Pupils at a Midlothian primary school have been letting their creativity shine by creating their very own Christmas card designs as part of Barratt Developments’ festive competition.
Barratt Developments Scotland – which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes – invited pupils from Rosewell Primary School to try their hand at designing their very own festive cards, with the winning design being transformed into a physical pack to be given to residents at the housebuilder’s sites.
After judging more than 20 entries, Eva Hall from Primary 6 was crowned champion of the festive design competition, winning a £50 Smyths voucher in the process. The 10-year-old’s design depicts a snowy Christmas Eve sky with Santa’s sleigh flying over rooftops.
To mark her win, Eva and her fellow pupils who took part in the competition were invited to switch on the Christmas tree lights at David Wilson Homes’ Rosewell Meadow development on Thursday 7th December.
All budding artists were awarded a chocolate selection box for their efforts, with Eva doing the honours and switching on the lights.
Shona Richardson, Headteacher at Rosewell Primary School, said:“The pupils were very excited to be asked to take part in the Christmas Card competition.
“We have a number of creative and imaginative pupils at Rosewell so this was right up their street. Some even gave up their lunch breaks to join a ‘Christmas Card Art Club’. It was so popular that we had to bring in extra tables and chairs. It was a hive of festive activity!”
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
Anne Ross, Sales Directorat Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said:“We were extremely impressed by the designs Eva and her schoolmates created.
“Not only did they capture the joy and fun of Christmas time, but you could also see how much time and effort each pupil put into their work.
“We hope our small events bring a bit of festive sparkle to the communities we are building within East Scotland.”
Neil Hanna
www.neilhannaphotography.co.uk
07702 246823
For more information on David Wilson Homes in Scotland, visit:
Simon Community Scotland (SCS) figures show 38 people currently sleeping rough in Edinburgh each night
The charity handles over 500 requests for support at their Edinburgh hub each week
12 women are currently living in emergency accommodation
SCS urgently needs to raise £200,000 to help them provide safe places and support to people experiencing homelessness
Almost forty people could be sleeping rough across Edinburgh in the run up to Christmas according to Scotland’s largest provider of homeless support services, Simon Community Scotland (SCS).
The charity, known as Streetwork at Simon Community Scotland in Edinburgh, is currently responding to over 500 support requests per week at their Edinburgh Hub, which is open every day.
In Edinburgh, the charity is also supporting a dozen women who are experiencing homelessness by providing emergency accommodation. Around 30 people are currently in Simon Community Homes, and many more are supported through outreach services.
Simon Community’s emergency winter appeal ‘A Safe Place’ is aiming to raise £200,000 this year with funds directed straight to people being supported through their Holyrood Road Hub, SCS Homes, Streetreads Library, Outreach and Accommodation Services and Street Team.
Following the announcement that Edinburgh is now facing a housing emergency, and amid ongoing cost of living challenges, Simon Community Scotland has written an open letter to businesses around Edinburgh calling for support.
Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive at Simon Community Scotland, said: “This week alone we are providing safe places and support to well over 500 people who find themselves homeless in Edinburgh. People who are tired, cold, on the streets or in temporary accommodation.
“The winter months are particularly hard and we’re doing all we can to help. But we need support from businesses across Edinburgh to allow us to keep people safe and supported this winter, through Christmas and beyond.
“We urgently need donations to our emergency winter appeal to cope with an increasing demand for our services. From employee fundraising, volunteering and charity partnerships, we’re keen to work with as many local businesses as possible.
“Scotland’s housing crisis is a problem which won’t be solved overnight. Our Street Teams and hub staff are on the frontline, delivering support to as many people as possible. We have seen an increase in the number of people sleeping rough and visiting our hubs. We urgently need support to help provide safe places and support and we promise that all donations will be put to immediate use.”
According to Scottish Government figures, Edinburgh saw an additional 723 homeless households between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
As of 31 March 2023, over 15,000 households were living in temporary accommodation in Scotland – 46% more than a decade before.
A cross-party group of Edinburgh MSPs have come together to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Michael Matheson, highlighting the urgent need to fund a new Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.
MSPs representing Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alba, and the Scottish National Party have all co-signed the letter, in the run up to the capital spending allocation.
This letter reflects the strength of feeling of residents, right across Edinburgh towards the need for a new Eye Hospital in the city.
MSPs request Michael Matheson set out a clear timetable for the construction of a new Edinburgh Eye Hospital, after the current Eye Pavilion was declared not fit for purpose in 2014.
The MSPs have also called on Michael Matheson to consult with patients, visual impairment charities and elected representatives to achieve the best outcomes possible for Edinburgh and Lothian Residents.
