Tyntesfield

Ty n t e s f i e l d
NEWS
ISSUE THREE OCTOBER 2004
Sharing what we do
This question was answered for visitors,
volunteers and work placement students
alike as the re-arrangement of the Drawing
Room took place in full view of the
guided tours involving as many people
as possible in the complicated decisionmaking process at the end of July and
through August.
Pictures, objects and furniture were
arranged to reflect a sumptuous Edwardian
character all under the direction of
Stephen Ponder, National Trust Curator,
for the Wessex region. Stephen explains:
“The curatorial process (making decisions
about which objects are appropriate to
the room and where and why they
should be sited) we have gone through
to get to this point is almost as
important as the resulting
look of the room. Normally all this
work would be done in the closed
season, but we have consciously chosen
to involve as many people as possible,
from volunteers and staff who we have
trained in skills such as frame cleaning
and handling, to the visitors at Tyntesfield
as they tour the house.”
continued on page 2
Picture: Bob Bowen
Have you ever wondered why a piece of furniture or a picture
occupies any particular position in a historic house – by whom
and how that decision was made?
Deborah Evans, Head Gardener,
shows ‘Autumn Lady’s Tresses’
- one of Tyntesfield’s latest, rarest
and possibly smallest discoveries!
But what the delicate orchids lack
in size (often not growing beyond
10 cm) they more than make up
for in quantity - in excess of 500
sprung up on the formal terraces
just outside the Gothic Mansion
giving visitors an extra treat late
this summer.
Inside
Picture: Bob Bowen
Playing a part in raising national
awareness
2
Placement student, Fiona Binns, and volunteer, Pamela Francis, assisting in the
drawing room re-arrangement
More treasures brought to
Tyntesfield
3
Opening the linen cupboard
3
The lastest news on visiting
Tyntesfield
4
Funding update
4
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Playing a part in raising
national awareness
Drawing conclusions together
continued from front page
The plan also allowed an opportunity
to show some of the exciting objects
located upstairs that currently can’t be
displayed, including some from the first
floor where there is no public access as
yet due to the fragility of surfaces.
Photo: Access Matters UK
Stephen continues: “We want to show
how the Drawing Room was used and
display more of the important items in
the collection. However, educated guess
work was required due to the lack of
evidence of how it was intended to
look in c. 1908 when the room was
remodelled by George and Via Gibbs.
Snippets of information on particular
items, research on other Edwardian grand
drawing rooms and Edwardian writing
on interior decoration, have all helped
inform us. However, this is unlikely to
be the final layout - it will evolve as our
knowledge of Tyntesfield develops.”
Photo: NT/ Pamela Francis
Jordan (10) and Lewis Keen (6) enjoying their visit at Tyntesfield’s
Heritage Open Day on September 11th
Stephen Ponder explains the process
involved in the rearrangement
The response from those who got a
glimpse of, and an opportunity to share
their views on what would usually go
on behind the scenes was fantastic.
Comments from visitors included:“It
gives a better understanding of what
the National Trust does and why it
takes so long!” and “This is not a
stagnant museum, is it?”
Allowing access throughout the
conservation of Tyntesfield is at the
heart of the National Trust’s project
and plans are being developed to allow
visibility of more of the fascinating
work as it happens.
National Heritage Open Days are co-ordinated and
funded by English Heritage and the Civic Trust. The
objective of the event, that attracts around 800,000 visitors
each year from across the nation, is to allow the public free
access, where possible, to places of historic interest that in
many cases would not normally be open. Heather Worth,
Access & Outreach Officer, explains why she and the team
were so eager that Tyntesfield was involved this year:
“The annual event is all about
increasing awareness and access
to the country’s sites of historic
significance. This echoes so much
of what Tyntesfield and the National
Trust stands for that we were really
keen to be part of it. Tyntesfield
was one of 20 National Trust
properties participating in the
heritage celebration.
“We were able to welcome visitors
‘out of hours’ and free of charge
to the day held on 11 September.
It was a fantastic opportunity for
us to share this inspiring estate
and our plans for the future with
visitors who perhaps would not
normally be able to come.
“The feedback we received was really
encouraging. Many commented on
the high standard of the tour and said
that they were looking forward to
coming back to watch the project
as it continues to develop.
“We were also extremely pleased
that volunteers were able to
play such an active role in the
day. Vital to its success were a
group from the Portishead Lions
as well as young volunteers, many
of whom have already experienced
work placements at Tyntesfield.
Welcoming the visitors, providing
information and helping on the
tours were just some of the roles
that they played throughout.
One of the young people said,
‘I first came to Tyntesfield on a
work experience placement. It
was fantastic to be asked to come
back and help out today – I really
enjoyed it’.
“Heritage Open Days allowed
us to demonstrate our firm
commitment to involving
as many people as possible
in the project and we are
looking forward to playing
our part next year.”
More treasures
brought to Tyntesfield
Picture: NT/Steve Young
On 15th July Tyntesfield were really pleased
to welcome local people and supporters of
Tyntesfield to a special BBC Antiques Roadshow
filmed on the croquet lawn and terraces.
Ruth Gofton, Property Manager explains “As Tyntesfield
does not yet have full visitor facilities on site to accommodate
the vast numbers of people who normally attend the
filming of the programme, we saw offering the limited
number of tickets available to this special edition as one
way to show our thanks and gratitude to those who live
locally and have given such huge support to the National
Trust in this ground breaking project.”
involved in the filming and production of the programme
as it actually happened.
Despite the rather damp conditions and the added drama
of a fire alarm being set off midway through the proceedings,
the day was a big success. But it would not have been
possible without the commitment of all the volunteer
stewards.The assistance of several young people was also an
enormous help. For them the hard work and the getting
wet was all made worthwhile when the BBC offered a
special tour giving them the chance to learn about and be
Many of the most familiar faces from the Roadshow team
including Paul Atterbury, David Battie, Hilary Kay and
Henry Sandon were on hand offering their expert
advice on the treasures that were brought along. There
were some exciting and valuable finds in addition to
some rather more bizarre and unusual collectables!
But all will be revealed when the programme is broadcast
on BBC on 2nd January.
Two of the young helpers finding out how the
cameras are operated
Opening the linen cupboard
A fascinating insight into Victorian domestic and social
life at Tyntesfield is being uncovered through the work to
understand and record the collection of domestic linens
such as tablecloths and napkins.
Before the National Trust bought
Tyntesfield, the linens, as with many
other items in the house and gardens,
had been arranged ready for auction
into ‘saleable lots’. Often they had
been moved from their original
location or place of storage and
arranged by category. This led to
items being separated such as napkins
being separated from their matching
tablecloths. The lots had all been
placed in plastic bags. Some table
and bed linens were found still in
their shop wrapping. In order to
assess the importance of the cloths,
it was necessary to inspect the whole
collection, to match like for like, and
estimate the quality and quantity.
The collection has been found to range
from huge ‘Crumb Cloths’ that were
used to cover and protect valuable
carpets during meals, to humble
practical towels and bed linen. One
beautiful patterned tablecloth from
William Gibbs’ ownership (1843-1875)
is big enough to cover a table set for 24!
It hints at the splendour of the setting
enjoyed by family guests while the size
of the collection gives vital clues to the
time consuming roles that must have
been undertaken behind the scenes in
washing and pressing the linens for use.
