September 2022 – Page 8 – The NEN

Making a splash! Olympic medallist Michael Jamieson sees surge as growth take off at Swim Academy

In the wake of a Commonwealth Games in which UK swimmers and divers brought in a fabulous haul of 50 medals, Olympic medallist turned entrepreneur Michael Jamieson is enjoying a surge of interest in his hugely popular Swim Academy.

The Central Scotland-based Michael Jamieson Swim Academy (MJSA) classes, all held in private pools, have seen a growth of 30% on pre-Covid numbers, and the successful Olympian is predicting a near doubling of turnover in the coming year.

He has also created significant job opportunities for swimming trainers, lifting his headcount from six in the depths of lockdown to 34 now, and has launched a dedicated Training Academy to address the pressing need for coaches.

Focusing on the younger end of the learning spectrum, with three-to-seven years as the typical starting age, MJSA has also gained traction by having the smallest class sizes in the sector – four to a class compared to the more normal six, and up to 12 in council-run classes.

Jamieson, 34, who won Silver at the 2012 London Olympics and has a clutch of other World, Commonwealth and European medals, said: “After a hugely frustrating time last year, this has been a period of healthy – and sustainable – growth, on which we are building very effectively.

“The Academy is limited by the capacity of the facilities, and one of our biggest venues only opened again in May this year, but the relationship between us and the pools we use is excellent and that is reflected in the customer experience.

“What I have learned over the last few years is that I have to be patient and become a master of the product, providing a dynamic learning environment to develop curious, self-aware, responsible young people through the sport of swimming.”

Jamieson was encouraged in the Covid period by the fact that 92% of parents stayed with him and the 1,100 to 1,200 pupils he was teaching per week has now increased to 1,700, with a target of 2,000 by the Academy’s fifth anniversary in April next year.

Turnover has accelerated from £160,000 pre-Covid to £500,000 in the year to the end of September and Jamieson is predicting a substantial increase to between £850,000 and £1 million to September 2023.

MJSA is currently operating at six venues – Hamilton College, Radio Clyde’s pool in Clydebank, Glasgow University’s Stevenson Building, the Energize Gym in Edinburgh, Edinburgh University’s St Leonard’s Land pool and St Kentigern’s in Blackburn, West Lothian.

Further expansion is predicated on securing new venues and the Academy is on the lookout for new facilities with available key spots, such as the hours immediately after school, which are in high demand. Baby and parent classes, a growth area, are also dependent on a suitable pool temperature.

The use of private, rather than municipal, swimming pools remains very popular with parents and Jamieson said that the Academy is evolving from being regarded simply as an external service provider into relationships which are more like partnerships.

Jamieson said: “Our growth is testament to the hard work and passionate team we have built at MJSW and with our focus on in-house training and development, the team is committed to delivering the best experience possible for the children enrolled.

“Partners such as Glasgow University and Hamilton College have been super positive in their relationships with us and, with the launch of the Training Academy, we can now reciprocate by working with staff and students and even offering work experience placements.”

Deidre Brock MP meets ‘pawsome’ pooches at Dogs Trust West Calder

Deidre Brock MP was greeted to a wagging tail reception during her recent visit to Dog Trust’s West Calder Rehoming Centre.  

The MP for Edinburgh North and Leith was given a tour by Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre Manager Susan Tonner which included seeing the new peaceful garden area designed by the team at BBC’s Beechgrove Garden. Deidre met with current residents including lurcher Phoebe, who has since gone on to find a loving new home.

During the visit, Deidre and Susan chatted about the unprecedented numbers of enquiries the charity is receiving from worried dog owners considering giving up their dogs due to current financial pressures, the impact this is having on rehoming and the need for more foster carers so as many dogs as possible can be helped.

Also discussed was the importance of the imminent return of the Kept Animals Bill to the Houses of Parliament and the impact this change in legislation could have on dog welfare and puppy smuggling.

Speaking about her visit, Deidre Brock MP, said:  “I am very grateful to the staff at Dogs Trust West Calder for taking the time to give me a tour of their wonderful facilities. It was a pleasure to meet Susan and the team who are working tirelessly to provide a better life for their residents as they journey to forever homes.

“The centre is facing unprecedented demand for their services, with pandemic pups still being handed over frequently as people return to work, and as cost-of-living concerns continue to grow, this may put more pressure on dog owners.