The joint-letter follows a meeting of Edinburgh MSPs, Sight Scotland, Visibility Scotland and RNIB, at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 30th November, to discuss the situation in the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion.
During the meeting, MSPs heard moving testimonies from patients and staff about the dire state of current facilities and why a new hospital is so vital going forward.
All parties involved emphasised that continuing to rely on the current Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is not sustainable and will lead to deteriorating outcomes for patients and staff.
The MSPs who signed the joint letter are Sarah Boyack, Daniel Johnson, Foysol Choudhury, Miles Briggs, Jeremy Balfour, Ben Macpherson, Sue Webber, Alex Cole-Hamilton and Ash Regan.
The MSPs in attendance at the breakfast briefing were Sarah Boyack, Daniel Johnson, Miles Briggs, Ben Macpherson, Sue Webber. Alison Johnstone and Jeremy Balfour sent staff members, as they had previous engagements.
Commenting on the letter, Sarah Boyack said:“I am glad that MSPs across Edinburgh were able to come together to campaign for such a vital project.
“None of our constituents deserve to be relying on facilities that have been designated not fit for purpose, for over a decade.
“Michael Matheson needs to take note of the strength of feeling for this project – delivering the new Eye Pavilion is a priority for Edinburgh Residents
“As Edinburgh MSPs, we will continue to work together to ensure the best outcome for our constituents, and the city.”
A national strategy to prevent and address all forms of violence against women and girls has been renewed to build on recent progress.
Equally Safe, a joint strategy with COSLA, was first published in 2014, and is backed by the Delivering Equally Safe Fund that is providing £19m per year to support 121 projects from 112 organisations.
One significant milestone reached, supported by the strategy’s aims, saw the Domestic Abuse Act passed by Parliament in 2018, which created a specific offence of domestic abuse that covers physical and psychological abuse as well as coercive and controlling behaviour.
Published today during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, the refreshed strategy is focussed on increasing collaboration across sectors to tackle the attitudes and values that result in violence against women and girls.
A delivery strategy will be published next Spring and will set out further actions to achieve that goal.
Victims Minister Siobhian Brown said: “Violence against women and girls has no place in our society. The impact of violence is wide-ranging and can have a long-term lasting effect on the lives of those affected, their families and communities.
“This refreshed strategy builds on progress made to date in raising awareness of the prevalence and harmful effects of violence against women and girls, strengthening the law, and providing support and resources to public and third sector workers helping those affected.
“Our Delivering Equally Safe Fund focusses on early intervention and prevention, as well as support services and I am pleased that around 32,000 adults and children benefitted last year.
“There remains work to do and sustained action is needed. That is why our future vision focuses on finding opportunities to work collaboratively and constructively whenever possible to stamp out violence wherever we see it and preventing it happening in the first place.”
COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Councillor Maureen Chalmers said: “For nearly a decade, COSLA and the Scottish Government have worked in partnership to eradicate violence, abuse and exploitation of women and girls from Scotland.
“Our collaborative efforts have been undertaken with specialist services, public sector organisations, and local authorities. These have propelled us forward in building a more equal and safer Scotland for everyone.
“These firm foundations have allowed us to refresh the Equally Safe Strategy. It emphasises the importance of prevention, collaborative leadership, and reaffirms the unwavering commitment from both local and Scottish governments to achieve our shared goals.”
Make 2nds Count, a pioneering charity focusing on secondary breast cancer is thrilled to announce that The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund has surpassed a monumental fundraising milestone on their behalf, accumulating an impressive total of £66,900 over the course of two years.
The fund was established by Make 2nds Count and Karen’s family in honour of Karen Henderson, who tragically passed away from Secondary Breast Cancer. This incredible fundraising endeavour not only commemorates Karen’s legacy but also serves as a beacon of hope for Secondary Breast Cancer patients across the UK.
Alistair Henderson, Karen’s husband expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is fantastic to think that through The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund, Karen continues to inspire so many people to help make life just that little bit better and happier for Secondary Breast Cancer patients across the UK.
“Karen was a great fundraiser for Make 2nds Count, and we are sure she would be delighted that her great fundraising work continues on in this way. Particularly when we see the lovely feedback from the recipients of our funded initiatives.”
The funds were raised through various activities organised by the Karen Henderson Legacy Fund itself or by friends and supporters, including multiple groups taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, fashion shows at Restoration Yard in Dalkeith Country Park featuring luxury raffles, a successful ladies’ night event at the Sun Inn in Dalkeith, marathon and half marathons ran, charity sales, concerts and notably, the 500 miles challenge, all of which contributed significantly to this achievement.
