Tag: Scottish Book Trust

National Lottery funding helps empower local communities across Edinburgh

FRESH START AMONG THE BIG WINNERS

Charities and community groups across Edinburgh are today sharing in the latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. 

Thanks to National Lottery players, they are amongst 453 projects sharing in  £11, 824,401 for a range of activities, helping to empower and connect people in communities across Scotland. 

West Pilton’s FRESH START is among the big winners, receiving £180,000. The local charity will use the funding to continue to support people moving on from
homelessness across Northwest Edinburgh.

Across the three years of the project, the group will support approximately 5,800 people with 450 volunteers. Volunteers will be individuals with lived experience of homelessness.

Fresh Start said: “We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our fundraising application to the National Lottery Community Fund.

“This award will allow us to continue to run our services, helping people with lived experience of homelessness, providing support through starter packs, the community pantry, community meals, empowering people with new skills, growing produce, cooking skills and having access to specialised advice.”

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country.

“This project delivered by Fresh Start (Scotland), is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”

Edinburgh College received over £136,000 to continue delivery of their counselling service for students. The counselling is delivered by trained staff, either in
person or online, and is flexible to suit the schedule and needs of the individual in
need of support.

There was over £82,000 for Edinburgh Women’s Aid, who will use their funding to build an integrated mental health programme for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse.

As well as supporting hands on mental health delivery, this project will look to improve internal evaluation processes and engage with other services across Edinburgh to make their services more effective. The project will work with 555 people over the three year delivery period.

Dads Rock received £67,391. The project will continue to match trained peer support volunteers with new dads during the perinatal period who are experiencing anxiety, depression, difficulties in bonding with their new baby.

Passion4Fusion offer a range of programmes for the diverse needs of minority ethnic families in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Thanks to an award of £41,500 they will be able to offer a range of support services for black, African people dealing with long term conditions.

One service user Nala* (*not her real name) a 57-year-old African woman with a range of long-term health conditions who moved to Edinburgh to seek asylum.

Nala was missing important appointments as she struggled to read and interpret her medical letters in English. A worker from the project supported her to understand the health systems in Scotland, linked her with African groups and supported her at hospital appointments.

Nala said: “I am very happy I found people like me who can understand my situation. I was feeling very lonely and isolated but now I have my new African family I belong to.

“I am now able to do things that I haven’t been able to do in a while for instance, I really love going to the gym and I wouldn’t have done it without the support.”

Commenting on the project Huruma Health worker Lucrecia said “There is nothing more rewarding than helping others.

“As you can imagine, being alone in this country can be challenging and most of our service users have no immediate family members. The Huruma project creates culturally appropriate family support and a sense of belonging.”

Jonathan Ssentamu, Founder and CEO, Passion4Fusion, said “The Huruma Project continues to address the disproportionate impact of health inequalities affecting Africans in our community who are finding it difficult to access mainstream services.

“ This contribution is enabling us to support our service users, we’re so grateful for the continued support for our work.”

An award of £30,000 means that the Scottish Book Trust will run their ‘Reading is Caring’ programme for the next three years. 

The programme uses shared reading to support people living with dementia and anyone who cares for them and is designed to ease daily challenges of dementia by creating special moments of connection, sparking positive memories and relieving stress.

Martha and her husband Sandy took part in the project while caring for Martha’s mother Susan, who was living with dementia at the time.

Martha said: “Thank you again for your wonderful course – it added new skills and confidence to the way I read with Mum for her last few months and that was something very special.”

Commenting on the latest funding, Koren Calder, Project Manager, Scottish Book Trust, said: “This funding from The National Lottery Community Fund will allow us to reach more people living with dementia and the people who care for them, by creating new, flexible ways to access the benefits of the Reading is Caring programme.”

A neurodiversity charity is to launch a three-year specialist service for children and young people in Lanarkshire living with the challenges of neurodiversity thanks to Lottery funding.

Edinburgh-based Salvesen Mindroom Centre has been awarded £109,343 from The National Lottery Community Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, to deliver a dedicated one-to-one support service for children and young people who have neurodevelopmental conditions and neurodiverse families in North and South Lanarkshire.