“Further to this, the delay of The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill has allowed the illegal trade of puppies to continue, putting the welfare of young puppies and pregnant mums at risk. I fully support Dogs Trust’s recommendation for visual checks for dogs entering the country via ports and the Eurotunnel and hope for this to be introduced as secondary legislation when the Bill returns to Parliament.”

Dog Trust Rehoming Centre Manager Susan Tonner said: “We were delighted to welcome Deidre to West Calder Rehoming Centre. Deidre showed real and passionate interest in the dogs in our care and, also in the issues we are currently facing.

“It was a pleasure to show Deidre some of the specialist behavioural work our four-legged friends require before they are made available for rehoming and to chat about our vital Home from Home fostering scheme which enables us to rehome more dogs throughout Scotland. We are extremely grateful to have her support, interest and understanding in our work finding new homes for rescue dogs.”

Dogs Trust is urgently seeking foster carers in particular for dogs that are more difficult to find forever homes for, such as big dogs and dogs with challenging behaviour. If you think you can offer a dog in need a temporary home while the UK is in financial crisis, please call 01506 874 028 or email HFHWestCalder@dogstrust.org.uk

Anyone interested in rehoming can click here: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/ 

Remember, remember get your pets ready for November

Five top tips to prepare pets for fireworks season – and why you should start NOW

Bonfire Night is a couple of months away, but PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, is urging pet owners to take action now to prepare for fireworks season.

Many of our pets’ senses are far more sensitive than ours, so loud noises and bright flashes can be overwhelming, making fireworks season a traumatic and anxious time for many of our furry friends. In fact, the 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report revealed that 41 per cent of dog owners and 30 per cent of cat owners said their pets were afraid of fireworks*.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “In 2021, in our 48 Pet Hospitals across the country we saw 1,200 animals with firework related issues such as phobias and injuries, highlighting the real impact on our furry friends.

“November can be an especially scary period for our pets because of this, but taking the time to prepare them for our celebrations can make a huge difference. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take now to help four-legged family members feel better when November rolls around”:

Start early

“Talk to your vet if you know your pet becomes distressed with fireworks – they may be able to prescribe medication to help. Now is also the time to start desensitising pets to the sounds that come with Bonfire Night – the earlier you start, ideally at least six weeks ahead, the less likely they are to have a negative association with them. Play firework noises quietly throughout the house and reward your pet with praise and a healthy treat when they remain calm. Gradually increase the noise but stop immediately if they begin to show any signs of distress – try again at a lower volume once they feel at ease. It’s important to go at your pet’s pace – remember some animals may have a lower tolerance to loud noises than others.

Use music and pheromones

“Music can be really helpful to drown out the sound of bangs, but if your pet isn’t used to the tunes, that could be a surprise in itself. Use your own playlist or try one we’ve created and play it around the house in the lead up to Bonfire Night, then when you need the music to mask the noise, your pet should be used to it. Remember that plug-in pheromone diffusers can also help to relax your pet – these need to be set up well in advance of Bonfire Night for full effect.

Keep them safe

“Make sure dogs have been to the toilet and cats are indoors well before dark – start giving them their dinner a bit earlier now so they know what time to come home. Remember, cats will need litter trays, so they can stay safely indoors. Frightened pets can go into fight or flight mode and may try to escape when they hear loud bangs, so make sure windows, doors, cat flaps or doggy doors are secure so that your pet stays safely inside. Check for any small holes or gaps in fence panels that your pet may be able to squeeze through in a panic if the worst happens and they escape from the house, and make sure your microchip details are up to date!

Set up a retreat

“Creating a space where your pet feels safe and secure will give them somewhere to go if they feel anxious. Setting this up as soon as possible will give your four-legged friend time to get familiar with the space ahead of any fireworks. Choose a quiet room where they feel comfortable. Create a ‘den’ they can retreat into that has thick blankets, bedding and pillows which can help muffle the sound of loud bangs, cats may prefer these up on high shelves. Their favourite toys may also help take their mind off the noise.

Plan ahead

“Writing the dates and times of any local displays in your calendar or setting a reminder on your phone means you can plan to be home to provide reassurance. Knowing what’s on in advance also allows you to ensure your pet is safely indoors before fireworks begin, and gives you plenty of time to prepare their safe space.”

