Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk has granted £50,000 to help reduce the waiting list for Scottish cancer patients, and their families, who are in desperate need of emotional and wellbeing support.
The funds will allow Cancer Support Scotland, based in the grounds of Glasgow’s Gartnavel Hospital, to provide 174 people with wellbeing support at the time when they need it most. The charity has seen a dramatic increase in referrals recently and is being contacted by up to a dozen new patients from across Scotland every single day.
The current waiting list for appointments is up to 12 weeks. Walk the Walk’s grant will allow people to get vital assistance much sooner, either online or at Cancer Support Scotland’s centre.
· Counselling – providing patients with the tools to deal with their diagnosis
· Complimentary therapy – in person sessions, designed with relaxation in mind
· Befriending – informal wellbeing calls to help reduce isolation, fear and anxiety
Entries are now open for The MoonWalk Scotland 2023, organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.
On Saturday 9th September, thousands of women and men wearing decorated bras will set off from Holyrood Park in Edinburgh to walk an overnight half or full marathon through the streets of the capital.
Michael MacLennan, Interim CEO of Cancer Support Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a £50,000 grant from Walk the Walk.
“We understand these are challenging times for everyone and these incredible funds will allow us to continue supporting those that need us, when they need us most.
“Each year we continue to see a rapid rise in demand for our services, and thanks to the generosity of Walk the Walk we’ll be able to provide 174 people with 6 vital wellbeing appointments.”
Susan(52) from Glasgowreceived counselling from Cancer Support Scotland, following her cancer diagnosis. She said: “My mood was very low and I was often feeling anxious. I was also spending a lot of time in my flat, not going out much and felt as if sometimes people didn’t understand why I wasn’t feeling great, as my treatment had ended.
“I didn’t understand that myself if I’m honest. I still struggle at times but I’ve received so much non-judgemental support, motivation, encouragement, and laughter (which is so important) through these sessions.”
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of breast cancer charity Walk the Walksaid: “I was deeply upset to hear about the unacceptable length of time people are having to wait for wellbeing support, following their cancer diagnosis.
“Whilst 12 weeks might not seem very long in some people’s worlds, if you’ve just found out you have cancer, it’s a lifetime!
“In 2023, Walk the Walk is releasing £1 million to help fund innovative support like that provided by Cancer Support Scotland. It’s a tough time for cancer patients across Scotland, so I’m delighted that Walk the Walk has been able help so many people.”
For the month of May, Johnson’s Lawn Seed is encouraging gardeners to say “no” to mowing their lawns, in a move to halt the declining numbers of bees, butterflies, and wildlife, as part of Plantlife’s No Mow May initiative.
A special new product will also be introduced, helping gardeners to further support our beloved creepy crawlies.
No Mow May returns next month and was first launched in 2019 by the botanical charity, Plantlife to highlight the terrifying loss of natural habitats including almost 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures having been lost since the 1930s. The result is fewer pollinators and fewer insect-eating birds, with entire habitats on the verge of complete collapse.
Recognising this, Johnsons Lawn Seed, alongside the No May initiative is highlighting the importance of our gardens, as a place to support vital wildlife. Small steps, such as having a slightly overgrown lawn or planting wildflowers that are rich in pollen and nectar, will attract beneficial insects and bees to gardens.
How to get involved
No Mow May doesn’t mean messy, overgrown, and scraggy patches of lawn to attract wildlife. Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Celebration Wildflowers Mix – launched for the 2023 season – can take a part of an existing lawn or flowerbed and convert it into a meadow. Containing bright and vibrant annuals, the mix has 17 different flowering species including cornflowers, poppies, cosmos, marigolds, and daisies, providing a diverse assortment of local insects.
Not only do the Celebration Wildflower tins make ideal gifts for garden-loving friends and family, but they also offer an important gift to nature, as the wildflowers will encourage pollinators into gardens, providing nectar for these vital winged insects.
Outdoor spaces will come alive with bees and butterflies for months at a time as soon as the flowers appear. With coverage of up to 15m2 from one tin and an RRP of just £9.99, Celebration offers a lot more for your money and will bring wildlife to your garden in its droves.
