Scotland’s youth to take centre stage in 2018

Year of Young People launched today

A major programme of events and activities to celebrate Scotland’s young people will take place in 2018, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will announce today. A global first, the Year of Young People 2018 will provide a platform to showcase the personalities, talents and achievements of Scotland’s young people.

It will give young people, aged 8 to 26, new opportunities to influence decision making on issues affecting their lives and be involved in cultural and sporting opportunities across the country.

Young people have been involved in designing the programme, with more than 500 signed up to volunteer as Year of Young People 2018 Ambassadors.

EventScotland will deliver a programme of events for all ages, and Young Scot, Children in Scotland, the Scottish Youth Parliament and YouthLink Scotland will lead youth participation and involvement in the Year.

Ahead of meeting young people in Dumfries the First Minister said: “This is an opportunity to shine a light on the fantastic contribution young people make to life in Scotland. The Year of Young People will give young people a new platform and new opportunities for their voices to be heard in all parts of our society and hopefully help to foster a better understanding, co-operation and respect between generations.

“The talents of our young people span the length and breadth of the country – evident in the great programme they have helped to put together. I want to thank all of the partners involved in supporting this initiative, who have helped to put together what I am sure will be a wonderful celebration of young people in 2018.”

To support the Year, a group of young leaders called Communic18, will work with organisations throughout 2018.

Communic18 member Lauren Asher, 18, from Dumfries, said: “I wanted to be involved in the Year to help challenge the perceptions of young people. I have suffered from mental health issues and as part of my role, I hope to give more young people a voice on this issue so that we can change attitudes and ensure young people are having their say on issues which affect their lives.”

Other partners involved in delivering the Year of Young People 2018 include Creative Scotland and Glasgow European Championships 2018.

Visit the Year of Young People 2018 website for more information about the year.

The EventScotland events programme can also be viewed online. It includes:

  • A special #ScotWord torchlight procession as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
  • TEDxGlasgow@Youth
  • Diverse CiTay Festival in Perth
  • The Big Takeover in Shetland

The Year of Young People 2018 is focused around six core themes: Culture, Education, Health and Wellbeing, Enterprise and Regeneration, Equality and Diversity and Participation.

Scottish Government activity will focus on giving young people a stronger voice in policy making across education, mental health services and children’s rights. They will also be involved in the European Championships 2018.

It is part of the Programme for Government 2017-18, which committed to: strengthening the voice of children and young people in their education and learning; promoting and protecting children’s wellbeing and rights; and improving their life experiences and life chances.

The YoYP 2018 Ambassadors initiative, led by Young Scot, Children in Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament, will see young people working with their peers and older generations to challenge negative stereotypes of young people within communities.

Continue reading Scotland’s youth to take centre stage in 2018

‘Tie-gate’ takes a new twist for charity

Adam gets knotted and Ben’s on the run for Forth’s Cash for Kids!

The leader of Edinburgh City Council hit the headlines earlier this year for not wearing a tie at official events, but that’s all set to change after he agreed to transform his wardrobe for a local charity. Councillor Adam McVey has pledged to wear a tie at council engagements – if council colleagues agree to support his efforts to raise money for Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids! Continue reading ‘Tie-gate’ takes a new twist for charity

£8bn spent on integration – but what’s been delivered? asks Holyrood Committee

In a report intended to influence the Scottish Government’s health and sport budget, the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee are critical about lack of progress by Integration Authorities (IAs). Between them IAs are responsible for spending over £8bn yet the Committee reports they are unable to identify what that money has achieved. Continue reading £8bn spent on integration – but what’s been delivered? asks Holyrood Committee

Testing, testing … new MOT reminder service launched

A test version of a new government service has launched to remind drivers by text message and email when their MOT is due.

MOT reminders on a mobile phone

The GOV.UK service, developed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), makes it easy to get a reminder every year when your vehicle’s MOT is due.

When you sign up, you’ll get a reminder:

  • 4 weeks before your MOT is due
  • 2 weeks before your MOT is due, if you still haven’t had it tested

You’ll also get alerts that your vehicle no longer has an MOT.

You just need the vehicle’s number plate (registration number) and a mobile phone number or email address.

You’ll get a reminder every year until you unsubscribe.

Sign up for MOT reminders

The service is in ‘beta’ stage, which means it’s still being continually tested and improved by DVSA.

MOT reminders email
What email MOT reminders look like
MOT reminders text
What text message MOT reminders look like

No excuse for forgetting

Research by DVSA has revealed that around 28% of cars will be overdue at any one time. Most of these are down to drivers forgetting to get it done, rather than deliberately avoiding having the test done.

If you drive a vehicle without a valid MOT, you’re breaking the law. The only exceptions are to drive it:

  • to or from somewhere to be repaired
  • to a pre-arranged MOT test

You’re also risking your own life and the lives of your passengers and other road users.

You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving a vehicle without a valid MOT.

Helping you keep your vehicle safe to drive

The 2016 reported road casualties report for Great Britain showed that roadworthiness of vehicles was a factor in 1,687 accidents.

Transport Minister, Baroness Sugg, said: We have some of the safest roads in the world, but we are always looking at ways to make them even safer.

“Booking your next MOT is easy to overlook but it plays an important role in making sure the vehicles on our roads are safe and meeting high environmental standards. Getting a text or email will serve as a useful prompt to make sure people get their vehicle checked out time.”

