Press Release
Up to £10,000 to get idea off the ground
People living in Inverness, and surrounding areas, aged 50 and over are being asked to come forward with bright ideas to help improve the lives of older people in the area.
Age Unltd, which is aimed at tackling the issue of social isolation in the elderly and improving public services across Scotland, is being launched today 14 December 2009 by NESTA (The National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts).
The initiative will give successful applicants support and funding of up to £10,000 to develop their idea into a live community project.
“Not all older people enjoy their later years. They may feel lonely, unfulfilled, excluded or bored” says Jackie Mckenzie, NESTA’s head of innovations programme Scotland. “We want to hear from anyone that thinks they can help the elderly become less socially isolated and as a result to lead healthier and happier lives. In return we’ll give them support and funding to turn their idea into reality.
“It may be that someone has experience as a carer or volunteer with older people and has the skills and experience they’d be willing to share. Or perhaps they are approaching retirement, have recently retired or have been made redundant and are looking for a new challenge. These skills can be put to good use and Age Unltd can help people realise their potential in this area.”
NESTA is looking for team players who have ideas, experience and determination, plus the time to get involved, to come forward now.
A workshop will be held in March next year, where NESTA will select and build teams that will then pitch their idea to a judging panel, in order to make it through for further support and development.
Participants can then go onto bid for funding in June to get their concept up and running in the community.
To enter, a short application form must be submitted by 14th February 2010. The form can be found at: http://www.nesta.org.uk/ageunlimitedinscotland
Alternatively applicants can call 01382 229 521 or email ageunlimitedinscotland@nesta.org.uk and a form will be mailed out.
Programme opens: 14 December 2009
Closing date: 14th February 2010
Full day workshops: 3 events March 2010
Incubation process: March-June 2010
Funding pitch: June 2010
===================================
For further information, please contact Stephanie Robertson, Weber Shandwick on 07809 665 773 or by email at srobertson@webershandwick.com.
Notes:
* The population in Scotland is predicted to age considerably between 2006 and 2031, with the number of people over 60 expected to rise by 54% over this period.1 The sheer volume of the country’s ageing society is placing increasing demands on areas such as health and care services. And as a generation their expectations are different: they want new, better and more personalised types of services.
* As a response to this challenge, NESTA (The National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts) is committed to working with older social entrepreneurs in Scotland aimed at making aging a more fulfilling healthy and socially inclusive experience. The two year pilot programme will stimulate latent entrepreneurial activity in the over fifties.
* NESTA recently undertook research which leads it to believe the UK is unprepared for ageing. Just under a third of all pensioners live on or close to the poverty line and twelve million people - half the UK workforce - are putting nothing aside for old age. Demographic patterns mean these trends are getting worse and the UK is failing to find new solutions, focusing instead on existing services and initiatives.
1 International Longevity Centre-UK report 17 August 2009
About NESTA
NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, a unique and independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative.
With the largest portfolio of early-stage businesses in the country, it is a leading authority on how to grow new ideas. It also stimulates imaginative solutions to pressing social issues and shapes policy to help the UK meet its national innovation challenges.
www.nesta.org.uk
The report, entitled “Demanding Growth in Scotland” is available online at www.nesta.org.uk/demanding-growth-in-scotland.
Council warns be careful cyber shopping and beware of counterfeit goods
Press Release from the Highland Council, Monday, 14 December 2009:
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards are advising consumers to buy from reputable websites and be wary of websites selling cheap designer goods, DVDs, CDs etc as they may turn out to by counterfeit.
The warning comes in the run up to Christmas after one such Highland cyber shopper was tricked into buying fake DVD’s from an internet site.
Caithness resident, John Green while browsing on the internet clicked on internet site ‘clickdvdhouse’ and found, what he thought, would be the perfect Christmas present for his wife.
Mr Green browsed the site and discovered that ‘classic compiled episodes of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ were being offered for sale. Many readers may recall this TV series from their childhood as it became something of an American institution during the 1970’s and was inspired by the novels of Laura Ingalls Wilders of the same name. The programme was originally aired on the NBC network and run for approximately 200 episodes.
Mr Green explains: “My wife was a big fan when she was younger and I thought this would be the ideal Christmas gift. I ordered a complete set of DVD’s from the website which came to around $86.00. This included $24.00 for postage and packaging. All in all this would have cost me around £69.00 which I paid by card.
Mr Green eagerly waited for the DVD’s to arrive and after 14 days a package dropped through his letter box. Excitement soon turned to disappointment however, when he opened the package from ‘clickdvdhouse’, to discover that the DVD’s he ordered were of poor quality and production and had been sent to him from China!
