The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 657 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Portobello walking group wins national award

A DEDICATED group of individuals who run a weekly walking group have been recognised by the nation’s walking charity at its annual awards presentation.

Portobello Prom – Ageing Well has won the prestigious Dementia Friendly Walking Volunteer Group of the Year at Paths for All’s Volunteer Awards.

The group, set up with Edinburgh Leisure, enables individuals to walk at a leisurely pace across the seaside promenade as a way of keeping people active and connected who may otherwise struggle to do so.

More than 20 participants join the walks on a weekly basis, some of whom live with dementia. The Ageing Well team has accommodating those individuals through specialist training which has been coordinated by Paths for All and Edinburgh Leisure.

Volunteer Walk Leader, David Simpson said: “The group was set up many years ago to provide people with an outlet to come and interact with others while also keeping active.

“There is a huge variety of individuals who attend our walks and some of those people do live with dementia, for them – and their loved ones and carers – it’s a great chance to get out and about and speak with other people who may be living with something similar.”

“As Walk Leaders we try and do our best to keep the participants happy and motivated.”

“While keeping active is great, it’s the social aspect of walking which I feel is really powerful, and so becoming a Walk Leader was an easy way to give back to my community.”

Kay Parsons, Active Communities Supervisor (Volunteers) at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Winning the Paths for All’s Dementia Friendly Walking Volunteer Group of the Year 2023 award is testament to the hard work, friendliness, and ability of all the volunteers to make those attending feel included and welcome.

“The Ageing Well Portobello Walking group volunteers have been going for years, keeping our Dementia Friendly walk going in all weathers in Scotland. They go up and down Portobello Prom, and for many of our 20-30 odd weekly participants, this is the only time they get outside into the fresh air.

“They get to enjoy the seaside air, a stroll and a chat and tea in a cafe afterwards. The volunteers keep them motivated and laughing, and one participant told me she “forgets she has Dementia when on a walk with the volunteers.”

Hosted by the BBC Scotland’s Fiona Stalker, with awards presented by sponsoring MSP Nicola Sturgeon, the event recognised 10 groups and individuals throughout Scotland who have gone the extra mile to keep their communities active.

Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport “Supporting people in Scotland to walk and wheel is a key part of our vision of a country where more people are more active, more often.

“A huge number of highly motivated and skilled people are helping us deliver this vision, especially the passionate volunteers who do so much to help others overcome challenges to participation and facilitate activities across the country.

“They really are inspirational, the recognition from Paths for All in these Awards is very well deserved.”

Kevin Lafferty, Chief Executive Officer at Paths for All, said: “Every year I am blown away at the number of incredible groups and volunteers out there determined to make a difference.

“The work carried out by volunteers is directly improving the nation’s physical, mental and social health, reducing social isolation and loneliness and helping people make more environmentally friendly lifestyle choices.

“It’s been fantastic hosting the awards at the Scottish Parliament again this year, I always enjoy getting to socialise with our amazing volunteers and hear first-hand about the invaluable contributions they have been making.

“Thank you to everyone for their efforts and ongoing dedication.”

Paths for All works with the Scottish Government and 30 partners to support and deliver national policies, such as the National Walking Strategy and other ‘active travel’ initiative to improve the mental, social and physical health of the country.

The charity awards thousands of pounds worth of grants to worthwhile projects that improve health, promote walking and improve environments for people to be active in – making for a happier, healthier, greener Scotland.

To find out more about Ageing Well walks in your area visit:

https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/ageing-well-walks

A full list of Volunteer Award winners 2023 can be found on Paths for All’s website: http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/volunteerawards

Harvest Thanksgiving for Scotland’s farmers at St Giles Cathedral today

The Royal Highland & Agriculture Society of Scotland (RHASS) will host an inaugural Harvest Thanksgiving today (Sunday 1^st October) at the historic St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. This extraordinary event will honour the hard work of Scottish farmers and primary food producers, whilst highlighting the need to reduce food waste.

