Rangers FC meet @ManUtd in a friendly at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh this Saturday 20th July.
Please plan ahead using info available here https://orlo.uk/solnk
Man Utd vs Rangers at Murrayfield this Saturday: Police Advice
As Larry the cat gains a new housemate in Downing Street, a leading vet charity shares its tips on introducing pets to one another
As the Prime Minister and his family take up residence in Downing Street, the nation’s celebrated chief mouse-catcher, Larry, will no longer be the only kit-on-the-block, as JoJo, Sir Keir Starmer’s cat, moves in.
Welcoming new furry family members can be an exciting moment for any pet owner, but it’s important that they are introduced to everyone in the household – especially existing pets – in an appropriate and calm manner.
To help pet owners, national pet charity, PDSA, has shared its top tips on welcoming new and existing pets to one another to ensure a friendly first impression.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Gemma Renwick, says: “Cats are naturally solitary animals and, like Larry appears to feel at Downing Street, they are usually quite happy being the only pet in the household.
“However, there are some steps you can take should you be looking to introduce a second pet into the family to help create a peaceful and orderly transition.”
- Create separate constituencies
“According to PDSA’s 2024 PAW Report, almost a fifth (17%) of cats that co-habit together don’t always get along, so it’s important to make sure you have prepared the purr-fect environment to create the best opportunity for both furry family members to stay happy and healthy. Setting up separate safe spaces (ideally in a quiet room) for each pet will provide each of them with a private place they can call their own and hide, should there be any disruptions in household politics.
“As well as each furry family member having their own safe place, make sure there are options for both of them to relax around the house without getting in each other’s way. Cats like to be up high so tiered cat trees or wall-mounted cat shelves provide an ideal escape route for your newly introduced puss and will help them feel safer settling into their home as they’ll be able to survey what’s going on in their party.
“In general, cats prefer to eat on their own and well away from their toileting area, so consider setting up separate food and water stations, well away from litter trays. Make sure they’re out of the reach of other pets to help stop them from becoming stressed. Consider a microchip feeder to prevent them from stealing each other’s food! Each cat will need a litter tray each plus one extra, again in separate areas of the house. If you are introducing a dog to an existing cat household, make sure you clean up your cat’s litter tray as soon as possible and that it’s out of your pup’s way.
- Scent swapping
“In an ideal world, new and existing pets should be given a few days to get used to each other’s scent before they meet. If you’re bringing your pet home from a rescue centre or breeder, you may be able to take blankets with your current pet’s scent on. This can be introduced to your new pet so that they can familiarise themselves with your current pet’s smell before they arrive at their new home.
“Another way of ‘scent swapping’ is to collect your pet’s scent on a new cloth and place this in your new furry family member’s bed. To do this, take a clean, soft cloth and gently rub it around your cat’s cheeks via their scent glands, or under your dog’s armpits. This simple trick will help each pet get used to each other before they meet – a bit like having a phone call with someone before you greet them face-to-face.
- Building a coalition
“When they first come home, if possible, keep both pets in separate safe spaces by using a baby gate, where each furry member of the household can have their own space to explore freely and start to familiarise themselves with their surroundings.
“Once your new furry family member is well-adjusted, allow your pets to become aware of each other from their individual safe spots. Use food to reward them for calm behaviour, along with plenty of fuss and praise. If you are using food as a reward, make sure that both pets receive equal amounts and that they’re not close together when eating – that way they won’t be worried about the other stealing their treats! Give them both time to adjust and settle – the time this takes can vary and will be based on the individual pets. You should notice them gradually getting used to each other in a calm and comfortable manner.
“Once your pets seem happy in each other’s company, you could remove the barrier while continuing to maintain safe spaces they can retreat to if needed. If you are introducing a dog and cat, it’s best to put your dog on a lead at first and ensure your cat has escape routes. Keep the area calm, avoiding unnecessary noise such as the TV/radio.
“Although your pets may seem comfortable with one another, remember to always keep an eye on their body language to make sure they are continuing to get along.”
For more information on introducing cats into households with existing pets, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/StressInCats
Family Action announces new support for those affected by adoption before it’s too late
Family Action announces the expansion of its FamilyConnect service, managed by the country’s largest adoption support agency PAC-UK, to support people affected by adoption and to help reunite families before it is too late.
