LifeCare Edinburgh has received £1,000 from Arnold Clark’s Community Fund to help the charity deliver its essential care to hundreds of older people living across the North of the city.
The renowned local charity offers registered care, outreach activities and help at home services for older people. Established in 1941, the organisation supports elderly clients suffering with dementia, mobility issues, those experiencing isolation and loneliness, food poverty, mental health problems and offers dedicated support for carers.
LifeCare’s vital services have not stopped through the pandemic. Since March 2020, the charity has supported over 770 elderly individuals with vital positive support designed to protect and maintain the physical and mental health needs of some of the most isolated older members of the community.
The committed team has worked tirelessly to safely deliver essential care, practical help and companionship activities to ensure older people received the support they needed to stay well. The charity also launched several important new initiatives, such as their hugely successful meals on wheels service, specifically designed to help support the most isolated and vulnerable.
Margaret Stewart, Care Service Manager at LifeCare said: “Throughout LifeCare, we have worked tirelessly to ensure no client in need went without our dedicated support and contact.
“We have delivered over 7,500 hours of registered care through the crisis to date, over 10,000 hours of help within the home, made over 4,300 calls to carers most in need and served up over 10,000 hot nutritious meals to doorsteps.
“We simply could not deliver this vital care without the generous support from our funders. A huge thank you to Arnold Clark for this recent award which will help us to continue to care for those who need our help.”
Chief Executive and Group Managing Director Eddie Hawthorne said: “The Arnold Clark Community Fund is here to connect us with our local communities, and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to help LifeCare with this grant.
“The past year has been challenging for so many of us, which is why it’s important that organisations like LifeCare, who work so hard improve the lives of others, continue to get the support they need.
“We hope this grant will make a difference and help them continue to provide essential care to the elderly living in Edinburgh.”
Edinburgh charities Streetwork and Edinburgh Food Project have welcomed donations totalling £10,000 from Amazon Development Centre Scotland.
Streetwork, a service provided by Simon Community Scotland, has been offering care and guidance to those who are experiencing homeless or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh for 25 years.
The charity provides expert advice and compassionate support, working to connect people to the services they need. The mission of the charity is to enable a life off the streets, showing dignity and respect to everyone.
The charity works with City of Edinburgh Council, so staff have direct links to accommodation that is available immediately. The charity also offers a 24-hour freephone line that provides information for anyone who needs it.
Edinburgh Food Project operates eight foodbanks across the northwest, central and east of Edinburgh. The charity also offers a range of support to people including housing and benefits advice, a money advice service and a mental health and wellbeing project.
Edinburgh Food Project’s mission is to provide emergency support to people in crisis whilst also addressing the underlying causes of food poverty.
Commenting on the donation, Graeme Smith, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland, said: “We are pleased to support Streetwork and Edinburgh Food Project with these donations.
“We understand how difficult the last year has been for people at risk of hunger and homelessness and these charities have gone above and beyond to support the Edinburgh community.”
Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive, with Simon Community Scotland added: “We want to say a big thank you to the Amazon team for this donation. It means a lot to us to have this support at this time.
“COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the community and the demand for our services have rocketed. This donation will give our staff and volunteers a boost so we can continue to help those experiencing the most extreme impacts of homelessness including rough sleeping in Edinburgh.”
Angus Robertson, MSP for Edinburgh Central, said: “I welcome Amazon’s donation to Streetwork and Edinburgh Food Project, two important charities making a positive impact in the city.”
Amazon Development Centre Scotland has been based in Edinburgh since 2004 and is responsible for devising and growing innovations that bring new levels of choice and convenience to hundreds of millions of customers around the world.
It houses teams of leading engineers, scientists, designers and product managers who work on everything from interactive user interface design to large-scale distributed systems and machine learning.
Community donations are one of a number of ways in which Amazon is supporting communities across the UK during COVID-19.
Throughout the pandemic Amazon has provided disadvantaged students with free online STEM resources and supported virtual classrooms with no-cost resources from AWS and Amazon Future Engineer.
The company has also teamed up with charity partner Magic Breakfast to deliver more than four million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas around the UK.
For more information on how Amazon is supporting the UK during COVID-19, click here.
Healthcare company, Enertor, has announced its support for the exceptional work of the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit and staff at the Western General Hospital in NHS Lothian. As part of the Save the Nation’s Soles campaign, Enertor wishes to give thanks to all those who have and continue to work hard on their feet throughout Covid-19.
Through the month of July, for every 5 pairs of protective insoles purchased at Enertor, 1 pair will be donated to the hospital staff. A presentation will then take place in August.