From 11am to 12pm, the free-to-attend Harvest Thanksgiving event will bring the countryside right into the heart of Edinburgh with a tractor and combine harvester on proud display in Parliament Square beside the Cathedral.

The event will feature a display of ‘wonky’ seasonal fruits and vegetables, typically rejected by supermarkets, to create a vibrant display. The produce will be generously donated by local farmers from East and West Lothian, and afterwards it will be donated to charities including The Salvation Army, Cyrenians and Social Bite.

Open to everyone, the Harvest Thanksgiving will feature a heartwarming Sunday all and no-faith service with readings by former RHASS Chaplain Angus Morrison.

The featured tractors are kindly provided by RHASS Director, Bill Gray MBE.

RHASS Chairman, Jim Warnock, commented: “Our first Harvest Thanksgiving celebration will celebrate the resilience and tireless efforts of Scotland’s farming community, all while supporting great charities.

“RHASS champions rural Scotland and all those who work in it, and at this time of year they are under huge pressure. Join us at St Giles Cathedral this Sunday to show our appreciation for those who put food on our tables.”

The Harvest Thanksgiving service will be led by Rev Sigrid Marten, Associate Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral. She said: “We are very excited that we have been able to work closely together with the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland to draw the attention of passers-by, not only to our Harvest Thanksgiving Service on Sunday which they are welcome to join, but also to highlight the vital role that Scottish farmers play in providing great quality food.

“Bringing farming equipment to the Royal Mile is one way to remind us of our dependence on those who work hard to produce our food.

“We are also very grateful to local farmers for all the donations of vegetables that will be used to decorate the sanctuary of St Giles’ Cathedral for Harvest Sunday which will be later given to people most in need.”

For further information about the work of RHASS, visit rhass.org.uk

POWER TO THE PEOPLE?

Prime Minister to put local people in control of more than £1 billion with long-term plan for left-behind towns

Fifty five towns – seven in Scotland – given £20 million endowment-style funds each over 10 years to invest in local people’s priorities
Long-term Plan for Towns will empower communities across the UK to take back control of their future – taking long term decisions in the interests of local people
Funding to be spent on local priorities; reviving high streets, tackling ASB, improving transport and growing the local economy

The UK Government has unveiled 55 towns that will benefit from a £1.1 billion levelling up investment, as part of a long-term plan for towns that provide long-term investment in towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted.

Towns that will be given the opportunity to develop a long-term plan supported by a Towns Board include 6 in the North East, 10 in the North West, and 4 in the West Midlands. In total, 55 towns will benefit from the UK-wide approach, including 7 towns in Scotland and 4 in Wales.

The Government will work with local councils and the devolved administrations to determine how towns in Scotland and Wales will benefit from funding and powers under the long-term plans. In Northern Ireland, we look forward to working with a restored Executive to determine the approach to providing support there.

Under the new approach, local people, not Whitehall-based politicians, will be put in charge, and given the tools to change their town’s long-term future. They will:

Receive a ten-year £20 million endowment-style fund to be spent on local people’s priorities, like regenerating local high streets and town centres or securing public safety.
Set up a Town Board to bring together community leaders, employers, local authorities, and the local MP, to deliver the Long-Term Plan for their town and put it to local people for consultation.
Use a suite of regeneration powers to unlock more private sector investment by auctioning empty high street shops, reforming licensing rules on shops and restaurants, and supporting more housing in town centres.

More than half the population live in towns, but half-empty high streets, run-down town centres and anti-social behaviour undermine towns in every part of the UK.

Yesterday’s announcement marks a change in approach that the government hopes will put an end to people feeling like their town is ignored by Westminster and empower communities to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people.

The announcement came on the eve of the Conservative party conference – perhaps the last gathering of the Tory faithful before the general election.

This plan builds on the Government’s ‘central mission’ to level up the UK by putting more power and money in the hands of people who know their areas best to build a brighter future for their community, creating bespoke initiatives that will spark the regeneration needed.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “Towns are the place most of us call home and where most of us go to work. But politicians have always taken towns for granted and focused on cities.

