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The National
7 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Hydro pump project announce '£20m a year' Highland community fund
Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) said that its commitment is expected to deliver more than £20 million a year throughout the operational lifetime of the project. GEE claims its proposed Community Wealth Fund will be the largest of its kind anywhere in the UK energy sector. The community fund would focus on providing financial support to go towards key issues like housing, local infrastructure, jobs, nature restoration, and community wellbeing projects. READ MORE: Scottish train engineering firm lands major contract creating 40 new jobs The proposed 2GW pumped storage hydro (PSH) project is still subject to planning permission and would be located at Balmacaan Estate, close to Loch Ness, and aims to generate 34 GWh of clean energy. The announcement follows the publication of a new developer-led research report, the first of its kind in the UK energy sector, which brings together national polling, public consultation, and direct input from communities. GEE said the report marks a major step in the development of the community fund as it sets out local priorities, design principles, and governance themes that reflect what the developers have heard during consultations. Rachel Searle, head of Communities and Impact at Foundation Scotland, welcomed the 'pioneering' announcement, saying GEE has gained a better understanding of the area by engaging with its local communities. She said: 'At a time when the wider policy environment of community benefit has become quite contested it is exciting to see such a pioneering and ambitious community benefit opportunity emerging from Glen Earrach Energy, which recognises the wide ranging and sustained benefits that can be achieved at different levels with a project of this scale. 'Glen Earrach Energy have achieved this through their own rooted understanding of the area, their considered engagement with stakeholders – especially those communities most directly impacted by the project – and an openness to building on and learning from what's gone before.' The Community Wealth Fund was developed through consultation with local residents, community organisations, and regional partners. (Image: Paul Campbell) GEE said the consultation helped to ensure that the fund's structure, priorities, and delivery reflect the communities whose resources and infrastructure will underpin the project, whilst providing meaningful benefit for the wider region. The developers added that it is already working closely with local community councils, the Highland Council, Soirbheas, and Foundation Scotland. Roderick MacLeod, director of GEE, said that his firm is listening 'carefully' to what local communities want to see as a priority for funding. He said: 'The GEE Community Wealth Fund is about more than sharing the benefits of clean energy, it is about creating long-term value for the communities who make this project possible. 'We have listened carefully to local priorities and worked with communities and partners to develop a model that is transparent, independent, and built for the future. 'Our aim is simple: to create a fund that delivers real impact, not just for the next few years, but for the next hundred and beyond.' Angus MacDonald MP, who represents the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency where the project is to be built, said the commitment of 5% is a 'meaningful stake' for the local community. (Image: Glen Earrach Energy) He said: 'One of my first major campaigns after being elected was to ensure that communities who host clean energy infrastructure see the benefits from it. Over the past year, I have repeatedly raised this issue in Parliament and had meetings with communities, Ministers and energy companies to try and deliver a breakthrough. 'In my maiden speech to Parliament, I proposed that 5% of revenue from new renewable projects should go to the communities that support them. That idea was rooted in the belief that if rural areas are asked to host nationally significant infrastructure, they should see lasting, tangible benefit in return. 'Glen Earrach Energy committing to 5% of gross margin is recognition that communities deserve a meaningful stake in the transition happening around them. This shows what's possible when developers take local leadership seriously, and I hope it sets a precedent across the sector.'