The initiative will be led by two highly-skilled outreach specialists within the communities and address issues including problems surrounding the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopment conditions; securing appropriate help at school or in further and higher education; and dealing with complex correspondence and multiple agencies.

Support will be tailored to individuals and families and is aimed at achieving positive changes on a practical level and, through advocacy, ensuring the voices of children and young people are heard.

Between 15 and 20% of the population are estimated to be neurodivergent and Mindroom has witnessed a 137% rise in people using their services in Lanarkshire since 2018.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Thornburrow says: “We have seen at first hand the difference that receiving appropriate resources can make to neurodivergent children, young people and neurodiverse families in crisis.

“Over a number of years, we have steadily increased our caseload in Lanarkshire in response to a growing demand for our services and we’ve had some amazing feedback from clients whose lives have improved.

“This award from the National Lottery will help us ensure that many more people are helped and their lives transformed. We put the needs of the client at the very heart of our rights-based approach and aim to empower individuals, families and carers to become more confident and active participants in whatever they choose to do.

“We already have valuable, established relationships with a range of agencies and organisations in Lanarkshire including the NHS, Love Autism, schools and social work departments. This longer-term funding will enable us to build on these vital connections and increase our provision so that more neurodivergent children and young people and neurodiverse families can receive personalised help and benefit from opportunities for enhanced support.”

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still: said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country.

“This project delivered by The Salvesen Mindroom Centre (SMC), is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”

The Lanarkshire initiative, funded under the National Lottery’s Improving Lives scheme, will run from September 1 this year to the end of August 2026.

For more information on the Salveson Mindroom Centre go to:  

https://www.mindroom.org/

Commenting on the latest grant round of funding The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still: said: “National Lottery funding continues to make extraordinary things happen in communities across Scotland.  

“I am delighted that this funding will be used to support projects across Edinburgh which have been developed by and for local people which will allow communities to come together to make life better for everyone.

National Lottery player players can be proud to know that that money they raise is helping to support this vital work in Edinburgh.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.    

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk     

TNLCF-September-2023-PRDownload

Next chapter for Reading Schools

More pupils to benefit from ‘transformative’ programme

The First Minister has encouraged every school in Scotland to join Reading Schools, a Scottish Government-funded programme that supports attainment and benefits pupils’ health and wellbeing.

So far, 371 schools have been awarded Reading Schools accreditation and 511 more have joined the programme – which independent evaluation has shown leads to more pupils reading for pleasure and can help to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.

It is hoped that every school in Scotland will be a Reading School within three to five years.

In addition to Reading Schools, the First Minister will underline his personal commitment to promoting both literacy and numeracy by supporting the ‘Read Write Count with the First Minister’ programme, which will provide books and literacy materials to children when it opens in the autumn.

The First Minister and the Education Secretary heard about the benefits of Reading Schools during a visit to Claypotts Castle Primary School in Dundee.

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I am pleased that the hugely successful First Minister’s Reading Challenge has now evolved into a reading support programme that will benefit even more pupils, and involves the whole school community.

“We know that reading can support improved attainment across the curriculum and that embedding a reading culture in schools can open the door to a lifelong love of books.

“I look forward to working with the Scottish Book Trust and schools across the country on both Reading Schools and the refreshed Read Write Count with the First Minister set to launch in the autumn. These fantastic programmes will support children in improving both literacy and numeracy across Scotland.”

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Evaluation has shown the clear benefits of Reading Schools to pupils and school staff and I look forward to seeing the impact of this next phase in our work with the Scottish Book Trust.

“I would encourage every school in Scotland to join the programme so that pupils can enjoy all of the positive impacts that reading brings.”

Claypotts Castle Primary School head teacher Nicky Murray said: “The Reading Schools award has allowed us to focus our effort, energy and enthusiasm and protect time within our school improvement agenda to drive forward a culture of reading in our school.  

“We have already awarded over 250 certificates to children this year to celebrate their reading achievements and the feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The Reading Schools award has given us the opportunity to align our vision of a community and school improvement focus to extend the life and ethos of the school into every home in our local community.”

Marc Lambert , CEO of the Scottish Book Trust, which delivers the Reading Schools programme, said: “We look forward to supporting even more schools on their Reading Schools journey in the years ahead. 