Two dedicated and excellent volunteers,
Ethelwyn Osborne and Liz Dieppe,
have been responsible for the work
during the 18 month project, which
is now nearing completion. During
the project, the linens have been
sorted, numbered and returned to
the cupboards in the Housekeeper’s
Sitting Room where they would have
been originally kept under the stern eye
of the Housekeeper.
We hope to show the linen cupboards
in the Housekeeper’s Room as part of
the visitor tour in due course.
Kate Grenyer and Ethelwyn Osborne
uncover the secrets of the linen cupboard
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
The lastest news
on visiting Tyntesfield
Places still available for 2004!
This could be the last chance to book
for a fascinating guided tour of the house
or gardens at Tyntesfield. Book now for a
house tour on Sundays, Mondays or
Wednesdays or a tour of the formal and
walled gardens on Thursdays only. Call
the booking line on 0870 241 4500 or
book on line by going to the guided
tour page of the Tyntesfield website
(www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tyntesfield).
Tours end November 7th before the
property closes for winter.
2005 Events
The 2004 public event programme for
Tyntesfield has proved very popular. Our
Christmas Concert with the Harlequin
singers has sold out already.We will be
planning further events such as ‘Walk
with the Head Gardener’ and ‘Bat Walk’
in 2005. Watch this space for details…
Access in 2005
We are currently considering the different
options for broadening access in 2005. At
the time of going to print planning permission was being sought for a temporary
car park and facilities. Arrangements for
next season will be confirmed in the next
issue of the newsletter.
Group Visits in 2005
Demand for group visits is very high
and we regretfully cannot guarantee a
visit for 2005, although we are planning
to increase the number of places
available. Please contact the Property
Administrator in writing if you wish to
be added to the waiting list.
FUNDING UPDATE
Tyntesfield was the cause of much
media interest at the end of July
following the announcement
from the Heritage Lottery Fund
to defer its decision on the
Tyntesfield Stage One grant
application. Though the feedback
from the HLF on what they
described as a ‘ground breaking
project’ was generally positive,
they have asked us to provide
further information to support
the National Trust’s plans.
The grant is needed to adapt the
estate for a wide range of access,
to attract new audiences and to
give training opportunities, for
immediate capital repairs and
for providing funds to allow it to
operate in perpetuity (i.e. forever).
Although we were naturally
disappointed at the decision, we
are taking the comments seriously
and those at the property and in
the wider organisation, are already
making good headway in working
with the HLF to resolve the
outstanding issues.
From the time of acquisition,
the National Trust has made it
clear that it would be seeking
additional funding support by
submitting an application to
the Heritage Lottery Fund for
a £20m grant. In 2002, the HLF
gave an approval in principle for
£20m of lottery funding and
this sum was set aside pending
the National Trust’s Stage One
application (which was submitted
in December 2003).
John McVerry,
Project Director
Vegetables grown in the Kitchen Garden at Tyntesfield in 2004
CONTACT
The National Trust
Tyntesfield,Wraxall,
Bristol, BS48 1NT.
Infoline: 0870 458 4500
Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
The National Trust is an independent
charity, which needs your help and support.
Registered Charity No 205846
All information provided was correct at
the time of going to press.The National
Trust cannot accept responsibility for
changes that are beyond its control.
Tyntesfield News is produced with
volunteer support and designed
and printed by Burleigh, Bristol.
www.burleighpress.co.uk
© The
National Trust
Printed on recycled paper.
A large print version of the newsletter is available on request. Tel: 01275 461900
The
Kilmarnock Edition
Published by Kilmarnock College
Spring 2005
Quality Week scores on all fronts
While students enjoyed their mid term break, tutors and staff took their places for three days of
in-house training in a comprehensive series of demonstrations, seminars and lectures on subjects
varying from Yoga to suicide awareness. Principal Mick Roebuck was an enthusiastic supporter and
took his place in several of the events.
Organised by Quality Control Manager Sheila Dunn, and supported by over forty members of staff and
visiting lecturers, the event attracted widespread positive comments. Principal Mick Roebuck said: “Apart
from meeting our statutory duties, the event was a real morale booster and provided staff with insights into
many issues and subjects of which they might have been vaguely aware, previously. There is no doubt that
we can all benefit from these initiatives.”
Sheila Dunn reports: Over the 3 days, 50 sessions were held, covering topics such as Race
Relations, Child Protection, The Inclusive Curriculum, Drugs Awareness, Suicide Issues, ICT and
e-learning, to name just a few. In addition, staff were involved in Faculty/Departmental planning and
evaluation activities. On top of all of this, staff also enjoyed sessions of Stress Buster Yoga, Health
Eating seminars and information about Oral Health and Employee Counselling – all part of the
college’s drive towards a healthier workplace and workforce. Of the 50 events, 26 were offered by
outside providers and the rest were delivered by college staff – showing that there is a wealth of
experience and knowledge within the staff that can be shared with colleagues. But thanks must go to
all the outside providers who gave their time to run sessions. Feedback from staff has been very
positive with some staff hoping to
take further the sessions/topics
they attended. Staff especially
enjoyed the chance to attend the
sessions about their own wellbeing and many comments were
made about how beneficial it was
that the college was providing
these. Staff are also suggesting
topics they would like to attend at
the next event so planning is
already starting.
Pictures show, from the top, John McGinn introducing staff to the correct procedures in manual handling; Anne Granger discussing the Customer Care Professional
with support staff; a formal session in the lecture theatre; Jim Robertson introduces staff to the complexities of his job in Finance; Fiona Clarence led several popular
sessions on yoga.
Killie Writing Competition Breaks new Ground
The Fourth Killie Writing
Competition was launched in
March on the college website
- www.killie.co.uk.
Again, the top prize of £1000 will be awarded to
the best adult writer, while two new awards will
cater for young and minority groups. The Killie
Young Writer of the Year Award, carrying a prize
of £350 will go the best writer under the age of
16 and the Killie Gaelic Writer Award will carry a
prize of £250 for the best entry in the language.
Supporting the Competition again are Diageo,
who last year put up a cash donation and hosted
the reception; The Moffat Charitable Trust and
British Energy, while the College will fund the
administration and some of the prizes. All told,
some £3000 in prizes are on offer and the event
is likely to attract many hundreds of
entries from all parts of the world.
Last year’s event brought in almost 2000
entries from all areas, the most distant coming
from India, while the
website was registering
nearly 30,000 visitors a
week. The Killie Writer of
the Year Award went to 16
year old Anna Watson,
from Aberdeen.
A change this year, the
judges for the adult
section will be college staff from the media
department while specialist primary teachers will
judge the younger entries. In college, Shirley
Agnew will handle the main administration and
is already busy sending out hundreds of emails
to schools, writing groups, the press and other
interested parties. Entries open in April and close
in September, with the results being announced
in December.
Joe Lappin said: “The college has always
supported this event and has placed wise
investment in what is
already a big success
story. The competition
is reaching many parts
of the world on a comparatively modest
budget. In due course,
we aim to attract many
of the outreach
entrants into enrolling for courses in the college.
Visit www.killie.co.uk for full details.
The
Kilmarnock Edition
is Published by
Kilmarnock College
Holehouse Road, Kilmarnock KA7 4QT
Tel: 01563 523501
Enquiries to: Louise Conway
Roadshow Programme
Europe - Who Cares?
An ambitious programme of roadshows in many Ayrshire schools has been a
successful part of the marketing team’s activities over the past two months. Manager Louise Conway reports keen interest in the events, with the College enjoying
a ‘significant presence’ in the minds of potential young students. All told, a dozen
schools have been targeted with a total roll of nearly ten thousand pupils. Pictures
below show some pupils at Irvine Royal Academy taking an interest in the some
of the stalls.
Peter Kerr argues that we should
If our political parties are to be believed, we will all be asked to vote,
in a referendum, on the new European Constitution after the forthcoming election. Despite all the propaganda surrounding the entire
European project in our media, we are
in Europe for good or for ill.
As educators, we, of all people, should have
an informed opinion about such matters,
and it is imperative that we all cast our vote
in the event of such a referendum. It is even
more imperative that the vote we cast is an
informed vote and not the opinion of the
leader writer of one of our extremely
anti-European popular press.
To this end, when a referendum on the
European constitution is called, we hope to
host a major debate, or even a series of
debates, within Kilmarnock College, on the referendum. We hope to
organise debates involving leading politicians and commentators on this
most important political event, in our capacity as the principal adult
education centre in the region.
In addition, we hope to organise a youth parliament in the college,
drawing on all Ayrshire schools on this same topic. This could take place
over several days, involving schools sending teams of pupil contributors
who will take on the role of the various political parties, and who will
debate the many issues involved in this topic.
Martial Arts Extravanganza
Paul McVey, a martial arts expert and student at the College, held a spectacular show in the Centre for Sports Excellence in March, to raise funds
for the tsunami victims. Paul was supported by staff and students of the
college and local schools and groups. The College was recently host to
some exchange students from Sri Lanka, two of whom later lost their lives
in the tsunami and Paul aims to make a return visit to the area with funds
raised from his initiative to disburse locally. Pictures show, top left, A
Robbie Williams tribute group, Paul about to smash his way through 1500
tiles and, bottom, literally being
speared by some of his helpers.
If there is any area of serious political life that is ignored by most people in
this country, then Europe must have a good argument for the top spot in
people’s ‘who cares’ league. Yet Europe permeates all of our political,
economic and social life and has massive influence on our nation.
No-one can afford the luxury of ignorance as regards the European
dimension any longer. It is too important. As I write this, Europe is being
asked to intervene in our government’s planned measures on terrorism,
and is in the forefront of ridding our supermarket shelves of cancer causing additives in our food. Whether you are agin it, or for it, we hope you will
all participate in any forthcoming events we host in the college.
European Factfile
On 29th October 2004, all 25 member States and the 3 candidate
countries signed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
Each country now needs to ratify the Treaty. Five have already done so Hungary, Italy, lithuania, Slovenia and Spain. Nine countries, including
Britain and France, will opt for a referendum. All others will rely on a
Parliamentary vote.
The UK government has pledged a referendum by Spring 2006.
Divisions in the UK are sharply divided, with Labour generally urging a
Yes vote and the Tories solidly against it. However, in 2003, Prime
Minister Tony Blair repeatedly expressed his unwillingness to hold a
referundum.
The question to be posed in the referendum “Should the United
Kingdom approve the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the
Euroepan Union?”, is, according to some pollsters, ‘skewed’.
Visit www.unizar.es/euroconstitucion/Treaties/Treaty_Const_Rat.htm
A respectful college is a socially inclusive college. I was
pleased to see so many staff attending seminars on
social inclusion related to themes such as race equality
and mental health awareness. We need to establish
whether it will improve our student experience.
Editorial
by Mick Roebuck
Principal
Welcome to this edition. As I write, colleagues are evaluating the success of Quality Week. I was impressed by
the hard work of those who organised a highly complex
programme. Lessons had been learned from last year
and organisation was excellent. It was great to see all
college staff working together for three days. The real
test is whether this has improved our professional practice and added value to the experience of our students.
New Director Appointed
As staff, we need to take the lead in respecting others
whilst at the same time having zero tolerance of inappropriate behaviour. It was good to see so many staff attending the session on managing inappropriate
behaviour.
I look forward to next year’s Quality Week being even
better than this year’s.
Major Contract Win
Prince’s Trust Update
From a report by Richard McPike
The College Engineering Faculty has secured an
ongoing training contract with Honeywell, the international blue chip company whose Scottish base in
Lanarkshire will spearhead the operation. Joe
Spencer, Head of Faculty, outlined the details.
“Initially, 100 employees are signed up to the scheme,
with an option to extend it to all 700 employees over
a five year span. We will have a dedicated training
administrator permanently onsite, managing the
records and needs.
Jim Robertson has been appointed Director of
Corporate Services at the College, following the
retirement of Dougie McColl. Jim has been with the
college in a senior role since 1988 and while expressing his delight at the appointment, admits that
Dougie’s ‘will be a hard act to follow’.
“Dougie put in place a plan to allow the college to
recover from an accumulated financial deficit and it
will be my main priority to continue with this,” said
Jim. During his service Jim has built his reputation
and exudes confidence. “I look forward to the challenges ahead,” he said, “and will enjoy working with
a committed staff and will always be available to speak
to them.”
Tourism Success
Kilmarnock College Tourism students and pupils from
East Ayrshire Schools, The Grange, St. Joseph’s
Academy, Kilmarnock Academy and James Hamilton Academy took part in a work experience project
as part of their tourism and languages courses in conjunction with East Ayrshire Council and Prestwick Airp
o
r
t
.
“John Campbell is our project manager, Jim McKenzie
is responsible for VQ delivery and Roy Munro is in
charge of quality programmes. The training programme is part of Honeywell’s deployment from the
manufacture of white goods to the aerospace sector
and we will deliver customised training programmes
and managing training records for Aerospace
demands. Under the scheme, all records will be
formalised for retraining every two years. All training
will be onsite and operated from a dedicated
training suite with offices.
“This is the way forward for Further Education,” said
Joe, “and is the true sense of establishing partnerships with industry which will provide definite spin-off
work through employee development programmes
such as core skills development, personal development needs and company strategic plan needs.”
Funding for the project will come from a contribution
by Honeywell and Scottish Enterprise.
Mark Carson, graduate Kilmarnock Team member,
won the Scottish recognition excellence - Progression Award. Mark has been involved in Prince’s Trust
initiatives and projects such as Soundlive, Development Awards and European Workaway. Mark was
presented with hiProgressionon Award by First minister Jack McConnell. He has also delivered speeches
to many MSPs.
Aidan Paisley, Saltcoats team leader, has made
excellent connections in North Ayrshire with the Caley
Centre. The local yuoung people participating in
Aidan’s Team have succesfully compiled CD Roms
and DVDs.
Tony Kane is our seconded teamleader from Strathclyde Fire Brigade and is a shining example of what
a teamleader needs to be doing to be proactively
involved in youth development. Tony’s team’s last
community project is a perfect example of best
practice in his area.
Richard Mc Pike continues to drive delivery of Team
forward with particular interest in the quality of youth
work being delivered within Kilmarnock College,
Princes Trust and the Health and Safety involved. He
is Chair person for Prince’s Trust Scottish Delivery
Partner Managers Forum - and keeps his finger on
the pulse. Kilmarnock College continues to be the
largest operator of Princes Trust team activity in
Scotland and regularly wins plaudits for its quality of
activity.
As a result of this successful project the students and
pupils were invited to travel to Lubeck in Germany or
Ryanair’s inaugural flight on the 2 nd of March.
Kilmarnock College students along with Dan Howell
Head of IT and Business Faculty and Carol Fenton,
Tourism Lecturer, took up the offer and travelled to
Lubeck on 2nd and 3rd of March, where they also
appeared in the Lubeck Daily paper.
Certificates were presented to students and pupils at
a lunch in the Gallery restaurant Irvine Campus,
attended by representatives of East Ayrshire Council
Kilmarnock College, Joyce White, Director of Corporate Services Prestwick Airport, Councillor Tom Farrell,
Chair of Education Committee, East Ayrshire Council, and Councillor Elaine Stewart, Vice Chair
Education Committee, East Ayrshire Council.
Front Row, l-r: Kieghly Foster, Mhairi Wilson, Ashley Lamb, Carole Craig, Cheryl Cairns;
Back Row. l-r: Carol Fenton, KC; Julie Dearie; Joyce White,Prestwick Airport; Lisa Mackie;
Councillor Stewart, East Ayrshire Council; Dave Farrow, East Ayrshire Council; Councillor Tom
Farrell, East Ayrshire Council; Kirsty Alexander; Howard Wilkinson, Ayrshire and Arran
Tourism Forum.
Are You a Gourmet Omnivore?
Catering students’ Success
Gerry Keegan looks at attitudes to Quality Week
Six students from the catering department made it to the regional finals of
the Nestle Toque D’or 2005 competition in February, the only Scottish
college to be represented. As part of the submission, the team had to
devise a concept restaurant which they called The Spartan, with its obvious connections with the local Maritime Museum.
To consider what we thought of our Quality Week is entirely legitimate.
Something called ‘Critical Reflection’ is the core subject emphasised in
teacher education nowadays, from B. Ed. and TQ/FE courses through to
Masters and Doctoral degrees in
Education.
Critical Reflection is the mark of the teacher
professional, and is also fast becoming the
desired imprimatur of professionalism for
those working the health service, and
social work. Put simply, critical reflection
allows us to interrogate what, why, and how
we do things, and is as applicable to a
College cleaner as it is to a Principal. An
important element in relation to CPD and
our Quality Week is what we, the
‘consumer’ got out of it.
After devising a menu, the team had to cook for 20 people, guests of
Nestle, at the Regional Finals. From 100 entries, the team managed to
get into the last 18 finalists.
Picture shows, left to right: Kirsty McTook, Kerri McGowne, Janet McLean, Carly
Mulholland, Seonaidh O’Donnel, Daniel Cooper.
There is no such thing as a free lunch and the purpose of staff development is to affect change beneficial to the individual and/or the organisation. Joyce and Showers (1988) question whether CPD does, however,
lead to changes in practice. Informatively, they tell us that this depends on
the personalities of those who participate in such events.
In ‘Student achievement through staff development’, Joyce and Showers (1988)
undertook a detailed study of teacher staff development. They report that some
actively take part, while others resist all attempts to engage. Individual commitment turns on three types of prototype personality. These characterise our
individual disposition towards CPD, and consequently its success or failure.
So the $64 000 question is where do you fit in?
If you were what Joyce and Flowers call a gourmet omnivore, you would be a
member of staff keen to exploit every opportunity for learning within your environment. Joyce and Showers (1988) note that:
‘What is striking is their habit of both exploiting and enriching whatever environment they find themselves in. In the workplace, they strive to learn all they can
about their craft and give and take energy from their peers.’
About 10% of those Joyce and Showers studied matched the gourmet omnivore
description.
Alternatively, the passive consumer at nearly 70% of the sample is the largest
group Joyce and Showers found:
The distinguishing characteristics of our passive consumers are a more or less
amicable conformity to the environment and a high degree of dependence on the
immediate social context… their degree of activity depends on who they are with.
When with other passive consumers these members of staff attend staff develop
ment, but do little with the outcomes of such programmes in their practice.
Crucially, however, when working with gourmet omnivores, passive consumers
are more likely to act upon CPD in constructive ways. This was evident after the
Suicide Awareness and Mental Well-being presentations when hard copy details
of local contact and self-help groups went up in many classrooms on the Yellow
Floor, and ICT almost overnight uploaded the same details to the College website.
This kind of thing, not to be dramatic, helps saves lives. Only three days after our
Quality Week I had to assist a student in severe emotional crisis. She met me
outside a classroom and told me she had made a plan to kill herself. Relying on
what we were advised only days before I said, ‘Would you like to talk about it?’ We
duly did, and suffice to say the student is now in recovery. Long may this last.
Cumnock’s Enterprising Students
A group of students based in Cumnock has become the first in Scotland to complete the Institute of Leadership and Management’s new Certificate in Exploring
Enterprise. The Certificate course was developed and delivered by staff at
Kilmarnock College, an accredited ILM centre.
The course in Exploring Enterprise provides a greater understanding of
organisations and how they function. With many facing the challenge of a career
change during their lives, the course will help participants understand the options
open to them.
The group also had the opportunity to consider the skills they needed to succeed
and enjoyed personal development workshops on communication, stress management, time management, problem solving skills and CV preparation.
Some of the students involved are pictured below:
Front row, l-r: Moira Small, Mairi Monaghan, Frances Turnbull.
Back row, l-r: Sandra McClelland, Jim Monaghan, Fiona McCreadie
(Enterprise Development Officer).
On Track
Edition 2, February 2005
Rail Supporters 'Rally' Round
on Campaign March
Welcome to the second edition of
On Track, the Newsletter designed to
keep you up to date with the latest
developments relating to the Waverley
Railway Project.
The response to our first edition of the newsletter
issued in January was overwhelming. Calls and emails have been flooding in to offer support for the
project, to request further copies of the newsletter
and to ask further questions about the proposal.
In this edition, as well as providing an update on the
project, we will begin to answer some of your
questions. While this newsletter summarises some
of the research carried out into the project, those
of you looking for more details will find extensive
background information on the Scottish
Parliament website:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/
committees/waverlyRB/index.htm and on the
Project Website.
January was an important month for the project,
with around 100 supporters attending a rally in
Galashiels, organised by Campaign For Borders
Rail, to show their support for the line. February and
March will be even more important, with the
preliminary stage committee presiding over the Bill.
You can find out more details on page 2.
If you would like more copies of this newsletter or
would like to voice your support for the Waverley
Railway Project, please visit
www.waverleyrailwayproject.co.uk
or phone 0131 623 2008.
This Month...
Despite a typically wet and windy January day, a
recent rally held to support the re-opening of the
Waverley line was well attended by supporters.
The day began with a walk along the route of the
old line between Tweedbank and Galashiels,
36 years to the day since it was closed.
The walk culminated in a rally held at Market
Square, during which speeches were made by
Anne Borthwick, Chair of the organisers
Campaign for Borders Rail, local list SNP MSP
Christine Grahame, Tweeddale, Etterick and
Lauderdale MSP, Jeremy Purvis and
Conservative List MSP, David Mundell.
Councillors from the Scottish Borders and
Midlothian also attended.
The speakers focussed on the benefits that a rail
line would bring to Midlothian and the Borders
and called for the Scottish Executive to deliver
funding for the rail link.
Photo: William Brodie
• Parliamentary Committee
• Safety benefits
• Addressing the alternatives: new roads
Parliamentary Committee
This month, the Scottish Parliamentary
Committee takes oral evidence for the first time.
The committee will consider the merits and
details of some of the objections to the project
during this the Preliminary Stage.
The Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill was
introduced into the Parliament on 11 September
2003 by the Waverley Railway Partnership.
