Sight loss charity RNIB Scotland will produce braille versions of the Scottish Government Test and Protect guidance relating to the current coronavirus situation.
The move follows concerns that some blind and partially sighted people might be unable to access important health advice and guidance. In a survey of people with sight loss commissioned by RNIB in May, one in four respondents said they had struggled to get information in a format they could understand.
James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “In the current situation accessible healthcare information is more essential than ever. It is vitally important everyone knows how to keep themselves and their community safe, and that blind and partially sighted people, who can be particularly vulnerable, are kept informed of new developments and guidance.
“So we are pleased to be able to assist the Scottish Government in making braille versions of information available on procedures for testing.”
Braille is the tactile system of raised dots on paper that can be ‘read’ by fingertip touch. Although many blind and partially sighted people now use audio or screen-reading software to access information, thousands still use the system invented by Frenchman Louis Braille in 1837.
RNIB has produced guidelines on making information accessible for a range of public bodies and businesses. Some adjustments are relatively easy to make, points out Mr Adams.
“Even people who don’t consider themselves sight-impaired can sometimes struggle with very small print, or with text that doesn’t have a sharp enough contrast with the background colour,” James said.
“Much information is now communicated electronically or online. For people who use screen-reading software – which reads out text on websites or emails – this might not seem a problem. But some graphics can still confuse screen-readers, such as text superimposed on images, photos that don’t have alt-tags, text that is justified on both sides, or even just sentences that don’t end with a full-stop.
“That’s why it’s absolutely vital that we give full consideration to how accessible our communications are.”
Braille copies of Scottish Government Test and Protect information materials relating to the current coronavirus situation can be obtained from scotland@rnib.org.uk.
Test and Protect information is also available in audio and large-print format, as well as other languages and formats, from the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot/test-and-protect,
* The RNIB Helpline is available on 0303 123 9999.
Supporting people to move towards and maintain a healthier weight may reduce the serious effects of COVID-19 on the population, a new Public Health England report finds.
The report summarises findings from evidence published during the pandemic on the effects of excess weight and obesity on COVID-19. UK and international evidence suggests that being severely overweight puts people at greater risk of hospitalisation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and death from COVID-19, with risk growing substantially as body mass index (BMI) increases.
The current evidence does not suggest that having excess weight increases people’s chances of contracting COVID-19. However, the data does show that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.
One study found that for people with a BMI of 35 to 40, risk of death from COVID-19 increases by 40% and with a BMI over 40 by 90%, compared to those not living with obesity. Other data found that in intensive care units, 7.9% of critically ill patients with COVID-19 had a BMI over 40 compared with 2.9% of the general population.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or obese, with people aged 55 to 74, those living in deprived areas and certain black, Asian and minority ethnic groups more severely affected.
Excess fat can affect the respiratory system and is likely to affect inflammatory and immune function. This can impact people’s response to infection and increase vulnerability to severe symptoms of COVID-19. Obese people may be less likely to access healthcare and support, and it is also thought that COVID-19 affects other diseases associated with obesity.
The report highlights that supporting people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight may reduce the severe effects of COVID-19 on the population, especially among vulnerable groups that are most affected by obesity.
Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “The current evidence is clear that being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, as well as from many other life-threatening diseases.
“It can be hard to lose weight and even harder to sustain it, which is why people cannot easily do it on their own. Losing weight can bring huge benefits for health – and may also help protect against the health risks of COVID-19. The case for action on obesity has never been stronger.”
The report notes some limitations on evidence to date and highlights the need for more evidence, including research to establish the effect that weight management might have for groups at greater risk of the severe effects of COVID-19.
The report also summarises evidence regarding the nation’s eating and exercise habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some data suggests that more people have exercised during lockdown, evidence indicates that the nation’s exercise levels have not increased overall since before the pandemic. Meanwhile, snack food and alcohol sales in high street shops have increased.
The UK Government is expected to announce details of a new campaign to tackle obesity tomorrow.
Edinburgh Talks Climate consultation opens on Monday
A new business plan will incorporate plans for a green recovery and achieving the Council’s net zero carbon by 2030 ambition, according to a report considered by Policy and Sustainability Committee.
The report also recommended that a positive effect on city carbon targets should be considered when making any public stimulus and investment decisions and that existing projects that do so are accelerated to reflect the urgency and scale of the current climate crisis. This includes projects like the regeneration of Granton waterfront, the extension of the tram to Newhaven and establishing a Low Emission Zone, among others.
