Latest news with #GordonThomson
Press and Journal
22-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Fraserburgh amputee: 'Closing Can-Do centre robs me of reason to get up in the morning'
Gordon Thomson started helping out at the Can-Do recycling project in Fraserburgh nearly 20 years ago. Volunteering there has been a big part of his life, keeping himself busy by spending three days a week sorting out the metal into different piles. When he heard it was closing down, he 'couldn't even move' and remained in bed for the whole day contemplating a future without it. Gordon is just one of several disabled north-east residents and their families battling plans to axe eight disability daycare projects across Aberdeenshire. And this week, they turned out in force at the Broch's Robertson Road centre to make their feelings known. Gordon was just one of the crestfallen protestors we spoke to… The Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) is ploughing ahead with major changes in a bid to save £17 million. And the axe could fall on these beloved services within days, with a crunch meeting next Wednesday. Under the new plans, the Robertson Road Centre in Fraserburgh would be retained as the 'main hub' in the north of the county. Banff Day Services and Buchan Day Opportunities would be kept alongside this. However the Can-Do Recycling base and shop in Fraserburgh and Connecting the Broch could be scrapped, among others in the region. I meet Gordon as he brandishes a placard outside the Westshore Industrial Estate building. He has been attending Can-Do in Fraserburgh for around 17 years. The announcement that Can-Do was at threat of being axed filled him with dread. He explained: 'These two lassies came in and told me, they said 'sorry to tell you but we've got to stop'. 'I'm still there yet, but I haven't got a clue what is happening there and I don't know when it will end.' Gordon said the revelation made him feel 'very, very sad'. He added: 'It really hurt me… It will be a big miss to me whenever it happens.' Gordon revealed the news of his beloved project being at risk of closing came as a big shock, so much so that he didn't leave his bed the next day. 'I couldn't even move, my carer wondered what was happening because she was phoning me up,' he told me. 'When she came in, I eventually told her and it just started me up again…' Gordon admits he finds working with the shop side of it 'boring', but he loves organising the recycling into their designated buckets – and all of the separation is done by hand. The site also deals with large oil cans collected from restaurants. Once everything is in the right place, it is bailed up and taken away. Users and volunteers then clean the buckets ready for the next day. 'The best thing is when it comes to half past two and you go, 'Yee-ha!' because it's time to go,' Gordon says with a chuckle. Mindful of the site he has come to love, he can't help wonder what will become of it. 'I'd like to know what is going to happen with the shop and what they are going to do with all the stuff that's inside it – it's a busy place.' Julie Buchan volunteers at Can-Do and works alongside 'hard worker' Gordon. It's clear the two have struck up a close bond. 'Gordon is just the bones of the place,' she tells me with admiration. 'He knows all of the work and helps others – he helped me as a volunteer.' Gordon instantly fires back: 'I keep her right. We are the A-Team because we don't muck about, we just get going.' Julie started volunteering at Can-Do a couple of years ago and admits she didn't realise how much work went on there. 'They provide donated affordable furniture, household items, bikes and beds for people that need it,' she adds. 'The recycling element of it is widespread because the collection trucks go out to Banff, Macduff, Mintlaw, right round to Fyvie. 'If Can-Do is not collecting all of the recycling, where is all of that stuff going to go?' Plans have been made for Gordon to attend the Men's Shed instead, however a recent visit left him feeling disappointed as he struggled to access the site with his wheelchair. Anne-Marie Lawrence is among the crowd too. Her 19-year-old son Dylan has been attending Robertson Road for just over a year but he also visits the recycling project two days a week. The proud mum said: 'He loves Can-Do, he likes getting out in the truck.' Julie attests to this, chipping in: 'He gets stuck right in and shovels the tins away.' However, Anne-Marie tells me Dylan's future care arrangements still hang in the balance. 'I've not had confirmation in writing but I got a text message to say not to worry about Dylan, he would still meet the criteria,' she tells me. 'When I had my meeting for my son, they asked how I would feel about travelling to Inverurie. 'I told them I didn't have time to travel across the north-east, I've got my own job to go to – they just don't think.' As well as services like Can-Do closing, tighter rules on who is eligible for care are being rolled out. It could mean certain people are entitled to less than they have become used to. And another mum eager to share her story is Alison Duthie. Her 19-year-old son Christopher, who takes seizures, has epilepsy and severe learning disabilities, has been attending the Robertson Road centre for almost a year. Christopher visits the centre four days per week, but this could be cut down to just three. 'We get 22 hours just now,' Alison said. 'If we don't get that and there's nothing to entertain Christopher in the Broch, it would affect his mental health and mine as well. 'You fight tooth and nail for your bairns, and because they are disabled they've got a raw deal – it's heartbreaking.' I then meet Denise Macdonald and her sister-in-law Ellie Fairclough. Denise took on the role of being Ellie's personal assistant but sees Ellie as a daughter. The 28-year-old has Down's syndrome and a weak heart, and is monitored regularly because of this. Ellie attends Robertson Road five days a week and loves going there to hang out with her friends. The family have been told that going forward, Ellie will qualify for two or three days maximum – and this is causing concern. 'What's going to happen to Ellie for the two or three days she's not at the centre? My partner works full-time so who is going to watch Ellie? 'Ellie can't go on the bus, she has no concept of what money is and she wouldn't know when to get off… She needs to be with an adult 24/7. Denise explains that Ellie doesn't understand what is going on at the moment and won't take the reduction in days well as she hates change. 'She might think she did something wrong,' Denise worries. Aberdeenshire health chiefs carried out studies on each of the services at risk, determining how adversely their closure could affect vulnerable people. They say the 'majority' of people who attend Can-Do are 'not eligible' for in-house daycare services and will 'be offered an alternative' within the community. The report states: 'Learning disability teams are skilled in supporting transitions with service users/families /carers and will work with them to support people into new or alternative services. 'Traditionally services like Fraserburgh Can-Do Recycling and Shop were supporting less complex people with learning disabilities.'
