The GENN issue 159

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Your voice in the community 18-19

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CITY OF CORRUPTION?

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ORE than a couple of councillors in Glasgow are showing signs of panic as Corrupt Edinburgh council officials face lengthy jail term After the recent court case in Edinburgh, there is more than a couple of corrupt council officials here in Glasgow who must be seriously worried as “bribery”

in awarding government funded contracts is finaly being investigated. The investigators who visit Glasgow won’t have to look very far to identify our own home grown corrupt officials, who between them have regularly shown favour with certain businessmen. It has been heavily rumoured

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throughout Glasgow and indeed the City chambers itself since, well before we won the Commonwealth games, that these businessmen have previously supplied these same corrupt officials with cash and hospitality, these being given in return for valuable Glasgow City Council contracts These local authority employ-

ees have been treated to dances and drinks in local clubs and bars as valuable City Council contracts were secured through bribery. The directors of these companies provide the rewards over the allocation of work for public buildings including schools, care homes, cemeteries and most recently, the accusations over Po-

lice Scotland HQ! It is said, that if you look after Councillor X then you can choose the project you want, providing they can choose the thank you, you pay. Labour supporters have been becoming more and more disillusioned as the corruption throughout the Labour Party and Glasgow’s Labour run council

grows out of all proportion. I hope that we can have a full and proper investigation into all Labour councillors and or officials representing the East End who have blatenly shown time and time again the obvious inappropriate relationship between them and contract/grants/support awarded and punishment levelled against them.

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The GENN Newspaper was launched because the team recognised the importance of connecting communities with the news. The aim of THE GENN, is to encourage communities and groups to get more involved in the local news agenda and to collaborate on stories and content ideas. It is about working in association with you, our readers. “We have always tried to go out into the community, understand what is going on around us and make our own contacts. But, now, we are looking to change the dynamics by giving community groups and organisations access to a low cost events promotion service which we hope will help to encourage people to get more involved with the local news agenda.” We have a need to identify different communities, and avoid the trap that other news organisations have fallen into of assuming an ‘audience’ of consumers can be described as a community. Although a target market might be geographically close, have a combined desire or be striving for a similar objective, the key to defining them is whether or not they are communicating with one another. The premise behind the GENN is to identify, engage, and then work with communities rather than treat them as mute consumers or sources. We provide the tools, the platforms, and the inspiration to bring the community’s stories to light, but then not get in the way of that story being told. This is your newspaper delivering your news help support and promote The GENN your voice in the community, all enquires to info@thegenn.co.uk

Glasgow East and North News

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Letters to the editor Dear Editor I am concerned that the prices in the Easterhouse charity shop is to dear. A few weeks ago they where selling a second hand bath for the same price it was out the shop, now they are selling a chest of drawers for £85 !!! I ask is this charity? to me it is not charity. i thought charity was meant for both the shop and customer, people look to these shops as they cant afford to buy brand new, now they cant afford to buy from a charity shop. it would be much appreciated if you can look into this as it is not only effecting me but with the biggest part of Easterhouse low income families. Yours faithfully Heather Dear Sirs, I act for Greater Glasgow Health Board and I have been notified about the attached newspaper article which publishes a letter from John MacLachlan. I would like to make you aware that Mr MacLachlan has written numerous let-

ters of complaint to my client concerning the adequacy of the treatment provided to him and the conduct of my client’s employees, including Professor McGarry. His complaints have been appropriately investigated by my client and also independently by the General Medical Council. On each occasion his complaints were considered to be without foundation. Despite all my client’s efforts to resolve the concerns raised by Mr MacLachlan about his treatment he has continued to make allegations which we believe to be false and, in order to protect Professor McGarry, who remains an employee of Greater Glasgow Health Board, we applied to the Court this week for an interim interdict. We were successful in obtaining this and, broadly speaking, the terms of the Court Order that we now have forbid Mr MacLachlan from broadcasting allegations that the treatment he received from my client was inadequate or that any of my client’s employees were guilty of neglect or pro-

fessional misconduct. Whilst it is unfortunate that we had to apply to Court to get this Order, it was a necessary step to protect Professor McGarry and his professional reputation from continued harassment and defamatory statements. Mr MacLachlan has been making unfounded complaints in relation to this matter for over 5 years and the application to Court for an interim interdict was a last resort. Should Mr MacLachlan approach your newspaper again with a request to publish similar material, I would be grateful if you would consider the circumstances I have narrated above before deciding if it would be responsible to publish it. Yours faithfully Will Henderson Solicitor - Litigation Team B Central Legal Office Dear Editor Council representatives ‘helped to put us into administration’, owners claims For those readers who were not aware your new look

GENN came close to closing down completely when the directors at Simply Publishing decided to call it a day. Thankfully we at the GENN have found a new funder to publish and Team GENN are happy to still be compiling your favourite newspaper. The owners of Simply publishing have accused Representatives of the Labour party and Glasgow city council of unnecessarily helping to put them out of business and into self administration. Their claims come after they withdrew from publishing the GENN. The allegations are that various advertisers have withdrawn all advertising since the demise of The Re-Gen and others are with-holding payments [now seriously overdue or simply refusing to pay. The business owners have called on government one last time, to intervene as they say they are owed over £5000 with one issue dating back to Dec 2013 with Clyde Gateway. The Directors say they are in danger of going bankrupt as a result of this Name and Address Supplied

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Police Scotland launches post watershed campaign to tackle rape ​POLICE Scotland today launched the latest phase of its ‘We Can Stop It’ rape prevention campaign with a hard-hitting post watershed TV and viral ad – a first for the single force. Aimed at 16-27 year old men, the ad will only be broadcast to viewers after 9pm on on-demand viewing services. More than one third of rapes reported in Scotland are carried out by men in this age group. The ‘We Can Stop It’ campaign continues its perpetrator focused approach, challenging behaviours and attitudes towards consent and rape. Chief Constable Sir Stephen House launched the campaign at the Butterfly and Pig Bar in Glasgow city centre with Sandy Brindley, National Co-ordinator of Rape Crisis Scotland. He met staff from the bar taking part in bystander training – training that allows staff in pubs and clubs to recognise when an intervention can prevent someone becoming the victim of a sexual assault. The Chief Constable said: “Sex without consent is rape. There are no excuses. If someone is drunk or drugged, they cannot give consent. ’We Can Stop It’ sends a very clear message - we can and we must prevent rape and sexual assault. “Police Scotland is working closely with partners to raise awareness and tackle the life-changing impact of sexual crime. We must do all we can to prevent rape and sexual assault, alongside offering all the necessary support and protection to those who are victims of

sexual assaults. “The number of people coming forward to report rape is increasing which is a positive sign that victims are becoming more confident in coming forward, knowing their report will be thoroughly investigated. But we know that this is an under-reported crime. We want to encourage people to come forward and to report. Let me be very clear, we will listen and we will act. “Our ultimate aim though, with our partners, is preventing these crimes in the first place and this campaign contributes to that work.” Sandy Brindley, Rape Crisis, said: “Rape Crisis Scotland strongly supports the development of this campaign, which directly targets potential perpetrators of rape. The law is clear - sex without consent is rape, but we need to do much more to increase public awareness around this issue. The new advert can play an important part in making sure people, particularly young people, are clear about what rape actually is, and that it can have serious consequences.” Bystander training is another key strand of the Force’s preventative approach, working with licensees to train bar and club staff to recognise situations that may be a cause for concern and to intervene. Chief Inspector Graham Goulden, Bystander trainer at the Violence Reduction Unit, said: “It’s great to see those who work in pubs and clubs showing this willingness to see their

role in the prevention of this crime. As bystanders we all have the potential to prevent any incident from escalating. By doing nothing we are telling offenders their behaviour is ok and victims they’re on their own. This just isn’t right. “This training identifies all those working in the night time economy as active bystanders. They are part of the solution. As well as discussing safe options to intervene, the training provides a safe platform to discuss the issue of rape and sexual assault. It is so important that we raise awareness around the issue of consent and how alcohol can often make this appear difficult. “We want to make sure society starts to focus their attention on the men who do this rather than focusing on whether a victim had been drinking. We will never stop this if we continue to focus on victims.” Paul Banham, Area Manager of The Butterfly and the Pig and The Buff Club, said: “As a business operating in the night-time economy we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe and secure environment for our customers. We fully support the We Can Stop It campaign. “Bystander training is a fantastic initiative. It offers our team training, which not only raises awareness of the signs of vulnerability and potential predatory behaviour it also addresses the many ways in which our managers, bar and door staff can intervene in a safe and controlled way. I would encourage other bars and clubs to get involved.”

TROON CHAOS

DOZENS of families were forced off a beach in Scotland after 5,500 rowdy teens descended on it for a party. The large group turned up at Troon beach, in Ayrshire, and there were reports of fighting, drug taking, and even couples having sex in bushes behind the sand. Two 17-year-old boys were arrested and charged with assault after a beach brawl. This incident took place at Troon Beach on 3 July 2015 at around 17.15pm. Enquiries are ongoing. The Ayrshire Post reported that most of the teens made their way to Troon by train from Glasgow. According to reports, a train inspector from

Scotrail said: “They swarmed on in their thousands, shouting, swearing and intimidating passengers. “They’ve got no respect for anybody else.”

NORTH EAST FESTIVAL DAYS

DENNISTOUN Community Council chiefs have confirmed dates and details of forthcoming Festival Days. Heading the list is the Alexandra Park Festival 2015 on Saturday, July 25 (12 noon4pm). Entry is free to all. A carnival parade of “music, costume and movement” will depart City Park at 12 noon, and make its way along Alexandra Parade towards Alexan-

dra Park, 10 Sannox Gardens, Glasgow G31. Attractions include live music, children’s activities, sports tasters, community stalls, local market, food and lots more. Dennistoun Community Council will also be running a stall. Alexandra Park Festival 2015 is co-ordinated by the North East Area Legacy Engagement Group (ALEG),

as one of three large summer festival days in North East of Glasgow. On Sunday, July 26 at Springburn Park. The parade departs from Barmulloch Community Centre at 12 noon. The following weekend Sunday, August 2 – another festival is planned for Auchinlea Park and Provanhall House. Parade gets under way from the Bridge at 12 noon.

Forge Market Village undergoing refurbishment and still open for business. Phase 1 now complete and we have a new look to your favourite butcher Charlie’s. Charlie’s opened on the 7th April 1996 and continues to serve the best choice at the lowest prices. The new look custom built shop is bigger, brighter and full of amazing deals. Steak pie made fresh every day with their 100yr old recipe Sausage and burgers - which are ordered to be taken as far afield as London and Spain. Charlie’s has built their reputation on quality and value for money and they have customers travelling from Greenock, Irvine and Bathgate just for fresh sausages. Top offers are the £1.99 meal meat packs or 3 for £5, mix and match included. Other big value special deal packs from £9.99 representing even bigger savings on the East End’s lowest prices

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Serious Assault Maryhill DETECTIVES at Maryhill Police Office are appealing for information after a 23-year-old man was seriously assaulted outside a nightclub in Maryhill Road on Saturday 4 July 2015. Around 0210 hours on Saturday 4 July 2015 an altercation broke out between two men outside a nightclub at the corner of Maryhill Road and Ruchill Street. As a result, a 23-year-old man received lacerations to his back and left arm, believed to have been caused by a bladed weapon and he was taken by ambulance to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for treatment. Detective Constable Alan McIntosh said, “As it was closing time, people were leaving the nightclub in the early hours of the morning and were congregating around outside. We believe there were witnesses to the incident and I would urge them to come forward with information, no matter how small, to the police by calling 101. “Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where anonymity will be maintained.”

Section 27 Notice A G Bannerman Ltd No 2 Retirement Benefits Scheme (“the Scheme”) Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 27 (1) of the Trustee Act 1925 that the Trustee of the A G Bannerman Ltd No 2 Retirement Benefits Scheme is winding up the Scheme. If you have received communication from the Trustee regarding the wind up of the Scheme then you do not need to take any action. Any former employees of Lloyds Pharmacy Limited or any associated company, who believe that they were members of the above named Scheme and who are not receiving a pension from the Scheme or who have not received announcements from the Trustee of the Scheme are required to write to Mr James Doyle at Aon Employee Benefits, Briarcliff House, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7TE to make a claim for benefits under the Scheme. Claimants should provide their full name, address, date of birth, the period during which they worked for Lloyds Pharmacy Limited or any associated company and any documents supporting their claim. Claims must be made within 2 months of the date of publication of this advertisement. In addition, if any person or persons have any other claims against or interest in the Scheme, they are requested to write to James Doyle at the above address setting out particulars of such a claim in writing within 2 months of the date of publication of this advertisement. After the 2 month period, the Trustee may distribute the assets of the Scheme amongst the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims and interests of which they have prior notice and will not, as regards the assets so distributed, be liable to any person of whose claim they do not have notice. If you have already received an announcement from the Trustee of the Scheme there is no need to respond to this advertisement. THE TRUSTEE OF THE A G BANNERMAN LTD NO 2 RETIREMENT BENEFITS SCHEME


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New welfare cuts could be as damaging as ‘bedroom tax’ COMMENTING on the Budget, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) expressed concern that the announcements made by the Chancellor will have a detrimental impact on communities directly and housing associations indirectly, and is SFHA is urgently calling on the UK Government to reconsider these cuts, in particular to welfare. Chief Executive of the SFHA, said: “The reduction in the benefit cap from £26,000 to £20,000 in Scotland will hit those who had already had their benefits capped hardest. The latest report from the DWP states that 800 households in Scotland are subject to the current benefit cap, and reducing the cap is likely to more than double that number. “Some of these households will be women and their children fleeing domestic violence who are forced to live in temporary accommodation. A Scottish Parliament Committee report recently highlighted existing inequality for women, which has been aggravated by the reforms. “Freezing working age benefits for four years and restricting tax credits and Universal Credit to two children, affecting those born after April 2017, will only serve to make it harder to escape the poverty trap. A study by Barnard’s Scot-

land found that 49% of families in Scotland (301,600) currently use working tax credits to top up low incomes, helping them buy essentials such as food and clothing for their family. “The Federation is wholeheartedly against removing the automatic entitlement to Housing Benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds as it will have an adverse affect on the life chances and employment prospects of 28,000 plus claimants in this group, over half of whom have young families of their own, as it could, for many, place their homes at risk. “The Chancellor announced a 1% reduction in the level of social housing rents every year for the next four years; however, with housing devolved in Scotland, there is no means to apply a national rent reduction, so it is difficult to see how this will work in practice. We await further detail regarding what this will mean for our colleagues in England. “As a consequence of these new cuts to welfare, reduced income and increased costs to housing associations – in terms of increased collection costs and bank charges – will make it more difficult to invest in new supply of affordable housing and will put more pressure on the social rented sector. “Such cuts have the potential to be just as damaging as the ‘bedroom tax’.”

PREVENT DOORSTEP CRIME What is doorstep crime? From bogus callers to rogue traders, doorstep criminals are cunning, creative, and often very convincing. Anyone can be fooled as these people are professional con artists. However, the over 60s are often specifically targeted. What types of doorstep criminals are there? There are two main types: Bogus callers try to get into your home or obtain personal details by pretending to be someone they’re not, including council staff, charity collectors, meter readers and police officers. In reality, they are criminals trying to steal money and valuables. Rogue traders usually coldcall, claiming to be workers offering to sell services, make repairs or carry out work on your house, garden or driveway. In reality they charge inflated prices for shoddy or unnecessary work.

We DO NOT recommend dealing with cold-callers for property maintenance and home repairs. How can I spot a Rogue Trader? They may tell you the work is urgent and needs to be carried out immediately. They will normally ask for payment there and then and may offer to come to the bank with you if you don’t have the cash at hand. How can I protect myself from doorstep crime? Be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly. Keep front and back doors locked. Use the door vieweror nearby window when answering the door. Fit a door chain or bar – use it and keep it on when talking to callers at the door. If you’re not sure, don’t answer the door.

DRUGS RAID A VAN belonging to construction giants City Building stopped and seized as part of a £200,000 drugs haul. As part of a major operation, officers crashed in to the vehicle before detaining and arresting its two occupants on suspicion of dealing. Afterwards they stopped a car, and detained then arrested its driver. The operation, carried out with support from Glasgow City Council, which owns and runs City Building, was understood to focus on the distribution of amphetamines across North Glasgow.

RIDDRIE MAN ARRESTED WITH reference to revious appeals regarding Albert McDonald (58), from Duke St, Glasgow, who died following an incident on Cumbernauld Road, Riddrie, Glasgow, on Monday 15 June. A 27 year old man has been arrested and is currently detained in custody in connection with his death. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal. Members of the public are thanked for their assistance with this enquiry.

REVIEW BY HMICS INTO POLICE SCOTLAND’S CALL HANDLING PROCEDURES IN response to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s announcement of a review by HMICS into Police Scotland’s call handling procedures, the Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said: ‘I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s direction to HMICS to review our call handling procedures. ‘In light of recent tragic events, Police Scotland need to be able to reassure the Scottish public that we have both the capacity and the capability to deal with their calls to us, both in an emergency on 999 and in our 101 service. ‘It was with this intent I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary to ask that HMICS review our call handling procedures across the country, and offer recommendations if required.’

ONE YEAR ON: THE LEGACY OF THE GAMES LIVES ON AT THE VILLAGE JULY 23 marks the one-year anniversary of the stunning opening ceremony that kicked off the hugely successful Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – and in just 365 days, The Athletes’ Village has been reborn as a thriving East End community. To mark the anniversary, two of the original residents of The Village, sisters Louise and Kimberley Renicks, will unveil a commemorative plaque at the house they called home for the duration of the competition. Louise and Kimberley hit the headlines when they both won Commonwealth gold medals for Judo within an hour of each other on the opening day of competition. Since the 6,500 athletes and officials vacated the site in late July 2014, The Village has undergone a remarkable transformation into a new neighbourhood that is challenging the way the East End of Glasgow has traditionally been perceived.

NATIONAL PROJECT CALLS FOR HELP FROM FORMER NORTH GLASGOW SHIPYARD AND RAILWAY MACHINE OPERATORS THE Scottish Maritime Museum wants to hear from anyone who used to operate classic shipyard and railway machine tools in Glasgow to help shape a national project to preserve and celebrate Scotland’s world influencing machine heritage. The Scottish Maritime Museum, which is based in Irvine and Dumbarton, is a lead partner in the new STICK (Scottish Transport & Industry Collections and Knowledge network) Machine Tools Project. Through the project, the partners want to reach as many former machine tool operators as possible, inviting them to share their experience and expertise. This vital information will be used to help create Scotland’s first national machine tools resource out of the heritage collections held across the country. The new resource will be used by curators, engineering professionals and higher education students in their study of basic engineering principles and processes. The Scottish Maritime Museum would particularly like to hear from operators who worked with classic machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, drills, boring machines, riveting machines, planers, steam hammers, punching, shearing and slotting machines.

The first public STICK Machine Tools Project event will take place at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge on Friday 24th July. The event will include a practical demonstration of a model lathe and a tour of the machine tool exhibition. STICK Industrial Collections Officer Daniela Wellnitz, who is based at the Scottish Maritime Museum, says: “Nothing brings industrial heritage to life quite like the people who designed and operated these fascinating tools and machines. Their valuable skills and specialist knowledge will give us a unique insight into how these machines worked and the lifestyle of those working in these industries. “Those coming forward to help will make a real difference to the project, to the preservation and improved accessibility of Scottish machine tool heritage and ultimately to the learning of students and those working in the field. We would be really grateful for any added insights anyone can share with us.” To get involved or find out more, visit the STICK website www.stickssn.org or contact STICK Industrial Collections Officer Daniela Wellnitz at the Scottish Maritime Museum on 01294 278283.

BOYBAND FLIGHT DRAMA

A MEMBER of a Scottish boy band is “lucky to be alive” after collapsing with heat exhaustion on board a flight. James McElvar, a singer in the band Rewind, fell ill after wearing 12 layers of clothing to avoid paying the £45 extra baggage fee. He threw up and was given oxygen during the Easy-jet flight travelling from Stansted to Glasgow. The airline said it had one of the most generous cabin bag allowances, with no upper weight limit. The 19-year-old, from Cumbernauld, had intended to take a suitcase and a small rucksack on board, but the airline only permits passengers to have one piece of hand luggage. After being told he would

be charged an additional fee to take the extra bag on board, he emptied the rucksack and wore the contents. James was wearing four jumpers, six T-shirts, three pairs of jeans, two pairs of jogging bottoms, two jackets and two hats when he collapsed. After the incident the band

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took to social media to reassure their worried fans. They tweeted: “For everyone asking James is ok. He is being looked after in hospital now back home safe in Glasgow. He sends you all his love.” Fans of the band have wished the frontman a speedy recovery.


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GENN EAT DRINK DISCOVER SCOTLAND CANCELLED RHASS has today confirmed that its food & drink event, Eat Drink Discover Scotland (EDDS), will not return as planned in September 2015. The two-day event, billed as giving visitors the opportunity to ‘taste Scotland in one day’, has been put on hold while the Society, which hosted Scotland’s Larder Live! as part of this year’s record-breaking Royal Highland Show, considers a new format for the exhibition. Commenting on the decision, Stephen Hutt said: “Despite our best efforts evidence suggests there simply isn’t an appetite for Eat Drink Discover Scotland in its current format. This is not to say that there isn’t a need for such an event - we believe there is - and our team is working to decide how best to move forward and create a food festival on par with Scotland’s Larder Live!.”