A major public engagement, Edinburgh Talks Climate, is set to commence on Monday (27 July) having been delayed from earlier this year due to the pandemic.
The website, www.edinburghtalksclimate.dialogue-app.com, invites Edinburgh residents to take part in the conversation around the urgent action that is needed to tackle climate changes.
The engagement will be conducted via various ‘challenges’ where participants can submit and vote on solutions, as well as watch informational videos to help them do their bit in different parts of their own lives.
This is part of the Council’s wider plan to take learnings from the pandemic and effectively implement any resulting change within its Adaptation and Renewal Programme, as well as ensuring that the activity implemented is aligned to the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision principles of creating a welcoming, thriving, fair and pioneering city.
Adam McVey, Council Leader, said: “Edinburgh is facing a dual crisis right now and both need urgent action: our recovery from the pandemic is coupled with the global climate emergency.
“As we adapt to the circumstances brought about by COVID-19, we can also start building a city for the future. Tackling climate change must be front of mind in this process and we have to take every step we can to ensure that our recovery is a green one.
“Edinburgh belongs to its residents and we welcome their views on how we can positively effect climate change within our city. I would encourage everyone to take part in the Edinburgh Talks Climate engagement and make sure their voices are heard throughout our recovery.”
Cammy Day, Depute Leader, said: “It’s clear that if we are to build an Edinburgh for the future and achieve our 2050 City Vision, then a green recovery is our only option.
“We have to make sure our plans, decisions and actions both in the short- and long-term serve this ambition and Edinburgh Talks Climate is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in how we tackle climate change within our city and the actions that we take as part of Edinburgh’s adaptation and renewal to the situation.”
If you arrive in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland from Spain you will now need to self-isolate.
Spain will be removed from the list of countries exempt from quarantine requirements due to an increased number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last few days.
The decision, also made by the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales as well as the UK Government, has been made to reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus by those travelling from Spain and arriving in Scotland.
The public health measures came into effect from midnight and will mean those arriving in Scotland from Spain will now be required to quarantine for 14 days.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The decision to exempt Spain earlier this week, was taken when the data showed there was an improvement in the spread of the virus. But clearly the latest data has given us cause for concern to overturn that decision.
“We appreciate that this will be disappointing. However, we have always been clear we are closely monitoring the pandemic situation in all countries and that we may require to remove a country from the list of places exempt from quarantine requirements should the virus show a resurgence.
“It is still active and it is still deadly. Supressing the virus, preventing it from being transmitted and protecting public health is our priority.”
The FCO is advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain – this does not cover the Canary Islands or the Balearic Islands because travel advice is based on the risk to the individual traveller and COVID-19 infection rates are lower there than mainland Spain.
A UK government spokesperson said: “The Joint Biosecurity Centre together with Public Health England have updated their coronavirus assessments of Spain based on the latest data. As a result, Spain has been removed from the lists of countries from which passengers arriving in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are exempted from the need to self-isolate.
“Protecting public health is our absolute priority and we have taken this decision to limit any potential spread to the UK.
“We’ve always been clear that we would act immediately to remove a country where necessary. Both our list of quarantine exemptions and the FCO travel advice are being updated to reflect these latest risk assessments.”
As the Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Scotland on Thursday, the Scottish Trades Union Congress warned of further constitutional unrest if economic issues are not addressed
Prime Minister, crabs:Choose your own caption!
Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the STUC said: “Johnson’s jolly to Scotland won’t dispel the gloom that’s setting in as thousands hear the news that they have lost their work.
“The scale of the economic crisis we are facing is huge. Rather than insult the people of Scotland with his ignorance, he should focus his effort onto announcing concrete plans to rebuild our economy.
“He knows that economic unrest will find a channel in constitutional demands, and he is right to be worried. People in Scotland know how closely politics and the economy are interlinked, as the slump starts setting in across the sectors in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
“Extending the furlough scheme, all across the UK, would massively help many industrial sectors such as hospitality weather the coming storm.
“Investment in a proper Green New Deal would create the environmentally friendly jobs and economic boost that our workers and hard-struck communities are desperate for.