“Reading Schools is already having a transformative effect in schools, both on young people and learning professionals, as well as the wider school community.

“We are delighted that the First Minister and Scottish Government continue to show their commitment to literacy and numeracy, benefitting pupils across all ages and stages of their education.”

Reading Schools

Participating schools

First Minister’s Reading Challenge: Edinburgh pupil wins national award

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has today announced this year’s winners of the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.

Coen, a P7 pupil from Liberton Primary School, has won the Pupil Reading the Most Books award after reading an incredible 71 books over the course of the school year.

The First Minister’s Reading Challenge was established in 2016, and celebrates the reading journeys of schools, libraries, and community groups across Scotland. The Challenge is run by Scottish Book Trust, working closely with Education Scotland. It includes book suggestions, learning resources, prizes, case studies and ideas to help young people develop a love of reading, as well as the opportunity to apply for funded author visits.

Andy Theakston, P7 class teacher (above) said: ‘At Liberton Primary School, we are incredibly proud of Coen and how much commitment he has shown to the First Minister’s Reading Challenge.

“He is an avid reader and was very keen to take part right from the start of the year. We knew he would read a lot of books during the challenge, but to win is an absolutely fantastic achievement!’

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Many congratulations to this year’s First Minister’s Reading Challenge winners, as well as to those who were highly commended.

“Reading for pleasure supports attainment across the curriculum – as well as boosting empathy, wellbeing and critical thinking – and we are delighted to see how schools, libraries and community groups have used the Challenge to develop their reading cultures.’

The First Minister’s Reading Challenge was launched in March 2016 and in its first year was open from August 2016 to March 2017 to all Primary 4 to Primary 7 children in local authority and independent schools across Scotland. 

In its second year the Challenge was expanded to include Primaries 1 to 3, and in its third year, the Challenge was expanded to include Secondary Schools, Libraries and Community Groups.

Full list of this year’s winning and highly commended groups:

·         Classroom Inspiration Challenge

o   Winner – The Selkies from Parklands School (Argyll & Bute)

o   Highly Commended – P6b from Darnley Primary School (Glasgow City)

o   Highly Commended – Campsie View School (East Dunbartonshire)

·         Reading Inspiration Challenge

o   Winner – Dornoch Academy (Highland)

o   Highly Commended – King’s Park Secondary School (Glasgow City)

·         Pupil Reading Journey – Group

o   Winner – Braco Primary School (Perth and Kinross)

o   Highly Commended – Golfhill Primary School (Glasgow City)

·         Lower Primary Pupil Reading Journey

o   Winner – P1–3 from Bankton Primary School (West Lothian)

·         P4 Pupil Reading Journey

o   Winner – Ivy from Findochty Primary School (Moray)

·         P5 Pupil Reading Journey

o   Winner – Judy from Oakgrove Primary School (Glasgow City)

·         P7 Pupil Reading Journey

o   Winner – Daisy from Findochty Primary School (Moray)

·         Library Reading Culture Challenge

o   Winner – Denny Library and Denny High School (Falkirk)

·         Community Reading Culture Challenge

o   Winner – Virtual School NLC Letterbox Club (North Lanarkshire)

·         Pupil Reading the Most Books

o   Winner – Coen from Liberton Primary School (Edinburgh City)

Scottish Book Trust launches Reading is Caring appeal

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, is launching an appeal during Dementia Awareness Week (29 May – 4 June) to support Reading is Caring – a programme which provides personalised training to help people support loved ones living with dementia through sensory, shared reading experiences.

A survey commissioned by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 80% of Scots worry about losing meaningful connections with loved ones through dementia, and 75% worry about how dementia might affect them.

Reading is Caring is designed to ease daily challenges by creating special moments of connection, sparking positive memories and relieving stress.

It is currently only available in the Scottish Borders, Edinburgh and the Lothians, and the charity is raising funds to reach more people in need of support.

A recent participant of the programme, caring for her mother who lives with dementia, said: ‘When we’re reading together, Mum is back in a world where she can read a book, remember, and enjoy. Like music, it’s a way of reconnecting her with who she is.’