The National
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Doctor who grew up in Gaza speaks at Highlands pro-Palestine march
Dr Salim Ghayyda, a paediatric consultant at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, addressed a pro-Palestine demonstration in the city centre on Saturday afternoon. At least 1000 people turned out to the march, which was organised by Highland Palestine and Highland Hearts for Palestine to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) (Image: Paul Campbell) It comes amid Israel's ongoing blockade of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and the announcement earlier this week that Israeli ministers approved plans to capture and occupy the entire Gaza Strip. Campaigners gathered at the bottom of Stephen's Brae and then marched across Ness Bridge – where a planned sit down and silence took place – before finishing at Bught Park. READ MORE: Scottish musician releases single condemning Israel's 'war crimes' in Gaza Ghayyda, who was born and grew up in a refugee camp in Gaza, has been raising money for the last 18 months to get 31 members of his family to safety. He has so far raised more than £125,000, but he still has four brothers and a sister, along with their families, who remain in Gaza. Ghayyda (below) has worked in the NHS for 20 years and is now married, with a son and two daughters. (Image: Paul Campbell) Addressing the crowd on Saturday, Ghayyda said: "The genocide movement is continuing to grow, and we need to continue putting the pressure on governments and politicians to stop this genocide, to free Palestine and to bring justice back to the Palestinians. "It's the most hideous crimes you can think of as a human, it's wicked and it's cruel and it must never be accepted by the free world. To deny children and people of food and water it inexcusable." READ MORE: Israel 'sending soldiers to commit war crimes in Gaza', says former army chief Ghayyda added: "It's very emotional every time I turn up [to the marches], I'm not sure people will show their support, but they do, in bigger numbers. (Image: Paul Campbell) 'Today was a show of solidarity for Palestine, it's the second march here in Inverness. It's a sign that solidarity has become normality, people from all of society showing up and expressing disgust for what Israel is inflicting in the Palestinian people. "We need to come together and show our governments that we believe this is wrong." It is the second demonstration in Inverness organised by the two groups, with the inaugural march taking place in October. Organisers previously spoke with The National about how they are ensuring the pro-Palestine movement continues to thrive in the Highlands. (Image: Paul Campbell) Saturday's march coincided with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, which falls on May 15th every year. Nakba Day commemorates the 750,000 Palestinians who were forcibly displaced and more than 500 Palestinian cities, towns and villages which were destroyed by Israel in 1948 during the country's formation. Leanne Maclean, one of the main organisers of the event, said: "No food or aid has entered Gaza in two months. We are watching children, caged with no where to go, starving and then getting bombed in their tents whilst they are sleeping. It's abhorrent. READ MORE: Scottish Greens call for end to monarchy ahead of major pro-Republic rally 'It's more important than ever to stand together to say to our Government that we wholly reject their actions supporting an illegal occupying apartheid state, whilst they continue to supply them with weapons and intelligence gathered via spy planes, which all of our taxes pay for. Not in our name. 'We have a duty to protect all children and their loss of human rights is a loss to humanity as a whole. It's important that the people of Gaza know that we in Highlands stand with them. 'We are marching to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to let aid and food in." Highland Palestine is a network of people in the region who support the Palestinian right to self-determination. The group has also raised significant funds for charity Medical Aid for Palestinians as well as sending donations directly to families in Gaza. Highland Hearts for Palestine was formed by a group of 30 women who initially came together to support the efforts of Ghayyda. You can donate to Ghayyda's fundraiser here.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- BBC News
The Indian Ocean's laid-back 'paradise on Earth'
Famous for its adorable quokkas, Rottnest Island has become a global favourite. But beyond the selfies lies a rich, complex story of culture, conservation and community. On a recent visit to Perth, I mentioned to a local that I was heading to Rottnest Island the next day. She sighed wistfully. "I love it there," she said. "You're going to love it too. It has a special kind of magic – the kind of place where you kick off your shoes the minute you arrive. Everything slows down and you can breathe a little more deeply." I already felt that Perth was a little like that – at least, life there felt slower and less frenzied than in my hometown of Melbourne on Australia's east coast – but I smiled back, not really knowing what she meant. However, she was right. Rottnest Island, a peaceful 19-sq-km isle off the coast of Western Australia, is, in fact, magical. The spell was cast as soon as our ferry left the mainland, skimming over the Indian Ocean. Humpback whales breached nearby, sending jets of sea spray into the air and flipping their tails as if in welcome. The sky was clear with the promise of a perfect day to come. Just 19km and 30 minutes later, I stepped off the ferry into another world. Rottnest Island has been famously car-free since 1931, and