The Western General Hospital is the second group to receive thanks from the UK insole manufacturer. Through June, and the efforts of communities across the UK, 500 pairs of gifted Enertor insoles were secured for the District Nurses across Braintree, Witham and Halstead, Essex. A presentation is planned next week, to deliver the 500 insoles to the key workers.
“Every single one of our staff, from nurses to doctors, porters to therapists, receptionists to pharmacists have been working tirelessly, often in excess of 12 hour shifts to ensure their patients’ health and wellbeing. Our ward nurses can log over 20,000 steps in just one shift so you can imagine how tired their feet feel.
“We are incredibly touched by the support of Enertor and excited to receive the gifted insoles in August for our team. It’s so important we keep our staff on their feet and injury free. We know these insoles will help to keep our staff mobile, aid their posture and generally reduce the stress on their bodies.
“We are a real team at WGH and we want to show our appreciation in any way we can for their continued efforts at this incredibly tough time.”
Over a single day our feet can support hundreds of tons, with just one step exerting a force twice our body weight. Imagine the stress on the bodies of our health care professionals and community services through the pandemic.
In order to send thanks, Enertor needs your help …
The company are calling on local communities to nominate groups of people they’d like to thank – be it volunteers or key workers, hospital staff to Covid test and vaccination centre volunteers, postal staff emergency services to school teachers – groups who you think are making a huge difference with their efforts day in, day out.
Nick Beresford, CEO of Enertor says: “When the local community nominated the RIDU at Western General Hospital, we were thrilled, as we couldn’t think of more worthy recipients. They have been at the front line of this terrible pandemic, putting themselves at risk and we would really like to thank them for all their tireless and wonderful work.
“This campaign has been created to recognise the many extraordinary people across the country that have and are still spending a huge amount of time on their feet as key workers, volunteering, delivering, cleaning, caring and many other important roles through the pandemic.
“We all know how debilitating lower limb and foot pain can be – 90% of impact comes through our feet with little realisation of the damage this can do to the body. Now more than ever, injury prevention is becoming crucial, in helping to keep our key workers and community heroes healthy and mobile.
“We will come through this crisis, but the only way through is together and so we wanted to do our bit to support and send our thanks for their continued efforts and devotion to saving the nation.
“Our insoles are trusted by podiatrists, the NHS and the British Army. They help all kinds of foot and leg injuries and pain such as stress fractures, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis and shin splints.”
HOW CAN YOU SHOW YOUR SUPPORT?
To give thanks to your local heroes and heroines, visit
to nominate your chosen group and learn more about the vital role insoles can play in keeping you safe, mobile and injury free.
The nominated organisation must comprise over 50 people and each nomination will require the name of the group, a named contact to receive the donation if chosen and a short reason as to their hard work and deserving of the protective insoles. Each month, one chosen organisation will be presented with their donation.
Enertor PX1 insoles offer the first shock-absorbing technology specifically developed for protecting the feet and body from ground forces. Transmitting impact forces horizontally through the insole, shockwaves are greatly reduced through the leg.
The shoe inserts also help to improve lower limb alignment, reduce fatigue and reduce tibia and femur rotation and the stress this puts on joints. 91% of foot pain sufferers reported an improvement in the level of pain and 75% confirm that our insoles healed their plantar fasciitis.
Trusted by podiatrists, the NHS and British Army, the PX1 insole boasts flexibility, comfort, durability and energy returning properties, priced at just £34.99
Now that Covid-19 restrictions are easing, you may be thinking about re-starting services and face-to-face volunteering activities. Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs) are one of the measures you can put in place to help you resume services safely and with confidence (writes Volunteer Edinburgh Chief Officer PAUL WILSON).
Volunteer Edinburgh is a “distribution centre” for LFDs for small or local voluntary organisations or community groups.
If you would like some testing kits to distribute to your staff, volunteers or service users these are available for collection from the Volunteer Edinburgh office at 222 Leith Walk between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
While we are not operating an appointment system for collection it would be much appreciated if you could call us on 0131 225 0630 to let us know roughly what time you will be coming: as we only have limited staff in the office this will ensure that someone is available to help you when you arrive.
For information on how to use the LFDs please see the Scottish Government guidance HERE and for information on testing, vaccinations and self-isolation support please click HERE.
Criminals befriend victims online using fake identities, persuade them to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam, often by using attractive women/men to entice the victim to participate.
The webcam videos are recorded, then used by threatening to share them with the victims’ friends & family, unless the victim pays money.
The best way to protect potential victims is to encourage them to be careful about whom you befriend online just as you would offline, especially when considering sharing intimate images.
For further help and support, visit Police Scotland website:-
Vital equipment on it’s way to fight Covid-19 crisis in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia
A grant of more than £270,000 from the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund will fund the supply of 300 items of vital equipment to treat Covid-19 patients in Africa.
