The World Health Organisation released its Global Status Report on Road Safety
Stats show the UK has made much less progress in the last decade when compared to the decade before
RoSPA: The Government must publish its long overdue Road Safety Strategic Framework as soon as possible and set casualty reduction targets in line with other G7 countries
The United Kingdom is lagging behind other European countries when it comes to road safety progress in reducing the number of people killed on its roads.
The latest Global Status Report on Road Safety should be a wakeup call to Government, leading accident prevention charity The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has said.
RoSPA is calling for the Government to publish its long overdue Road Safety Strategic Framework which has not been updated in England since 2019.
According to the latest figures from the report[1] and RoSPA’s analysis of recent road safety statistics[2], the UK road safety progress has come to a grinding halt since 2010, with fatalities and injuries plateauing.
This December marks a decade of stagnation, during which we have seen a five per cent reduction in deaths across Great Britain versus a 46 per cent reduction across UK in the decade to 2010.
While road safety in the UK has stalled, overall, the European region has seen a 36 per cent reduction in road deaths.
David Walker, Head of Road and Leisure Safety at RoSPA, said:“We are seeing around 81 people killed or seriously injured on our roads every day, which is unacceptable and evidently linked to the dramatic lack of UK road safety progress over the last decade.
“We cannot and must not wait to act and urge the Government to publish its long overdue Road Safety Strategic Framework for England, and to set out casualty reduction targets that are in line with other G7 nations. Only then can we begin to address our woeful position on the road safety leaderboard.”
Nearly three-quarters of people are happy to embrace new traditions
1 in 4 people will spend Christmas Day with friends
1 in 2 have had an unexpected guest turn up on the day
Dive deeper into the One Roof, One Christmas campaign, here
In a delightful departure from tradition, Christmas 2023 is set to showcase the evolving spirit of British family and social gatherings. New research indicates a heart-warming shift towards inclusive celebrations that blend families, friends, and even unexpected guests into the festive mix.
As part of its One Roof, One Christmas campaign, One4all Gift Cards has surveyed 1,009 UK adults, uncovering some of the new ways families are deciding to spend their Christmas Day – with 74% of people revealing they’re happy to embrace new traditions or guests for the day.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of people said they typically spend the day with additional guests beyond their immediate family, with their partners’ siblings, in-laws, and colleagues all potentially bagging an invite.
1 in 2 (50%) people revealed they’ve had an unexpected guest turn up for Christmas Day, with 7% of respondents even revealing an ex-partner has still made an appearance at the dinner table.
And with all these extra guests stopping by, it’s no surprise that more than a quarter (26%) revealed they’ve had to change their plans to accommodate another guest’s requests.
From indulging in two dinners to please the in-laws, last-minute dog-sitting duties until the new year, and even a quick trip to the hospital as a guest went into labour, it’s good news to hear that nearly half (47%) haven’t let these changes turn into a disagreement with their family.
More than 1 in 5 (22%) said they’ve introduced new traditions as part of someone’s culture or religion, including a festive bike ride, attending mass, or indulging in cuisines from around the world. 1 in 4 (26%) said they’ve eaten something different to a traditional Christmas dinner to accommodate new guests.
The survey also revealed Christmas traditions which some families have had to adopt from their partners, including door-to-door carol singing and putting up less-than-appealing Christmas decorations.
And whilst 54% of people said they embraced their partners’ traditions, 8% admitted they don’t enjoy doing these at all.
But above all else, the most important traditions families like to stick to on the day were to eat a particular meat at dinner and open their presents at the same time every year.
As part of their campaign, One4all Gift Cards has partnered with TV personality and presenter Ferne McCann to share how she celebrates Christmas with her family.
Ferne, who has recently given birth to her daughter Finty with fiancée, Lorri Haines, who also has a daughter, Sunday from a previous relationship. Discusses how she plans to spend the festive season with her blended family.
“This Christmas is a particularly special one for me and my partner as it will be our first with our newborn Finty. It’s such a special time of year, bringing together our children, friends and family under one roof to celebrate.
“Every year our Christmas morning begins with a tradition that we’ve always stuck to – the whole family has to wait until after breakfast before we can open presents!
“Food is an important part of our celebrations too, growing up I was always on stuffing ball duty on the big day. I’ll be passing this tradition down to Sunday this year so she can get involved in preparing the Christmas dinner and she loves helping my Mum make her famous homemade sausage rolls and mince pies too.