FamilyConnect was launched by national charity Family Action in 2020 and is delivered by its adoption support agency, PAC-UK. The online resource was developed to support people looking to find out about their history, their family members and to gain understanding about why they were separated from their birth family.
With funding from Adoption England, FamilyConnect will now provide a funded intermediary service for adult adoptees, and birth parents/relatives who were affected by adoption pre-1976, and who wish to reconnect with each other. The service has also been expanded to offer a specialist telephone advice line and additional online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Sir David Holmes CBE, CEO of Family Action said “I am proud to be able to announce the launch of this enhanced support from FamilyConnect and I am grateful to Adoption England for the additional funding that has made this possible.
“We know from the number of enquiries we receive that there is a huge need for good quality and accessible adoption support services, and we have seen huge demand for the support provided by FamilyConnect since we launched the service four years ago.
“I am delighted that we are now able to offer even more support and practical help before it is too late for many families. I hope that this positive investment in FamilyConnect will pave the way for further investment in vital adoption support services, like this, in the future.”
Birth mother Jill Killington was reunited with her son following a forced adoption in 1967. Jill said: “The services available through FamilyConnect are extremely important to support families disconnected by the adoptions of the past to navigate the often-emotional journey of reconnection and reunion.
“Adoption for so many birth parents and adoptees inevitably leave scars – some we can hope to heal, sadly others might take a lifetime to bear. It is still painful.
“Time is not on our side. Many birth mothers are now in their late 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. And very sadly many will end their lives still being affected by their terrible loss, unless they and their children receive the support they deserve and need to make that first step to recover from the trauma of the past.”
FamilyConnect is an 18-month pilot that includes, intermediary services for adoptions that took place between 1949 and 1976*1, (subject to eligibility criteria being met), a specialist telephone advice line on services and funding available, and new online resources for birth parents/relatives and professionals.
Emma Crowther-Duncan, North Adult Services Regional Manager at Family Action/PAC-UK, said: “For people to have access to funded intermediary services, through FamilyConnect, will help those people who were not able to access this service previously, due to cost.
“FamilyConnect helps remove a barrier that shouldn’t exist and allows people the freedom of choice, it sends the message that “we are invested in you, your story and your future”.
Jill Killington concludes: “We can never change the past, but hopefully with FamilyConnect, there is much-needed support for those affected by adoption both now and in the future.”
FamilyConnect was originally developed with the insight and leadership of experts Sir David Holmes CBE, Julia Feast OBE, University College London’s MIRRA project and the Care Leavers’ Association.
For more information, including current advice line opening times:
Visit: www.familyconnect.org.uk
Email: FamilyConnect@pac-uk.org
Phone: 0300 1800 205
Taking care of trees at Lauriston Farm
Taking care of the trees! Weeding, mulching and tree tube maintenance help the saplings to thrive.
If you can help on Sunday 4th August 11am-1pm please sign up here:
QMU Graduate launches West Lothian Film Festival
Christopher McPhillips, a BA (Hons) Film and Media student who graduated from Queen Margaret University (QMU) in July, has received an award of £2,250 to launch the annual West Lothian Film Festival, which will be making its debut this weekend.
Made possible by an extended partnership between QMU and Santander Universities, the inaugural festival will take place on the 20th and 21st July 2024 at the Vue cinema in Livingston, with many of the films produced by QMU students and graduates, or filmed at the University itself.
This festival, which was born from the dreams of its film enthusiast founder with a passion to transform his idea into a tangible reality, aims to embody Christopher’s commitment to bridging the gap between aspiring filmmakers and the enthusiastic audiences who welcome a new cultural experience.
Thirty-nine-year-old Christopher said: “The West Lothian Film Festival will offer a cinematic experience to be remembered, bringing drama, creativity, and local connections together. It serves as a rallying point for filmmakers and residents alike – a celebration of the power of silver screen storytelling.
“Being from Bathgate myself, I know the significantly positive impact events like these will have on West Lothian and its residents, and this honestly wouldn’t have been made possible without the support I received from Queen Margaret University and the extra stability that was invested in me by Santander Universities.
“The fund allowed me to organise the venue, source the judging panel and other volunteers, initiate the marketing, and so much more. I’m proud that our festival can now be the platform that has been yearned for in West Lothian for so long.”