The principal reason for the Bill is to authorise
the works necessary for the construction of a
railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank.
The Bill is currently in the Preliminary Stage,
where the Committee must report to the
Parliament on whether the Bill should proceed
as a Private Bill, and also give consideration to
all objections to the Bill.
The following MSPs will sit on this committee:
Tricia Marwick
(Convener)
Ted Brocklebank
Meeting 2: 7th March,
10.30am Scottish
Mining Museum,
Newtongrange
Meeting 3: 14th March,
11am Langlee,
Community Centre,
Galashiels
Meeting 4: 21st March,
10.30am Scottish
Mining Museum,
Newtongrange
Objectors
As with any major transport development, there
are individuals, groups and businesses which will
be adversely affected by the building of a railway.
The Waverley Railway Project is the largest rail
project in the UK since the Channel Tunnel Rail
Link to London and unfortunately, as a result,
there will be some buildings and properties
which will be subject to compulsory purchase.
Some other people potentially affected by the
line have, understandably, lodged official
objections to the line. These objections will be
heard by the parliamentary committee and a
decision will be made on whether they have a
case or not. There are two types of objection:
•
Gordon Jackson
Christine May
(Deputy Convener)
•
Margaret Smith
There are 131 objections to the bill:
•
The committee meetings are open to the public
and will take place on the following dates:
Meeting 1: 28th February, 11am Langlee,
Community Centre,
Galashiels
Objections in principle are objections to the
rail line as a whole.
Objections in detail are objections to
particular sections and effects of the
proposed line. These will be heard at Stage 2
123 of those are objections in details, 2 are
objections in principal and 6 are objections in
both detail and principle.
The Scottish Parliament committee will consider
all objections individually. To date, the Scottish
Parliament has rejected all of the objections
in principle.
The Alternatives: Road
Opponents to the Waverley Railway Project
often suggest that upgrading the A7 to dual
carriageway status would be a suitable
alternative. This option has been considered,
however, it is not believed to be a viable option
when regeneration, environmental and
congestion factors are taken into account. While
Midlothian and the Borders may benefit from a
dual carriageway, it cannot come at the expense
to losing a rail line. A summary of the
assessment is outlined below.
Users:
Dual Carriageway: Drivers only
WRP: Everyone (32% of households in
Galashiels and 37% in Hawick do not own a
car). 90% of people surveyed in Midlothian and
the Borders said they would use the railway line.
Personal cost:
Dual Carriageway: Drivers commuting to
Edinburgh have to pay for increased petrol, more
car maintenance, parking costs and, potentially,
road tolls.
WRP: Tickets for the Waverley line will be similar
in cost to other rural lines in Scotland. Although
prices have not yet been set, tickets will be
reasonably priced and are likely to represent
significant savings on the full cost of driving.
Congestion:
Dual Carriageway: While a dual carriageway will
slightly reduce the driving time between the
Borders, Midlothian and the outskirts of
Edinburgh, it will still take in the region of 80 to
90 minutes to travel into Edinburgh city centre at
rush hour. If traffic continues to increase on
the south and east of Edinburgh as predicted,
commuting times will increase even further.
WRP: Passengers on the Waverley line will
travel directly from Tweedbank in to Edinburgh
city centre in 60 minutes, with considerably less
stress.
Environmental impact of building:
Dual Carriageway: Dualling the A7 would cause
significant harm and disruption to all homes and
buildings near to the proposed road.
WRP: The route of the proposed line runs in
most part along the trackbed from the previous
line closed in 1969. Some homes, however,
have been built in the Borders and Midlothian
since then, so re-building the Waverley line will
mean that, unfortunately, some people will
potentially lose their property. (All of these people
have been contacted by the Partnership).
Neither option is without environmental impact,
however the use of existing track-bed does
minimise the environmental impact of the rail
line.
Environmental impact, ongoing:
Dual Carriageway: Despite more fuel efficient
cars, a dual carriageway would encourage more
car use in the region, thereby increasing
pollutants and greenhouse gases.
WRP: With approximately 1 million annual
passenger journeys predicted in the first year
alone, the Waverley line will significantly reduce
the number of miles covered daily by cars in
the region.
Your questions answered
If I board the train at Tweedbank, will I have to
change trains at Newcraighall in order to get to
Edinburgh?
No, the train will travel directly to and from Edinburgh
Waverley and beyond to Edinburgh Park and
Bathgate/Dunblane with no changes. The line will
also call at Edinburgh Airport station when it is built.
Safety benefits
Supporters
•
Travelling by train is 15 times safer than
going by car and five times safer than going
by bus or coach.
•
You are far more likely to involved in an
accident whilst walking, cycling or driving
than when you are on the train.
•
Sixteen times more miles are travelled by car
than by train yet there are 100 times more
accidents on our roads than on our railways.
"What a bonus this would be - obviously for
business and prosperity of the Borders but
also for leisure, shopping and the theatre. It
would bring Edinburgh to our doorstep.
Obviously, however, we would expect that
careful consideration would be given to plans
for any new housing close to Melrose and the
surrounding district."
Mrs Hunt, Melrose area.
•
In terms of time spent on the journey, train
travel is even safer than air travel.
•
Every year 3,500 people are killed on
Britain's roads and 300,000 people are
injured.
Source: Rail Futures
•
60% of fatal crashes occur on rural roads,
mainly A roads.
Source: Transport 2000
•
Nearly 43,000 people were killed on the EU's
roads in 1998. There were an estimated 800
rail deaths in the same year (including road
deaths that occurred on railway level
crossings).
The Team
"Looking forward to this facility and I will
definitely use it. It is a more civilised way to
travel given that the train runs fairly frequently."
Mrs Young, Gorebridge.
"We need a quick rail service to Edinburgh for
students and commuters to get to the city and
universities. For my niece to get to a train
involves a 100 mile round trip!"
David Anderson, Ashkirk Parish.
"We feel that the railway is essential for the
continued economic development and
vibrancy of the area. Many people are forced
to find work outwith the Borders due to lack of
local jobs and redundancy etc. It will also help
to retain our young people, attract them to stay
here.”
Robin and Diane Gladstone, Galashiels
The Waverley Railway Partnership comprises:
If you would like to know more about the
Waverley Railway Project or would like to add
your support to the project, please visit:
•
Scottish Borders Council
•
www.waverleyrailwayproject.co.uk,
•
Midlothian Council
•
phone: 0131 623 2008,
•
City of Edinburgh Council
•
email: [email protected].
•
Supported by Scottish Enterprise Borders.
Next Issue...
• Parliamentary Committee Update
• Addressing the alternatives: bus service
Ethiopia Newsletter
YOUTH PARTICIPATION ISSUE APRIL-JUNE 2004 Vol. 6, No 2
YOUTH PARTICIPATION
Children have the right to
participate in decisions
and activities that
concern their lives. This is
explicitly articulated in the
Convention on the Rights
of
ff the Child, and it was
also strongly emphasized
during the UN Special
Session on Children in 2002.
UNICEF believes that child
participation involves encouraging and
enabling children and young people to be informed
and make their views known on the issues that affect
them. Adults need to take the time and the effort to
listen to their concerns. Participation ensures the
freedom of young people to express themselves and
takes their views into account when coming to
decisions that affect them.
Child participation must start with the children and
young people themselves, on their own terms, in
pursuit of their own visions, dreams, hopes and
concerns. Most of all, authentic and meaningful child
participation requires a radical shift in adult thinking
and behaviour — from an exclusionary to an
inclusionary approach to children and their
capabilities.
Here in Ethiopia, children and young people are
turning that principle into reality through initiatives like
the Ethiopian Teenagers’ Forum. These young
people are making their voices heard on issues
relevant to their lives, including HIV/AIDS, girls’
education and poverty reduction. At each forum,
participants reach consensus on ten action points
to achieve change and improve the lives of their most
vulnerable peers. These young people have proved
that when they are involved, they can make a
difference in the world around them. They are
consistently showing us adults that they have ideas,
experiences and insights that help us fulfil our
obligations towards the realization of their rights.
It is UNICEF’s firm belief that if we are to meet the
goals of ‘A World Fit for Children’ and attain the
Millennium Development Goals — if we are to make
the world truly fit for all people — we will only do so
with the full participation of children and young people.
Bjorn Ljungqvist
Representative
ETHIOPIAN STUDENTS CONDUCT CHILD-TO-CHILD
SURVEY TO GET ALL CHILDREN IN SCHOOL
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Eleven-year-old Amir Mohamed sells chewing gum on the streets of Piazza
so he can make ends meet for himself and his family. He had to drop out of school two years ago, because
he couldn’t afford the cost of 30 birr (less than $4) he needed to pay every three months.
“I miss school, because I want to learn, but I didn’t have the money to pay the monthly cost,” said Amir,
surrounded by three of his friends who are fellow petty traders.
Amir is one of more than 600 youth who took part in
UNICEF’s child-to-child survey. The Ethiopian survey
is part of a global youth project to accelerate the
enrolment of out-of-school girls and boys. An estimated
121 million children are not attending school worldwide.
In Ethiopia, almost 5 million school age children are not
in school, more than 3 million of whom are girls.
“We want this project to start a chain reaction, whereby
the children and their teachers will not only identify those
out of school but will also commit to getting them enrolled
TOP THREE REASONS WHY CHILDREN ARE OUT OF SCHOOL
1. Cannot afford to pay school costs.
2. Lack school materials such as uniforms, text books, exercise books and stationary.
3. Have to do housework.
and helping them succeed,” said UNICEF Executive
Director Carol Bellamy, who launched the campaign
in Ethiopia on the Day of the African Child. “The chain
reaction will go on to involve communities, parents,
government ministries and external partners to
achieve education for all.”
the survey gave her a chance to write about her 10year-old friend Zuwfan. “She can’t go to school,
because she’s an orphan,” Sabida explains. “She
was on the street for awhile. Now she’s working as a
maid, and her employer won’t let her go to school. …
She wants so much to learn to write her own name.”
The survey was organised by members of the
Ethiopian Teenagers’ Forum, which is part of the
Global Movement for Children supported by UNICEF.
Seventeen-year-old Zerihun Mammo attended the
UN Special Session on Children on behalf of UNICEF
Ethiopia and was one of the founding members of
the forum.
Ethiopia has been selected for UNICEF’s ’25 by
2005’ campaign, an initiative to eliminate gender
disparities in primary and secondary education in 25
priority countries by the year 2005. Ethiopia has made
tremendous strides in increasing school enrolment
rates from 30 per cent in 1996 to 64.4 per cent today.
However, there is still a 20.8-percentage point gap
that separates the enrolment of boys and girls
“In New York, it was really amazing. I never thought nationally. Eliminating gender disparities will help
children would have a voice like that. What I learned ensure that Ethiopia reaches the goal of education
is that children have the solutions for their own for all children by 2015.
problems often better than adults
can,” said Zerihun. “We want
“Development without education
everyone to hear what we feel so
is hard,” said Zerihun. “Children
we can make a change in
who are not in school often end
Ethiopia.”
up on the street begging and that
puts them in great danger.”
Elleni Muluneh, 18, is another
founding member of the forum
But the students realize that they
who helped to organise the
can’t do it alone. The Government,
survey. “I talked to some kids who
UN agencies, NGOs and society
live on the streets and shine
as a whole must affirm their
shoes. They drop out, because
commitment to ensuring
they can’t pay the costs,” she said.
education for all of Ethiopia’s
“They should have an education
children.
so they can have hope for their
future.”
“Adults make promises and don’t
keep them. That’s why we don’t
Many of the survey’s participants
have change. They need to be
said it made them think for the
models for the younger
first time about why other children
generation,” said Elleni. “When
are not fortunate enough to attend
you don’t give a child an
school, including poverty and losing a parent to HIV/ education, when you don’t give a teenager a voice,
AIDS. Eleven-year-old Sabida Tersen, a grade five you are losing someone who makes the world a
student at Tibeb Menged Elementary School, said different and better place.”
“When you don’t give a child an education, when you don’t
give a teenager a voice, you are losing someone who makes
the world a different and better place.”
INTERVIEW WITH BERHANE ADERE
ETHIOPIAN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING
CHAMPION AND UNICEF GOODWILL
AMBASSADOR FOR GIRLS’ EDUCATION
What is it like to be a woman
athlete in Ethiopia?
As women athletes, we are not regarded as any
less than the men. We are equal to men. There
are many advantages to being an athlete including
appearing in international venues just like the men.
Do you see yourself as a role model for young activities. They can broaden their perspectives and
Ethiopian girls?
develop good qualities. Participating in sports
enhances the opportunities available to girls and
Yes, I do see myself as a role model for Ethiopian contributes a great deal to our capacities as women.
girls. I was born and grew up in a rural setting. From … I believe participating in sports prepares you to
there I went to school. I started from that level to get take on anything.
to the point where I am now, competing internationally
and representing my country in world events. I believe Why are you helping UNICEF’s efforts to
that is a positive example for girls. The message I promote girls’ education?
want to relate is that with hard work anything can be
achieved.
In Ethiopia, we women are regarded as being
inferior, up to now that is. I started from an inferior
How was education important for you, and how position, and I have now reached the level where I
did it contribute to you being such a great am. Everyone can learn and work hard and stand
athlete?
before the world on an equal footing with men. I have
agreed to work with UNICEF in order to achieve this
I was in school when I was selected to participate in – so that we can stand before the world as equal
this sport. Being educated is very important for doing men and women.
well in sports. If you don’t know anything then it makes
no sense to just be running. When you travel you have What would you say to parents who are not
to read things, so being educated has been a great sending their children to school, especially their
benefit to me. When vying for a world record, we are daughters, to help convince them to send their
told what time we have to make to beat the record. children to school?
We have to calculate these things. We are told that
we have to cover a certain distance in a certain My advice to parents is for them to encourage their
amount of time. If I were not educated, I would not be children to go to school, to use the example of people
able to calculate my timing. I would just be running who have come up from nothing and made it in life.
unguided. Therefore being educated has an They must encourage their children to work hard and
important role in being successful. It does not mean do well. Girls are particularly vulnerable and can be
anything to be running without an education.
easily hurt. If a girl is educated, however, she can
protect herself from a lot of things. In our country we
How can participating in sports in school benefit are going through a difficult time with HIV/AIDS. In
girls?
order to protect themselves, those who are engaged
in sport should continue to do that and those who are
We were able to reach this level by first running at more academically inclined should focus on that. With
our schools. If girls engage in sports during their spare an education they will have broader perspectives
time, they will be able to reach a good place. Sports and will not be drawn to destructive behaviour. I would
can provide an alternative from falling into a bad be very happy if everyone works hard and gets an
situation, spending their time idly and in unhealthy education.
