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.”
New art imagines what the next James Bond looks like, based on an AI interpretation of official casting requirements outlined by Barbara Broccoli
The Bond producer revealed that the next 007 would be a British male actor under 40 years of age and over 5’10 in height, following fan speculation
When those requirements are inputted into an AI generator, the resulting images bear a notable resemblance to some fan favourites for the role
The image looks most like current 007 frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who coincidentally meets both the casting age and height requirements
New art reveals what the next James Bond could look like, based on the only official confirmation of casting guidelines released so far, from Barbara Broccoli herself.
The image, created by Hearts Land, was a result of inputting the casting guidelines as a prompt into an AI art generator as follows: ‘British actor under 40 years old and over 5′ 10 in height, to play the next James Bond’ – and the results are pretty astounding.
And despite not including any reference to any current actors or James Bond frontrunners, the image bears a strikingly close resemblance to current favourite, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
The image shows a James Bond with the same skin colour, eye colour and hair colour as Taylor-Johnson, and even bears a similar facial expression as the High Wycombe-born star.
At 32 years old and 5’ 11 in height, Aaron is a perfect fit – and is currently having a resurgence in popularity on social media, as fans praised his images from Calvin Klein’s Spring 2023 campaign, which he starred in alongside Michael B. Jordan and Kendall Jenner.
Coincidentally, he’s currently the favourite to play the next James Bond at most bookmakers, having dethroned The Witcher’s Henry Cavill last week in the running.
And whilst the image is by no means conclusive evidence that Aaron-Taylor Johnson is the next James Bond, it’s a good sign that even AI is able to imagine him stepping in the role, with speculation still rife after Daniel Craig stepped down from the role two years ago.
The argument could be made for other James Bond favourites, too, as the AI image bears some passing resemblance to James Norton, Sam Hueghan and Michael Fassbender.
As well as imagining what the next James Bond will look like, Hearts Land also asked the AI generator to visualise the next Bond girl, based on the following prompt: ‘Mid-twenties British actress at 5’ 7 in height, to play the next Bond girl’ – and the results are also cool.
There are no official guidelines for Bond’s love interest, but previous casting choices reveal she’s typically aged between 20 and 30, and has yet to be taller than 007 himself. In fact, Gemma Arterton previously revealed Daniel Craig wore shoe lifts to appear taller than her.
And based on the image, the next Bond girl will be a bombshell, with luminous blue eyes, a stunning complexion and long flowing hair that’s sure to turn 007’s head.
It’s harder to match the AI interpretation to a specific actress given there’s less speculation for that role compared to Bond, but it does bear some resemblance to Doctor Who’s Caitlin Blackwood (22 years), and her superstar cousin, Karen Gillan (35 years).
Arguably, 28-year old Eloise Smith of Cyn fame could also be a good fit, were she to dye her hair, as well as Liason’s Olivia Popica (29 years), and Apostasy’s Molly Wright (27 years).
Speaking on the images, Hearts Land said: “One of the most exciting applications of AI at the moment is to imagine what producers and casting directors are imagining or looking for when casting popular characters – particularly for shows where it’s really all up in the air.
“It’s fascinating that AI is able to create a realistic image of someone based on such little information – and it’s particularly exciting that this bears such a close resemblance to frontrunner Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It’ll be amazing if he actually lands the role now!”
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: The Power of Gardening
It is National Gardening Day on 14th April in the UK and as the weather starts to (slowly!) warm up, it is a great time to get outside. Gardening is associated with many health benefits including improved physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Mowing the lawn, digging, weeding and other gardening tasks can help us stay active and hit our weekly exercise goal and simply spending more time outdoors has been shown to improve sleep. If you don’t have a garden, or outdoor space, you can still reap many of the benefits by planting in pots on windowsills or joining a local gardening group near you.
Read on for our top tips to get started and ideas of what to grow:
Getting started
Whether you are growing indoors or outdoors, a thriving plant starts with good soil. The surest way to make sure your plants get off to a good start is to buy a bag of compost and use this to start your seedlings; once they are well-established you can re-plant them into regular soil in your garden.
To save money on buying little pots, you can start your seedlings in clean yoghurt pots or any other containers you can save from your kitchen, just poke something sharp through the bottom to allow for some drainage.
Grow heart-healthy herbs
Eating too much salt can contribute to increased blood pressure, using herbs in cooking is a great way to add flavour without adding salt. Herbs are one of the easiest things to grow and great for beginners to try. They are a great choice for indoor growing as they do well in pots on a sunny windowsill.
