others who can connect with the overwhelming emotions they experience.

The majority of our staff are bereaved themselves, so we are there to let them know they are not alone. Through our support services, we journey with families providing empathy, while they start to come to terms with what has happened and help support them in their grief.

As we are now going into the second half of 2020  bereaved families need your support more than ever and as the world starts to return to a new normal our families know that life without their precious baby is a new normal for them.

For more information on your events or if you want to fundraise in other ways you can contact tracy@heldinourhearts.org.uk

Police granted powers to break up large house parties

Restrictions on social gatherings will come into force from today (Friday 28 August) making it an offence to breach coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance by having a large house party indoors.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made it clear that the move, which will be reviewed every three weeks, was necessary to ensure socialising can continue in a safe and responsible manner ahead of an expected rise in indoor gatherings during autumn and winter months.

Reports from local outbreak Incident Management Teams suggest that the increasing number of house parties taking place against guidance pose a major risk of COVID-19 transmission and could present high-risk ‘super-spreader’ environments.

Taking responsible action now can help protect families, communities, schools and local businesses from having to return to the stricter lockdown measures necessary to contain any virus outbreak.

The First Minister said: “Seeing friends is particularly important during what is a really difficult period. But it needs to be done safely and responsibly. That is how we avoid the return of some of the stricter lockdown measures and continue to contain this virus.

“We know from our test and protect teams – and also from evidence around the world – that large, indoor gatherings pose a major transmission risk.

“The majority of people, young and old, will be sticking with limits under current guidance – and I am very grateful for that – however, there are a minority who don’t.

“I want to make it very clear – particularly to young people – that this is not about stopping you having fun, but enabling you to have fun safely.

“Ensuring police have the powers to enter and disperse large house parties is another tool in suppressing the virus. While we expect these powers to be used as a last resort, it will help to reduce the potential for future clusters and outbreaks.”

Under current guidance, no more than eight people from a maximum of three different households should be meeting indoors. That remains in place.

To take account of varying sizes and compositions of families across Scotland, it will be an offence for someone to have a party indoors in their house with more than fifteen people from more than one household present, with limited exceptions.

Local public health consultant develops technology to reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 in economic spaces

Medical doctor, clinical epidemiologist and public health consultant, Dr Paul Nelson, has developed a pioneering technology that will significantly reduce the risk of exposure to Covid-19 in all ‘economic spaces’ – shops? – across the City of Edinburgh and beyond.

The groundbreaking innovation, supported by early adopters, Essential Edinburgh and a number of independent retailers, is set to roll out across the city next month, affording shop workers and patrons a safer working environment whilst inspiring confidence and supporting the recovery of economic activity. 

Dr Paul Nelson said: “We are creating a Movement which is enabling business owners and residents alike, to take back some control and mitigate the effects that the pandemic has had on their livelihoods.

“We’ve witnessed a significant amount of initial interest so far and are delighted to be working with Essential Edinburgh to roll this out across Edinburgh and beyond.

“As we all get on board and as the shopkeepers (and other business owners)  become gatekeepers, we all safeguard the economy by identifying symptomatic people. Businesses, harnessing the Dunkirk Spirit, will create a Cordon Sanitaire or Community Screening Programme that is currently lacking and not even possible to be provided in the usual way via public services.”

“Contact tracing is crucial to halt the spread of the virus and currently there is no way of picking up people who have symptoms if they don’t go to their doctor. According to the latest figures from ONS, 70% of cases are not currently referring themselves for testing.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive and Director of Essential Edinburgh commented: “Consumer confidence has understandably taken a big hit and businesses are also dealing with the huge impact of lockdown and will be for some time.

Empowering both businesses and consumers, FFZ has the potential to provide an additional level of confidence for both. We’re really looking forward to working with Paul and the team to further support our businesses and local community.”

Ian Murray MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South commented: “I am delighted that this idea, developed by a local resident Dr. Paul Nelson, is coming to fruition.

“I appreciate that many businesses will have suffered and most importantly will continue to suffer for the coming weeks or months as we recover from lockdown and this innovation provides a technological route to augment recovery for businesses across Edinburgh and beyond.”

The simple integrated symptom screening membership service designed to enable businesses and customers to reduce the risk of exposure to people with Covid-19 is completely non-invasive and simple to operate.

Shop owners will take the temperature of patrons on entry into their spaces using a clinically approved, contactless thermometer which will then communicate via Bluetooth to a free Fever Free app downloaded by each user.

The process uses a progressive web app, which means it doesn’t need to be downloaded from the App store and requires only bare minimum personal data.

Once cleared, the person is issued a six hours pass attesting they are fever-free. During this time, the pass ‘holder’ will experience a frictionless outing as they show it to other participating businesses in the area, all while preserving the privacy of all participants

If high temperature is detected, the shopkeeper will encourage the person to go home and the app will prompt them to pass on details to the contact tracing services (if they agree), who will get in touch with the person to be sent a test.

Argyle Place and Roseneath Street area, Edinburgh (EH9) businesses are driving the first Fever Free Zones as the team begin to roll out the technology.