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Glasgow East and North News

Your voice in the community

Royston to be consulted on community sports hub ROYSTON Youth Action has been awarded £24,900 to carry out a major consultation on the community’s sports facilities. The funds come from the £1 million Legacy 2014: Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund which was created with investment from the Scottish Government and The Robertson Trust, and has been delivered by these organisations in partnership with Social Investment Scotland, sportscotland and Senscot. The consultation will look to evidence the need for a community sports hub in the Royston area with a particular focus on the development of Glenconner Park and the sporting provision at St Roch’s Secondary School. The funds will also enable a feasibility study to be carried out which will incorporate cost planning, budgeting, design, business planning, and legal and technical support to ensure that any new facilities meet the community’s needs and wishes. Royston Youth Action are one of 12 third sector organisations to receive a total of over £250,000 in the fund’s second round of awards to help develop sports facilities for use by their local communities. Andrew Muir, Chairperson of Royston Youth Action,

said: “This award is fantastic news for Royston Youth Action which works extremely hard alongside local housing providers and partner organisations to improve quality of life for local residents. I look forward to working with residents and partners to ensure that residents’ sporting and leisure aspirations are achieved.” MSP for Royston, Patricia Ferguson said: “I am delighted that this funding award has been made to Royston Youth Action. They do so much good work with local young people

encouraging them to be more involved in sport and activity and are the right group to take forward this consultation. I am pleased that the funders recognised the need to assess the facilities available in Royston and I look forward to seeing the outcome of the survey.” Alastair Davis, Chief Executive of Social Investment Scotland which administers the fund, commented: “Royston Youth Action has presented a compelling business case for how this consultation will help to lay the foundations for im-

proving local facilities and increasing participation in sport. We know that sport has the potential to bring a whole range of benefits to local communities and look forward to seeing the results of the Royston study being implemented in the future.” Other organisations receiving funding include Active Bellshill who will receive £14,000 for the planning of a new sports hub in Glasgow, the Comrie Development Trust who will receive £15,000 to carry out a study into local

sports and recreational needs, and Scottish Athletics who will receive £25,000 to look at how they can increase community engagement through their clubs. Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “Small organisations like this are doing tremendous work to encourage more Scots to be more active, more often. Almost a year after Glasgow hosted the best Games ever, it’s important that Scotland continues to benefit from their legacy, and this fund is a key part of those efforts. The Sustainable Sport for Communities Fund is there to offer help to social enterprises and to allow them to ensure their long term sustainability. I look forward to seeing the positive impact the Fund will make.” Kenneth Ferguson, Director of The Robertson Trust, said: “Sport can provide a range of positive benefits for individuals and communities. We are delighted to be able to use this Legacy 2014 programme to support organisations across Scotland which are helping to enhance the lives of the people they work with through sport.” Full information is also available at www.socialinvestmentscotland.com or www. therobertsontrust.org.uk

VISION.TAKEN SERIOUSLY.


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FLAWLESS STREET DANCE IN GLASGOW

STAR quality street-dancing was on display in Glasgow this week as renowned UK dance group Flawless launched the 10th UDO World Street Dance Championships. Kelvingrove Skate Park in the city’s west end provided the perfect backdrop for the group to show off some of the moves which shot them to stardom on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ in

2009. The talented artists performed alongside young dancers from Glasgow’s own Urbaniks Street Dance School and MAD Street Dance to promote ‘the Worlds’, which will bring thousands of competitors and a wealth of celebrity talent to the city next month. Solo dancers and dance crews from more than 30 countries, including from across Europe

and as far afield as China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the US will also make the trip to Glasgow to compete at elite level. Some 6,000 people are expected to attend this year’s Championships. Almost half of those will be competitors, aged between five and 30, while the rest will comprise of coaches, family and supporters.

This year’s Worlds continues a partnership which began in 2013 between event owner, the United Dance Organisation (UDO), and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) with the aim of positioning Glasgow as the global home of street dance. Since its formation in 2002, UDO has grown to become the leading street dance organisation in the UK and Europe and the largest in the world with more than 50,000 members. Alongside the championships, Glasgow will once again host UDO’s Dance Show LIVE!, featuring a packed programme of workshops, industry master-classes and celebrity performances across a variety of dance genres. In addition, this year UDO is holding its first ever ‘Nation’s Best Dance Act’ competition at Dance Show LIVE!, which is open to all dance styles from soloist and duet to groups and teams. Initial entries will be judged online with finalists being selected by a panel of celebrity judges to perform on the Dance Show LIVE! main stage. The winning act will be signed to top London dance agency RND for 12 months. Simon Dibley, Chief Executive of the United Dance Organisation

(UDO) said: “The Worlds is recognised as the premier event on the global street dance calendar and Glasgow is one of the world’s leading major event cities – it’s a perfect match. “Alongside The Worlds, we’re really excited to be bringing Dance Show LIVE! back to Glasgow which will provide a unique platform for young people across the city and beyond to gain practical skills and experience and to engage and be inspired by some of the most talented and successful performers in the industry today – I hope as many young people as possible will come along and get involved. “We’ve had an amazing time in Glasgow over the past couple of years and we’re really looking forward to returning to such a welcoming, vibrant city and such a great venue in the SECC next month.” “The future of these dancers is very promising and it’s an honour to be headlining this year’s World Championships with my team Flawless, in particular as I have been part of this competition throughout its growth stages. “Martha Graham once said that “great dancers are not great because of their techniques, they

are great because of their passion!!! “Chase the Dream Not the Competition” Peter Duthie, Chief Executive of the SECC which is hosting the competition said: “We are delighted that The UDO World Street Dance Championships are returning to the SECC. This is an event which continues to go from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming the organisers, participants and visitors back to our venue.” The UDO World Street Dance Championships will take place at the SECC from Friday to Sunday, August 28-30 with Dance Show LIVE! taking place on Sunday, August 30. Both the World Street Dance Championships and Dance Show LIVE! are open to the public and tickets can be purchased from the SECC on the day. Advance tickets are currently available online via www.udostreetdance.com. UDO Worlds Weekend Passes provide discounted entry to Dance Show LIVE! For more information, visit World Street Dance Championships 2015 and Dance Show LIVE!

New social enterprise to challenge absence of legal aid for communities across Scotland

A YOUNG entrepreneur from Dennistoun in Glasgow, plans to open a new legal practice with stakeholder and community membership to ensure high quality legal services are available for everyone in Scotland, regardless of cost and access barriers. Qualified solicitor, Daniel Donaldson will open ‘Legal Spark’ in Glasgow, together with his original base at Bright Red Triangle Craiglockhart, and hopes to be operational within the next 12 months. Daniel is one winner of 38 from this year’s Young Innovators Challenge, an entrepreneurial competition which rewards students who have business ideas which have a positive impact on society. The Young Innovators challenge is run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise through the Scottish Funding Council, on behalf of the Scottish Government and is part of the Scotland CAN DO approach. As part of his prize Daniel

was awarded £2,000 of funding to help develop Legal Spark and will attend intensive workshops over the summer to help take his business to the next stage. Legal Spark will address a growing problem in Scotland where groups who require legal support simply can’t afford it. This might include: • Families and individuals where legal aid is unavailable • Musicians and other Creatives • Social enterprises, charities and other third sector organisations • Community groups • Small businesses and start-ups The practice will primarily operate under a regular “law centre” model in order to build a client base and engage stakeholders and community groups. At the point it becomes established, community and other stakeholder groups will be invited to take a stake in the business*. Although the service won’t be free, through shared ownership these third parties will have the option to determine their own legal service needs, contribute to costs involved and receive a proportionate discounting of legal fees. Any profits generated from the practice will also be reinvested into causes which help promote access to justice such as offering a complimentary system of legal aid to individuals. Edinburgh Napier University student, Daniel, already offers free legal advice to

communities in Edinburgh and recently provided legal representation for the People and Planet Group who were protesting against the University of Edinburgh’s investment portfolio which included fossil fuel companies. Legal Spark was also appointed as the official legal services partner to Pride Edinburgh, which runs the annual Gay Pride festival. Daniel first identified a lack of high quality legal services in Scotland when he was studying a masters in commercial law. He said: “There has been no increase in the level of civil legal aid since 1994 and as a result, in 2015, many firms no longer undertake civil legal work as it is not viable to do so. Likewise, certain areas of law such as intellectual property protection, equality and employment law are only available to those who can afford to pay privately, which can cost upwards of £250 per hour. Thus, there are lots of groups who are therefore unable to access legal advice or representation. “Legal Spark will help address this issue, providing high quality legal services under a community owned scheme to ensure people who need access to justice but can’t afford to go private get the best service possible. “The Young Innovators Challenge recognises my aims and has been extremely supportive in building my confidence and business skills to take Legal Spark forward.”


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GENN Glasgow girl shares success of winning Customer Care role with Miller Homes

WHEN you think of working in the house building industry, a customer facing role based in an office is perhaps not what comes to mind at first. But, for Claire Wynne, Customer Care Administrator, this is how she plays her part in one of Scotland’s leading house builders, Miller Homes. Claire, 30 years old from Glasgow’s East End, joined Miller Homes in spring 2015 after working in various PA and administration roles. This included seven years with a design and advertising agency where she worked on website development for property clients. It was here that she gained an extensive understanding of the house building industry.

Following this experience, Claire had longstanding aspirations to work in-house for Miller Homes and it was through relationships created in this role that she heard about the opportunity for her current position. After working as a PA for an international medical research company, Claire eventually found an opening that suited her experience and skill set. From the moment she met the team at Miller Homes, Claire had her heart set on joining them. A feeling that turned out to be mutual as at her interview Claire was offered the post before leaving the room! Talking about her new post and working with the compa-

ny that has 5 star rating for customer satisfaction, Claire said: “Joining Miller Homes earlier this year has been a fantastic opportunity for me and I’m really enjoying the job so far as the environment in the office is so friendly and welcoming I feel like I’ve settled in really quickly. “On a day to day basis my role requires a lot of time management and really strong interpersonal skills. I am the first point of contact customers might have with Miller Homes so I am very much an ambassador for the company’s image and it’s important each and every caller receives a 5 star service. “The majority of my work is dealing with customers who have recently moved into a Miller Home and helping to make sure they are happy with everything and settling into their new house comfortably. “Often I will take calls from customers with queries about fittings and fixtures. Once I’ve gathered the relevant information I alert the necessary building inspector to arrange a visit to their home to make sure everything’s in good working order. The whole process is just part of how Miller Homes goes the extra mile to make sure their buyers receive the best possible. “Within my post I get the chance to speak to a diverse range of people which is something I really enjoy. It means that no two days are really the same as there is always something different for me to look into. The role has also taught me a lot about the level of detail that goes into a new build home and all the different options that are available and the wide variety of house styles.

Time to switch off? Stress rises for Scots workers checking work emails out of hours

MORE than a third of Scottish workers (38 per cent) access work emails outside office hours – and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) say that doing so increases their stress. According to a study by employee healthcare specialist PMI Health Group, workload pressure is the biggest reason for reading or sending emails outside of work (38 per cent),

closely followed by pressure from management (27 per cent). “Mobile technology, such as smartphones and tablets, is extending the workplace into employees’ homes and while this offers benefits for flexible working, it can also lead to work-life boundaries becoming blurred,” said PMI Health Group Director Mike Blake.

“This is clearly posing a risk to employee mental health and employers must be mindful of the potential consequences of this, from reduced productivity to stress-related sickness absence.” Of those Scots workers checking emails out of hours, 71 per cent say they do so in the evening and more than a third (36 per cent) do so while they’re on holiday. The study also revealed that across the whole of Britain younger workers are more inclined to access work emails out of hours than their older colleagues – 48 per cent of those aged 25 to 34 do so, compared to 31 per cent of those aged 45 to 54. “This finding reflects the general use of smartphones and tablets with previous studies showing that the younger generation spend more time online1 than older individuals

GLASGOW CITY FOOTBALL CLUB EXPLORE NEW STADIUM AND COMMUNITY FACILITY

THE Council and Glasgow City Foundation, the charitable element of Glasgow City Football Club, are entering into a formal agreement to explore the development of a joint sport and community wellbeing facility in Auchinairn, East Dunbartonshire. If plans go ahead as intimated, it will involve building the first purpose built women’s football stadium in the UK and will be home to the Scottish Champions. During the Council’s recent community consultation on the proposals, including an information session held at Auchinairn Primary last month, Glasgow City Foundation outlined its aims to advance public participation in sport, advance education, learning and employability, and provide recreational facilities for community participation – all closely aligned to East Dunbartonshire Council and Community Planning Partnerships approach to Place and the community facility and family centre being planned to deliver the Place agenda. The agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding, was agreed at Council on 25 June and Council Leader Rhondda Geekie is de-

lighted to be taking this next step. She said: “This agreement follows recent engagement with the local community to determine whether there was interest in working with Glasgow City Foundation to explore the potential for a sporting facility alongside our Place approach, and the new community facilities we are planning for this area. “Through both the information session we held in May and the online survey we hosted on the Council website there was overwhelming support for the development of this proposal from those who took part. Agreeing to this Memorandum of Understanding cements the commitment of both the Council and the Foundation to further develop the proposal.” Douglas Barnett, Chairperson of Glasgow City Foundation, also welcomed the agreement to progress this potential development. He said: “We are delighted to be working with East Dunbartonshire Council and agreeing the Memorandum of Understanding is a great step forward. “Glasgow City Foundation was set up to make a difference and we believe Auchinairn affords a unique oppor-

tunity to use the success of our club, our players and our volunteers to inspire the local community to lead a positive, happy and healthy life. “Potentially this will be the first purpose-built women’s football facility in the UK promoting the sport to new generations of girls and women. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to help develop these exciting proposals.” Glasgow City is Scotland’s top women’s football club and one of the highest ranked sides in Europe. Signing the agreed Memorandum of Understanding formalises the partnership between the Council and the Foundation - working towards the development of a new sporting facility, alongside the proposed community development for Auchinairn, and continuing to engage with the local community to shape this potential joint venture. Glasgow City Foundation are keen to hear from potential commercial and funding partners who may be interested in this unique development, the potential first of its kind in the UK. If interested, please email gcityfoundation@gmail.com

Empowerment Trust Confidence “Voice Within” Peer Support / Service user group A safe place to talk Adults living through Childhood Abuse Every Wednesday 2:00pm - 4:00 pm Glasgow East

Community Centre, Tollcross Road Tollcross G32 8HE If interested contact Tommy: 075420 35126 tommyharley678@gmail.com Sandra: 075958 21238 sandra@incaresurvivors.org.uk

Friendship

Understanding

Self-Help


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Build, Bridge, Bond is bringing people together across North Glasgow AN EXCITING project by ng homes to bring people of all age groups and cultures together through a variety of creative activities was recently awarded funding through the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund. The project employs dedicated Cultural Officers to work alongside the African and Chinese Communities and an Active Wellbeing Officer will support a wide range of activities for older and young people. Work is already underway in the area to develop activities including; Chinese Oriental exercise at Possilpoint Community Centre every Wednesday from 9.00 to 10.30 a.m. Big Breakfasts at: • – Possilpoint Community Centre every Monday from 9.00 a.m – 11.0 a.m. • – Salvation Army Hall, Fernbank Street, Springburn every Wednesday from 9.00 to 11 a.m. Active Wellbeing Officer Claire Alexander, will be looking for views on suggestions to build on current activities such as the monthly Song, Shimmy and Afternoon Tea events. Claire said: “Our activities, especially the Song, Shimmy, are a lot of fun and we want to encourage people who may feel isolated, or just want some company to come along and join in. People are very friendly and really do enjoy the company. If you are interested in taking part or know of a family member, neighbour or friend who would benefit from any of the activities, then please contact me”. Claire can be contacted at ng homes on 0141 560 6000. Project Development Co-ordinator, Kevin Carroll, said: “We are already seeing fantastic connections being made in the community and the feedback from residents has been very positive. We will be out and about in the community to get ideas from people and take these forward.” John Fury, Chairperson of ng homes said: “Its fantastic that we can continue to offer a range of activities through our Build, Bridge, Bond programme in partnership with the Scottish Government and I would encourage people in North Glasgow to get involved.”

Springburn (East)

Email: info@nghomes.net

Ned Donaldson House, 50 Reidhouse Street Springburn, Glasgow. G21 4LS Tel 0141 560 6000 Fax 0141 560 6005

Website: www.nghomes.net @ng_homes

ng homes is a trading name of North Glasgow Housing Association

Possilpark (West) Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005


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Keys to Learn in North Glasgow EIGHT people successfully completed a 12 week course recently to brush up on their life skills and employability skills at ng homes’ Saracen House. Yet another example of the partnerships ng homes fosters to develop opportunities within the local area; 4Front Learning is a Big Lottery funded project developed by ng homes, Glasgow Clyde College, Jobs and Business Glasgow and Glasgow Homelessness Network. This summer saw the eighth course hosted by ng homes, where local people learned skills such as cooking, budgeting, computing, and became college students. Past participants have moved onto volunteer with ng homes, taking part in more community learning, and even move onto college and work! Marie is a volunteer with Citizens Advice Bureau and a mother of four, who wanted to brush up on her life skills: Why did you want to take part in the course? ‘For me anything you learn is part of your life and it helps you to shape your future or to gain skills which will be definitely used to promote yourself or even the wider community.’ What was the best part of the course? ‘I have enjoyed every single part of the course but computing and cooking were fabulous.’

ng2 400 Petershill Road, Springburn, Glasgow, G21 4AA Tel: 0141 630 4252

Email: info@ng2works.com

What’s next for you? ‘I have started to volunteer as a peer advocate to help people with housing and welfare rights issues and I am also looking for a job.’ All the participants are pictured with their certificates.

Website: www.ng2works.com

ng2 is a subsidiary of ng homes

ng in the community

Saracen House, 139 Saracen Street, Possilpark, Glasgow, G22 5AZ Tel 0141 336 1300 Fax 0141 560 6005


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Wheatley Group appoints economist and public finance expert Jo Armstrong to Board

BUSINESS economist and public finance expert Jo Armstrong has been appointed to the Board of Wheatley Group, Scotland’s leading housing, care and property management organisation. Jo Armstrong, who has held senior positions in the financial services, oil and gas and the public and charitable sectors, will also take up a place on the Board of Wheatley’s largest social housing subsidiary, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). Currently an Executive Director for Fiscal Affairs Scotland SCIO, Jo Armstrong previously held positions with the Royal Bank of Scotland and was a senior civil servant in the Scottish Executive (now the Scottish Government), providing financial and economic policy advice on the housing and water sectors. She holds two degrees in economics and is an Honorary Professor of Public Policy at the Business School at Glasgow University. Jo is an expert member of OFGEM’s Network Innovation Competitions Pan-

el for electricity, is a Trustee of Social Investment Scotland and, until recently, was Chair of ENABLE Scotland. Jo is both a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the RSA. Wheatley Group Chair Alastair MacNish said: “We are delighted to welcome Jo to the boards of both Wheatley Group and GHA. She has a breadth of experience as a business economist and a proven track record in finance and risk management. I have no doubt she will be a great asset to Wheatley as we continue to use our size and scale to do more for our local communities across Central Scotland.” Jo Armstrong said: “I am excited at this opportunity to make a contribution to such an important organisation as the Wheatley Group. My knowledge of Scottish housing and regulation, the Scottish care services sector and finance means I know the importance of the Wheatley Group and GHA, and look forward to assisting in their continued development.”

Lovell gives helping hand to Shettleston Community Growing Project LOCAL youngsters in Shettleston, Glasgow, are set to benefit from a teambuilding trip organised by the Shettleston Community Growing Project and funded with help from Glasgow housing developer Lovell which is currently building new homes in the area. The £110 donation from Lovell – raised through a quiz competition – will go towards the weekend trip arranged through the Growing Project’s Smelly Welly Club. The club runs holiday and after-school

gardening activities for children and young people at the Growing Project’s community garden site in Eckford Street. Lovell is currently building 29 new amenity flats for Shettleston Housing Association in Fernan Street, Shetttleston. Lovell regional director Alan Taylor says: “We’ve all been impressed by the work of the Shettleston Community Growing Project and are delighted to have been able to contribute towards the weekend trip for the young gardeners.”

DANGERS ON AUCHINAIRN ROAD MEANS COUNCIL MUST SCRAP SCHOOL BUS AXE

SNP MSP Bob Doris has been working with parents to fight plans by Glasgow City Council to axe school bus provision for almost 2000 children at primary and secondary schools. On Friday, 10 July, Bob joined Cllr Billy McAllister and impacted parents and kids to look at two significant dangers, the busy roundabout at Colston and the treacherous Auchinairn Road. Auchinairn Road had a number of infringements in Glasgow City Councils own safe walking guidelines which states paths must be at least 1m wide. Parts were only 1m with the kerb included. Other parts of the pavement measured as narrow as 85cm due to obstructions caused by bus stops. Up to 100 children from the Milton area are expected to walk this route during rush hour in all weather conditions as part of a 2.5h round trip to All Saints Secondary. The revelations follow similar breaches of so called ‘safe’ walking route guidelines on Maryhill Road where primary school children are facing the Labour axe to their bus service. Bob is writing to Glasgow City Council to urge the decision to be reversed given the safety concerns he discovered on his

visit to Auchinairn Road. Bob Doris commented: “Let me be clear, I believe it is wrong to ask kids from Milton to have to walk a two and a half hour round trip just to get to school. However the Council are insisting on this, claiming the route is safe. Their own guidelines now back the position of the local parents I represent, that the route is dangerous and puts at risk pupil safety. “I was shocked at just how narrow the pavement is at Auchinairn Road, with the kerb forming part of the ‘safe’ 1m. However with a number of bus stops on the road, street furniture reduces that gap to just 85cm. It’s at its narrowest at the very place it will be congested the most, with people getting on and off buses as 100 school kids try to pass during rush hour. I have written to the education department with this information and I am hopeful they will reconsider their decision to axe these school buses. Myself and the council may disagree with the Councils plans city wide, However I am hopeful we can agree Auchinairn Road is unsafe and therefore reinstate the Milton community’s school bus service”.

SERIOUS ROAD CRASH - A78 THE 68 year old man who was seriously injured in the crash died within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Friday 10 July. The man can be named as George O’Hara (68) from Prestwick. Sergeant Andy Johnston, Divisional Road Policing Unit, is leading the investigation and would ask anyone who witnessed the crash contact the road policing unit at Irvine via the 101 number with any information they may have. Mr O’Hara’s family have paid tribute to him with the following statement: George, a much loved husband, dad and granddad, will be sorely missed by his devastated family. George was a recognised published author and an accomplished cyclist. He enjoyed racing and riding his bike for over 50 years and achieved many race victories, some at National level. He is admired in the cycling community for holding the record for cycling from Glasgow to Oban and back in under 9 hours which stood for over 18 years.