In the Tin
The Celebration Wildflower Tins contain a stunning mix of flower seeds, chosen to create a riot of colour and attract all kinds of pollinators to the garden:
Common Name
Colour(s)
Paper Daisy
White/Pink/Purple
Pheasant’s Eye
Red/Orange
Pot Marigold
Red/Orange/Yellow
Cornflower
Blue/Pink/White
Cosmos
Pink/Purple
Painted Daisy
Red/Orange/Pink/Yellow
Dwarf Morning Glory
Blue/Purple/Pink/White
Chinese Forget-Me-Not
Blue
California Poppy
Multi Colour Mix
Fineflower
Blue/Pink
Farewell to Spring
Pink/Red/White
Baby’s Breath
Red/White
Candy Tuft
White/Blue/Pink/Purple
Love-in-a-Mist
Blue/Pink/Purple/White
Corn Poppy
Red
Why rewilding matters
Bumblebees are by far the most well-known pollinators and without these little buzzing creatures there would be far fewer flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing around us. According to a BBC report, bees pollinate approximately 70 of 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world, with honey bees alone being responsible for $ 30 billion a year worth of food.
Another benefit of leaving your lawn uncut is it protects butterflies as they lay eggs and food for insect larvae as they grow and develop. There are about 60 types of butterflies in the UK, but they are declining more rapidly in urban areas. A major scientific report from Butterfly Conservation shows that almost three-quarters of the UK’s butterfly species in the UK have suffered population declines over the last 10 years.
Seeds created by the wildflowers can also be eaten by garden birds and the taller plants will provide shelter for all kinds of wildlife, increasing biodiversity in an outdoor space. It’s also ideal for the novice gardener as the wildflower lawn is low maintenance, requires little water, and does not require a green thumb to keep it looking bold and beautiful.
Plants grasses too
For those that want to establish grasses as well as flowers, Johnsons Country Meadow Mix when planted in an urban setting is beneficial to support insects and other wildlife. By planting native wildflowers, you will provide attractive drifts of colour throughout the summer months, as well as maintain the No Mow May pledge.
The Country Meadow Mix is a mixture of native origin as sown by professionals and contains birdsfoot trefoil, black knapweed, and yarrow, as well as grasses including browntop bent, crested dogstail and Yorkshire fog.
The diverse lawn and native wildflowers are both natural and sustainable and are essential for establishing a healthy wildlife community. Think soft meadow colours, wildflowers, and native plants such as cow parsley, poppies, and buttercups accompanying wispy grasses and you have wildlife-friendly sanctuaries in your backyard.
Get the kids involved
Or why not get the kids involved with No Mow May and use either of Johnsons’ mixes by making a seed bomb? This is a fantastic gardening activity that children will love. All you need is some wildflower mix, some clay, and compost.
Mix with water to form a dough ball. Once they have dried, simply throw them onto your lawn or into your flower bed and watch how a magical meadow of blooms grows.
What’s more, each mixture of Johnsons’ wildflowers will establish within eight weeks. By not mowing the lawn this May, the longer length will create a haven for wildlife, newts, frogs, and hedgehogs to forage, as well as beetles and worms that will also bring birds to your garden to feast on the many invertebrates.
It’s not too late for gardeners to start getting involved now as part of the build-up of the charity’s No Mow May initiative.
Guy Jenkins, Consumer Manager at Johnsons Lawn Seed says: “No Mow May represents an opportunity for homeowners when it comes to native wildflowers and helping to support the biodiversity and nature of their area.
“Our Wildflower mixes can help the pressures our pollinating insects and other wildlife face by creating a sustainable environment within the urban garden.”
Johnsons Celebration Annual Wildflowers are available in 50g tins with an RRP of £9.99.
Johnsons Country Meadow Mix is available in a 200g carton with an RRP of £14.99 Both are available from garden centres or retailers.
Quickest rise in private sector activity since June 2022
Growth in new orders also picks up
Employment growth at eight-month high
According to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI® data, the Scottish private sector saw a second successive monthly rise in business activity, with underlying data showing quicker growth across both the manufacturing and service sectors.
The rate at which private sector output grew was the strongest in nine months, with the Scotland Business Activity Index rising from February’s 51.0 to 52.9 in March. This compared favourably against the UK as a whole (52.2), where the rate of expansion slowed.
Furthermore, firms across Scotland noted a solid and accelerated rise in new business inflows in March. In turn, back-to-back expansions were noted in private workforce numbers, again the latest rate of job creation quickening on the month and signalling the strongest intake of staff since last July.
Private sector companies across Scotland signalled a second monthly rise in volumes of new business at the end of the first quarter. The upturn was quickest since last May and robust overall. The rise in business inflows was attributed to an array of reasons including increased advertising and investment, stronger sterling against the dollar and improved client demand. Nonetheless, the uptick in new order inflows was weaker than that recorded for the UK as a whole.