If you’re planting them outdoors, choose the sunniest spot you can find. Chives, mint, basil, parsley, and thyme are just a few that are easy to care for. You can either grow from seeds or buy the small plants from the supermarket and re-pot them.
Involve the whole family
Gardening is a hobby for all ages, and it’s a nice activity to do with children. Children love to see flowers grow and growing vegetables together can be a great way to encourage them to try them, which is especially helpful if you have a picky eater.
It is also a great way to introduce a little responsibility in the form of caring for something else, let children choose what flowers and vegetables they want to grow and watch the sense of joy they get from seeing the fruits of their labour.
Award-winning bridal boutique, Rachel Scott Couture, welcomes British fashion icon to Scotland for first time
Her designs have graced the likes of HRH Princess of Wales, Beyoncé and Madonna. Her accolades include the title of English Print Designer of the Year and Best Young Designer of the Year.
Vogue magazine described her as “Making the biggest waves in British fashion”. And in 2011 she earned an MBE for her services to the fashion industry.
Today, Alice Temperley MBE is one of the UK’s most revered fashion designers, and this month Scotland will welcome her for the first time as the award-winning bridal boutique, Rachel Scott Couture, hosts an exclusive evening in her honour.
Taking place in Edinburgh on Thursday 27th April 2023, Rachel Scott Couture presents ‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’. Brides-to-be can expect a luxury shopping experience like no other, featuring fizz, fashion, and all the latest looks from this celebrated designer presented in the intimate setting of the Rachel Scott Couture showroom.
On display will be a carefully curated edit of Temperley London designs from the bridalwear, eveningwear and heritage collections. Plus, Alice Temperley herself will be on-hand to discuss her signature style of wonderfully whimsical ethereal embroidery and bohemian embellishment.
The Temperley London trunk show will then be available to view by private appointment at Rachel Scott Couture, Friday 28th – Sunday 30th April.
Speaking ahead of ‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’, owner of Rachel Scott Couture, Rachel Snedden, reveals; “I am so excited to welcome designer Alice Temperley to Scotland for the first time.
“I have long been a fan of her designs – each one beautifully sculptural, intricately detailed, and uniquely romantic – everything a bride longs for in a dress.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be able to provide Edinburgh brides with this rare and exciting opportunity to see the dresses up close and to actually talk to the iconic designer responsible for creating them.”
‘An Evening with Alice Temperley’ will take place at Rachel Scott Couture, 29b Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6QQ, on Thursday 27th April 2023, 6-8pm.
The event is free to attend but registration is essential as tickets are strictly limited. To request a ticket, email hello@rachelscottcouture.co.uk or call 0131 556 1520.
The Temperley London trunk show, featuring designs from the bridalwear, eveningwear and heritage collection, will be available to view at Rachel Scott Couture Friday 28th – Sunday 30th April.
To book an appointment during the trunk show weekend, head to:
The health assessments system to access vital benefits for those who cannot work or face extra costs due to disability or ill-health continues to let down those who rely on it, according to Westminster’s Work and Pensions Committee.
In its latest Report, the Committee calls for the implementation of several measures that would be relatively quick and easy wins to improve trust, drive down the high rate of decisions reversed on appeal and reduce waiting times.
It says assessments should be recorded by default, with claimants having the option to opt-out, adding that footage could be used to review cases more accurately without having to go to appeal, and help assessors learn from past mistakes.
Some of the improvements the Committee suggest could drive down the high rate of decisions reversed on appeal, which still stands at 69% for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Although the Work Capability Assessment used for Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance is due to be abolished, it will remain in place until at least 2026. Meanwhile, PIP assessments will continue, so retaining the status quo is not an option.
MPs on the Committee also recommended allowing claimants to choose between remote or in-person assessments, extending the deadline to return forms, targets to reduce assessment waiting times, and payments to people who have been forced to wait beyond the new targets.
Committee Chair Sir Stephen Timms MP said: ““We surveyed eight and a half thousand people as part of our inquiry and found a profound lack of trust in the system as a consistent theme.
“Many will welcome abolition of the Work Capability Assessment. The Government’s process improvements, and recognition that the system causes undue stress and hardship, are steps in the right direction.
“However, waiting years for changes won’t cut it when quicker wins are available: flexibility of choice on assessment by phone or face-to-face; recording assessments by default; extending deadlines to reduce stress; and sending claimants their reports. All this will give much-needed transparency to a process that so few trust yet affects their lives so fundamentally.
“All efforts must be made for unnecessary limbo and stress for claimants to be put to an end.”