“As it’s Finty’s first Christmas, we’ll be introducing a new tradition to our festivities. I love the old-fashioned traditions and making Christmas about the people who are in your life all year round. So, I’ll be hosting a little Christmas carol get together in my home on Christmas morning, with family, friends and neighbours. It’s a lovely way to bring everyone together on this special day.”
Lou Hickey, Marketing Director atOne4all Gift Cards, commented, “Christmas can be a wonderful time of year for many, who love nothing more than celebrating the season with their favourite traditions, spent with their closest relatives.
“But it’s natural that some of us are now adopting new traditions, spending the day a little differently as many families grow and change shape, welcoming extended family and friends under one roof on the big day.
“Whether we are embracing different cultures, inviting our neighbours to pull up a chair, or even carving something other than a turkey for dinner, our survey revealed that Brits are happy to incorporate new traditions and new guests into their day.
“If anything, it adds even more magic to Christmas. Also, with the potential of unexpected guests joining for the day, a One4all Gift Card can easily double up as a last-minute present or be spent on additional food and decorations to accommodate everyone.”
The most common unexpected traditions Brits have had happen at Christmas are:
Spending the day visiting multiple family members (39%)
Having an unexpected guest join the day (35%)
Eat something else besides Christmas Dinner (26%)
Introducing new traditions related to culture or religion (22%)
Having an ex turn up at Christmas (7%)
Give a gift of choice with a One4all Gift Card that can be spent with more than 170 brands in-store or online with participating retailers. Available to buy from your local Post Office, Tesco, selected Morrisons, Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Aldi, Poundland and Iceland supermarkets nationwide, and online at one4all.com, ranging in value from £10 to £120.
With a commitment to continuous improvement, the Scottish Parliament is actively exploring new Gaelic resources for its website users and social media followers. As part of this initiative, the Parliament is seeking input on potential offerings.
This work follows the recent approval of The Scottish Parliament’s latest Gaelic Language Plan for 2023 to 2028 by Bòrd na Gàidhlig. The Plan lays out the commitments to supporting and promoting the use of Gaelic within the organisation.
Since the Gaelic Language Act was passed in 2005, public bodies like the Scottish Parliament need to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan every 5 years.
Earlier in 2023, the Scottish Parliament sought public input on its proposed Plan. The consultation received a range of responses, from fluent Gaelic speakers, those learning the language, and others with an interest in the language. Most of the responses expressed approval for the existing plans with some valuable new suggestions also contributed.
“Over 120 people helped us with shaping our approach to Gaelic over the next five years,” said Dr Alasdair MacCaluim, the Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic Development Officer.
“The Parliament extends its gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions. We now want to understand what Gaelic resources our audience would find most useful going forward.”
“For example, do you have an interest in Gaelic podcasts? Would you be interested in subscribing to a monthly Gaelic newsletter? Are you currently following our Gaelic Twitter account (ParlAlba)? We’d love to hear from you.”
Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO) of Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “It is important that public sector bodies like the Scottish Parliament are taking seriously the principle that Gaelic belongs to the whole of Scotland and are championing the promotion of a positive image of Gaelic, increasing the learning of Gaelic, and increasing the use of Gaelic.”
You can share your thoughts with the Scottish Parliament’s Gaelic team by emailing gaidhlig@parliament.scot
Children’s charity helped during toughest months with new funding
Edinburgh’s Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) has been boosted at a crucial time following an £8,000 donation from a business close to its heart.
After completing the capital’s gruelling Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, an 11-strong team from residential developers Square & Crescent raised thousands of pounds that will go directly to the charity’s Hospital Hub.
The timely funds will support the charity’s active Hospital Hub, which is located within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and is at its busiest time during winter months.
Entirely reliant on donations, the Hub is the hospital’s wellbeing centre, acting as a non-clinical space for children and their families to spend time away from wards, allowing them to enjoy a range of activities, events and therapies.
The donation further strengthens the link between ECHC and Square & Crescent, with the latter refurbishing large elements of Edinburgh’s former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into its Royal Meadows development and agreeing a formal partnership earlier this year.
Kate Dixon, Corporate & Partnerships Lead at ECHC, said: “Square & Crescent’s donation comes at a really important time for ECHC. Our Hospital Hub sees the most use during the festive months, providing comforting respite for children and families during difficult hospital stays, so this extra funding is a great boost.
