Tag: NEN

Capital looks to green future

Ensuring Edinburgh’s future infrastructure and capital investments contribute to a green future is just one of the recommendations for a green recovery in a report by the Edinburgh Climate Commission.

  • Edinburgh Climate Commission calls on Scottish Government and City Leaders to commit to a green recovery for the future of the city and its people
  • Inaugural report makes 10 recommendations for ensuring a thriving, fair and sustainable Edinburgh that is resilient to future economic and public health shocks
  • The Edinburgh Climate Commission is the only independent climate commission in Scotland

The Commission’s inaugural report sets out 10 recommendations for Edinburgh’s green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and will be considered by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday 9 July.

Led by Chair Dr. Sam Gardner, the Commission is the only independent climate commission in Scotland and was created in February 2020 to accelerate the action on climate change in Edinburgh. It has 15 expert commissioners from a variety of sectors and backgrounds and has committed to a series of reports that will lead, inform and shape the ambition to be a Carbon Neutral City by 2030.

A working group, led by finance expert Commissioner Kaisie Rayner, has produced its first report ‘Forward Faster Together – Recommendations for A Green Economic Recovery in Edinburgh’ addressing the city’s compound emergencies: the global climate crisis and recovery from the global pandemic.

Dr Gardner is expected to call on the Council to commit to a green economic recovery, investing in net zero transport infrastructure; prioritising capital projects that deliver a greener, healthier city environment and investing in local economies with shorter supply chains that support local jobs and community wellbeing.

The Commission’s 10 recommendations call for:

  1. A joint commitment to Green Economic Recovery from Local and National Government  
  2. Public stimulus and organisational investment decisions should be conditional upon contributing to a greener future
  3. Redesign and invest in carbon neutral transport infrastructure
  4. A city-wide approach to energy efficiency and renewable heat
  5. Localise services, support and infrastructure to build community resilience
  6. Focus on wellbeing in natural and built environment investments
  7. Embrace new business practices to reimagine building assets and opportunities for the city
  8. Grow skills and knowledge to deliver a city green recovery and lead a global transition
  9. Develop low carbon sectors and business models to make the city globally competitive
  10. Become a global leader in sustainable investment

Edinburgh Climate Commission Chair, Dr. Sam Gardner, said: “COVID-19 has shown the power of common purpose; we must now seize the moment created by the devastating pandemic to tackle the climate emergency and secure a fairer more sustainable future for this City and its people.

Edinburgh must plot a path to recovery that delivers new jobs, builds resilience and attracts investment. A green recovery does this and gives meaning to the phrase ‘build back better’; it kick-starts the much-needed acceleration to a net zero city by 2030 while improving our health and resilience to future shocks.”

A green economic recovery is in the best interests of the whole city.”

Commissioner, Kaisie Rayner, said: “Throughout this pandemic we have acted together to protect our families, our communities and have placed the highest value on our collective wellbeing.

“As we emerge from lockdown, millions of pounds are expected to be spent on our city’s recovery and it is imperative that every penny is spent wisely, delivering an economic recovery that benefits us all.

“The climate emergency hasn’t gone away and while our response to COVID 19 has seen a temporary drop in emissions it is clearly not how we need to tackle climate change. We need a planned response that has a sustained impact and puts people’s wellbeing at its heart.

“This report recommends a way forward that will position Edinburgh as a fair and sustainable economic leader in the low carbon global economies of the future and we must make the right choices now so that we create a City worth living in for ourselves and for the generations that will follow us.”

Edinburgh Climate Commission Vice Chair and Council Leader, Cllr. Adam McVey, said: The Edinburgh Climate Commission was formed out of a necessity to tackle climate change in Edinburgh as an urgent priority. 

“I am very appreciative of the immense work and effort that has gone into the creation of this report by the other Commissioners and the support from the Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Innovation and the University of Edinburgh.

“It has become clear that if we are to rebuild Edinburgh as a city of the future, then a green recovery is our only option. I welcome the Commission’s recommendations and I’m committed to making sure that these are central drivers within our post-Covid plans, both short term and long term, to deliver our 2030 carbon target.”

The Edinburgh Climate Commission is part of the Place-based Climate Action Network (PCAN), which works to translate climate policy into action ‘on the ground’.

