Out of the COVID pandemic and straight into a #costoflivingcrisis …
One Parent Familes Scotland asked single parents accessing their services about the main issues affecting their lives and what needs to be done to tackle them.
Read OPFS’s cost of living impact report: https://bit.ly/39N9i0e
Please give a child dignity, confidence and a sense of belonging when they go to school. Times are hard and families need your help more than ever.
A set of uniform can be the difference between a child attending and engaging in school or staying away.
There are two ways you can get involved in our Sponsor A Child appeal this summer:
You can of course just buy an item or two of new school clothing, and we will add it into a pack. Our Amazon wishlist also remains open if you would like to have something sent directly to us.
Fields in Trust – the independent charity that has been protecting parks and green spaces for almost 100 years – has announced that its search for the UK’s Favourite Parks is back this summer and is calling upon the residents of Edinburgh to get nominating now!
The popular campaign has returned for the first time since 2019 and covers the length and breadth of the nation to shine a light on the green spaces that hold a special place in our hearts.
Having acted as refuge to many over the past few years, Fields in Trust is bringing back the campaign to find the UK’s Favourite Parks to ensure that they continue to be celebrated in a post-pandemic world.
The charity recently commissioned a study which found that almost half of us have visited local parks more often than we used to as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coupled with research that has shown that access to nature was one of the main ways people have supported their mental health during lockdowns, Fields in Trust is determined that this year’s campaign celebrates the spaces that gave us so much in our time of need.
This year’s UK’s Favourite Parks campaign is made all-the-more important in light of the Fields in Trust’s recently released annual Green Space Index report.
The study – which analyses the provision and distribution of parks and green spaces in the UK – found that 2.8 million people live more than ten minutes’ walk away from a green space.
With only 6% of green space legally protected in Great Britain, Fields in Trust worries that this will only worsen in coming years if we do not appreciate and advocate for our local parks.
Chief Executive of Fields in Trust, Helen Griffiths, said: “There is no doubt that the importance of green spaces has been acutely felt recently, with people increasingly turning to their local parks to find a sense of tranquillity, space, and belonging since the pandemic began.
“When restrictions were at their highest, many sought refuge in their daily walk around the park; and when restrictions lifted to allow outdoor gatherings, the same parks became the backdrop for reunions with loved ones and new memories made.
“At a time when things were so hard for so many, these places provided respite; now, through our UK’s Favourite Parks campaign, we want to give people the chance to show their appreciation for the green spaces that were there for them.”
The search for the UK’s Favourite Parks starts today, meaning you can nominate your local green space now. Nominations are open until Tuesday 5 July, before the chosen parks go head-to-head in a public vote.
Regional spots to have made the UK’s Favourite Parks list in previous years include Figgate Park, Pittencrieff Park and Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, and this year, the Fields in Trust team hopes to unearth even more green spaces that are close to Scotland’s hearts.
“We are thrilled to be on the search once again for the UK’s Favourite Parks and we have no doubt that we’ll find some absolute gems along the way. We can’t wait to see the places that get put forward in Scotland.
“Whether it’s the park you head for when the sun is shining; your favourite place to walk the dog; the place you go to stretch your legs; or your family’s favourite spot to spend quality time together: we want you to nominate your favourite today!”
To nominate your local park, visit www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks.
Dear Editor,
June is Pride month and events such as Pride Glasgow and Edinburgh Pride, this Saturday (25th June), will be celebrating the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements.
Pride is a great way to encourage young people to feel comfortable to talk about their sexuality and gender identity, especially as at Childline we have delivered more than 4,000 counselling sessions to young people in Scotland and across the UK over the last year with worries about these issues.
Among these concerns, young people spoke to trained counsellors about experiences of coming out; questioning their sexuality or gender identity; gender dysphoria; discrimination and prejudice to sexuality or gender identity; and self-acceptance.
It can be a worrying time for young people who are facing these concerns, and it can be tough for parents and carers to know how to help.
One way for parents and carers to help their children feel confident to speak up is by simply having a conversation with them. Just by having a chat, or perhaps looking at some of the advice on the Childline or NSPCC websites, parents can help give young people the confidence to be proud of who they are.
Childline is also here for them. They can speak to a trained counsellor over the phone on 0800 1111 or via email or on a 1-2-1 chat via the Childline website.
Adeniyi Alade
Head of Childline
NSPCC Scotland
With fewer than 200 sleeps until Christmas, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is finalising plans to welcome back Christmas at the Botanics for its sixth year.
The annual festive marvel will once again light up the capital’s night sky with a one mile illuminated trail, running for six weeks from 17 November to 30 December (selected evenings only).
New installations at the Botanics for 2022 include:
· Floraison, from the French artistic collective, Pitaya, takes flora and fauna to a new level. A total of 240 red, glowing flowers will appear to blossom on trees along the path of the Chinese Hillside bringing an ethereal vibe to the trail.