The funding will allow Kids Operating Room, a Scottish-based global health charity, to distribute 100 oxygen concentrators each to Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia.
Covid-19 cases in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia are rising quickly, with the health system in Zambia especially under severe stress.
One of the biggest impacts of the rise in Covid-19 cases is a shortage of oxygen, and oxygen concentrators are easy to use, are suitable for patients of all ages, and can be used throughout the health service.
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The Covid situation in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia has become very serious, very quickly, and we know that the pressure on health services are putting great stress on their infrastructure, especially in relation to the delivery of oxygen to patients.
“This funding for oxygen concentrators will go some way to help ease the current stress on the health services in our three African partner countries, and we are delighted to work with Kids Operating Room to make sure this vital equipment is put to use as soon as possible.
“Scotland remains fully committed to playing our part in tackling shared global challenges, and we are committed to increase the International Development Fund (IDF) by 50% to £15 million.
“As the global pandemic continues, we firmly believe this is not the time to turn our back on the poorest and those in dire need – instead, this is precisely the moment when we should be living up to our core values.”
David Cunningham, the chief executive officer of Kids Operating Room, said: “Our model is to listen to doctors, then give them what they need – right now, the message is coming back loud and clear that what they need is access to more oxygen to fight Covid-19.
“Oxygen concentrators are key pieces of equipment that are needed to meet the region’s critical oxygen shortage. They are suitable for all ages and durable for years to come post-Covid, making them incredibly essential to support the health services in the long-term.”
Kids Operating Room is a Scottish global health charity with bases in Edinburgh, Dundee and Nairobi. It works directly with local surgeons and their teams across Africa and South America to transform hospital spaces into dedicated operating rooms for children’s surgery.
Oxygen concentrators provide a sustainable and cost-effective source of medical oxygen – they draw air from the environment and then concentrate that room oxygen to therapeutic levels for delivery to patients.
The charity will coordinate the distribution of the oxygen equipment. They will arrange for delivery to doctors in Lusaka, Lilongwe and Kigali, and have the equipment distributed to the most in-demand hospitals.
– Sales of Morrisons ‘For Farmers’ dairy and egg ranges help British farmers invest in sustainability and animal husbandry –
– Scheme has led to increased woodland and insect habitats, more grazing and free roaming time, and new cow comfort initiatives –
Morrisons customers have raised £20 million to support farms and the countryside by choosing to pay a little more for products in Morrisons For Farmers range.
The funds have been ploughed back into a range of farm schemes to improve biodiversity and further improve animal welfare, in a period when British farmers have faced financial uncertainty due to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
In October 2015, Morrisons was the first British retailer to launch a dairy product where part of the purchase price went directly back to farmers. Milk For Farmers was the original product – at 10p-a-litre more than Morrisons own label standard milk – with the full difference passed on to its dairy farmers.
The range now includes Cheese For Farmers, Cream For Farmers and Eggs For Farmers which similarly give customers the opportunity to pay a little more to support farmers directly.
Funds from the For Farmers range have helped the farmed and natural environment. Morrisons For Farmers ‘Chuckle Eggs’, costing an extra 1p per egg more, has enabled farmers to invest money in planting woodland and creating insect-friendly wildflower habitats for their free-range chickens to roam around in. To date 169 acres have been planted. This month a similar insect habitat scheme is being rolled out across all Morrisons milk farms.
Money from the Milk for Farmers range has enabled more investment in animal husbandry from the 140 dairy farmers aligned to Morrisons. Farmers directly selling into the Morrisons Milk For Farmers range grazed their cows for an average of 224 days last year – over a hundred more days than are required.
Dairy farmers have also put the additional money towards new rotating brushes, mattresses and scratch pads for cows, along with foot baths to reduce lameness.
Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture at Morrisons,said: “Our farmers continue to face some uncertainty due to the impact of Brexit and the pandemic. So we are pleased to have passed on £20 million from our For Farmers range to help fund initiatives which may otherwise have suffered from under-investment.
“It’s great to see many customers want to pay more to support British farmers – and want to buy dairy products from cows that have been let out to graze and eggs from free range hens who can roam in enriched woodland and grassland areas.”
Morrisons is British farming’s biggest supermarket customer and buys directly from over 3,000 farmers and growers. Morrisons is 100% British for its fresh meat, milk and eggs and always buys British produce first when in season and when available.
Morrisons has already embarked on a programme to be completely supplied by net zero carbon British farms[1] by 2030, five years ahead of the market.
Over the next nine years, Morrisons will work with its 3,000 farmers and growers to produce affordable ‘net zero’ carbon meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables. As part of the programme, Morrisons will also work with universities, farming and countryside organisations and carbon experts.