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, added: ‘More and more people in Scotland are living with dementia or caring for someone with dementia. We have seen the huge difference Reading is Caring makes to the daily lives of those living with dementia and the person caring for them.

“We want to reach more people all over Scotland with our specialised support.’

To learn more about Reading is Caring, or to donate to the fundraising appeal, visit scottishbooktrust.com/donate/reading-is-caring.  

Edinburgh writers receive New Writers Award

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has today announced the 2023 New Writers Awardees – recipients of a prestigious year-long writer development programme which includes mentorship, a bursary, and opportunities to showcase work to publishing industry professionals.

Four Edinburgh-based writers are in this year’s cohort: young adult fiction writer Sonali Misra; children’s writer Henry Coles; Gaelic poet Robbie MacLeòid and poet Medha Singh.

There are in total 11 writers on this year’s programme, including two writing in the Scots language and two in Gaelic. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the Callan Gordon Award, a place on the programme which is awarded in memory of Callan Gordon, a young Scottish writer, and funded by the Gordon family.

Previous awardees include Booker Prize winner Graeme Macrae Burnet; bestselling author of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman; and acclaimed writers Kirstin Innes, Rachelle Atella and Sarah Smith.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘This year’s cohort of New Writers Awardees showcase some of the best new writing talent in Scotland.

“We’re excited to support them on the next stage of their writing journeys to help them develop and hone their skills further.’

Alan Bett, Head of Literature & Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: ‘Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards continues to launch fresh and inspiring voices into professional writing, supporting them every step of the way.

‘We’re excited to see the future of Scottish literature emerge from this list and, eventually, onto bookshop shelves. The list of successful authors and poets to have come through New Writers is testament to the success of the programme, helping them develop their creative work and navigate the professional challenges of these early career stages. We wish them all success.’

Alison Lang, Director of Gaelic Books Council, said: “Tha sinn toilichte a bhith ag obair còmhla ri Urras Leabhraichean na h-Alba a-rithist airson an cothrom luachmhor seo a thabhann do dhithis sgrìobhadairean a bhith a’ leasachadh an cuid obrach. Tha Duaisean nan Sgrìobhadairean Ùra air cuideachadh mòr a thoirt do dh’iomadh sgrìobhadair aig toiseach nan dreuchdan aca, agus tha sinn an dòchas nach bi e fada mus faic sinn bàrdachd Robbie MhicLeòid agus sgeulachdan goirid Dhòmhnaill Eòghainn MhicFhionghain ann an clò.’

‘We are pleased to be working with Scottish Book Trust once again to offer this valuable opportunity to two writers to develop their work.

The New Writers Award has given many writers a head start in their careers, and we hope it won’t be long before we see Robbie MacLeòid’s poetry and Dòmhnall Eòghainn MacKinnon’s short stories in print.’

PICTURE: Rob McDougall

Get shoogling for Bookbug Week!

Bookbug Week is taking place this week (15–21 May), encouraging little ones and their families to dance to their favourite songs and rhymes and then cosy up with a story.

This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Shoogle and the week will focus on the benefits of movement and dance for early years development.

Dance and movement are not only fun for little ones, but play an important role in their development. Movement helps young children to build strength and mobility. The tactile elements of many songs and rhymes help them to learn about different parts of their body.

Bookbug is a national programme run by Scottish Book Trust, a charity changing lives with reading and writing. All children in Scotland receive four Bookbug Bags full of books and activities between their birth and first year of school.

Families can also share songs and rhymes in fun Bookbug Sessions in local libraries and community groups and through the Bookbug app. The Scottish Government has been supporting Bookbug since 2010.

This year’s Bookbug Week celebrations will include a partnership with BBC Tiny Happy People, a free-to-use website with fun activity ideas to help support 0–4-year-olds’ speech, language, and communication development.

They will be adding some brilliant activity idea films to the Bookbug app for one week only, which highlight the importance of parents and carers talking to their little ones as early as possible. BBC Tiny Happy People will also be joining Glasgow Life at the Mitchell Library on Wednesday 17 May for a day of Bookbug Sessions and fun activity events for families.

Popular children’s entertainers Sprog Rock will be premiering their brand-new music video, featuring children from Forbes Nursery in Leith, on Tuesday 16 May. Also online, Scottish Book Trust is running a competition to win a special selection of 10 books, a musical instrument kit and a space hopper.