“Not only do we want to continue to improve the Hub’s facilities but it’s about expanding its offering past just a safe space, offering valuable activities and events so children and young people can make the best of a tricky time.
“We’re very grateful, not just for the latest funding from Square & Crescent, but for its ongoing support and collaboration with our charity.”
The team at Square & Crescent raised £8,000 by tackling the Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge, which consists of reaching the peak and walking between seven of the famous hills in the capital – Arthurs Seat, Castle Rock, Calton Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Braid Hills, Blackford Hill and Craiglockhart Hill.
ECHC is currently fundraising for its annual Christmas appeal, which aims to bring festive fun and happiness to children and families facing potentially life-changing hospital visits this December.
This includes a programme of daily activities throughout the month to make sure no one spending the season in hospital misses out on the magic. So far, children have been entertained by Santa abseiling into the building, a silent disco around the wards and a live pipe band.
ECHC’s former headquarters is one of the buildings being converted as part of the major Royal Meadows development, which will see the former hospital site transformed into a mix of luxury townhouses and apartments.
The charity was founded in the 1980s where it was based at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site near Edinburgh’s Meadows, before the hospital’s relocation to Little France in 2021.
Euan Marshall, Co-Founder and joint Managing Director of Square & Crescent said: “ECHC is doing incredible work so we were delighted to take on a challenge like the Seven Hills to raise vital funds.
“As we sensitively redevelop the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children into our Royal Meadows development, we feel a real connection with the charity. It brings us a lot of pride to give back in any small way we can and to be able to support the vital work they are doing for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
Square & Crescent’s Royal Meadows development is targeted for completion in 2025 and is set to launch a sales suite in early 2024. It spans across four-acres and is situated one mile from Princes Street and a short walk from Lothian Road, benefitting from a city centre location.
Square & Crescent is a widely-regarded residential developer with a primary focus on the acquisition, development and refurbishment of beautiful homes.
For more information on Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, visit https://echcharity.org/
For more information on Royal Meadows, or to register interest, please email sales@squareandcrescent.com or call Lesley Coyle on 07586 129184.
New report shows 15% of child deaths are related to infection
15% of child deaths are related to infection according to a new report from the National Child Mortality Database
Sepsis is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection, and claims 48,000 lives in the UK each year
Clinical signs of sepsis were reported in over 700 child deaths between April 2019 and March 2022
Parents who have lost their children to sepsis are calling for action to improve patient outcomes
Following a report from the National Child Mortality Database released today, parents who lost their children to sepsis have spoken out about what needs to happen to prevent future child deaths.
Fifteen per cent of child deaths in England over the last three years are related to infection, according to a new report published on 14 December by the University of Bristol’s National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) team.
The report uses the NCMD’s unique data on all child deaths in England to examine 1,507 infection-related deaths between April 2019 and March 2022, with the clinical signs of sepsis reported in 701 child deaths.
UK Sepsis Trust Founder & Joint CEO Dr Ron Daniels, who contributed as a report author, said: “It’s staggering to learn that almost one in every six deaths in children is caused by infection.
“Whilst not every death will ever be preventable, this report clearly highlights that modifiable factors may have saved many of these children’s lives. It’s clear that there is an urgent need to empower parents and carers, to ensure that health professionals listen more closely to families, and to work closely with people from vulnerable communities to design messaging that is relevant and accessible to them.
“Martha’s Rule when implemented will be a hugely important step, but it is one small part of the system wide solution we need to stop avoidable deaths from infection in children.”
UK Sepsis Trust Ambassador Melissa Mead, whose son William died of sepsis on 14th December 2014, and who reviewed the report from the perspective of a bereaved parent said: “For this report to be published on the anniversary of William’s death felt quite poignant.
“It’s a really sad day, if I’m honest, and this is makes for really sobering reading. I’m really disheartened. It feels like William’s life didn’t matter and that the same thing is happening time and time again, and I just feel like no one is listening to us – certainly me as a parent – and it scares me.”
Helen and Daniel Philliskirk lost their 16-month-year-old son James to sepsis in May 2022.
They took him to Sheffield Children’s Hospital on multiple occasions but were dismissed by doctors and told he had chicken pox – but a postmortem examination found that he had developed sepsis after a Strep A infection, with no evidence of chicken pox present.