DVSA Chief Executive, Gareth Llewellyn, said: “DVSA’s priority is to help you keep your vehicle safe to drive. The annual MOT checks that important parts of your vehicle meet the legal standards at the time of the test.

“Motorists should also remember that to be a safe and responsible driver, and reduce the risk of your vehicle’s condition causing an accident that kills or seriously injures someone, you need to check your vehicle all year round.”

Make sure that:

  • brakes work smoothly and that the vehicle doesn’t pull to one side
  • tyres are correctly inflated, have no cuts or bulges, and that they all have at least 1.6mm of tread
  • headlights and other lights work – give them a tap to check they’re not loose or damaged and check the colours are correct and match
  • windscreen wipers and washers work
  • the driver’s view of the road is clear of any obstruction, such as stickers, toys or air fresheners

A new way of building digital services

The MOT reminder service uses GOV.UK Notify, which is a platform to make it easier to keep people updated, and help government service teams send text messages, emails or letters to users.

The government is creating a set of shared components, service designs, platforms, data and hosting, that every government service can use.

This frees up teams to spend their time designing user-centric services rather than starting from scratch, so services become easier to create and cheaper to run.

Sir Timothy O’Shea receives Edinburgh Award

Professor Timothy O’Shea has been presented with the prestigious Edinburgh Award 2017.

Edinburgh Award

After 15 years at the helm of Capital’s biggest educational institution, the University of Edinburgh Principal was presented with the city’s biggest annual accolade at a ceremony within the City Chambers on Friday. Continue reading Sir Timothy O’Shea receives Edinburgh Award

Selling your own home? Avoid the pitfalls that put off 8 in 10 buyers

Thousands of homeowners are choosing to bypass estate agents – and their commission fees – by choosing to sell their properties online instead for a fixed fee. However, research by AXA Insurance has shown that inexperienced sellers may be putting off buyers by being overly zealous. Continue reading Selling your own home? Avoid the pitfalls that put off 8 in 10 buyers

Cyrenians Recovery Hub records over 6300 visits this Alcohol Awareness Week

Alcohol Awareness Week 13th-19th November

It has been well documented by health and social care professionals, as well as debated in Parliament, that Scotland as a nation has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Availability and affordability being the two main contributory factors, whereby alcoholic drinks at times can be cheaper than some soft drinks in your local supermarkets. Continue reading Cyrenians Recovery Hub records over 6300 visits this Alcohol Awareness Week

Wipers Times cast launch centenary 1918 Poppy Pledge

Actors Sam Ducane and Jake Morgan from the Somme-inspired West End production The Wipers Times joined current serving soldiers to get down and dirty in a recreated First World War trench to help launch Poppyscotland’s most ambitious fundraising challenge ever outside of the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal. They were joined by soldiers from 2nd Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who were the first to commit to this centenary challenge.

Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising for Poppyscotland, said: “While the Scottish Poppy Appeal remains the lifeblood of the charity, we have today launched The 1918 Poppy Pledge; a year-long fundraising quest that we hope will inspire groups, schools, businesses, clubs and organisations around the country to take on the challenge of raising £1,918 – or more – in the next year.

“As we enter this important centenary year, The Poppy Pledge will be a lasting tribute to those who fell in the First World War. Importantly, it will also allow us to make a step change in the scale of support Poppyscotland is able to provide those in the Armed Forces community who rely on our support today.”

The actors were joined by serving soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Royal and Mechanical Engineers (REME), based at Leuchars Station, who were the first to sign The 1918 Poppy Pledge. Earlier this year, the soldiers went the extra mile for the Scottish Poppy Appeal when they cycled the distance from John o’Groats to Land’s End on exercise bikes.

Corporal Craig Wood, from the REME, said: “The coming year will mark an important milestone in our nation’s history as we reflect on the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War, and the sacrifices made by so many. The work of Poppyscotland is as vital today as it was back then and that’s why we were the first to sign The 1918 Poppy Pledge. We hope that other military units, and the public as a whole, will join us in supporting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The trenches, at Digging In which is located in Glasgow’s Pollok Park, are a re-creation of a section of Allied and opposing German trenches. They give visitors an understanding of how soldiers learned to survive not just the violence of war, but also the mundane challenges of daily life, thrown up by a world cut into the world.

The Wipers Times tells the true and extraordinary story of the satirical newspaper created in the mud and mayhem of the Somme, interspersed with comic sketches and spoofs from the vivid imagination of those on the front line. The stage adaptation was developed following an award-winning BBC film by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman.

Private Eye Editor and star of legendary BBC panel show Have I Got News For You Ian Hislop, whose paternal grandfather, Murdoch David Hislop, served with the 9th Highland Light Infantry at the Third Battle of Ypres, said: “Following amazing audience and critical reaction in the West End, The Wipers Times is on manoeuvres again around Britain. We look forward to sharing the remarkable trench humour of The Wipers Times with new theatre-goers around the country, including at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow this weekend.”

James Haworth, Theatre Director at Theatre Royal, said: “It’s an honour to have The Wipers Times with us at Theatre Royal Glasgow for its only Scottish run this week. It really is a fitting way to mark Armistice Day commemorations and we’re proud to be supporting Poppyscotland with a charity collection at each performance.

“The Wipers Times cast were thrilled to take part in today’s event. The 1918 Poppy Pledge is a fantastic way to honour those who fought in both World Wars and help provide continued support for the Armed Forces community.”