“For far too long, the government and employers have undervalued the kind of work that coronavirus has shown to be of utmost importance. An increase in the minimum wage to £10 an hour, and an additional £2 an hour for all key workers who have kept us safe during this catastrophic pandemic, would be a start in righting the wrongs of the past.
“Boris won’t be so jolly once he starts to see how workers in Scotland respond in the wake of his woeful response.”
A theatre project about the lived experience of disability, album recordings and a film project highlighting the experiences of LGBTQIA refugees are among the 25 projects to receive support in the latest round of Create: Inclusion funding, throughCreative Scotland.
The Create: Inclusion Fund, supported by the National Lottery, has distributed awards of between £2,250 and £28,187, to a total of £375,000. The fund supports activities which enable development of creative and professional practice, and opportunities to take creative risks.
Actor Kirin Saeed has received funding towards Crossing Care (working title), a theatre project which will use the lived experience of a blind Asian woman as a framework to collaborate with community groups and emerging artists.
Kirin Saeed said: “This project will offer opportunities for disabled people and communities whose voices are not often told on their own terms through the medium of theatre. I am so excited to be able to highlight the many complexities of receiving support as a disabled person, especially at a time when carers and caring are such topical subjects for discussion.”
Folk pop musician Man of the Minch has received funding towards debut album The Tide is At the Turning. An extension of the Bogha-frois: LGBT+ Voices in Folk project, the album will be recorded working with people who predominately identify as members of the LGBTQIA community. The Tide is At the Turning will be a musical blend of traditional Scottish music and contemporary pop, and its lyrical content will discuss queer experiences.
Pedro Cameron (Man of the Minch) said: “I hope the album serves as a monument to the Bogha-frois project and will be a piece of work which speaks not only to LGBTQIA people, but the wider community as a whole.”
Composer Amble Skuse has received funding towards A Reasonable Adjustment, a verbatim opera about the experiences of disabled people under austerity in the UK. The piece will be performed by an all-disabled ensemble and will premiere in February 2021 as part of Aberdeen’s Sound Festival.
Amble Skuse said: “This funding means we will be able to explore strategies of disseminating disabled voices through composition. We will be using the funding to work out how disabled artists can make and share work under the restrictions of shielding, a situation which may be considerably lengthier for disabled people than for the general population.”
Bombito Productions received funding towards Who I am Now, a short film project focused on the experience of a transgender Egyptian man and his emigration to Scotland. The project is dedicated to the memory of Zan Scott, who originally conceived of the idea and sadly passed away before production.
Reece Cargan, Producer, Bombito Productions said: “This funding was vital in allowing me to work with queer collaborators and expand my slate as an LGBTQI+ filmmaker. More importantly, the film will hopefully give audiences an insight into the extra barriers experienced by trans people when seeking asylum in the UK.”
Edinburgh-based acclaimed Syrian artist Nihad Al Turk has received funding towards The Threat, a collection of paintings expressing the artist’s experience of living under constant threat.
Nihad Al Turk said: “This project will really help to support me to start working as a professional artist in Scotland, both by funding my work and enabling me to connect with other artists. The project will also help my wellbeing, by creatively expressing my experience of living under threat.”
Director Manu Kurewa has received funding towards Life Lived in Black and White. The short film project, set on a Glasgow housing estate, explores the lives of a group of African immigrants who are connected by their sense of dislocation. The film celebrates the love and loss experienced by the diaspora and will be performed by actors with lived experience of the issues the film explores.
Manu Kurewa said: “I am delighted at having been given this wonderful opportunity to develop my film practice. This is a great opportunity for me and other members from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds to share experiences with the wider community and tell stories that normally don’t get the chance to be heard.”
Other projects to receive funding in this round include:
An interactive game depicting the experiences of refugees from Malath Abbas
A spoken word project exploring neurodiversity from Jen McGregor
A collection of multi-artform projects from Roderick MacKenzie
A short film exploring mental health and questions of place from Fiona Bailey
A devised verbatim piece from Heather Andrews, exploring neurodiversity
Do you mind can I ask you what happened … (to your legs)? a dance film about disability from Simon Fildes
A storytelling dance drama project from Abhinaya Dance Academy
A research and development programme merging Ghanian traditional arts with contemporary performance practice from Adie Baako
An artistic development programme from Penny Anderson
The development of a new neurodivergent artist collective from Tzipporah Johnston
A printmaking programme from Garvald Art Studio, in collaboration with Edinburgh Printmakers
The development of a drama film feature from Razan Madhoon
A celebration of folk song from Azerbaijan from FarzaneZamen
The mentoring and development of musician Magnus Turpie
A spoken word project from Sarah Grant
A novel from Anne Hamilton
The Ando Glass Collective, a musical ensemble from Glasgow’s Roma communities.