An early adopter of FFZ, Karen Kirkness, owner of Meadowlark Yoga on Argyle Place, added: “We need to keep our spaces open if our economy is to survive, while maintaining the responsibility to do so as safely as possible.

“FFZ empowers us to identify symptoms that help our community to help itself in its efforts to stay healthy, engage with the economy, all while supporting the NHS’s efforts to track and trace.”

Dr Nelson concludes: “It is hoped that the frictionless access to fever-free high streets will inspire confidence and boost economic activity. If fevers are measured at the point-of-access, and if in turn this triggers a consent-initiated contact with NHS Test and Protect, then these measures could dramatically improve NHS Trace and Protect’s ability to eradicate COVID-19.”

UK government guidelines should be followed at all times, such as wearing a face covering and maintaining social distancing guidelines.

For more information visit: www.feverfree.zone

Ten Hill Place: just what the doctor ordered

A CITY hotel’s new health and safety measures have been given the seal of approval from top surgeon, Professor Mike Griffin, as Edinburgh’s tourism industry reboots.

Ten Hill Place Hotel used their experience providing free accommodation and meals to NHS workers during the height of the pandemic to perfect their health and safety practices for reopening last month.

The hotel has been praised for its efforts by Professor Mike Griffin, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd).

The new measures include the use of QR codes for collecting diners’ contact details, hand sanitiser stations around the hotel, and an innovative key card oven for hands-free cleaning. The sanitising oven uses ultraviolet technology to stop the risk of cross contamination from key cards being passed to different guests.

Behind the scenes, Ten Hill Place has undertaken risk assessments of all areas, and all staff have undergone rigorous training modules on health and safety.

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director at Surgeons Quarter, said: “We are all delighted to be open again and welcoming guests back to Ten Hill Place. We hope the extensive measures in place will ensure our guests are as relaxed as possible, and are still able to enjoy our warm Scottish hospitality.

“Hosting the NHS workers enabled us to assess all of our health and safety measures and put in place new protocols in light of COVID-19, while cooperating with our guests.

“We accommodated frontline guests in all extremities of the bedrooms within the hotel to ensure water systems were running smoothly and to prevent Legionella. We also had our lightning conductor tested to make sure everything we could possibly think of was covered!”

Professor Griffin paid a visit to Ten Hill Place and found the team had gone above and beyond in establishing protocols that facilitated safe service, while maintaining the crucial ability to make guests feel comfortable during a pandemic.

The Professor – who was awarded an OBE in 2013 off the back of his work overseeing huge improvements to cancer cure rates at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary – said: “I am absolutely delighted that Ten Hill Place is open again and ready to welcome back guests.

“I am truly astonished at the level of detail the team have put in to ensure all Scottish Government guidelines are adhered to whilst the Hotel still looks really welcoming and not clinical.”

Scott Mitchell added: “We are uniquely placed here at Surgeons Quarter that we have access to the experience of the membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. 

“We can draw on clinical and medical input to enhance everything that we are doing in these times. 

“Of course, we follow all Government advice and industry protocols but we further benefit from the experience of surgeons, clinicians and dentists. If they feel we are doing everything we can, I see this as a great endorsement for all guests to feel comfortable within Ten Hill Place”.

The hotel reopened on 15 July in accordance with Scottish Government guidance.

Ten Hill Place remained open from March to May in order to provide 2,137 free nights of accommodation and thousands of meals to frontline NHS workers during the Coronavirus pandemic – at a cost of more than £100,000 to the charitable organisation.

Ten Hill Place is run by Surgeons Quarter, the commercial arm of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RSCEd). Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus.

All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgical standards worldwide.

Bookings for Ten Hill Place can be made at www.tenhillplace.com, by calling 0131 662 2080 or by emailing reservations@tenhillplace.com.

Scottish Hockey: Updated guidance

Updated guidance and indicative dates for return to competition

Scottish Hockey has released updated Phase 3 guidance and provisional dates outlining a staged return to competitive hockey.

It follows the Scottish Government announcement that from Monday 24 August full contact outdoor sports can take place for up to 30 people, following the guidance of sporting governing bodies.

With social distancing no longer required during on-pitch sessions, clubs can now focus on in-house games. Scottish Hockey’s Phase 3 Guidance outlines how this can be done safely and in line with Scottish Government guidelines.

From an indicative date of 5 September, local friendlies within your geographical district can be arranged where appropriate, when following guidelines, and is facility dependant.

This allows a build-up of activity from club to district to national level, focussing on a gradual build-up, local travel, while reducing the possibility of outbreaks in the return to competition.

Significantly, the provisional date for the return of Scottish Hockey competitions has been set for 3 October, subject to government guidelines and facilities.

Scottish Hockey CEO David Sweetman said, “I’m delighted we’re able to release this updated Phase 3 guidance and announce some provisional dates to work towards competitive match play.

“A phenomenal amount of work has got us to this stage, with clubs up and down the country doing incredible work to ensure their members return to the pitch safely, and Scottish Hockey staff working exceptionally hard to establish clear guidance and support clubs.

“We all still have to be cautious, take our time, and follow guidance to ensure Covid-19 is kept under control while we get back to enjoying the sport we love.”