News.Scotland.Org

Scotland, Mar 31: In a bid to enhance the construction trade the Glasgow city council has decided to provide apprenticeship to all the students leaving school next year. It is expected that about 2500 youngsters will participate in the training session. Students will be given training in the fields like joinery and plumbing. To encourage the companies to absorb the trainees’ financial assistance will also be provided by the council.

This move is on the backdrop of the growing demand for skilled workers to meet the needs of construction boom as part of the preparation for the Commonwealth Games to be held in the city in the year 2014. The council consider this move as the first of its kind in Scotland and is expected to fulfil the country’s skills shortage. Increasing the number of training scheme based on the construction trade will help to boost the economy of the city.

While commenting on this the Glasgow City Council leader, Steven Purcell said: “More students will get the benefits of similar schemes in future years. A budget of £30m will be allocated for this purpose. The preparation work for the Commonwealth Games will get intensified due to this. Increasing the number of training scheme in the city will be a massive asset for the city’s economy.”

Before being inducted into the training scheme the pupils should clear a practical assessment test. Those to fail to clear the test will be given special tuition to boost their literacy and numerical skills as a measure of upgrading them for the entry requirement.

March, 29

So no drinks for below-21s this bold step was taken by one of the small towns in Scotland to curb the under-age drinking menace. It was evident that alcohol was easily available for these under-age drinkers easily deteriorating their life and pushing them towards antisocial behaviours. Taking an initiative to put a stop to this growing problem in the society this six-week pilot scheme came to force.

This new pilot project in the small town of Armadale, West Lothian is said to act from 5pm to 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights. This pilot scheme was developed by East Lothian and Border Police. It was known that the new scheme was also flayed by a section of grocery and alcohol campaigners.

Meanwhile the positive aspect is that in West Lothian council the alcohol shop which sells alcohol has agreed to ask customers their age proof who appears to be under-age. Constable Phillip McIntosh of the Safer Neighbourhoods team said, “Youth disorder is often linked to alcohol, and Armadale is no different to any other town in Scotland”. He added the target is not only to curb and stop the under-age access to alcohol, but also to aware those who supply alcohol to these youngsters.

The President of the Scottish Grocers Fondation, Colin Landsburgh said we should make the use of a national proof-of-age card by all people who want to buy alcohol with an age restriction. He further said we should try and intensify this initiative and also in a big manner across Scotland. He also appreciated the role of the police who made this whole project more active. It was also thought to include the clubs and pubs in the parameters of this under-age drinking regulation, so that no under-age child gets alcohol.

Scotland, Mar 28: In a bid to help the people relieve from mental depression Breathing Space will offer a round the clock helpline facility. The helpline facility will initially focus on the areas like Shetland, Western Isles and Orkney. It will ensure mental health and provide counselling related services to the people of those areas. This initiative is backed by NHS24 and it well equipped with an expert team comprising of 40 members as advisors. Conservatory MSP Mary Scanlon appreciated the promotional campaign targeting Highlands and Islands.

“Backed by the serene natural beauty and the support of kith and kin people living in rural places have more opening to share their problems. People living in isolated places are more likely to get affected by mental depression. The local medical aids fail to reach those remote areas so that is the main reason for us to provide our service in those areas,” said Tony McLaren, the national co-ordinator for Breathing Space.

While commenting on this Mary Scanlon, Conservatory MSP said: “It is a wonderful initiative as this drive is the new initiative to enhance mental health that targets the areas of Highlands and Islands.”

Earlier in January this year a website was launched as an effort to alleviate the suicide tendency among people living in the Highlands. A team of expert from NHS Highland led by Dr Cameron Stark found that the numbers of deaths by suicide in Scotland have decreased.

The helpline facility by Breathing Space will be as a moral booster for those who are affected by mental depression in Highlands and Islands.

March, 27

Pregnant women who are use to take alcohol; will now have to restrict the amount of these hard drinks they use to consume. The health watchdogs have advised these expecting moms to avoid alcohol and should not have more than two units twice a week. Even the health department supports these guidelines for pregnant women, and advice them to cut in their drinking habits.

It is feared that over consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can harm the unborn baby and also could lead to other complications. Women who do choose to drink after the first trimester should not go for more than two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

These future moms should have a control in their drinking habits, so that it will be safe for them and also for the new born. Binge drinking during pregnancy can cause permanent damage to the cells of a developing baby. Alcohol reaches to the baby through your bloodstream and across the placenta. This can cause serious complications while pregnancy and can lead to miscarriage and premature birth.

If we look to the scientific term which is used for over drinking disorder during pregnancy is fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This can cause a range of disorders to the baby in due course. So if you are an expectant then do check out for the amount of alcohol you consume for the sake of your newborn.

Scotland, Mar 26: Glasgow councillors have given their approval to the contentious tree-top adventure course proposed to implement in Pollok Park. Go Ape is the company behind this project and the play area includes several platforms and zip slides that are placed in the trees near the Burrell collection in the park.

A special meeting and visit to the site were conducted by the members of the planning committee before giving their consent to the proposal. The application is now forwarded to ministers at Holyrood as the Glasgow City Council will get financial benefit from the scheme.