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TAX ON SUGARY DRINKS “REGRESSIVE” AND “ILLIBERAL” SAY CAMPAIGNERS CAMPAIGNERS say proposals for a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks are “regressive” and “illiberal” and will have little impact on the nation’s health. The British Medical Association is calling for the measure “to subsidise the sale of fruit and vegetables and help tackle the increasing level of obesity and diet-related health problems in the UK”. Rob Lyons, campaigns manager for the consumer group Action on Consumer Choice, said: “Sugar taxes, health warnings and other proposals to curb our sugar consumption will have little impact on people’s health because sugary foods only make up a small proportion of our diet. “The proposals are regressive because their impact is based entirely on consumption, not the means to pay, so they will have a disproportionate impact on those on lower incomes. “They are also illiberal because government has no business dictating what or how much consumers should eat and drink. “Once again taxation is being used as a form of social engineering. It’s a blunt instrument designed to force rather than educate people to change their behaviour.”


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Baillieston student hopes to follow in the footsteps of Hollywood stars A TALENTED Acting and Performance student from Baillieston hopes his starring role in a production of The Plaza Suite will set him on the path to following in the footsteps of fellow Glasgow Clyde College graduates who have enjoyed successful careers in Hollywood. Andrew O’Malley, a former pupil of St Andrew’s Roman Catholic Secondary School, impressed audiences with his portrayal of Jesse Kiplinger in the show and now hopes to emulate the success of Breaking Bad’s Laura Fraser and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Iain De Caestecker. The 21-year-old said: “I had so much fun performing in The Plaza Suite as Jesse is such a complex character. My performance was very emotionally-driven and I think the most challenging thing about the rehearsal process was learning how to subtly introduce some comedy to the role. I spent a lot of time researching old Hollywood stars in preparation for the show.” Andrew, who hopes to pursue a career in the film, television and theatre industry now that he has completed

his HND Acting and Performance qualification at Glasgow Clyde College, said: “The Plaza Suite was our last col-

lege production and was quite nerve-wracking, but it was also really exciting and I loved seeing all our hard work come

DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND IF you have a left-handed child, it’s nice to know that left-handers worldwide will unite on 13th August 2015 to mark International Left-Handers Day with a tongue-incheek celebration of the many talents attributed to their hand dominance. It is a day to enjoy the advantages of creativity, intelligence, artistic and sporting prowess. But for left-handed children, learning new skills with right-hand bias in tools and layouts can present practical difficulties that often lead to awkward clumsiness and bad writing style throughout their life. Your child may well show signs of being left-handed long before he/she is old enough to pick up a pen, often at 3 months+ when they first start putting finger food to their mouth with their dominant hand, or sucking their favourite thumb 1. Eating – Left-handers tend to feed themselves with their left hand all the time (finger food, dinner fork and pudding spoon) – they don’t often reverse the cutlery, unless they are trying to cut with a knife on its own, when they will be better using this in their left hand. 2. Dressing – For left-handed boys, buttons and zips are

‘back to front’ so need a bit more practice. When helping left-handers with trousers/ shoes, remember they usually balance on their left foot first, so have the right leg or shoe ready for them to step into. Shoelaces/ties – A good tip is to stand opposite the child when demonstrating tying a tie or laces. This provides them with a mirror image to copy. 3. Wind-up toys – Left-handers naturally turn in an anti-clockwise direction. If a left-hander is frustrated with a toy, it may be because it works back-to-front for him/her. Try alternative toys with cogs and wheels that work equally well with the handle turned anti-clockwise, or press button activation. 4. Cutting – Do ensure your child has access to fully left-handed scissors for all craft work. These have the blades reversed so they work properly left-handed. Find out how left-handed scissors are distinguished (for instance with different coloured handles or ribbons) and ensure your child understands the difference and knows to ask for her type of scissors at home and nursery. Check that there are enough pairs for all the left-handers in the group to use and they are not given out to right-handers

by mistake! 5. Pencils and Crayons – Encourage a good pencil grip as soon as your child starts playing with paint and colouring, to make the progression into writing style simple and painless. Oversized triangular crayons and pencils help develop the ideal tripod grip that left-handers need to avoid smudging and cramped grip as they learn to write. Always ensure pencils/crayons/toys and so on are placed directly in front within easy reach of either hand. 6. Reading & writing direction – Left-handers naturally work from right to left across a page. Be aware of this when your child starts drawing and reading simple words and letters. Remind them to start at the top left of a page when reading and starting to form letters, and don’t be surprised if they form some letters backwards or read a word back to front until they have mastered the direction they need to go in. Lefties have a talent for transposing images in their heads so can often read and write backwards with ease! A star in the top left of reading flash cards, computer screens and blank writing pages can be a helpful reminder of the correct side to start.

together.” The play, which was written by Neil Simon in 1968, is a comedy set a hotel room

and explores the lives of three different couples who successively occupy it. Directed by course director David Lee-Mi-

chael, the college’s production of The Plaza Suite aimed to introduce tomorrow’s Scottish stage stars to Glasgow audiences. Mr Lee-Michael, who trained at London’s Royal Academy of Arts and the Jacques Lecoq mime school in Paris before working as an actor in London and directing a host of productions throughout the UK, said: “The Plaza Suite is made up of several snippets of what different people’s lives are like, meaning the show is everything from funny and happy to dark and sad, giving the students a chance to gain a wide range of experience in terms of acting out different emotions. “They were only given four weeks to rehearse because this is around the same amount of time professional actors are given to work on shows and we wanted to give the students as realistic an experience of working in the industry as possible. The tight turnaround has been challenging for them but also a lot of fun – they’ve learnt some fantastic skills which they will be able to apply if they are cast in productions after finishing their studies.”

GLASGOW IN NEW CYCLING APP THE APP for urban cycling‚ Bike Citizens, now covers more than 100,000 miles of cycle routes in over 50 cities in the UK. Using this App invites citizens to discover their city in a totally different way. The Bike Citizens cycling app now covers all major cities in the UK with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Birmingham, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and 50 other cities are just waiting to be discovered by bike. The Bike Citizens app, which is available in more than 200 cities in Europe and Australia, uses the knowledge of bike couriers and is specifically designed for the needs of cyclists in cities. It offers offline navigation, route planning and tracking of pedaled routes and has been developed through the know-how of bike messengers using OpenStreetMap, a collaborative (Open Data) project to create a free editable map of the world. The app is designed to favour cycle paths and side streets and avoid busy main streets, providing the best routing across the city to make cycling more comfortable and safer. The app not only helps with getting around but also encourages the exploration of new places. Citizens get a new

perspective on the city and the data is provided back to the planning authorities helping to make the city a better place for cyclists. Daily trips are tracked to generate data on cycling behaviour to create a heat map of the most common cycle routes, this data helps show transport planners where to develop new infrastructure to create more cycle friendly places. Bike Citizens has also developed the best-selling smartphone mount Finn that reliably fastens any smartphone to any handle bar, allowing hands free access of the App while riding. This award winning simple tool free mount is now also available for sale in the UK, every Finn comes with a unique code to allow free access to the App. The city maps are also available as a Bike Citizens map,

this online cycle route planner is completely free of charge and offers point-to-point navigation as well as the 5-minutesby-bike tool. You may be amazed to see how far you can get by bike from your office or home in just five minutes! The average modal share for cycling in UK cities is under 2%, compared to 16% in Graz, the home town of Bike Citizens. When most medium sized cities can be traversed by bike in under 15 minutes, this low take up of cycling in the UK seems like a tremendous wasted opportunity, so the Bike Citizens’ mission is to make our contribution to getting more people cycling in Britain. Come on Brits, give cycling a try, it’s fun, healthy and convenient!


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Students Celebrate Annual Awards

Quarter of Adults still Play with Toy Cars THE figure follows a new survey which revealed that nearly a quarter of adults still play with toy cars even when their children aren’t around As many as 22 per cent of adults still play with toy cars even when their children aren’t around, according to the results of a new survey. The findings were based on the responses of 2,044 adults living in the UK, and the survey also revealed that 29 per cent still own the toy models they played with as a child. Around half of the people surveyed were more than happy to play with the toy cars in the company of adults, while nearly 7 per cent had their collection on display. 24 per cent also said that they got excited about receiving

GLASGOW Kelvin College last week held its Annual Summer Awards Ceremony to recognise the success of students across a variety of further education courses. This year, 145 students received awards for demonstrating exceptional levels of perseverance and diligence towards their studies and inspiring other future learners. Proud family, friends, fellow students, staff and community partners came along to the fabulous City Chambers to help celebrate their success as did many of the employers and

award sponsors. Students from the fields of Healthcare and Humanities, Business and Service Industries, Creative Industries and Digital Technologies, Science and Engineering, Construction and Building Services Engineering and Community Services – all were represented and honoured on the day. Principal Alan Sherry said, “We are extremely proud of all our students’ achievements; their success is an inspiration to others. However, the work of those who have supported, helped and nominated today’s award winners should also be

recognised today. The Ceremony gives us the opportunity to come together as part of the Glasgow Kelvin College community to collectively celebrate this success.” The John Wheatley Award which celebrates those remarkable students who have overcome particular challenges in order to sustain their learning, was awarded to seven very deserving students this year. Sponsored by the Robert Bennie Trust, Parkhead Nazarene Church, Wheatley Group plc and others, the Award recognises their individual tenacity and

toy cars as gifts as it brought back happy memories from their childhood. Earlier this year, a poll revealed that racing car set Scalextric was number four in the list of greatest toys of all time. “These results show that you’re never too old to play with toy cars, and they even help to bring back great childhood memories for a lot of people. “Scalextric in particular is a popular toy car game that people have loved for years. There’s no doubt it has a lasting appeal, and everyone loves dusting the old set off for a game every now and then. Scalextric can even be used to liven up a party or an event, with people challenging each other to record the best times and compete for bragging rights.”

support of their fellow learners. Wheatley Group’s Head of Digital, Evelyn McDowall said: “We’re proud to support Glasgow Kelvin College’s John Wheatley Awards. “Wheatley Group aims to raise the aspirations of the people living in our homes, and education is a huge part of that. These awards support people in our communities who have committed to improving their own lives, often against the odds.”Celebrating students, sponsors, staff and invited guests are pictured here at the City Chambers.

Epic Munro Hunter challenge for Parkinson’s UK JACK Campbell, 30, has set himself a mountain of a fundraising challenge this summer – to climb all 282 Munros in Scotland. Jack grew up in Scotland and climbed a few Munros as a child, but never more than one in a day. The challenge will see him take on up to ten a day in order to complete his mission by 1 October 2015. He is fundraising for two charities close to his heart, including Parkinson’s UK. Jack says: “Having recently left the army I was looking for a new challenge. “I have a number of family friends who have worked so hard over their careers, looking forward to retiring and fulfilling a lifetime of ambitions. Many of these people have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s very soon after retirement and therefore have been unable to complete their dreams. “I want to show people that you don’t need to wait for retirement to be able to fulfil an ambition, life is too short and people need to be aware of that.” So far, Jack has conquered 40 out of the 282 Munros coming up against a mix of weather, including a 40ft snow drift, and moving between mountains using his converted van which also doubles as his accommodation. Currently

in Glen Coe, Jack will make his way north to finish at Ben Lomond. He has raised almost £3,000 for the Parkinson’s support and research charity, and is hoping to raise £20,000 by the end of the challenge. Jack is also raising funds for The Household Cavalry Foundation following a five-year career in the army’s Household Cavalry. Denise McNiven, Scotland Fundraising Manager for Parkinson’s UK, said: “Taking part in such a demanding individual challenge is an exciting way to raise much needed funds to support our work. We are incredibly grateful to Jack for his support and we wish him the best of luck with his challenge. I hope that Jack’s story will inspire people to support his efforts. “As the UK’s Parkinson’s support and research charity we’re leading the work to find a cure, and we’re closer than ever. But our work is dependent on donations.” Jack has set up a website to chart his progress: http://www.themunrohunter.org/ His justgiving page for Parkinson’s UK is here: https://www.justgiving. com/jack-campbell5 A Munro is a mountain in Scotland that is over 3,000ft above sea level.


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Charities call for public’s help in search for seafaring families in need A MAJOR campaign to find sailors’ families who have hit hard times is under way. A group of maritime charities believes that many Glaswegians will qualify for financial support for their children and is appealing to the general public for help in identifying them. Through their Find the Sea Families campaign, the charities are also urging hard-up families themselves to come forward to see if they qualify. They hope to boost the number of potential beneficiaries by using Facebook and Twitter to spread the message as widely as possible. Trinity House, which has been looking after seafarers’ interests for 500 years, is the driving force behind the search in which any family with a parent who has worked at sea could be helped. Glasgow-based Andrew Roberts, who is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, said it would give families the chance of a brighter future. “It is sometimes hard for seafaring charities to connect with families needing help. This new initiative is designed to make it easier for qualifying families needing help to make contact with the charities which will, I am sure, prove a most worthwhile project.”” he said. With the Clyde at its heart and their city’s rich tradition of ship-

building, many Glaswegians will have had careers at sea, serving in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, on ferries, tankers and cruise

ships, with the fishing fleets and also on the inland waterways. It is thought that many may qualify for support.

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MISSING CAT

Have you seen Pixie? Went missing from Bridgeton area on Sunday 5th of July. Pixie is an indoor cat and very petite for her 3 years. Any information or sightings would be greatly appreciated. Cash reward if found. Contact 07955 243596. If you have any information contact info@thegenn.co.uk

The campaign is being run for Trinity House by Seafarer’s Children’s Support in partnership with four other charities: Royal Liverpool

Seaman’s Orphan Institution, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund, Royal Merchant Navy Education Foundation and the Sailors’ Children’s Society. “Our aim is ensure the children of families in need do not lose out and get the chances in life they deserve,” said Theresa McGuire, who will be working with Glaswegian families to unlock this financial support. “We provide grants for Glaswegian families and know that, without assistance, some would be facing almost impossible circumstances. “The Find the Sea Families initiative has a crucial job in directing help to where it is most needed and we are urging families and individuals who may benefit to get in touch.” Each charity offers different support measures but, typically, help will be available for buying home computers, tuition fees, school uniforms and caravan holidays, alongside ongoing financial grants. Support lasts until the family is again self-sufficient or the children have left full-time education, including university or college. Sea families should contact the campaign by calling 0800 0556558 to find out if they are eligible for assistance. Alternatively, further information is available via the findtheseafamilies page on Facebook or @ findtheseafam on Twitter.


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LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH FIRST TREETOP WEDDING

COUPLE Martyn Milner and Colette Gregory took their romance to new heights as they headed to the tree tops of Go Ape Aberfoyle to exchange their vows, and become man and wife 40 feet off the ground. In the first wedding to be held at one of the 28 Go Ape courses across the UK, the bride wore a custom made dress especially tailored to accommodate the Go Ape harness ensuring that the couple could safely tie the knot at height. Martyn, his groomsman and the Registrar kicked off proceedings, making their way around the Go Ape course to wait at the Tibetan Bridge where the ceremony took place. Their 30 guests – including the couple’s 19 month old daughter and bridesmaid, Al-

ice - congregated below ready to watch the spectacle set against the stunning backdrop of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park in Loch Lomond, Scotland. The bride and her father then walked across a wooden aisle onto the bridge where the couple exchanged vows and rings at height before posing for photos as the celebrations quite literally got into full swing. Guests joined the wedding party on the course to share in the adventure, tackling crossings and speeding down some of the longest zipwires in the UK for an hour before heading back down to ground level for a champagne toast and the presentation of their customised Go Ape wedding certificates. Martyn the groom, com-

mented “We’ve been to a lot of weddings, and have always said that when it came to our own big day we wanted to do something totally different. Colette and I love the outdoors and both have a great sense of adventure, so when we thought about Go Ape, we instantly knew it would be the perfect place, especially Go Ape Aberfoyle in Scotland with its dramatic backdrop. We weren’t sure if we’d able to make it happen so we’re so glad we could as it’s been the most amazing day. This summer, Go Ape are encouraging everyone to #shareadventure. Its new ‘adventure generator’ has been designed to provide a vast range of ideas and inspiration and can be found at www. shareadventure.co.uk

SAVE THE HEDGEHOG

A NEW report which states that homeowners are being encouraged to cut holes in their garden fences, in order to allow hedgehogs to pass through. Homeowners are being encouraged to cut holes in their fences, so that hedgehogs can travel from one garden to another with ease. Hedgehog numbers are dwindling across Scotland, but environmentalists believe that a CD sized hole in a garden fence would allow the hedgehogs to roam freely, helping them as they forage for food and meet mates for breeding. The hedgehog population is said to be declining by 3 per cent every year, and some people are claiming that smaller gardens are to blame. “Because we are making our gardens so small now, it helps if we can make a small hole in our fences to create a ‘street’, for hedgehogs to travel from one garden to another,” said the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. Hedgehogs are estimated to travel around one mile every night, making their way

through parks and gardens. However campaigners believe that solid walls and fences blocking their path end up preventing them from finding food. As a result the ‘Hedgehog Street’ initiative was created, which recommends creating a five inch square gap –big enough for hedgehogs but too small for a household pet to fit through – in garden fences. Over 30,000 people have signed up to the UK initiative so far, with more predicted to join up soon. “We’ve got to remember we are haemorrhaging hedgehogs from the UK, so this is a really important thing

to do,” claimed Henry Johnson of the Hedgehog Street initiative. “It’s a small gesture, there really aren’t any excuses.” The number of hedgehogs in the UK is falling dramatically, so it’s important we take steps to ensure they don’t continue to die out. This initiative has become very popular and it could do a lot of good for the hedgehog. By cutting small holes in your fence panels you could be helping the hedgehog population as they search for food throughout the night and we urge our readers to join this initiative and safe Hedgehogs

NEW CAR PARK FOR FORT

UK construction leader McLaughlin & Harvey is steering the way forward at the Glasgow Fort shopping park extension. Appointed as main contractor, McLaughlin & Harvey’s Glasgow office will deliver a steel framed multi-storey car park creating 601 new car-parking spaces along with four restaurant units at the destination leisure facility. The new car park, which will bring total car parking spaces up to 2,500, will be located between Vue Cinema and the Smyths Toys store and

will have five levels, including parent and child and disabled spaces. The retail specialist contractor will provide all works associated with the project, including broadwalk frontage, landscaping, feature cladding as well as installing lifts and public stairwells. The extension also includes four restaurant units totalling 11,500 sq. ft. of additional catering space to be positioned on the ground floor. Paul Griffen, construction director at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “We are proud to be

appointed as main contractor for the continued works at Glasgow Fort. Since it opened, the shopping park has been extremely successful and the new car park will add to its current offering, increasing the car parking spaces by 30 per cent for shoppers across Glasgow and beyond. “We are also a major employer in the west of Scotland and we will be seeking to work with local suppliers and subcontractors wherever possible on this project.” The new car park is expected to be complete spring 2016.

Bield Values Volunteers in Glasgow BIELD, one of Scotland’s leading providers of housing and care , is highlighting the important role that volunteers can play in assisting older people to enjoy happy and fulfilled lives. Bield has launched an appeal to find friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to help out with a range of social activities in two of its Glasgow developments – Carntyne Gardens and Castlebank Gardens. Implementing programmes of social activities have proven to be a huge success, as they allow tenants to enjoy the opportunity to interact and socialise with others in their development and community. The Carntyne Gardens development is looking to recruit volunteers for its two sections – the Specialist Dementia Care House and the Housing With Care unit. The Specialist Dementia Care House is looking for volunteers who will spend one on one time with the service users, giving therapeutic touch such as hand massages and doll therapy, as well as drawing and playing dominoes. This is a gentle type of volunteering and would require someone who is comfortable around those with dementia. The Housing With Care section of Carntyne Gardens is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to ensure the smooth running of

a range of activities for service users, including games, carpet bowls and arts and crafts. The Castlebank Gardens development, in the Anniesland area of Glasgow, is looking to recruit volunteers to coordinate a range of activities for service users in Housing with Care. In particular, it is seeking volunteers to run a carpet bowls activity on a Saturday afternoon. Volunteers will be expected to set up the bowls, encourage participation for all who attend and clear up afterwards. Volunteer Development Worker, Donna Dickson said: “Our volunteer programme has an extremely positive effect on our tenants because it gives them a chance to get involved in a range of activities and socialise with others - both within their own housing development, and within their local community. “The tenants do a great job in keeping active, but they really need the support of volunteers to keep their programme going.” Bield tenant, Mrs Penman, said of social activities and volunteers: “Volunteers are very important because they bring a great deal to the scheme and provide interesting activities. “I especially enjoy the reminiscence sessions over a cuppa and a chat. I make sure I am

around for this activity and appreciate the time that the volunteers give to us tenants”. The social activity programme is central to Bield’s “free to be” ethos, which supports people to make their own decisions about how they live their lives while also being there to assist them when they need it. Donna said: “We are always looking for ways to enrich the lives of our tenants and the positive feedback we have received proves that this programme is incredibly beneficial and rewarding for our tenants and our volunteers.” If you are interested in volunteering with Bield or would like more information please contact Rachel Tribble on 0141 270 77233 or 07972 002 387 or r.tribble@bield.co.uk Please note that these are volunteer, unpaid positions. We thank everyone for their enquiry, however, we hope you understand that not all enquiries will result in volunteer placements. Bield is a registered charity that came from humble beginnings, starting out with just one development in Bo’ness to become a major of a wide range of housing and services for around 20,000 older people across 23 local authority areas.


