Free WIFI on buses used by millions
Ceilidh Fundraiser for Sudan
IKEA welcomes members of GB Special Olympics Team
Fundraising Pharmacists
BIG SING!
More than 2 million users have now made use of the free wifi scheme in Edinburgh, where buses and trams are offering free connection to the internet to their passengers.
The journey to work for millions of commuters across the UK has been improved thanks to free Wi-Fi having been installed on buses and trams as part of the Government’s SuperConnected cities initiative.
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Ceilidh for South Sudan on Saturday 3 October . It’s at Lifecare/Stockbridge House, Cheyne Street, Edinburgh from 7 30 till midnight. Tickets are £12 including dinner. Children are free and most welcome. (although a small donation would be appreciated). Tickets available from: Galerie Mirages, 46a Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, The One World Shop, St John’s Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh & on the door on the night. As the images of desperate refugees fleeing persecution and war fill our hearts and minds, the amazing triumph of the young people of South Sudan, gives hope to all. This year’s ceilidh will support The Gatluak Gatpieny Scholarship Fund, to help a young South Sudan refugee through secondary school education and then on to enter the medical profession. Previous students supported by this annual fundraiser have enabled young refugees to become doctors and engineers. So the evening will also celebrate the wonderful achievement of the young people of South Sudan, many of whom have been refugees for more than 14 years, but they have shown that, with the right kind of support, so much is possible, there is so much HOPE .
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On Friday of this week IKEA Edinburgh will be welcoming home the Scottish Lothian members of the GB Special Olympics team, who have been competing in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The event, which is open to the public, will celebrate the Special Olympics when every Scottish Lothian athlete won a medal at the games. The event will start at 6:00pm in the store.
Among the team is former IKEA employee, Michelle Moran, who won Gold, Silver and Bronze in swimming. Her sister Claire Anderson, also an IKEA employee, has worked with the store to create an event that recognises and celebrates the great achievements by the group of athletes. Family and friends of the athletes along with local charities that have supported their careers will be invited to the IKEA store for a buffet dinner.
Elaine McKenna, Team GB Special Olympics Football Head Coach said: “We are all really excited about the event and thankful to IKEA for making it happen. It will be a great way to enjoy everything that we achieved at the games with those who supported us but weren’t able to be there in person.”
Innes Ritchie, IKEA Edinburgh store manager said: “The Scottish members of the Special Olympics team performed fantastically in Los Angeles and we want to take a moment to give them the limelight they deserve.”
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A four strong team from Deans Pharmacy in Edinburgh is preparing for a Sunday of pavement pounding in Scotland’s largest mass participation event – the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run – to raise money for BBC Children in Need.
The team, running as part of the Business Challenge in the 10k which takes place in Glasgow on Sunday October 4, is made up of Natalie Schwartz, Jay Gosai, Heather Kelly and Ailie Roberts.
BBC’s Children in Need is the official charity partner of Bank of Scotland, sponsors of the Great Scottish Run, and it is also the chosen beneficiary for Deans Pharmacy’s fundraising efforts across the country with all six Scottish branches taking part.*
Heather Kelly, pharmacy manager, said: “I think everyone would agree that BBC’s Children in Need is a cause that is close to the hearts of people from all across the UK thanks to the truly amazing work that it does to support vulnerable children and young people in Britain.
“Given the charity is the official partner for Bank of Scotland and we are long standing clients of the bank, it seemed like the perfect fundraising challenge for us to take on.
“It has been brilliant to train together for the 10k and work towards generating as much sponsorship as possible for this brilliant cause.”
Starting at George Square on Sunday October 4 in the heart of Glasgow, the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run sees world class athletes and tens of thousands of club, charity and fun runners follow the iconic 10k and half marathon routes through the city before they enter Glasgow Green and reach the tree lined finishing straight in the shadow of Nelson’s Monument.
Popular Super Saturday will return on Saturday October 3 with a Toddler Dash, Family Mile, Junior Run and for the first time, a Mascot Race including Pudsey and Blush.
Last year the event drew a record-breaking number of entries, with over 30,000 registering across the weekend.
Alasdair Gardner, Regional Managing Director, SME Banking and Mid Markets, Bank of Scotland, said: “On behalf of Bank of Scotland I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Deans Pharmacy for not only taking part but putting such a fantastic amount of effort into their fundraising. We love seeing local businesses taking part in the event as it is the perfect opportunity to build colleague engagement, increase morale and of course have some fun! We wish the runners the very best of luck this weekend.”
Andy Mitchelmore from organisers The Great Run Company said: “We are seeing so many entries this year from people raising funds for a huge variety of worthwhile causes, and the Deans Pharmacy staff are testament to that. It is fantastic to see so many staff members signed up from the one business and we look forward to welcoming them on the day!”
The Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10k, Junior Run (2.5k) and Family Mile are still open for entries at www.greatscottishrun.com
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As part of their Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative project “BIG Songs”, and with funding support from Youth Scotland’s Stand Up To Sectarianism small grants scheme, young songwriters at The BIG Project have written “Below The Surface”, a song which challenges sectarian attitudes.
The song, which was written collaboratively by pupils from St. Joseph’s Primary School, Broomhouse Primary School and Forrester High School, in a joint project led by The BIG Project and Broomhouse Young Carers, asserts:
“We don’t hold religious grudges, we don’t put people down”.
The BIG Project Youth Choir have been learning the song, and are looking forward to performing it to members of the local community at The BIG Project’s AGM on Monday 5th October 2015.
After a successful interactive Fringe “BIG Sing-a-long!” show, the choir are also keen to lead the audience in some action songs and games as part of the AGM.
Project Manager Sascha Macleod commented: “The BIG Project AGM is a great chance for our youth project to share the successes of the past year with the local and wider community – and we’re sure that a performance from The BIG Project Youth Choir will help to make for an exciting and enjoyable event!”
Raymond Black, YMI Manager at Creative Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the children and young people of the Big Project Youth Choir to perform at a local event and have fun showcasing a mix of established and original music. Every year the YMI supports over 300 projects across Scotland, bringing high quality music making opportunities into communities. Taking part in creative activities can make a real difference to the lives of young people by allowing them to shine and express themselves.”
The AGM is open to interested members of the local and wider community, as well as members of The BIG Project and their families.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