those more in the know than me immediately jumped onto bikes they'd brought with them or wandered off to hire one from Pedal and Flipper, said to be the largest bike hire place in the southern hemisphere. Kids zoomed around in packs, dodging groups of tourists ambling through the main settlement. Some people had fishing rods under one arm; others, surfboards strapped to their bikes. Families stopped at the bakery for a flat white and vanilla slice before heading off to explore the island's 63 beaches and 20 bays, many with evocative names like Little Parakeet Bay and Cathedral Rocks that in no way came close to capturing the grandeur of the scenery in real life. There was no urban noise, no traffic and nothing to worry about. It was idyllic and glorious and everything I imagined a nostalgic care-free (and car-free) island holiday to be. The isle has long been a cherished playground for generations of Western Australian families. "Rottnest is very, very special, particularly to the people of Perth, like me," explained Paul Campbell, a volunteer guide I met not long after I arrived. Campbell spent his childhood holidays on Rottnest and now returns regularly to tell people about his beloved island. "There are no multi-storey high-rise hotels here," he added. "There is no private ownership. If you ever tried to put a multi-storey-anything here for wealthy people, you would be absolutely torn to shreds. We are very protective of our beautiful island." Once a well-kept secret from the rest of the world, in recent years Rottnest has become one of Australia's most Instagrammed destinations, thanks to a certain fuzzy-faced resident: the quokka. In 2013, Huffington Post dubbed the quokka "the happiest animal in the world", and the internet responded in glee. Quokkas – tiny marsupials found only in this small pocket of south-western Australia – seem to smile for selfies in a way that feels almost staged. Tennis star Roger Federer to actress Margot Robbie were among the first celebrities to pose with the infamous animal, helping spark a wave of global attention. Then in 2019 came Chris Hemsworth's now-iconic #quokkaselfie with Matt Damon, which racked up more than four million likes. "Rotto", as locals call it, became the hottest ticket in town, transforming from local secret to global sensation. According to the Rottnest Island Authority, annual visitor numbers have nearly tripled in the last decade, peaking at more than 800,000 at last count. Rottnest, once simple and sleepy, has had to quickly grow up to meet the demands of all these domestic and international tourists. That meant creating more accommodation than the basic cabins and camping that existed, as well as better food and activity options. And what it has done is exemplary, transforming into a model of eco-conscious tourism without losing its soul. As Campbell put it: "When I was nine years old, the [cultural] experience that I had on Rottnest is not that much different to what you're going to experience today." You won't find any private cars here – just a few vehicles for rangers and staff – so most everyone gets about on two wheels or two feet (or the odd skateboard, scooter or Segway), having to occasionally dodge quokkas lounging on the road. Accommodation ranges from beachside cottages with bike racks out front to backpacker dorms to relaxed boutique hotels. While many tourists come on a day trip from Perth, it's much better to stay the night: quokkas are nocturnal and will spend most of the day sleeping under shady bushes. In addition, most day-trippers leave by 16:30, at which point the island truly comes into its own. "Someone once said to me that you can feel the island exhale [when they leave]," said Erin Gallagher from the Rottnest Island Authority. "I just thought it was the most beautiful thing – and it's so true." I was staying at Discovery Resorts, the island's first eco resort, whose 83 glamping tents are shaded by gum trees and Aleppo pines, tucked behind Pinky Beach in the sand dunes. My tent had no aircon or TV, just a ceiling fan for airflow and the sound of the ocean through canvas walls. It was perfect in its simplicity. "[The resort] is designed to immerse guests into the environment," explained Krizza Miclat, the resort's sales and event manager. "A lot of the infrastructure is elevated on steel poles to ensure that we're not damaging the sand dunes. So, if ever we were to pick up and move, we haven't impacted it too much." In fact, nearly everything here works in harmony with the natural environment. Renewable energy is provided by the Indian Ocean's sea breezes and the strong Western Australian sun; while drinking water is drawn from the sweeping white semi-circle of Longreach Bay, desalinated and filtered. Marine sanctuary zones below water mean world-class snorkelling and diving, and an island nursery grows native plants from locally sourced cuttings and seeds. In 2023, a new management plan reaffirmed Rottnest's commitment to sustainability, conservation and culture. "We're always striving to improve," said Gallagher. "Our target is to achieve 75% renewables. There's even an app where anyone can see how much power the island is generating in real time." More like this:• A day out with Bluey: Australia's new experience brings the Heeler family to life• Bindi Irwin's top outdoor adventures in Australia• The hike making Australia a better place In the spirit of low-impact activities, I decided to take a Segway tour around the undulating landscape, rolling along the endless beaches, gliding past the cluster of salt lakes in the north-eastern corner and looking out for whales on the island's Humpback Highway. I steered past the scrub heath that covers much of the island, breathing in its signature salty-sweet smell and