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STILL OPEN DURING REFURBISHMENT! EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF OPEN SEVEN DAYS We now have 2 phases of the refurb completed with Hair City, Candy Skullz Tattoo Studio, Charlie’s Butchers, Sharon’s Hairdressers and Daughter’s Cafe all open and trading. The next phase will see SK Cuisine Chinese takeaway being refurbished along with Bensons Cafe, 4 new units being built and the new addition of our baby changing being added. These should all be in place by the end of the month/very early August

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GLASGOW STUDENT WINS TOP FINANCIAL AWARD

GEE Chong Shek, 19, from the Maryhill area of Glasgow, has been recognised by Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD) for achieving three As in his HND Accountancy course at Glasgow Kelvin College. At an awards ceremony for the IFSD Glasgow Student Awards 2015, Gee was one of seven students, representing each university and college in Glasgow, to be presented with a certificate and £250 to mark

their achievements. He is now at summer school studying economic and business which will hopefully allow him to embark on a degree course at the University of Glasgow. Once Gee has completed his education, he wants to follow a career in accountancy. The awards programme was established by the IFSD Partnership to highlight the wealth of talented graduates emerging from Glasgow’s universities

and colleges, prepared for careers in financial services. All seven students were nominated as ‘outstanding achievers.’ Presenting the Award to Gee, Sharon Hamilton, International Sector Head for Financial and Business Services, Scottish Enterprise said, “Many congratulations to Gee on his achievement. The IFSD Student Awards underline the breadth and depth of talent graduating from Glasgow’s universities and colleges which, we believe, is very reassuring for existing financial services companies in the city and prospective inward investors.” Since its launch in 2001, the IFSD has been developed by a partnership of the public and private sectors led by Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council. Over £1 billion has so far been invested to transform the previously run down area of the city centre. The District has attracted over 15,000 financial sector jobs from some of the biggest names in global finance including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Barclays, BNP Paribas, HSBC, esure, Tesco Bank and Aon.

ASDA’S GOOD NEWS TO DRIVERS 2PPL OFF DIESEL NATIONAL FUEL PRICE CAP SEES DIESEL AND UNLEADED AT THE SAME PRICE • Asda drops its national price cap on diesel meaning drivers will pay no more than 114.7ppl across its 272 filling stations. • Both unleaded and diesel at the same national price cap, first time since 2010. •Budget announcement brings more good news to drivers with a continued freeze on fuel duty Drivers will have a double celebration as news from the budget confirmed a continued

freeze on fuel duty and a fuel price drop of up to 2ppl on Diesel from Asda. The supermarket announced a drop in the price of diesel bringing it down to the same national price cap as unleaded at 114.7ppl, the first time both fuels have been the same price since 2010. Asda’s new national price cap means drivers will pay no more than 114.7ppl on both unleaded and diesel. Asda is the only retailer that has a national price cap on fuel

at all 272 filling stations, ensuring every single one of our customers knows the maximum price they will pay at the pump regardless of where they live. Andy Peake, Asda’s Senior Director for Petrol said: “A further freeze on fuel duty is good news for the nation and even better news for our customers. It will allow us to keep offering lower priced fuel with a further 2ppl off diesel in all our petrol stations.”

Cube’s ‘Here to Help’ campaign means better services for tenants

CUBE’S drive to improve services by visiting all of its tenants is already bringing in results. A campaign - called ‘We’re here to Help’ - was launched last month and has seen staff knock on doors in every Cube community to listen to tenants’ views. And it’s been so successful it has already led to important improvements to Cube services, including: • a new free phone number - 0800 027 3456 - for customers to get in touch • talking to tenants more about plans for communities • looking into setting up a

credit union in the Wyndford estate in Glasgow Anne-Marie Fontana, Cube’s Head of Housing, said: “Tenants really appreciate the fact we’re taking the time to talk to them face to face and ask their views. “We’ve had some great ideas. Tenants told us they use mobiles rather than landlines - and now calling us is free from either. “People don’t always have credit in their phone - and it’s not always easy for people outside Glasgow to visit our office - so the new freephone number will make a big difference.”

Cube - which is a member of Wheatley Group, Scotland’s leading housing, care and property management group - has also increased consultation with local tenants about their communities. More than 250 people turned up to give their views on Cube’s plans for Wyndford recently, including improvements to back courts, play areas and paths and roads. And Cube is also in discussions with Glasgow City Council and other social landlords about the possibility of setting up a credit union in Wyndford. Anne-Marie Fontana added: “Our We’re here to Help’ campaign has been a fantastic exercise. “We want to make sure our services are personalised and tailored to our customers’ individual needs. “We’re listening to tenants’ views - and acting on their suggestions.” Cube owns and manages 3,468 homes in Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, and Argyll and Bute.

Budding young photographers invited to ‘capture’ amazing animals ANIMAL-LOVING kids are encouraged to capture photos of their favourite pets and great British wildlife this summer, as PDSA launches its 2015 photo competition. Running with the theme ‘amazing animals’ youngsters are being asked to submit their own photos to one of three age categories: under 10s, 10-13 or 14-16-year-olds. From awesome ants and daring dogs, to cosy cats, huggable hamsters and delightful donkeys, PDSA wants to see the best snaps of the animal kingdom. The competition is free to enter – each child’s best photo should be emailed to petprotectors@pdsa.org.uk with ‘Pet Photo Competition 2015’ in the subject, along with their full name and date of birth in the email. The closing date is 11 September 2015. Kids who are already members of PDSA’s kids’ club – Pet Protectors – should also include their membership number to receive their points. The winner of each age category will receive an Action Video Camera with underwater case and a copy of the 2016 calendar, which is made up of the best 12 photos submitted to the competition. The overall winner across all categories will also receive a

behind-the-scenes tour of one of PDSA’s Pet Hospitals, and a professional photo shoot with their pet. Last year’s competition was won by eight-year-old Evie Connors, from Sunderland, who said: “I was overwhelmed and proud that my photo of Millie made it onto the front of PDSA’s Christmas card!” Evie has shared her top tips for snapping the best photos: Always have your camera nearby so you can catch your pet being funny or cute Practise using your camera so you know what it can do Make sure the light is good Take loads of pictures so

you can choose the best one PDSA’s Education Officer Jenna Small said: “We’re looking for incredible photos of all creatures great and small, so if your pet loves posing or you’re planning a visit to a safari park this summer, remember to keep your camera handy! “Remember though, not to dress your pets up, it may look funny to us but it can make them nervous and uncomfortable. Why not capture them showing off a skill or playing ball with their best friend instead?” For more information, plus terms and conditions, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/photocomp


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‘We are Made to Move’ – MEND Family Celebration event at the Emirates

Rubiks Cube World Championship

THE UK boasts some of the world’s strongest competitors in the sport of Speed-cubing: the 2009 World Champion Breandan Vallance hails from Paisley He is heading to São Paulo, Brazil for the Rubik’s Cube World Championship, a biannual event that attracts hundreds of the world’s fastest Cubers. It takes place at Colégio Etapa, Rua Vergueiro, Vila Mariana, São Paulo, from 9AM to 6PM on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July and 9AM until 5PM on Sunday 19 July. Competitors solve the Rubik’s Cube five times. The fastest and slowest attempts are

removed and an average time is taken so it’s not always the fastest single solve that wins the competition. In 2009 Breandan won the Rubik’s Cube World Championship in Dusseldorf with an average time of 10.74 seconds, and achieved a new best average time of 8.32 at the 2013 Edinburgh Open, placing himself comfortably among the global Speed-cubing elite. As if solving the Rubik’s Cube wasn’t hard enough, Breandan competes in the one hand categorie. The Rubik’s Cube World Championship was first held in Budapest in 1982 and was won by American Minh Thai with a time of 22.95 seconds. In each of the six Rubik’s Cube World Championships since then, the winning time has been faster than the one preceding it. Since then there have been six World Championships and it is now held biannually, attracting more than 400 competitors. Being held in South America for the first time.

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ON Saturday 11th July over 120 family members from Glasgow, East Ayrshire and Tayside congregated at Commonwealth Games venue Emirates Arena in Glasgow’s East End to celebrate being part of Big Lottery funded Healthy Powerful Communities programme MEND. This partnership project is aiming to halt the rising levels of obesity and increase participation in physical activity. The MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it!) Programme was developed at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the University College London Institute of Child Health and is one of the UK’s most innovative and effective obesity prevention and treatment programmes for; 2 to 4, 7 to 13 and teens (and their parents). The MEND Programme is a 10-week multi-component healthy lifestyle programme encompassing education on healthy eating, fun games to stimulate an active interest in physical activity and behaviour modification techniques to boost self-confidence. The event was a wonderful success with families coming together for a day of action packed physical activity all led by MEND leaders. Most in

attendance had never been to the Emirates and one parent commented “this programme has made a real difference to our lives and it’s so good to be here today and in this fantastic facility”. In addition to the fun activities parents and partners were treated to presentations from co-founder of the programme Dr Paul Sacher who detailed the evidence base behind the intervention as well as sharing some of the findings. He said: “the psychological benefits have been sustained over a period of 2.5 years after engagement in the programme” highlighting the long term behaviour change success of the MEND programme. Dr Andrew Murray also presented to the group. He is a

Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor has worked for various professional sports teams and on tours and expeditions worldwide. He has worked for the Scottish Government as their Physical Activity Champion promoting exercise for health. After a highly engaging and motivating presentation he concluded with saying: “60 minutes physical activity, regular physical activity a day is the single best present you can give a child”. Jim Boyd, Programme Manager Scottish Sports Futures commented: “The celebration event was a super way for us all within the MEND community to recognise the achievements of our families who have completed or are currently on the programmes, en-

suring our continued support to help sustain our goal of being healthier, fitter and happier. It was a pleasure to see the enjoyment, fun and smiles from all who took part”. Ross Forsyth, Healthy Powerful Communities Service Manager with My Time Active has said: “The Healthy Powerful Communities celebration event was a fantastic opportunity to bring together families and teams from across Scotland, to get active and celebrate the achievements of everyone involved. It was great to hear from Dr Andrew Murray and Dr Paul Sacher, around the importance of projects like Healthy Powerful Communities. Thanks to all of our partners who attended and Scottish Sports Futures for hosting us on the day. Hearing the impact of the project from families directly has inspired us all and I would personally like to thank each of the families who have graduated from one of our programmes for their dedication and commitment to improving their health and wellbeing.” To refer to the programme in the North East of Glasgow or to find out more information please contact - Jim Boyd on 0141 588 1567.

Tollcross Advice & Learning Centre • Money Advice • General Advice • Credit Union • Job Search • Assistance to produce a C.V. • Email Address • Access to and assi stance to use a computer • Computer Classes •Community Information

Can we help?

Benefits/Debt Advice, General Advice, Job Search, Help to produce a CV, Email Address, Access to and Assistance to use a Computer, Community Information, Chat with Others All Welcome - Opening Hours: 9.15am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 4.45pm

All Welcome - Come in, have a chat and we will help as much as we can.

We are at: 1061 Tollcross Road, Glasgow, G32 8UQ

Telephone: 0141 764 1234


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SUMMER FUN - DAYS OUT

Museum is a four star attraction

GREENOCK’S McLean Museum is a star attraction – and that’s official. For, the museum and art gallery, which is run by Inverclyde Council, has retained its coveted ‘four star attraction’ status which is Visit Scotland’s quality mark. Inverclyde’s Education vice convener, Councillor Martin Brennan, said; “The McLean Museum, its staff and the collection behind it are a real cultural asset for Inverclyde and for Scotland. By retaining its four star status the museum and art gallery are highlighted and endorsed by Visit Scotland as having ‘excellent’ standards. That’s important for residents and school parties visiting from within Inverclyde. It is also a message to the many thousands of visitors coming from abroad that they know they’ll get an excellent facility and level of service when they come to the McLean Museum to enjoy the collection and exhibitions.” The Visit Scotland grading system assesses visitor attractions according to a set of national quality standards, ensuring that they meet their essential requirements for cleanliness, safety, security, comfort, sustainability and customer care. The museum has just opened

a major summer exhibition of the work of one of the world’s most famous marine artists. The ‘Ashore and Afloat’ exhibition, which runs until 12 September, explores the work of Frank Henry Mason(1876-1965). He was one of the greatest ma-

rine artists of the twentieth century and produced a wide range of works depicting most of the major maritime locations within the UK and was particularly fond of the Clyde as a setting for his paintings. This exhibition presents a

Alexandra Park Sports Hub is a newly refurbished building based in Glasgow’s East End Alexandra. Alexandra Park Sports Hub has just been recently refurbished due to successfully being granted funds from The Big Lottery. Natalie Keenan, the community engagement officer said: “The plans are to engage with the local community through a range of different types of activities and get people more active in the east end of Glasgow and socially included within the local community”. John Burrell, the bike co-ordinator, said: “To continue on the success of the last 3 years the Borrow a Bike Scheme is now officially open” “Just bring along some ID and an utility bill and you will become a member, we are looking forward to welcoming back existing and new members” The Sports Hub has just recently been launched since being refurbished and has launched a range of activities such as Kids Spanish Classes, Kids Summer Club, Boot Camp, bowls and a 9 hole putting green.

unique survey of his work and includes many works from private lenders which are not normally available to the public. The paintings will include scenes from various parts of Mason’s career with a special emphasis on works with Clyde connections.

FREE KIDS SPANISH CLASSES AT ALEXANDRA PARK SPORTS HUB

EVERY THURSDAY IN JULY 11AM-12PM WHY NOT BRING YOUR KID ALONG?


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GENN STEP aboard Paddle Steamer Waverley this weekend for a traditional trip ‘Doon the Watter’ from Glasgow Science Centre! On Fair Friday take the kids to the seaside for the day - children travel free to Dunoon & Rothesay – one free child ticket with every adult purchased. Start the holiday in style with a showboat on Friday evening – sail down the river Clyde and watch the sun set over Dunoon whilst enjoying live music. Restaurant and bars are open all evening. On Saturday you can sail to Dunoon or Rothesay or sail through the Kyles of Bute to Tighnabruaich. On Sunday you can sail to Arran or all the way to Campbeltown and out towards the Mull of Kintyre. Andy O’Brian Waverley’s Captain said: “The Glasgow Fair holiday dates back to the 12th Century and was a time when business and factories closed for two weeks to allow workers and their families to take a holiday which many spent by taking a Paddle Steamer on the Firth of Clyde to visit Rothesay. Waverley carries on this tradition today and has a weekend packed full of sailings for you to enjoy. We hope to see you onboard.” Waverley has excellent onboard facilities including a restaurant serving hot and cold snacks, two bars, heated lounges, engine room & paddle wheel viewing gallery and a souvenir shop. Prices start at £15 for Adults and there are discounts for Senior Citizens, Children under 18 half fare & under 5s travel free. To book tickets call the Booking Office on 0845 130 4647 or find out more and Book Online at www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk Tickets can also be purchased from Glasgow Tourist Information Centre or aboard the ship

STEAM ‘DOON THE WATTER’ AT THE GLASGOW FAIR on the day.

Parents urged to make the summer holidays count at The National Wallace Monument THE National Wallace Monument in Stirling is encouraging parents to give their children a fun day out with an educational twist this summer. This comes in response to recent eye-opening figures published regarding how children are spending their holidays. The recent study found that, on average, children spend six full days of the summer holidays in front of a screen - either watching TV or playing video games. With this on the rise, parents are increasingly looking for stimulating and educational days out to fill the summer holidays. The summer months at the monument, one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions, are filled with activities for all the family, designed to engage visitors of all ages with Scottish history. These include ‘Tales from the Battlefield’, a live performance telling the story of an injured English soldier who stumbles into the woods after the Battle of Stirling Bridge and meets one of Wallace’s army and ‘A Walk with Wallace’, a 45 minute guided walk with costumed actors telling the story of Wallace’s famous encounter with King Edward.

Visitors to the National Wallace Monument can then discover more about the life of the Scottish patriot and martyr Sir William Wallace by exploring the magnificent Monument where Wallace’s life and legacy is told in three galleries - one of which features his legendary battle sword. An impressive 246 steps can be climbed to reach the top of the Monument, where visitors can stand in the ‘crown’ and take in the breathtaking 360-degree view of central Scotland and the Highlands to the north. This August the National Wallace Monument will also be marking the 710th anniversary of William Wallace’s betrayal and capture on the 5th and his execution on the 23rd August 1305. To mark these important dates in the William Wallace story, presentations by costumed actors will take place at the monument. A top visitor attraction, The National Wallace Monument features the newly refurbished coffee shop Legends, free car parking and a Gift Shop. w w w. n a t i o n a l w a l l a c e m o n u ment.com


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GENN COOKING

Great simple, no bake caramel cheesecake! only takes 30 minutes plus chilling time

Lots of ingredients but totally worth it! This dish packs a flavour punch. Ingredients (serves 4) • 500g chicken mince • 2 small onions, finely diced • 1 tsp minced garlic • 1/2 tsp minced ginger • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground coriander • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 chilli powder • 1/4 cup diced tomato • 1 cup green beans, tops & ends trimmed & sliced in 2cm lengths • 1 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil • 1 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • 1/4 cup water • 1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped Method 1. In your Philips All-In-One Cooker inner pot, set to sauté/sear low mode then place the ghee & mince in. Cook until no longer pink. Add the onions & cook for 2 minutes. Add the ginger & garlic & cook for a further 1 minute. 2. Add the spices, cook for 1 minute then add the tomatoes, green beans & a 1/4 cup of water. Stir well. 3. Put on lid, set mode to STEW for 20 minutes & place valve on SEAL position. When cooking time is finished, open lid, stir through fresh coriander. Serve with either rice or roti.

Ingredients (serves 10) • 125g Plain biscuits, crushed • 60g Unsalted butter • 3 tsp Gelatine • 3 tbsp Hot water • 1 can Nestle Caramel Top ‘N’ Fill • 300ml Cream • 50g Dark cooking chocolate • 250g Cream cheese Method 1. Combine biscuit crumbs and the butter, press

Ingredients (makes 24 24 party pies) • 2 Chicken breasts • 1 Onion • 1 Clove of garlic • 2 Medium sweet potato, grated • 2 tsp Olive oil • 2 Carrot, diced • 1/4 cup Plain flour • 1/4 Head celery • 2 sheets Puff pastry • 2 sheets Short crust pastry • 1 cup Cream • 1tbsp Cornflour to thicken • 2tbsp Light soya sauce • To taste Salt, pepper, cumin & coriander Method 1. Strip chicken breast and coat in flour & fry in a large heavy based pot until half cooked,

throw in onion and garlic, cook until it is half done. 2. Reduce the heat and simmer, add in soy sauce dice and add remaining vegetables except for the celery tops, stir fry on a moderate heat. 3. Once the vegetables have softened remove the chicken dice and return to the pan with the celery tops. Season and stir through cream. 4. Mix the cornflour with a little cold water to form a paste and stir into filling. Remove from the heat and allow to rest. 5. Line a mini muffin tin with short crust pastry rounds, use a glass with a slightly bigger diameter than the pan hole to make even circles. Fill with filling and top with a round of puff pastry, brush with a little egg wash for golden pastry! Bake in a moderate oven for approximately 20 minutes or until golden!

into base of 23cm flan pan, refrigerate until firm. 2. Dissolve gelatine in hot water. 3. Using an electric beater; beat cream cheese until smooth. Add 3/4 of the Nestle Caramel Top N Fill, add cream, beat until smooth. Beat gelatine into cheesecake mixture. 4. Spoon mixture evenly over crumb crust. 5. Whisk remaining caramel to a smooth consistency and spoon over the cheesecake. 6. Melt the chocolate and swirl over the cheesecake. 7. Refrigerate until set.

• 3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional) • 1/4 cup toasted coconut • passionfruit (for topping this is optional) Method 1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Peel and halve the bananas and place onto a lined baking tray.

Yum! These baked bananas are delicious, simple and gluten free! Ingredients (makes 4 halves = 4 people) • 2 bananas • 2 Tbsp honey • 1 Tbsp melted butter

Easy child friendly pie that won’t take too long or bust the budget

GENN

Chocolate brownies are the perfect treat! Ingredients • 200g Dark chocolate • 250g Butter • 4 Eggs • 125g Brown Sugar

2. Combine honey and butter together and drizzle over bananas (using a pastry brush works well too). 3. Bake for 10 minutes. Then sprinkle with nuts and/or toasted coconut. Serve warm with ice cream. • 125g Castor Sugar • 1 Short Black 30ml Coffee • 1tsp Salt • 100g Plain Flour • 150g Hazelnuts or Pecans, roughly chopped Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 170C. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl over gently simmering water. Stir to combine heat until just melted. 2. Beat eggs and sugars together, incorporating as little air as possible. Stir in chocolate, coffee, salt and flour. 3. Fold through nuts and pour into a lined and greased 28cm x 18cm tin. Bake for about 45 minutes or until just cooked and a little gooey in the centre. 4. Allow to cool and turn out onto a board. Cut into squares


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GENN

IS YOUR GRANNY RIGHT?

