The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 3700 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Job experts out and about to spread work message

Jobcentre staff are getting out and about and taking work support direct to jobseekers as part of a new blitz targeting unusual locations –from football clubs to prisons and homeless shelters.

Employment numbers have reached a record 30.8 million and the number of people on the main out-of-work benefits is the lowest it’s been for a quarter of a century and now Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches – the government’s ‘army of jobs experts’ – are heading out to meet the public in children’s centres, youth hubs, homeless shelters, and rural work clubs to offer targeted support to people who need it most.

This more direct approach to helping jobseekers back to work has also seen roaming Work Coaches partnering up with professional football clubs, including Arsenal, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur, to set up schemes that help young people build confidence and skills to prepare them to find work.

And they are setting up shop in prisons across the country to help prisoners who are soon to leave custody prepare for a new life away from crime and in work.

New figures released last week show that an average of 1,500 more people were in work every day over the last year and the number of people on the main out-of-work benefits is down by more than 850,000 to under 4 million – the lowest it has been since 1990.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “Our hardworking Jobcentre Plus staff have made a huge contribution to Britain’s jobs success this year. By doing things differently, and getting out to where jobseekers are, they’re helping thousands into work every day.

“We have broken record after record in 2014 – with huge falls in youth and long-term unemployment and the highest number of women in work on record.

“This new approach is working. What we can see at the end of the year is that our welfare reforms are ensuring that people have the skills and opportunities to move into work.

“But behind these record figures there are countless stories of individual hard work and determination – stories of people turning their lives around, of families who are now feeling more secure over the Christmas period with a regular wage, and of young people escaping unemployment and building a career.”

Specialist Work Coaches are based in prisons across the country where they can help parolees sign up to Jobseeker’s Allowance up to 6 weeks before they are released. Once they sign up, they are automatically placed on to the Work Programme to help them build up skills and experience.

The Work Programme is designed to get the hardest to help jobseekers back into work and has now helped 368,000 long-term unemployed claimants find sustainable work.

Jobcentre Plus staff have also helped budding entrepreneurs to set up more than 60,000 new businesses through the government’s New Enterprise Allowance scheme, which helps jobseekers, lone parents and people on sickness benefits, with a good idea, to start up their own business.

Since 2011, more than 360,000 people of all ages have taken up opportunities through employer-led sector-based work academies, or work experience placements through Jobcentre Plus, to give them a job taster and a guaranteed job interview.

In Bootle, Merseyside, Jobcentre Plus has staff working from the local Youth Hub to provide guidance and advice to young people in the area and to offer chances to gain skills and experience through Sector-based Work Academies – which are employer-led training courses that lead to a guaranteed job interview.

And in Scotland, Stranraer Jobcentre Plus staff have established weekly work clubs in rural areas to provide help on budgeting, mock interviews, CVs and cover letters, and job applications.

Have you been supported into work this year? Has Jobcentre Plus helped you start your own business? Get in touch!

Police appeal following New Town assault and robbery

Police are appealing for witnesses after six men on mopeds assaulted a 19-year-old man and stole his bag and pedal cycle.

The incident took place on Sunday at around 2am on St Vincent Place at Fettes Row. The victim had been followed from Howe Street by six males who were on four mopeds.

When he fell from his bike he was assaulted and his bike and bag were taken. The victim was assisted by a female passerby after the suspects had fled and police are now appealing for her to come forward.

The bike is a Cove make mountain bike style and ‘Stiffie’ model, which is blue with yellow forks, orange pedals and green bars.

The first suspect is described as white, 16 yrs old, skinny build, 5ft 2in to 5ft 5in, long black hair, pale complexion, wearing dark grey hoodie, light grey jogging bottoms and white trainers.

The other five suspects are described as youths in grey hoodies with hoods pulled tight around their faces. Three of the scooters were a dark and the other one was red.

Detective Constable Alison Wyllie said: “We are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which began on Howe Street leading to the suspects following the victim onto Abercrombie Place towards Fettes Row and St Vincent Place.

“Anyone who may see this bike, which is quite distinctive, should contact the police.

“We are particularly appealing to a lady who was in the area at the time and who assisted the victim following the attack to come forward, along with anyone who saw this group of males on the mopeds around the time of the incident.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Tradewatch to tackle sales of stolen goods

Partnership approach crackdown on stolen goods sales

Police in Edinburgh have launched ‘Tradewatch’, a partnership campaign with the city’s second-hand retailers to help tackle thieves’ attempts to sell on stolen goods.