Mr Green adds: “The DVD’s did not even come in a proper DVD case but video cassette cases. The production of the labelling and overall appearance was terrible”. Mr Green contacted Consumer Direct about his disappointing purchase and was directed to Highland Council Trading Standards for advice about getting his money back.
Bob Jones, Principal Trading Standards Officer from Highland Council advises: “Mr Green explained to us how he came to buy DVD’s from a site called, ‘clickdvdhouse’ which claims to be based in the United States. The site terms and conditions state that if any consumer is not satisfied with their purchase then they can receive a full 100% refund. However, there is no information about where the business is based so consumers cannot return their goods to get a refund.”
Bob Jones adds: “Online shoppers should take their time to familiarise themselves with the website they are browsing before going ahead with a purchase. A few simple checks that can be carried out quickly include trying to identify the seller and where they are based. By carrying out a quick “WHOIS” at search: www.networksolutions.com/whois consumers can find out in seconds the name and address of the person behind registering the website.”
Highland Council Trading Standards are urging all consumers to be careful this Christmas when shopping online and suggest a few further web-shopping tips:
* Search the internet for user reviews of the website.
* Double click the padlock symbol to reveal the company who registered the site.
* Phone the UK landline number to check if it is genuine.
* Check any UK postal address given to see if it exists.
* Be aware that not all web addresses ending in ‘co.uk’ are from businesses based in the UK.
Bob Jones further warns: “Some rogue websites have even gone to the extent of ‘cloning’ the genuinely branded goods websites, where they take an exact copy of the genuine website layout. This practice can catch shoppers out as they are convinced they are shopping on the official website of a reputable firm. The message is with sites such as these that if prices are very low – they are probably too good to be true! Although these checks are not entirely fool-proof, any information that does not add up should alert the consumer to possible scams and fake websites. If goods are being offered at knock down prices, consumers should think twice before parting with their money.”
Consumers wishing more information or advice about buying on the internet should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website on www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Anyone with queries about goods they have bought over the internet or who wish to report a possible crime relating to counterfeit goods should contact The Highland Council Trading Standards on 01463 228700 or trading.standards@highland.gov.uk or visit their offices at: Highland Trading Standards, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness, IV1 1UF.
For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews
- ends-
Lynda Duncan
Public Relations Assistant
Chief Executive's Service
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702022 Fax: 01463 702025
Email: lynda.duncan@highland.gov.uk
www: highland.gov.uk
The Highland Council’s Trading Standards are advising consumers to buy from reputable websites and be wary of websites selling cheap designer goods, DVDs, CDs etc as they may turn out to by counterfeit.
The warning comes in the run up to Christmas after one such Highland cyber shopper was tricked into buying fake DVD’s from an internet site.
Caithness resident, John Green while browsing on the internet clicked on internet site ‘clickdvdhouse’ and found, what he thought, would be the perfect Christmas present for his wife.
Mr Green browsed the site and discovered that ‘classic compiled episodes of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ were being offered for sale. Many readers may recall this TV series from their childhood as it became something of an American institution during the 1970’s and was inspired by the novels of Laura Ingalls Wilders of the same name. The programme was originally aired on the NBC network and run for approximately 200 episodes.
Mr Green explains: “My wife was a big fan when she was younger and I thought this would be the ideal Christmas gift. I ordered a complete set of DVD’s from the website which came to around $86.00. This included $24.00 for postage and packaging. All in all this would have cost me around £69.00 which I paid by card.
Mr Green eagerly waited for the DVD’s to arrive and after 14 days a package dropped through his letter box. Excitement soon turned to disappointment however, when he opened the package from ‘clickdvdhouse’, to discover that the DVD’s he ordered were of poor quality and production and had been sent to him from China!
Mr Green adds: “The DVD’s did not even come in a proper DVD case but video cassette cases. The production of the labelling and overall appearance was terrible”. Mr Green contacted Consumer Direct about his disappointing purchase and was directed to Highland Council Trading Standards for advice about getting his money back.
Bob Jones, Principal Trading Standards Officer from Highland Council advises: “Mr Green explained to us how he came to buy DVD’s from a site called, ‘clickdvdhouse’ which claims to be based in the United States. The site terms and conditions state that if any consumer is not satisfied with their purchase then they can receive a full 100% refund. However, there is no information about where the business is based so consumers cannot return their goods to get a refund.”
Bob Jones adds: “Online shoppers should take their time to familiarise themselves with the website they are browsing before going ahead with a purchase. A few simple checks that can be carried out quickly include trying to identify the seller and where they are based. By carrying out a quick “WHOIS” at search: www.networksolutions.com/whois consumers can find out in seconds the name and address of the person behind registering the website.”
Highland Council Trading Standards are urging all consumers to be careful this Christmas when shopping online and suggest a few further web-shopping tips:
* Search the internet for user reviews of the website.