“The result is the half-empty high streets, run-down shopping centres and anti-social behaviour that undermine many towns’ prosperity and hold back people’s opportunity – and without a new approach, these problems will only get worse.

“That changes today. Our Long-Term Plan for Towns puts funding in the hands of local people themselves to invest in line with their priorities, over the long-term. That is how we level up.”

Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove said: “We know that in our towns the values of hard work and solidarity, common sense and common purpose, endeavour and quiet patriotism have endured across generations. But for too long, too many of our great British towns have been overlooked and undervalued.

“We are putting this right through our Long-Term Plan for Towns backed by over £1bn of levelling up funding.

“This will empower communities in every part of the UK to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people. It will mean more jobs, more opportunities and a brighter future for our towns and the people who live and work in them.”

The government’s ‘Long-Term Plan for Towns’, published today, is carefully designed to complement the wider levelling up programme, working alongside funding for specific projects across the UK, our targeted support to the places most in need through Levelling Up Partnerships, and initiatives supporting economic growth in wider city regions like investment zones.

The Long-Term Plan for Towns will require town boards to develop their own long-term plan for their town, with funding over 10 years and aligned to the issues that research shows people want the most, including:

Improving transport and connections to make travel easier for residents and increase visitor numbers in centres to boost opportunities for small businesses and create jobs
Tackling crime and anti social behaviour to keep residents safe and encourage visitors through better security measures and hotspot policing
Enhancing town centres to make high streets more attractive and accessible, including repurposing empty shops for new housing, creating more green spaces, cleaning up streets or running market days

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “I wholeheartedly welcome the launch of the UK Government’s Long Term Plan for Towns.

“It’s great to see that seven Scottish towns will benefit from £20 million each from the latest round of levelling up funding which so far has seen us invest more than £2.4 billion right across Scotland to help grow our economy and level up the country.

“I look forward to seeing these towns – and the communities within them – use this investment to breathe new life into the places where they live, work and play.”

Local people will be at the heart of decisions, through direct membership of a new Towns Board, which will include community groups, MPs, businesses, cultural and sports organisations, public sector agencies and local authorities for each town and through a requirement to engage local people on the long-term plan for each town.

These Town Boards will have direct government support in addition to the funding and powers they receive through Long-Term Plan for Towns, and will be required to engage local people on their long-term plan.

The Government has also announced a new ‘Towns Taskforce’, sitting in the Department for Levelling Up and reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary. This will help town boards to develop their plans, and advise them on how best to take advantage of government policies, unlock private and philanthropic investment and work with communities.

A new ‘High Streets and Towns Task Force’ will also be established, building on the success of the existing version, providing each selected town with bespoke, hands-on support.

Further information

Towns have been allocated funding according to the Levelling Up Needs Index which takes into account metrics covering skills, pay, productivity and health, as well as the Index of Multiple Deprivation to ensure funding goes directly to the towns which will benefit most, without new competitions or unnecessary hurdles. A full methodology note will be published.
This commitment to towns follows other initiatives designed to support towns, including driving economic growth in 101 areas through the Towns Fund, and the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, which is creating thriving high streets.
Local authorities will be the lead delivery partner for plans. This programme has been developed following our work with local authorities, with funding designed to be spent flexibly over a number of years based on local and evolving needs, and distributed through an allocative rather than competitive process.