His parents have given their support to calls for Martha’s Rule, after their own inquest experience found that neglect by the hospital contributed to James’ death.
“Just trust your gut; you know your child best,” said Helen. “I think people would always rather see children and verify that they are healthy or verify that things are OK rather than people be at home worried and things get missed and ultimately lead to very unwell children or sadly, children dying.”
The NCMD report also found that children under one were at greater risk of infection related death than other age groups, but also that risk varied by ethnic and socio-economic background.
Children from an Asian/Asian British or black/black British ethnic background were at higher risk, with children from a Pakistani ethnic background at the highest risk of all.
During their son’s illness, Mohammed Elsiddig and Duaa Siyed Ahmed were repeatedly dismissed by healthcare professionals despite their respective medical qualifications, and their son Yousef died of sepsis on 5th February 2023, just after his first birthday.
They have shared Yousef’s story with the UK Sepsis Trust to help raise awareness of sepsis, while also hoping to reduce the
Duaa said: “Although it’s extremely difficult for us every day, nothing can bring Yousef back but at least we can do something to prevent this from happening to other families.”
Mohamed said: “Our message to the healthcare professionals is please listen to parents because they know their kids better, and please show them respect and empathy.
“Whenever you are dealing with a child with fever please think and ask yourself ‘Could this be sepsis?’ and if you are not so sure please do not feel ashamed to seek senior advice, whether at night or during the day.
“Always follow the national guidelines because it’s very sensitive to detect sepsis. Finally, please pay attention and do not fall into unconscious bias and stereotyping.”
The 2024-25 Scottish Budget will set out targeted funding for the Government’s key missions of equality, community and opportunity amid a profoundly challenging financial situation, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said.
Next week Ms Robison, who is also Finance Secretary, will outline the Scottish Government’s financial priorities for 2024-25, including the difficult choices that have had to be made as a result of last month’s Autumn Statement.
The Deputy First Minister has described that Statement as a “worst case scenario” for Scotland, telling Parliament that it failed to provide the investment needed in services and infrastructure, reflecting the UK’s economic circumstances after Brexit.
Tuesday’s Budget will provide the funding to protect people and public services from the worst effects of these economic circumstances, Ms Robison said.
The Finance Secretary added: “In the face of a deeply challenging financial situation, this Budget will reaffirm our social contract with the people of Scotland.
“The Autumn Statement was devastating for Scottish finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has acknowledged that it will lead to planned real terms cuts in public service spending. Scotland is facing a 9.8% cut to our capital budget for infrastructure between this year and 2027-28.
“The £10.8 million additional health consequentials we received from the Autumn Statement for next year are enough to run NHS Scotland for just five hours, and UK Government funding for justice, housing and communities, net zero, energy, and environment are all being cut in real terms. All this comes on top of more than a decade of UK Government underinvestment that has left our public services with very little resilience.
“We refuse to follow UK Government spending decisions – indeed, we are doing all we can to mitigate them. We are proud that Scotland has a social contract which ensures people are protected by a safety net should they fall on hard times. And this contract underpins this Budget, with targeted funding to protect people and public services.
“We are unashamedly targeting resources at those most in need to support them through the cost of living crisis. We are providing funding to deliver the services that people rely on most, along with a ten-year programme of public service reform. And we are using all the powers we have to create a thriving economy while providing funding to achieve our ambitious net zero targets.”
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has announced the sixth cohort of Ignite Fellows, a prestigious award which supports established writers working on a significant project. The 2024 Fellows include Edinburgh-based writer Alycia Pirmohamed.
Ignite Fellows receive a £2,000 bursary and creative support tailored to suit their individual projects. Kris Haddow, based in Glasgow, and Gaelic writer Calum L MacLeòid, based in the Highlands, have also been awarded Ignite Fellowships this year.
Alycia Pirmohamed is a Canadian-born poet based in Edinburgh. She is the author of Another Way to Split Water among others, and is the co-founder of the Scottish BPOC Writers Network.
She also co-organises the Ledbury Poetry Critics Program, and she currently teaches creative writing at the University of Cambridge.
Alycia has held post-doctoral positions at IASH, University Edinburgh and at the University of Liverpool, and she received an MFA from the University of Oregon and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Her awards include the 2019 CBC Poetry Prize, a Pushcart Prize, and the 2020 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award.
