Latest news with #VFF
Scotsman
3 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh care home opens its doors to locals to celebrate prestigious ‘Veteran Friendly' accreditation
An Edinburgh care home has achieved a prestigious accreditation and is opening its doors for a special morning. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... On Tuesday 19th August, from 11am – 12pm, Care UK's Murrayside on South Beechwood, Corstorphine, is inviting the community to celebrate its recognition for excellence in tailoring care for Veterans. Murrayside is the first care home in Scotland to receive 'Veteran Friendly' status – a landmark achievement that reflects its commitment to recognising and supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Guests will be welcomed to a coffee morning, with tea, coffee and cakes. It's a chance to enjoy meaningful conversation, connect with residents, and celebrate the spirit of community. Murrayside opens its doors to locals to celebrate prestigious 'Veteran Friendly' accreditation Among those joining the morning are representatives from Help for Heroes, Veterans Community Café, The Defence Medical Welfare Service, and Dreghorn Barracks – all of whom play an important role in supporting Veterans locally. Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside, said: 'We're always grateful for an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the community, and this event is a chance to do just that. 'Achieving Veteran Friendly accreditation is a proud milestone for the whole team and being the first care home in Scotland to do so makes it all the more special. It's a reflection of our ongoing commitment to recognising and supporting those who have served, and it holds personal meaning for many of our residents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're keen to honour everyone who played a part in this achievement and to celebrate the incredible contributions of Veterans past and present. We're looking forward to welcoming guests for what promises to be a memorable and meaningful morning.' Murrayside has officially received 'Veteran Friendly' status for meeting eight standards laid out in the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans' Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The VFF framework involves noting Armed Forces status within residents' care plans, addressing social isolation, and signposting residents and their relatives to relevant support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans and their partners. Murrayside care home, which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, has been specially designed to support residents in living active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. It incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies, and has its own cinema, hair and beauty salon, café and namaste rooms. To find out more about Murrayside, please contact Customer Relations Manager Cliona Robertson on 0131 516 2487, email [email protected] or visit
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Health
- NZ Herald
Anti-vaccine group Voices For Freedom's book criticised for misleading Covid claims
The book features photos and descriptions of 22 supporters of the VFF movement under the Latin heading 'dramatis personae', including Nelson-based lawyer Sue Grey who was recently fined for breaching a suppression order. A marketing lecturer told the Herald the design strongly evokes the look and feel of Government documents, risks misleading readers into assuming it's endorsed by the Government, and poses reputational risk for the legitimate Royal Commission. However Deeks said the book was necessary because commissioners overseeing the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response were relying on government agencies and 'favoured experts'. VFF was allowed to make submissions as part of public hearings on vaccine safety last month. 'If the public is to engage meaningfully, they need access to a clear, evidence-based counterpoint while the hearings are live, not months later,' Deeks told the Herald. Nelson-based lawyer Sue Grey is listed in the book as one of its 22 "dramatis personae" - or list of characters. Photo / NZME The book claims foreign DNA found in Pfizer and Moderna vaccine vials could cause cancer and 'genomic instability', suggests deaths increased as a result of the booster vaccine rollout, and that there's no robust scientific evidence for the widespread use of face masks. Many of the topic-based sections are written or co-authored by New South Wales lawyer Katie Ashby-Koppens. Ashby-Koppens has been helping represent the views of VFF founders Alia Bland and Deeks during hearings at the Government's Royal Commission. She has no medical qualifications. Otago University epidemiologist professor Michael Baker told the Herald he was 'mystified' as to the purpose of the book. He said the most productive channel for making valid arguments about the country's Covid-19 response was at the Government's official Royal Commission, where submitters, including members of the VFF, were asked to justify their views. University of Otago epidemiologist, Professor Michael Baker said if claims haven't gone through the scrutiny of a peer review process they "don't have much standing". Photo / Supplied Baker said there was also another way to gain scientific credibility. 'If you think the science is wrong, the most effective channel is to write something and get it published in a journal. Then it goes through a peer-review process. Unless it goes through some scrutiny, it doesn't have much standing,' he said. There was 'no evidence' to support increased mortality being linked to the use of vaccines, he said. The anti vaccine group Voices For Freedom has produced a 271-page book about New Zealand's response to the Covid-19 pandemic which a marketing expert says looks like a Government document. Photo / Michael Morrah Baker's colleague and professor of public health at Otago University Nick Wilson didn't think the publication was worth spending money on. 'From a public health perspective, if they're not using well-informed people, it [the book] has very little value. 'There has been a range of evidence on masks that show that they work.' Professor Nick Wilson said the book has little value "if they're not using well-informed people". Photo / John Gerritsen, RNZ He said New Zealand's Covid-19 response 'was not perfect' but it worked - a conclusion supported by the first phase of the Royal Commission, which finished last year. 'We have some very thorough documents from the first Covid inquiry. That is the official source of information,' he said. Commissioners in the first phase the inquiry concluded the vaccine mandates were 'reasonable' for specific professions in 2021 and said lockdowns were an effective tool for managing virus elimination. VFF's book uses the colour navy blue throughout and states on the front cover that it's a 'special report' on the New Zealand Royal Commission of Inquiry. Auckland University's Dr Herbert Sima said there is a credible likelihood the publication could be mistaken for an official government report. Auckland University senior marketing lecturer Dr Herbert Sima told the Herald the design of the book was problematic. 'There is a credible likelihood that this publication could be mistaken for an official government report,' he told the Herald. He said those unfamiliar with VFF or its contributors, or those who skim read the document without reading the fine print could be misled. 'The design employs multiple visual and textual strategies that can strongly evoke the look and feel of an official government document.' He said this included the navy blue colour palette and bold sans-serif fonts. He said that raised ethical concerns from a marketing perspective. 'It risks misleading readers into assuming government endorsement. It leverages public trust in official inquiries to amplify the advocacy group's viewpoint,' he said. He said it also posed reputational risks for the Royal Commission. Deeks said navy blue is a longstanding brand colour of VFF and the movement's logo is displayed on the book's cover. 'The Government does not have dibs on a colour palette,' she said. In response to Baker, Deeks claimed the book did contain legitimate scientific perspectives. 'It is grounded in peer-reviewed science, official data, and testimony from internationally recognised experts, many of whom advised governments before 2020,' she said. Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won News Journalist of the Year at the 2025 Voyager Media Awards and has twice been named reporter of the year at the NZ Television Awards. He has been a broadcast journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald's video team in July 2024.