As part of the new scheme, all stores in the Capital have committed to sharing information in relation to individuals attempting to sell on stolen goods.

A process has been agreed between the management from each business to alert one another as soon as anyone attempts to sell any tems, which are suspected of being stolen.

Police will also be contacted and will progress any information received to identify offenders and seize the stolen property.

Tradewatch was developed as a result of the continued engagement and dialogue between second-hand retailers and Edinburgh Division’s Search and Recovery Team.

To further assist the stores, each will be provided with a SmartWater Technology Ltd UV lamp, which can be used to examine any goods brought into the store and establish whether they have been stolen.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston said: “Those responsible for acquisitive crime will often attempt to sell on stolen goods for profit and regularly attempt to utilise second-hand retailers to dispose of valuable items.

“However, we have an excellent and long-standing relationship with these businesses in Edinburgh and staff regularly assist our Search and Recovery Team in reuniting stolen property with its rightful owner as well as helping us identify those responsible for the thefts.

“With the launch of ‘Tradewatch’, these premises will instantly and readily share information on any suspicious customers so that items that have been acquired illegally are not bought and sold within their stores.

“I would like to thank our second-hand retailer partners for their assistance and co-operation in helping to create this campaign.”

Chief Inspector Richard Horan said: “Tackling housebreaking and robbery is a priority across the city and the ‘Tradewatch’ initiative is yet another tool in our armoury to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice.

“We continue to target and pursue those who steal through ongoing enforcement activity and partnership campaigns. The public also play a vital role in assisting us prevent these crimes, and making life difficult for criminals, by taking simple steps to safeguard their belongings.

“I would urge members of our communities to ensure their homes are always appropriately secured and that any items of value are stored safely out of public view. Details of the type of valuables within your property should never be disclosed to anyone you do not know or trust.

“Please remember that sheds, garages and other outbuilding are extensions of your home and should also be secured at all times.

“Our partnership with SmartWater Technology Ltd continues within the Capital and hundreds of homes have been issued with the unique chemical solutions to mark their property. However, additional home security measures such as alarms and motion-activated lighting should also be considered where possible. Your local community policing teams will be delighted to offer free crime prevention advice.”

David Patrick, CEO of Cash Converters UK, the UK’s largest second-hand retailer, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the police and a part of the new Tradewatch scheme as we are committed to tackling the issue of stolen goods in our stores.

“We have a zero tolerance policy towards stolen goods and a number of processes in place to deter criminals.

Anyone looking to sell an item to Cash Converters must present two forms of ID along with proof of address as per regulations set out by the Financial Conduct Authority. In addition they have to be photographed and sign an agreement confirming they are the legal owner of the goods.

We have a strong working relationship with Edinburgh Police and, as part of the Tradewatch scheme, are committed to sharing information with other businesses to help prevent crime and put a stop to stolen goods coming through our doors.”

Records reveal story of Leither who signed up on Boxing Day

Archivists uncover the story of Leith volunteer

A hundred years ago today a young Leith butcher took the ‘King’s shilling’ and volunteered to join the British Army, pledging to play his part in the ‘war to end all wars’.

Scotland’s national archivists this week unearthed John Claperton’s registration certificate, issued on Boxing Day 1914 by the Army Recruiting Office then based in Cockburn Street, Edinburgh.

The discovery of the certificate, ‘of a man who is willing to serve his King and Country as a Soldier for the War’ prompted record keepers at National Records of Scotland to find out more about John’s First World War story.

By 13 January 1915, John, a 20 year-old butcher, had formally enlisted in the Army and went on to serve in the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots Regiment, then in the 12th Machine Gun Corps.

John was one of more than 650,000 Scots who served in the First World War, leaving his parents, George and Mary Clapperton and their Dalmeny Street home behind him.

After three years stationed in Kilmarnock and Grantham, Private John Warnock Clapperton was sent on active service to France, where he was badly wounded and left with no option but to have his right arm amputated in the field hospital.

The operation prevented John from completing his duties overseas and forced his return across the Channel, to hospitals in Reading and later in Edinburgh where he underwent further treatment. John’s devastating injury in the field may have saved his life.

In February 1919 John Warnock Clapperton was discharged from both the Edinburgh War Hospital at Bangour and the Armed Forces.