While the degree of confidence weakened in March, due to a slight dip in optimism at service providers, business sentiment towards 12-month activity was highly positive and above the historical trend. Optimism stemmed from greater client enquires, new business development, higher marketing and new contracts in the pipeline. Confidence across Scotland, however, posted the third-weakest of all the monitored UK regions, ahead of the North East of England and Northern Ireland.
Firms across Scotland raised their payroll numbers for the second successive month in March. The rate of job creation was the fastest seen in eight months, with only Northern Ireland registering stronger growth across the UK.
The positive performance of the sector supported a stronger intake of staff, suggested anecdotal evidence. Underlying data pointed to quicker upturns in workforce numbers across both the manufacturing and service sectors.
Scottish firms were able to reduce their outstanding business during March, thereby stretching the current run of contraction to ten months. The rate of backlog depletion remained unchanged from the preceding survey period, the joint-softest decrease in unfinished work in the aforementioned sequence. The rate of decrease in backlogs across Scotland was quicker than that seen at the UK level.
Continuing the trend observed since December 2022, private sector firms noted a further cooling in input cost inflation during March. The rate of growth was the weakest in 22 months and only marginally faster than the UK-wide average. Nonetheless, the pace of inflation was comfortably above the long run average, with respondents blaming wage, food and energy costs.
In line with the strong growth in prices, Private sector firms across Scotland raised their charges sharply. That said, the pace of charge inflation was the second-softest in 22 months, behind February’s reading. Charges levied for the provision of goods and services across Scotland rose at a similar pace to that seen across the UK as a whole.
Source: Royal Bank of Scotland, S&P Global.
Judith Cruickshank, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, commented: “The rate of expansion in private sector activity across Scotland quickened at the end of the first quarter.
“Both manufacturing and services registered growth, with goods producers noting the stronger upturn. More so, improved investment and advertising has been fruitful, with order volumes picking up at a historically strong rate.
“The upturns in output and new business resulted in a further expansion in workforce numbers. In fact, despite levels of unfinished work falling at a modest pace, hiring activity across the Scottish private sector was at an eight-month high.
“Looking ahead, confidence across the private sector faltered slightly from the recent high seen in February. Nonetheless, private sector firms across Scotland were strongly confident in regards to longer term future output.”
Join us for ’Rooted in Community: Artistic Expressions from North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes’, an exhibition showcasing the work of local artists as part of Create Community Wealth – a collaborative community wealth building project, delivered in partnership between WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, SCOREscotland and Passion4Fusion.
The project aims to support local people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes to explore their creative and enterprising ideas, to tackle social exclusion and improve wellbeing and local economic prospects through creativity.
The exhibition, ‘Rooted in Community’, is a celebration of community and diversity, highlighting the unique experiences and diverse cultures of people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Through their work, the artists explore themes such as community, identity, grief and mental health, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences and engage with the world around us.
From colourful paintings to representative photography, sculpture, portraits and pencil drawings, we invite you to take a journey through the works on display, each one telling a different story about life in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Through their art, these talented individuals demonstrate the power of community and the importance of self-expression.
For many of the artists featured, this is their first exhibition, and the Create Community Wealth team are delighted to support them in showcasing their work publicly.
The exhibition is a testament to the importance and power of community, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent and connect with a wider audience.
As we come together to celebrate the creativity and diversity of our community, we hope that this exhibition will inspire us to continue to support and uplift one another, as we work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Young adults (aged 18-24) are struggling with their mental health with 95 per cent feeling anxious in the last 12 months, and a fifth (21 per cent) experiencing these feelings all the time
● Generation dislocation – 70 per cent of young adults feel lonely even when around peers, friends, classmates, work colleagues
● 65% of young adults say musicians who have been open about their own emotional struggles are helping to destigmatise mental health – Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi and Selena Gomez are the most inspirational
A NEW survey shows a staggering 95 per cent of young people are struggling with their mental health.
The UK faces a mental health catastrophe as only 10 per cent of young adults love themselves completely, reveals blistering new research from Direct Line Insurance and mental health charity Mind.
Young adults are struggling with their mental health with 95 per cent feeling anxious in the last 12 months and over a fifth (21 per cent) experiencing these feelings all the time.
Almost half of young adults (46 per cent) have felt low often or all the time over this time period. Despite support services being readily available, more than one in twenty young people said that they feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health with anyone, 10 per cent of 18-year-olds not willing to speak about the topic at all.