Towns receiving funding

Mansfield
Boston
Worksop
Skegness
Newark-on-Trent
Chesterfield
Clifton (Nottingham)
Spalding
Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Clacton-on-Sea
Great Yarmouth
Eston
Jarrow
Washington
Blyth (Northumberland)
Hartlepool
Spennymoor
Darwen
Chadderton
Heywood
Ashton-under-Lyne
Accrington
Leigh (Wigan)
Farnworth
Nelson (Pendle)
Kirkby
Burnley
Hastings
Bexhill-on-Sea
Ryde
Torquay
Smethwick
Darlaston
Bilston (Wolverhampton)
Dudley (Dudley)
Grimsby
Castleford
Doncaster
Rotherham
Barnsley
Scunthorpe
Keighley
Dewsbury
Scarborough
Merthyr Tydfil
Cwmbrân
Wrexham
Barry (Vale of Glamorgan)
Greenock
Irvine
Kilmarnock
Coatbridge
Clydebank
Dumfries
Elgin

Top Scottish food producer calls for traditional square sausage to be put back on the breakfast table

One of Scotland’s fastest-growing food brands, We hae meat, is calling for families across the country to bring the iconic square sausage back as a breakfast staple for National Brunch Weekend (30th September – 1st October 2023).

Britain is a nation of breakfast fanatics and is the largest market for breakfast food in Europe. According to data from Mintel, 51% of adults eat breakfast away from the table, while cereals and toast dominate breakfast mealtimes. This National Brunch Weekend, We hae meat is celebrating bringing Scottish families together, and leading the charge in reinstating square sausage as the best loved breakfast food.

Award-winning family farming and butchery, We hae meat, produces high-quality meat products, making more than 21 million square sausages a year. As Scotland’s biggest producer of square sausage, We hae meat consistently make an astonishing 500,000 slices of sausage each week. To put this into perspective, in one year, We hae meat could stretch a square sausage trail, with each slice measuring 11.5cm wide, from the northern tip of John o’ Groats to the southernmost point of Land’s End, and back again.

The origins of the square sausage, also known as Lorne sausage, are a mystery. A well-known Scottish myth is that it was invented by Glasgow comedian Tommy Lorne, contrary to the belief that a West Coast butcher, in the Firth of Lorne created it. Born Hugh Gallagher Corcoran in 1890 near Glasgow, Tommy was a famous pantomime performer and stand-up comedian.

One of his most famous sayings was ‘sausages are the boys’ and his favourite snack between acts was reportedly a sausage sandwich, which many believe inspired the creation of the Lorne Sausage.

Alex Paton, fourth-generation farmer and Co-founder of We hae meat said: “Square sausage is a staple component to the traditional Scottish breakfast, and We hae meat is dedicated to ensuring this custom lives on. This National Brunch Weekend, we extend an invitation to families far and wide, to come together and enjoy a true Scottish breakfast.

“We hae meat are committed to delivering top-quality products using traditional craft butchery methods and techniques to produce food that families can be proud to serve at their tables.”

We hae meat offers a wide variety of meat products from its core range, platinum range, sausage, skinny range, special editions and value range.  Available from major retailers in Scotland and selected supermarkets across the UK.  

To explore We hae meat’s wide range of products, visit https://wehaemeat.com/.

Halloween events at Craigies Farm

Family-friendly farm village, Craigies Farm in South Queensferry, is welcoming the arrival of October by inviting some spooky visitors to its pumpkin fields!

The popular day-out destination will once again open its popular pick-your-own pumpkin patch on October 1st, and new for this year will also host two Halloween-themed events out in the fields too!

The ‘Spooky Days’ daytime event is perfect for families with younger children, while the nighttime ‘Haunted Tunnels‘ have slightly more scares suitable for older children and families.

Both events will feature a spooky cast of roaming characters, spine-tingling props, interactive games, storytellers and at night time, there will be fantastic illuminated light shows too!

Tickets for all events can be booked online here: https://craigies.co.uk/events-activities/

Call for urgent four nations summit on climate change

Scottish and Welsh Ministers press UK Government on new partnership

The Scottish and Welsh governments have written to the UK Government calling for a new four nations summit on reaching net zero, to be chaired by the independent Climate Change Committee.

The call follows the Prime Minister’s speech on climate change last week.

The letter, co-signed by Scotland’s Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan and Wales’ Minister for Climate Change Julie James, highlights the weakness of current arrangements for working with the devolved nations and calls for greater UK collaboration in agreeing the pathway towards the UK’s legally-binding net zero targets.