* Double click the padlock symbol to reveal the company who registered the site.
* Phone the UK landline number to check if it is genuine.
* Check any UK postal address given to see if it exists.
* Be aware that not all web addresses ending in ‘co.uk’ are from businesses based in the UK.
Bob Jones further warns: “Some rogue websites have even gone to the extent of ‘cloning’ the genuinely branded goods websites, where they take an exact copy of the genuine website layout. This practice can catch shoppers out as they are convinced they are shopping on the official website of a reputable firm. The message is with sites such as these that if prices are very low – they are probably too good to be true! Although these checks are not entirely fool-proof, any information that does not add up should alert the consumer to possible scams and fake websites. If goods are being offered at knock down prices, consumers should think twice before parting with their money.”
Consumers wishing more information or advice about buying on the internet should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website on www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Anyone with queries about goods they have bought over the internet or who wish to report a possible crime relating to counterfeit goods should contact The Highland Council Trading Standards on 01463 228700 or trading.standards@highland.gov.uk or visit their offices at: Highland Trading Standards, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness, IV1 1UF.
For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews
- ends-
Lynda Duncan
Public Relations Assistant
Chief Executive's Service
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702022 Fax: 01463 702025
Email: lynda.duncan@highland.gov.uk
www: highland.gov.uk
Refuse collection and kerbside collections over the festive period
Press Release from the Highland Council, Friday 11 December 2009:
In the Highland Council area over the festive period, there will be changes to the collection schedule for kerbside refuse and blue recycling boxes/bins.
There will be no refuse collections on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and all waste and recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day and 1/2 January.
There will be no garden waste or bulky uplift collections between Friday 25 December and Monday 4 January, 2010.
Refuse collections due on Friday 25 December will move to Saturday 26 December. Collections on Friday 1 January, 2010, will move to Monday 4 January with all following collections being moved back one day until Saturday 9 January.
The public is asked to use the nearest recycling point to recycle all glass bottles, paper and cans.
Normal Collection Day:
Friday 25 December
Friday 1 January
Monday 4 January
Tuesday 5 January
Wednesday 6 January
Thursday 7 January
Friday 8 January
New Collection Day:
Saturday 26 December
Monday 4 January
Tuesday 5 January
Wednesday 6 January
Thursday 7 January
Friday 8 January
Saturday 9 January
The public is reminded to put their bin or box out before 7 am and that no black bags or boxes lying outside the bin will be collected.
-ends-
Lynda Duncan
Public Relations Assistant
Chief Executive's Service
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702022 Fax: 01463 702025
Email: lynda.duncan@highland.gov.uk
www: highland.gov.uk
In the Highland Council area over the festive period, there will be changes to the collection schedule for kerbside refuse and blue recycling boxes/bins.
There will be no refuse collections on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and all waste and recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day and 1/2 January.
There will be no garden waste or bulky uplift collections between Friday 25 December and Monday 4 January, 2010.
Refuse collections due on Friday 25 December will move to Saturday 26 December. Collections on Friday 1 January, 2010, will move to Monday 4 January with all following collections being moved back one day until Saturday 9 January.
The public is asked to use the nearest recycling point to recycle all glass bottles, paper and cans.
Normal Collection Day:
Friday 25 December
Friday 1 January
Monday 4 January
Tuesday 5 January
Wednesday 6 January
Thursday 7 January
Friday 8 January
New Collection Day:
Saturday 26 December
Monday 4 January
Tuesday 5 January
Wednesday 6 January
Thursday 7 January
Friday 8 January
Saturday 9 January
The public is reminded to put their bin or box out before 7 am and that no black bags or boxes lying outside the bin will be collected.
-ends-
Lynda Duncan
Public Relations Assistant
Chief Executive's Service
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road Inverness IV3 5NX
Tel: 01463 702022 Fax: 01463 702025
Email: lynda.duncan@highland.gov.uk
www: highland.gov.uk
Corriemoillie windfarm proposal - UPDATE
I've now received notification that E.ON have submitted their planning proposal to the Highland Council.
The reference number is 09/00693/FULRC
Description: Erection of 19 wind turhines, anemometer mast and wind farm control building, formation of temporary construction compound, access tracks and borrow pits.
Documents can be viewed at:
http://www.eon-uk.com/generation/1998.aspx
Case officer is David Mudie
Phone: 01463 702255
Email: david.mudie@highland.gov.uk
Jackie
The reference number is 09/00693/FULRC
Description: Erection of 19 wind turhines, anemometer mast and wind farm control building, formation of temporary construction compound, access tracks and borrow pits.
Documents can be viewed at:
http://www.eon-uk.com/generation/1998.aspx
Case officer is David Mudie
Phone: 01463 702255
Email: david.mudie@highland.gov.uk
Jackie
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