Around Town
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THE BEST EVENTS, TALKS AND SPORT
* Swinging on a Star
You probably think you weigh loads after eating a whole packet of custard creams, but not as much as the planet, according to Dr Andrew Conway and Dr Peter Clive. Hear how they found out. ScottishPower Planetarium, Glasgow, Thu 28 Jul.
* Mardi Gras
Celebrate the Starbucks Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival as floats and revellers parade from Chamber St to the Grassmarket. See jazz listings for full festival line-up. Grassmarket, Edinburgh, Sat 30 July.
* Bletchley Park and the Enigma Code
Ann Mitchell helped to break the top secret Enigma codes that played a significant part in the Allies’ victory. She talks about the methods used in this groundbreaking round-the- clock operation. National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Tue 2 Aug.
* The 63rd World Science Fiction Convention
Fiesta of all things sci-ti, featuring the announcement of the winners of the Hugo Awards, the leading accolades for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. SECC, Finnieston Quay, Glasgow, Thu 4—8 Aug.
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If you have time on your hands, don’t waste it. Morag Bruce joins Scotland’s volunteer army to find out why we should work for free.
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Sunday morning. white wine memories still coursing through my wins. I was with l.othian ('onservation Volunteers at Bawsinch Nature Reserve at the loot ol' Arthur's Seat. 'l'hey '\e planted an area of the reserye with saplings. hut while the trees are little they tend to get swamped hy dominant. last growing weeds. Hence the volunteers coming in and getting all (irim Reaper.
liach week. regardless ol- season. the tltclithet's ol‘ the l.(‘V are otit and ahout working their green lingers not quite to the hone. You don't haye to go along ev ery Sunday just check the wehsilc to see it there's a task you lancy and call to hook. (‘learing ‘Cgk‘lilll‘m N” 1‘” Gil-XV ,loh. hut chat l'rom l‘ellow de- leal‘ers makes tip for it.
Sarah .\1c('onachie. a (il’ li‘om l-dinhurgh. has heen \olunteering with the group tor a numher of years. ‘lt‘s a way to see lo\ely parts ol‘ otli' local area. It‘s great exercise. gets the outdoors and l l‘ecl l‘ltt tloiltg a little tor the environment in the process. Despite Scotland‘s clitnate. we actually don‘t seem to get soaked very ol‘ten.‘ she says. ‘lt‘s an easygoing. relaxing way to spend a Sunday and it‘s surprising how therapeutic chopping down enormous rhododendron hushcs can he alter a htlsy' week at
work. Most importantly. we have a superh range of biscuits for tea hreak.‘
There are many more Sarahs in Scotland. with approximately 43% ol~ the adult population giving up their time regularly. Lesley (ireenaway. deputy chief executive officer ol‘ Volunteer Development Scotland. says it’s not just the wider world that henelits. ‘By Volunteering. people can have a direct impact on their local community. but it‘s also very rewarding in terms ol‘ personal development. It can he an el‘l‘ective tool in building value and self worth. particularly for groups who might normally he excluded or not see themselves as volunteers such as disahled people or those ol‘ low socioeconomic status‘.
Hacking unwanted l‘oliage to hits might not he your hag. hut it‘s just one of' thousands of volunteering opportunities available and every skill base is represented. ll. you want to get involved. your lirst port of call should he your local volunteer centre. (‘lick on the (ilasgow Volunteer (‘entre wehsite and choose from a wide scope of activities: hairdressing. marketing. l‘undraising and accountancy work are just some examples.
As the hahy trees stretched their branches into newly acquired room to hreathe. freed from curtains of sticky willows. I might have heen totally knackered. and I might have had various ecosystems tangled in my hair. hut standing hack and admiring the results ol’ my gral't made it more than worth it.
www.lcv.org.uk; Volunteer Centre Glasgow 0141 226 3431, www.volunteerglasgow.org; Volunteer Centre Edinburgh 0131 225 0630, www.edinburghvolunteers.org
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