OLD wives tales, superstitions passed down from generation to generation or genuine knowledge in the form of sayings that are easy to remember? At some point you’ve probably heard one of these old wives tales, but are they really true? We have compiled our findings for you: 1. Feed a cold, starve a fever Forget this tale. Even though you may not feel like eating you should stay hydrated and eat well to keep your energy levels up as best you can. Try some soup! 2. If you go outside with wet hair you will catch a cold! Whilst you may feel a bit chilly if you go outside with wet hair on a cold day you are unlikely to catch a cold. Colds are passed on with a virus, not by having wet hair. That’s of course not to say that if you do go out with wet hair and come into contact with someone who has a cold virus, that you won’t catch it! 3. Chicken soup will help your cold Chicken soup is lovely and warming, we all know this While this may not be

a cure it will certainly help. Scientists believe that a bowl of chicken soup may reduce inflammation of the lungs by slowing down the activity of white blood cells. So pop a pot on the cooker if you feel a cold coming on – it could reduce the symptoms! 4. Foods with mayonnaise in them will spoil faster than those without mayonnaise Don’t believe everything you’re told as it turns out this is an old wives’ tale. As commercial mayonnaise is slightly acidic, adding it to chicken will actually help prevent the chicken spoiling! 5. Hair of the dog will cure a hangover. Another false! Having another drink will only prolong your pain – that hangover is going to hit at some point. 6. Wash your hair until it’s squeaky clean False! Over shampooing your hair so that it squeaks actually does the opposite and simply strips the hair shafts of the necessary oils. Less is more in this case. 7. Chocolate can help to relieve pre-menstrual cramps Firstly, Do you believe it helps? Turns out there might be some truth in this one – chocolate contains chemicals that contribute to boosting your mood . TIP: Dark chocolate has less sugar – good to know if you’re prone to breakouts around this time. 8. Alcohol on your baby’s gums will relieve teething pain Definitely false as even a small amount of alcohol can be incredibly dangerous for your baby. Best to file this one under NO WAY! 9. Eating fish is good for your brain This one is most certainly true. The essential fatty acids in fish contribute to the growth and development of our brains. Fish oils are also said to have anti-inflammatory properties which protect blood vessels and are also thought to be

helpful in reducing stiffness in joints. Make sure you add more to your weekly meal plan – it’s good for you! 10. You can predict the sex of your baby with a wedding ring test False. An old wives tale that has been around for many moons is to put a thread through the wedding band of the pregnant woman and hold it over her palm. If the ring swings in a circle it’s said the baby is a girl and if it swings in a straight line the baby is a boy. It’s good fun, but certainly not an accurate measure. 11. Don’t cross your eyes as they could get stuck! I’m sure you remember hearing this one when you were a kid and would have worked out it’s most definitely not true. 12. Don’t swallow chewing gum as it’s harmful to the digestive system You may have heard that it will stay in your stomach for seven years. This is not true. The gum does actually pass through the digestive however as the body is not able to break it down it usually exits the body looking similar to when it entered. 13. Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis There is no evidence to show this is true, though the jury still isn’t out on this one! 14. Drinking a glass of warm milk will make you sleepy This one is actually true as milk contains tryptophan which is a chemical that helps induce sleep. A nice warm glass before bed is a great way to help you drift off to sleep. 15. Don’t swim for at least an hour after eating How many of you heard this one from your parents! Unless you are bloated and uncomfortable there is no need to wait – yes, they were lying all along. We would love to hear of any other old wives tales you may have heard and we will print in future issues. Send to info@ thegenn.co.uk

One year, eight months and 18 days is the time it takes Scottish residents to feel better following bereavement SUE Ryder, the national hospice and neurological care charity, has today published new research which provides a unique insight into the UK’s experiences of bereavement and demonstrates that people may be suffering longer than they need to. The charity’s ground-breaking research reveals that it takes those from Scotland one year, eight months and 18 days to feel better following bereavement; this is compared to the national average of two years, one month and four days. The research also proves that sharing experiences of bereavement has a positive impact on how long it takes people to feel better. The North of England the region with the longest period of bereavement with people saying they took three years, two months and two days to feel better. At the other end of the spectrum, the North West felt better in one year, six months and 13 days. Those surveyed who had people around them to talk to during bereavement felt better

earlier following a loss, whereas those who didn’t have any support grieved, on average, for an additional eight months, three weeks and five days. * More than a third (42.6%) of local residents surveyed also said bereavement had a considerably negative effect on their wellbeing, with some even considering suicide. Despite individuals choosing to deal with their grief in different ways, the research shows more than a third (35.2%) of Scottish residents suffer in silence, bottling up emotions which eventually catches up with them at a later date. People aged 45-54 years old took more than twice as long to feel better than 16-24 year olds and female recovery seems to take exceptionally longer than that of males. It takes nearly two years and four months for women to start feeling better compared to men, who said it took them on average just over one year and nine months. Men are, perhaps unsurprisingly, less comfortable than women discussing bereave-

ment, with one in four (24%) saying they did not talk about bereavement with anyone compared to one in seven (14%) women. Most of those who have been through bereavement revealed they found it difficult to talk about it and some were too embarrassed to admit they were scared or upset. This research further demonstrates the need for Sue Ryder’s new online community and support, funded by the charity’s national partnership with supermarket chain Morrisons, which aims to provide advice and support for those dealing with death, dying and bereavement. From expert Sue Ryder nurses on hand for advice, to support on how to deal with diagnosis and treatment. The online community and support connects together those who are experiencing bereavement and provides support and advice to help them to better prepare for and deal with loss. Heidi Travis, CEO of Sue Ryder, says: “This ground-breaking research gives us a provocative insight into how we deal

with grief as a nation. It is unsurprising that so many people try to deal with their loss on their own but that it catches up with them at a later date. “Bereavement can be a long and difficult process and we’ve launched our new online community and support to help people who are struggling to come to terms with a friend or loved one’s death and would benefit from receiving expert advice and tips as well as peer to peer support. “The service also seeks to better prepare people before a loved one dies and provides advice with everything from how to cope with their terminal diagnosis through to place of care decisions and how to plan before and after their death. “Death affects everyone connected to that person and we hope our new online community and support will better support people during the most difficult time of their lives.” For more information or to visit Sue Ryder’s new online community and support, visit: www.sueryder.org/support

HOW TO DEAL WITH TODDLERS ANYONE with a child under the age of five can attest to the fact that once you have a baby, sleep – which was once taken for granted – becomes your most cherished commodity. Although as your child grows up, their sleeping requirements and patterns will undoubtedly change, and this can be incredibly taxing on mothers. Most toddlers need around 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night, along with one or two naps during the day that last around 1-2 hours. If, for whatever reason, they aren’t meeting this requirement, it can be a frustrating experience for the both of you. Whether your toddler wakes up too early, during the night or has trouble getting to sleep, here are some tips to help you manage both yours and your toddler’s sleep. 1) Write up a sleep schedule Having a routine will ensure that your child won’t become overtired during the day and in turn will be prepared to sleep at night. An example schedule: • 7am: wake up. • 12:30pm: nap of no less than one hour, and no more than 2 hours. • 1:30/2:30pm: wake up from nap. • 7pm: bedtime. 2) Set a bedtime routine Similarly, a bedtime routine will help prepare your child for sleep. Toddlers love routines because the predictability of what is coming next makes them feel safe and secure – and this is especially pertinent at night-time, where calmness is the key ingredient

to a peaceful toddler sleep. A bedtime routine should last for no longer than an hour, from the bath to the final goodnight kiss. An example routine: • 6pm: bath time, brush teeth and put on night-time nappy. • 6:30pm: bedtime story, or listening to lullabies. • 7pm: kiss goodnight, and lights out. 3) Watch for signs of tiredness: Children can become hyperactive when they are overtired. Recognising when your child is ready for bed can prevent them from becoming too tired, and make it easier for them to settle down and go to sleep. The signs over tiredness are: • clumsiness • irritable behaviour • crying • clinginess • demands for attention all the time • boredom with toys • fussiness with food 4) Keep the room dark and make sure they are in a comfortable environment: While it’s true that every child is different, most toddlers start the day early. While some are happy to look at a book, or quietly play with a toy, others will wake with an energetic bang. This is in part because of their early bedtime, and also because their deepest sleep happens between 8pm and midnight, so by 6am they may feel quite alert. Keeping the room dark with black out blinds helps reduce the stimulation around them and can help calm your toddler so that they will sleep longer.


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GENN TRAVEL

GREEK CRISIS ADVICE FOR TOURISTS THE crisis in Greece is causing worry all over Europe for holidaymakers – but are they right to be worried? As many of our readers get ready to fly off to the popular Greek islands and mainland, we look at the pressing questions. HOW MUCH CASH SHOULD I TAKE WITH ME? Make sure you have enough euros before getting on the plane and get it in low-denomination notes as shops and restaurants may not accept high denominations. The Foreign Office’s official advice is, “Make sure you have enough euros in cash to cover emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and any unexpected delays.” “Visitors to Greece should be aware of the possibility that banking services – including credit card processing and servicing of cash machines – throughout Greece could potentially become limited at short notice,” warns the government. This means that your card

might be rejected if you try to withdraw cash, so take enough to keep you going. Think about how long your holiday is and whether you’ve paid in advance for things like hotels, car hire and airport transfers. If you haven’t, you could need a lot of cash and that presents its own problems. Many Greek cash machines are out of money, so if you want to take cash out there you’ll have to queue – and it could take a while. There’s a daily cap on cash machines in Greece of 60 euros, but this only applies to domestic accounts and doesn’t affect tourists. WILL MY DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD WORK? Cards should work as normal, and the Foreign Office recommends taking them: “When travelling outside of the UK, you should take more than one means of payment with you (cash, debit card, credit card).” You’ll be able to pay with a debit or credit card in most restaurants and shops, but they

might prefer cash. WILL MY TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER ME IF MY CASH IS LOST OR STOLEN? The majority of travel insurance policies provide cover for the accidental loss of, theft of or damage to personal money and documents (such as a driving licence). However, insurers generally cap the amount they will pay out for cash to between £200 and £300, so if you’re planning on taking more you may not be covered. The crisis is causing regular air strikes, so travel may be delayed or cancelled in which case your insurer will cover you – but only if you didn’t know about the delay or disruption. It’s essential to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday If there’s one silver-lining to this whole business, it’s that the pound is currently strong against the euro so you’ll be able to get more for your money. Shop around to find the best deal

GENN

EURO HEALTH INSURANCE

EUROPEAN Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is one of the most useful things you can pack when travelling abroad. It provides you with the same level of state medical care as residents of the European Economic Area country that you’re in and best of all, it’s free. Around one in 10 adults who have been abroad have used it to get free or reduced cost medical care. But despite how useful it is, there’s still quite a lot of confusion as to what an EHIC can and can’t help you with. Some of the common misconceptions around the EHIC, 1. YOU DON’T NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE IF YOU’VE GOT AN EHIC State care varies from country to country, and having an EHIC doesn’t mean you can expect to be treated as you would if you visited your local NHS hospital. Few EU countries pay the full cost of medical treatment as you’d expect from the NHS. For example, in France a patient may be expected to pay

for a consultation with a doctor up front, then have up to 70% of the cost reimbursed later. The patient may also be expected to contribute to the cost of staying in a hospital overnight. There are also no guarantees that an ambulance will take you to a state hospital for emergency treatment, and many of the smaller hospitals and clinics found in holiday resorts are private. If you end up at a privately run clinic or hospital your EHIC may not be accepted. So, while travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement like car insurance, it’s still highly advisable to buy some before you go. Ace educational holidays for 2. EHIC WILL FLY YOU HOME The costs of a medical repatriation – getting you home if you’re injured, ill or worse – can be seriously expensive. According to one insurer, the cost of flying one seriously ill British holidaymaker home from the Canary Islands by

jet air ambulance was nearly £23,000 – but in most cases the costs will be covered by a reasonable travel insurance policy. Without insurance, friends and family may end up having to pay to get you home.

“Hotspots like this are so popular because they combine gorgeous scenery with pulsating music, and we really should take the time to en-

sure that we protect areas like this. Its predicted that this will catch on in other destinations like, Ibiza, Miami and other popular beach hotspots.

Unfortunately, when it comes to repatriation, the EHIC is of no use at all. An EHIC doesn’t cover the cost of being flown home under medical supervision from any destination, and the government generally doesn’t pay for British holidaymakers to be flown home unless there are very unusual circumstances. 3. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR AN EHIC As we’ve alluded to, the best part of an EHIC is that it’s free. However, that hasn’t stopped all manner of dodgy sites offering to ‘arrange’ your EHIC application for a fee. You can apply for the EHIC yourself on the NHS website. It literally takes about five minutes and doesn’t cost a penny.

Holiday Hotspot Provides Free Drink to Partygoers for Beach Clean-Up CLUBBERS who party in the holiday hotspot of Boracay in the Philippines are being encouraged to act more responsibly in an effort to clean up the coastline. All night beach parties are extremely popular in this part of the world, and now partygoers will be rewarded with free alcohol if they stay behind to sort out the mess. This is part of the ‘Cause for a New Coast’ campaign, while clean-up events have been organised by local officials, tourism stakeholders and local environmental

groups. The Department of Tourism estimates that around 80,000 tourists will be attending events throughout Boracay this year, including music concerts and raves, which lead to thousands of tonnes of trash being generated. Those who get involved with the cleaning will be rewarded with free drinks supplied by the leading brandy distiller in the Philippines. “This Cause for a New Coast campaign was initiated to help clean and restore this island paradise,” claimed head

of marketing for Boracay Newcoast, Saki Mirabueno. “Every year, thousands of visitors leave garbage along White Beach, which gradually affects the natural surroundings.” Thomas Royall, a leading provider of designer swimwear, takes a keen interest in reports such as this. A spokesperson provided this statement: “This is a very clever scheme and the Philippine tourism board should be praised for coming up with the idea. Partying in Boracay can provide some wonderful

memories but it’s important to keep the environment in mind, otherwise that beach paradise won’t be around for too much longer.


GENN

ARE YOU A STEREOTYPE ONCE we leave our house, suitcase in hand, the secret, ridiculous, British tourist within escapes and we’re powerless to stop it, falling into the same clichés bestowed on us by the Europeans. They don’t know what there talking about? See if any of the following sound familiar… LOADING UP AT THE BREAKFAST BUFFET At home you’re more of a Shreddies kind of person or, if the mood strikes, perhaps toast with jam. But once you’re presented with a cornucopia of omelettes, waffles and a bumper selection of cold meats and cheeses at the breakfast buffet, all bets are off. Suddenly you must eat everything... and stuff a few pastries into your bag when the waiter’s not looking SUNBED WARRIOR You get to your hotel on the first day and take a gander at the gorgeous pool, scoping out the prime sun-lounger spots. There they are, sat in the glorious sunshine with a handy parasol for naps. What could be better? There are people on them now, but they won’t be tomorrow... because you’ve a plan. Up, at the crack of dawn, you sneak down to the pool... but what’s this? They’ve already been swiped! You feel the towel taunting your poor effort and contemplate throwing it in the pool. You’ll just have to be even earlier tomorrow ALL DAY DRINKER Indulging in a pre-5pm alcoholic beverage is a special treat for most, reserved for bank holidays and weddings. But when in Rome (or literally anywhere outside the UK) it’s your duty to have a beer with breakfast – hey, it’d be rude not to! But remember: getting tippsy at the lunch buffet is never a good look, go easy on that all-you-can-drink bar SNAPPING LIKE THE PAPERATZIE Back home you take the occasional photo when you’ve got your glad rags on, or to send a selfie to your mates. But on holiday, it’s a different story. You suddenly turn into Rankin, snapping anything that moves. When you peruse your pictures to find 200 photos of the stray cats from your resort licking chicken off the floor, you decide to put the camera away FRIENDS MAKER They were on your plane. They were on the transfer bus to the hotel. You shared the obligatory “oh, it’s warm, isn’t it?” pleasantries at check-in. So, it means that you’re officially holiday buddies with them! The only problem is now Barbara and John are literally EVERYWHERE! They want to sit next to you at dinner. They pull up seats at the flamenco show. And guess who’s booked the same excursion to Barcelona? Now you’ve resorted to eating at strange times, using a mirror to check around corners and drinking in your room to avoid them. Tell us about the things that you only do while on holiday or things you only notice on holiday. info@thegenn.co.uk.

GENN TRAVEL

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Calling Antique lovers

DUST off your treasures for a free day out as BBC One’s ever-popular Sunday evening programme Antiques Roadshow comes to Balmoral, near Ballater, on Thursday 30 July, 2015. The doors open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to the show is free and no pre-registration is required. The Grounds, Gardens and Exhibitions will be open as usual and the normal admission charge will be waived on the day. Parking will be within the Estate on grass and there will be a parking charge of £5 per car. The car parks on the A93 will be closed for the day. Some of Britain’s leading antiques and fine arts specialists will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors, who are invited to raid their attics and bring along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection by the experts. People with large or heavy items should email: antiques.roadshow@bbc. co.uk or write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR, as we may be able to help transport them to the venue. Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce said: “This will be my 8th year on the Antiques Roadshow and I still feel so lucky to be presenting the programme. Every week is different; a new location and thousands of new visitors. The only constant is the pleasure of the unexpected - we never know what will turn up,

from the most fabulous Faberge to the most humble object with a riveting story.” During the last series the Antiques Roadshow unearthed some amazing finds – a portrait by a renowned artist painted on a pillowcase in a POW camp, Star Wars memorabilia valued at £40,000 and a Chinese enamel box bought for 20p and worth over £10,000. BBC Antiques Roadshow Executive Editor, Simon Shaw said: “We are hon-

CASH OR CARD?

FOLLOWING the outcome of the Greek referendum ICE – International Currency Exchange offers its tips for getting the best deals on Euros orders of over £1000 and keeping money safe and secure. “Currently it would appear that foreign cards can still be used at ATMs to withdraw up to 600 Euros** and are accepted in shops and restaurants in Greece – at the discretion of the business. As long as this remains the case we would recommend predominantly taking cash and a prepaid currency card as a backup - particularly to be used at larger reputable organisations, such as hotels, who would still continue to accept cards. However, with fears of ATMs running out of cash holidaymakers may want to heed the Chancellor’s advice*** and take as much cash as they think they will need. “We would therefore suggest taking some sensible security precautions. For a start, consider having your currency delivered to home – you might also get a better rate as online rates tend to be more competitive****. Orders over £700 are postage free and orders of £1000 or more are guaranteed next day delivery. “ICE is currently offering 1.388 Euros to the Pound online, compared to 1.224 this time last year - that’s 164 extra Euros on a £1000 order, equivalent to £118.15 – and if you find a better rate online for an order of £1000 or over, we guarantee to beat it. “Alternatively, pick up your Euros

over the course of a few days or weeks rather than all in one go. Use services such as Click & Collect from ICE that offer you the best rate on the day without any upfront costs. These rates can sometimes beat online rates. If you commute into London, you can also access Euros from ATMs throughout the London Underground. “On route to the destination, we would recommend that families divide up cash between them so that if cash is lost, it is not the whole amount. Check the amount of cash covered by a travel insurance policy – if there’s an option to increase the limit, it might be worth considering. At the destination, use in-room safes to store your cash rather than carrying too much around each day. Food and drink in your accommodation can be put ‘on the tab’ so that you can pay in one go at the end of the holiday. “If Greece does exit the Euro, this won’t be effective immediately, the process will take a considerable amount of time to happen so travellers should not be fearful of being stuck with currency they can’t spend.

oured to be bringing Antiques Roadshow to Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family. The grounds are magnificent and the Castle and breath-taking Highland scenery will form a spectacular backdrop to our filming of visitors and the objects they bring. “We love meeting all visitors to our Antiques Roadshows, seeing their treasures, and hearing their stories. So many people tell us how much they enjoy their day out, they get the chance to meet Fio-

na and the experts, and see behind the scenes how the Antiques Roadshow is made. “Even after 38 years, the magic formula of surprising some lucky guests with exciting news about their treasures is still a thrill for us, the visitors and the viewers. This, combined with the history and stature of Balmoral, guarantees a memorable Antiques Roadshow that myself, Fiona and the team are greatly looking forward to.”

HARNESS YOUR WILD SIDE

AS the sun continues to shine and temperature stay toasty it is important to keep to your dog comfortable and cool. Overheating can be a serious problem for dogs in summer months and how we look after them in these hot conditions can have a big effect on their wellbeing. We know no matter what time of the year it is dog’s love to be walked and summer is no different, so we looked to find a stylish solution that would help you keep your dog cool and comfortable while out on their walk. Urban Pup have designed and produced a range of harnesses Urban Pup Harness , in zesty summer colours, ideal for the warmer months of the year. Our top suggested soft mesh harness Urban Pup Harness has been designed provide the ultimate in com-

fort and safety. It features a breathable material for maximum air circulation that helps prevent your dog overheating and is held in place by a secure clip-in action. The soft padded breathable side covers the dog’s chest and the lead clips onto the D-Ring between the shoulder blades. Here are some additional tips to help keep your dog cool as a cucumber this summer: • Treat your dog to their very own paddling pool that they can while away their days in •Freeze their usual dog treats in water, this creates a fun game to get to the treats and cools them down •Check how hot the ground is. If you can’t keep the back of your hand on it for more than 5 seconds, it is too hot for your dog’s paws •Walk you dogs early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the highest temperatures during the day


24 Originally from Lithuania Sarune moved to England in 2006 and studied illustration at the University of Bedfordshire. With a passion for the human mind she pursued a degree in Psychology and has just graduated from the University of St Andrews. Whilst studying at St Andrews she continued to illustrate and was part of the Students’ Association Design Team and taught students about character design, typography, illustration and book binding. Now living in Glasgow, She is combining illustration with psychology to create children’s stories and workshops which focus on expressing yourself through illustration and storyboarding. Sarune has just recently produced an illustration for a poetry book coming out in early September this year. She is now working on series of prints and designs for a new children’s book, toys and postcards which will be available at her online shop very soon (https://www.etsy. com/uk/shop/SaruneIllustration). Sarune finds inspiration in every day life, in people she meets on the street, in her cultural background, psychology and the human mind. Every moment can be inspirational and wonderful one just have to find it!

Illustrations by Sarune Savickaite

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GENN Community Pictures

SPONSORING COMMUNITY PICTURES


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GENN

Your Horoscope Predictions By Eris

Aries

(21 March - 20 April)

Libra

(24 Sep - 23 Oct)

You believe you are at your finest when facing challenging circumstances. And it is true, there is a side of you, that thrives on the urgency of making onthe-spot decisions and having to think on your feet. This week, as the cosmos aligns to bring a certain amount of stress the way of almost everybody, folk born under the constellation of the Ram see their nerve and patience tested equally. Yet the dynamic character of this configuration suggests a favourable outcome is more than possible, if you are ready to address the issues raised.

Saturn in your financial sector until September may not seem a welcome prospect, but this is your chance to place your monetary affairs on a more solid footing. It is human nature to avoid such dreary and emotive issues while you can, or at least to let them drift a little, so long as on the surface things are still broadly satisfactory. Thus Saturn tends to herald shortages and uncertainty, that concentrate your mind and cause you to refocus on any deficit. Big changes may be necessary within your employment affairs, but review your investments and regular outgoings

Taurus

Scorpio

(21 April - 21 May)

As the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter continues to separate, the former departs from Leo for a short stay in Virgo, a sign connected with the element of earth. This is a welcome development during a week, that contains a few more trials and tribulations than you have grown used to lately. The universe has been enjoying a relatively benign phase, so these difficulties seem rather unexpected and as a consequence, look worse than they’ll turn out to be in the end and harder to resolve than is actually the case.

Gemini

(22 May - 21 June)

Financial matters are in the spotlight, but then they never really went away. Sources of finance that you relied on previously, now look less than dependable. The more others are involved, the clearer is seems that basing your future prospects on the resources of any outside agency is not the wisest option. Whether this means the authorities, a business interest or a private individual, far-reaching trends within society can take this matter out of their hands too. And meanwhile, your expenditure does not diminish.

