Legislation to implement Frank’s Law in Scotland has been given the green light by MSPs, nearly a year after the campaign was formally launched at Holyrood. It means the new rules – allowing under 65s with conditions like dementia to receive free personal care – will be in place by April next year. Continue reading Green light at last for Frank’s Law
Local supporters of leading farm animal welfare charity, Compassion in World Farming will be taking action to #StopLiveTransport this weekend. Continue reading Stop Live Transport: Compassion Edinburgh Volunteers won’t be cowed
The Scottish Conservatives have launched a national pothole campaign, ‘Save Our Roads’, to raise awareness of the decaying state of Scotland’s roads and bring the issue into the national agenda. Continue reading Scottish Conservatives launch Save Our Roads campaign
TUESDAY 22nd MAY at 7pm
LEITH THEATRE, Thomas Morton Hall 28 – 30 Ferry Road
Save Leith Walk is hosting a public meeting about the proposed development at Stead’s Place, which plans to demolish the red sandstone buildings at 106 – 154 Leith Walk
The aim of the event is to give the Leith community an opportunity to understand the proposed plans and the criticisms, and provide their views.
Chaired by Morven Cunningham – Director of LeithLate, the audience will hear from Leith local businesses, including Leith Depot, community residents, the Cockburn Association, Ollie Glick from Edinburgh University Students Association and Fife Hyland representing Drum Property Group.
Presentations will be followed by an open Q&A.
Save Leith Walk is a grassroots public campaign to prevent the demolition of a building, protect the heritage of the Walk, and celebrate the very essence of what Leith is. https://www.facebook.com/saveleithwalk/
Renowned photographer Rankin has captured the extraordinary kindness shown by British Red Cross volunteers who helped in last year’s emergencies in London and Manchester. The UK terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire caused significant loss of life, and led to one of the largest humanitarian responses by the British Red Cross here in the UK since World War Two. Continue reading Rankin captures kindness shown during last year’s emergencies in London and Manchester
STAND UP FOR LEITH: Leith Central CC to oppose ‘invasive’ development
Another invasive development could be coming to Leith Walk. If you live in Leith and want to make your voice heard, please attend the Leith Central Community Council meeting on Monday 19th March. We need to strongly and visibly oppose this. Continue reading Leave Leith alone!
Has the council got it’s sums wrong?
Parents at Drummond Community High School and its feeder primary schools have united in opposition to the proposal to move the Gaelic Medium Education unit from James Gillespie’s High School to Drummond. Campaigners say the joint projected school rolls show that the school would be over capacity within four years and could not accommodate both Drummond and Gaelic pupils if the merger went ahead. Continue reading Drummond Community High School proposals “getting it wrong for every child”
SNP politicians are calling on the Tory government at Westminster to use its reserved powers to ban the sale of electronic shock collars across the UK. Continue reading Taking a lead: SNP take shock collar campaign to Tories at Westminster
Campaign launched to increase understanding and reporting of hate crime
The Scottish Government has joined with Police Scotland and the Crown Office (COPFS) to launch a new campaign against hate crime.
‘Hate has no home in Scotland’ launched during Hate Crime Awareness Week and will run until 26 November. It aims to increase public understanding of what hate crime is, and how to report it – for those who personally experience it and, importantly, bystanders to hate crimes.
More than 5,300 cases of hate crime were reported in Scotland over the past year, with many other incidents going unreported. The campaign has been developed in partnership with a broad range of stakeholders involved in dealing with hate crime and its consequences as a response.
Launching the campaign, Equalities Secretary Angela Constance (above) said: “We all need to play our part to eradicate hate crime, which has no place in Scotland. ‘Hate has no home’ encourages and empowers people to recognise hate crime and report it, stopping this discrimination at its source. That is particularly important when people are bystanders – no one should be a passive witness when one of our fellow citizens is attacked because of who they are.
“We are committed to working with stakeholders, including Police Scotland and the COPFS, to tackle this blight. Ensuring we all take a stand and report hate crime is an important part of creating a fairer country for all. I look forward to seeing the country come together to support the campaign and take a stand against such hate.”
Chief Superintendent John McKenzie, Police Scotland, Safer Communities, said: “People of all races, religions, ethnicities, of any sexual orientation or with any disability should be able to live their lives free from hate or harassment. There is no place for hate in Scotland and it is our communities, who will lead the way in tackling hate crime with the support of police, the Government and other partners.
“Hate crime is under reported, we want to change that and we are asking people not to be bystanders. Speak out, help us tackle hate crime. By working together we can drive prejudice out of our communities and out of Scotland.”
Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said: “Crime motivated by hatred is not only a wrong against the individual, but is an affront to our collective values as a community, creating division and fear. That is why we treat it so seriously and why we will continue to do so.
“The prosecution service, along with our colleagues in Police Scotland and other agencies, plays an essential role in creating an environment in which all people who live in Scotland, regardless of their personal or social circumstances, can have confidence that they live in a just society and that they will be protected from crime.”
More information on the campaign can be found here.
Brock welcomes rethink on Registry Office closure – but says the fight isn’t over yet
Deidre Brock MP has hailed “victory for the Leithers” over news that Edinburgh Council has backed down over its plans to close Leith Registrars Office, putting them on hold until a public consultation has been held. A petition to save the Registrar gathered 4000 signatures in just a couple of days, showing the massive support from Leithers for the service. Continue reading Persevere: Victory for Leithers as Registrar’s stays open!