For more advice on how to prepare for Bonfire Night with your pets, please visit https://www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworksready

PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity. We’re on a mission to improve pet wellbeing through prevention, education and treatment. Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information. www.pdsa.org.uk

Greenpeace Edinburgh Makes a Splash for Oceans Protection

On Thursday 22nd September, Greenpeace Edinburgh Local Group hosted an evening of live music to raise money for the latest part of Greenpeace’s campaign to stop the industrial fishing frenzy.

The Fundraising Gig took place at The Wee Red Bar at Edinburgh College of Art and featured music from local bands Abolish Golf, Grace and the Flatboys, Isabella Strange, and Scottish blues-rock musician Megan Black.

Over 120 people attended and thanks to the generosity of local people, Edinburgh Greenpeace raised around £630, which will contribute towards the £10,000 cost of dropping each boulder.

Zoe, a volunteer from Newington said: ‘The fundraising gig was an incredible success! We got the chance to hear some amazing local music and to talk to people about why protecting our oceans is such a crucial part of preventing climate catastrophe.

“We found that people were really keen to get involved in Greenpeace and hear more about our campaigns.”

Greenpeace UK has placed 18 limestone boulders on the seabed in the South West Deeps (East) Marine Protected Area to block destructive industrial fishing.

On 1st September, campaigners and crew on board Greenpeace’s ship Arctic Sunrise sailed to the western English Channel to make a portion of the South West Deeps off-limits to bottom-trawling.

The boulder action took place days after UK leaders failed to help secure a Global Ocean Treaty during negotiations in New York, threatening the Government’s aim to achieve at least 30% ocean protection by 2030.

Across the entirety of the South West Deeps (East) – more than 4,600 km2 – there is not one metre of protection from destructive industrial fishing. It is one of the most heavily fished so-called Marine Protected Areas in the UK.

In the last 18 months, the South West Deeps experienced almost 19,000 hours of industrial fishing, 3,370 hours of which was bottom-trawling. The majority of industrial fishing vessels in the area were from France (53%) followed by Spain (30%) and Great Britain (9%) [1].

Celebrities Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Simon Pegg, Stephen Fry, and Daniel Lismore are supporting the action, alongside Conservative politicians Henry Smith MP, Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Theresa May’s former Downing Street environment advisor Lord Randall, as well as the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas MP.

Their names were stencilled onto the boulders before being dropped into the ocean.

The 18 boulders are Portland limestone, and each weighs between 500kg and 1,400kg. They make it impossible for bottom-towed fishing gear to be dragged along the seabed.

Artists from the Portland Sculpture and Quarry Trust created a giant ammonite sculpture out of one of the boulders, which will be placed on the seabed alongside the others. The sculptors took inspiration from the ammonite fossils found in Portland limestone.

Zoe continued: ‘As a coastal city, we know how important our oceans are for fishing communities, tourism and tackling climate change.

“The boulder barrier is a last resort to save the UK’s marine life; we would prefer that the Government just did their job and kept long-standing promises to end destructive fishing in MPAs.’

Appeal for information following assault and robbery in Bruntsfield

Police in Edinburgh have released images of a man that they wish to speak to as they believe he may have information that can assist with an investigation into an assault and robbery.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday, 28 June, 2021, at Whitehouse Loan near to the junction of Bruntsfield Crescent, Edinburgh.

A 22-year-old man was threatened with a knife and had personal items stolen from him.

The man shown in the images is described as Asian, in his late teens to early 20s, around 5ft 9 to 5ft 10 inches in height, slim build, short dark hair and wearing a dark hooded jacket, light grey t-shirt, blue jeans and dark trainers with white soles.

Detective Constable Euan Chancellor of the Violence Reduction Unit, Gayfield CID, said: “This incident was highly distressing for the victim and we are eager to trace the man pictured.

“Knife-crime such as this is of the utmost concern to police in Edinburgh so I would urge anyone who may recognise him to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

Members of the public can contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting reference number 25 of 28 June 2021, or if they wish to remain anonymous, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Patients in mental health crisis twice as likely to spend 12-hours or more in Emergency Departments than other patients

A new report from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine finds that patients presenting with mental health problems are twice as likely to spend 12-hours or more in Emergency Departments than other patients.

National data show that nearly one in eight (12%) mental health patients presenting to an Emergency Department in crisis face a 12-hour stay from time of arrival, compared with nearly one in 16 (6%) of all attendances.