The Create:Inclusion Fund represents one aspect of Creative Scotland’s ongoing workto address the numerous and complex barriers to access, progression and representation in the arts, screen and creative industries.
Another round of the fund will open for applications in Autumn 2020.
Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotlandsaid: “When creative practice is reflective of, and made by, a diverse range of people and communities, it becomes more relevant to everybody.
“This fund offers a step towards achieving this ambition, helping increase diversity among people building careers in the arts, screen and creative industries. These awards support a breadth of practice, a diversity of perspectives and level of ambition that reflects the rich cultural life of Scotland.”
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information following an assault in the Meadows. The incident happened around 8.30pm last night (Friday 24 July) when an 18-year-old man was assaulted by four other men.
The man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment of his injuries which are not thought to be serious.
The four suspects are described as males aged between 15 to 17-years-old with brown and blonde short hair. At the time of the incident, one was wearing black shorts and a black top, another with black trousers and one wearing a white hooded top.
Sergeant Grant Robertson, of Howdenhall Community Policing, said: “We believe this incident to be a targeted attack and would like to reassure the public that there is no threat to the wider community.
“This incident happened at a time when the park was busy with other people and I would ask that if anyone witnessed this to contact police, in particular if anyone is in possession of any mobile phone footage.
“Officers will be actively patrolling the area and engaging with the local residents and people that use the park, and as ever, we encourage anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour to report it to us.
“Police can be contacted on 101 quoting incident number 3785 of Friday, 24 July, 2020.”
Edinburgh College is hosting its annual Clearing Events to help students across the region and beyond to secure their place on a College course during session 2020/21.
While the college can’t welcome applicants on to campus as normal for clearing, prospective students can contact the College’s admissions and course teams to secure a place on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August.
The College will open its Clearing call centre at 10am each day and is encouraging those interested in starting a new course to help them take the first step on their chosen career journey, or to reskill and upskill to support them in achieving their dreams during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, to make that call.
As well as the opportunity to secure a place on a course starting in September, the Clearing call centre will also provide school leavers, adult returners, or those in employment with an opportunity to: talk to course specialists about the best study options for them; speak with college student support staff who can provide advice on course delivery and additional support requirements; find out about student funding options and course fees.
Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning students to Edinburgh College for session 2020/21 – albeit in very different circumstances than in previous years.
“We still have places available across a range of courses, and we’d encourage anyone considering the first or next steps in their career to contact our teams during our Clearing Events to assess the best available study options for this year and beyond.”
To secure a course place during Edinburgh College’s Clearing Events, applicants and prospective students should call 0131 297 8300 between 10am and 4pm on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August.
Those who wish to seek advice during the Clearing Events but would prefer not to call, can contact the college via email: clearing@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.
Barratt Homes, one of the UK’s largest house builders has donated and fundraised over £6,800 to help local initiatives across the east of Scotland.
From January to June, the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, PlayMidlothian, Cramond Playgroup, Social Bite, Edinburgh’s Women’s Aid and Ashlee’s Neuroblastoma Appeal, all received £1,000 as part of Barratt Homes East Scotland’s Community Fund.
The donations have helped provide food, school uniforms and essential packs for families, redecorate refuge accommodation and new sustainable toys for children, as well as general running costs and challenges arising from these unprecedented times.
Barratt Homes’ Community Fund pledges £1,000 every month to a charity or organisation, which supports local people across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife. Charities are nominated and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.
Barratt Homes East also carried out a number of activities to fundraise a further £890 for chosen charities. These involved a walking, running and cycling for an hour challenge which raised £500 for the Edinburgh North West Foodbank, a virtual walk from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats raising £320 for Chas and a baking challenge raising £70 for Barratt East’s annual charity Love Gorgie Farm.
Speaking on the donation, Josh Littlejohn, CEO of Social Bite said: “We were very grateful to have the support of Barratt Homes during the challenging time when many families were stuck in isolation.