Cancer

(22 June - 23 July)

(24 Oct - 22 Nov)

Likened sometimes to a giant pair of pruning shears, Saturn removes the dead wood and spindly growth from the shrubbery of your existence. Its return to your sign marks the start of a new cycle, but firstly whatever no longer serves a purpose, must be excised to let more fitting activities develop and flourish. It can be hard sometimes to decide between pursuits that are worth your perseverance despite the obvious difficulties, versus others that are slowly becoming consigned to the past.

Sagittarius

(23 Nov - 21 Dec)

This week the cosmos helps you find a balance between independence on the one hand and togetherness on the other. Ideally, you’d be free to make your own choices, so long as this didn’t hurt anyone. Yet in practice a series of compromises is generally necessary to safeguard your security and live up to your responsibilities in return. Part of you resents this process, yet the idea of foregoing all safeguards proves too terrifying to contemplate.

Capricorn

Your constellation is the busiest of all this week with more planets in it than any other; a celestial state of affairs that you’ll see echoed throughout your everyday life. The Sun and Moon meet in your sign at the new moon on Thursday, while Mercury and Mars remain nearby throughout this period. This contributes to a hectic and even frenetic phase, where each day passes in a blur while yesterday, today and tomorrow gradually blend in to one.

Leo

Aquarius

The departure of Venus from your sign is only temporary, as this planet comes back in a mere two weeks, having turned retrograde in-between. While its presence in your constellation has been good for your material position, its sortie into Virgo is even more enriching. Although money is an integral and necessary part of life these days, it is also a handy indicator of what matters on a deeper level and those things you consider truly worthwhile. As you are likely during the forthcoming period to accrue whatever proves of value, it would be smart to remind yourself exactly what this used to be.

Virgo

(24 Aug - 23 Sep)

The arrival of Venus in your sign, is the most welcome news the universe has offered you in a long while. And this is just the beginning of a new, more pleasurable and far more rewarding phase, that convinces you things really have turned a corner and that the light at the end of the tunnel, isn’t simply another train coming. The final two weeks of July are just a taster, as you will notice an increasingly reflective trend, once Venus turns retrograde during the course of next week. The planet of love and comfort returns to Leo by the end of this month.

THERE are many ways to relax at home, and more and more people have started to use yoga for meditation and relaxation purposes. Don’t be scared by what you think you may know about yoga! Not all yoga positions require outstanding flexibility, and your flexibility will improve with time, allowing you to learn and master more yoga. A Little Yoga History While the exact birth date of yoga is unknown, most agree that it started some 4,000 to 8,000 years ago in India. It evolved with time, and the concept that the mind, body and soul were one cosmic entity was introduced with Hinduism. Yoga for meditation and relaxation is growing in popularity in the west while it

maintains its living tradition in India. Types of Yoga For Medita-

tion and Relaxation Purposes There are several types of yoga, but the following four are recognized to be the main branches of yoga: Each yoga focuses on a distinct path: • Karma Yoga: Selfless Work • Bhakti Yoga: Love and Devotion • Jnana Yoga: Knowledge and Discernment • Raja Yoga (or Ashtanga Yoga): Meditation Although not an official yoga type per se, you may be interested in a fun and relaxing activity called laughter yoga. It’s great for your mood and for your health! Some Yoga Definitions and Common Sanskrit Terms Before you start practicing yoga for meditation and relaxation purposes, you should familiarize yourself with these common yoga terms and definitions: • Cow Face – Posture, Breathing, Stress • Corpse Pose – Relaxation, Breathing • Baby Pose – Back Pain, Stretching • Cat & Cow – Stretching, Cramps • Downward Dog – Circulation, Strength • Utthanpadasana – Lower Back Pain • Bow and Arrow – Shoulder, Neck Pain • Vayu Asana – Breathing, Stretching • Uttanasana – Back, Pelvis, Legs • Utthita Hasta Padangust-

The Genn Crossword

hasana – Legs, Hips, Balance • Bow Pose – Digestion, Cramps • Supta Vajrasana – Creativity, Urges • Ashtanga – Chakras, Meditation • Dolphin – Step to Head Stand • Asanas. Generally speaking, this word is used to refer to yoga positions. It is a state of being where you are physically and mentally steady, calm, quiet and comfortable. In Raja Yoga, it only refers to the sitting position, but in Hatha Yoga, Yogasanas also include opening the energy channels to increase awareness. • Chakras. These are energy centres located throughout your body. There are seven major chakras and several smaller ones. Chakras can be opened or closed to re-balance the flow of energy within yourself. • Dhayana. Meditation aimed at connecting yourself with the universal consciousness. • Mantra. This Sanskrit word means speech. A mantra is usually a word (or series of words) that, repeated, help focus the mind. • Namaste. You’ve probably heard this term before. It is very common in yoga and it means “I honor the light within you.” • Niyamas. These are disciplines or “must-do” items. Examples include: cleanliness, contentment, austerity, studyof-self and devotion to God

(but it doesn’t have to be God per se; it could be devotion to your spiritual quest). • Prana. Vital energy that is the equivalent of chi in Chinese culture and Feng Shui. • Pranayama. Breath control through yoga breathing exercises. • Pratyahara. Concentration where you withdraw yourself from reactions to external stimuli. • Samadhi. Liberation where a total balance and unity exist between you and the universal consciousness. • Yamas. Yamas are restraints similar to the “Ten Commandments.” The five most common yamas are: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, abstinence and non-greed. • Yoga. Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means union with the universal soul by integration of body, mind and spirit. Where Does Religion Fit In? That’s the wonderful part about yoga. You can make it a part of your religion or not. You choose. There are different disciplines that focus on the mental, physical and/or spiritual aspects of yoga, so you can follow your own path. If you intend to use yoga for meditation and relaxation purposes, you should probably include these three complimentary elements (mental, physical AND spiritual). Keep in mind that a spiritual person may (or may not) be religious and/or vice-versa.

CHECK FOR ANSWERS ON PAGE 28

Across (21 Jan - 19 Feb)

There have been many busy weeks and this is another one, as three and even four planets congregate in an area of the sky linked with duty and responsibility. For those active in the employment market, such matters are at the forefront and combined with the return of Saturn to the apex of your horoscope through until September, you have the scope to take some lasting steps towards the attainment of your goals. But first, you need to streamline your routines, cutting back on activities that take time, but don’t contribute to your progress.

Pisces

Yoga for Relaxation and Meditation

(22 Dec - 20 Jan)

A number of planets congregate in your opposite sign this week. That places a focus on those you are involved with closely, both on a personal and professional level. While taking a material and financial point of view your outlook continues to be rosy, from a more intimate and even romantic perspective, a clash of wills seems inevitable. Other people are especially ignorant and infuriating, leading to a number of irritable exchanges and an atmosphere that is fraught and prickly.

(24 July - 23 Aug)

Just a Thought

(20 Feb - 20 Mar)

You’d be inclined to stick your neck out and leave more to luck, if it wasn’t for the unpredictable nature of your finances. As it is certain fond aspirations need to wait, so as not to overstretch your resources or risk having insufficient in reserve for dealing with unexpected eventualities. Part of the issue is the lack of a proper backup, to cushion you from additional expenses, while the rest comes down to the erratic essence of your income and how much you rely on your own efforts to keep your cash flow buoyant.

1. Theft (7) 5. Ambit (5) 8. Relating to a city (5) 9. Closest (7) 10. Foster (7) 11. Public square (5) 12. Floor covering (6) 14. Soldiers (6) 18. Percussion instruments (5) 20. Burrowing rodent (7) 22. View (7) 23. Stroll (5) 24. Choose (5) 25. Pull out (7)

Down

1. Curt (7) 2. Watercourse (5) 3. Leave out (7) 4. Distant but visible (6) 5. Acute (5) 6. Aromatic herb (7) 7. Additional (5) 13. Habitual method (7) 15. Oddment (7) 16. Excess (7) 17. Opportunity (6) 18. Stingless male bee (5) 19. Change position (5) 21. Shinbone (5)


GENN

Your News

27

editor@thegenn.co.uk

LOCAL WOMAN RAISES MONEY FOR MCMILLAN

MILLERSTON woman Karen Edgar is running for Macmillan Cancer Care. She has run the Balloch Half Marathon, Balfron 10k, Manchester 10k, Glasgow Womans 10k, Liverpool Half Marathon and will

run in the Great North Run half marathon in September and the Great Scottish Half marathon in October. In total she will have run 71 miles. Having already raised £432 so far and with

the scope of raising more money, Karen will be aiming to rsaise more money by arranging the run/walk at Hogganfield for her 50th birthday. She has already received the support of loc-

la takeaways including Ruby’s and Gio’s, who have donated raffle prizes. To donate e money via Justgiving to go her page www.justgiving.com/Karen-edgar5 or text KEDG49 to 70070 with your donation.

Send in your news story and pics to share to editor@thegenn.co.uk


28

GENN

Things You Learn When You’ve Lived In Glasgow For 5yrs 1. Chips and cheese is a life-sustaining superfood. 2. Toryglen might sound posh, but it is not. 3. This also applies to Prospecthill Circus and Easterhouse. 4. Any remotely up and coming area of Glasgow is routinely described by estate agents as the new West End. 5. Which is strange as everyone hates the West End and its millionaire (and student children of millionaire) residents. 6. Guests from London spontaneously burst into tears at the size of your flat. 7. Getting on a Glasgow night bus is a ride into horrifying mash-up of drink-fuelled sex and fighting. 8. You can barely move in Finnieston, Shawlands, or Dennistoun without a bearded hipster attempting to lure you into his pop-up bar. 9. If you fall asleep on the last train and end up in Ayrshire, you need to stay totally still until the sun comes up. The locals can smell fear. 10. The round system is legally binding. 11. There’s no such thing as a “couple of drinks”. 12. If someone calls you “mate” or “pal”, it does not mean they want to be your friend. 13. You’ve heard rumours that there’s a Glasgow bus that doesn’t smell faintly of urine, but you’ve never actually been on it. 14. No one actually likes Tennent’s Lager… 15. …they just drink it out of misplaced local pride. 16. The words “I’m frae Glasgae” trigger spontaneous urine release among a surprising number of English people. 17. There’s never a good reason to go to Paisley. 18. This also applies to Rutherglen and Anniesland. 19. Glasgow’s main industry in 2015 is restaurants that sell overpriced burgers. 20. Every male you meet under the age of 40 is or has been in a band. 21. And 99.99% of those bands are or were terrible.

By Ian Dunn

22. The transport network is great in the South Side and the West End and bloody horrible everywhere else. 23. Despite the fact that there are 700,000 people in Greater Glasgow, you constantly bump into people you know, especially exes, enemies, and that guy whose name you can never remember. 24. Everyone is really upset about the Arches closing. 25. Even though no one you know ever went to the Arches, apart from that one guy with a lot of nervous energy. 26. You will never meet anyone who hasn’t made at least one terrible mistake in the Garage nightclub. 27. The unbearable loudness of the Glasgow underground is the main cause of deafness in Scotland. 28. There are an almost infinite amount of parks. 29. But people only ever go to Queen’s Park or Kelvingrove. 30. Only footballers and middle-aged men think Ashton Lane is cool. 31. You can get a train that takes you to the shores of Loch Lomond from central Glasgow in 45 minutes. 32. You will do this once 33. The endless wet grey embrace of a Glasgow winter will make you long for the grave. 34. Celtic and Rangers fans secretly love each other. 35. But they really don’t like anyone pointing this out. 36. Even the fanciest bits of Glasgow are only ever five minutes away from somewhere shockingly rough. 37. Everyone likes seeing the cone on the statue. 38. No one likes seeing it being put on the statue. 39. Any personal mistakes you make will be endlessly, affectionately, and relentlessly mocked by your closest friends.

40. The point at which the M8 connects to the M77 isn’t a road: It’s a hellish nightmare that will make you hate cars, driving, and humanity itself. 41. The crowds at Glasgow concerts are so passionately and excitably amazing, they will ruin gigs in other cities for you. 42. Glaswegians get very sentimental about Glasgow. 43. Crying into their pints just because they saw an “I heart Glasgow” T-shirt fall into a puddle sentimental. 44. You can see things at the taxi rank at Glasgow Central at 3.30 on a Sunday morning that will scar you for life. Both mentally and physically. 45. The South American panpipe buskers on Buchanan Street never age, move, or play in tune. 46. The temperature climbing above 15°C will spark endless “hilarious” jokes about it being “taps aff” weather. 47. Even though you will only see one guy with his tap aff. 48. Not even Sir Chris Hoy feels totally safe cycling through Glasgow city centre, which is probably why he built that velodrome instead. 49. Sauchiehall Street magically changes from a rundown grot-fest during the day into a glittering, thumping, occasionally terrifying boozedrenched carnival at night. 51. The one thing everyone remembers from Kelvingrove Museum is that horrible giant crab. 52. If you wake up in north Glasgow the morning after the night before, you know things got seriously out of hand. 53. Anyone from Edinburgh is English, unless there are actually English people present. 54. In times of trouble, you get to see just how much Glaswegians love their city. 55. And it might be a cheesy council slogan but it’s true: “People makeGlasgow”. 56. In fact, it’s the best city in the world. 57. And you wouldn’t change a single thing about it

Rebecca More Sex Tour 2 Television X and the UK’s No’ 1 MILF Rebecca More have been riding high on the success of last year’s Sex Tour of England and now they’re back and coming for you! Rebecca will be storming in to Glasgow this September in her bigger, better, faster tour bus to find out how the men of Glasgow compare to the rest of the nation. “I can’t wait to find out what these Glasgow guys have under their kilts! I’m really looking forward to meeting some blokes ready to bonk for their country!” – Rebecca laughs The UK’s leading adult entertainment channel Television X are no strangers to Scotland, once taking porn

star Tanya Tate on a weeklong bonkathon across the highlands to Glen Coe. They are convinced this year’s trip to Glasgow will be even more raunchy & raucous. “I loved meeting all the up for it lads on my last tour and I’m confident I can take on the entire nation this time!” – Boasts Rebecca The question is, can YOU take on Rebecca? Go to televisionx.com/ dorebecca to apply for the experience of a life time. Rebecca More Sex Tour 2 will air on Television X – Sky 903, Virgin 970, Freeview 171 and online at www.televisionx.com

Myths about drugs RANGERS PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY BOOK RANGERS: Changing Faces is a montage of team groups and player profiles from the Club’s first Scottish Cup winners of 1877 to the present day from the archive of Andrew L. Stevenson. In this book, he weaves a wonderful tapestry of imagery of players and sides who have done so much for the Ibrox outfit in its long illustrious history. Rangers have won the Scottish League Championship on a record fifty-four occasions, the Scottish Cup thirty-three times and the League Cup a record twenty-seven times. In 1972, Rangers became the first Scottish club to win the European Cup Winners Cup and in more recent times also reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2008. This book encapsulates some of the

glory by featuring star players down the ages. This collection contains many annual prints; indeed no fewer than 102 First Team group photographs are on display, and never before has the identity of so many Rangers players been revealed. From the black and white Victorian early days right through to the modern era of glorious colour, we can observe the many changes in football fashion and facial appearance. Administration and then liquidation in 2012 saw a new Rangers restart as a new club in the bottom tier of the professional game. They are currently in the SPFL Championship, the second tier of Scottish football, after failing to win promotion to the Premiership last season.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Across

1. Larceny 5. Scope 8. Civic 9. Nearest 10. Nurture 11. Plaza 12. Carpet 14. Troops 18. Drums 20. Hamster 22. Opinion 23. Amble 24. Elect 25. Extract

Down

1. Laconic 2. River 3. Exclude 4. Yonder 5. Sharp 6. Oregano 7. Extra 13. Routine 15. Remnant 16. Surfeit 17. Chance 18. Drone 19. Shift 21. Tibia

When the Velvet Underground wrote “Cause when the smack begins to flow, then I really don’t care anymore”, they knew what is it like to fly ‘high’! Once an addict, always an addict. Right? Wrong! We know it is hard, very hard, to overcome drug addiction. But there are tonnes of misinformation and misconceptions about drug abuse and the addiction. Let us take a closer look at the top drug addiction myths that hold us back from a real understanding of what the real dangers are. There Is An Addiction Gene Now that’s a joke! There is no possible single gene that determines whether or not a person will become an addict. It’s not something that can be had if either of your parents had it. The myth only reinforces the damage that happens to a person if he refuses to seek treatment blaming family line for it. Natural Drugs Are Safer Than Synthetic Ones Don’t we love everything organic? Well, we shouldn’t. Marijuana, mushrooms and other “natural” drugs alter brain chemistry equally and bear terrible side effects. Just because they are the

‘children of mother earth’ doesn’t mean they are harmless. Detox Kills Addiction Sure, detox does more good than bad to you, but detox is just the beginning. Detox is the first step towards recovery, but addiction is a chronic illness—like diabetes, asthma or hypertension, and it can leave you terminally ill. Plain detox is no cure. Drugs ‘Fry’ Your Brain And how! Sunny side up, of course! While drug abuse can be bad for the brain, it is an extreme exaggeration to say that drug use causes permanent and severe brain damage. Certain neurotoxic drugs such as methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine have severe side effects, but they do not leave you with a “damaged” brain. Addiction Is For Life This is the most discouraging thing to say, especially to recovered addicts, as it places a huge emotional and psychological burden on them. Every person is different. Some addicts struggle for years to overcome a drug addiction, while many manage to put the past behind them pretty soon to lead normal and productive lives.


29

GENN

Music

With Mark Johnson

AT THE END OF THE DAY YuTaNi is the solo project of Machine’s in Heaven’s Connor Reid which started in 2011. Having already released numerous EPs, the 22 year old Glasgow-based producer’s latest release is an album entitled “At The End Of The Day” Here I’ll review the album track by track to give you a flavour of what it’s all about. The doom laden short ambient opener “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky” sets the tone. Second track “All Goes Onward And Outward...And Nothing Collapses” is an ambient track with consonant harmonies with evolving sounds and interweaving parts. “Trocchi” is more dissonant with bowed bass sounds and a more rhythmic feel with a hi hat and glitchy earthy handclap groove underpinning the ambient soundscapes and ethereal string sounds. “Entrance Stone” is more rhythmic with a downbeat trip hop beat, doom laden basslines and glitchy higher synth hooks evolving into a 6/8 feel with a solid kick and even more warped soundscapes with off beat evil sounding synth parts eventually turning into almost an upbeat club track.

“Mt. Minakami” is more upbeat with warped guitar and bass guitar reminiscent of New Order. Arguably the most hooky tune on the album, it channels Brian Eno’s poppier moments with synth and piano hook rise and falls. The glitchy music box sounds of “Splay” have the signature haunting ambient backing, creating the most dissonant harmony on the album with wind chime elements and vinyl crackles and bird calls. The big string sounds of “All’s Well That Ends Well” are complimented by bowed FM synths and a more rhythmic african groove with heavily delayed percussion sounds before settling into a trip hop beat and becoming more glitchy and scratchy as the track goes on. “City You Love” is an upbeat number with a main guitar hook supplemented by a four on the floor kick with roto tom and electronic percussion flourishes. This track is unusual in the context of the album, in that it has a heavily reverbed distant vocal, juxtaposed with ambient chords and portamento synth lines before a guitar solo brings the track to a close. The dreamy high synth arpeggios of “Agalma” continue the ambient feel with another glitchy electronic finger snap and handclap

beat as the bass implies the harmonic changes of the track before a slamming kick beat comes in. “Kashasha Tanganyika” is short, atmospheric interlude track before the upbeat piano house influenced penultimate track “Wabi – Sabi” kicks in, with a big classic acid beat and big warm bass sound. Rhythmically the track progresses with more movement in the bassline and a four on the floor kick, with sonic textures swirling around it. The album closer “Croatoan Roanoke” is a long form ambient soundscape with more in common with sound design for cinema than traditional music forms, similar to the ambient soundscapes of prog guitarist Robert Fripp. As a body of work “At The End Of The Day” holds together very well and showcases the talent of YuTaNi’s production skills. With enough hooks and upbeat numbers to attract the casual listener and enough depth to keep the electronic enthusiast coming back for more it’s an album that should make it to your collection if you’re into the darker side of electronic music like Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin’s Ambient Works 2. For more information check out http://www.hotgem.co.uk/ YUTANI

GLASGOW SUMMER SESSIONS TUT’S SUMMER NIGHTS LINEUPS ANNOUNCED GLASGOW Summer Sessions takes place in Bellahouston Park on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August and will be headlined by Paulo Nutini (Saturday) and Calvin Harris (Sunday). Joining SAY Award nominee Paulo on the Saturday will be Jamaican disco legend, model and actress Grace Jones, Dundonian indie rockers The View, 17 year old Irish Alt-folker SOAK and Glaswegian agressivly melodic pop duo Tuff Love. The Sunday lineup is completed by English indie pop singer Ellie Goulding, Northern soul singer James Newman, London dance outfit Disciples and DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer Burns. Previous years events at Bellahouston Park have been a huge success and are widely regarded as the last weekend of summer. Sunday 30th is already sold out, but tickets are still available for Saturday 29th. For more information go to http://glasgowsummersessions.com

RUNNING throughout July, King Tut’s Summer nights aims to showcase 50 bands in one of the UK’s top live venues. Running from 16th July until the 30th of July four acts and a DJ every night, as well as a DJ set from local music scene people in the bar downstairs the festival promises to bring some of the best new msuic in the country to the venue. From the alternative rock of We Came From Wolves, the Urban punk of Jamie and Shoony, wild party music of Yellow Movement stalwarts Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, the heavy rock of Evil Edison, the hip hop of Subkonscious and A-MACC or the dayglo loop based pop/rap of Be Charlotte there should be something for everyone. A £35 season ticket is available which gets entry into all shows, otherwise all shows are £7


30

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TAX CREDITS AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU

UP to 250,000 households in Scotland will be affected when the reduction to income thresholds in tax credits and work allowances in Universal Credit is introduced in April 2016, according to a Scottish Government paper published The UK Government’s tax credit proposals announced in the Budget will cost working families an average of £1,000 per year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which the Scottish Government analysis confirms. The Scottish Government said that the planned increase to the minimum wage is not enough to compensate for the impact of the Budget on lower income households, who will have their net income cut as a result. While Scotland’s lowest earners are seeing further cuts, the announced increase in the higher rate threshold for income tax will only benefit individuals earning over £42,385 which is equivalent to only around 15% of Scottish income taxpayers. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “These figures prove that the

Chancellor is cutting disproportionately from the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society, short-changing those on low incomes and removing work incentives, whilst giving tax breaks to the better-off. The changes in the minimum wage, whilst welcome, are nowhere near enough to offset these changes. The UK Government’s budget simply encourages inequality. “Tax credits form an important part of the tax and welfare system, particularly to support working families on low incomes, and the stark and tragic reality is that almost 250,000 families in Scotland will be on average £1,000 a year worse off because of these tax credit changes. “More than half a million children in Scotland currently benefit from tax credits, while many more families will be affected by the freeze on other benefits, including 577,000 who currently receive child benefit. “We want to support people get into work – and stay in work – and the tax credit system provides important practical help

SFHA celebrates 40 years as national body for Scottish housing associations and co-operatives THE SFHA, and the housing associations and co-operatives across Scotland, has had a very eventful 40 years, mostly supported by governments and political parties across the spectrum. There have been incredibly challenging events such as the Right to Buy and, more recently, welfare reform – but the Federation and the sector have remained resilient. As well as looking to the future, the Federation is also reflecting on lessons from the past. The members have a vital role to play in housing and providing services to some of the country’s most vulnerable people, and the SFHA will continue to support their members through the next period of change. Although there are further challenges ahead with the roll-

out of Universal Credit, further devolution will also bring new opportunities for social landlords, and SFHA look forward to representing their interests to both governments and aiming to ensure the best possible outcome for members and their tenants in the years to come. The SFHA originally started as ‘the Scottish Committee’, a sub-committee of the National Housing Federation, and in November 1975, it became a separate organisation. Since 1975, the Federation has been the national representative body for housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland, providing policy advice and lobbying governments in order to try and bring about positive change for its members and their tenants

to families on low pay. These are people who are in jobs, often working very hard for relatively little pay, and it is unfair that their children are on the receiving end of the UK Government’s austerity agenda. “This Scottish Government analysis comes on top of estimates from the Institute of Fiscal Studies this week which makes clear that it will be impossible for less well-off families to be better off as a result of the new minimum wage – wrongly branded a living wage by the UK Government – such is the extent to which poorer households will have their income slashed by the loss of tax credits. “The UK Government’s Budget continues the misguided austerity programme, which is not just unfair but damaging to the economy – undermining attempts to stimulate sustained and widely shared growth. “Austerity hasn’t worked and it is astonishing that the UK Government continues to attack low paid workers, ignoring the fact that their polices do little more than hit the most vulnerable the hardest.”

