Tag: roadshow

New Road Safety campaign visits Edinburgh to help locals keep driving safely for longer

Driver MOT roadshow visits The Gyle Shopping Centre as part of Scotland-wide tour

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched a national driver MOT roadshow, which is set to visit The Gyle Shopping Centre on 23-24 October as part of a Fitness to Drive campaign, encouraging local drivers aged 60 and over to reflect on their driving skills and take steps to stay safe and confident behind the wheel.

Transport Scotland data show a continuing trend towards increasing numbers of casualties aged 60 and over.1 With more than 850,000 drivers2 in this age group in Scotland, the campaign highlights the importance of recognising changes that can come with age and taking simple, practical steps to address them.

These include booking regular eye examinations, reducing night-time driving, avoiding busy junctions at peak hours, and refreshing driving skills with a mature driving review.

The driver MOT roadshow visiting Edinburgh will raise awareness of these measures. Local drivers can drop by for information and reassurance, as well as advice on how to adapt driving habits to continue driving safely for longer.

Friends and family are also encouraged to attend for tips on starting supportive conversations if they have concerns about a loved one’s driving.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “As we get older, changes to eyesight, hearing, and reaction times can all affect our ability to drive safely.

“The Fitness to Drive campaign is about supporting older drivers to recognise those changes and take action to continue to stay safe on the road.

“Even one death on Scotland’s roads is one too many. By encouraging older drivers and their families to reflect on driving fitness, we can help save lives and ensure people feel confident and secure when they travel.”

Caroline MacQueen, Centre Manager at The Gyle Shopping Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the national driver MOT roadshow and look forward to welcoming local drivers and their families to our Shopping Centre”

The campaign is backed by IAM RoadSmart, a leading UK road safety charity, helping to improve driving and riding skills through courses and coaching. IAM RoadSmart offers mature driver reviews to help maintain driving skills and confidence and has played a key role in supporting the delivery of the driver MOT roadshow.

IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Manager for Scotland Stewart Mackie said: “Having a mature driver review can be a great way to boost your confidence on the roads and ensure that you and your passengers are safe.

“We know just how important driving is, and how it represents the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. This is why many mature drivers choose our course, because it gives them the confidence and skills to carry on driving and maintain their independence.

“We’d encourage anyone who is interested to come along to their local driver MOT event, where a friendly team will be on hand to offer support, guidance and practical advice to help you drive safely for longer.”

The driver MOT roadshow will run until January 2026, with stops at shopping centres, garden centres, and community hubs across Scotland.

Dates and locations can be found at www.roadsafety.scot/mature-drivers-roadshow.  

For more information, visit: roadsafety.scot/maturedrivers.

Team GB athlete Jennifer Dodds visits Trinity Primary School to deliver Positive Energy workshop

Team GB athlete Jennifer Dodds made a special appearance at Trinity Primary School last week to help deliver an exciting workshop on the importance of energy saving in partnership with British Gas.

The visit formed part of British Gas’ Get Set for Positive Energy Roadshow which aims to educate pupils across the UK on energy saving behaviours and habits.

Through an engaging session led by Jennifer and British Gas representatives, 77 pupils at Trinity Primary School participated in a range of activities including designing posters to encourage energy saving at home and school, spotting ways to prevent energy misuse, and suggesting improvements to make their school a greener place.

During the summer, the Get Set for Positive Energy regional Roadshow will see British Gas and a group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes visit a selection of other schools across the UK, leading workshops and inspiring the minds of the future to get involved in energy saving from a young age.  

Aimi McIntosh, Deputy Headteacher at Trinity Primary School, said: “It was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves so much during the workshop hosted by Jennifer Dodds and British Gas – they particularly loved suggesting creative ways to make our school a greener environment and hearing all about Jennifer’s journey as a Team GB athlete. 

“It was a really inspiring and educational session and a fantastic opportunity for our school, so we’d like to thank all involved!”

Hannah Lawrance, Strategic Brand Partnerships Lead at British Gas, said: “We really enjoyed visiting Trinity Primary School last week alongside Jennifer Dodds for our Get Set for Positive Energy workshop. We met some brilliant pupils who threw their all into the energy saving activities we had planned which was great to see.  