Unlike more than 100,000 Scots who never returned, John survived the Great War and returned to Leith where he later married Catherine Martin in 1941. John died in 1966, aged 71.

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: “The First World War claimed the lives of more than 100,000 Scots and left many more, like Private John Clapperton, injured or disabled. No home, workplace or community was left untouched by the brutal effects of that war, leaving John’s family, and families across Scotland with no option but to come to terms with the devastating consequences.

“John’s is a story that will be familiar to many whose fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers went off to battle a century ago. Through the work of the Scottish Commemorations Panel, from 2014 to 2019 the Scottish Government is encouraging people of all ages across Scotland to recognise the significant and broad impact the First World War had on our nation and its people, and to reflect on its lasting social and civic legacy.

“John’s registration certificate has given us an interesting insight into the life of a young Scot whose wartime Christmas a 100 years ago would have been quite different to ours today.

“The document is one of millions proudly preserved in our national archive by National Records of Scotland. Its discovery demonstrates the rich heritage of Scotland’s people and shows how powerfully archives connect us directly to people and events in our past.”

Crumbs! Huge public response to homeless meals appeal

Hundreds of homeless people in Edinburgh will enjoy Christmas dinner today – and meals for months to come – thanks to the generosity of ‘ordinary’ people from all over the world.

Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of social enterprise sandwich shop Social Bite, said he has been ‘blown away’ by the public’s response to a social media appeal.

Social Bite teamed up with the Itison.com deal site and asked people to make a £5 donation, and the response was immediate – within hours of the promotion going online 7000 vouchers had been sold!

Josh and partner Alice Thomson had hoped to raise enough to pay for 800 meals but public response to the appeal was incredible – Social Bite received enough pledges for 35,000 plates of turkey!

That fantastic public response means they will be able to feed homeless people all next year at their Edinburgh and Glasgow shops.

Social Bite gives 100% of its profits to charity and recruits people from homeless backgrounds. They have two premises in Edinburgh (Rose Street and Shandwick Place), one in Glasgow and plan to open in Aberdeen and Dundee next year.

Mr Littlejohn said the reaction on Twitter and Facebook had been ‘amazing’ with donations coming from all over the world – people from as far afield as Romania, Nepal and the United States contributed to the appeal.

He told the BBC: “Nicola Sturgeon bought one. Michelle Mone put a thing on her Twitter about how she bought one and then someone said ‘I’ll buy a hundred Christmas dinners if I can take you out for dinner’, and she said ‘If you buy 200 it’s a deal.’

“Two other guys chipped in and said ‘I’ll buy 200 to take you out’, so I think she’s got three dinner dates but she helped us sell 600 dinners! It just shows Christmas spirit is alive and well.”

For further information about Social Bite go to:

www.Social-bite.co.uk

Christmas Day, one hundred years ago

‘I saw a sight I shall remember to my dying day’

You will hardly credit what I am going to tell you: but thousands of our men will be writing home today telling the same strange and wonderful story. Listen.

Last night as I sat in my little dugout, writing, my chum came bursting in upon me with: ‘Bob! Hark at ‘em!’ And I listened. From the German trenches came the sound of music and singing. My chum continued: ‘They’ve got Christmas trees all along the top of their trenches! Never saw such a sight!’

I got up to investigate. Climbing the parapet, I saw a sight which I shall remember to my dying day. Right along the whole of the line were hung paper lanterns and illuminations of every description, many of them in such positions as to suggest that they were hung upon Christmas trees.

And as I stood in wonder a rousing song came over to us; at first the words were indistinguishable , then, as the song was repeated again and again, we realized that we were listening to ‘The Watch on the Rhine.’ Our boys answered with a cheer, while a neighbouring regiment sang lustily the National Anthem.

Some were for shooting the lights away, but almost at the first shot there came a shout in really good English, ‘Stop shooting!’ Then began a series of answering shouts from trench to trench. It was incredible. ‘Hallo! Hallo! You English we wish to speak.’ And everyone began to speak at once. Some were rational, others the reverse of complimentary. Eventually some sort of order obtained, and lo! A party of our men got out from the trenches and invited the Germans to meet them halfway and talk.

And there in the searchlight they stood, Englishman and German, chatting and smoking cigarettes together midway between the lines. A rousing cheer went up from friend and foe alike. The group was too far away from me to hear what was being said, but presently we heard a cheery ‘Good Night. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all’, with which the parties returned to their respective trenches.