“Since March 20, we have been producing and distributing free food to homeless people and other vulnerable groups. We had given away an incredible 150,000 emergency food packs and Barratt’s donation allowed us to scale up our production and delivering 6,500 food packs every single day since April.”
Alison Condie, managing director for Barratt Scotland East added: “All of the charities we’ve donated to provide an invaluable service, and have carried out vital work in this difficult time for children, families and women across Scotland. We are very pleased we have been able to help them with these donations and look forward to supporting them where we can in the future.
“At Barratt East Scotland we are committed to supporting the communities we serve, and through the Community Fund and our fundraising activities, we hope to make a meaningful contribution to the services that make a positive impact on so many lives.”
For more information on Barratt Homes, visit the website.
A Scottish Parliament Committee has warned that more needs to be done to ensure that young people who need help with their mental health can access support at the earliest opportunity.
A Scottish Parliament Committee has warned that more needs to be done to ensure that young people who need help with their mental health can access support at the earliest opportunity.
In a report published yesterday, the Public Petitions Committee has said that despite efforts to improve the provision of early intervention mental health services, more needs to be done to ensure that young people feeling low or anxious, or both, can access advice and support.
The Committee’s inquiry into mental health support for young people in Scotland was driven by petition PE1627, which called for consultation with, and consent from, a parent or guardian before prescribing medication to treat mental ill health if the patient is under 18 years of age. The petition was lodged by Annette McKenzie following the tragic death of her daughter, Britney, from an overdose of prescription medication.
While there was limited support for the primary action being called for in the petition, the Committee backed the current guidance, which asks GPs to encourage patients to speak to their families and seek support.
MSPs were however concerned by the evidence heard highlighting serious concerns about the experiences of young people seeking help for their mental health, particularly for the first time.
Some young people explained that they felt cast aside by their GP, despite their obvious signs of distress, and in some cases, the distress escalated to self-harming and attempting suicide.
During its inquiry, the Committee found that young people, and those supporting them, are often unaware of the availability of initial support services. As a result, young people are often inappropriately referred to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) only to be rejected for not meeting NHS board criteria.
While the Committee welcomed the Government’s commitment to ensure every secondary school has access to counselling services, it warned that this alone will not address the wide-ranging needs of young people. It can therefore only be part of a larger package of measures, complementing existing services and forms of support.
To achieve this, the Committee has made recommendations for the Scottish Government, COSLA, integration authorities and Education Scotland.
These include:
• That authorities set out clear pathways to support for young people seeking help by the end of 2020. • That there should be local ‘inventories’ of mental health services in each area so it is clear to professionals what support is available in each area. This work should be completed no later than by the end of 2020. • That work is undertaken to identify how to support parents and carers in accessing information about their children’s mental health, as well as signposting them to the right services. • That the provision of school counsellors is reviewed to ensure they are delivering their services most effectively; and that Personal and Social Education (PSE) becomes more relevant and empowering for young people.
The counsellor review should be reported to Parliament by early 2022, with the Government review of PSE due to be implemented in March 2021.
• That teachers are empowered to identify and support young people with their mental health. Mental health first aid training should be included in Initial Teacher Education by the start of academic year 2021/22. • That the Government should consider ways to help employers of young people fulfil their duty of care when it comes to supporting their mental wellbeing.
The Committee also recognised the efforts and dedication of all those supporting young people, and hope that this work will allow young people themselves, as well as parents, carers, teachers, medical professionals, and others working with young people to feel able to find the right help.
Committee Convener Johann Lamont MSP, said: “The Committee wants to recognise the work of Annette McKenzie, who has shown such courage in highlighting the concerns in her petition. She has done so in circumstances which no parent should ever have to face.
“During the Committee’s work on the inquiry, we have found a troubling picture.
“Though anyone can experience low mood, anxiety, or both, at some point in their life, when it comes to seeking support, young people often find themselves facing a cluttered and even confusing landscape, which too frequently does not provide the support needed.
“While the Committee welcomes those measures announced by the Scottish Government to improve the situation, these are not enough to address the substantial gap that remains in the provision of mental health services, or to improve understanding of the help available.
“Therefore, we believe that the Government should work urgently with authorities to ensure that not only is there sufficient provision available at the local level, but that this is clearly communicated and easily accessible, both for young people and those they are turning to for help.
“The need for this work will only be increased by COVID-19, and its consequent impact on young people’s mental health.”