For more information on the Morrisons For Farmers range, please visit:
Christmas spirit arrives early this yearfor Social Bite
Leading contract caterer Elior UK has teamed up with client Scottish Rugby for a Christmas campaign that will donate one hot meal for every party booking received for its renowned Glitterfest events.
In total around 3,000 meals will be donated to the vulnerable in the local community during the month of December.
The meals will be provided through Social Bite – the Edinburgh-based organisation that distributes food and hot drinks throughout the year to people experiencing homelessness and food poverty.
Founded in 2012 as a sandwich shop operating as a social business, and supported by well-known names such as Prince Harry, George Clooney and Leonardo di Caprio, Social Bite is on a mission to end homelessness through pioneering employment, food and housing initiatives.
Since the start of 2021 they have provided over 180,000 food packs and essential items to people in need; and exist to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.
Craig Stewart, Regional Managing Director, Elior, says:“After the disappointment of having to cancel our popular annual Glitterfest Parties last year due to Covid, we are delighted that this year’s festive offer will not only give revellers a wonderful night to remember, but at the same time we will be distributing around 3000 free, hot meals to people in the local community for whom this time of year can be particularly difficult.
“Keeping people at the heart of everything we do is of the upmost importance to us and with our strong ties to the community, we are determined to support in any way that we can!”
“It is through the generosity of organisations like Elior and Scottish Rugby that we are able to make it that little bit brighter for so many vulnerable people who would otherwise go without.”
Not forgetting the inspiring work of the NHS and key workers, Elior has also pledged 50 free places for them at Glitterfest Party Nights at BT Murrayfield.
From Saturday 27 November until Sunday 19 December the Glitterfest Party Nights will, as ever, be hosted by local radio presenter Boogie – aka Andy Bouglas – who will entertain throughout the evening from pre-dinner drinks through to the three-course festive meal, games, prize giveaways and dancing.
Elior will once again be providing the mouth-watering array of food on 31 December when Murrayfield hosts a spectacular Hogmanay party that promises to see in 2022 with a bang.
Standard tickets start from just £39pp with VIP tickets costing an extra £15pp. For further details and to book tickets, visit www.glitterfest.co.uk.
The charity Coram Voice will celebrate the awards ceremony of Voices 2021, its national creative writing competition for children in care and young care leavers, virtually again this year due to ongoing pandemic restrictions.
The ceremony will be streamed on the Coram Voice YouTube channel from 5pm tomorrow (14 July) and will be co-hosted by award-winning Scottish actor and former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi, a long-standing supporter of the competition, and Voices 2019 winner Sophia Hall.
It will also feature members of the competition judging panel announcing this year’s winners, including the children’s authors Abi Elphinstone and Cynthia Murphy, novelist Kirsty Capes and the poet Joelle Taylor.
Peter Capaldi said: “It is an honour to host the Voices awards ceremony again this year. The competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and talent of care-experienced young people and builds greater understanding around their lives and experiences.”
Sophia Hall said: “I am delighted to be co-hosting this year’s award ceremony with Peter. I’m a proud care experienced person, but that wasn’t always the case. I used to hide the fact I was in care, and never really spoke about it when I was a teenager.
“Today, after being encouraged by organisations such as Coram, my peers, and the wider community, I embrace my experience as an important and integral part of my identity. The Voices competition means a lot to me because it’s all about encouraging young people in care to use their voices, and encouraging non-care experienced people to listen”.
This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Voices competition, which is sponsored by UK management consultancy Cadence Innova.
The competition received over 250 entries on the theme of ‘What Makes Life Good’ submitted from across the country. Just 24 of these have been shortlisted over four age categories: primary (age 4-10), lower secondary (age 11-14), upper secondary (age 15-17) and care leavers (age 18-25).
Brigid Robinson, Managing Director of Coram Voice, said: “The uncertainty and disruption of the pandemic has made the past year incredibly challenging for many children and young people in and leaving the care system.
“But reading the competition entries, we have been so inspired by the stories and poems that show how children and young people are using their strength and creativity to deal with these difficult experiences. Their motivation and resilience is an inspiration to all.
“I want to congratulate all the young people who entered this year’s competition. This is your night, and we are delighted to be able to host the awards online so that we can all celebrate together and share the talents of every young person who took part.”
Gary Ashby, Founding Partner at Cadence Innova, the Headline Sponsor of Voices 2021, said: “It is our third year sponsoring the Voices competition and we are delighted to be working with Coram once again. The Voices Awards champion children’s creativity and development and we are immensely proud to be a part of this inspiring contest. We hope that the artistic exploration of this year’s topic – What makes life good – will not only help the participants explore their creative sides, but also grow their confidence for the future.”
To find out more about the Voices 2021 competition and how you can tune in on 14 July, please visit coramvoice.org.uk/voices.