After this we remained the whole night through, singing with the enemy song for song.

Sergeant A Lovell, 3 Rifle Brigade
Christmas Day 1914

Silent Night is the country’s favourite Christmas carol

Silent Night has been named the UK’s favourite Christmas carol – ousting O Holy Night from the top spot after a twelve year run.

It’s said that Silent Night was written to help fill a gap in an Austrian midnight mass service after nibbling mice had put the church organ out of action!

First translated into English in 1863, the beautiful carol was sung between the trenches in the famous Christmas truce of 1914, which may help explain its return to number one as the country commemorates the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. The hugely-popular O Holy Night had previously held top spot for twelve years.

Thousands of Classic FM listeners voted in the radio station’s annual poll and the the full Top Thirty countdown will be broadcast on Christmas Day from 1pm in The Nation’s Favourite Carol.

I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of the programme, but completing the top five are Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, In The Bleak Midwinter and O Come All Ye Faithful!

Whats your favourite Christmas song? Let us know!

They came, they saw, they cleaned up!

Residents give Granton Mill a right good going over!

Granton Mill residents rolled up their sleeves and joined city council staff to clean up their community recently. A small but enthusiastic band picked litter, cut back vegetation and cleared dumped rubbish and soon had the area looking spick and span (whatever spick and span looks like!)

Community council secretary Willie Black lives in Granton Mill and he initiated the area clean up. He said: “We wanted to encourage residents to join together to clean up their community and take pride in where they live – we want Granton Mill to be a place people want to stay.

“We were looking for a commitment of even just an hour or two and it was good to see local people answering the call. You can see the difference it’s made and the challenge now is to keep this momentum going and build on what we’ve achieved.”

The Granton Mill cleanup follows a similar day of action in West Pilton as part of the #StrongerNorth initiative. It’s ikely that more will follow in the New Year.

Willie has sent in some pictures of the Sunday morning cleanup (below) and there are more to follow:

Food Bank information

Food bank Christmas Opening Hours

Gorgie Salvation Army – South West

Monday 29 December 2-4pm
Friday 3 January 10 – 12noon
Monday 5 January 2-4pm
Friday 10 January 10 – 12noon

We also have a Christmas Day lunch and entertainment for those who are struggling alone or cannot have a Christmas lunch etc. It is from 12 noon to 3pm and places are available.

North East (not available via Advice Line)

Closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day and otherwise open as usual.

North West

Broughton DC – Christmas Eve, 10am to 12noon (note earlier finish, not usual 1pm).
Tollcross DC will be open throughout on Monday 29 December 2pm to 4pm.

South East

Closed 24th, 25th, 26th) Open on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December (closed 31st, 1st and 2nd). Normal hours resume on 5 January

Broomhouse

Open Christmas eve until 12. There is then an emergency foodbank contact number on 0131 443 6223 available all throughtout Christmas and New Year and reopens first Monday in January.

Foodbank Christmas Opening Hours

Don’t dump – re-use!

So many items are needlessly thrown away when they could be put to good use by others. Local Environmental Warden Andrew Barnett has passed on information about a useful FREE service:

National re-use phone line 0800 0665 820

National re-use phone line is a service that easily allows you to pass on household items to be used again. Call the phone line on 0800 0665 820.

Examples of items that re-use organisations will accept:

• Sofas and armchairs (fire regulation tags must be attached)
• Beds and Mattresses (fire regulations must be attached)
• Wardrobes and chest of drawers
• Dining furniture
• Fridges, freezers , electric cookers, washing machines and tumble dryers
• Bicycles

Examples of items that re-use organisations will NOT accept:

• Items which are soiled, ripped or damaged
• Gas appliances of any kind
• Bulky style televisions
• Large wall units
• Items that have been left outside

Why use the re-use phone line?

• It’s a free collection service for re-usable items
• Our experienced call operatives are highly trained to meet your requirements
• You’ll be benefiting your local community and charitable organisations by supporting employment and volunteering opportunities
• You’ll be helping to reduce the amount of items being sent to landfill, reducing the environmental impact of waste
• You’ll be saving your Local Authority in landfill disposal costs; money which can be better spent in your community

Please call and speak to one of our advisors for more information on 0800 0665 820

National re-use phone line is funded by Zero Waste Scotland and ensures that you can find an alternative way to disposing of your unwanted items whilst helping your local community and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfill.

http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/reuse-phoneline