A recent SNAP survey of Emergency Departments found that more than one third of clinical leads reported patient stays of 72 hours or more in the last week, for patients with mental health needs.

‘Mental Health Emergency Care’ is the latest report in our series of explainers looking at the web of issues facing Emergency Departments. The report highlights that while patients with mental health presentations account for a very small proportion of Emergency Department attendances, they spend a disproportionate amount of time waiting for a mental health bed if they need admission.

Often, it is the patients who are most unwell and vulnerable that wait the longest. Those of greatest concern are patients waiting for a mental health bed, patients waiting for an assessment under the Mental Health Act, and Children and Young People presenting in crisis.

The prevalence and complexity of the mental health needs of children and young people increased during the pandemic, while capacity is struggling to meet surging demand.

Half of Emergency Departments in England reported waits of 12 to 24 hours for a child or young person to see a specialist mental health professional, despite the accepted standard for adults being a one hour wait to be seen.

If admission is needed, 46% of Emergency Departments reported that children and young people will wait more than 48 hours for a bed, with two respondents reporting a wait of five days in the Emergency Department.

The report looks in detail at factors contributing to these long waits, such as the reduction in mental health beds, inadequate numbers of children and adolescent mental health professionals, and poor organisation of professionals to assess patients under the Mental Health Act. It also examines the consequences for patients and departments and makes wide reaching recommendations.

Commenting on the findings of the report, Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “The system is failing patients who present to Emergency Departments in mental health crisis.

“Those waiting the longest are children and young people, patients waiting for admission to a bed, and patients waiting for assessment under the Mental Health Act. It is unacceptable.

“We know long waits in a busy and crowded environment are harmful for any patient, but for these patients it can cause deep distress and upset and worsen their mental state. We must do more to ensure that these patients are seen, treated, and directed to the right care quicker.

“These patients presenting to Emergency Departments are extremely vulnerable, they are in crisis and seeking Emergency Care, yet are left waiting for hours and even days, before being treated and admitted.”

The explainer also shows that the UK has only 37 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population – far lower than the OECD average of 71 psychiatric beds per 100,000 population – and that since 1987, over 48,000 NHS mental health beds have been cut in England, with 5,000 mental health beds having been cut since 2011 alone.

Dr Henderson said: “Data show that bed occupancy at mental health trusts averaged nearly 90% between 2017-20, 5 percentage points higher than the recommended 85%. The NHS mental health bed numbers are clear; capacity does not meet demand.

“While the move towards a provision of community mental health care has been positive, the cuts to emergency mental health care beds have been devastating. Now, the most vulnerable and desperate patients are truly suffering.

“We urgently need to see an increase in mental health bed capacity, so we are able to admit these patients to a bed and provide the care they urgently need. We regularly hear heart-breaking stories of young people being admitted a long way from their home and family.

“We urge the new Prime Minister and new Health Secretary to prioritise Mental Health care provision in Emergency Departments, especially ahead of winter.

“We are failing these patients and they are suffering; our report and supporting survey show the extent of this crisis. We need urgent action now. To ensure we are able to quickly and effectively help vulnerable patients in crisis the government must increase mental health bed capacity in Trusts.

“Capacity for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is especially important, and CAMHs should be expanded to 24/7 so that children and young people can be assessed and triaged whenever they present at Emergency Departments, rather than face long waits for these services to open.”

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Living without a Lifeline – a shocking snapshot of the crisis facing single parent families in Scotland

OPFS releases new research report based on survey of 260 single parents

Feedback from 260 single parents highlights their experiences and priorities, which includes cost of living, family finances, social security, childcare, employment, access to education, mental health and wellbeing, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

Findings showed:

78% of single parents are in work and the same percentage of single parents receive a social security benefit.
Almost all (97.9%) of participants said they felt the impact of rising costs.
Three in five (61.1%) of participants said they are finding it either extremely difficult to afford or could no longer afford electricity, while 58.1% said the same about gas, and 43.7% said the same about food.
More than one in five participants said they can no longer afford to buy clothes (21.2%), pay for travel (22.3%) or childcare (21.2%) at all.
Most participants in the research were women, which is in keeping with the national statistic that 92% of single parent households are headed by women.

The findings of the research and the proposals for policy change suggested by single parents themselves have been used to produce a series of recommendations.