New welfare cuts could be as DWP STRIKE in Glasgow working damaging as ‘bedroom tax’ STAFF on the Government’s flagship THE reduction in the benefit cap from £26,000 to £20,000 in Scotland will hit those who had already had their benefits capped hardest. The latest report from the DWP states that 800 households in Scotland are subject to the current benefit cap, and reducing the cap is likely to more than double that number. Some of these households will be women and their children fleeing domestic violence who are forced to live in temporary accommodation. A Scottish Parliament Committee report recently highlighted existing inequality for women, which has been aggravated by the reforms. Freezing working age benefits for four years and restricting tax credits and Universal Credit to two children, affecting those born after April 2017, will only serve to make it harder to escape the poverty trap. A study by Barnardo’s Scotland found that 49% of families in Scotland currently use working tax credits to top up low incomes, helping them buy essentials such as food and clothing for their family.

CHANGE FOR RENT A ROOM RELIEF THE government will increase the Rent-a-Room relief from £4,250 to £7,500 a year from April 2016. The value of this relief has been frozen since 1997, so this increase will allow individuals who rent a room in their main residence to do so tax free on income up to £7,500 to reflect increases in rent. Currently, Inheritance Tax is charged at 40% on estates over the tax-free allowance of £325,000 per person. Married couples and civil partners can pass any unused allowance on to one another. From April 2017, each individual will be offered a family home allowance so they can pass their

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The SFHA is wholeheartedly against removing the automatic entitlement to Housing Benefit for 18 to 21-year-olds as it will have an adverse affect on the life chances and employment prospects of 28,000 plus claimants in this group, over half of whom have young families of their own as it could, for many, place their homes at risk. The Chancellor announced a 1% reduction in the level of social housing rents every year for the next four years and said that higher-income households in social housing will be required to pay rents at the market rate. However, with housing devolved in Scotland, these policies will not apply to Scottish members and their tenants. As a consequence of these new cuts to welfare, reduced income and increased costs to housing associations – in terms of increased collection costs and bank charges – will make it more difficult to invest in new supply of affordable housing and will put more pressure on the social rented sector. Such cuts have the potential to be just as damaging as the ‘bedroom tax

Universal Credit programme are to strike for two days over claims of “increasingly oppressive” working conditions. Around 1,500 members of the Public and Commercial Services union in Glasgow and Bolton, will walk out next Monday and Tuesday. The union said its members have complained about a lack of resources, an oppressive management culture, inadequate training, hard to reach targets and staff shortages. In a recent ballot, 84% voted for strikes and 90% voted for other forms of industrial action on a 56% turnout. The two-day strike will be followed by industrial action short of a strike until mid-August. The introduction of universal credit has been a textbook example of how not to reform essential public services, and the DWP’s handling of every aspect of it has been disastrous. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Only a small minority of Universal Credit workers will be taking part in strike action.

ENERGY ADVICE

home on to their children or grandchildren tax free after their death. This will be phased in from 2017-18. The family home allowance will be added to the existing £325,000 Inheritance Tax threshold, meaning the total tax-free allowance for a surviving spouse or civil partner will be up to £1 million in 2020-21. The allowance will be gradually withdrawn for estates worth more than £2 million.

HOME Energy Scotland Advice Centre also provide free, independent and impartial energy advice to householders, community groups and

businesses throughout Scotland. The Energy Saving Trust manages delivery of the other Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland through the Home Energy Scotland hotline on behalf of the Scottish Government in partnership with a range of advice providers and the energy companies and supported by Glasgow City Council, other local authorities. As well as providing energy advice, they can also help you access funding and other energy efficiency funding. Further information can be obtained from the Home Energy Scotland or by contacting them on Phone: 0808 808 2282

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GENN

Innovative drawing technique makes a big impression AFTER 15 years at the forefront of caricature in the country the Scottish Cartoon Art Studio and CARi-CATURE are the first in Scotland to offer a live digital service at events. Created in minutes on an iPad, the drawings appear in real time on a large television screen making for eye-catching entertainment. Here’s how it works: • guests or visitors are drawn live and in-person on a tablet device with a stylus instead of on paper with a pen • the caricatures are fast & funny; work in progress can be watched on a tv screen “mirroring” the iPad • the drawings are in full colour, a big bonus as traditional caricaturists normally stick to black & white •the recipient’s caricature may be printed right away or downloaded later Caricaturist Tommy Sommerville says “Live digital caricature is becoming increasingly popular in North America and throughout continental Europe. It is ideal for trade shows, conferences, team-building days and corporate events of all kinds. We’ve already drawn at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre as well as venues around Glasgow, including the Apple Store.” “There’s a few guys out there doing this for beer money but it’s worth booking a professional – we have public liability insurance up to £5 million and all the electronic equipment is PAT certified so customers can have complete confidence in us.” Naturally digital caricature is suitable only for use indoors. The Studio team continue to draw traditional pen & paper caricatures at fun days and family events around Glasgow, check online for the latest information: scottishcartoons.com Or find them on Facebook/ ScottishCartoonArtStudio and Twitter @ScottishCartoon

WE WANT YOU!!!!

Your newspaper Your community We need your input Send us your news, stories and pictures Volunteer writers, reporters and photographers wanted to contribute on a regular basis email: info@thegenn.co.uk WHY SPEND £65 ON 5000 LEAFLETS? THE GENN OFFERS 20000 DISTRIBUTION, 35000 READERS FROM £50, LET THE PUBLIC KNOW YOUR SERVICES


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FINNART PLAYER PRESENTATION FINNART AMATEURS recently held a successful end-of-season Player Presentation Evening. Winners are pictured with their management and coaches.

Phil Blair, Stuart McKechnie, Referees Player of the Year Philip Blair, Players’ Player of the Year Steven Wilson, Managers Player of the Year Ben Mills, Willie Woodburn, and Derek Blair. All Picture Credits: Mr Jamie McGowan, Finnart Under-15 Coach.

FINNART Under-15 (2000) age group Coaches Player of the Year, Joint Winner, Connor McKenzie. Young Connor is pictured with his coaches Mark McKenzie, Joseph Madden and Jamie McGowan.

FINNART Under-16 (1999) Players’ Player of the Year KIAN O’NEILL. Coaches left to right, Mark Ainslie, Gerry Allan and Jim Burns.

FINNART Under-16 (1999) Coaches Joint Player of the Year Winners. KIAN O’NEILL Coaches left to right, Mark Ainslie, Gerry Allan and Jim Burns.

FINNART Under-16 (1999) Coaches Joint Player of the Year Winners. DANNY BUTLER. Coaches left to right, Mark Ainslie, Gerry Allan and Jim Burns.

FINNART Under-16 (1999) Top Goal Scorer DAVID FISHER. Coaches left to right, Mark Ainslie, Gerry Allan and Jim Burns.

FINNART Under-16 (1999) Most Improved Player RHYS “BRUNO” McCLUSKEY. Coaches left to right, Mark Ainslie, Gerry Allan and Jim Burns.


33

GENN

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

JUNIOR FOOTBALL - LOCHBURN LATEST

MARYHILL Juniors manager Jim Delaney is eagerly awaiting the start of warm-up games, and the club’s involvement at the Dunipace Juniors’ tournament. Overtown Thistle may be amateur opposition, but Delaney and his backroom staff are looking for a positive reaction following pre-season training work-outs. Jim has been joined by Michael Tolland, who took over as caretaker boss last term when the Lochburn Park outfit finished third in the Central District First Division, and player-coach Craig Ferguson. He said: “We have been impressed with the response from the players to those sessions. Everyone worked hard, and the feedback has been excellent. “Michael and Craig have also been putting across their own ideas during pre-season.” Just missing out in the 20142015 promotion race - behind runners-up Bellshill Athletic and champions Blantyre Vics - has helped Maryhill fend off

HAGHILL A.F.C. 0, TREBLE 2 AFC 1. HAGHILL lost the first of their pre-season games to last season’s Sunday Central Premier League runners-up. The game could have gone either way over 90 minutes. Haghill have retained their sponsorship with the Lea Rig Pub, and thanks go to Proprietor Mags Collins and her staff for their continued support.

LEAGUE CUP FINALS

GLASGOW City youngsters are maintaining the club’s excellent success record. The Scottish Women’s Football West Youth League Cup Finals were contested recently, and two age groups were involved. City beat Celtic F.C. in the Under-13 Final. In the Under-15 tourney, Central Girls overcame Glasgow City in another excellent game.

SEVENTH HEAVEN FINNART and POSSIL Y.M. both hit seven goals in the opening games of the East Kilbride tournament last Saturday. Ryan McLean (3) helped Finnart beat Centre A.F.C. 7-0, while Darren McGuire netted five in Possil’s 7-1 hammering of East Kilbride F.C.

approaches from other clubs for the likes of goalkeeper Grant Hay, midfielder Paul Callender and ex-Partick Thistle proyouth striker Shaun Fraser. Said Jim: “Grant was our Player of the Year, is a great organiser and will be vice-captain next season. “Paul is our captain. Like Shaun and Grant, he was attracting attention elsewhere. “We have managed to keep experienced left-sided defender Paul Coyle, and I am really delighted with the capture of Eddie Walton. I have spoken to good people in the junior game, and watched him in our sessions. “Eddie played at Largs Thistle and Port Glasgow, and will strengthen our central defence.” The Maryhill friendlies’ list includes defending silverware won at the Dunipace Juniors two-day tournament a year ago. The hosts and East Stirling kick-off at 12.30pm on Saturday, July 25. Maryhill and East Kilbride Thistle follow-on at 3.30pm. Some 24 hours later, the

PEASY SEATS

LIMITED number of seats will be available to any Petershill fans travelling on the team bus(s) for pre-season games at Sauchie and Largs Thistle. Cost is £5 per person. Anyone interested should contact Match Secretary Derek Crozier.

THISTLE SEARCH

AIKENHEAD Thistle are searching for new adult players (all positions) to join them in Division IB of the competitive Fosters Central Scottish Amateur Football League next season. Telephone 07944988262.

FINNART TRAINING FINNART 2003 age group will resume training shortly by way of preparation for 11-a-side football next month. Coach William Murraywould like to hear from Under-13 players of a good standard, and they should have played at a reasonable level. Call William on 07960421767.

3rd/4th place play-off oes ahead before the final at 3.30pm. On Saturday, August 1, Maryhill will now play East of Scotland champions, Spartans Under-20s, at Ainslie Park with a 12 noon start. Jim Delaney added: “Spartans’ Head of Youth, Stewart Gray, is a good friend of mine, and the day out in the East will allow our squad to bond together even more. “I can also confirm we will welcome Petershill Juniors to Lochburn Park for an extra pre-season friendly on Wednesday, August 5 (7pm). “The players must get match practice on the revamped playing surface before we open our competitive season with the visit of Sectional League Cup opponents, Yoker Athletic, on Monday, August 10 (kick-off 6.45pm). Maryhill Juniors have organised a fund- raising Race Night at Maryhill Bowling Club on Saturday, August 15. Any form of sponsorship or donations would be greatly appreciated.

SPORTS GRANT

BOWLS EXTRA – GLASGOW NORTH EASTERN LEAGUE MOUNT VERNON and ST ROLLOX won their way through to the Glasgow North Eastern Bowling League PlayOff at Shettleston after 10 weeks of superb bowling action, writes JACK HIGH. Both teams played out a hard-fought contest with Mount Vernon winning 6-2 on points, plus a surplus of 25 shots, at Culrain Street. League Secretary Alex Morrison said: “Shettleston Bowling Club provided an excellent green for the competition, and after the game the ladies served up an excellent meal to all players and officials. “Past President and Secretary of Shettleston Bowling Club, Ian Beattie, presented the badges to the players, and winning cups to each club. Both were sponsored by Bill’s Tool Store.” “The GENN Newspaper Shield was presented to Past President Dougie Semple, of Mount Vernon, who thanked the League Secretary for his effort in running the League programme, Bill’s Tool Store and the GENN.

CSFA (Central Scotland) are now open for applications from teams aged 2001/2002/2003. Games on a Saturday morning. CSFDA Development also seeking new teams, who will operate on a Saturday morning. Age groups are 2004 through to 2009. Contact any of the associations via www.leaguewebsite. co.uk/csfda.

had a coming together with Devils rider Ryan Fisher at the conclusion of heat 13. It left Morris with a nasty gash to his elbow, which required stitches. He is now facing a few weeks on the sidelines recovering from the injury.

Points

Shots

71

+175

Points

Shots

Mount Vernon

36

61

+159

Blackhill

36

54

+7

P

Sandyhills

36

63

+100

Whitevale

36

53

+42

P

Tollcross

36

50

-11

Garrowhill

36

50

+57

Kirkhill

36

47

+28

Carmyle

36

49

+26

Belvedere

36

43

+73

-20

Chryston

36

39

+1

-51

Springboig

36

35

-45

Foxley Shettleston

36 36

47 37

P

St Rollox

R

Baillieston

36

37

-54

Springburn

36

34

-98

R

North British

36

33

-66

Parkhead

36

34

-115

R

Rutherglen

36

31

-88

Riddrie

36

33

-90

*R = Relegated

*P = St Rollox move up as champions. Also promoted from Division 2 are Sandyhills and Tollcross.

NEW WEBSITE

SHETTLESTON Juniors have constructed a brand new website. Catch-up on all the news from Greenfield Park following back-to-back junior promotions. Go to shettlestonjuniorsfootballclub.co.uk DIVISION 2 winners ST ROLLOX with their cup and promotion into the top-fight next season.

LOANEE MOVE GOALKEEPER John Mullen, who finished last season on loan from Cumnock Juniors to St Roch, has moved onto Cambuslang Rangers in the Stagecoach Central District Second Division.

MORRIS INJURY BLOW

GLASGOW TIGERS No 1 Nick Morris was forced to sit out their meeting with Workington - and potentially a number of other key clashes - after he was injured guesting for Somerset in a meeting against Plymouth at the Oaktree Arena. The 21-year-old Australian

Played 36

Played

JAGS’ DEFEAT SPRINGBURN Thistle were beaten 5-1 at home by Kirkintilloch Miners Welfare in their opening pre-season game.

ware! RESULTS ROUND-UP: JUNE 19. Division 1 - Garrowhill 3, Shettleston 5; Baillieston 3, Mount Vernon 8; Blackhill 7, North British 4; Carmyle 4, Whitevale 4; Foxley 8, Rutherglen 3 Division 2 - Chryston 2, Belvedere 7; Kirkhill 7, Springboig 2; Parkhead 5, Sandyhills 5; Riddrie 8, Springburn 3 St Rollox 5, Tollcross 5. JUNE 26. Division 1Whitevale 7, North British 2; Foxley 3, Goldenhill 8; Blackhill 8, Rutherglen 3; Baillieston 6, Carmyle 6; Mount Vernon 10, Shettleston 0. Division 2 - Kirkhill 9, Parkhead 1; Riddrie 0, St Rollox 10; Sandyhills 8, Chryston 3; Springburn 2, Springboig 7; Tollcross 4, Belvedere 6. * Bowls stickers, badges and cups sponsored by Bill’s Tool Store, Bain Street. ** New League Shield sponsored by the GENN Newspaper. Many thanks to Mr Graeme MacDougall (Mount Vernon Bowling Club), for taking both photographs.

DIVISION 2

DIVISION 1

EASTHALL F.C. have been awarded a grant from the Sports Council for Glasgow to help with football training and competitive games.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND RECRUIT TEAMS

Mr Semple added the coverage of bowls by the newspaper was an excellent way to inform the public about the sport and would hopefully encourage more young people to participate. Past President Tie Fraser (St Rollox), on behalf of his club, also thanked Shettleston Bowling Club for their facilities, the sponsors for their support, and congratulated Mount Vernon on winning the Shield. The battle to avoid relegation from Division 1 - Mount Vernon finished top of the table - went down to the wire. Bottom-markers Rutherglen, North British and Baillieston drop into next season’s Division 2. Passing them in the opposite direction are champions St Rollox, runners-up Sandyhills and third-placed Tollcross. My thanks goes to Secretary Mr Alex Morrison for his co-operation in collating results and final placings. Can I also thank Mr Graeme McDougall (Mount Vernon Bowling Club) for taking excellent photographs of the Play-Off clubs, complete with silver-

CHALLENGE CUP DIVISION 1 winners MOUNT VERNON, and Past President Dougie Semple holding the GENN Newspaper Shield.

SPRINGBURN Thistle have been drawn at home against Cadzow Welfare in the First Round of the Greater Glasgow Premier Challenge Cup.

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk


34

JUNIOR FOOTBALL - FINAL TABLES SEASON 2014- 2015 STAGECOACH SUPER PREMIER DIVISION P

W

D

L

Pts

Auchinleck

22

18

2

2

56

Hurlford

22

16

4

2

52

Irvine Meadow

22

12

4

6

40

Glenafton

22

9

5

8

32

Petershill

22

10

2

10

32

Beith

22

8

5

9

29

Troon

22

7

7

8

28

Kilbirnie

22

7

4

11

25

Arthurlie

22

7

4

11

25

Shotts

22

8

1

13

25

Cumnock

22

3

7

12

16

Clydebank

22

2

5

15

11

STAGECOACH SUPER FIRST DIVISION P

W

D

L

Pts

Pollok

26

19

3

4

60

Shettleston

26

16

5

5

53

Rob Roy

26

15

4

7

49

Cumbernauld

26

12

5

9

41

Glencairn

26

11

6

9

39

Maybole

26

11

4

11

37

Kilsyth

26

11

3

12

36

Greenock

26

10

4

12

34

Largs

26

9

6

11

33

Yoker Ath

26

9

6

11

33

Irvine Vics

26

7

9

10

30

Neilston

26

6

8

12

26

Ardeer

26

6

4

16

22

Thorniewood

26

4

5

17

17

STAGECOACH CENTRAL FIRST DIVISION P

W

D

L

Pts

Blantyre Vics

26

18

3

5

57

Bellshill

26

17

4

5

55

Maryhill

26

15

5

6

50

Dunipace

26

14

4

8

46

Carluke

26

12

6

8

42

Lesmahagow

26

13

3

10

42

Renfrew

26

11

5

10

38

Larkhall

26

10

6

10

36

Vale of Clyde

26

10

6

10

36

Wishaw

26

7

9

10

30

St Anthony

26

7

6

13

27

Benburb

26

8

2

16

26

Lanark

26

6

3

17

21

Ashfield

26

2

2

24

8

STAGECOACH CENTRAL SECOND DIVISION P

W

D

L

Pts

Rossvale

20

15

1

4

46

Johnstone Burgh

20

13

3

4

42

St Roch

20

10

3

7

33

Glasgow Perthshire

20

10

3

7

33

Cambuslang

20

9

3

8

30

Port Glasgow

20

9

1

10

28

Forth

20

8

2

10

26

East Kilbride

20

7

4

9

25

Vale of Leven

20

7

3

10

24

Royal Albert

20

6

5

9

23

Newmains

20

1

2

17

5

GENN CANDY CHIEF PRAISES NEW CLUB INITIATIVE ST ROCH President Jim Friel has studied the progression of the famous junior club over the past six months and last night admitted – “I have never seen a more positive attitude around the place as I witnessed at our recent Annual General Meeting. “Everyone is heading in the same direction.” With over 40 season tickets sold alone on the first night of being available to the local community and free summer coaching available for youngsters at James McGrory Park and Glenconner, the promoted Central District team are now looking to enter women’s football.