The two governments propose that the summit be chaired by the independent Climate Change Committee, which acts as a statutory adviser to all four nations.

The full text of the letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations is below:

Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities
and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

28 September 2023

Dear Michael,

This is a joint letter from myself and Julie James, Minister for Climate Change, Welsh Government.

We write to highlight our disappointment in relation to the Prime Minister’s statement last week (20 September) announcing that the UK Government is significantly changing course on key net zero commitments.

Despite the far-reaching implications of the announcements made – with substantial changes in policy that will impact progress in delivering net zero and have profoundly negative implications for the environment and economy across the UK and further affect the UK’s international reputation – there was no prior engagement with the devolved governments. Given that delivery of the climate ambitions of the four nations of the UK are intrinsically linked, this is deeply unsatisfactory.

In addition, almost a week later, it is hugely frustrating that the UK Government has not provided the level of detail required by such significant announcements. We would urge you to provide this immediately to enable devolved governments to fully assess the implications.

Regarding Scotland, the Scottish Government will separately be writing to the UK Government shortly, in more detail, setting out areas in which progress urgently needs to be clarified. Regarding Wales, the Welsh Government has also separately written to the UK Government, seeking further clarity on the impacts of the recent policy changes on Wales.

Tackling the twin crises of climate change and nature loss is one of the most significant challenges facing people and planet this century and all nations of the UK must work in partnership to complete the net zero journey. Delivering progress on net zero requires urgent action and higher ambition from the UK Government on issues reserved to Westminster to complement the action taken under devolved powers. The Climate Change Committee has been clear that action by the UK Government is important for delivery of climate change targets around the UK, just as action in Scotland and Wales is crucial to UK targets.

Since last week’s process shows the weakness of current arrangements, we are now urging you to establish a new, mutually respectful partnership, with the aim of developing an agreed four nation approach to net zero in a collaborative manner. We therefore invite you to commit, in the first instance, to a high-level summit for a four nation approach and to agree with us that our statutory advisers, the independent Climate Change Committee, be invited to chair the summit.

We are also copying in Katrina Godfrey, Permanent Secretary at the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Yours sincerely,

JULIE JAMES, MAIRI MCALLAN

SAVE OUR PUBS!

Local pubs deliver invaluable socio-economic value, ministers must act to save them, says new report

Government must give pubs which serve as the beating hearts of their communities greater support with tax rebates to safeguard the nation’s locals as vital social lifelines, a report from the think-tank Localis has urged.

In a report issued yesterday entitled ‘Inn-Valuable: unlocking the socio-economic potential of our nation’s pubs’, Localis also argued that a minister for pubs role be reinstated to join up help for the country’s pubs sector – which cumulatively supports 936,000 jobs, generates £28bn in GVA to the economy and delivers £15bn in tax revenues to the Exchequer annually.

According to polling undertaken by YouGov for the report, 75 percent of people felt the impact of pubs to community life to be positive. When asked if pubs are important in bringing people together, more than four-in-five (81 percent) of British adults agreed they are, with just 14 percent feeling that they are not.

Polling carried out for the report showed 68 percent of British adults felt that pubs help combat loneliness in their local area. Among pro-community activities supported by local pubs, nearly half (44%) of people were aware of pub events that bring the community together, a quarter (25%) knew of local pubs that supported charitable causes and 17 percent knew of local pubs that supported vulnerable people in their area.

The research identified from case studies taken pubs across the country some dominant themes on how the sector supports local people and communities, namely by:

combatting isolation
supporting local causes
reflecting local culture
bringing local business together
supporting community through generations.

Pollsters also found that among social uses of pubs in the last three months, more than half of the population (51%) had met a friend in one, while nearly two-in-five (37%) of people had visited the pub to meet up with family, a quarter (25%) had enjoyed Sunday lunch in one and 10% of the public had attended a pub-held birthday party in that timespan. In addition, six percent of the public had used pubs for dating purposes and 13% watched a sporting event.