Supported by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) and local partners, the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation and the University of Edinburgh, PCAN brings together the research community and decision makers across the private, public and third sectors through city-based climate commissions, in a network that is expanding across the UK.

Millions needed to get stroke research back on track

UK’s leading stroke charity warns research faces long-term threat due to coronavirus pandemic

Over three quarters (74%) of stroke research projects in Scotland funded by the Stroke Association have been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Moreover, the UK’s leading stroke charity anticipates a shortfall of £1.5 million in its funding programme this year, to resume current research and support vital new projects.

The charity warns of a catastrophic knock on effect for stroke research which could delay access to important new life-changing treatments that allow people to rebuild their lives after stroke. This comes amidst reports of a link between stroke and coronavirus which places greater urgency on research.

There are around 15,000 strokes every year in Scotland and it is a leading cause of adult disability.  Despite this, research remains underfunded in comparison to strokes devastating effects and other conditions, such as cancer.

This has been the case for many years. In 2016, the charity revealed that just £48 is spent on stroke research per patient, compared to £241 on cancer research.

This has now been compounded by the devastation that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the charity’s fundraising capabilities and researchers’ abilities to continue their work. 

Over the past 30 years the Stroke Association has played a crucial role in supporting stroke research in Scotland. Last year, the charity invested over £2 million into stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation which is now under threat.   Over 35% of the charity’s research funding is dedicated to research in Scotland.

Dr Rubina Ahmed, Research Director at the Stroke Association said: “Stroke happens in the brain, the control centre for who we are and what we can do. It changes lives in an instant.

“Our research has been at the centre of major breakthroughs that have saved lives and sparked innovation in stroke care and treatment. Our work lay the foundations for one of the most successful public health awareness campaigns in England, the Act FAST campaign, which helps people to recognise the signs and symptoms of stroke.

“We also funded early research into the new emergency stroke treatment, thrombectomy, the manual removal of stroke-causing blood clots. This has seen many patients spared the most devastating effects of stroke.

“But a lack of funding for research is now a ticking-time bomb. If we don’t act now the coronavirus pandemic could set back stroke research for years to come. The research community will struggle to get projects back up and running, but it’s vital for every stroke survivor and their loved ones that we do.”

Findings from the charity’s survey also reveal the broader impacts that the pandemic has had on stroke researchers:

  • One in five researchers (22%) will need more funding.
  • Two-thirds (66%) of researchers have said they need to make changes to their studies for their projects to continue. This could have added cost implications and change what the researchers had initially set out to achieve.
  • One in five (18%) research projects had team members redeployed to front line work NHS working, for example as neurologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Many of the charity’s researchers are working hard to resume their projects during these uncertain times.

Professor Joanna Wardlaw at the University of Edinburgh, is looking into the impacts of stroke on thinking and memory. This research project is funded in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society and the British Heart Foundation.

 She said: “Stroke continues to strike with devastating effects. But all of a sudden, due to coronavirus, we were forced to stop inviting new stroke patients to take part in our study.

“However, we responded quickly to change our plans and we’re now also recording information about coronavirus exposure and illness in stroke patients recruited into our study. This is incredibly important at this time and will help us to understand more about many aspects of the effect of the virus on stroke patients.

“We’ve been talking to stroke survivors across Scotland and the UK who are feeling the emotional impact of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions. We’ve seen a big increase in anxiety and low mood and it’s harder than ever to access support at this time. It’s only with funding by charities that we can carry out research to improve treatment for people affected by stroke.”

Dr Ahmed adds: “Stroke continues to strike every five minutes and as risk of stroke increases with age, it remains one of the greatest health challenges in our society.

“People can rebuild their lives after stroke but there is still much we don’t know. Research is crucial to find out why people are struggling, and new ways to overcome the challenges that millions of people affected by stroke face every day.

“The effects of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt by stroke survivors and researchers for years to come. If you can, please help raise vital funds so that we can find new ways to help prevent and treat stroke and help more stroke survivors to rebuild their lives.”