NEWS FILE
19 April - The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
(GICHD) held a Mine Risk Education (MRE) training workshop for all
MRE actors in Ethiopia from 19 to 23 April in Mekelle. Ethiopia
continues to suffer from extensive landmine and unexploded ordnance
(UXO) contamination. Many of the mines and minefields are near
populated areas and inflict casualties on both people and livestock.
Mines pose dangers to resident populations, internally displaced
persons (IDPs) and humanitarian relief efforts. The MRE workshop
was intended to help protect communities in the mine-affected regions
of Ethiopia and prevent more children and their families from being
maimed or killed by these brutal weapons.
24 April - The Ministry of Health and the Child Survival Partnership, an alliance between WHO, The World
Bank, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID), and UNICEF, held a three-day National Partnership Conference on Scaling Up Child Survival
Interventions in Ethiopia. The Partnership is assisting Ethiopia to
scale up child survival interventions to contribute to the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child
mortality.
11 May - UNICEF funded the training of trainers (TOT) for more
than 100 health professionals at three Ethiopian medical schools
so that they can train their peers in the treatment and management
of severely malnourished children. As of May, 41 nurses, 12 doctors
and 54 medical interns were trained based on the national protocol
at Addis Ababa, Gondar and Jimma Universities. Therapeutic
feeding units (TFUs), which have been set up at the hospitals with
UNICEF support including therapeutic feeding products and basic
equipment, were used to give the participants practical hands-on
experience dealing with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases.
16 June - UNICEF Executive
Director Carol Bellamy launched
the Day of the African Child celebration on the theme of "Accelerating
Efforts Towards Universal Primary Education" at the Ethiopian Teenagers’
Forum in Africa Hall, ECA. In honour of the Day, UNICEF kicked-off a childpowered, global project to account for children not in school in order to
accelerate the enrolment of all girls as well as boys. According to the survey
conducted in Addis Ababa by the Teenagers' Forum, the top three reasons
for children being out of school were inability to pay school costs, lacking
school materials such as uniforms and text books and children having to
to do housework.
23 June - Over 720 girls aged 14-19 years from 62 high schools participated in the first Addis Ababa Girls’
Forum addressing the vulnerability of secondary school girls to HIV/AIDS and laying the foundation for
legislative intervention against sexual abuse. The one-day event was organized by the Addis Ababa Women’s
Affairs Office in collaboration with the Addis Ababa City Government Mayor’s Office, Addis Ababa HIV/
AIDS Prevention and Control Office, the Economic Commission for Africa’s African Center for Gender and
Development and UNICEF. The event marked the culmination of three weeks of discussion held in all ten
sub-cities of Addis Ababa. This was followed by a two-day consultation between 100 representatives from
the 62 schools with officials from the City Government, including the Mayor. Discussions centered on HIV/
AIDS and communication, sexual harassment in and around school, sex education in schools, open dialogue
regarding sex between parents and children and guidance and counseling services in schools.
For further information, please contact the UNICEF Communication Section,
telephone: 251-1-515155 or 444400; fax 517111; e-mail: [email protected]
March 2005 | Issue 9 News from London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
Authority approves
London Safety Plan
Inside
• What we've already
achieved
Members of the London Fire and
• You told us what you
think
Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA)
• What happens next?
approved the Second London Safety Plan
• Your questions
answered
on Thursday, 17 March 2005.
LFEPA Chair Val Shawcross said, "We are
introducing major changes to make London
safer and will focus harder than ever on our
message that prevention is better than cure.
The Second London Safety Plan builds on the
successful community fire safety work our
firefighters are already doing, which is making
a real difference, and we will improve our
emergency response to incidents across
the capital."
Changes will now go ahead to improve the
attendance times of second fire engines to
emergencies across London by giving ten fire
stations in outer London an additional fire
engine. Meanwhile, a fire engine will be
removed from ten inner London stations. On
current figures, this means that over 1,000 more
incidents a year will now get a second fire
engine within around eight minutes.
Manchester Square fire station will close
because nearby stations can meet the demands
for calls in the area.
Recent changes in the way fire brigades can
plan fire cover now mean that fire engines can
be sited where there is a risk to people instead
of the risk to property dictated by the previous
wartime standards. Detailed research using
London Fire Brigade incidents over the last five
years now means that fire engines can be sited
where they are most needed.
Another major aspect of the Plan is to focus on
fire safety, including carrying out 25,000 home
fire safety checks in partnership with other
agencies. The Plan includes new targets to
reduce accidental and deliberate fires, fire
deaths and hoax calls. Changes to staffing levels
at stations with two fire engines, along with the
withdrawal of the two fire engines at
Manchester Square will lead to a reduction in
Translations:
staffing levels of 180 posts, though no
firefighters will lose their jobs. Over the last year
the Authority has recruited extra firefighters to
crew new vehicles and now has more
firefighters than for a number of years.
Cllr Brian Coleman, Leader of LFEPA
Conservative Group and Deputy Chair of
LFEPA, said: "I am delighted we have agreed
this risk-based safety plan which, in particular,
recognises the additional risks that clearly exist
in the suburbs. This Plan will ensure that all
Londoners, wherever they live, have the fire
service they deserve. The changes being made
will bring the London Fire Brigade to the
forefront of modern practice."
Mike Tuffrey, LFEPA Liberal Democrat Group
member said: "The new plan builds on the work
being done in partnership with the communities
served by the London Fire Brigade to reduce
accidental fires and deliberate arson attacks. We
welcome this approach to fire safety alongside
an improved response to emergencies across
the capital."
If you or anyone you know
would like this publication
in large print, on audio-tape,
in Braille or in another
language please write to
us at the address below.
Please supply your name
and address and, for
translations, the language
required.
LFEPA
Translations
FREEPOST SE 1956
London SE1 7BR
The main proposals in the London Safety Plan
The Plan builds on the work
already done by the Authority
to make "prevention better
than cure" and includes
proposals to improve second
fire engine attendance times
to incidents across the capital
significantly (by over 3.8
percentage points, which
equals 1,000 incidents a
year) by:
• moving ten fire engines
• creating more time for
firefighters to work on
community fire safety
initiatives and continue
training
• engaging in more activity
with young people to steer
them away from anti-social
behaviour
• introducing further
equipment to respond to
major incidents
• reflecting the reduced
sickness absence in the
London Fire Brigade by
reducing the number of
firefighters employed at
some fire stations
• trying out new services in
pilot schemes such as help
for cardiac arrest victims
• changing the Brigade's
culture to make it a
welcoming place to work for
all of London's diverse
communities
• closing Manchester Square
Fire Station and withdrawing
its fire engines.
What we’ve done to make London a safer city
What we've already achieved
We have achieved a lot in
2004. We:
• made good progress in
modernising, according to
the Audit Commission.
They also said that no other
fire and rescue authority
has made better progress
than us in delivering
modernisation of the
service
• increased our investment in
community safety
2
• ran innovative projects with
our partners to reduce
arson
• began an ambitious
programme of home visits to
advise older and vulnerable
people about how they could
make themselves safer from
the risk of fire. So far, more
than 8,680 smoke alarms
have been fitted and around
11,600 checks carried out
throughout London.