The Print
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Print
Vodafone Idea partners with Cisco to enhance network for faster, reliable internet
The move will transform Vi's network infrastructure, efficiency, and scalability, all while elevating the user experience for customers across India. New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced its partnership with Cisco to boost its network infrastructure which will provide faster, more reliable internet connections for high-quality video streaming, online gaming, video calls and everyday browsing to the users. As part of this collaboration, Vi will deploy a cutting-edge Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based transport network powered by Cisco, the company said in a release. By integrating Cisco's MPLS solution, Vi will bolster reliability and robustness of its network infrastructure. This collaboration will also enable Vi to efficiently manage high volumes of data traffic, offering consumers and businesses an improved level of network performance and stability, the release said. With these advancements, consumers will enjoy faster, more reliable internet connections for high-quality video streaming, online gaming, video calls and everyday browsing, the release said. For businesses, from startups to large enterprises, the network will offer secure, seamless connectivity that powers daily operations, enhances productivity and supports the demands of a digital-first world. This improved network performance will ensure that both consumers and businesses can rely on Vi for consistent and high-quality digital experiences. By leveraging Cisco's advanced networking solutions, Vi will be able to further streamline network operations, reduce costs, and accelerate service innovation through dynamic, software-driven management. 'Our collaboration with Cisco demonstrates our commitment to staying at the forefront of network technology,' said Jagbir Singh, CTO at Vi. 'Cisco's proven expertise in MPLS solutions will empower our network to automate critical network functions, optimize traffic management, and rapidly adapt to changing market demands. This robust transport network is designed to meet the challenges of modern network environments, ensuring high performance, reliability, and security. This project highlights the power of combining robust technology with forward-thinking vision.' 'Building a 4G/5G backhaul network is essential for seamless connectivity. With Cisco's IP / MPLS solutions, Vi can deliver faster, more reliable and scalable digital experiences across India. Our collaboration with Vi is powering a future-ready network, one that meets the evolving needs of users,' said Gordon Thomson, Vice President, Service Provider – EMEA, Cisco. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cisco bags MPLS transport infra deployment deal from Vodafone Idea for 4G, 5G services
NEW DELHI: US telecom gear maker Cisco has won a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)-based transport network deployment deal from India's third-largest telecom operator, Vodafone Idea (Vi). By deploying Cisco's MPLS solution, Vi will be able to bolster the reliability and robustness of its network infrastructure, while efficiently managing high volumes of data traffic, offering its mobile users and businesses improved service experience, the companies said in a joint statement Thursday. With these advancements, users will be able to enjoy faster, more reliable internet connections for high-quality video streaming, online gaming, video calls, and browsing, Vi said in the statement, adding that for startups and large enterprises, the network will offer secure, seamless, connectivity for daily operations and enhanced productivity. By leveraging Cisco's advanced networking solutions, Vi further said it will be able to streamline network operations, reduce costs, and accelerate service innovation through dynamic, software-driven management. 'Our collaboration with Cisco demonstrates our commitment to staying at the forefront of network technology,' said Jagbir Singh, chief technology officer (CTO) at Vi. 'Cisco's proven expertise in MPLS solutions will empower our network to automate critical network functions, optimise traffic management, and rapidly adapt to changing market demands.' 'Building a 4G/5G backhaul network is essential for seamless connectivity. With Cisco's IP/MPLS solutions, Vi can deliver faster, more reliable and scalable digital experiences across India. Our collaboration with Vi is powering a future-ready network, one that meets the evolving needs of users,' said Gordon Thomson, vice president (service provider - EMEA), Cisco. Vi is currently deploying fifth-generation ( 5G ) network infrastructure and modernising 4G as part of $3.6-billion multi-year deals with Sweden's Ericsson , Finnish Nokia , and Korean Samsung. Vi's 5G services are already live in select metro cities such as Mumbai, and the telecom carrier will gradually expand the 5G availability in other priority circles.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cisco To Participate in Upcoming Events with the Financial Community
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it will participate in the following events with the financial community: No new financial information will be discussed at these events Mobile World Congress, Barcelona Monday, March 3, and Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Financial Analyst / Investor Meetings Cisco Representatives: Kevin Wollenweber, SVP/GM, Cisco Networking – Data Center and Provider Connectivity Gordon Thomson, VP, Service Provider, EMEA Morgan Stanley TMT Conference, San Francisco Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Investor Meetings Cisco Representative: Martin Lund, EVP, Common Hardware Group 1st Annual BNP Paribas Exane TMT Conference, London Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Investor Meetings Cisco Representative: Chintan Patel, CTO, EMEA OFC 2025, San Francisco Tuesday, April 1, 2025 Investor Meetings Tech Talk: 7:30am-8:30am PST (Tech Talk webcast will be available on Cisco Speaker: Bill Gartner, SVP/GM, Optical Systems and Optics Group About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. Investor Relations Contact: Press Contact: Sami Badri Robyn Blum Cisco Cisco 469-420-4834 408-930-8548 sambadri@ rojenkin@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