Alycia Pirmohamed said: ‘It’s such a wonderful honour to be awarded the Ignite Fellowship this year as I work on a new project in creative nonfiction.
“I know how lucky I am to have this time and these resources to develop my writing and I’m so grateful to the Scottish Book Trust for this opportunity.’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Congratulations to our three new Ignite Fellows, who are very deserving of this award.
“The Ignite Fellowship provides writers with essential mentoring, financial assistance and practical support that will help them reach new heights in their careers. We’re thrilled to support these writers on their next chapters, and look forward to seeing how their projects progress.’
Exciting career opportunities are available at the much-anticipated Forest Nursery and Junior School
Merchiston Castle School is holding a recruitment event for its highly anticipated Forest Nursery and Junior School, scheduled to open in September 2024.
Taking place on 27 January between 9:30am-11:30am in Merchiston’s picturesque grounds, the event will serve as an opportunity for prospective candidates to hear more about the Forest Nursery and Junior School the rewarding career prospects available.
Enthusiastic early-years practitioners and primary teachers with a passion for outdoor learning and holistic development are encouraged to sign up for the recruitment morning to discover all The Forest at Merchiston has to offer.
Attendees will be taken on a guided tour of the stunning 100-acre wooded campus, discover The Forest’s innovative, child centred curriculum, and hear from Headteacher Davina Bowers, about the unparalleled educational offering The Forest Nursery and Junior School will deliver.
The Forest at Merchiston is looking to fill a number of positions, with full-time and part-time roles available. The recruitment morning is a chance for eager applicants to learn more about this promising career opportunity and gain an insight into Edinburgh’s most exciting early years and primary provision. Interested individuals will later be required to submit a formal application, with interviews scheduled for March 2024.
Davina Bowers, Head of The Forest at Merchiston, said of the event: “This is the ideal opportunity for interested applicants to explore our unique educational provision and gain an understanding of the curriculum, our progressive approach and ambitions for the Forest Nursery and Junior School.
“The event promises to be a wonderful gathering of like-minded practitioners, all passionate about combining academic subjects with the power of outdoor education and child-centred learning.
“I am looking forward to meeting the inspiring and dedicated teachers and practitioners who will make up our future team of educators.”
Those interested in attending the recruitment event on 27 January are asked to register their interest by submitting a form on the website here.
Scottish households are being urged to tag their stop tap this winter as part of the Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign.
As households up and down the country are getting ready for Christmas, they are being encouraged to write the details of a WaterSafe-approved emergency plumber on a spare Christmas gift tag and attach it to their property’s stop tap.
Knowing where your stop tap is and how to turn your water supplies off could help prevent flooding and damage if a pipe freezes or bursts and having the number of a qualified and insured plumber to hand could save the day in an emergency.
Only 34 per cent of Scottish households currently know how to find and use their stop tap to turn the water off in case of a burst pipe, according to research by the national register of approved plumbers WaterSafe. It’s often found under the kitchen sink, but could also be in a kitchen cupboard, bathroom, or garage.
Julie Spinks, Director at WaterSafe, said: “Our research shows that not only do only just over a third of Scottish residents know how to find and use their stop tap, but 16 per cent of residents have had a burst pipe in the past, so it’s a real risk in wintry weather.
“Pipes freezing and bursting can cause extensive damage to homes and businesses, but taking simple steps such as knowing where your stop tap is can limit any damage.
“Writing the details of a local WaterSafe-approved plumber on a gift tag and attaching it to the stop tap means people will be able to isolate their water supply and know who to contact should they experience a problem with their property’s plumbing.
“We’d also encourage people to insulate outside pipes and taps, as well as any pipes in unheated areas of the home such as the loft.”
Met Office Head of Warnings Chris Walsh said: “Winters in the UK usually include a wide variety of weather and this winter looks likely to be no exception.
“There are simple and cost-effective things everyone can do to prepare for any severe winter weather. Including plenty of useful and creative weather hacks out there that can help people to avoid disruption and make the most of winter weather.”
For further advice on winter-proofing your plumbing, or to find an approved plumber, visit www.watersafe.org.uk/winter.
A Blairhall man who works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline has been nominated for a national award thanks to his outstanding efforts supporting the local community.
