Warehouse refit enables food charity to help feed 2,000 more people every week

An Edinburgh food charity has conducted a warehouse refit during its 20th anniversary year, which will enable the charity to help feed an additional 2,000 vulnerable people each week. 

FareShare Central & South East Scotland, which is run by partner charity Cyrenians, has also purchased a new, larger industrial chiller – all of which has been funded by Asda.  Continue reading Warehouse refit enables food charity to help feed 2,000 more people every week

“Tremendous response” to three council consultations

The city council has received more than 8,000 consultation responses to the consultation on major changes proposed for Edinburgh’s city centre. The capital’s population is now aroung half a million people.

The Council went out to consultation on three different proposals over the summer: Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, Meadows to George Street and Low Emission Zones during May, June and July. Continue reading “Tremendous response” to three council consultations

FM announces more action to address climate change

New measures announced as Cabinet meets in Stirling.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially opened a new £6 million project which uses cutting-edge renewables technology to harness energy from waste water.

Ms Sturgeon launched the Stirling District Heat Network project while visiting the city as part of the 50th Travelling Cabinet.

The project, which received £2 million support through the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, was developed collaboratively with Stirling Council and Scottish Water Horizons. It is the first of its kind in the UK and will provide affordable and low-carbon heat to the local Stirling community.

The announcement is part of a new package of announcements made in Stirling – which is aiming to become Scotland’s first carbon neutral city – to tackle the global climate emergency. The Cabinet is meeting in the city to discuss key issues affecting the local community, including climate change, and Ministers will also be engaging directly with local residents at a public meeting held in the newly refurbished Engine Shed building.

Carbon emissions resulting from the Travelling Cabinet will be offset by the planting of trees in a local community forest, and the Scottish Government has also committed to ensuring all future similar meetings are as low carbon as possible.

In addition, £300,000 is to be invested to expand the Climate Ready Classrooms initiative to help young people aged 14-17 to develop their understanding of climate change, its causes and potential impacts. The programme aims to engage with at least 50% of Scotland’s secondary schools in the next two years and accredit almost 5,000 young people as carbon literate.

There was also additional support announced for communities across Scotland to undertake their own Big Climate Conversations, which will feed-in to the Scottish Government Public Engagement Strategy on climate change.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Earlier this year Scotland became one of the first countries in the world to acknowledge the fact that we are facing a global climate emergency, and it is only right that we take appropriate action – with all policies being re-examined to ensure they meet our climate ambitions.

“That’s why the action we’ve announced today is important – and it will build on the world-leading measures already underway to address the climate crisis we face.

“We have already proposed one of the most ambitious statutory emissions targets anywhere in the world, and today’s announcements illustrate our commitment to developing new and innovative policies which will make a real difference.

“The Stirling Renewable Heat Demonstration Project is a great example of this, using waste water to help provide energy to local businesses and public buildings.

“We are also changing the way we work as a government to provide an example to others, and our commitment to ensure future meetings are as low carbon as possible is testament to this.”

Fringe: Six Feet Three Shoes

Six Feet Three Shoes is a celebration of friendship across borders told through feisty, percussive flamenco, Scottish and contemporary dance, with three dancers, in colourful costumes that combine threads of Scottish tartan and Spanish frills, and two musicians on exhilarating live guitar and fiddle. Continue reading Fringe: Six Feet Three Shoes

Roots by Routes family fun this Friday

Join us for the launch of six new ‘community storyboards’ being installed along the North Edinburgh Cycle Path.

LIVE Storytelling
Hear local people share their stories

ALL ACTIVITIES FREE !!!
• Guided historical walks about the old railway at Crewe
• Live Storytelling
• Play Rangers
• BMX Stunt Demonstration
• Face Painting
• Dr Bike session – Bring your bike along for some TLC
• Sandwiches and Salads
• Smoothie Bike

For more information contact lpipskyj@gmail.com or just come along on the day!