ABC News
04-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Rate relief, food payments and water funding in new $75m Victorian drought package
The Victorian government has announced a $75 million drought assistance package for farmers struggling through the state's long dry spell. It is the biggest and most significant announcement the government has made during this drought and includes council rate relief for farmers, with a rebate of about 40 per cent for producers in 12 of the worst-affected areas of the south-west. The funding also includes $2 million for food and grocery support, with up to $1,000 per household, $6.3 million to cover government "red tape" fees and $25 million for water management. "We've been listening to farmers and communities who do it tough," Premier Jacinta Allan said. "This support delivers real help, right now." The state's peak farm lobby group, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomed the support but said it should have come earlier. "A lot of farmers will tell you [the drought support package] has come too late," VFF president Brett Hosking said. The government has now announced a total of $144 million for farmers during the extended dry conditions. The state's south-west has been worst affected with 15 months of record low or below-average rainfall until last month. Almost $36 million will go towards rate relief for farmers in the council areas of Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Geelong and southern parts of West Wimmera. The government says that equates to a 40 per cent rate reduction. "This isn't about dollars, it's about backing the people who feed our state and the regional communities that keep our state strong." Ms Allan said. The government has also committed $24 million to water infrastructure to better prepare for droughts. It will be used to extend the East Grampians rural water pipeline and to expand emergency water supply options, groundwater bores and domestic water access. "We are investing in both short-term solutions and legacy infrastructure to improve resilience and water security for farmers and their communities," Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said. Despite recent rain, the state is still feeling the effects of drought, with a cold winter resulting in very little growth in pastures for hungry livestock. Ararat lamb producer Charlie de Fegely said the funding was surprising and welcome news. "This is fantastic, because people are desperate for water, given the very long dry spell," he said. Mr de Fegely said a secure water supply would enable farmers to retain livestock during drought. "Tragically, breeding ewes are being sold simply because people don't have water," he said. Mr Hosking said it would take time for farmers to recover. "There is no feed in the paddock, particularly for cattle and even for sheep there is not the feed to support them in the paddock, and farmers are still hand feeding," he said. The Country Women's Association (CWA) will manage the household payments of up to $1,000 for farmers in the south-west. Catchment Management Authorities will receive $1 million to run drought employment programs, which help people receive payments while working on projects that help the environment. There is also $6.3 million for fee and duty relief, which Brett Hosking said would help, although he had questions about the details. "It's removal of red tape funding on things like biosecurity levees that you pay on the sale of livestock will hopefully be waived and I think the government is still working out the details on that one," he said.