This money has played a pivotal role in funding vital support services provided by Make 2nds Count, such as the Tea and a Chat program in Edinburgh, Birdsong yoga, and providing meaningful gifts for retreats aimed at supporting patients.
Alistair Henderson continued: “To reach and exceed the £60,000 figure in funds raised in just over 2 years is a fantastic achievement and very much adds to Karen’s lasting legacy.
“Karen’s Legacy Fund greatly appreciates the efforts of everyone who has contributed to making this happen, and we very much hope that we can continue the good work of Karen’s Legacy Fund as we move into 2024. Thank You.”
Make 2nds Count extends its heartfelt gratitude to The Karen Henderson Legacy Fund and all contributors for their unwavering support in making a profound difference in the lives of those affected by Secondary Breast Cancer.
NHS Lothian is urging those who have not yet had their flu and/or COVID-19 vaccines to top up their protection ahead of the festive period, with maximum protection taking around 10 days following vaccination.
Last winter in Scotland, hospital admissions for flu and COVID-19 peaked on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day respectively.
Those who are most at risk from flu and COVID-19 are being invited for vaccination this winter. That includes people who are older, are pregnant, have an underlying health condition, provide vital face-to-face care for someone or who work in certain roles.
People can check which vaccinations they are eligible for, book online or rearrange an appointment by visiting NHS Inform or calling 0800 030 8013.
You can also drop-in to a clinic of your choice across Lothian, including Waverley Mall, The Gyle and Ocean Terminal, open 9am to 7pm seven days a week. More clinic details are available at NHS Lothian, including arrangements for school children and clinics for pre-schoolers.
Pat Wynne, Nurse Director for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “As people socialise with family and friends over the festive period, the chances of catching viruses increase. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from flu and COVID-19.
“We expect another challenging winter for the NHS, and getting vaccinated can also help to alleviate pressures on the system and keep our staff well.
“The flu virus is always changing and protection from the COVID-19 vaccine fades over time, so it’s important that those eligible keep their protection levels topped up by getting their vaccines now.
“To help make it as easy as possible for you to get your vaccine(s), you can drop-in to a number of clinics or book an appointment if preferable.”
Latest data show more than one in 20 patients attending A&Es in Scotland faced a 12-hour wait in October, as RCEM Scotland describes the data as “deeply concerning”
In October 2023, there were 111,179 attendances at major A&Es in Scotland.
This is a decrease of 2.4% from the previous month.
64.8% of patients were seen within four-hours at major A&Es (Type 1 EDs)
39,157 (35.2%) patients waited over four-hours in major Emergency Departments, this is a 2.7% increase from the previous month and a 3% decrease from October 2022.
The number waiting more than four-hours has increased more than five times since October 2016 (7,793).
13,800 (12.4%) patients waited eight-hours or more in an Emergency Department.
This is the highest number of patients waiting eight-hours recorded this year.
The proportion of patients waiting eight hours has increased by 2 percentage points from the previous month and has decreased by 1.4 percentage points compared with October 2022.
The number waiting more than eight hours is more than 21 times the number waiting in October 2016 (654).
5,927 (5.3%) patients waited more than 12-hours before being seen, admitted, discharged, or transferred.
This is equal to more than one in 20 patients waiting 12-hours or more in major A&Es in Scotland.
The proportion waiting this long has increased by 1.6 percentage points from the previous month. And has decreased by 0.7 percentage points compared with October 2022.
The number waiting more than 12-hours is more than 54 times the number waiting in October 2016 (109).
There were 1,831 beds occupied due to delayed discharges, an increase of 20 from the previous month and the second highest October on record.
Commenting, RCEM Scotland Vice President, Dr John-Paul Loughrey said:“These data from October are deeply concerning. Now, in December, the situation has changed, the weather is extremely cold with much of Scotland covered in snow and dangerous ice – and things are much more difficult and precarious for both patients and staff.
“This is the most challenging time of year for the health service. Norovirus and other infections are putting significant pressure on a system already under immense strain.
“Staff continue to do their very best to deliver effective care in a timely way, reduce waiting times and mitigate any risks. However, the NHS in Scotland is not as prepared as it could be.
“We do not have a sufficient number of beds and this is driving these delays for care and the long waiting times in overcrowded A&Es. This has a knock-on effect as ambulances are stuck queuing outside A&Es, unable to attend to calls in the community.
“Our patients deserve better than this, they deserve better than to wait for 12 hours for the care they desperately need. But with no beds available, staff are unable to admit them and move them onto the next stage of their care.
“It is a disheartening situation, distressing for patients and difficult for staff.