dodging prickle lily and feather speargrass. The island is just 11km long and 4.5km at its widest point, but its biodiversity is vast – a Class A reserve where everything from the blue-flowered Rottnest daisy to the long, black king skink I saw on the side of a trail is protected. But not all scenes here are so idyllic. In 1838, Rottnest was turned into an Aboriginal prison. Over the next century, more than 4,000 Indigenous men and boys were incarcerated here for "crimes" that they often didn't know they'd committed. Some were as young as eight years old. Many never returned home. It's a dark legacy that the island is only beginning to address. As I wobbled my Segway back to the main settlement, we passed what looked like an ordinary field. But, my tour guide explained, it is a place of immense significance: the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground where 373 unmarked graves of prisoners were uncovered, with the first discoveries made during construction work in the 1970s. Shockingly, holidaymakers continued to camp on the site until the practice was finally banned in 2007. "It was the largest number of Aboriginal deaths in custody in history in Australia," explained volunteer guide Anne Yardley, when I met her later at the island's Wadjemup Museum. "And from the biggest number of Aboriginal nations." But Indigenous connection to the island stretches far beyond this painful chapter. Long before European settlement, the island was part of the mainland, and archaeological evidence shows that the Noongar people lived on and used the island for tens of thousands of years. Its Indigenous name – Wadjemup – means "place of spirits". "This was a significant place for Indigenous people," Campbell told me. "Ceremonies were held here. But about 6,500 years ago, sea levels rose and this patch of land became an island. The Aboriginal people stayed on the mainland and it was left alone for thousands of years… all through Christianity, the Roman Empire, the Egyptian Empire… until Europeans arrived." Today, Wadjemup is working to tell this fuller story. The small but compelling Wadjemup Museum has been revamped; while walking trails such as the 45km Wadjemup Bidi – made up of five connected trails and built in part by volunteers – connects visitors to historical and cultural sites across the landscape, with interpretive signage and installations by Noongar artists. The Wadjemup Project, an Aboriginal-led initiative, focusses on acknowledging Wadjemup's history of Aboriginal incarceration and the memorialisation of former prison sites. Volunteers play a huge part, too, from the Winnit Club, formed in 1931 by a group of regular campers, to the yellow-shirted Rottnest Volunteer Guides. These and other groups collectively contribute more than 40,000 hours a year to maintaining the island, and their dedication to preserving and sharing its stories speaks volumes about how deeply the island is loved. "There's this balancing act between having enough people to make the place work financially, but not so many people coming here that you lose the reason to come," said Campbell. "It is a very, very special place." I certainly felt that on my visit. One moment I was riding my bike past salt lakes ringed with grey saltbush and coastal pigface, the next watching irresistibly cute quokkas hop around at sunset. I snorkelled an underwater trail through turquoise shallows, gazed onto shipwrecks just offshore and had sunset drinks looking out to incredible ocean vistas. I even tried to get my own quokka selfie, respecting the signs not to feed or touch them in any way but to keep my distance and let them come to me. I laughed as I tried – and failed – to get both myself and a quokka fully in shot, and was reminded of something Gallagher had said to me about the smiling-faced marsupial: "Why wouldn't you be happy if this is where you lived?" It was more than just a line – it was a truth that settled into the bones of the island. Rottnest may be famous now, but it hasn't lost what makes it feel like a local secret: the sense that once you arrive, you can slow down, breathe deeply and kick off your shoes for a while. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aon introduces new benchmarking and advisory service for insurers
UK-based professional services company Aon has launched the Profitable Growth Tool, an advisory service designed to help insurers enhance their performance and market positioning. Aon's Strategy and Technology Group developed the tool, which allows insurers to self-evaluate their performance across several categories and provides feedback for actionable improvements. The tool identifies seven traits for market performance: capital management, clarity in risk appetite, data analytics, distribution, speed, talent and underwriting. Aon Strategy and Technology Group global growth leader Paul Campbell said: 'We recognised that there was a huge difference between top performers and underperformers so we created the Profitable Growth Tool to focus on the key traits of successful companies and help our clients move towards best-in-class performance and better solutions for policyholders.' The tool is designed to offer insight that delivers real value to clients, benchmarking their capabilities and providing guidance on how to be a best insurer. Aon UK CEO Reinsurance Solutions Rupert Moore said: 'Through this consultative framework, we explore several important facets of effectively operating an insurance company from optimising capital to boosting talent in order to meet both customer and shareholder demands.' Aon also highlighted the Maturity Path Model, which offers customised recommendations to support better business decision-making. Clients can engage with Aon's experts to discuss growth opportunities and potential threats, and to formulate practical strategies for sustainable, profitable expansion. In February, Aon introduced a parametric insurance solution to mitigate losses from hurricane-related storm surges in the US. The product, developed in partnership with Floodbase and Swiss Re, is designed to address coverage gaps in conventional insurance policies. "Aon introduces new benchmarking and advisory service for insurers " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Had I not been pushy, it would have been stage 4': The fight to improve outcomes for black cancer sufferers