“It was important that the public interest should have to be given high priority. There was a full and fair hearing to allow those interested to make factual representations,” said George Redmond, convenor of the planning committee in a statement.

The environmental campaigners who oppose this proposal on the grounds of commercialisation of the public park said that they will continue their protest against the plan. They also asked the minister to revive the whole proposal.

While commenting on this Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow said: “The City Council of Glasgow had shown no interest in protecting the green spaces and parks. They fail to restrict the damage on green spaces and thereby they earned dislike of the people throughout the Glasgow city.”

He further added that: “The approval to the play area in the Pollock Park is the latest example for this and it is an attempt to ruin the most tranquil spot in Glasgow. The Scottish government should not encourage this move.”

March, 25

The people of Britain are having a buzzing dinner these days as they are enjoying their evening meals together with children. This new trend has soon become a priority for almost all the parents in UK. Apart from the busy professional life and long working hours, these working parents are adjusting with their busy schedules and finding out time to be at the dinning table with their kids. If we look at the figures revealed out after a survey, we can find that over 82 per cent of parents are having their dinner together with their family on most of the days.

This new reports showcases how the trend is changing, earlier it was really a tough ask for the family to assemble together at the dinner table daily. All family members were so busy with their individual routines that they hardly make it together at the dinning table. But now things are changing and working parents are sacrificing their professional life, by cutting short their working hours and enjoying their evening meal with children and having a balance between both personal and professional life.

Meanwhile it was found that in order to have the dinner together families have extended their dinner time, so that all members can make out at the dinning table. People are also trying out cooking during weekends and having a great meal with family. It seems people have got many ways to spend some quality time together with family these days.

Scotland, Mar 24: As an attempt to restrict the number of forced marriages several initiatives were put forth by various organisations. The Scotland based Islamic foundation has suggested for a new legislation to tackle the issue effectively. They feel the civil powers in England are sufficient enough to take restrictive measures to help the people to get rid of forced marriages.

While commenting on this the chairman of the Islamic foundation, Osama Saeed said: “A comprehensive debate is what needed to find an effective solution. According to Islam a marriage will be valid only after both parties are agreed to it. He termed forced marriages as an injustice held responsible in many cases by people who happen to be Muslim and they originate from certain parts of the world where it does happen.”

He also pointed out that: “There seems a decrease in the number of forced marriages that is because of the change in the attitude of the people in Scotland. An effective legislation will intensify the process and bring in effective changes in the mindset of the people. Giving shape to new legislation will help to tackle the issue of forced marriage that exist in our society and it will send a positive message that this is a violation of human rights and it cannot be tolerated.”

Ms Saeed also added that an explicit debate is what needed in Scotland. The issue of criminality should be an option on the table and it is up to the victims to decide about the changes need, they can also get the help they need.

March, 22

The hot place which is attracting a lot of dwellers with its salient features and charm is the coastal town of Irvine in Ayrshire. This smart town is experiencing a huge property boom which is soaring faster than any where else in Scotland. The prices of properties have doubled in the last five years here, with more and more new buyers desperately buying their dream home here.

Looking at the land cost in the region for the past few years, we can make out that there has been a tremendous growth in Irvine property market. This beautiful place with its rich topography and easy connectivity with other adjoining places has attracted a lot of buyers over years. And now its among one of the top priorities of all property owners who are willing to buy a house. With easy connectivity to Glasgow, Kilmarnock and many other regions in the central belt, Irvine is an ideal place to bank on.

The trend of jump in the prices of properties in Scotland is not only restricted to Irvine, many other key areas are also in the race with steady a surge in the property costs. Along with Irvine, the other place which has attracted property buyers is Aberdeen which has witnessed a surge of 134 per cent in last five years. Kilmarnock also made its mark with a 120 per cent rise in house prices.

Among all these key places which are attracting many new property seekers with its varied attractions and feature, Edinburgh is still the most expensive of them all. Edinburgh shares the chart of top five places for property buyers with Dalkeith, Musselburgh and Inverurie.

So with so much happening in the property market, Scotland is becoming a prime destination for settlers and professionals finding their dream home here.

Scotland, Mar 20: In a bid to strengthen the teaching facility and to encourage research Scottish Funding council has decided to increase the fund allocation for higher education institution in Highland. The fund granted for UHI this academic year is considered as the highest overall in the country.

This academic year UHI will get £27.4m, with 6.1% increase as compared to previous year. UHI will use this fund to improve the quality of teaching and research. The organisation also agreed that the increase in the funds is the highest in the sector.

Scotland, Mar 20: The Edinburgh University has decided to confer Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, with an honorary degree. The award will be presented in June at a special ceremony conducted in the British Embassy in Washington DC.

While commenting on this Edinburgh University’s spokesman said: “Edinburgh University is working full-fledged to arrange this important award programme. Neil Armstrong is happy to accept our invitation and he will be conferred with honorary degree at a special function in Washington DC in the month of June.”

British-born astronaut Piers John Sellars and a former student of the Scottish university will give away the award to 77 year old Neil Armstrong. It was on 20 July 1969 Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on board Appollo 11 spacecraft landed on moon and created history by setting their foot on it.