British Retail Consortium: spending languishes in July

Covering the four weeks 30 June – 27 July 2019

  • On a total basis, sales increased by 0.3% in July, against an increase of 1.6% in July 2018. This is the lowest figure recorded for the month of July since our records began in 1995 and comes after the worst June on records. This is above the 3-month average of -1.3% but below the 12-month average of 0.5%. This is the lowest 12-month average on records.
  • UK retail sales increased by 0.1% on a Like-for-like basis from July 2018, when they had increased 0.5% from the preceding year. This is above the 3-month and 12-month averages of -1.5% and -0.2% respectively.
  • Over the three months to July, In-store sales of Non-Food items declined 4.1% on a Total basis and 4.0% on a Like-for-like basis. This is worse than the 12-month Total average decline of 2.6%.
  • Over the three months to July, Food sales decreased 1.0% on a Like-for-like basis and 0.3% on a Total basis. This is below the 12-month Total average growth of 1.8% and the lowest 3-month average since December 2014, excluding Easter distortions.
  • Over the three-months to July, Non-Food retail sales in the UK decreased by 2.0% on a like-for-like basis and 2.1% on a Total basis. This is below the 12-month Total average decrease of 0.6%. For the month of July, Non-Food was in growth year-on-year.
  • Online sales of Non-Food products grew 3.7% in July, against a growth of 7.5% in July 2018. The 3-month and 12-month average growths were 3.1% and 4.7% respectively.
  • Non-Food Online penetration rate increased from 28.4% in July 2018 to 29.8% last month.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive | British Retail Consortium

“While retailers will welcome the return to growth, it has nonetheless been a punishing few months for the industry. The combination of slow real wage growth and Brexit uncertainty has left consumer spending languishing with the 12-month average total sales falling to a new low of just 0.5%.

Whereas last year’s glorious sunshine and World Cup Finals led to strong consumer demand over the summer, this year has been weak in comparison, with both June and July showing the lowest sales on record for their respective months. And it is not just high streets that are suffering, with Non-food online growth also one percentage point below the 12-month average.

“The challenging retail environment is taking its toll on many high street brands who must contend with rising import costs, a multitude of public policy costs, and ever higher business rates. A coherent strategy for retail is needed. The Government should freeze future business rates rises and fix the appeals system before embarking on a wholesale reform of this broken tax system.”

Paul Martin, UK Head of Retail | KPMG

“The UK may have had record temperatures in July, but retail sales were far from record-breaking at just 0.3% growth. While any growth is welcome after two months of decline, it’s clear that most players need more than sunshine to get back on their feet.

“Given the weather it’s unsurprising that shoppers reconsidered their wardrobe, but it was online retailers who benefitted most once again. Online non-food sales overall actually grew by only 3.7%, which is considerably lower than previous years. Meanwhile, another category which has historically benefitted from the good weather is grocery, but even here sales are lacklustre, which is a cause for concern.

“With consumer confidence holding up in the face of prolonged Brexit uncertainly, shoppers are notably disengaged overall. The pressure continues to build between online and physical offerings, costs continues to rise and the demands of consumers continue to grow. The key question is, who can handle the heat?”

Food & Drink sector performance | Susan Barratt, CEO | IGD

“Success for England’s big sporting teams tends to provide a boost for food and drink sales, so the men’s cricket and the women’s football teams were both good for business in June. However, the same applied last year with similar sporting success, and the year-on-year comparison was a draw with flat food and grocery sales. 

“There has been some inflation though, meaning a drop in real terms and the underlying conditions are tight for food retailers.”

Golden memories for Diane at Commonwealth Pool

Gold Medalist Revisits Scene of Commonwealth Glory

A swimmer who won Gold in the 100m butterfly at the 1Xth Commonwealth Games, held in Edinburgh in 1970, has revisited her place of victory for the first time in 49 years. Continue reading Golden memories for Diane at Commonwealth Pool

Morrisons charity football match raises £832

The weather was awful, but Sunday night’s charity football match at Spartans between the two local Morrisons stores still raised an impressive £832.76

Congratulations to the organisers and to everyone who took part to help raise funds for SAMH and CLIC SARGENT.

The match result? On an evening better suited to water polo Ferry Road beat their Granton Waterfront rivals 4 – 0!

Pic Collage: Morrisons Granton