Getting tested for prostate cancer should've been easy for Paul Campbell. He wanted a check-up after seeing an advert on TV calling for men in their 40s to get thorough health checks. He asked his GP, but was immediately questioned about why he – a man who seemed otherwise healthy – would want a check-up. 'I had to fight my ground, I had to raise my voice. And eventually, I got the test,' Mr Campbell told The Independent. He was later diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. 'Had I not been assertive and pushy, by the time I found out, it would have been stage 4.' Mr Campbell was far from alone in his experience. New research from the NHS Race and Health Observatory found 'alarming levels' of discrimination towards patients from ethnic minorities, and huge levels of mistrust in the NHS system. The survey of 2,680 people found only 55 per cent trusted primary care to meet their health needs most or all of the time, while a third of South Asian participants said they either rarely or never trusted primary care to meet their health needs. If you tell someone they're going to go red and they're black, firstly, they won't believe you. They won't feel like they're being listened to or trusted Naman Julka-Anderson Half of the participants (51 per cent) reported some form of discrimination due to their ethnicity or other characteristics like gender or socioeconomic status, with 49 per cent of black participants and 38 per cent of Asian participants saying they felt they were treated differently. On Friday, the NHS Race and Health Observatory roundtable brought together 20 key partners from local communities, the volunteer sector, the government and broader NHS to discuss the findings. Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: 'We cannot have a two-tier NHS based upon patient ethnicity, background or circumstances. This report reflects the clear need to bring speed and urgency to reform the NHS, so that patients do not face discrimination and systemic barriers when seeking healthcare. ' These issues have a real impact on health outcomes. Cancer Research UK inequalities lead Karis Betts said that while white people in the UK are much more likely to get cancer than people from ethnic minority communities, there was plenty of research that showed people in those communities were more likely to be diagnosed later. 'We know that a lot of ethnic minority groups are more likely to get a late-stage diagnosis,' she said. Mr Campbell, who is now the chief executive of charity Cancer Black Care, said mistrust and systemic racism were key barriers for black people and people of colour receiving timely cancer diagnosis and appropriate treatment, as well as a lack of symptom awareness and fear that cancer was a death sentence. 'Because there's not many black faces available in terms of medical staff, oncologists, and others aren't culturally sensitive, that can make individuals feel misunderstood,' Mr Campbell said. The NHS Race and Health Observatory report found there was a low level of confidence in medical advice and diagnosis of skin conditions in patients with different skin colours. Naman Julka-Anderson, Allied Health Prof & Clinical Adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, said this has been a historical problem in radiation therapy, where patients are told to look out for a 'redness' reaction, regardless of the patient's skin type. 'If you tell someone they're going to go red and they're black, firstly, they won't believe you. They won't feel like they're being listened to or trusted,' he said. Mr Julka-Anderson, who is a therapeutic radiographer, has worked through Macmillan and his own research to change that. He said updating the language around these issues can help in numerous ways. 'If it's caught earlier, we'll be cost-saving further down the line as well: I think that's the impact of being inclusive,' he said. Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England said working out culturally effective ways of informing people about cancer was 'really important' as the service works on its National Cancer Plan. He said further work with community alliances - which has helped boost the number of black men getting diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer - was 'critical' to cancer care in the country going forward. 'I hope that will be a big feature of our cancer plan. How we do this, not just at a national level, but a very local and a very group-specific level, helping people to be diagnosed in a timely way and accessing treatment,' Prof Johnson said. Mr Campbell said it was vital to break down the fear and stigma to ensure Black people and people of colour got the best possible holistic treatment, and small charities were best placed to help. 'We want to provide culturally appropriate and relevant information on all aspects of cancer care, removing fear, bitterness and any misunderstandings,' he said. Mr Campbell, who has been speaking to MPs and ministers about how black people are disadvantaged in cancer care, said he feels positive that the government was serious about improving outcomes. 'It's slow, but change is coming,' he said.