“The Scottish government’s winter plan did not go far enough and we urge the Scottish Government to revisit their plan and rapidly open more beds and provide additional resources to help the health service through this challenging time and protect patients.
“We have the priorities to #ResuscitateEmergencyCare, the government must adopt these before we see performance deteriorate drastically and patients come to further harm.”
Edinburgh Leisure’s Danceability is featured in the new ‘Keeping Edinburgh’ podcast which has recently launched for people across Edinburgh to help boost social connections across Scotland’s Capital.
Danceability, funded by Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP), is one of several activities on offer as part of Edinburgh Leisure’s Fit & Active Programme – supporting those with disabilities to access socially connected, wellbeing-boosting fitness activities.
Support to get Fit & Active can be accessed by making a referral to Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities team. Everybody who is referred gets an access card that gives them reduced-cost access to activities such as the gym, swimming, or fitness classes for 1 year.
Edinburgh Leisure takes referrals from the Local Area Co-ordination Team supporting young adults, from support providers and social workers or people with a learning disability can also self-refer to request support.
Using their card, participants can attend any of Edinburgh Leisure’s gym, swim or fitness class sessions, as well as their specific Fit & Active activities for adults with learning disabilities that are available at Meadowbank Sports Centre and Leith Victoria Swim Centre.
Sara Kemp, Equalities Community Development Officer for Edinburgh Leisure, explains: “The funding from EHSCP is around supporting people to have more good days and physical activity is key to this.
“There is a lot of data out there that says that people with physical and learning difficulties were among the most affected by services closing and not restarting after the pandemic. They also experienced the most social isolation.
“If you think about lockdown, a lot of people who come to our classes rely on support workers to go out and meet other people so they can have fun in social situations – and all that was taken away.
“A lot of services didn’t restart after COVID-19 and that was due to a lack of funding for some of them, and at the beginning, due to restrictions on space. But Edinburgh Leisure has managed to restart Danceability and customers have started to come back after this period of potentially quite long isolation with the disabled community once again able to get out and socialise, and have a good time.”
The benefits of exercise are well documented. Beyond the physical benefits, keeping active can improve mental health, quality of life and overall well-being. The second episode, Keeping Edinburgh Active, explores how organisations are offering opportunities to improve accessibility for anyone to keep active, and how keeping active is helping build confidence amongst those facing emotional or physical struggles or other disadvantages.
The new ‘Keeping Edinburgh podcast’ launched in late November and is presented by Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter (and keyboardist to Callum Beattie) Gus Harrower. As well as a touring musician, Gus was approached for this project thanks to his ongoing work as an established Community Musician, working with major charities and organisations to empower and improve people’s well-being through music.
The initial six-episode pilot series is an investment by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, with the podcast designed and delivered in collaboration with partners across NHS Scotland and the third and independent sectors.
The series aims to highlight just some of the thousands of opportunities across the capital to support people’s well-being and launches at the start of the winter period – a time that sees increased pressure on health and social care services with research showing that those experiencing loneliness are more likely to visit their GP or A&E during this time.
Each half-hour episode provides an immersive audio journey into some of the many free-to-access social-prescribing experiences across the Capital, that are helping individuals and communities to have more good days. The first two episodes are available now to download via Apple and Spotify and feature experiences from several established Edinburgh organisations including Capital Theatres, Edinburgh Leisure, and Volunteer Edinburgh.
Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick, Strategic Programme Manager at the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership is committed to addressing social isolation as it is the number one public health issue globally.
She says, “It’s an issue we all have to try and tackle. Part of that comes from increasing our individual and collective awareness of the breadth and range of opportunities out there that can offer people the opportunity to connect with one another and have more good days.”
“Whether it’s arts initiatives, community meals, physical exercise, mindfulness, or simply getting outdoors, there are many different options to benefit from. We want to showcase a ‘tip of the iceberg’ view of what’s out there, as well as help listeners, get a taste of what it’s like to be part of different groups and activities – experience what it’s like to be in the room or places alongside people already benefitting from these activities.
“We hope to build that shared knowledge as well as that confidence with listeners to take their own first steps by hearing directly from others who are benefitting from these wonderful programmes.”
Launching with an initial two episodes – Keeping People Connected (ep 1) and Keeping People Active (ep 2) – further episodes of the initial six-episode series will be released monthly covering initiatives and spaces across the arts, physical activities, community gardens, volunteering, and more.
The ‘fly on the wall’ audio experience aims to offer an engaging content experience for anyone. For avid podcast listeners, its content and style of storytelling is one that sits within multiple genres, with a strong slant towards society and culture, as well as the podcast’s health and well-being-boosting intentions.
