Children called on to get creative for bus design art competition

With the school holidays upon us, Scotland’s biggest bus operator is running a competition to give kids in Edinburgh the opportunity to see their artwork ‘wrapped’ on the side of a local bus.

First Scotland East is calling on local children to get involved in the bus company’s exciting Scotland-wide art competition, which will see the winning design placed on the side of a bus for thousands to see. The Scotland winner will also win a tour of Britain’s biggest bus depot in Edinburgh and will be presented with a video of their artwork being painted onto the side of the bus.

Winners from each region will be selected, too, and the lucky winner in Edinburgh will receive an exclusive goodie bag and a school visit from First Bus when the children are back in after the summer holidays.

The competition is running as part of Children’s Art Week, which this year, celebrates the theme of Connecting Across Generations. All kids need to enter is a sheet of plain paper, some bold colours to work with and their creative imagination.  Creative ideas can be submitted using any colour, pattern or drawing.

First Bus has already received some great entries, with some illustrations championing the relationship the city has with its NHS workers.

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for local kids to celebrate their creative side during lockdown.

We’re looking forward to seeing the winning design bring a splash of colour and imagination to one of our buses in Edinburgh, which we hope will bring a smile to the faces of key workers and local communities along our routes.

“We wanted to give something back to the city that we proudly serve every day and we can’t wait to look through all the entries.”

Those entering the bus designing competition are encouraged to include their name and age and should submit entries to the First Scotland East Facebook page, @FirstScotlandEast.

The deadline for submissions is 6th August 2020.

The competition is running in conjunction with First Bus’s Education Pack – an online educational resource created at the start of lockdown to provide primary aged children with a fun filled set of activities focused around buses.

The educational pack is available to download for free, from the following website link: www.firstscotlandeast.com/kidspack

Heart Research UK Healthy Tip – Portion size

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK:

Control your portions!

If you need to lose weight, it is important to think about the quantity of food you are eating as well as the types of food and drink you choose. Food portions tend to be larger today than they were thirty years ago and this is contributing to weight gain. Controlling your portion sizes doesn’t mean you have to go hungry. We provide you with some tips to control your portion sizes and achieve a healthy weight. 

Weigh your portions

Check food labels for recommended portion sizes and make sure you weigh out the correct amount. If you are following a recipe, weigh out the ingredients correctly and take note of how many people the recipe serves. You can adapt recipes according to the number of people you are cooking to avoid having too much food. 

You can access more information about portion sizes from the British Nutrition Foundation: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/find-your-
balance/portionwise.html

Eat more slowly

If you eat quickly, it is easy to overeat. By eating more slowly, you allow time for your brain to recognise when you are full. If you still feel hungry after eating a meal, don’t be tempted to reach for the snacks. Wait twenty minutes after a meal for your food to settle. If you are still hungry after that time, try eating some fruit.

Use smaller plates or bowls

If you serve meals onto a large plate or bowl, you may find that you are serving portions that are too large. Try using a smaller plate or bowl for your meals and you should still feel satisfied.

Avoid supersize portions

When buying food, avoid being tempted by offers of supersize portions or discounts for buying in bulk on less healthy food and drinks. These offers can tempt you into buying more than you need, which can lead to you eating more than you need.

Turn off the TV

Try eating your meals and snacks away from the TV as this can lead to overeating because you are not thinking about your food.

Has your employer made it safe to return to work?

Employers up and down the country are planning to welcome back employees to the workplace, and they must bring in strict COVID-safe plans as lockdown measures ease.

But British workers should confirm with their employer the steps that are being taken to make it safe and compliant to return to work.

All UK businesses who ask their staff members to return to work have been informed that they need to undertake a risk assessment and put in place various measures to protect their staff from contracting the virus.

Employees need to feel safe, and depending on the specific industry, certain unions have claimed that employees can even refuse to go back to the office if precautions aren’t taken.

Health and safety experts at CE Safety have made it easier for Brits to understand what their employers should be doing to comply with new safety rules.

A spokesperson for CE Safety says: “There are countless sensible measures to take when it comes to a safe return to work.

“The Coronavirus guidelines and measures are fast-paced, so all employers and employees need to follow the latest developments. As it stands, if Brits can work from home, then they should continue to do so.

“But this could change by August. Retail, hospitality, service and leisure industries are reopening from 4th July, it’s important to look at what employees need to know ahead of a return to the ‘new normal’. 

“It’s worth mentioning that Brits should not return to work if they have been advised by the Government to shield. This will apply only to those in receipt of a letter, who are in the extremely vulnerable category.”

Here is a need-to-know checklist when it comes to returning to work:

  1. Has the employer carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment?

Sounds simple, but before reopening the office, employers should ensure the safety of the workplace by carrying out a risk assessment. This might result in reorganising the office layout to give employees more space between work stations and/or install sneeze guards between spaces. A phased return might also be an option to employers.

  1. Check employer’s cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures

Employers should encourage staff to wash hands regularly, and provide hand sanitiser around the workplace as well as the washrooms. There also needs to be a schedule that allows frequent cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects that are touched regularly.

Clear use of toilets may sound too particular, but employers need to outline cleaning guidance for the toilets, as well as providing adequate hand drying facilities, either paper towels or hand dryers.

  1. Ask the employer to clarify working from home stance

Employers have been advised by the UK government to take all reasonable steps to help people work from home.

Has there been internal discussing home working arrangements? Do employees have the correct equipment to allow effective working from home such as remote access work systems?

Employees who have family members that are at greater risk from COVID-19 will understandably be concerned about returning to work. Hence the need for employers to consider employees working work from home.

For employee physical and mental wellbeing, this is an important step for employers to help look after their staff. Mental health issues that can arise from periods of isolation, and employers need to allow the best possible working conditions for their staff.

  1. What is there in place to ensure social distancing?

Where possible, social distance between colleagues should be maintained. Employers need to put up signs to remind workers and visitors of social distance guidance. Workstations should not be shared. Floor tape is a cost-effective way to visualise social distancing guidelines.

Employers may need to look at their processes too, and perhaps switch to visitors by appointment only, or do meetings via video service platform such as Zoom, or Google Hangouts.

  1. What to do if British workers aren’t happy?

If you have raised concerns or requested clarification with your employer, but you don’t feel they have been addressed, you can consider whether to contact the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about your concerns. They are the Government body with responsibility for safety in the workplace and can take enforcement action against employers who are lacking.