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Forest Healthcare Centre, Grace Manor, Latest in the Network to Achieve Veteran Friendly Framework Member Status
05/14/2025, Borehamwood WD6 1EP // PRODIGY: Feature Story // Grace Manor Care Centre, a private 24-hour nursing home in Gillingham that is part of the respected Forest Healthcare network, has confirmed that it has successfully achieved accreditation through the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF). The centre is now able to claim the title of a Veteran Friendly Care Home—the most recent centre in the group to complete the process. The VFF is a collaboration between the Royal British Legion (RBL), the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, and Royal Star & Garter. Its goal is to encourage care centres to improve health and well-being outcomes for the approximate 25,000 veterans currently living in English care facilities. The Importance of Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation for Grace Manor Care Centre Forest Healthcare has already committed to becoming VFF accredited across several other of its high-quality care centres. Grace Manor is the latest to concentrate on developing support systems and training resources for carers to ensure the needs, well-being, and happiness of veterans are a focal aspect of personalised care planning. Research conducted by the RBL found that around 8% of all care home residents in England and Wales, excluding partners and spouses, have served and that concerted efforts are needed to ensure they receive acknowledgement and additional support. The charitable organisation has identified challenges associated with varied emotional and physical needs, the impacts of military duties on the lives of older adults, and the key importance of recognising and understanding how best to ensure Armed Forces community members receive acknowledgement, access to community groups, and connection with other veterans. To apply for VFF accreditation, care centres must submit an application demonstrating their adherence with eight standards. They must, for example, provide evidence of provisions that will ensure care home residents with Armed Forces status are recognised and their needs incorporated into care plans, sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant, and ensure there are signposting policies in place to connect residents with charitable and statutory support services. Grace Manor Care Centre's Pathway to Achieving VFF Membership While many private care centres may have a proportion of veteran residents, VFF membership was particularly important for Grace Manor Care Centre. The care home is close to several military bases and barracks, past and present, including closed bases such as HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks, which opened in 1902 and is now part of the Universities of Medway, and the Royal Marine Barracks based at Gun Wharf Chatham, which closed in 1950. Several other meaningful bases or military installations remain near Grace Manor, including the Royal Engineers Museum located within Kent town and the Royal School of Military Engineering, which has a campus in Brompton built along the remains of the Chatham Dockyard Great Lines and remains active today. Although the veteran proportion of the population in Kent is around the average for England and Wales, there is a high likelihood of dedicated nursing centres in and around these specific areas to welcome residents with an Armed Forces background. Commenting on the application from Grace Manor Care Centre, the VFF mentioned that it was of an 'exceptionally high standard' and represented a commitment to 'forging some meaningful connections' with the local Armed Forces community and healthcare services. Celebrating Veteran Friendly Framework Accreditation at Grace Manor Gabriele Jerome, Manager of Grace Manor said, ' It was wonderful to receive confirmation of our accreditation and our Veteran Friendly Framework Certificate, which is now proudly displayed in the centre. Enormous thanks go to our talented, dedicated, and compassionate care teams, who embraced the opportunity to reinforce and enhance their learning about how best to support our veteran residents and embarked on this project with such enthusiasm. The accreditation process gave us a fantastic chance to access new educational resources, identify local services and communities that can enhance the quality of life for veterans, and look at new ways to ensure Armed Forces status residents are recognised and supported and that their military history is recorded as an integral part of care planning.' Grace Manor Care Centre is one of six Forest Healthcare centres now officially recognised as VFF Friendly. Belmont Lodge in Chigwell, Essex, Ash Court in Camden, London, Bridgeside Lodge in Islington, London, The Poplars in Maidstone, and Pinehurst in Crowthorne, Berkshire, are also featured on the VFF Status Care Home Map published online through the Veteran Friendly Framework. Read more about Forest Healthcare - Forest Healthcare Network's The Grange Care Centre Scoops Prestigious Accolade in Awards About Forest Healthcare Forest Healthcare is an established care provider dedicated to consistently delivering an outstanding quality of life to the residents they serve. With a network of care centres across South-East England, Forest Healthcare specialises in catering to a wide range of care requirements, including; residential, nursing, dementia and specialist care. The organisation's mission is to provide a family feel to the exceptional care they deliver by valuing, respecting and caring for each and every person who lives and works at Forest Healthcare. Media Contact: Chris Salter (020) 7250 0156
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Farmers hit the streets to protest emergency services levy hike
Farmers have gathered on the steps of Melbourne's parliament to protest a proposed $616m hike to an emergency service tax by the Allan government to fund public servants. The tax is set to replace the Fire Services Levy and would leave many of the state's agricultural producers, who are also volunteer firefighters, footing the bill. Dozens of fire trucks were spotted heading towards Spring St on Friday morning, causing traffic chaos across the CBD and major delays on city arterials, including the West Gate freeway, as the mob made their way from Derrimut McDonald's. The convoy, which was expected to be made up of more than 90 farmers, was joined by members of the United Firefighters Union. Protesters congregated on the steps of parliament, some donning cowboy hats and firefighter gear, to vent their anger. Several trucks lining the sidewalk displayed signs reading 'scrap the tax' and 'rural lives matter'. Many of the farmers protesting are also volunteers with the Country Fire Authority (CFA). Fireys, farmers and local council members continue to outspokenly oppose the new levy that is projected to rake in an extra $2bn from landholders. Some were reporting cost increases of 400 per cent, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) said. The government said the median levy on primary producers would rise from $621 to $1299 per assessment, a 109 per cent increase. VFF president Brett Hosking said the 'unfair' tax hike had united the state's regional communities. 'This tax is unfair, unnecessary, and completely out of step with what Victorians expect from their government,' he said. 'This is a moment for the Victorian community to stand up and say 'enough is enough'. 'Don't burn regional Victoria with more taxes.' The controversial legislation was shelved in April due to a lack of parliamentary support, but is reportedly set to put back to a vote next week when parliament resumes. The CFA and Premier Jacinta Allan have been contacted for comment.