The Stroke Association fund critical research, provide specialist support and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the care and support they need to rebuild their lives. To find out more visit stroke.org.uk/research or to donate please go to: stroke.org.uk/donate-research   

Coronavirus: last stats for Scotland

As at 5th July, 4,173  deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, an increase of 17 deaths from the previous week, according to statistics published by National Records of Scotland.

From 29th June to 5th July, 40 fewer deaths from all causes were registered compared with the average number for this time of year. This is the second week in a row the total number of deaths registered has been lower than the average.

New analysis of deaths registered up to 14th June shows that deaths among people from the South Asian ethnic group were almost twice as likely to involve COVID-19 than deaths in the White ethnic group, after accounting for age group, sex, area deprivation and urban/rural classification.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said: “For the first time, we have produced additional analysis on deaths involving COVID-19 by ethnic group and the findings show that over the course of the pandemic to date, COVID-19 was a more common cause of death for people in the South Asian ethnic group, compared to people in the White ethnic group.

“Every death from this virus is a tragedy and these statistics represent the heartbreak of many families across the country who have lost loved ones.

“Understanding the impact of how the virus differs by ethnic group is vitally important; however, due to the low number of completed records for deaths involving COVID-19 in other minority ethnic groups, it is not possible to produce statistics for these groups.

NRS will continue to play our part and work alongside Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government to provide robust information to help us understand the progression and impact of the virus.”

The publication Deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) in Scotland and an infographic summary is available on this website.

The report Analysis of deaths involving (COVID-19) in Scotland, by ethnic group is available on this website.

Designated person hospital visiting

People in hospital who do not have coronavirus (COVID-19) will be able to have a designated visitor from tomorrow, Monday 13 July.

Until now, hospital visits during the pandemic have only been permitted in limited essential circumstances. These include where a patient is reaching end-of-life, where a patient needs a birthing partner to be present or where people with mental health issues would be caused distress if they didn’t receive the benefit of a visit.

In the first phase of this three part plan, hospital visitors will need to adhere to strict public health guidance to ensure patient, staff and visitor safety, and to protect progress made in suppressing the spread of COVID-19.

All hospital visitors must:

  • arrange a time to visit in advance with ward staff
  • not visit any other patient in the hospital
  • adhere to strict hand hygiene and face covering guidance
  • maintain strict physical distancing in communal areas of hospital
  • not visit anyone in hospital if they have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19

Specific visiting arrangements may vary between health boards depending on the type of care patients are receiving, and the space available in different care settings to maintain physical distancing.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Restricting access to people in hospital has been necessary to keep patients and staff as safe as possible and it has helped us protect the capacity and resilience of NHS Scotland.

“I want to thank everyone who has followed this guidance as I know how hard it has been for patients, families and carers not to have seen their loved ones in hospital. The continued progress we are making in suppressing the virus has allowed us to safely, and in a series of phases, resume hospital visiting in line with clinical expert advice.

“There is a need to balance the risk of physical and psychological harm that the absence of visitors can cause, with the gradual reduction of COVID-19. We have worked with Health Protection Scotland to plan how we safely restore a person-centered approach to visiting in Scotland’s hospitals.

“The safety of patients, staff and visitors will continue to be our priority. I want to reassure you that we are taking these precautions so that we can safely offer the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”

Updated guidance for hospital visitors can be read online.

Essential hospital visiting is permitted for patients with COVID-19. Essential visits includes circumstances such as, but not limited to, visits at end-of-life, birthing partners, to accompany children, and to visit people with mental health issues such as dementia, learning disabilities or autism where not having a visit would cause distress.

Updates on public health advice for COVID-19 can be found on NHS Inform, and a free helpline has been set up for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice: 0800 028 2816.  If patients have any concerns they should contact 999 for emergencies or 111 for any urgent requests.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should now contact the NHS to arrange to be tested – either online at NHS Inform, or by calling 0800 028 2816.

Hairdressers and barbers to re-open on Wednesday

Guidance published to ensure safe return for salons

Hairdressers and barbers are preparing to re-open on Wednesday 15 July under the Scottish Government’s route map out of lockdown.

New guidance has been published to ensure salons can safely re-open.

The guidance also covers services such as beauty salons, spas, indoor photography studios and make-up counters which have been given an indicative opening date of 22 July.

Key measures include:

  • physical distancing with marked areas between seats and treatment stations
  • perspex screens installed at workstations, including reception areas if possible
  • bookings by appointment only with times staggered to minimise overlap of clients
  • the retention of customer details for four weeks to share details for Test and Protect if required
  • face coverings mandatory for staff and customers with visors recommended for staff
  • reading materials and refreshments removed other than water on request

Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn said: “The re-opening of hairdressers and barbers next week signals a further step out of lockdown for our economy and shows that we continue to make progress in successfully suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19).

“If everyone sticks to the rules we will be able to drive the virus down further and live less restricted lives in the weeks and months ahead.

“Our guidance, developed in partnership with employers, industry bodies and trades unions, provides the information these businesses need to ensure the safety of staff and customers as they re-open.

“People should look for those safety measures and be aware of the need to follow the FACTS at all times when out in the community. If you don’t see those safety measures, or you don’t feel you can follow appropriate hygiene rules, than don’t take the risk.

“We are providing grant support worth over £1 billion to businesses as part of a wider support package worth over £2.3 billion and we will continue to do all we can to support this vital sector.”

Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation, said: “The Scottish hair and beauty industry generates a turnover of over £600 million, which is 8% of the UK total.

“As well as the economic contribution, this sector is also imperative to our well-being and so we are delighted that hairdressers and barbers will be able to return to work on 15 July.

“Protecting clients and employees is their top priority so our members have already been preparing their salons to make them safe to re-open. They are reporting that they are fully booked for the near future which is positive news and should mean that businesses can recover and grow from the pandemic.”

Read the guidance for hairdressers and barbers

Remember FACTS for a safer Scotland.

Four-way drive to help tourism bounce back

Edinburgh Napier University and Scottish Enterprise deliver sector-wide recovery initiative

From April to June, four themed workgroups reviewed the challenges facing Scottish tourism as it reeled from the impact of Covid-19. The scale of the challenge facing the sector – one of Scotland’s largest employers – was obvious from the first day of lockdown and, ultimately, more than 85% of personnel have been furloughed over the period.

In response, in March, Scottish Enterprise and Edinburgh Napier University, the partnership which runs the ground-breaking Destination Leaders Programme (DLP), acted to harness the experience and expertise of more than 120 DLP alumni, launching DLP Assembles to support a pathway to recovery.

“When we launched, the aim was to provide identified actions, outputs and outcomes to help recovery,” explains Professor Jane Ali-Knight of the Edinburgh Napier Business School.

“Involvement was designed to ensure participation came under the acceptable category of professional training for ‘furloughed’ professionals, and we used the DLP alumni network to form the project groups to ensure a good mix of experience and expertise. We also matched the workgroups with mentors and professional support to guide participants on their themes and tasks.”

DLP alumni used their connections to bring together the network of professionals who considered each theme – guided by weekly discussions with mentors drawn from DLP alumni and Edinburgh Napier. Mentors helped focus each group’s actions around the Scottish tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, and provided regular updates on government funding and initiatives.

Aileen Lamb from Scottish Enterprise adds: “We wanted the programme to encourage innovative thinking across a range of themes, but most importantly we wanted to help maintain and extend participants’ professional skills, expertise and experience, and their networking during furlough.

“This project was built upon the alumni network of the Destination Leaders Programme. It is an excellent example of successful collaboration across academia, the public sector and the tourism industry. What Covid-19 has shown us, despite empty hotels, attractions and airports, is the passion, innovation and resilience of the people who work in this critical industry.”

Kenneth Wardrop, a fellow DLP founder, adds: “Using the DLP alumni we were able to act quickly and ensure we coordinated with groups such as Edinburgh Tourism Action Group and the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group. 

“Everyone involved is to be commended for the quality, professionalism and practical solutions identified. They will all be vital in adjusting business operations to post Covid-19 challenges, and the longer-term strategic planning for the recovery of the sector.”

The practical recommendations of each workgroup were presented in individual online sessions in June.

An undoubted highlight has been an interactive toolkit for visitor attractions and experiences, which is now hosted on the VisitScotland website. The Toolkit includes case studies from across the world and suggests technological solutions to suit different budgets, as well as short, medium and long-term ideas.

“It covers everything from online ticketing and social distancing, to moving content online and creating your own podcast,” explains Thayanne Scardini, who volunteered to work on the Toolkit workgroup with fellow tourism professionals Karin Gidlund and Jemma Reid.

“We believe the Toolkit will be a great starting point for attractions and experiences who are looking into diversifying through technology, helping to prepare them for a safe reopening for both visitors and staff, whilst meeting visitors’ expectations and improving customer experience. It has many recommendations for applying technology that can also be helpful for other sectors as well.”

For Antony Carter, and his fellow participants on the Business Events workgroup, they quickly realised that – whether global chain or local venue – the priority going forward is to find ways to reassure clients that operations are safe.

“In the past, operational staff at events were meant to blend into the background; going forward clients and attendees will want to see the operational team front and centre – whether they are cleaning or managing movement around a venue.

“Our report recommends ways that venues can demonstrate how they have alleviated risk effectively, and that includes collaboration throughout the supply chain.”

For Colin Corson and the Whisky workgroup, ‘collaboration’ also became their watchword: “Whether you are a self-catering provider who wants to welcome guests with a fridge full of local produce, (and a local malt of course), or two attractions selling combined tickets online to avoid the need for queuing, collaboration is vital to future success.

” It can minimise congestion in local shops; help improve the experience for guests and local businesses; and help local communities – as well as visitors – feel safer as they move forward.”

From conception to conclusion, collaboration is the theme that sums up the ‘Pathway to Recovery’ project.

Jane Ali-Knight adds: “The University is incredibly proud to have worked with Scottish Enterprise to lead and drive this project forward. We applaud the hard work of all the workgroup participants, against the backdrop of the many challenges of lockdown, and the professional uncertainty, anxiety and disruption.

“That hard work was marked by the presentation of Certificates of Participation to all group members on Friday 10th July.”

25th Anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide

On the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting reconciliation across the Western Balkans.

Today (11 July) marks twenty-five years since the Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of the Second World War. More than 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys were murdered and over 20,000 women and children were forcibly expelled from their homes.

The UK calls on leaders in the region to fulfil the commitments they agreed at the 2018 London Summit. The Foreign Secretary has urged all parties to reject hate speech and the glorification of the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes, and stressed that verdicts from international and domestic courts must be respected.

The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab said: “On the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, we remember the victims and the anguish of their families.

“During my time in the Hague between 2003 and 2006, pursuing those responsible for this dark chapter in European history, I was reminded daily of the heinous cruelty perpetrated against the innocent.

“The UK is determined to end impunity and help rebuild those countries affected – as our commitment to the ICC, and UK investment and support for Bosnia demonstrates.”

PIC: Rooful Ali

Guiding Principles for Recovery

Revisiting the Route Map to an Enabling State

The Carnegie UK Trust has been exploring how the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the relationships between government, public services and citizens.

As attention starts to shift to how we can “Build Back Better”, we have taken the opportunity to update our influential 2014 Routemap to an Enabling State with some guiding principles for recovery.

We began our work to define and describe the Enabling State after the last great economic shock, observing the perfect storm of ageing populations, climate change and austerity policies.

We found that in the face of these challenges, governments across the UK (local, devolved and UK) were engaged in a process of transformation – a slow moving paradigm shift away from a top-down, ‘one size fits all’ approach, to a more agile model that supports people and communities to achieve positive change for themselves, and thereby to improve their own wellbeing.

We have continued to observe this process of transformation over the ensuing years, noting a varied picture in terms of commitment and pace in the different jurisdictions where we work.

However, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift in many places, with the immediate responses from public services and from communities demonstrating that there is a different way of working together.

We articulate here the seven steps that public services should take as they move into recovery mode. We believe that these steps could ‘bank’ positive changes in relationships where these have occurred, and accelerate progress towards an enabling state model.

I do hope that you find this framing helpful. To let us know your thoughts, please email Hannah@CarnegieUK.org or join the debate online by tagging @CarnegieUKTrust #EnablingState – we would be pleased to hear from you.

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Davidson
Chief Executive
Carnegie UK Trust
Twitter: @CarnegieUKTrust
www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk