Dear All
Welcome to this latest edition of our Depute Chief Executive Update. As always, I hope that you and your families are safe and well.
It’s hard to believe it is June already – and lovely that it feels like summer is here, let’s hope it is here to stay. Hope those of you that had time off for the Jubilee holiday weekend had a lovely break, and many thanks to all of you who continued to deliver our essential services during this time.
Our first committee round of our new Council is now underway and meetings continue to be held online and streamed through You Tube. You can find the Committee reports and the YouTube links in the Committee Diary on our Council website. The final Council meeting before the summer recess is on Thursday 23 June.
Now on with our regular updates:
News from the Council
Homes for Ukraine - Welcome Sessions
Following a successful first event, a second welcome session is being held on Thursday 9 June 6.30-8.30pm at Lenzie Union Church. These events will give refugees settling in the area and their hosts an opportunity to speak in an informal and relaxed setting to representatives from a range of Council services and partner organisations providing services and offering information and support. More details can be found on the Refugees page on our Council website.
Time to reflect at new exhibition
A thought provoking new exhibition entitled “Reflections” is now open in the foyer of William Patrick Library in Kirkintilloch. Part of the 2022 Festival of Celebration - Autism & Mental Health, it features the work of five young autistic artists and explores the thoughts and feelings that these young people had over the COVID lockdowns. Join us in celebrating this challenging and thought-provoking work.
The exhibition runs until Saturday 25 June.
Apprenticeship opportunities
Right now, over on myjobscotland we are advertising 15 modern apprentices and two graduate apprentices. If you know someone who would like to join the team and be part of the Council's award-winning early careers programme then please encourage them to apply. They are open to East Dunbartonshire residents aged 16-24 years (or those who attended an East Dunbartonshire Secondary School) and cover services such as Early Years, Building Standards, Roads and Streetscene.
Full steam ahead for path improvements
A popular pathway is being upgraded - making it even easier and safer for people to get active along one of East Dunbartonshire's most scenic routes. The Strathkelvin Railway Path will be resurfaced between Kilsyth Road in Kirkintilloch and Campsie Road in Lennoxtown (approximately 4,500m). The anticipated timescale is 13 June until 22 July 2022. Due to the nature of the project and extent of improvements, the closure is unavoidable and there will be no access for the public during that time. For full info, visit the News section of our website.
Jubilee Musical Tribute
In addition to lighting up our buildings in regal purple for the Jubilee weekend our East Dunbartonshire secondary school orchestra were back in action to mark the occasion after an enforced COVID break. They played Dambusters and Highland Cathedral in a moving musical tribute to Her Majesty which has been posted on our Council YouTube channel. You can read more and find the video link in our news release on the Council website.
Employee Wellbeing
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for June
The June 2022 Healthy Working lives update is live on the Employee Zone of the website, with news of the themes and campaigns that are taking place throughout the month.
- Carers Week (6-12 June)
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, and helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support. This year’s theme is 'Making Caring Visible, Valued and Supported'.
For more information visit the Carers Week website.
- Bike Week (6-12 June)
This year Bike Week is all about you and your local community and encourages as many people as possible to get out and enjoy their community by bike, building on the fact that during the pandemic, many people took up or rediscovered cycling. To find out more visit the Bike Week website.
- Clean Air Day (16 June)
Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, bringing together communities, businesses and the health sector. It encourages everyone to take action on the same day and do one thing to help reduce outdoor air pollution. For more information visit the website.
- Diabetes Week (13-19 June)
This year, Diabetes Week is celebrating each and every person with diabetes and their daily juggle to manage their blood sugar levels. To get involved or for more information visit the website.
- Men’s Health Week (13-19 June)
Men’s Health Week is time for men everywhere to give themselves a health MOT. For useful information and guides visit the Men’s Health Week page on the NHS website. And look out for #menshealthweek on social media.
A full range of helpful wellbeing information and advice on a wide range of topics, including physical activity and emotional wellbeing, is available on the Wellbeing page of our Employee Zone.
Our Employee Assistance Programme also includes a free 24 hour confidential helpline/support service ‘Time for Talking’. Full details of the service and how to access it can be found on our Employee Assistance Programme page in the Employee Zone. There is a wealth of information and support available on all aspects of life.
Other News….
AskSARA for help with independent living
Our East Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership launched the AskSARA website at the end of last month. AskSARA is an online self-help tool for anyone with a disability to help them to identify aids and adaptations to make life easier living at home. To find out more and for links to the site visit our AskSARA news release on the website.
Meet 20 women who changed the world!
20 Historic Women who changed the World is a new exhibition at the Auld Kirk Museum which will run from 2 July to 25 August. It showcases the work of Nigerian born Doncaster artist Chinwe Russell and features names such as Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie and Queen Elizabeth I. Visit our exhibition news release or the EDLC website for more details.
Dates for your Diary
6-12 June Carers week
6-12 June Bike week
9 June Welcome session for refugees & hosts, Lenzie
13-19 June Diabetes week
13-19 June Men’s Health week
20-26 June Cervical Screening Awareness week
23 June Final Council before summer recess
And finally...
As always, my continued thanks to you all – stay safe and keep well. The next DCE Update will be in a fortnight’s time, week beginning Monday 20 June.
Ann