Each year since 2007, Santander has donated funds accumulating to more than £1.5 million to its inaugural partner, Queen Margaret University, to help with student success and progression.
The main aim of the partnership is to provide support for students who are most likely to face challenges when attending higher education. Santander’s support focuses on education, employability and entrepreneurship – helping to fund student start-ups, scholarships, internships and international educational experiences.
Not having the necessary grades to apply for university while at school, Christopher decided to return to education in 2021, driven by his new-found love of film production, encouragement from his wife (who was also a QMU graduate), and the desire to inspire his newborn daughter.
He decided to study Marketing Communications at West Lothian College, which then allowed him to directly transfer into the second year of the BA (Hons) Film and Media course at Queen Margaret University – providing him with new skills and a renewed drive to progress his dreams.
It was there that he cultivated the idea for a festival in his local area that would celebrate the world of film.
When one of his University lecturers informed him of the possible support available from the Santander Universities’ Fund, he could visualise his dreams turning into reality. His application was successful, and after a lot of hard work, Christopher’s plans for the first West Lothian Film festival began to take shape.
Thomas Kelly, Head of Development and Alumni at Queen Margaret University, said: “Our partnership with Santander Universities is key to enhancing the opportunities our students receive whilst at QMU.
“This support will not only help Christopher to achieve one of his ambitions but will also allow the people of West Lothian to enjoy a new cultural festival within their area. I’d like to thank Santander Universities for their continued support, and I wish the best of luck to Christopher – we are looking forward to seeing what you go on to achieve.”
On the day of Christopher’s graduation from QMU, he celebrated with his family and classmates at an impressive ceremony held in Edinburgh’s beautiful Usher Hall, attended by QMU’s Chancellor and TV presenter Dame Prue Leith CBE. Christopher was one of 1300 students who graduated in person from Queen Margaret University across three ceremonies in July.
Matt Farnham, a lecturer at West Lothian College who Christopher has asked to be a judge at the event, said: “For years, I have wanted to offer West Lothian the opportunity to showcase its creativity to the world.
“As an educator, you want nothing more than to inspire your students; I just didn’t realise how inspired Christopher would be. To be invited to judge the competition is an absolute honour, and I cannot wait to see entries from across the globe.
“I know that every film entry has had thousands of hours of love poured into it, and I cannot wait to get started.”
Find out more about the West Lothian Film Festival, visit:
Milestone for children’s rights in Scotland
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Act commences
Children’s rights will now be at the heart of decision making in Scotland as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) Act comes into force.
The UNCRC Act requires public authorities to protect children’s human rights in their decision-making when delivering functions conferred by Acts of the Scottish Parliament. It also allows for children, young people and their representatives to use the courts to enforce their rights.
It aims to mainstream the participation of children and young people in decision making across society, with public services playing a vital role in delivering for children, young people and their communities.
Minister for Children and Young People Natalie Don said: “This is a milestone for advancing children’s rights in Scotland, delivered by the Scottish Government. We want all young people to grow up loved, safe and respected and the UNCRC Act aims to do just that.
“We all have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are at the heart of decisions that affect them and that they have the confidence and skills to get involved.
“The Scottish Government is proud that we are the first devolved UK nation to incorporate the UNCRC into law, helping to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.”
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland Nicola Killean said: “Today is historic! The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is now part of Scots law, making children’s rights legally enforceable in Scotland!
“Let’s celebrate this huge milestone & thank all the children & young people who campaigned to make this possible!”
COSLA has today welcomed the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into law in Scotland.
Ellie Craig MSYP, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament said: “I hope that the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act coming into force today sends a message to children and young people that they live in a country which aims to respect their human rights.
“Today is not an endpoint though, this is just the beginning of the next step of Scotland’s human rights journey. Scotland now moves from incorporation to implementation and this is a chance for decision makers to address the human rights issues impacting children and young people and create a culture where their rights and meaningful participation are put at the forefront of decision making.
“I’m looking forward to supporting and, where needed, challenging decision makers to stand up for the rights of all children and young people in Scotland.”
Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Associate Head of Policy for the nations, said: “Today is a momentous day for babies, children and young people in Scotland, as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is incorporated into law.
“This is a significant milestone in making sure that all children’s rights are recognised, respected and upheld.