Young people are experiencing a sense of dislocation, with almost three quarters (70 per cent) of young adults feeling lonely even when around peers, friends, classmates, work colleagues. They also have less energy than they did previously, 83 per cent saying this is true in the last 12 months.
When they do need a mental lift, 59 per cent of young adults turn to music to improve their mood and for a quarter (25 per cent) of this generation it makes them feel less lonely. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of young adults say musicians are a force for good in opening discussions about mental health, with Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi seen as inspirations. Music can be a vital outlet, as half (50 per cent) of young people experiencing poor mental health find it difficult discussing this with others.
The survey was carried out by Opinium across 2,000 18-24 year olds.
To highlight the link between music and a positive uplift in mood, Direct Line and Mind have worked with mental health advocate and London-based rapper Marc Jones, who has over five million music streams, to produce a new track, Day by Day, which encourages young people to be open about their mental health. It is free to download across all major streaming platforms for the month of April.
The track, developed by Marc Jones, 30, is an inspirational track to encourage young people to love themselves and to highlight there are support networks when they are struggling. The track is produced by London-based producer, RP9, whose notable collaborations include Ed Sheeran and Big Narstie.
Sam Taylor, Marketing Director, at Direct Line said:“The mental health of young adults is incredibly important and many are struggling to navigate these complex times.
“Understanding the issues faced by a generation of young adults we partnered with Marc Jones an inspirational musician to develop a track encouraging young people to open up about their mental health, whether that’s in the car when the song plays on the radio or at home, with friends streaming the track.”
Stephen Buckley, Head of Information at Mind said: “We are deeply concerned by the findings of this research – the fact that only 10% of young adults love themselves highlights the urgent need for support and resources to help this young generation navigate the complex challenges they face.
“We are excited to be part of the efforts of Direct Line and Marc Jones in producing the track ‘Day by Day’ to encourage young people to open up about their mental health and seek the support when needed.”
Niamh O’Connor, 23, from Worcester, said:“From a young age music has always been a part of my life so when I was diagnosed with anorexia over six years ago and was hospitalised for the first time, I found a lot of comfort in music.
“Whenever I felt upset or anxious, I would sit down at the piano in the hospital and play. Music became the only thing that helped take my mind off everything that was going on in my life.
“I was never one to talk openly about my feelings, but my therapist helped me to open up by asking me to play a piece of music that reflected my inner thoughts.
“Now I am able to use my experiences to create conversations with friends and we discuss how song melodies and lyrics resonate with us. This gives us the opportunity to talk openly about our mental health and support one another through music.”
Marc Jones added: “The purpose of my music has always been to lift spirits and encourage young people. This new track I released with Mind and Direct Line does just this.
“I personally have always turned to music when I am feeling low, it really helps and so does having charities like Mind, for expert support.”
The track Day By Day is available to stream on all major streaming platforms. Please find it on Spotify here.
Table One: Top ten inspirational artists for young people
Rank
Music Artist
1
Billie Eilish
2
Lewis Capaldi
3
Selena Gomez
4
Eminem
5
Ed Sheeran
6
Taylor Swift
7
Adele
8
Juice World
9
Dave
10
Demi Lovato
About Direct Line
Starting in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover directly to customers by phone or online.
Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Direct Line and U K Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Mind, the mental health charity, provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. mind.org.uk
Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am – 6pm, Monday – Friday)
Mind’s online mental health community Side by Side is a safe space where anyone aged 18 and over with experience of a mental health problem can share their story, connect with others, access Mind’s wider information and resources, and give support in return. Find out more at www.sidebyside.mind.org.uk
Excitement is in the air at Strachan House in Blackhall where residents and staff will be busy making Coronation-themed decorations and baking up a storm of red, white and blue cakes and pastries by head chef Paul Dow in preparation for the King’s Coronation on May 6th 2023.
Staff and residents at the home have put their heads together and came up with a plan to host a celebration fit for a King. Over the bank holiday weekend the home will hold The Big Coronation Picnic on the 7th May from 2pm-4pm. The whole home will come together to host their event to the local community to celebrate with friends, family and local business’s the Coronation of our new King.
The event will see Diane Fields a Britain’s Got Talent contestant entertain us with live music within our wonderful kept garden grounds as well as a visit from local MP Christine Jardine who will be unveiling a Queen Elizabeth ll rose bush to commemorate her late reign HRH on her own sons coronation.
Everyone in the local community is given an open invitation to come along and join us for what is set to be an amazing afternoon. All you need to do is bring along your picnic and a rug and enjoy an afternoon with friends.
Beverages such as tea, coffee, wine and a selection soft drinks will be made available courtesy of Strachan House on the day.
Gordon Philp General Manager at Strachan House said “we are all looking forward to a celebrating the Coronation, it will be such a momentous occasion. Our staff and residents love the Royals and so they were all so excited to host this event.
“It has been a real collaborative process – thinking about how we want to celebrate, planning our activities, decorating the home and creating an event that we can give back to the community. It’s so lovely to be able to invite our friends and family to come and join us for a proper celebration too.”
Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.
Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, residential care, respite care.
Charity Edinburgh Leisure who celebrated its 25th anniversary on 1 April 2023, has rewarded one lucky Edinburgh lady with a free annual membership to celebrate her being their 25,000th current member.
Daniela Ceban, who lives in Dalry, had recently signed up for a fitness membership at her local Edinburgh Leisure venue, Dalry Swim Centre.
Sales Manager, Matthew Smith, explained: “Edinburgh Leisure has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and we were delighted to discover that it also coincided with our 25,000th current member joining in the same month.
“We thought it would be a great gesture to reward this lucky person with a free annual fitness membership at their chosen venue.
Daniela Ceban said: “It made my week when Edinburgh Leisure rang me to say that they wanted to ‘gift’ me a free year’s membership at Dalry to celebrate me being their 25,000th current member.
“I love Dalry Swim Centre as it’s close to where I live, and the staff are all friendly and welcoming. I originally started out using the pool but will also be using the gym now.”
Edinburgh Leisure is currently offering new customers the opportunity to try before they buy, with an offer of 7 days for £7, offering unlimited access to gym, swim, fitness classes and climbing for one week only.
For only £7, the pass gives customers unlimited access to:
16 gyms
11 swimming pools
Over 750 fitness classes per week
The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho
People can sign up for the 7 days pass online under short-term memberships at any of the Edinburgh Leisure venues.
Customers buying a 7-day pass will automatically be entered into a free prize draw to win a year’s Full Fitness membership with Edinburgh Leisure, when they purchase the pass online.
Edinburgh Leisure’s venues feature some of the latest gym equipment with on-hand instructors who are happy to show customers ‘the ropes’ and how to use the equipment; have a range of swimming pools including four Victorian pools and the famous Olympic-sized Royal Commonwealth Pool, plus a selection of saunas and steam rooms, and of course the International Climbing Arena at Ratho.
So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something for everyone, no matter what their fitness level.
Councils empowered to prioritise ‘homes for living in‘
Plans to enable councils to raise the amount of council tax paid on empty and second homes will be included in a new consultation to help increase housing availability.
First Minister Humza Yousaf will announce proposals at the Scottish Trades Union Congress today (Monday 17 April) which could give councils powers to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes from April 2024.
The proposed change would bring second homes into line with long-term empty homes from next year. The joint consultation with COSLA will also seek views on further powers to charge more than double rate on both empty and second homes in future years.
Latest figures show that in January 2023 there were 42,865 long-term empty homes in Scotland.
The consultation will also ask for views on whether there should be changes to the definition of when a property offering self-catered accommodation becomes liable for non-domestic rates.
The plans will deliver on commitments in the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy and Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Green Party to enable councils to prioritise homes for living in and manage the impact of second or long-term empty homes.
Ahead of the consultation opening, the First Minister said: “We want everyone in Scotland to have an affordable home that meets their needs and this work to improve the availability of sustainable long-term housing opportunities is a core part of that.
“By recognising the important role councils have in considering local needs, these proposals aim to strike a balance between good housing supply and helping communities to thrive and benefit from tourism.
“I encourage anyone who is interested to respond to the consultation as we try to prioritise homes for living in, seeking a fair contribution to local services from everyone and recognising the benefits to local economies from self-catering accommodation and second homes.
“All responses will be carefully considered before legislation is introduced to the Scottish Parliament.”
COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmaan said: “Local government in Scotland is committed to supporting access for everyone in Scotland to an affordable home.
“That is why we are pleased to be launching this joint consultation, as we work to meet the shared aim of creating the right balance to increase the availability of housing and a taxation system that is fair for the tourism industry.
“We also welcome the greater fiscal empowerment for councils to reflect local circumstances this would introduce. Any additional funding created by these changes under consultation will enable councils to invest in local needs and support sustainable communities.
“We are pleased to be jointly working with the Scottish Government on this vital area of work and we look forward to considering the responses.”
