Break-ins to garden sheds and thefts from gardens are common throughout the country. In fact, many criminals consider this type of crime to be low risk, as they don’t have to force entry to your home. Many people store bikes, power tools and expensive gardening equipment in their sheds making it very attractive to criminals. Continue reading Police advice on garage/shed security
A YOUNG woman whose breast cancer diagnosis inspired her to launch the life-saving CoppaFeel! charity is to tell her story to an Edinburgh audience. Continue reading Turning personal heartache into public awareness
NHS Lothian has rolled out a ‘robust action plan’ to ensure patients continue to receive the highest quality care throughout the busiest time of the year.
A detailed multi-million pound strategy to manage the predicted increases in demand is underway to bolster community and hospital services. Continue reading NHS Lothian rolls out ‘robust’ Winter Action Plan
Efforts to eradicate homelessness will be stepped up in 2020 as all measures in the £50 million Ending Homelessness Action Plan are progressed.
Work to transform services and provide access to permanent, stable accommodation is already underway. This includes creating a new legal duty on public bodies to prevent homelessness and new legislation to prevent people facing homelessness living in unsuitable temporary accommodation for any longer than seven days.
The Scottish Government’s progress report shows that 39 out of 49 measures have been progressed in the first year of the action plan, with plans to start the remaining 10 this year.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “People facing homelessness in Scotland already have some of the strongest rights in the world. We are going even further and are determined to eradicate homelessness.
“Our report today shows significant progress has been made in the first year of our transition to a rapid rehousing approach, which prioritises permanent, settled accommodation as the first response. It also shows that our £50 million action plan is working to ensure the right support is in place for those who need it.
“The Housing First Pathfinder programme has seen 173 people with multiple, complex needs, such as mental health issues or drug and alcohol addiction, being given settled accommodation with the additional support they require since it began in April 2019.
“Our action plan also includes a commitment to tackling the causes of homelessness and changing the culture across the public sector. In 2020, we will work in partnership with local government, the third sector, people with lived experience of homelessness and frontline services to ensure our system does all it can to prevent homelessness – especially for those at higher risk, such as care leavers or survivors of domestic abuse.”
CEO of homelessness charity Crisis and Chair of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group Jon Sparkes said: “The Scottish Government has demonstrated in the first year of the action plan that it is determined to tackle and end homelessness. It is clearly following through on the commitments it made when the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group was created.
“There is no time to waste. Ending homelessness is urgent. It has a devastating impact on individuals and families, and is costly to society as a whole. It is going to take a concerted and lasting effort by the Scottish Government and many partner organisations to end it once and for all. We look forward to seeing urgent progress in the second year of the plan and beyond.”
Read the Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan Annual Report
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a transfer of powers to enable Holyrood to hold a second independence referendum.
In a letter to the First Minister this morning, Boris Johnson said another independence referendum would cause ‘continued political stagnation’ in Scotland and he urged Ms Sturgeon to work to ‘unleash the potential of this great country.’
I suspect we haven’t heard the last of this …
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has thanked compassionate community volunteers who are helping those facing hunger in Scotland. Continue reading First Minister thanks food aid volunteers
Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic crash on Dalry Road yesterday.
The incident happened at around 5.40pm (Monday 13 January), near the junction with Murieston Crescent. A man was involved in a collision with a green coloured Ford Focus car while crossing the road. Continue reading Witness appeal following Dalry Road collision
Sports facilities at Hunter Hall Park in Edinburgh have received a boost thanks to the opening of two new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP). |
| The park, can now boast some of the best sporting facilities in the local area and both pitches will be floodlit, allowing year-round use in late evenings and during the winter.
The new pitches were officially opened by Culture and Communities Convener, Donald Wilson on Friday 10 January. He was joined by representatives from Edinburgh Leisure and Scottish Football Association at a special opening ceremony. Players from local teams Edina and Gold & Gray cheered the opening before kicking off a friendly match. The football pitches offer outstanding amenities for the local sports clubs and the wider community. This phase of the redevelopment of the facilities in the area has also brought improved path network and overflow car park. Funding from Section 75 contributions from local developments has enabled the Council to refurbish the existing 2G full size pitch and convert an existing grass pitch area to form a new 7-aside floodlit 3G playing surface. This modern facility can be much more widely used, becoming a community hub for football in the area. The work was carried out by Allsports Construction & Maintenance Ltd.
Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “I’m delighted that with our partners we have been able to provide these pitches which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport. “Not only will it help to increase participation in football and outdoor sport, it will also help the development of grassroots football in the area. “As a council, we are committed to encouraging and enabling everyone to become more physically active and enjoy the associated benefits. We want sport to be as accessible as possible for our residents and our investment in fit-for-purpose sports facilities is helping to ensure that as many people as possible can get involved in sport throughout the year.” An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “Making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do. “The upgraded 3G floodlit pitches will mean more opportunities for the local community to get involved in grassroots football.” David Gold from Gold & Gray Soccer Academy added: “We are very fortunate to work in partnership with Edinburgh leisure and the Jack Kane Centre. “The standard of Astro allows us to put on quality sessions that benefit the physical health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.” Brian Gunn, committee member of Edina Hibs added: “The new Astro turf pitch facilities at the Jack Kane Sports Centre are just what Edina Hibs Football Club and the local sports community needed. “The new facility will enable Edina Hibs, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure and Jack Kane Sports Centre, deliver our core aim of providing team sports to help keep children healthy and happy in the local community and beyond. Jennifer Malone South East Regional Manager, Scottish Football Association added: “It’s fantastic to see this new facility opening which in turn will hopefully see even more of the local community taking part in the game.” |
LEADING music festivals, events and artists have rallied together to raise funds in support of those affected by the unprecedented Australian bushfires, currently destroying parts of the country.
In just 48 hours, thousands of pounds worth of prizes have been donated towards a major prize draw, with all proceeds split between the Australian Red Cross and World Wildlife Federation.
Festival tickets, VIP passes, travel and accommodation for leading events – including the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Edinburgh International Fringe, the Hebridean Celtic Festival and The Cambridge Folk Festival, amongst many more – have been generously gifted to the fundraising effort.
The campaign has been organised by the team behind the Year of Scotland in Australia 2020 – the largest-ever programme of Scottish music and culture to be presented in the country.
Produced and curated by Showcase Scotland Expo and Woodfordia Inc, in partnership with over 30 of Australia’s festivals and event organisers, the year-long programme is backed by Creative Scotland, VisitScotland, The Scottish Government and The Glenturret whisky.
The prize draw will take place during a live streaming from Showcase Scotland 2020 in Glasgow, on February 1.
Tickets can be bought from https://yosa2020fireappeal.eventbrite.co.uk/ with all attendees’ tickets entered into the draw. A full list of prizes is also available through the purchasing link.
Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said: “On behalf of Scotland, I’d like to send a message of solidarity and friendship to Australia at this difficult time.
“The Year of Scotland in Australia 2020 celebrates the strong links between our countries and I am pleased that participating bands are supporting this fundraising appeal.
“I would encourage everyone to take part in this prize draw as a way of helping those affected by these devastating wildfires.”
Scottish Producer of the Year of Scotland in Australia, Lisa Whytock, said: “Australia has been so generous and welcoming to Scotland and our artists and we are devastated to see the destruction being caused by the fires.
“We simply had to do something! We contacted our stakeholders two days ago to ask for donations and support and have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the world’s music sector. Donations have come from all corners of the UK as well as Europe, the USA and Canada.
“I think this illustrates how deeply affected the world is by what is happening in Australia and the live streaming means that, in addition to raising funds, people from across the globe can come together for one small moment in time to show support for the people of Australia.”
Caroline Maclennan, director of the Hebridean Celtic Festival, added: “Everyone who has seen or read about the devastating effects of the bush fires will have been deeply moved by the trauma being experienced.
“While we are geographically remote from Australia, we have close family and cultural ties with the country and its people. The HebCelt board had no hesitation in offering our support to this international appeal and the response from the wider festival family across the world will provide much needed funds to help towards the massive recovery effort.”
Scottish artists currently on tour in Australia, as part of the year-long programme, have also thrown their support behind the campaign. Siobhan Miller and Brighde Chaimbeul are both offering collections on their respective tours, which run throughout January, whilst five-piece Elephant Sessions are auctioning a signed guitar – which has currently raised over $1,300 AUD for the recovery efforts.
Siobhan Miller said: “My thoughts go out to everyone in Australia affects by the bushfires – the loss of lives, wildlife and homes is heartbreaking.
“My band has been welcomed so warmly to this wonderful country, and I hope we can help in a small way by fundraising to support the Red Cross and the World Wildlife Foundation whilst touring with the Festival of Small Halls.”
Mark Bruce, of Elephant Sessions, said: “The Australian people have been so kind to us and it’s truly heartbreaking to see this beautiful country being so horrifically damaged by these fires. We hope that this small gesture can go towards helping in some way.”
One of the flagship events within the Year of Scotland in Australia 2020 is The Glenturret Burns Supper, in the Sydney Opera House on January 25, with music from leading Scottish group Breabach alongside artists Eric Avery and many others.
In celebration of their 15th year on the road, and in collaboration with The Glenturret, the band have released a limited-edition single malt whisky – with the first bottle distilled also set to be auctioned off, in aid of the bushfire campaign. A donation of $50 from each ticket purchased will also be made towards the campaign.
Ewan Robertson, of Breabach, said: “It is truly heart-wrenching to witness the devastation wrought by these fires. As a former volunteer firefighter myself I feel particularly helpless but hope that our small contribution can help support the relief effort in some way. Our thoughts and love are with all those affected.”
Photograph (above)courtesy of Elephant Sessions
The Scottish Government’s budget will be published on 6 February 2020, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has announced.
It comes after the UK Government confirmed their budget would be delayed until 11 March 2020. Continue reading Scottish budget date set for 6th February