Oliver Forizs, who works at Amazon in Dunfermline as a sustainability ambassador, was nominated for a national Amazon Stars award by his colleagues at the fulfilment centre.
Amazon Stars, now in its fourth year, is a UK-wide Amazon campaign that recognises and rewards Amazon employees who go above and beyond for their local community by using their skills, time and passion to help others.
Oliver Forizs, who joined Amazon in 2020, is a passionate supporter of the Dunfermline community, taking part in many fundraising and volunteering campaigns in his spare time over the last three years. It’s this passion for making a positive impact in his community that has seen Oliver nominated in this year’s Amazon Stars awards.
Oliver’s support of his community means he is in with a chance of winning one of two Dream Boxes, the top prize awarded as part of the Amazon Stars campaign. A Dream Box, worth £1,500, is a personalised prize to honour Amazon’s top two community heroes in the UK.
Dream Boxes won by previous Amazon Stars include community donations, music equipment, holiday vouchers and family tickets for Disneyland Paris. Oliver will find out if he has won a Dream Box in December.
Oliver was nominated for the award by his colleagues for his passion for environmental and sustainability change.
Oliver Forizs is a sustainability ambassador at Amazon in Dunfermline and lives in Blairhall with his seven-year-old daughter.
Before joining Amazon two years ago, Oliver worked in the music industry as a tour manager and as a security supervisor at an international airport. A friend told him about a job opening at Amazon, and a week after applying he was hired.
As a single father, Oliver praises Amazon’s flexible working patterns. He said: “One of the best things about working at Amazon is the flexible hours – something of great benefit to me as a single father. Amazon also offers so many different opportunities that make your daily work very colourful.”
Oliver was nominated for an Amazon Stars award due to his passion for environmental and sustainability change. He recently held an event in conjunction with his favourite environmentalist charity, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
He explained: “As a sustainability ambassador, I try to find ways to extend our work to the community around us. Having organised several events, I proposed establishing a partnership with WWF, an organisation I deeply admire for its incredible environmental efforts.
“My managers were enthusiastic about the idea and encouraged me to reach out to the charity, which shared our enthusiasm. Together, we successfully forged a partnership and brought the collaboration to life.
“The event took place at the end of September, with a Wear it Wild dress up theme and half hour movie with the WWF’s own footage about the marine environment around the UK. There was also fundraising in the canteen, with raffle tickets available for a £25 voucher prize. It was all for WWF’s great cause to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. The event raised almost £1,000 and engaged more than 150 Amazon employees.”
“The day was a tremendous success, and our team couldn’t be more thrilled. We not only hit our target but exceeded it, raising more funds than we initially hoped. The event was filled with enthusiasm, inspiring speakers, and wonderful people who are as passionate about the cause as we are. The support from our colleagues at Amazon was great and everyone was really interested and engaged.”
Oliver explained why sustainability is so important to him. He said: “The easiest explanation I can give for why I care so much about the environment comes straight from the definition of sustainability.
“We must arrange our daily life to keep in mind future generations. My present is my daughter’s future, and I want to extend this idea to a bigger scale. My daughter Elizabeth inspires me to make the world a better place, and I am passionate about showing people around me that sustainability is not just about us, it is about future generations.”
Alongside his passion for the environment, Oliver also enjoys painting, golfing and travel.
Amazon General Manager, Jamie Strain, added: “At Amazon, we’re passionate about positively impacting the communities we serve, and Oliver embodies that ethos.
“Amazon Stars is one of the ways that we shine a light on the achievements of our team, giving us an opportunity to celebrate the positive contribution that our employees make to local communities around the UK. Oliver goes above and beyond to support our community and everyone at Amazon in Dunfermline is proud that he has been nominated for this fantastic award.”
Last year, the winners of the Amazon Stars awards included a community music mentor from Dartford, a pilot from Birmingham who provides aviation experiences for people from disadvantaged backgrounds and an animal rescue volunteer from Wakefield. Find out more here.
Amazon provides community donations and employee volunteering opportunities for its employees to support community organisations.
These are two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon provides students, teachers and parents with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and has teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the country.
Earlier this year, Amazon partnered with Comic Relief to become the official home of the Red Nose. Amazon employees across the UK hosted fundraising activities and together with their customers and partners, raised £2.7 million to support those going through the toughest time of their lives.
