letters – Page 16 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Letters: Let’s make sure the Scotland we return to is inclusive for everyone

Dear Editor

As lockdown eases the Scottish Government wants us to walk and cycle more, to reduce passenger numbers on public transport and encourage us all to keep fit and healthy.

RNIB Scotland believes this ‘Spaces for People’ initiative could transform active travel for everyone. However, we remain concerned that, if these moves are introduced too hastily, with not enough thought given to people who are blind or partially sighted or who have other mobility issues, it could actually end up putting barriers in place.

We want space for new cycle lanes to be taken from roads not pavements, for new designs to avoid the shared spaces concept, for clutter to be removed from our streets, and for controlled crossings to the road or bus stops to be installed. This will make things safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

The current situation has made us all a little more aware of what it is like to feel vulnerable, to depend more on others. Let’s build on the sense of greater cohesiveness this crisis has created and make sure the Scotland we return to is inclusive for everyone.

James Adams

Director, Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland

12-14 Hillside Crescent

Edinbugh

Letters: Lifeline

Dear Editor

May I express my thanks to the organisers and volunteers in setting up the outstanding work by so many local people in providing over a long period the delivery of meals and other supplies throughout North Edinburgh.

These have been gratefully received and have been a lifeline.

It has been successful and I feel it is an indicator of the possibilities of future activity and working together.

Tony Delahoy

Letters: Help prevent a kitten crisis

Dear Editor

Cats Protection is asking cat owners to help prevent a kitten crisis this year.

Due to fewer vets doing neutering during Covid-19, the charity estimates as many as 84,000 extra kittens could be born this summer.

This is why we are urging people to keep their unneutered cats indoors, and also unneutered males and females and siblings apart, until vet practices can become fully operational and resume neutering.

Cats Protection has produced an infographic with useful tips on how to stop cats becoming pregnant: www.cats.org.uk/neutering-your-cat

The charity can also support owners on limited incomes with the costs of neutering when vet practices are fully operational again. Call Cats Protection’s Neutering Line on 03000 12 12 12 (option 2) or visit the charity’s website at www.cats.org.uk/neutering

A survey of 1,000 cat owners has highlighted many are unaware of the importance of neutering and the consequences for not neutering cats at the earliest opportunity. Seventy seven per cent were unaware that a female cat can become pregnant from four months old and 86 per cent didn’t know that an unneutered female cat can have as many as 18 kittens in a year.

Our fear is that many kittens born will be left on the streets. Cats Protection is full up with cats and, owing to Covid-19, is unable to admit many more except in emergencies.

We hope your readers can help do their bit and help to prevent a kitten crisis.

Yours faithfully

Sarah Reid

Acting Head of Neutering, Cats Protection

Letter: Support for Fathers

Dear Editor,

Looking after a child can be a challenge for all parents at times but even more so in the current situation with measures put in place to contain the Coronavirus.

The lack of respite from children’s needs or relationship strains will be taking their toll on many parents; some will have lost their jobs and be experiencing financial difficulties and there will be those who have suffered illness and bereavement.

These pressures and anxieties will be intensified by the fact that families are having to cope without access to their usual support networks.

This month, as we mark Father’s Day and International Father’s Mental Health Day, we want to send a message to dads that there is help out there and, if you are finding things difficult or you feel you are struggling to cope, it is so important that you reach out for support. Looking after your mental health is vital for your own wellbeing, as well as your child’s.

Earlier this year, NSPCC Scotland teamed up with the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee to launch the All of Us campaign to let families know where and how they can get advice and support.

The different organisations involved in the campaign are working together to gain insight into how they can best support families and protect children across Edinburgh.

Our NSPCC Helpline counsellors are here for fathers whatever their worry. For parenting advice and support contact the helpline at help@nspcc.org.uk or on 0808 800 5000, weekdays 8am to 10pm and weekends 9am to 6pm.

To find out more about the campaign and about available local support visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/allofus

CARLA MALSEED,

NSPCC Scotland campaigns manager,

on behalf of the All of Us campaign being run with Edinburgh Child Protection Committee

SCCR_leaflet_Conflict_Top_Tips

Letters: BHF launches free postal donation service for shops

Dear Editor,

I would like to let your readers know about a new service we have launched at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which will make it even easier to donate decluttered items and support our charity to help save lives right here in Scotland.

Many people will have spent their time at home having a much-needed clear out and have been kindly holding onto their preloved items ready to donate to us.

Our post to donate service is a quick, free and simple initiative where you can donate smaller items via post. As our 750 UK shops and stores begin to reopen throughout June and July, this service is the perfect solution if your local BHF Scotland shop is not yet open, or you’re simply not ready to head to the high street

From electronic items, clothes and vinyl records to video games, shoes and collectible objects, we hope to receive good quality items which will be sold either online via our eBay store or at a BHF shop.

You can post your donations for free by downloading a postage label online and dropping it off at your local Collect+ store. To download your label and find your nearest Collect+ store, visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop

Our charity shops rely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted anything that’s donated to us. Every pound raised in our shops here helps us to support the 720,000 people in Scotland living with heart and circulatory diseases, many of whom are at increased risk from Covid-19.

Yours faithfully

James Jopling

Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland

Letters: Thanking People’s Postcode Lottery players

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank players of People’s Postcode Lottery for their continued support as Cats Protection enters its third year of funding.