OPFS is calling on the Scottish Government to:

Increase support to families with young parents who are the poorest in Scotland through a top-up to the Scottish Child Payment.
Double the planned “bridging payments” for families with children in receipt of free school meals from £130 to £260.
Uprate Scotland’s 8 social security payments by the rate of inflation – 10% in August 22 and predicted by the Bank of England to hit 13.3% in October.
Widen eligibility for school clothing grants and free school meals to all families on Universal Credit by legislating to remove all income thresholds.
Increase the value and widen eligibility to the new Scottish Carer’s Assistance payment so it reaches many more Carers.
Raise increased finances through devolved taxes. Since 2017, the Scottish Parliament has had the ability to set income tax rates and bands, apart from the personal allowance. We also support IPPR’s call for radical reform of council tax to make it fairer and to raise extra finance for public services.

OPFS says the UK Government should:

Introduce progressive tax measures to reduce inequality.
Tackle the immediate cost-of-living crisis for low-income families with emergency interventions.
Introduce single parents’ rights and protection from discrimination into law.
Invest in a social security system that prevents child poverty, treating single parent families with dignity and respect.
Make childcare work for single parents by enhancing support for childcare costs through Universal Credit.
Support single parents into well paid, family friendly employment.
Make the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) fairer and fit for purpose.

Satwat Rehman, OPFS CEO said: “Living without a lifeline is exactly what so many single parents who took part in our research and who reach out to our services every day say they are doing, which is why we chose this as the title for our report.

“Women who are single parents have been particularly hard hit by the economic storm that has engulfed us and, with women’s poverty being inextricably linked to child poverty, we are living amid a rising tide of family hardship.

“Single parents described the day-to-day struggle to afford food and fuel, and the need to make sacrifices to ensure that children’s basic needs were met. In some cases, mothers go without food and struggle to pay essential bills. Isolation, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts were described.

“The parents responding have also forcefully described the policy areas which must be prioritised by government to tackle poverty and support family wellbeing and the priority areas where we at OPFS need to focus our energies. Over the coming year, these priorities will be our priorities.”

One key theme raised by participants was the difficulty in meeting the demands to pay for uniforms, school trips, and the many other requirements for daily school life. While costs are rising across the board, support for families in these areas is not increasing, leading to an even greater drain on household budgets.

A single mum who took part in the research said: “There is always something extra to pay for – sponsored events, book fairs, craft fairs, Christmas fairs, Halloween costume, Red Nose Day, Christmas jumper, wear a certain colour for sports day, world book day costume, etc …

“Parental events are held either during working hours or in the evening so I feel excluded as I can’t afford a babysitter- shame online events aren’t continuing.”

The research also found that single parents were struggling to afford to pay for essentials regardless of whether they were in paid work and that support through social security did not go far enough.

One single parent commented: “I just feel that I’m totally on my own financially. We can’t claim free school meals or any grants because I’m not on benefits (except Child Benefit).

“Outgoings are increasing, I am as frugal as I can be, my pay was frozen for 3 years and now I have a 2% cost of living increase, better than nothing! Children’s father has not contributed a penny for years now.

“Feel forgotten about. I cut my own hair, I skip meals, I scrimp on heating etc so I can pay the mortgage etc. There is no support for us from anyone.”

Some single parents contributing to the research shared their experiences of living with unmanageable levels of debt, often as a result of losing their job, illness or economic abuse following a relationship breakdown and not having savings to act as a buffer.

One single mum said: ““Father used to pay maintenance when he felt like it, but now has a limited company to avoid declaring his actual income.

“I can’t afford anything and feel like I’m stuck in debt forever. Utilities went from £90 to £160 and is only going to rise.”

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MSPs seek views on difficult spending decisions ahead for justice sector

The publication of the Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review Framework in May set out possible spending of £11.6 billion on the justice sector over the next four financial years.

However, independent research by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) has suggested that if current inflationary pressures persist, this settlement would represent a significant reduction in spending across the justice sector.

Speaking as the call for views was launched, Criminal Justice Committee Convener Audrey Nicoll MSP, said: “There is no doubt the Scottish Government and public services will face cost pressures in the upcoming years and the ongoing cost of living crisis is creating a real sense of uncertainty over what is to come.

“However, if the current trend of rapidly increasing inflation continues then those in the justice sector will have some difficult decisions to make in order to balance budgets.