A key recommendation of the report calls for the re-establishment of a Minister for Pubs post to co-ordinate a cross-government taskforce responsible for long-term strategy for the British pubs sector and to lead on help with tax and regulation, alongside an emergency fund for energy bill support.

The report authors also make the case for business rates rebates for those pubs which take on socially valuable roles such as foodbanks or in providing warm spaces for vulnerable people, with a call for a modest £4m cashpot to help 1,000 pubs to diversify at a cost of a mere £4,000 per pub.

Localis head of research, Joe Fyans, said: “Across Britain, pubs have consistently played a pivotal role in knitting communities together and promoting social cohesion.

“Pubs are the beating heart of many communities, playing multifaceted roles in local daily life. This is why the decline of pubs is cause for great concern. With each closure, both tangible and intangible voids are left behind.

“The lessons are clear: pubs, in all their forms and across all locations, remain integral to British social cohesion as hubs of activity, community, and social capital. This makes their presence all the more crucial as community safety nets and beacons of light, offering a lifeline hope for many people looking for a real sense of local belonging.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ““The stories highlighted in this report truly are just a snapshot of the hugely positive impact pubs have in communities across the country every single day.

“There are few businesses that can say they add both social and economic value and pubs are delivering that value in neighbourhoods from Lanarkshire to Liskeard, and everywhere in between. Pubs provide solace to people in tough times and a place to celebrate in others and to lose them would have a serious impact on people’s lives.

“With closures continuing to rise and pubs under threat from further duty and business rates cost hikes we hope the Government will seriously consider the proposals put forward by this report so the foundations can be laid to help pubs continue to do this brilliant work in their communities long into the future.”

Becky Barnett who runs The Lamb Inn in Swadlincote, which features in the report, said: “We support our local community in a number of ways, including offering free food and drinks to people on Wednesday mornings. People can come into the pub, have a free hot meal, and in winter, sit by our log fire in comfy chairs, no questions asked.

“When times are tough, we want to be a place where people can come for help and local people have been incredibly grateful of us opening our doors at no cost. At the same time, we also face challenges with high energy bills and other rising costs so it’s a scary time for our business as well, we want to continue to provide a non-judgemental warm space for people but we’re facing our own difficulties as well.”

Pub is The Hub chief executive, John Longden, said: “Pubs and publicans are the heroes at the heart of community life that provide essential local services and activities that create social value.

“They are a lifeline for many rural areas providing vital local services and activities such as village stores, allotments and community cafes as well as offering a safe space to tackle the major societal issue of loneliness.

“Pub is The Hub now estimates 1,000 more pubs and local areas could benefit from services if they can be directly supported in the future to diversify.”

Create Community Wealth: End of project celebration

Join us for the Create Community Wealth End of Project Celebration on Tuesday 10 October (5pm – 8pm)

The North Edinburgh Create Community Wealth team would like to invite you to our End of Project Celebration Event at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, which has been the home of the project for the last two years.

There will be taster sessions, workshops, short film screenings and possibly a mini market where you can see the fantastic work and hear the stories of the talented Create Community Wealth participants. This is a drop in event from 5 – 8pm, and everyone’s welcome to come along.

Create Community Wealth is part of a wider national Culture Collective programme and is a partnership between WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, SCOREscotland and Passion4Fusion.

For more information, please get in touch with Asia by emailing asia@northedinburgharts.co.uk

Appeal following incident on X55 bus

Police Scotland have released images of a man they believe may be able to assist their enquires into an incident which occurred on a Stagecoach bus between Dunfermline and Edinburgh on Wednesday 12 October 2022 at approximately 4.20pm.

The man was travelling on the Stagecoach X55 bus having boarded the bus at Dunfermline bus station.

He is described as white, aged between 25 and 40, dark facial hair, wearing a dark hooded top, striped tracksuit bottoms and carrying a holdall type bag.

Police Scotland are appealing for the man pictured, or anyone who knows him to get in touch via 101 quoting incident reference number 2550 of 12 October 2022. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be passed anonymously.