• continued to add previously
unknown high risk
commercial properties to our
inspection programme of
commercial properties
which were not known to
us before
• successfully opened our new
999 control centre in the
Docklands in April. This is
where fire engines and other
vehicle are directed to
incidents
• made substantial investment
(with the support of the
government and the Mayor
of London) in improving our
ability to respond to
catastrophic acts of terrorism
and other disasters
• made good progress in
developing a diverse
workforce, including
recruiting a record number
of women and black and
minority ethnic firefighters.
You told us what you think
What happens next?
The Authority sent out 14,000 copies of the Draft London
Safety Plan's executive summary and action plan; copies of the
full Plan (including appendices) were published on
www.london-fire.gov.uk. An extensive consultation exercise
took place over 12 weeks, reaching staff, Londoners and key
organisations including London's boroughs, with views being
taken by post and online. Representative bodies were also
consulted. Over 4,000 responses were made to the Plan.
Manchester Square Fire Station will be closed as soon as
arrangements can be made, which may be by June. However, fire
cover will be maintained for 999 callers by using the Authority's
entire resources.
Responding to the consultation, Commissioner Ken Knight said:
"Our excellent standard of response is one important way of
dealing with the risk of fire and other emergencies, but we are
now working successfully to reduce fires and fire deaths
through prevention and protection activities. We are able to
achieve this at the same time as improving the way we respond
to incidents right across London.
"I want to reassure everyone that the Plan would improve the
service across London and continue to provide the capital with
the highest standards of emergency cover.
"All of the issues raised from the consultation are extremely
important and have been addressed in finalising the London
Safety Plan. I am confident that making these essential changes
would bring about an improvement by reducing our response
times overall and increasing the prevention work we need to do
with the communities we serve."
So that our capability to respond matches the risks better, the
second fire engines will be removed from Acton, Bethnal Green,
Clerkenwell, Dockhead, Euston, Greenwich, Islington,
Kensington, Knightsbridge and Westminster fire stations, and will
be relocated at Addington, Chingford, Finchley, Heston,
Hillingdon, Leyton, Northolt, Sidcup, Sutton and Walthamstow
fire stations.
As some of these transfers require building work at fire stations
gaining an engine, these transfers will begin in June and be
completed before the end of 2005/6. More details will be
available in future issues of this newsletter.
From September 2005, the number of firefighters will be reduced
by 128. There will be no cuts in the service, as these savings
have been made possible by reducing sickness levels.
All of these changes will save £4.5m a year.
Consultation facts
Over 500 questionnaires, nine petitions and 3,788 letters and
emails were received. Findings from the consultation include:
• 68 per cent of questionnaire respondents agreed with the
proposed response time targets for the first and second fire
engine to arrive at incidents
• 47 per cent of all questionnaire respondents strongly or
largely agreed with the proposal to close Manchester Square
Fire Station, while 44 per cent largely or strongly disagreed
with it.
• 85 per cent of questionnaire respondents strongly or largely
agreed with the Authority's proposals to set standards that
will apply to all emergencies the Authority attends.
However, concerns were expressed that:
• improving fire cover for outer London boroughs would
reduce service standards in central London
• proposals are based on risk to the existing resident
population and don't seem to take either the movement of
people (commuters, visitors, shoppers) or planned population
growth into consideration
• the Brigade's ability to respond to a terrorist incident would
be affected
• the proposals don't take into account the time needed for
firefighters to get to incidents in high rise buildings
(tower blocks)
• the closure of Manchester Square Fire Station would reduce
fire cover in central London.
3
Your questions answered
As part of the consultation exercise, senior managers answered concerns about the
Draft London Safety Plan. Here is a selection.
High-rise risks
area. It will result in better overall
emergency cover by improving
the average attendance times for
second appliances which would
contribute to saving more lives.
the computer modelling
process are correct?
catastrophic terrorist attack. The
number of fire rescue units has
Will people in high-rise
been doubled from five to 10,
buildings be more at risk
The computer models used
and a range of new equipment
because of moving fire
(there are different ones) have
and new vehicles are being
engines?
been developed by operational
introduced. This includes
research specialists ORH Ltd.
The London Fire Brigade has
Measuring effectiveness (Operational Research in Health). capabilities for mass public
extensive experience in dealing
What measures will be in
decontamination, chemical
ORH Ltd. has nearly 20 years'
with fires and a range of
place to monitor and evaluate experience in developing and
detection and identification
incidents in high-rise buildings.
the effectiveness of the
equipment, enhanced chemical
using computer simulation
There will be no change to
proposals? How responsive
protection and extended
models for the emergency
current operational procedures: if
will they be to changing risks? services. It has undertaken 350
duration breathing apparatus for
a fire breaks out in a high-rise
our crews. More enhancements
studies in the UK and abroad.
building, additional and specialist The Authority will keep its
will be introduced in the coming
effectiveness continually under
ORH specialises in modelling
back up can be called on as and
year.
review and is fully committed to
systems involving transport and
when it is needed.
securing continuous
access to improve costShouldn't the fire engines
Building Regulations and fire
improvements in its
be in central London where
effectiveness
and
they
have
safety legislation ensure that fire
performance. This will be
the incidents are more likely
worked
with
the
Authority
to
protection is built into high rise
to happen?
integrated into the Authority's
develop
specific
models
to
properties. Protection is achieved
business and financial planning
optimise
response
cover
and
the
Moving fire engine moves will
in high rise buildings as the
processes.
cover
of
risk.
The
initial
phases
of
not hinder our ability to respond
property is divided into
work
with
ORH
Ltd.
included
the
Progress
toward
achievement
of
to such incidents in central
compartments to stop the spread
validation
and
calibration
of
the
our
targets
will
be
the
way
we
London. Our experience shows
of fire and to ensure the structure
model
using
five
years'
incident
show
our
proposals
to
be
this extra capacity is best located
can withstand fire. Sophisticated
data.
The
result
of
this
validation
effective.
These
include
fewer
in the areas immediately
detection systems are installed:
work
was
that
the
model
was
fires,
fewer
fire
deaths,
fewer
surrounding the parts of London
these can include sprinklers and
within
one
per
cent
of
each
of
false
alarms
and
an
improvement
most at risk – rather than actually
water supply systems for the
the
current
key
response
times.
in
response
times
for
the
second
within those areas. Effective
upper floors and protected
fire
engine
to
arrive
at
incidents.
arrangements are in place to
vertical shafts so firefighters can
Catastrophic
incidents
ensure that sufficient resources
reach upper floors and certain
To meet these targets we will
can both be mobilised quickly –
Will response to major
lifts can still be used.
need to keep looking at where
and sustained over a protracted
catastrophic incidents be
If fire does break out the Brigade the risk is and aligning our
affected?
period. The Metropolitan Police
prevention, protection and
will still deliver an effective
would take action to make sure
response resources to address it. With support from the
emergency response under the
that access for emergency
government, the Mayor and the
proposals. What the plan means
Risk
mapping
London Assembly, the Authority vehicles to the site of a major
is that some outer areas which
Who designed the computer
has made substantial investment emergency is protected.
also contain high rise buildings
modelling programme? What in recent years to improve
will now gain an improved
response to major emergency or
service to reflect the needs of the checks have been done to
make sure the results from
Contact details
Safer London is published monthly by London Fire and
Emergency Planning Authority, which runs the London Fire
Brigade and provides other emergency planning and safety
services. We welcome feedback and would like to know how
useful you find this publication. You can send your comments to:
Email: [email protected]
Write to: Communications Department, LFEPA, Room 421,
8 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SD
Ring: 020 7587 4176
4