Travel and health advice for Hajj pilgrims

With thousands of British Muslims expected to attend this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is urging those travelling to Saudi Arabia to be fully prepared and follow up-to-date travel advice before departing.

To help inform pilgrims of the travel preparations they can make and the support the FCO can provide, our consular team in Saudi Arabia will be holding a Q&A session on Twitter at 12.00 to 13.00 UK time on 3 September.

Travellers can get involved by following @UKinSaudiArabia and sending questions using #HajiUK.

Mohammed Shokat, HM Consul-General in Jeddah, said: “Every year thousands of British Muslims undertake the Hajj pilgrimage. Most complete this spiritual journey without experiencing any difficulties or disruption, but as with all overseas travel we recommend taking sensible precautions and planning thoroughly before departing.

“We advise all British pilgrims to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice and the requirements set out by the Saudi government.

“We will once again be providing consular assistance and advice as necessary to British pilgrims. Consular staff can be contacted on a 24-hour helpline in the case of emergencies on 00 966 501 00 4268.”

In addition to the requirements from the Saudi government, the FCO recommends that all pilgrims use the following checklist to help plan their trip:

  • Keep up-to-date with the FCO travel advice for Saudi Arabia
  • Travel with a reputable tour operator – book your tickets through an ATOL registered tour operator to avoid unnecessary difficulties; for more information visit ATOL. Have contact details for your tour operator in the UK and their representatives in Makkah
  • Get comprehensive travel insurance and ensure it covers all aspects of your journey
  • Check the health requirements and take precautionary steps as necessary, such as vaccinations; for further information visit Travel Health Pro. If you require medication check that you have adequate quantities
  • Check your passport and visas are valid – do you need a visa, or to renew an existing one?
  • Take copies of your passport and travel documents. Take a copy of your passport with you and store it online using a secure storage site, and leave copies with family and friends, along with your itinerary and contact details
  • Research the local laws and customs – more information can be found in the FCO travel advice for Saudi Arabia
  • Pack suitable footwear as you may have to walk long distances, and make sure you have all the necessary clothing and items as advised by your Hajj tour operator
  • Consular staff can be contacted on a 24-hour helpline in the case of emergencies during the Hajj, on: 00 966 501 00 4268

 

SHAMANIC coming to Edinburgh

SHAMANIC by The AniMotion Show 28.09.2018

In Association with Rip It Up by The National Museum Of Scotland 

Shamanic is a visceral collision of alternative rock, live painting/projection and architecture to be launched within, and upon, the cloistered walls of Edinburgh University Old Quad on 28 September 2018. This outdoor show will transport its audience into sensual overload through a live union of sound and vision.

This is music and image as one.

The line-up:

Prelude reading by Rula Lenska

Fay Fife (The Rezillos) – vocals + theremin

Maria Rud (Artist) – paints + brushes

Ted McKenna (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) – drums + percussion

Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps /The Gun Club / The Bad Seeds) – guitar + vocals

Chris Agnew (The Rezillos) – bass

Marilyn Carino – electronics +vocals 

This event is the latest incarnation of Maria Rud’s AniMotion Show and a significant departure musically. The show is best known for the epic live shows with the renowned percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

The AniMotion Show with Evelyn Glennie was launched in the NMS Grand Gallery. Since then, the show toured in China, USA and Europe.

SHAMANIC is the fruit of a creative friendship between Fay Fife and Maria Rud. Fay and Maria have already worked together while legendary drummer Ted McKenna was immediately enthused by the idea of collaboration when first introduced to the show, excited to embrace the scope for experimentation that Maria’s live visuals open up.

Rula Lenska said: “I am honoured and thrilled to be taking part in this unique magical collaboration of art, music and the spoken word. Powerful, transporting, and life enhancing. And SHAMANIC!!”

Kid Congo, flying in from New York, completes the line-up and sets the scene for an art-rock experiment the like of which has not been seen since the end of the psychedelic era.

The music created for SHAMANIC is a soundclash of 60s garage, alternative rock and contemporary electronica, laced with a punk spirit. That defiant DIY spirit runs through all aspects of the show’s development.

SHAMANIC is in partnership with and was part inspired by Rip it Up by The National Museum of Scotland which celebrates Scottish popular music, giving The Rezillos and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band top billing.

Collaboration is at the core of SHAMANIC. Edinburgh based AV specialist War Productions Ltd is not merely the sponsor, but a collaborative partner. Thanks to this sponsorship, SHAMANIC will use the latest State-Of-The Art technology, enabling both the art project and the business company to develop, trail and showcase new AV applications.

Independent charity Arts & Business Scotland is also providing match funding for War Productions Ltd’s sponsorship of SHAMANIC via its Culture & Business Fund Scotland. Launched in April 2017, the programme aims to encourage partnerships between businesses and the cultural sector by match-funding business sponsorship of cultural projects pound for pound. This match funding defines the importance of collaboration between business and the arts, which can benefit one another and most importantly, the Public.

Carl Watt, Heads of Programmes at Arts & Business Scotland, said: “Shamanic is an event born out of collaboration between artists, and War Production Ltd’s sponsorship is a great example of how businesses and cultural organisations can also come together to deliver something creative for mutual benefit. 

“We are delighted to support their partnership through our Culture & Business Fund Scotland and hope they will inspire other businesses and cultural organisations to work together to produce unique cultural projects in their local communities.”

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Edinburgh Partnership launches community planning review

Your chance to influence how community planning works for Edinburgh

Do you feel involved in decision-making? Are community voices being heard? What can be done to improve local democracy and community engagement? Where does the community fit into community planning?

In the snappily-titled ‘Edinburgh Partnership Review & Consultation on Governance and Community Planning Arrangements (the name alone should be enough scare a few people off!) The Edinburgh Partnership is consulting community councils, community groups and individuals on community planing in the capital.

Community planning brings together public agencies, the third sector and communities to work together to plan and deliver services which make a real difference to people’s lives.  The Edinburgh Partnership involves these partners in overseeing this work for the city.

The Edinburgh Partnership recognises that community planning processes can be improved.  In this consultation, the Edinburgh Partnership would like to hear people’s views on:

  • how communities and community groups can more effectively influence decisions about their community.
  • how the governance arrangements can be improved to:
    • make it clear how decisions are made, and who is making them, by improving the groups and structures involved
    • make partnership working stronger
    • make better connections between the different levels of partnership working in the city.

Why is The Edinburgh Partnership consulting?

In Scotland, the law says a range of public bodies must take part in community planning. This is set out in the Scottish Government’s Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. The act was designed to strengthen the influence communities have in making decisions about their area – this is known as community planning.

Below is the current governance structure in Edinburgh, which forms the basis of the consultation. It shows many partnership and advisory groups feed into and from the Edinburgh Partnership.

There are other bodies in the city which link to and/or have a role in these arrangements but they are not part of the governance structure. These include community councils, Council committees, the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils and the Equality and Rights Network. They provide the city-wide perspective for community and interest groups. These are not included in the consultation.

To help develop the consultation the Edinburgh Partnership carried out a review with the people involved in the current partnerships and groups shown in the governance structure (as above).  Their views on what is working well and what could be better have shaped the proposals and questions in this consultation.

The Edinburgh Partnership would now like to hear YOUR views as it’s recognised that this consultation is relevant in different ways to a wide range of organisations.

Timescales

Deadline for submissions is Sunday 9th September 2018.

Your chance to influence how community planning works for Edinburgh: Take part here: