partnership – Page 6 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Scotmid launches search for new charity partner

Charities are being invited by Scotmid to become its new Charity Partner for 2022/23.

The community retailer is looking for an organisation that shares its values and passion for supporting local communities and would like to build a creative and fun partnership to encourage participation and fundraising from staff, members and customers alike.

With a presence in Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland, the partnership must be able to span a wide geography.

Over the last 20 years, Scotmid has raised millions of pounds for their Charity Partners, including the Scottish SPCA, Samaritans, ChildLine and Alzheimer Scotland.

John Brodie, Chief Executive of Scotmid, said: “Our Charity Partnerships are incredibly important to us. Partners benefit from both an exceptional level of fundraising and extended support in their cause from our colleagues and communities.

“We are excited to hear about projects that can benefit our communities from new potential charity partners.”

Scotmid’s current Charity Partner is Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, better known as CHAS. Funds raised through the partnership have supported the vital development and expansion of CHAS’s outreach service, CHAS at Home, helping the charity on its ambitious mission of reaching every child and family that needs their help in communities across Scotland.

Three other children’s hospices across Scotmid’s trading areas have also benefited from funds raised: Jigsaw, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and St Oswald’s Hospice.

Staff working in Scotmid’s food stores, Semichem stores, Scotmid Funerals and Lakes & Dales stores across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England enthusiastically take part in physical challenges, events and traditional in-store fundraising.

Community engagement is also a key element for Scotmid. At the end of last year, children throughout Scotland were invited to design a mascot to represent Scotmid’s charity partnership.

The winning designs, Cuthbert The Fox and Tildy Toadstool, were then brought to life, much to the delight of the talented designers and those who have met the colourful couple!

Angharad Low, Corporate Partnerships Manager at CHAS, said: “It’s been great working with Scotmid to raise awareness and funds for our outreach service, CHAS at Home.

“The passion of Scotmid colleagues, members and customers makes the partnership really special.

“We’re so thankful for the funds that have been raised, which will help families receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes. We would absolutely recommend other charities apply!”

Kirsteen Campbell, CEO Scottish SPCA, said: “Our 2018/19 partnership with the Scotmid Co-operative family was our most successful charity of the year partnership in Scottish SPCA’s history, raising an incredible £325,000.

“Support from Scotmid colleagues enabled us to deliver our ‘Prevention through Education’ programme delivering workshops to 1818 schools and 124 community groups, reaching over 60% of Scotland’s school children! With Scotmid’s support we were able to spread the joy of the human-animal bond further than ever before.

“We’d encourage all charities to apply for this exciting opportunity to be Scotmid’s next Charity Partner.

“You’ll be combining forces with an incredible organisation who really cares about making a massive difference in local communities What are you waiting for? Apply today!”

To apply to be Scotmid’s Charity of the Year 2022/23, please go to:

https://scotmid.coop/community-and-charity/charity-of-the-year-applications/

Applications are open until 5pm on Friday 6 May 2022.

The George Hotel marks Women’s History Month

InterContinental Edinburgh The George is celebrating Women’s History Month by launching a new partnership with female-owned bookstore, Rare Birds Book Shop, to encourage guests to explore Scotland’s female literary greats.

The partnership will pay homage to the hotel’s impressive literary ties and its most-famous former guest, writer Susan Ferrier, with a new experience: ‘Scotland’s Inspiring Females Package’. The package offers guests, who book a stay from 8^th March 2022 (IWD), the chance to add an accompanying book bundle from trailblazing Scottish female authors, hand-selected by Rare Birds Books.

Included in the ‘Scotland’s Inspiring Females Package’ is Jackie Kay, Scotland’s former Makar, with her debut novel Trumpet, a fictionalised chronicle of the life and death of transgender jazz artist Billy Tipton; quintessentially Edinburgh author, Muriel Spark and her story of a glamorous outspoken teacher, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; as well as Susan Ferrier’s Marriage.

Susan Ferrier, who resided at the hotel when it was a collection of luxury Georgian townhouses in the 18^th century, is widely referred to as Scotland’s answer to Jane Austin.

Her debut book, Marriage, was published in 1818 and tells the story of an English heiress, who elopes with a handsome Scot to live in a castle in the Highlands. Characters in the novel were based on real acquaintances she met during her time at The George, such as iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns and author Sir Walter Scott.

Books will be beautifully packaged and ready for guests in their room on arrival alongside a charming booklet with insider information on each book and its author. The package includes room, bed and breakfast and prices start from £289.

Rare Birds Book Shop, located in the heart of Stockbridge, is on a mission to champion women’s writing, by helping enthusiasts to discover great books by great women. Founded in 2017 it has built a vibrant community of booklovers around the world through its book club.

Rachel Wood, founder and owner of Rare Birds Book Shop, said: “There’s nothing we love more than helping readers discover writing by women, and what better way to help visitors discover Edinburgh’s rich literary history than by shining the spotlight on three brilliant Scottish writers, whose work has captured the imagination of readers around the world.” 

Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, said: “We are so proud of our historical ties to some of Scotland’s greatest literary experts, so it felt only right that this Women’s History Month, we launched a new offering for guests to delve back into the work of those women who once stayed and were inspired by where we now call home and learn more about more modern Scottish female authors too.”

For more information, please visit https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/offers/

New garden recycling scheme partnership provides solution to plant pot landfill problem

Two industry leading horticultural brands have joined forces to provide gardeners in Edinburgh with a solution to plant pot recycling, preventing further plastic waste ending up in landfill.

Sustainable plant pot designer, elho, has partnered with nationwide garden centre retailer, Dobbies to provide plastic plant pot recycling bins across 69 of its centres including Edinburgh. This will make it easier than ever to reduce unnecessary plastic waste in the garden and prevent further plastic waste ending up in landfill.

It has been widely reported that kerbside recycling of plant pots is challenging. Policies vary significantly from council to council, particularly when it comes to black plant pots, which can leave gardeners at a loss with what to do with their disregarded pots.

Now gardeners can simply take their plastic plant pots and trays to Dobbies Edinburgh store for them to be recycled. The bins provide a simple means of disposing of plant pots in a convenient and environmentally friendly way, rather than having them clutter up garden sheds or adding to landfill.

This comes as new research from Dobbies Garden Centres reveals that 33% of gardeners in Edinburgh want to recycle more of their garden waste products this spring.

The survey was based on responses from 2003 UK adults including 147 from Scotland between 4 March and 7 March 2022.

Both companies are champions of sustainability with industry-leading green initiatives, and the plastic pot recycling bins are the latest innovation in this.

elho places nature at its core and boasts a number of sustainable credentials, including the production of only 100% recyclable plant pots that are made from recycled materials, using 100% renewable wind energy from the company’s very own wind-powered factory in the Netherlands.

Last year alone, the company recycled more than 13 million kilograms of recycled plastic to create its beautifully designed pots.

Chris Buck, Northern Account Manager at elho, explained: “We’re pleased to be working on this initiative with Dobbies to encourage gardeners to recycle their plant pots, and to make it incredibly easy for them to do so.

“It’s great to be working together to collect plastic garden waste and give it a second lease of life, instead of sending mountains of it to landfill. We wanted to help provide gardeners with a simple, convenient solution to dispose of their plant pots in an environmentally friendly way. When visiting the centre to buy more plants, simply return your old pots – it couldn’t be easier!”

Dobbies’ goal is for the initiative to provide customers with the knowledge that plant trays and pots they have purchased are recyclable in store. Like elho, Dobbies is committed to delivering environmentally friendly practices, products and sustainable solutions.

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies Garden Centres, added: “We are always looking for ways to embed sustainability into our operations, and this is a positive step forward in our #SustainableDobbies journey.

“Our research shows that gardeners across Edinburgh are passionate about recycling, so while we have encouraged pot recycling for a number of years in-store, this new bin at our Edinburgh store will provide customers with a clear message and opportunity to recycle.”

The George marks Women’s History Month with new literary partnership

The partnership will pay homage to the hotel’s impressive literary ties and its most-famous former guest, writer Susan Ferrier, with a new experience: ‘Scotland’s Inspiring Females Package’.

The package offers guests, who book a stay from 8^th March 2022 (IWD), the chance to add an accompanying book bundle from trailblazing Scottish female authors, hand-selected by Rare Birds Books.

Susan Ferrier, who resided at the hotel when it was a collection of luxury Georgian townhouses in the 18^th century, is widely referred to as Scotland’s answer to Jane Austin.

Her debut book, Marriage, was published in 1818 and tells the story of an English heiress, who elopes with a handsome Scot to live in a castle in the Highlands. Characters in the novel were based on real acquaintances she met during her time at The George, such as iconic Scottish poet Robert Burns and author Sir Walter Scott.

Rachel Wood, (above), founder and owner of Rare Birds Book Shop, said: “There’s nothing we love more than helping readers discover writing by women, and what better way to help visitors discover Edinburgh’s rich literary history than by shining the spotlight on three brilliant Scottish writers, whose work has captured the imagination of readers around the world.” 

Kieran Quinn, Hotel General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh The George, said: “We are so proud of our historical ties to some of Scotland’s greatest literary experts, so it felt only right that this International Women’s Day, we launched a new offering for guests to delve back into the work of those women who once stayed and were inspired by where we now call home and learn more about more modern Scottish female authors too.”

For more information, please visit https://edinburgh.intercontinental.com/offers/

Scotch Malt Whisky Society partners with Scotland’s first fragrance house

This Christmas, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has teamed up with Kingdom Scotland to pair single cask whiskies with two gorgeous perfumes

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has collaborated with Scotland’s first fragrance house, Kingdom Scotland, pairing SMWS single cask whiskies with two luscious perfumes.

Available to sample at Society venues in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh – including Edinburgh’s Kaleidoscope Bar, Whisky Magazine’s ‘Whisky Bar of the year’ – the partnership explores the fascinating relationship between whisky and perfume.

The Kingdom scents Metamorphic and Portal have been expertly paired with SMWS Flavour Profiles Lightly Peated and Juicy Oak & Vanilla. The collaboration will bring to life Society guests’ olfactory systems (sense of smell), igniting the senses at Society venues across the UK this festive season.

METAMORPHIC paired with LIGHTLY PEATED

Inspired by metamorphic rock, Metamorphic fuses black pepper and tobacco, incense, minerals and rose absolute. As it’s warmed on the skin, the scent reveals a base of amber resin and leather. A natural fit for the Lightly Peated Flavour Profile, the scent was matched with bottling ‘Peat fire tales on Orkney’.

PORTAL paired with JUICY OAK & VANILLA

Portal evokes a fresh, outdoorsy, gusting nose with herbaceous botanicals and bergamot, resting on a veritable forest floor of vetiver and Scots pine. Sampled & sprayed with ‘Summer garden curiosity’, a match made in heaven for Juicy Oak & Vanilla.

Inspired by a career in the aromatic world of luxury Scotch whisky, Kingdom Scotland founder Imogen Russon-Taylor has created a fragrance house with a difference.

Kingdom’s scents capture the history and majestic landscapes of Scotland in a contemporary way. The perfumes capture stories, experiences and dramatic contrasts at the heart of a land that enthrals the imagination.

Expertly crafted using only the most precious natural and aromatic ingredients. Kingdom is Scotland’s first fragrance house creating evocative and modern, unisex scents.

Commenting on the collaboration, Imogen Russon-Taylor said: “I’m delighted to be working with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. My background is in luxury whisky, so to be working with such a well-respected organisation is a dream.

“Your sense of smell is an incredible thing. It possesses the same characteristics as a dram, especially a Society dram, by transporting you away to great memories and special places.

“I can’t wait to hear the feedback from Society guests this Christmas, I’m very confident these pairings will inspire new conversations on appreciating fine spirits.”

Belonging to the world’s most entertaining whisky club gives you access to exclusive Members’ Rooms, partner bar discounts, colourful tasting events, whisky education, and a monthly members’ magazine Unfiltered.

Click here to take part in this truly unique sensory journey.

The Christmas whisky gift that keeps on giving all year round. There’s so much more than whisky to appreciate when your loved one joins the Society for just £65 this Christmas: https://smws.com/whisky-club-membership

SMWS EDINBURGH28 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JXThe Vaults, 87 Giles St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ
SMWS GLASGOW38 Bath St, Glasgow G2 1HG
SMWS LONDON19 Greville St, London EC1N 8SQ

National Grief Awareness Week – 78% of us have NEVER spoken to a GP about bereavement

At the start of National Grief Awareness Week, Cruse Bereavement Support and the Royal College of GPs are announcing an exciting new partnership to strengthen bereavement support and understanding of grief for people across the UK.

In an important step for UK healthcare, the partnership aims to highlight just how impactful grief can be on a person’s physical and mental health.

New research released today by Cruse, shows that over three-quarters of adults in Britain (78%) have never spoken to a GP about a bereavement*.

With this staggering figure in mind, Cruse and the RCGP are making clear to people who may need additional support after experiencing a bereavement, whether recent or in the past, that they can connect with their GP practice team.

This will give GP teams the opportunity to identify people who may need additional support from bereavement services as well as offering information and advice on support available.

With support from a grant of more than £574,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund the largest funder of community activity in the UK, this campaign will supply GPs nationwide with a toolkit supporting them to provide consistent and compassionate support for grieving patients.

The toolkit also provides information and products for patients and healthcare staff – including an animation on the new partnership, a patient poster for all GP surgeries on bereavement and grief and a VBA (very brief advice) card for practice staff.

Sadly, nearly everyone will be affected by bereavement at some point in their life and it is vital that the right support is available and known for people who need it.

This exciting initiative delivered by Cruse Bereavement Support in partnership with The RCGP, is a big step toward ensuring healthcare groups and bereavement support charities are working in partnership to provide the best bereavement support for grieving people.

Steven Wibberley, Chief Executive of Cruse Bereavement Support comments: “Understanding grief and how it can affect your health is the first step towards getting the support you need – and GPs and practice teams can play a really important role in helping grieving people with this.

“That’s why we are so pleased to be collaborating with the RCGP in this important campaign to bridge the gap between healthcare and bereavement support. It’s our hope that this partnership will also ensure all grieving people, especially those who may feel alone and unsure of where to get help, are able to access the right support when they so desperately need it.”

Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care for the Royal College of General Practitioners comments: “After a bereavement, it’s natural to want and ask for support. Many people find support from their friends, family or community networks but others may be really struggling with their grief and find more formal support helpful.

“GP practices are a valued and important source of information, support and advice in our communities. This work between the RCGP and Cruse aims to equip GP practice teams with the tools to help identify people with bereavement needs and accessible information to sign-post people to appropriate bereavement support, ensuring the bereaved person is at the centre of every step.”

Edinburgh College launches new partnership as part of #16DaysofAction

Edinburgh College has launched a new partnership as part of this year’s 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence.

As part of the College’s support for the 16 Days of Action campaign, it has launched a new partnership with Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, which will see students who have experienced sexual violence receive one-to-one support.

Students across the Edinburgh College Community who have experienced sexual violence at any time of their life will be offered long-term, trauma-informed, one-to-one support. This support will be offered in blocks of six sessions, with students having access to up to 18 individual sessions if needed.

Any students on the College support waiting list will be given the opportunity to access the normal Rape Crisis services for short-term support while they wait. This is in the form of the Here and Now service for over 18s or the STAR Project for under 18s.

If you would like to refer yourself to this service, please email:

studentsurvivors@ercc.scot

or call 0131 556 9437, call/text 07966 067 301 and state you are an Edinburgh College student. Please note staff cannot refer students.

The 16 Days of Action campaign has been used as a call for the worldwide elimination of gender-based violence.

It is run annually from 25 November (International Day Against Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

Biffa joins with Simon Community to help fight homelessness

Leading sustainable waste management company Biffa is launching a partnership with Simon Community Scotland (SCS) to tackle homelessness in the country.

SCS is a Scottish charity that provides help and support to homeless people via their street teams, drop in support and advice centres, and 24-hour helpline. SCS work across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Central Scotland.

The partnership with Biffa will support the services that SCS provides as well as raising awareness for the charity.

Biffa is sponsoring the cost of the helpline and street team throughout the month of October to give advice and support to those in need. On average, the helpline receives 500 to 600 calls per month. On the streets 140 Biffa vehicles will also carry the SCS logo and helpline number as they complete their rounds in Scotland.

SCS are committed to eliminating homelessness and firmly believe that everyone should have a safe space to live and access the support they need.

Gavin Money, the regional manager at Biffa, commented: “This is a really positive, socially-engaged organisation that I am excited to be a part of with Biffa. The reality is our collection teams are on the streets every day and come across people that need support, and we want to be able to do as much as we can to help.

“Our partnership with SCS will allow us to educate our staff, volunteer and make a difference to people’s lives.”

Biffa has worked hard to raise awareness of the dangers of people sleeping in bins, issuing a call to action on waste management companies to make their bins harder to access, as well as commissioning research with the Open University and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management to find out the extent of the issue in the sector. Biffa introduced its own approach to the issue by implementing warning stickers, locks and even trialling human detection technology.

The collaboration with SCS is part of Biffa’s continued support to tackle the issue and eradicate homelessness.

In 2020 – 2021, the Scottish government recorded 42,000 people in homeless households with 25% of these households’ containing children, despite rooms and housing offered during the pandemic reducing applications for housing.With the lockdown rules ending, this figure is likely to increase to pre-pandemic levels.

Murray Easton, Head of Fundraising & Communications at Simon Community Scotland, said: “Everyone at SCS is delighted to be working in partnership with Biffa. Our street teams in Edinburgh and Glasgow are out every single day, connecting with people who are sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough. We provide advice, support to access services and some on-street services.

“Our partners at Biffa are also out on the streets every day, making this partnership feel incredibly natural and we’re excited about how we can work together to increase awareness of the issue, change and ultimately save lives.

We really appreciate Biffa’s support – their teams will be on the ground helping with our helpline the week commencing with world homeless day on 10th October.”

You can find out more about the work Simon Community Scotland are doing here: https://www.simonscotland.org/, or you can ring their helpline on 0800 027 7466.

Sweet smell of success: The Kilted Donut dishes out 10,000 doughnuts

Doughnut shop set to expand and recruit thanks to Scotmid partnership

A popular, independent doughnut shop has opened a second store in Edinburgh following the success of its partnership with a leading Scottish convenience retailer.

Leith-based The Kilted Donut began supplying Scotmid in February. Since then, it has supplied over 10,000 delicious doughnuts to customers at Scotmid’s flagship store in Leven Street. Firm favourites have proved to be the Nutella Bomb and the Brown Butter Biscoff.

As a result of the relationship with Scotmid, the business’s growth plans have been accelerated. Co-Founders, Mark Anderson and Lena Wollan, an ambitious husband and wife team, are now poised to extend their reach across the city with the opening of a second store in Stockbridge – and aim to expand their team by more than 50% through the recruitment of four more members of staff.

The consistent wholesale order has also supported the business to increase their daily output through the purchase of key equipment and an upgrade to a larger kitchen. This has led to new partnerships including one at Easter Road Stadium, helping to feed hundreds of hungry football fans.

Lena Wollan, Director and Co-Founder of The Kilted Donut (above), said : “The partnership with Scotmid means so much to us. It has been the springboard to reaching a broad customer base, which has supported our business in many ways, not least through the opportunity supercharge our expansion plans and open doors to new supplier relationships.

“We genuinely value Scotmid’s commitment to supporting independent producers such as ourselves. We look forward to introducing new flavours into our growing repertoire over the coming months and working in our new premises.”

Influenced by a doughnut shop visit in New Orleans, The Kilted Donut began as a small stall at Leith market before moving into its current site in Great Junction Street.

Lena and Mark have been perfecting their own recipe over the last three years and are committed to creating the best doughnuts from natural ingredients, without the use of pre-made mixes or artificial flavours.

Their existing menu comprises around 40 individual flavours, with six flavours chosen on rotation each week.

Danny Scobie, Food-To-Go Operations Manager at Scotmid, said: “Kilted Donut is a fantastic example of a Scottish business that is committed to supplying the best quality local produce and we’re thrilled to be able to sell their incredible products in our Leven Street store.

“The doughnuts have been extremely popular with customers, who are excited to see the new flavours we have every week.

“We’re delighted to see Lena and Mark’s business go from strength to strength and to have played a role in their journey of expansion and success in Edinburgh.”

The Kilted Donut partnership forms part of Scotmid’s wider local sourcing strategy, which focuses on both provenance as well as supporting local, innovative suppliers. The retailer aims to grow the business through innovation and partnership which comes as a direct response to meeting shifting customer demands for greater choice and top quality, local products.

Other Scotmid suppliers include well-known Scottish names such as Grahams, Tunnocks and Barrs, all the way through to emerging brands such as Confectious Fudge and Lost Orchards Cider.

The retailer is always interested in discovering new and innovative products via Product Guru’s free specialist platform: www.productguru.co.uk/scotmid

Scotmid’s Leven Street store is located at 5-19 Leven St, Edinburgh, EH3 9LH.

Coalition of Chaos? SNP and Greens sign Holyrood deal

Shared programme agreed to ‘build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland’

The Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group have agreed to work together over the next five years to build a green economic recovery from COVID, respond to the climate emergency and create a fairer country.

A shared draft policy programme – the Bute House Agreement – has been agreed. It focuses on areas of mutual interest to improve the way Scotland is governed and create a stable platform to meet the challenges Scotland faces.

It details collaboration on the climate emergency, economic recovery, child poverty, the natural environment, energy and the constitution. It includes commitments to:

hold a referendum on Scottish independence after the COVID pandemic has passed, within the current parliamentary session
increase investment in active travel and public transport, including a Fair Fares review to provide a realistic and affordable alternative to car use
a strengthened framework of support for the marine renewables and offshore wind sectors
take forward a ten-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray
significantly increase the level of the Scottish Child Payment, in order to maximise the impact on child poverty, with the full £20 payment being achieved within the lifetime of the Parliament
designate at least one new National Park by the end of this parliamentary session
enhance marine environmental protection
implement an effective national system of rent controls, enhance tenants’ rights and deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032
invest at least £1.8 billion over this parliamentary session in energy efficiency and renewable heating
establish two new Scottish Government overseas offices in Warsaw and Copenhagen to promote Scotland’s interests in central Europe and the Nordic countries

Alongside the draft policy programme, the draft co-operation agreement sets out the way in which the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party will work together. This will include the nomination of two Green MSPs to be Scottish Government Ministers.

The cooperation agreement also lists a number of areas that are outwith the scope of the agreement, where both sides have agreed to differ.

The draft agreements will now be considered by the respective political parties involved and Ministers will provide an update to Parliament following recess.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has reached a ground-breaking agreement with the Scottish Green Party that meets the challenges and opportunities of our time.

“The challenges we face have rarely been greater – the climate emergency, recovery from a global pandemic and an assault by the UK government on the powers of our Parliament.

“Today’s politics can too often feel small – polarised, divided and incapable of meeting the moment – and this agreement is intended to change that in Scotland. It is about doing politics and governance better to find the solutions needed to solve the problems confronting the world today.

“The spirit of co-operation and consensus-building is very much in keeping with the founding principles of our Scottish Parliament. We do not agree on everything but we are coming out of our comfort zones to focus on what we do agree on.

“The agreement delivers bold policy action on pressing issues. A commitment to more affordable housing, a better deal for tenants and action to tackle poverty and inequality. Steps to accelerate our transition to net zero – more support for active travel, transformation of home energy and a ten year transition fund for the North East of Scotland. A focus on green jobs and fair work – and a sustainable recovery from COVID.

“We also reaffirm in this Agreement our shared commitment to securing independence for Scotland, and to giving people the right to choose our country’s future through a referendum.

“It recognises that business as usual is not good enough – we need boldness, courage and a will to do things differently. That is what we offer.”

Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “This is a historic moment, which could not come at a more important time.

“We must build a fairer and compassionate country and we must do everything in our power to tackle the escalating climate and nature emergencies to deliver a just transition for all. That is what this deal will do.

“Fundamentally this is a new approach to politics. We agree on some things and disagree on others – those distinctive voices can and will remain.”

Green Party co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The stakes could not be higher – with the COP26 climate conference coming to Glasgow, Scotland is in a position show real leadership on climate. But this deal is about people as well as the planet.

“Together, we would deliver a new deal for tenants, giving tenants more rights and introducing rent controls to help tackle Scotland’s housing crisis, create a new National Park, and much more.

“That’s why we are pledging to work together to build a greener, fairer and independent Scotland.”

The announcement has not been met with universal joy, oddly enough …

Largest opposition party the Scottish Conservatives say the deal is a ‘declaration of war on working Scots.’

“The SNP and Green coalition is anti-jobs and anti-business. They will push for indyref2 while starting a war on working Scotland. The @ScotTories will stand up for workers against this nationalist coalition of chaos.”

The STUC was quick to respond:

Responding to the power-sharing partnership announcement, GMB General Secretary Gary Smith said: “In the election the Greens said they wanted carers to be paid a £15 minimum, and with the consultation under way on the National Care Service, tens of thousands of staff undervalued on £9.50 an hour will expect Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie to deliver on their promises.

“They also campaigned on a platform to deliver a 12.5 per cent pay rise for nurses, the 4 per cent increase implemented didn’t come close to closing the massive pay restoration” gap after years of cuts, and in 2022 our NHS staff will expect better.

“And workers across our energy sector will be looking on with real concern, they will be seeking assurances that this deal will not be a one-way ticket to the dole queue – it’s as simple as that.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This shouldn’t come as a surprise. It confirms a long-held suspicion that the Scottish Greens are just a branch office of the SNP.”

DOCUMENTS:

Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party: draft shared policy programme – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group: draft Cooperation Agreement – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)