There are Bookbug Sessions taking place across the country, with some local authorities putting on extra activities: Aberdeen libraries will be setting up shaker-making stations, science educators Mini Professors will be running sessions in Fife libraries about sound waves, and little ones in South Ayrshire can practice their fine motor skills through robotics app Osmo in their local libraries.

Children and Young People Minister Natalie Don said: ‘I am very excited for this year’s Bookbug Week and their special Bookbug’s Big Shoogle theme.

“Initiatives like this can help encourage an early love of books among children in addition to providing great opportunities for parents and their wee ones to spend time together whilst having fun and learning.

‘Both reading and being active have multiple benefits for children, including supporting positive mental and physical health, relationships and improved attainment.

‘I’m delighted that the Scottish Government are able to provide increased funding for 2023/24 of £1.8 million for the continuation of the Bookbug programme.’

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “We’re excited to share Bookbug’s Big Shoogle with families across Scotland this year, celebrating the benefits of movement and dance.

“Our thanks to Emma Melchor for designing this year’s brilliant Bookbug Week illustration.’

Locally Bookbug sessions are on Tuesday at Granton Library at 11am or Pilton Neighbourhood Centre at 10.30, and on Friday at Granton Library at 11am or Muirhouse Millenium Centre at 10.30 am!

Check out the libraries facebook pages for more details. 🙂

Edinburgh author wins prestigious Fellowship

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the fifth Ignite Fellowship awardees – including Edinburgh-based author Tim Tim Cheng. 

The Ignite Fellowship supports established writers embarking on a significant project. The Fellows receive a £2,000 bursary and tailored creative support to suit their individual projects.

Gail Anderson, (above) based in North Ayrshire, and Gaelic writer Rody Gorman, based on Skye (below), have also been awarded Ignite Fellowships this year.

Tim Tim Cheng is a poet and teacher from Hong Kong, whose writing explores womanhood, multilingualism and psycho-geography.

Her debut pamphlet Tapping at Glass was published by Verve Poetry Press earlier this year, and she also co-edited an anthology of Hong Kong poetry, Where Else, coming out with the press on 27 April.

Tim Tim Cheng will use the Ignite Fellowship to work on her forthcoming debut collection, inspired by her time in Scotland.

Tim Tim Cheng (above) said: ‘I am so grateful for the award. I am working on my first full poetry collection as I try to settle down as a new immigrant.

“The support will surely help me focus on making the book better!

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Congratulations to our three new Ignite Fellows, who are very deserving of this award.

“The Ignite Fellowship provides writers with essential mentoring, financial assistance and practical support that will help them reach new heights in their careers.’

National charity seeks Scotland’s real-life stories of adventure

Members of the public asked to share their tales and reap the benefits of writing for pleasure

Members of the public are being asked to share their real-life stories by national charity Scottish Book Trust.

In its fifteenth year, Scotland’s Stories is an annual writing opportunity where people can share a true story from their life, around this year’s theme of adventure. A selection of stories submitted will be published in a free book, distributed during Book Week Scotland.

Research has found that flexing your creative muscles can support mental health and wellbeing, increase happiness and even delay or reduce symptoms of dementia. The charity wants as many people across Scotland to take part and enjoy the benefits of writing a story for fun.

The opportunity is open to everyone in Scotland, whether they write regularly or haven’t penned anything since school. Stories can be about little everyday happenings to new challenges or once in a lifetime adventure.

Submissions of up to 1,000 words can be made in English, Scots or Gaelic in any form, such as a written story, poem, comic strip, play or letter. Audio and video formats are also welcomed.

A selection of stories will be chosen to be published in a free book, distributed across Scotland through libraries and community groups during Book Week Scotland (13–19 November 2023), Scotland’s national celebration of books and reading. All entries will also appear on the Scottish Book Trust website.

Alongside the stories from the public, Scottish Book Trust has commissioned pieces from several writers: poet, columnist and performer Len Pennie; current Scots Scriever Shane Strachan; poet and spoken word performer Mae Diansangu; author and food writer Sumayya Usmani; as well as Gaelic writers Seonaidh Charity and Alistair Paul.