The idea has already been talked about at committee level, and we understand Greenock-based Paul McManus recently met with Candy Rock boss Andy Cameron. “I know Paul from his working experience with the unions. He has coached girls in Kilmarnock, and the plan is to co-opt him onto our committee. “We have good-ideas people on the committee now, and it is great to see.” St Roch members elected the following officials at their Annual General Meeting: President- Jim Friel. Vice-President - Paul Reddie. Match Secretary/ Manager - Andy Camer-

on. Treasurer - John Connor. Social Convenor - Alan Campbell. Two new additions to the committee were confirmed at the AGM - Michael Docherty and Aiden Diamond - and they join Ken Hughes, Tommy Gallagher, Scott McCrorie, Charlie Lafferty, Stevie Mullen, Martin Welsh, Ryan Carr and Tommy Kerr. One-time St Roch Club Secretary Colin McLean also managed to attend the annual meeting, which attracted over 50 people. Colin was Secretary from 1999 until 2013, and there is no doubt his contribution to the club has been immense.

SECTIONAL LEAGUE CUP FIXTURES JUNIOR Football will swing back into competitive action with the sponsored Euroscot Engineering Sectional League Cup on Saturday, August 8 (2pm). Supporters of their favourite local team should check the following fixture list. SECTION 3. Saturday, August 8 – Shettleston v Thorniewood United; St Roch v Bellshill. Wednesday, August 12 - St Roch v Petershill; Thorniewood v Bellshill. Saturday, August 15 - Petershill v Thorniewood; Bellshill v Shettleston. Wednesday, August 19 - Thorniewood v St

Roch; Petershill v Shettleston. Saturday, August 22 - Bellshill v Petershill; Shettleston v St Roch. SECTION 4. Saturday, August 8 – Blantyre Vics v Cambuslang Rangers; East Kilbride Thistle v Rutherglen Glencairn. Wednesday, August 12 - Rutherglen Glencairn v Cambuslang Rangers; Vale of Clyde v Blantyre Vics. Saturday, August 15 - Blantyre Vics v East Kilbride Thistle; Cambuslang Rangers v Vale of Clyde. Wednesday, August 19 - Cambuslang Rangers v East Kilbride Thistle; Vale of Clyde v Rutherglen Glencairn. Sat-

urday, August 22 - Rutherglen Glencairn v Blantyre Vics; East Kilbride Thistle v Vale of Clyde. SECTION 6. Saturday, August 8 – Clydebank v Ashfield Juniors. Monday, August 10 - Maryhill v Yoker. Wednesday, August 12 - Yoker v Clydebank; Ashfield Juniors v Glasgow Perthshire. Saturday, August 15 - Ashfield Juniors v Maryhill; Glasgow Perthshire v Clydebank. Wednesday, August 19 - Maryhill v Glasgow Perthshire; Yoker v Ashfield Juniors. Saturday, August 22 - Clydebank v Maryhill; Glasgow Perthshire v Yoker.

PEASY FACE TALBOT TEST

PETERSHILL have drawn Scottish Junior Cup holders and Stagecoach Super Premier Division champions, Auchinleck Talbot, in a mouth-watering sponsored New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup First Round clash at Springburn. Three-times relegated Ashfield, now under new management, entertain last season’s District Second Division winners, Rossvale Juniors.

TYNIE RETURN TO PRE-SEASON SESSIONS

TYNECASTLE A.F.C. have returned to pre-season sessions as they target retaining the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier title. Manager Bernie Vallely said: “We will be training two nights a week with games every Saturday until the season kicks-off. “ Benny Miller, Charlie Miller and Rab Wyatt are overseeing the training. “Frank McGarvey will again come in and and take the strikers to work on finishing in the last few weeks. “Andy Goram and Joe Amato take the ‘keepers and put them through their paces.

Shettleston will travel to play junior new boys, Gartcairn, who have been busy on the signing front. St Roch should pull in a good crowd for the visit of Cumnock Juniors, who dropped out of the Super Premier Division last term and have thoughts of going straight back up again! Maryhill Juniors, like Petershill, have landed a cup cracker, but without the home advantage. Jim Delaney’s squad

head for Dunterlie Park, Barrhead, and a tilt with holders Arthurlie Juniors. Glasgow Perthshire entertain Greenock at Keppoch Park, and Vale of Clyde should return from Annbank United with a place guaranteed in the Second Round ballot. Dates have still to be confirmed, but all cup-ties will go straight into penalty kicks if a game finishes in a draw over 90 minutes.

SEASON TICKETS

STENNY FRIENDLY

SHETTLESTON Juniors have season tickets available for their first-ever campaign in the Stagecoach Super Premier Division. Prices are £60 adults and £30 concessions.

GENN The

FOSTERS FINAL

NEXT season’s Fosters Scottish Sunday Amateur Trophy Final will be played on May 1, 2016. First Rounds of the Saturday and Sunday competitions are scheduled for September 5 and September 6 respectively.

ST ROCH Juniors will entertain Stenhousemuir Under-20 in a Friday night friendly next month. James McGrory Park is also the venue for the David Heaney Memorial Trophy match involving Blochairn Star and Blochairn All Stars on Saturday, August 1. It is pay at the door, and all donations would be greatly appreciated.

FREE CANDY COACHING OPENING two sessions of Free Football Coaching – organised by St Roch Juniors at James McGrory Park and Glenconner Park - attracted 85 children.

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS... email: sport@thegenn.co.uk


35

GENN

CLUB NEWS...FEATURES...MATCH ACTION REPORTS SPECIAL...CALL 0141 552 9977 or email: sport@thegenn.co.uk

AROUND THE GREENS

WHITEVALE Bowling Club will host a Charity tournament on Sunday, July 26, writes JACK HIGH. Proceeds raised will go to the Stobhill Kidney Patients Association. Organiser Dougie Brennan told GENN Sport: “Whitevale have once again given me permission for this tournament the fifth year it has taken place. “Following the final donation in 2014, the sum of £3200 was raised, and I couldn’t thank people enough for their support. “We had rinks from Auchinairn, Belvidere, Bishopbriggs, Carmyle, Croftfoot, Riddrie, Springboig, St Rollox, Westerton, Santander, Royal Mail, S.K.P.A., Whitevale Ladies, St Rollox Ladies, and those who entered under their company names. “The Whitevale bar staff, Mams Deli Caterers, and the many people who sold raffle tickets to raise money also deserve my appreciation” Good luck from GENN Sport, and I hope the weather is decent for those participating. SHETTLESTON Bowling Club members have been busy with the Lanarkshire Semi-Finals, Glasgow Millennium Triples, and Lanarkshire Top 6 on consecutive evenings.

I am hearing players and Directors involved with the Lanarkshire Semi-Finals were very impressed at the condition of both greens, and the excellent facilities hosted by the Culrain Street committee and members. A large crowd attended and witnessed some top-class bowling. All winners on the night went forward to the grand Finals at Quarter Bowling Club (Sunday, July 5). Meanwhile, I can reveal the GARROWHILL BOWLING CLUB Ladies against Gents Match was played in good spirits. The Gents won 109-91. GENN SPORT BOWLERS DIARY... SHETTLESTON: JULY 17 - N.E.L. Fair Triples 8 triples (6.30pm). JULY 19 - Mixed Triples (10am). JULY 23 - Glasgow Bowling League 1 home rink/ 4 players (6.30pm). JULY 23 - Flora Boyd Triples (1.30pm). JULY 30 - Glasgow Bowling League 1 home rink/4 players (6.30pm). JULY 31- North Eastern Jubilee Trophy Prelims4 rinks / 20 players (6.30pm). AUGUST 1Eastmuir Friendly at Culrain Street 4 rinks (2pm).

AUGUST 2 - Co-Operative Funeral Care Invitation Triples 10.30am. AUGUST 5 - 5 Singles/ 10 players (6pm). AUGUST 6 - Glasgow Bowling League 1 rink/4 players (6.30pm). GARROWHILL: AUGUST 8 - Glasgow Cup TBA. AUGUST 9- Ladies Open Day (10am). AUGUST 10 - Seniors Friendly Fours (11am). AUGUST 15 - Open Competition. AUGUST 29 - Finals Day. MOUNT VERNON: JULY 18 - Mixed Game (1pm). JULY 19 - Bill Wilson Triples (1pm). JULY 25 - Dunblane Friendly (Away) 2pm. JULY 26 - Perth Friendly Ladies (Home) 2pm. AUGUST 1 - Open Triples Gents (10am). SANDYHILLS: JULY 18 - Fairs Cup TBA. AUGUST 1 Radnor Park Friendly (Home) 2pm. AUGUST 8 - Glasgow City CupTBA. AUGUST 15 - Lades v Gents TBA. AUGUST 22/ AUGUST 23 Finals.

SATURDAY, JULY 4 - BSC Glasgow 5 Thorn Athletic 1; Springburn Thistle 1, Kirkintilloch Miners Welfare 5. SUNDAY, JULY 5- Haghill A.F.C. 0, Treble 2, 1. SATURDAY, JULY 18 - Vale of Clyde v Shettleston Juniors. St Roch v Haldane United. Postal United v Firhill United. BSC Glasgow v Albion Rovers. Petershill v Partick Thistle Under-20s. Maryhill Juniors v Overtown Thistle. East Kilbride Y.M. F.C. Tournament - Group 3 - Centre A.F.C. v Finnart. Group 4 - E.K.F.C. v Possil YM. MONDAY, JULY 20 - Peter-

shill v Clyde Under-20s. WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 Blantyre Vics v Shettleston Juniors. Kilsyth Rangersv St Roch. Chryston v Postal United A.F.C. Drumchapel Ams v Maryhill Juniors. SATURDAY, JULY 25 and SUNDAY, JULY 26 - Dunipace Juniors Tournament at Westfield. Kilwinning Rangers Tournament at Abbey Park. SATURDAY, JULY 25 - East Kilbride Y.M. F.C. Tournament - Group 3 - Hamilton F.P. v Finnart. Group 4 - Possil YM v Busby. Shettleston v Bonnyrigg Rose. Sauchie Juniors v Peter-

shill. St Roch v Port Glasgow. Gartcosh United v Postal United. Vale of Clyde v Pollok. MONDAY, JULY 27- St Roch v Dennistoun Vale. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 Shettleston v Hearts (7pm). Cumbernauld Colts v Petershill. THURSDAY, JULY 30 - St Roch v BSC Glasgow Under-20. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 - St Andrews United v Shettleston (2.30pm). St Roch v Vale of Leven Juniors. Largs Thistle v Petershill. Spartans Under-20 v Maryhill Juniors (12 noon). TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 St Roch v Tynecastle A.F.C.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

LSK SUPPLIES WEST YOUTHS

FINNART TOP-THREE FINISH

FINNART UNDER-15 team (2000) made a special end-of-season presentation to their coaches... a lovely gesture greatly appreciated by Mark McKenzie, Joseph Madden and Jamie McGowan. Pictured are: left to right - Connor McKenzie, Mark McKenzie, Joseph Madden, Ryan Madden, Jamie McGowan, and Jamie McGowan Jnr

FINNART 2000 age group coach Jamie McGowan reckons the Bridgeton-based team have made great progression after a season which earned them a topthree finish in the Glasgow and District Youth Football League. The Under-15s finished four points behind worthy champions Drumsagard, and just one adrift of second-placed, The Celtic Boys’ Club. McGowan has been looking back at a campaign which saw them win the Easter Blackpool tournament for the second time in three years, and last month’s impressive 3-0 victory against Dean Thistle (Kilmarnock ) in the GADYFL Supplementary League Cup Final at Stepford Road, Easterhouse. Said Jamie: “After sitting top of the Glasgow and District League for most of the season with more games played than other title challengers, we just came up short.

“Congratulations go to Drummy (Drumsagard) on winning the championship. They are a very good team, and games between us have always produced excellent football, which is what we look for from our players. “Season 2014-2015 has been another good progression for us from the previous year, and all the coaching staff believe we are going in the right direction.” Finnart started back pre-season training on Tuesday, July 7, and no effort will be spared bringing new faces on board to help the existing squad. The East End club will compete in at least one pre-season tournment, and Jamie added: “It’s important we are quick out of the blocks when the next campaign gets under way. “The boys are getting older, so you have to look at a different approach to the pre-season buildup - and that is eaxctly what will happen over the next few weeks.”

Meanwhile, the recent Under-15 end-of-season presentation was not only about handing over awards to the players. In a lovely and much- appreciated gesture, a player deputation turned the tables on “their gaffers”, and handed over gifts to Jamie McGowan, Mark McKenzie and Joseph Madden. Pictured in our exclusive photograph are, left to right, Connor McKenzie, Mark McKenzie, Joseph Madden, Ryan Madden, Jamie McGowan and Jamie McGowan jnr. LEAGUE FINISH 2014-2015 SEASON. 18 games played. Placings: 46 Points and champions - Drumsagard. 43 Points The Celtic Boys’ Club. 42 Points - Finnart. 36 Points – Celtic Juniors and Drumchapel Amateurs. 32 Points- Dean Thistle. 16 Points - Kelvindale. 10 Points KSC Garnock. 9 Points - Rangers SABC. 4 Points - Dunoon Youth Football.

FOSTERS CENTRAL SCOTTISH

TOP-FLIGHT football in the Fosters Central Scottish Amateur Football League is shaping up nicely for the new term. Last season, the game’s three top competitions - Scottish Amateur Cup, Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup and Premier Division championship - were claimed by member clubs. New applications have been accepted, and 40 teams are on board for the 2015-2016 campaign. Here is the formation for next season: PREMIER DIVISION -

Bannockburn, Blantyre Celtic, Colville Park, Drumchapel AFC, Drumchapel United, East Kilbride, Eastfield, Greenock HSFP., Harestanes, St Patrick’s F.P., Steins Thistle and Wellhouse Amateurs. DIVISION 1A - Cambusnethan Talbot, Chryston, Clydebank, Condorrat Club, Elderslie, Electric, Jerviston, Kilsyth, Means, Pollok Amateurs, Possil YM, Redbrae, Stedfast, and Uddingston Anvil. DIVISION 1B - Aikenhead Thistle, Arthurlie United, Ashvale Victoria, CampsieMinerva, Dunblane Thistle, Garrowhill

MATCH SECRETARY Robert Toohill has revealed Under-21 clubs will again play in six domestic competitions next season LSK Supplies continue their excellent backing of all divisions and the West of Scotland Cup, which Harmony Row secured alongside the Trans World Soccer Scottish Youth Cup last term. The Birdston Kennels League Cup, won by Tower Hearts, and

Birdston Kennels Glasgow Cup (Maryhill Juniors), are also up-forgrabs. Premier Division champions, Goldenhill, will be going all out to retain their title, and keep hold of the Only Sport Golden Goals Cup. West Park United were topguns in the Only Sport League Cup. Bob told GENN Sport: “I am delighted to report we have re-

tained all of our sponsors. I want to thank each and everyone of them for their continued support of our game. At this level, sponsorship is hugely important.” Meanwhile, the league’s recent Annual General Meeting accepted 10 new clubs. There were no rule changes, and the top- table was re-elected following another excellent season.

SPRINGBURN Thistle have landed top opposition in the draw for the Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Cup qualifying stages. Thistle, who started back

pre-season a month ago, will meet Johnstone Thistle, Westerlands, Hamilton Thistle, and Rannoch A.F.C. in Section 8. Section 3 brings together John Street, Baillieston, Ath-

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Thistle, Gourock, Haldane United, Kirkintilloch Miners Welfare, Mill United, Postal United, Stirling City, Waterside and Wishaw HSFP. * Premier Division champions, TYNECASTLE A.F.C. are preparing for another top-flight campaign in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League. Division 1 champions Maryhill Black Star make the step-up to offer a challenge alongside the likes of A.S. Airdrie, Blochairn Star, East Dunbartonshire, Motherwell Trust and Shawbridge.

THISTLE DRAW CUP CRACKERS

letic, Glentyan Thistle, Bannerman A.F.C. and Robslee. Section 4 will feature Baillieston Thistle, Renfrew Thistle, St Pats F.P., Dumbarton Harp and Kilbarchan Thistle.

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Glasgow East and North News


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FUNERAL DIRECTORS GLASGOW

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PREMIER PAIR PREPARE FOR TITLE RACE GLASGOW City F.C. and Hibernian resume their SWF Premier League title race on Sunday, July 26. The game’s four-week, mid-season break came at a time when the pair were locked together at the top-of- the-table on 31 points - although Glasgow City have a better goal difference. Next month (August 16), something will have to give when eight-times champions City entertain their East of Scotland opponents. The return fixture in Edinburgh is scheduled for Sunday, October 4. Third-placed Celtic Ladies, who are nine points behind in the championship race, need a result in their first game back. Ironically, that will be against hosts Glasgow City! Here is a look at the remaining Glasgow City fixtures: JULY 26- Glasgow City v Celtic. AUGUST 2 - Spartans v Glasgow City. AUGUST 16- Glasgow City v Hibernian. AUGUST 23- Aberdeen v Glasgow City. AUGUST 30-Glasgow City v Rangers. SEPTEMBER 6- Celtic v Glasgow City. SEPTEMBER 27- Glasgow City v

GLASGOW City F.C... out to claim another SWF Premier League title

Spartans. OCTOBER 4- Hibernian v Glasgow City. OCTOBER 18- Glasgow City v Aber-

PLAYERS WANTED

GOALKEEPERS to register for specialist coaching. Age Groups 1217 years. Will include Boys’ Club, and senior Pro-Youth (signed or released). New in-take starting second week in August. A brand-new Monday Night Winter Programme also organised for Glasgow Club Petershill. Contact 07403452960. PETERSHILL F.C. 2004 are seeking a goalkeeper for their Saturday Morning Central League team. Call Kenny Robertson on 07808712469. BUDHILL Football Academy, an excellent S.F.A. Quality Mark set-up in the East End, are expanding their Girls’ set-up to cater for the following age groups. Under-15 - 07876128464. Under-13 – 07554232193. Under-11 - 07960344563. Under-9 07734919930. BUDHILL Football Academy have a number of talented grassroots teams playing a variety of small-sided, non-competitive games, leading up to full 11-a-side football. Saturday morning and Sunday involvement. Born 2009 – 07515888624. Born 2008 – 07534522141. Born 2007 – 07412964163. Born 2005 -

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07765538006. RANGERS SABC 2004 are poised to make the transition from 7-a-sde football to 11-a-side next season, and want to sign players who have experience at that level. Training sessions take place at Townhead, and games are played at Toryglen Regional Football Centre. For more information, contact Gordon Andrews on 07715546236. AIKENHEAD Thistle A.F.C. require experienced players for the Fosters Central Scottish Amateur Football League (Saturday football). Call 07944988262 TYNECASTLE A.F.C., who were crowned champions in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League last season, are seeking players who want to embrace a new challenge next term. Anyone interested should call Dan Hutton on 07482211970. BAILLIESTON THISTLE A.F.C. , who finished third in the Greater Glasgow Premier A.F.L. Division 1 last season, are looking to stregthen their squad with experienced amateur players. Contact 07761444961 or 07806790025.

deen. NOVEMBER 1 - Rangers v Glasgow City. We can reveal Women’s football in

Scotland is set for a major restructuring next year. The SWPL will change to an eightteam Premier League 1, and a newly

OFFICE BEARERS

WEST of Scotland Under-21 Youth League clubs have re-elected their Office Bearers for season 2015-2016. The list reads: President -

John Alexander. Vice President - Alex McKean. General Secretary - Dave Mason. Match Secretary - Robert Toohill. Minute Secretary – David Bell.

SOCCER CAMP

GLASGOW City F.C. are holding a boys and girls Soccer Camp (aged 5-13 years) from 27th-31st July.

Cost is £10 per day, or £45 for the week. Contact them at gcfcsoccercamp@gmail.com

OCTOBER TOUR

UIST and BARRA J.F.C. Under-16s are looking for games against Glasgow/Ayr/ Kilmarnock teams during the first Mid-

Term school holiday (October 9-12) when they tour the region. Call 07704241226 or 018970 602222.

AWARDS NIGHT

HAGHILL A.F.C. are holding their Player of the Year Awards night at Milnbank Hall, Ballindalloch Drive, on

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Saturday. Tickets are £3, and will include a hot buffet, disco and raffle.

Duke Street

SUMMER SWITCH

BAILLIESTON Juniors F.C. have been accepted into the Caledonian Am-

ateur League following a summer switch from Under-21 football.

SCOTTISH CUP

GLASGOW City Blacks have been handed a home draw against Hamilton Reds in Round 4 of the SWF Under-13 Youth Scottish Cup.

Glasgow City Oranges are away to Blackburn United Yellow. Glasgow Girls travel to Monifieth.

FACILITY UPGRADE

ST ROCH Juniors have been helped with a grant to improve and upgrade toilet facilities

prior to the start of the new season at James McGrory Park.

CUP DEADLINE

SATURDAY, August 1 is the deadline for all Boys’ Club to register for the Trans World Soccer Scottish Youth Cup

competitions (all ages). Contact the Scottish Youth Football Association at Hampden Park.

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constructed Premier League 2 will be created from the bottom four SWPL sides, and top four First Division teams. Meanwhile, the Second Round of the SWF Scottish Cup produced some high-scoring games. RESULTS: East Fife 3, Blackburn 1; Aberdeen Development W.O. Partick Thistle; Kilmarnock 1, Mill United 1 (Killie won on pens); Stonehaven 1, Glasgow Girls 3; Edinburgh Caledonia 4, Caithness Ladies 1 AET; Hibernian Development 0, Aberdeen 2; Cumbernauld Colts 1, Boroughmuir 0; Rangers (SWFL) W.O. Inverness City; Rangers 14, Forfar Farmington Development 0; Hutchison Vale 0, Motherwell 4; Hibernian 7, Glasgow City (SWFL) 0; Hamilton Accies 3, Stirling 4; Celtic 29, Dundee City 0; Spartans 0, Glasgow City (holders) 2; Forfar Farmington 3, Hearts 2; Dee City v Queens Park (due August 2). Third Round Draw: Edinburgh Caledonia v Cumbernauld Colts; Forfar Farmington v Hibernian; Aberdeen Development v Rangers; Aberdeen v Glasgow City (holders); East Fife v Rangers (SWFL); Dee Vale/Queens Park v Kilmarnock; Glasgow Girls v Motherwell; Stirling University v Celtic. To be played August 9.

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