“Among its provisions, the Convention sets out children’s right to be safe and their right to access support services to help them recover from abuse or neglect.
“Enshrining these rights in law should lead to significant changes for Scotland’s children, be it better including recognition of infants’ rights and lived experiences in the Children’s Hearing System, more protection for children from abuse online or suggest and better provision of therapeutic services for children across the country who have suffered abuse.”
I am delighted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) will come into effect on 16th July (writes TIM FREW, CEO of YouthLink Scotland).
‘UNCRC has long been the foundation of good youth work, ensuring a children’s human rights approach. It is built into the National Youth Work Outcomes and Skills Framework. It remains at the heart of what youth workers do and the mechanism practitioners use with children and young people to hold those in power accountable for budgets, community planning, and local service provision.
‘The sector has helped drive the UNCRC journey in Scotland from training and campaigns to partnership work, policy, influencing, and working directly with young people. As we call for the growth and protection of the youth work workforce, the sector has repeated its ask for a legal right to youth work, as the most direct route to delivering all UNCRC commitments and turning the Scottish Government’s flagship policy into a reality.
‘Youth workers educate young people about their rights, including specific rights such as education, protection from harm, and leisure and recreation. Based in the heart of our local authorities and across the third sector, youth workers are keenly positioned to empower young people to become advocates for their rights and the rights of others and to campaign for change effectively.
‘Participation is embedded in the non-formal youth work approach so practitioners can ensure that young people have a voice in the decision-making processes that affect them.
“Youth workers create platforms such as youth councils, forums, and workshops to discuss their views and experiences, helping to ensure that policymakers and stakeholders hear their voices.
“Youth workers are strategically positioned to train other professionals on how to incorporate the principles of the UNCRC into their practice.’
Appeal following serious assault at TRNSMT festival
POLICE are appealing for information following a serious assault at TRNSMT festival on Glasgow Green.
The incident happened in front of the ferris wheel around 3.10pm on Saturday, 13 July, 2024.
A 16-year-old male suffered serious injuries and was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment.
Officers are working to identify two males as part of the ongoing investigation.
The first male is described as being around 6ft in height, of slim build, aged around 19-20 years old, with a dark buzz cut hairstyle and a half sleeve tattoo on his right arm. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black bucket hat and Scotland saltire flag wrapped around him.
The second male is described as around 6ft 1in in height, of slim build, aged around 19-20 years old, with dark hair. He was wearing a light-coloured top.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Greenshields of Shettleston CID said: “This incident has left the victim with serious injuries, and we are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify the males responsible.
“Numerous people will have witnessed this incident, and we would urge anyone with any information that could assist with our enquiries to come forward.
“If you think you can help, you can contact police via 101, quoting 2222 of 13 July, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Holyrood Committee seeks views on the impact of the Child Poverty Act
The Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee has opened a consultation to consider the impact of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017.
The Act aims to measure, tackle and report on child poverty in Scotland. It set out specific targets that seek to virtually eradicate child poverty by April 2030. The Act also established the Poverty and Inequality Commission, which has responsibility for scrutinising child poverty reduction targets.
The Committee has launched its call for views to understand the impact of the Act, and in particular the difference that has been made by having the framework for reducing child poverty set in law.
In addition to interested individuals or groups, the Committee would like to hear from local authorities, health boards, academics with expertise in this area and private and third sector organisations that are working to reduce child poverty.
The Committee also wants to hear from people who engaged in the scrutiny of the Bill in 2017, before it became an Act, so that it can assess whether the Government’s approach has lived up to expectations.
The issue of child poverty has featured prominently in the Committee’s work, including during an inquiry that focused on parental employment where the Committee encouraged the Scottish Government to “supercharge” its efforts.
Speaking at the launch of the call for views, Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice Committee, said: “The Child Poverty Act is a landmark piece of legislation, enshrining in law targets to virtually eradicate child poverty by April 2030.
“As we are now more than halfway towards the date when the 2030 targets are due to be met, our Committee would like to hear views on how the Act is working in practice.
“We’re really keen to understand whether putting the targets into law has been effective and what might have been different had the Scottish Government not taken this approach.”
Angela Rayner to ‘kickstart new devolution revolution’
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will pledge to transfer more powers out of Westminster
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will today (Tuesday 16 July) pledge to kickstart a new devolution revolution to transfer more powers out of Westminster and into the hands of local people.
