Evening Times

CAMPAIGNS

STREETS AHEAD

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves to help build a better Glasgow? The Evening Times has launched its most ambitious community campaign yet – and we need YOU to help us make it happen.

Streets Ahead is about improving local communities – whether it’s by bringing neighbours together to create a community garden; helping local schools to run litter pick-ups; transforming gap sites; holding street parties; or providing hanging baskets for a main street.

We want to hear what YOU think needs done in YOUR street – and we will work with you to make it happen.

With the support of our partners – Glasgow Housing Association, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and the City Charitable Trust – we will be able to provide resources, information and advice on how to get your project started.

One person making a difference can often transform a street. One person on every street can transform an entire city.

We plan to create a network of Street Champions – individuals, organisations and businesses, who are prepared to go the extra mile to improve their area, and bolster pride and belief in their communities as a result. If you would like to become a Street Champion, or if you know someone who is already doing inspirational work to improve things in your area, get in touch.

Evening Times Editor Tony Carlin said the aim of Streets Ahead was to make a positive difference in every community in Glasgow. He explained: “Across the city there are already hundreds of people doing their bit to improve their area. We want to help them, by giving them the resources and support they need.”

Email streetsahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6520 to tell us what you think needs done in your area, or let us know what’s already under way.

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

The successful and ongoing Evening Times campaign to highlight the unsung heroes in Glasgow.

Entrants don’t require to have piloted a flaming Lancaster, or rescued a cat from a tree, just simply made a difference to their community.

There are eight award categories:

INDIVIDUAL AWARD People who give up free time to make a contribution to other people’s lives or to a community.

TEAM AWARD This recognises the work of community teams, organisations, charities or a group of volunteers.

PUBLIC SERVICE INDIVIDUAL AWARD This will be presented to people working for a public service in a local community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

PUBLIC SERVICE TEAM AWARD This is for a remarkable public service team that has made an outstanding contribution to help those they serve.

SENIOR AWARD This award will be presented to those special older citizens who are inspirational.

YOUNG COMMUNITY CHAMPION TEAM AWARD This will be presented to a group of young people, under the age of 17, who have made a difference to their community.

Forms will also be available over the coming weeks from police and fire stations, council offices and libraries.

YOUNG COMMUNITY CHAMPION INDIVDUAL AWARD This award recognises a young individual who may have inspired other or made improvements to their community.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD This award is for a group or project which promote the improvement of health and well-being within their communities.

Apply online at www.eveningtimes.co.uk/go/community-champions

THE BIG BUILD

The Evening Times in conjunction with Marie Curie Hospice and with your help, is aiming to raise £16.1m to build a state-of-the-art modern hospital to replace

Created in Glasgow more than 30 years, the hospice is now inadequate to cope with today’s priorities

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

SUPPORT The Big Build and be part of bringing the most modern hospice in Europe to Glasgow.

HOLD AN EVENT Get your family, friends or community involved in raising funds for The Big Build.

INVOLVE YOUR COMPANY Ask your work to become a corporate partner in this high-profile appeal or encourage your workmates to get involved as a team.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF From conquering Ben Nevis to running a marathon, The Big Build team will get you registered and support you from your training to the finishing line.

ATTEND AN EVENT Sign up for the dynamic Glasgow Brain Game, the glamorous Great Daffodil Ball or a variety of other events.

MAKE A DONATION Send cheques to:
The Big Build Evening Times,
Marie Curie Cancer Care,
FREEPOST,
Admail ADM4018,
Glasgow, G1 2ZY

(please make cheques payable to Marie Curie Cancer Care) or donate online at http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/bigbuild

SPREAD THE WORD Tell your colleagues, friends and family about the fantastic work of our Marie Curie nurses and the need to provide a new hospice for Glasgow’s cancer patients and their loved ones.

KEEP UP TO DATE! Read features, stories, news and updates from www.mariecurie.org.uk/bigbuild or follow the appeal progress in the Evening Times.

For more information or to receive a fundraising pack call 0141 531 1383.