· Aurora, from UK artists ITHACA, makes its first ever appearance in Scotland. A new overhead piece, the installation recreates the visual tones of the stunning Aurora Borealis with waves of colour.
· Feathers, by UK artists Pyrite Creative, sees UV feathers measuring up to two meters, appear to float gracefully in the trees above visitors as they pass by.
Returning festive favourites include the magnificent Christmas Cathedral, Inverleith House projection and – making its return for 2022 – the Laser Garden, which will for the first time in Edinburgh feature rainbow lasers casting beams and thousands of coloured dots across the surrounding landscape.
The 2021 trail attracted the biggest audience in its six-year history – welcoming more than 90,000 visitors over its five-week run. With the capital able to again welcome visitors from across the UK and internationally, organisers are aiming for another record-breaking year, as family and friends come together to enjoy the festivities.
Kari Coghill, Director of Enterprise and Communication, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said: “We work hard all year to display the fruits of the seasons through our magnificent plant collections.
“Opening the Garden on a crisp winter’s evening continues to be special as visitors can experience this wonderful place in a very different light – all while enjoying a hot chocolate or toasting a marshmallow with friends or family.
“Ticket sales from Christmas at the Botanics help us to maintain the Garden and continue our work in plant research, conservation, horticulture and education. I look forward to throwing open our gates and welcoming everyone to the trail in November.”
Jonathan Marks, Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Creating festive traditions with family or friends is something to be cherished.
“Christmas at the Botanics has become a milestone moment which kicks off the season for so many people. It’s the perfect get-together for all ages. As with last year, we are again able to welcome larger groups and I can’t wait to see everyone enjoying the illuminated Garden.”
Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas. Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Christmas at the Botanics is one of 14 illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.
UNEXPECTED GARDEN OPEN DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday 25th June from 2 – 5pm
Drop-in art sessions
Planting activities
Percussion workshop
Pizza Making
Weekend visitors to Silverknowes Promenade in Edinburgh should keep their eyes peeled for a sack race with a difference.
The Great Scottish Tattie Run is back after a three year absence and more than 300 participants are expected to race with a 20kg sack of Branston Potatoes on their back.
The fun event on Sunday (26 June) is free and open to all ages – female runners can opt for a 10kg bag of tatties – while youngsters grouped according to age can enter the Spud & Spoon race.
And every runner can cash in their chips, taking home their free Branston bag of spuds, in addition to a bespoke medal marking their completion of the race.
The 6th Great Scottish Tattie Run gets underway at 2pm and entries can be taken on the day for people arriving by 1.30pm. The adult race for men and women is 1 mile long, followed by a relay race featuring teams of four who will run 400 metres each, and rounding off the fun with the children’s event.
Event organiser Terry Crossley, of Great Scottish Events, said: “There is nothing quite like The Great Scottish Tattie Run and we hope the people of Edinburgh will come along to take part or just to cheer on the runners.
“Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, Branston, race entry is free and participants can also take home their 10kg or 20kg bag of tatties, and for younger runners they will have great fun in the Spud & Spoon race.
“After an absence of three years due to Covid restrictions, we are delighted to be back at wonderful Silverknowes and hope we can establish The Great Scottish Tattie Run as a not-to-be-missed fun family annual event.”
Kevin Imrie, general manager of Branston’s potato-packing site in Abernethy near Perth, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring this fantastic event once again and helping to raise funds for some very worthy charities in the process.
“Twenty kilos is a hefty weight to carry, never mind running a mile with it, so it’s real test of strength and stamina as well as a great way to work up an appetite for all those tatties.”
For more information and to enter the race, visit The Great Scottish Tattie Run or turn up on Sunday at Silverknowes Promenade near to the Boardwalk Beach Club by 1.30pm.
Website: www.greatscottishevents.net
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is set to host a series of workshops this summer in Edinburgh for its Little Seedlings Club. Magnificent Microgreens will take place on Sunday 3 July, and back for 2022 is Dobbies’ Summer Holiday Club sessions, perfect for keeping the little ones busy during the school break.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club is a free children’s gardening club for children aged 4-10 in Edinburgh which explores the exciting ways children can connect to plants, wildlife and the environment, nurturing their minds with fun-filled activities.
The Magnificent Microgreens workshop will take a deep dive into the science behind the nutritious leafy greens, showcasing all the health benefits of eating these superfoods and how attendees can easily grow their own at home no matter the space by making their very own windowsill planter to take home and grow.
The not your average garden centre will also be demonstrating all the ways in which chefs use microgreens in the kitchen to help encourage kids to eat their greens.
Dobbies’ Summer Holiday Club sessions in Edinburgh will take place on 26 and 27 July between 11-12 am. These interactive workshops will explore how children can create their very own summer sanctuary in the garden for plants and wildlife to flourish.
Here attendees will take a closer look at the insects, birds and animals that call the garden home during the summer months, making bug hotels, learning interesting animal facts, and finding out all the ways we can make our garden into a wildlife haven.
Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, explained: “Summer holidays are a great chance for the little ones to harvest a new passion for gardening, enjoy time with kids of a similar age and learn something new.
“Our free Little Seedlings workshops are open to all, and this summer we’re showing our young gardeners that anything is possible in their green space if they have the right knowledge and tools.”
Advance booking is required for the free events to secure your space. For more information about how children can get involved in these workshops at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit the following links.
Magnificent Microgreens: https://events.dobbies.com/event-detail/?e=4209&v=0&r=v.
Summer Holiday Club: https://events.dobbies.com/event-detail/?e=4210&v=0&r=v.
LAWYERS WARN OF MORE VICTIMS IN NHS LOTHIAN AUDIOLOGY CASE
Lawyers supporting victims of the NHS Lothian hearing service scandal have warned that the number of children affected could be far greater than those identified in the independent report.
An audit of the health board’s audiology services found significant concerns in 155 of the 1007 patients treated between 2009 and 2018, which led to some children being identified with hearing loss years later than when first tested.
However, it has now emerged that THOUSANDS of children could be affected as lawyers highlight the 1,007 patients analysed in the audit was just a “sample” of those tested during the 9-year period.
Grace Smith, Associate at global law firm PGMBM, who are supporting parents affected by the scandal, said: “Whilst the audit highlighted those 155 children who were significantly affected by the failures at NHS Lothian, it is clear that the real number of families affected is much higher.
“The audit was performed on a sample of just over 1000 patients that were treated at NHS Lothian between 2009 and 2018. Within that 9-year period there were far more children through the doors of the Paediatric Audiology Service. The patient case load for this time frame was 22,900.
“The audit found concerns with 88% of the records within the sample. If that same percentage is applied to the full patient caseload across that time period, then the number of families affected by the report, delays and misdiagnosis could run into five figures. We know that there are children who were not included in the audit sample who have been affected by the failings highlighted in the audit report. ”
PGMBM are representing a parent whose child was not included in the audit sample – but experienced significant and serious delays in diagnosis.
Grace added:. “One of the families we are representing was seen by NHS Lothian’s Audiology Service several times from 2019 after their child failed a hearing test at birth.
“Despite repeatedly raising concerns about their child’s hearing, they were dismissed again and again and told that their child’s hearing was normal. However, at almost three years old, an external second opinion diagnosed their child with severe hearing loss. This significant delay in diagnoses happened at a key developmental stage for their child.
“There are clearly more people affected than were reviewed in the audit sample. We would appeal to anyone worried to get in touch with either NHS Lothian or ourselves and we can look at ways to support you.”
The British Academy of Audiology report found systemic failings which led to babies and children undiagnosed or experiencing significant delays in diagnosis and treatment.
It was found that there were a series of serious issues particularly within the under-five age group of the Paediatric Audiology service. The root causes of these failures were found to be a lack of scientific leadership, knowledge, reflection and enquiry in the presence of a lack of routine and robust quality assurance process.
The report found that staff were not following professional standards, training was almost exclusively in-house and insufficient, testing was not carried out correctly and there was no evidence of consistent management protocol or structure for children after results of tests. As such children who presented with similar test results and histories were being managed in different and contrasting ways. It also found that parents concerns were often dismissed.
NHS Lothian apologised following the report which was published last December.
Anyone who thinks they might be affected by the issues identified in the audit and would like more information can speak to PGMBM lawyers at:
www.nhslothianclaimlawyers.com
PGMBM is a partnership between British, American, and Brazilian lawyers passionate about championing justice for the victims of wrongdoing or harm.
The firm has recently opened it’s Scottish office in Edinburgh, with Partner Alison Webb at the helm.
The case is among the first of many that the Scottish entity is taking on in an emerging market for group litigation in Scotland.
The first 2 weeks of our Summer Holiday Activities are now available to be booked!
Mon 4th Lego Club [5-6pm] Age: 5+
Tue 5th Bookbug [10:30-11am] Age: 0-5y
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/370337087197
Wed 6th Clay Dragons Workshop [2-3pm] Age: 8+
Thu 7th Composers Quiz [3-4pm] Age: 6+
Fri 8th Craft: Musical Instrument [3-4pm] Age: 5+
Sat 9th CLOSED
The first 2 weeks of our Summer Holiday Activities are available to be booked from today!
Mon 11th Cinema Club! (please contact the library for more details) [6pm] Age: 4+
Tue 12th Bookbug [10:30-11am] Age: 0-5y
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/370386444827
Wed 13th Photography & Collage Library workshop[3-4:40pm] Age: 11-14y
Thur 14th Outdoor Mini Sports Games [3-4pm] Age: 5+
Fri 15th Craft: Balance Birds [3-4pm] Age 5+
Sat 16th Bookbug & Storytime [11-11:30am] Age: 0-5y