In her first letter to local leaders, Rayner will urge regions without devolved power to “partner with the government to deliver the most ambitious programme of devolution this country has ever seen”.
She will invite local leaders in devolution deserts – those with local knowledge and skin in the game – to work together to take on powers in areas like transport, adult education and skills, housing and planning, and employment support. These new agreements will mean local leaders can make decisions that benefit their communities better, while boosting economic growth and opportunity.
Devolution is central to the government’s mission to boost economic growth, but only around half of the people in England currently benefit from these arrangements. The letter from the Deputy Prime Minister makes clear that the government’s door is open to areas who want to take on devolution for the first time, with the government committed to encouraging more local authorities to come together and take on new powers.
In the letter, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: ‘For too long, Westminster government has tightly gripped control and held back opportunities and potential for towns, cities, and villages across the country.
‘Last week, with the Prime Minister, I had the pleasure of meeting the metro Mayors in England. We discussed how to have a proper, grown up conversations around economic growth, and how to deliver that through better housing, skills, and jobs for local people.
‘I want to work with more places to help them use these enhanced powers and role – because I want to drive growth in every part of the country. For any area considering it, now is the time to take the plunge and speak to us about how we can work with you to transform your regions.’
Greater Manchester, one of the places where devolution has existed for the longest and powers are deepest, has been one of the UK’s fastest growing areas over the last 20 years and is forecast to grow by more than the national average in coming years.
This has been driven by powers allowing the Greater Manchester Mayor to encourage investment into the city, boost skills, and work towards an integrated transport system.
In other parts of the country, Mayors have played a crucial role in attracting new investment – with major manufacturers such as Boeing and McLaren bringing new jobs to South Yorkshire, while West Yorkshire is now home to the UK’s fastest growing digital industry outside London.
OECD research suggests that if the autonomy of UK cities was to increase to the same level as Helsinki, then productivity would increase significantly.
Agreeing new devolution deals will mark a monumental shift of power away from Westminster into communities – giving those with skin in the game the power to make the best decisions for their people and make a difference to their lives.
The letter comes ahead of the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, which will build on the momentum of the government’s first week, by setting out how it will make a difference to the lives of working people.
More than six thousand LEZ fines in first month of enforcement
The city council has released the first Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) figures since the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) came into force in Edinburgh.
A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health.
In Edinburgh, a two-year grace period was in place, meaning no penalty charges were issued during this time, with enforcement beginning on 1 June 2024.
The figures released yesterday showed 6,030 PCN fines have been issued for the month of June 2024. This is broken down as: 5,756 level 1 penalties (first contravention) and 274 level 2 penalties (second contravention). There were no penalties issued for further levels.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Scott Arthur said: “Whilst our objective is to ultimately see zero non-compliant vehicles enter our LEZ, I’m conscious that this is a process which will take time to fully materialise.
“I was encouraged to see the relatively low level of second contraventions in the figures alongside none for further levels. This shows clearly that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their transport habits accordingly.
“We’ve already seen that public attitudes towards LEZs are improving across Scotland, with a national poll earlier this year indicating that 60% of respondents were in favour of the zones, with just 21% opposed. This is clear evidence that people are seeing the many benefits of LEZs, and how they link in with our wider aims to make our city cleaner, greener and healthier for everyone.
“I’d also reiterate that any revenue that we generate from the LEZ will be reinvested into the running of the zone, with any surplus funds supporting the LEZ’s wider goals.
“These ambitious goals include achieving net zero, accommodating sustainable growth, cutting congestion, and improving air quality, amongst other commitments to create a safer and more people-friendly city. Edinburgh is a city with big ideas for the future and the LEZ forms a key part of these.”
The revenue generated from LEZ fines won’t be used to repair Edinburgh’s broken roads and pavements, however.
All revenue generated from PCNs contribute towards running the LEZ. Any surplus revenue may only be used to support LEZ objectives, which are primarily to reduce harmful emissions from transport and encourage sustainable travel.
The LEZ also forms part of the city’s wider ambitions under our 2030 Climate Strategy and other initiatives such as the City Mobility Plan and the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision.
It is anticipated that the LEZ will significantly reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide from vehicles. This will improve public health.
A map of the LEZ is available on the Council’s website.