CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 1st OCTOBER 2021

Covid Update

Major problems have been reported with Scotland's Covid vaccine passport app, just hours after its launch.
People now need proof they have had two doses of vaccine in order to enter nightclubs and many other large events.
The NHS Scotland Covid Status app only became available to download on Apple and Android devices at about 17:30 on Thursday.
But many people have said they were unable to access their vaccination status through the app.
The Scottish government said more than 70,000 people had downloaded the app on Thursday, with a spokesman adding: “This huge demand did mean that some people experienced delays and we are sorry that happened.
“We have now increased the capacity of the NHS systems that sit behind the app – where most of the issues causing delays have occurred – in order to deal with demand and, as a result, we are seeing increasing numbers of people now able to access their records.”
Anecdotal evidence on social media suggested that problems may have arisen when people tried to use their NHS CHI number to register.
This step comes after users are asked to take a picture of their passport or driving licence.

No vaccine drop-in clinics are being offered by two of Scotland's largest health boards.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which covers a population of almost 1.2 million, and NHS Lanarkshire, which looks after 655,000, have nowhere for people to walk in and get a Covid jab.
NHSGGC, which employs 38,000 staff, says on its website that no drop-ins are currently scheduled.
NHS Lanarkshire's site says no clinics will be offered after 1 October.
An NHS Lanarkshire spokeswoman said the focus was now on Covid booster vaccinations and the flu jab and that the volume of people attending appointments for those meant that an appointment system was the best way to manage large numbers of people.
She said: “Friday 1 October will be last day for drop-in vaccination clinics for the time being.
“As we start to deliver the Covid booster and flu vaccinations the number of people attending our clinics is significantly increasing, therefore we do not have the capacity to also offer drop-in spaces.
“If your appointment is not suitable, we would encourage you to reschedule it. Details on how to do this will be on our appointment letter.”

Extra Mile Award 2021 entries open

Scottish Craft Butchers and The Scotch Butchers Club are delighted to announce that nominations for the annual training awards are now open!

It is definitely worth encouraging your customers to submit a nomination form. The benefits of winning a Craft Butcher Training award can last a lifetime.

Entries to be submitted by the 29th October 2021.

Your customer could win a £100 voucher to spend in your butcher's shop.

The presentation of the awards will take place after business at the AGM of the Scottish Craft Butchers on Wednesday 24th November 2021 in Dundee.

The “Extra Mile Award” has a cash prize for the winner and a shop voucher for the customer who makes the best nomination.

Online entries can be submitted in the link below. There are also printable entry forms and a poster you can print out and display on the premises.

https://craftbutchers.co.uk/story.php?t=Scottish_Craft_Butchers_Extra_Mile_Award_2021&ID=2656

PLEASE POINT OUT TO ANY CUSTOMERS THAT WANT TO NOMINATE THAT THERE IS A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF 100 WORDS IN THE WRITTEN NOMINATION

Members Meeting October 2021

We are delighted to have 2 of our corporate members, Walters Turkeys and Kelly Bronze, present to us about turkeys in the lead up to our busiest time of year.

In a change to the original line up, unfortunately, Charlie Munro from John M Munro ltd in Dingwall is unable to join us that evening. Charlie apologises and has offered to present on another evening in the new year.

Instead, our President, Tom Courts, has offered to talk to us about his business in Burntisland and his journey in the meat industry.

Welcome to our new members

Scottish Craft Butchers are delighted to welcome our new members. It is a pleasure to be working with you and look forward to seeing you all at our various events in the future!

Ronnie Stalker
R Stalker & Son
9 New Street
Dalry
Ayrshire
KA24 5AH
01294 832174

Ronnie also has another shop in Beith

Ronnie's third shop of his will open soon.

Liam Scott
Lurch Monster's Tilly Butcher
61 Hayton Road
Aberdeen
AB24 2RN
01224 480249
www.thetillybutcher.com

Scotch Pie Awards open for entries

The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2022 are now open for entries.
Scottish Craft Butchers members have been very successful in the past in the various categories. Indeed, the Champion of Champions Scotch Pie title went to our own James Pirie and Son in Newtyle earlier this year.

The link to the entry form and rules is below

https://worldchampionshipscotchpieawards.org/competition.php

Lamb for St Andrews Day Campaign

Following the success of previous years, The Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) are once again promoting the Lamb for St Andrews Day Campaign. Scottish Craft Butchers have always been supportive of the initiative, and we thank you for that support.
In 2020 COVID regulations stopped us promoting events and get together as a way of celebrating St Andrews Day with Scotch Lamb. IAAS took the decision to target Scottish secondary school Home Economic departments to reach our younger consumer.
The results were fantastic with over 11,500 children cooking with and tasting Scotch Lamb.
This success encouraged us to repeat it in 2021. So far, we have around 25,000 kids 'signed up' to participate and we want the whole red meat industry to participate and share in the success.
IAAS have set up a Lamb Bank to help farmers take part. The Lamb Bank allows farmers to donate the value of a lamb which will then be used to fund the scheme nearer to St Andrews Day.

John Scott Meat are also supporting the campaign by purchasing Scotch Lamb via lamb bank funding and slaughtering for us.
We would also like members of the Scottish Craft Butchers to be part of this great campaign. We have schools across Scotland participating and we'd like to team up with local butchers who will butcher and deliver the lamb required by those schools.

Our vision is that local butchers could access local schools to provide a butchery demonstration at the same time as delivering the lamb and build a positive relationship with teachers.
To take part please email Neil Wilson on [email protected] with details of the postcode areas you'd like to cover.

We will then cross reference with participating schools and arrange for the required amount of lamb to be delivered to you in November for cutting and delivery.
Local butchers may also wish to participate by donating lamb to local schools themselves. Again, those willing to do so please contact Neil Wilson who can arrange logistics in conjunction with interest parties.

Thank you for all your support and I look forward to us working together.

Update to e-mail contact details

As we have now completed the process of changing the name of the organisation to “Scottish Craft Butchers” we have also taken to opportunity to change our e-mail addresses to reflect this.
Please note the new e-mail contact details for Gordon and Bruce below.
Our mobile numbers remain the same.

Gordon King: [email protected] 07917524313
Bruce McCall: [email protected] 07834490922

The Scottish Craft Butchers office in Perth is staffed every weekday.

We will be available to our members to answer any queries via email or by mobile phone
and will be available out of office hours for any members wanting to contact us.