During these challenging times, Cats Protection is working flat out to keep caring for cats and the wonderful support we receive from players has never been more appreciated.

People’s Postcode Lottery players have helped us find loving new homes for thousands of cats by supporting essential cat care assistant and volunteer team leaders roles at our centres across England, Scotland and Wales, and funding our two cat behaviour posts (specialists who provide advice and support to our centres and branches). In addition, 10,000 microchips have been provided to our centres, helping to ensure that cats leave our care with a safe and permanent means of identification.

Over the coming year, players will also be supporting our important advocacy work, helping us create a better world for cats via campaigns such as Purrfect Landlords and Microchips Reunite, as well as helping to cover the overall costs of looking after cats at our centres.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the work of Cats Protection, or needing cat related advice, can visit www.cats.org.uk

Kind regards,

James Yeates
Chief Executive, Cats Protection

Letters: This Is Not Living

Dear Editor

Over seventy years ago the people of the UK decided the NHS was a necessary public service to be owned by the public and to be publicly funded.

Many struggles tok place to maintain this principle. Today, people take great pride in this social way of organisation. We owe a great debt to all those past and present who foresee the future.

From January to May 2020 the population has taken a hammering from the coronavirus.

In order for people to ‘stay at home’ and not go to work unless they were key workers, a Government scheme was launched to pay companies money for up to 60 – 80% of their employees wages. At best this was approximately a 25% reduction in income for most people.

As we know the kindness and generosity to others has been amazing, as with the recent recalling of the end of World War II, when the prevailing mood at that time in 1945 was that we, the people, will make changes in how our things are run and organised for the benefit of all.

Today, the people are are realising that the kind of society that has been created over this past century is a massive apology for living.

The daily chase to work on packed buses,trams and railways or packed in traffic jams of thousands – whatever transport is used, it eats up eveyone’s time, pollutes the air and dmages the climate. This is not living. There must be changes.

More and more people whilst having to deal with the coronavirus have also been aware that things have to change, making our lives more in harmony with the world and not in the interests of money makers and investors.

People have seen that investors control which industries operate, whom they employ and under what conditions – be that full time working, flexi work or zero hour contracts – all of these are decided by the companies.

Wealthy investors’ ownership of major parts of the economy as ‘theirs’ cannot be justified in any way.

As happened with the formation of the NHS, rail buses and trams must be brought into public ownership. Now people are recognising how indispensible the NHS is, so too are rail, buses and trams – they are an essential part of normal society, not an investment for greedy individuals.

During this lockdown major lessons have been understood, people appreciating a calmer environment with less traffic, cleaner air and being able to hear the birds sing.

Major changes have been taking place in our daily lives. At this moment in time working people are in great danger, even worse than the last six years of austerity.

Even the subsidy to wages that the government borrowed for the employers to hand out will be clawed back from the working people: in taxes, longer hours, cuts in services and raised prices.

These same working people will ‘pay back’ the investors and gamblers, banks and city corporations who will fight with all their guile and strength to recoup every penny of their wealth – and continue to amass fortunes and control the lives of the population.

Tony Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letters: Austerity – Never Again!

Dear Editor

When the banks crashed through mismanagement and greed most were bailed out by the government, using public money to do so.

People were told that everyone was ‘in it together’.

But as we know from thise years, the government embarked onn what they called Austerity, in whih wages were frozen for years; prices were rising; major cuts were made in services of all kinds;unemployment and zero hours contracts grew.

The years of tremendous sacrifices made by the people in their lives have now been forgotten by employers and government alike.

In fact there is an indication that both of these are preparing the repeat of austerity, more severe than the last – and that will last much longer.

The people must not allow this to happen again!

The investors and financial institutions are intent to make everyone pay and once again decimate the lives of all people.

Tony Delahoy

Letters: Covid-19 and the potential risk of increase in M.E.

Dear Editor

As the nation gets to grips with containing the Coronavirus pandemic, attention must be given to the possible impact on long-term health.

Some of your readers will have personal experience – or know someone who has – of the serious neurological condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), or seen stories being shared to mark May’s M.E. Awareness Month.

We know that many of 250,000 men, women and children in the UK with M.E. became ill following an infection or virus. This means we face the possibility, being raised by our medical advisors, researchers we work with and international experts, of a spike in post-Covid illnesses – including M.E.

Already some people who have contracted Covid-19 are reporting lingering dizziness, nausea and crippling fatigue – all common symptoms of M.E.

We know that it is sensible for anyone with a virus to take proper time to recover. They should not push themselves, but instead listen to their body and rest as much as needed, to give themselves the best chance of making a full recovery.

Action must now be taken to investigate the long-term post-viral effects of Covid-19, and put appropriate support in place for those whose health is affected beyond initial viral infection.

To those reading this who already live with M.E., we know that living under “lockdown” thanks to chronic and often disabling symptoms is nothing new.

Action for M.E.’s Crisis, Advocacy and Support Service can help source practical local assistance, and advocate for health and social care needs, as well as offering comprehensive information and support to manage M.E.

Please call on 0117 927 9551 or email questions@actionforme.org.uk and we will do what we can.

Sonya Chowdhury

Chief Executive, Action for M.E.