Stories should be submitted by Friday 2 June 2023 via scottishbooktrust.com/about-scotlands-stories or by post to: Scotland’s Stories, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Scotland’s Stories is one of the highlights of Scottish Book Trust’s work, giving a platform to people all over Scotland.

“This opportunity is open to anyone, whether you see yourself as a writer or not. It’s a privilege to collect and share these stories. We’d love to see as many people as possible pick up a pen and enjoy the positive benefits of writing for pleasure and share a story of adventure and what that means to them.’

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi cuspair na bliadhna, ‘dànachd’, a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu bhith a’ cur peann ri pàipear.

“Tha Seonaidh Charity, Alistair Paul agus ùghdaran stèidhichte eile air pìosan a sgrìobhadh mar-thà, agus tha sinn airson guthan a’ mhòr-shluaigh a chluinntinn cuideachd mar phàirt den iomairt inntinneach seo. Siuthadaibh, ma-tà… agus bithibh dàna.’

‘We hope that this year’s subject, ‘adventure’, will inspire people to put pen to paper. Seonaidh Charity, Alistair Paul and other established authors have already written pieces on this theme, and we want to hear the voices of the public too as part of this fascinating initiative. So get writing… and let the spirit of adventure lead you.’

Biographies

Len Pennie

Len Pennie is a poet who writes predominantly in the Scots language. She is passionate about the promotion of minority languages and the destigmatisation of mental illness. She has a regular column in The Herald, and her first collection, poyums, will be published by Canongate in February 2024.

Shane Strachan

Shane Strachan is the National Library of Scotland’s current Scots Scriever, writing new work in Doric inspired by the national collections. His stories and poems have appeared in New Writing Scotland, Northwords Now, Gutter, Stand and other national literary magazines and anthologies.

He has staged work with the National Theatre of Scotland and, following the award of a Scottish Book Trust Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship in 2018, he exhibited his spoken-word project The Bill Gibb Line in Aberdeen Art Gallery across 2020–2021. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Aberdeen.

Sumayya Usmani

Sumayya Usmani is a Pakistani-born writer, author, and mentor. Sumayya won the Scottish Book Trust, Next Chapter Award 2021 for her memoir, Andaza (Murdoch Books, 2023).

Sumayya went from practising law for twelve years to pursuing food writing. Her first book, Summers Under the Tamarind Tree (Frances Lincoln, 2016) was the first Pakistani cookbook in Britain. It won the Best First Cookbook category in the Gourmand Cookbook Awards in 2016 and was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award.

Her second cookbook, Mountain Berries and Desert Spice (Frances Lincoln, 2017) was shortlisted in the Best Cookbook of the Year category at the Food & Travel Magazine Awards. Sumayya is a regular on Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet with Jay Rayner and writes for national and international publications.

Mae Diansangu

Mae Diansangu is a poet and spoken word artist from Aberdeen. She has performed at literary festivals across Scotland and appeared on BBC Scotland’s Big Scottish Book Club and BBC Radio 4’s Tongue and Talk.

Her series of poems ‘black lives, heavy truths’ is part of the National Library of Scotland’s collection. You can read her work in the anthologies Tales fae the Doric Side and Re creation – a queer poetry anthology. Mae writes in both English and Doric and is working on her first collection.  

Seonaidh Charity

’S e tidsear àrd-sgoil a th’ ann an Seonaidh Charity. ’S ann à Loch Bhraoin ach tha e a’ fuireach san Eilean Dubh. Chaidh a’ chiad nobhail aige An Làmh a Bheir fhoillseachadh mar phàirt dhen sreath ‘Lasag’ le Sandstone Press. Chaidh na sgeulachdan goirid aige fhoillseachadh ann an irisean leithid danamag, Northwords Now agus 404 Ink. 

Seonaidh Charity is a secondary school teacher who works in Inverness. He is originally from Lochbroom but now lives on the Black Isle. His first novel An Làmh a Bheir was published as part of the ‘Lasag’ series (Sandstone Press). Seonaidh has had short stories published in danamag, Northwords Now and 404 Ink. 