“We want to hear a range of views as part of our pre-budget scrutiny and are seeking views from those within the sector.

“But we also want to hear the views of ordinary people, any third sector organisations who may be impacted by these potential cuts in justice spending and groups who work to support those within the justice portfolio. This will help us to scrutinise the possible impact of cuts to key services such as the police, fire and rescue, courts and prosecution services and prisons.”

The call for views closes on Friday 21 October 2022.

UK Government ‘denying reality’ with new oil and gas licences

Environmental campaigners have reacted to the UK Government plans to ramp up oil and gas extraction despite its devastating climate impacts.

The Secretary of State for Energy Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed yesterday that the UK Government will support over 100 licences for companies to explore for more fossil fuels in the North Sea, as well as lifting the moratorium on fracking in England.

Climate science and energy experts have repeatedly warned that any new oil and gas projects will push the world well past dangerous climate limits.

Last year, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opposed the controversial Cambo oil field but since then she has failed to speak out against the recently approved Jackdaw field or the Rosebank field which contains nearly 500 million barrels of oil.

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Oil and Gas campaigner Freya Aitchison said: “In ploughing forward with this new licensing round, the UK Government is effectively denying the reality of the climate emergency with scientists and energy experts clear that there can be no new oil and gas.

“The devastating climate impacts people are enduring with floods in Pakistan, typhoons in Japan and heatwaves in the UK are being driven by burning fossil fuels.

“The UK government’s supposed checkpoint is a worthless charade as there can be no climate compatible new oil and gas. It is a deeply cynical attempt to provide cover for reckless plans to expand the very industry that is fuelling both the climate and the cost of living crises.

“With the cost of living skyrocketing due to the volatile prices of oil and gas, it’s obvious that our current system is completely unfit for purpose, serving only to make oil company bosses and shareholders richer while everyone else loses out. We urgently need a transition to an energy system powered by renewables, and a mass rollout of energy efficiency measures to reduce energy demand.

“The Scottish Government must be willing to stand up to these reckless plans to expand fossil fuels and hand out permits for oil and gas companies to explore and drill in the North Sea.

“These plans will lock us into a climate-destroying energy system for decades to come, entrenching reliance on this volatile industry in places like Aberdeen, and leaving people all across Scotland exposed to rocketing energy bills.”

The Scottish Government has confirmed that there will be NO fracking in Scotland.

Swimming star Duncan Scott helps Scottish Poppy Appeal go for gold

Scotland’s most decorated swimmer Duncan Scott MBE joined forces with veterans from Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory yesterday to help send three million poppies for the Scottish Poppy Appeal on their way to communities across the country.

The multiple Olympic and Commonwealth gold medallist, whose father and uncle served in the British Army, took time out from his training regime to lend a hand loading poppies onto lorries. These will now be delivered around Scotland ahead of this year’s Appeal, in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday on November 13th.

A team of 34 disabled veterans have spent the last 11 months making each poppy by hand ahead of Scotland’s largest fundraising street campaign. An army of volunteers will now distribute them across the country, with all donations going to support Poppyscotland’s vital work supporting the Armed Forces community.

Duncan Scott said: “‘I’m honoured to be visiting Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory today and seeing first-hand the fantastic work they do.

“With both my father and uncle having served in the Armed Forces, I’m incredibly grateful to the veterans and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide poppies to the whole of Scotland.”

Now in its 101^st year, the poppy is an enduring symbol of remembrance, representing reflection on the past and hope for a peaceful future. The Scottish Poppy Appeal is the largest annual charity street collection in Scotland, raising more than £2 million each year.

All money raised, as well as Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising, enables the charity to deliver a wide range of services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, and mobility.

Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising, said: “After two difficult years due to Covid-19 restrictions, we’re hoping for a return to normal this year. Our tens of thousands of volunteers are looking forward to getting fully back out on streets, shopping centres and supermarkets around the country, meeting the public and offering poppies to everyone who chooses to wear one.

“We’re very grateful to our fantastic team of veterans who have worked tirelessly all year to produce the millions of poppies for this year’s Appeal. Today’s uplift is a special moment for all of them, as these poppies start their journey across Scotland.

“This year’s Appeal is more important than ever, as we’re seeing increasing demand for our services as more families struggle with the rising cost of living. Our servicemen and women, and their families, make extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf, so we want to ensure that we are always there to provide support when they need it.”