Or call in to your local Marie Curie Cancer Care shop To find out how you can get involved with The Big Build call 0141 531 1383 or simply text the word BRICK to 84862 (Texts are charged at provider’s standard rate) For terms and conditions please visit ">www.mariecurie.org.uk/mobileterms

THE BEATSON PEBBLE APPEAL

Everyone has been affected by cancer at some point in their life and the Beatson Pebble Campaign is aiming to raise £10m to create the Glasgow Centre for Cancer Research.

Since its launch in the summer of 2007, £4.5m has already been pledged towards making the target.

60% of all Scottish cancer cases are referred to Glasgow, and coupled with the city’s high-cancer rate and geographical location, is ideal for the proposed Glasgow Centre for Cancer Research.

How you can help The Beatson Pebble Appeal aims to raise £10m to build the Beatson Translational Research Centre, which will cover all cancers, including those that cause the most deaths in Glasgow, such as breast, prostate, ovarian and lung cancers.

The idea is that small things can make a difference. Add one small pebble to another, and another - and watch it grow.
It does not matter how much you can afford to give - making a donation will make a difference to the lives of thousands of people with cancer in west Scotland.

Donate online at www.beatsonpebbleappeal.org - click on ‘donate’ and follow the steps.

Or you can send a cheque, made payable to Beatson Pebble Appeal, to:

Beatson Pebble Appeal, No 2 The Square, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ.

If you would like to give a regular gift - £5.21 a month over four years would mean a donation of £250 - call 0141 330 3000 or send an e-mail to: office@beatsonpebbleappeal.org And remember to tell us what you are doing and why you are doing it - call 0141 302 6555.

RIPPED OFF GLASGOW

In January 2009, the Evening Times launched the Ripped off Glasgow campaign, as Glaswegians are getting a raw deal when it comes to the road network and subsidiaries for the city.

The Evening Times believes Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city is being ripped-off compared to the nation’s capital – Edinburgh.

The resident’s of our fair city pay millions of pounds each year in tax and get almost nothing in return.

Museums in the capital are given in the region of £41m in government cash, Glasgow gets next to nothing.

Glasgow is also Scotland’s largest employer with more than 400,000 employed citizens and generates a staggering £13bn gross value added each year.

Alex Salmond proclaims Glasgow has the potential to become an economic powerhouse, but without backing from Scottish Parliament, the city lives within restricted boundaries.

Our campaign calls for the heads of state to realise Glasgow is being unfairly dealt with, while supplementing the nation.

Earlier this year, Edinburgh welcomed the £50m painting of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon, but MSP Bill Butler demanded it go on display in other cities whose tax-money has paid for it.

If you believe Glasgow is being unfairly treated, express you thoughts directly to the First Minister at:

Alex Salmond
First Minister of Scotland
Office of the First Minister
St. Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

email: FirstMinister@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

THE POT HOLE CAMPAIGN

Despite being the nation’s largest city, the roads and motorways are in disarray with more than 18,000 potholes and an estimated £110m required to makes the surfaces car-worthy.

Glasgow City Council manages 1100 miles of road, 2175 miles of pavements, 900 bridges and 70,000 lampposts.
Transport Scotland and Amey manage the trunk roads surrounding the city from central Government cash.
Utility firms now open up roads and pavements 30,000 times a year.

Inspectors now check the reinstatement work after a 2004 survey found 59.3% of the work done by such firms failed to meet the standard. For years, Glasgow suffered as funding for roads was based on road length and not traffic volume.
However, the Scottish Government has ended "ring fencing" and it is now up to each council to fund the maintenance among its other spending plans.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: " In 2009/10 alone, Glasgow City Council will be allocated £1.565bn to spend on these priorities, significantly more money per head than Edinburgh ."

Make the roads a better and safer place by sending us your pothole pictures to yourpics@eveningtimes.co.uk

FACTORS CAMPAIGN

AN incredibly successful campaign which highlighted the unhappuiness of thousands of tenants and homeowners across Glasgow.

We called on all factors to sign a charter which would see them agreeing to a new set of rules to end rip-offs and shoddy practices.

An estimated 100,000 homes in Glasgow have a property manager or factor ranging from the GHA to private companies.

After an Evening Times investigation, which showed many of our readers were unhappy with their factor, the Office of Fair Trading launched a study investigating if home-owners were receiving a fair deal.

We highlighted shoddy and shameful practices, from excessive charges and expensive repairs to poor workmanship, unexplained bills and even court action.

We found factors charging £44 to change a lightbulb, £864 a year to cut a small patch of grass and £80 to replace a screw.

And we told how one court action by a factor against an owner could have resulted in a 83-year-old woman losing her home.

Heather Clayton, of the OFT said: "The campaign run by the Evening Times showed the level of consumer engagement with this issue - people care very much about the management of their homes."

FACTORS TIMELINE

August 2007

The Scottish Consumer Council calls for a shake-up of factoring services as its study reveals more than 60% of Dennistoun homeowners had complained about their factor. 98% of those said they were "dissatisfied" with the response they got.

October 2007

Maryhill MSP Patricia Ferguson states her intention to change the law on factors and launches a public consultation, which gets a huge response.

February 5 2008

The Evening Times launches a high profile two-week-long campaign demanding a better deal from Glasgow’s factors.

We highlight dozens of readers’ problems, as well as claims of shoddy, unprofessional service and even possible eviction.

Glasgow lawyer Mike Dailly says factors have a "licence to print money".

Our campaign receives cross-party support.

8 February 2008

We print our Evening Times Charter, demanding more rights for owners.

28 February 2008

Patricia Ferguson’s public consultation closes.

June 2008

The OFT launch a probe - thanks to our campaign.

Earlier in 2009, the Evening Times - "Factors - fighting for a fairer deal" was nominated in the Scottish Press Awards for Campaign of The Year and was runner-up.

Homeowners who would like to contribute to the OFT study should write to: Scottish Property Management Services, Office of Fair Trading, Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8JX.

For more info see the website: http://www.oft.gov.uk

HANDS OFF YORKHILL AND QUEEN MOTHER’S MATERNITY UNIT

The Evening Times campaign to save two of Scotland’s historical hospitals won an award in 2004 for its efforts.

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children aka Yorkhill has 266 in-patient beds, 12 daycase beds and handles approx. 90,000 out-patients, 15,000 in-patients, 7,300 daycases and 35,000 attendees every year and cares for children up to 13 years of age.

The units care extends to four Child Development Centres at - Bridgeton Health Centre, Possilpark Health Centre, Drumchapel Health Centre and the new Southbank Centre in the Gorbals.

The centres deal with speech, hearing, emotional or behavioural problems, as well as organising immunisation programmes in local schools.

The Queen Mother’s Maternity Hospital delivers approximately 3,500 babies each year. And has 70 maternity beds, 28 paediatric department cots, which includes Intensive Care and the Special Baby Unit.

After years of campaigning, Yorkhill has been saved, and stills needs vital lifesaving equipment, but the Queen Mother’s will officially close its doors at the end of this year after a review to cut Glasgow hospitals.

GLASGOW AIRPORT RAIL LINK

Continuing the Ripped Off Glasgow campaign, the once heralded Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) which was a stipulation of the 2014 Commonwealth Games being awarded to Glasgow, has been cancelled.

Despite this, the Scottish Government has blamed budget cuts from Westminster.

The Evening Times has championed for the link to be reopened as it has cost jobs, and sees the rail-link as important for local economy and cutting congestion.

And with John Swinney and the business sector having numerous meetings to try and find a viable way to kick-start the operation, talks have moved no further forward.

Explain you reasons why Glasgow needs the GARL project by contacting Mr. Swinney.

John Swinney MSP
Cabinet Secretary
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

email: john.swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

KEEP GLASGOW WORKING

Launched in the wake of the financial maelstrom of March 2009, Reed in Partnership with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the Evening Times, aims to beat the recession by identifying and creating local jobs for people in Glasgow.

It supports the recently redundant and the long-term unemployed, while advising businesses on the best practices during these harsh economic times.

If you are an employer or are looking for more information, or advice on how to return to work, visit: http://www.keepglasgowworking.com

CLEAN GLASGOW

Operates under the slogan of ‘’its our city, play your part". The initiative has 14 hit-squads who patrol Scotland’s largest city removing litter, chewing-gum, fly-tipping, illegal dumping and graffiti - graffiti removal in Glasgow costs the city – the tax-payer, over £1m per year.

Play your part by in making the streets a cleaner place by calling 0800 027 7027 or join the cause at http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/CleanGlasgow