Alistair Paul

Tha Alistair a’ fuireach an Eilean Arainn far a bheil e ag obair na ghàirnealair. Chaidh na leabhraichean ficsean aige, Linne Dhomhain agus Fir an Diùraidh, fhoillseachadh le Luath, agus tha an obair aige air nochdadh anns na h irisean Tuath, STEALL agus Poblachd nam Bàrd.

Alistair lives on the Isle of Arran where he works as a gardener. His works of fiction, Linne Dhomhain and Fir an Diùraidh, are published by Luath and his writing has also appeared in Tuath, STEALL and The Poets’ Republic.

Reading is Caring: New support for people living with dementia

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity working to change lives with reading and writing, has launched a series of free workshops, available online and in local libraries, designed to help those who support and care for people living with dementia.

The charity runs Reading is Caring, a programme which provides personalised training on creating shared, sensory reading experiences to those caring for someone living with dementia – whether that’s a partner, relative, friend or professional carer. Reading is Caring is designed to ease daily challenges by creating special moments of connection, sparking positive memories and relieving stress.

A Reading is Caring participant, caring for her mother who lives with dementia, said: ‘Reading is Caring was fantastic. The stories bring mum into the here and now. She laughs, she’s interested and engaged. I get a glimpse of her personality again, which is lovely for both of us.’

Now in its third year, Reading is Caring has been proven to provide a consistent, connective activity for family, friends, and professional carers to use at every stage of the dementia journey.

People in Edinburgh and the Lothians who support someone living with dementia can attend a two-part workshop series online, or head along to one of the drop-in sessions at Craigmillar Library and Musselburgh Library.

These free workshops provide the knowledge and tools needed to share reading with someone living with dementia. Scottish Book Trust provide personal support throughout and after the training to help tailor the experience to the unique needs of each person, removing barriers to participation at every stage of their dementia journey.

Musselburgh Library workshops:

  • Monday 27 February: 3–4pm
  • Monday 6 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 13 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 20 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 27 March: 3–4pm
  • Monday 3 April: 3–4pm

Craigmillar Library workshops:

  • Thursday 2 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 9 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 16 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 23 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 30 March: 10.30–11.30am
  • Thursday 6 April: 10.30–11.30am

Online workshops take place regularly and can be found on Scottish Book Trust’s website.

Charity brings stories to life at Royal Hospital for Children and Young People for Christmas

Children and their families at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People were visited by storytelling and performance duo Macastory as part of the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour on Friday (9 December). 

Macastory shared songs and stories in an interactive event for the children in attendance. The tour is run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, and sponsored by Scottish Friendly.

Alongside the event, children at the hospital and their families were gifted books by Scottish Book Trust to keep and enjoy. These were gifted as part of Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, which is fundraising to help gift and distribute books to families across Scotland during the festive period through food banks, hospitals, and other community spaces. Books bring comfort, joy, and escapism, and the initiative aims to bring the magic of books to families most in need this Christmas – especially in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour takes brilliant authors and illustrators to schools in all areas of Scotland for fully-funded events that hope to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing in pupils.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘We’re delighted to have been able to return to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital with the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour, this time for a fun-filled event with Macastory in time for Christmas.

‘Bringing the magic of stories and books to children in hospital is hugely important – books can provide comfort and pleasure as well as improve overall wellbeing. Alongside today’s event, we were glad to be able to gift books to children in hospital and their families thanks to the generous support of the public.’

Fiona O’Sullivan, Director of Children’s Wellbeing at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Macastory to the hospital for this fantastic event. Storytelling is so powerful; being transported to another time or place can be so beneficial for children when they are unwell.

“No one wants to be in hospital at any time, but at Christmas it can be especially hard, so we are enormously grateful to Macastory for bringing lots of fun and distraction to the wards and waiting areas.’

Macastory, comprising storytellers Ron Fairweather and Fergus McNicol, said before the event: ‘We are delighted to have been invited by the Scottish Book Trust to be involved in the Christmas programme at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital.

“It’s a great way for us to bring our Christmas storytelling to kids who otherwise might miss out on this type of fun at this time of year. So we’ve picked our favourite Christmas tales to bring to the kids, families and staff at the hospital and we can’t wait to create some Christmas cheer for everyone to enjoy!’