“The programme aims to educate children on building a more sustainable future, which helps us to create a more sustainable community for all. We’re using our partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB to inspire schools to get more active and consider different ways to create a positive impact.”

The Get Set for Positive Energy Roadshow makes up part of British Gas’ wider Get Set for Positive Energy initiative, a free cross-curricular programme that aims to educate young people aged five to 11 on the importance of saving energy to drive change, getting active and building healthy everyday habits.

Through Get Set for Positive Energy, British Gas aims to reach up to 8,500 schools and 1.5 million young people and families across the UK by 2028, taking inspiration from the Olympic and Paralympic values to motivate young people to be active in creating a greener future for themselves and their community.

The partnership between Team GB, ParalympicsGB and British Gas launched in 2023. The five-year collaboration will last up until the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.

For more information on the Get Set for Positive Energy programme, visit: Get Set | Get Set for Positive Energy

Made in Scotland Roadshow: Scottish businesses ‘sell to the world’

£42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses over the last six months

  • £42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses since July
  • Boosting Scottish exports plays a vital role in growing the economy, a key part of the Plan for Change
  • Companies from a range of sectors including food and drink and offshore wind are benefitting from credit guarantees and insurance

Businesses behind Scotland’s most emblematic exports have been able to grow thanks to £42 million in UK Export Finance (UKEF) deals brokered so far since the summer.

Enabling companies such as Ferguson Whisky and manufacturer of fire and rescue vehicles Emergency One, which the government of Iraq has contracted to replace some of its fleet of fire engines, to expand to markets abroad helps to grow the economy and create jobs, delivering on the Plan for Change. 

The latest Scottish business to benefit from support is Aberdeen-based First Tech – one of many offshore services firms in Scotland driving the energy transition and making the country a world-renowned centre of engineering skills. Scotland’s marine economy generated around £4.9 billion in 2022.

UKEF is renewing a £12 million support package delivered with Virgin Money for First Tech subsidiary First Subsea, allowing it to continue its growth into the offshore wind market and provide UK-made products like cable protections systems, bend restrictor products or heavy lift connectors, across the globe.

Minister Douglas Alexander will join UKEF representatives today at the ‘Made in Scotland’ roadshow, where he will encourage Scottish businesses to take advantage of the opportunities to sell abroad and hear first-hand about the support UKEF has provided.

Minister for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander said: “Growing the economy is a key part of this UK Government’s Plan for Change, and we recognise the importance of boosting Scottish exports in achieving this.

“We’re working hard to ensure that Scottish businesses have the support they need to sell to the world and grow, and the help that UK Export Finance provides is a crucial part of this.”

Martin Suttie, First Tech Ltd Chairman said: “First Tech is very proud to be at the forefront of the energy transition story with our continued expertise in oil and gas being a launchpad to make meaningful developments in both the fixed and floating offshore wind market through First Subsea and also First Marine Solutions. 

“Floating wind technology enables almost every country in the world to integrate floating wind renewable energy into their energy mix. 

“It is therefore vitally important that the industry continues to develop and prove large scale commercial developments if we are going to genuinely change the energy mix around the globe. The First Tech Group is excited to play an important part in making this transition happen.”

UKEF is the UK government’s export credit agency, providing credit guarantees and insurance helping smaller businesses to overcome financial barriers to exporting.  

Export credit is an integral part of the government trade support being promoted at the first ‘Made in Scotland, Sold to the World’ trade fair of 2025. 

In 2021, Scotland’s exports were worth £50.1 billion, of which the majority – £33.5 billion – were goods.

UKEF’s specialised trade finance offer sits alongside other sources of support from public organisations like the Export Support Service, UK Export Academy and British Business Bank, which can offer more general access to finance.

Roadshow comes to Edinburgh to find those ‘unaware’ they have liver damage

Members of the public in Edinburgh are being encouraged to get their liver checked for free at The Mound Precinct, EH2 2EL on Tuesday 13th June with the arrival of a mobile liver screening roadshow.

One in ten adults in Edinburgh may be walking around with liver disease and be completely unaware because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages, warns the British Liver Trust.

People can go along to the mobile unit from 10am to 4pm to find out what preventative measures they can take to keep their liver healthy and be offered a free liver scan. 

Nine in 10 cases of liver disease are preventable with the main causes being alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. 

Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of British Liver Trust, said, “One in three of us are at risk of liver disease and the numbers of people being diagnosed have been increasing at an alarming rate. 

“Liver damage develops silently with no signs or symptoms and people often don’t realise they have a problem until it is too late. Although the liver is remarkably resilient, if left until symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible. 

“The Love Your Liver  roadshow is a great opportunity for people to find out their risk of liver disease. Approximately 20% of the people we scan need to have further checks.” 

The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign focuses on three simple steps to Love Your Liver back to health: 

1.    Drink within recommended limits and have three consecutive days off alcohol every week 

2.    Cut down on sugar, carbohydrates and fat, and take more exercise 

3.    Know the risk factors for viral hepatitis and get tested or vaccinated if at risk 

The roadshow comprises a mobile unit where people can take a free online screening test and find out if they are at risk. Free liver health scanning will also be available using a non-invasive device. There will be expert guidance on how to keep your liver healthy from healthcare professionals who will be on hand to provide advice on diet, exercise and healthy living. 

In addition to the roadshow in Edinburgh, the mobile unit will also be stopping at:  

  • Aberdeen: St Nicholas Street, AB10 1BF – Sunday 11th June 
  • Dundee: City Square, DD1 3AJ – Monday 12th June

If you can’t attend this event you can still find out if you are at risk and check your liver health online by doing the online screening test at:

 https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/screener 

Eden Project’s back on the road!

After a year and a half of virtual events, we’re heading back out on the road!

We’ll be holding a number of small events around Scotland, bringing people together outdoors for a natter about all things community, a cuppa, and maybe even some cake!

These gatherings will be small, safe, community focused events that help us get together again to simply chat, catch up, share stories and hear from others.

Whether you’ve been part of our network for ages, attended a Community Camp (at the Eden Project or online) or are just interested in meeting other people and groups that share an interest in making positive change in their local neighbourhood, you’re most welcome to join us.

All events are free, but spaces are limited so registration is essential.

Follow the Eventbrite link for more detailed information on each location and to book your place:

Edinburgh – Sun 15 August 2-4pm https://roadshowedinburgh.eventbrite.co.uk

Falkirk – Sat 21 August 11am-1pmhttps://roadshowfalkirk.eventbrite.co.uk

Glasgow – Sun 29 August 1.30-3.30pmhttps://roadshowglasgow.eventbrite.co.uk

Aberdeen – Sat 11 August 2-4pmhttps://roadshowaberdeen.eventbrite.co.uk

Inverness – Sat 25 August 11am-1.30pmhttps://roadshowinverness.eventbrite.co.uk

Dundee – Sat 23 October 12-4pmhttps://roadshowdundee.eventbrite.co.uk

RRRR Roadshows – happening now!

MuirhouseLibrary

Reduce Reuse Recycle Repair Roadshows are coming to a ribrary near you!

Want to find out more about recycling? The city council’s recycling roadshow is out and about in city libraries – in fact, if you’re really quick, you’ll catch it at Muirhouse Library – it’s there until 1pm today!

  • Creative reuse maker and educator Jamie MacDonald will be running drop-in workshops, suitable for all the family – showing you how to create simple and playful decorative items from reused materials.
  • Remade in Edinburgh will provide repair drop-in sessions, where people can bring in clothes and get advice on how to repair and transform them
  • Changeworks will also be there to provide practical advice and informaiton on reducing waste

Dates and times: 

·        Muirhouse 13th Feb 11 to  1 (i.e NOW !!!) 

·        Blackhall 23rd Feb 11 to  1 

·        Leith 8th Mar 1 to  3

·        Stockbridge 13th Mar 3 to  5 

·        McDonald  Road 14th Mar 2 to 4 

·        Granton 19th Mar 3 to 5

For more information visit:  http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20048/waste_education/480/recycling_roadshows_and_events/2

BlackhallLibraryblog

The Council’s talking rubbish!

Well, recycling anyway!

The city council has organised a series of recycling events to raise awareness of imminent changes to refuse collection and recycling services. The recycling roadshow rumbles into North Edinburgh’s Local Neighbourhood Office in West Pilton Gardens on Wednesday 15 August from 10am – 2.30pm and again on Wednesday 29 August (same venue and times).

For further information visit: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20048/waste_education/480/recycling_roadshows_and_events