Next week, join us for some arts and crafts activities! 
These are free, drop-in sessions running morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday, and all ages are welcome. 
Craftivity Week at Scottish Parliament
Day: August 3, 2024
Helping children understand and cope with disasters
Sarah Jefferies – Paediatric Health Specialist
In recent times, our communities have faced challenges that can be difficult for anyone to process, particularly children (writes SARAH JEFFERIES, Paediatric Health Specialist).
As parents, caregivers, and educators, it is essential to help our young ones navigate these unsettling events with care, understanding, and reassurance. Children often turn to the adults in their lives for guidance on how to respond to and understand the world around them, especially during times of crisis.
Here are some key ways to talk to children about disasters while providing them with the support they need:
Create a Safe Environment
First and foremost, ensure that children feel safe. This means being present, both physically and emotionally, and reassuring them that their immediate environment is secure. Children need to know that they are protected and that their caregivers are there to support them.
Be Honest and Age-Appropriate
When discussing difficult events, it is important to be honest but mindful of the child’s age and developmental stage. Use simple, clear language and avoid overloading them with information. For younger children, brief explanations are often sufficient, while older children might seek more detailed information.
Encourage Questions
Children are naturally curious, and they may have many questions about what they hear or see. Encourage them to ask questions and listen attentively to their concerns. This will help them process their feelings and understand the situation better.
Validate Their Feelings
Children may express a range of emotions, from fear and sadness to confusion and anger. It is important to validate their feelings and let them know that it is okay to feel upset. Share your own feelings in a way that is appropriate and demonstrates empathy, showing them that they are not alone.
Focus on the Helpers
In times of crisis, it is beneficial to focus on the positive actions being taken by individuals and communities. Highlight the efforts of emergency responders, healthcare workers, and community volunteers. This can provide a sense of hope and demonstrate the power of people coming together to help one another.
Limit Media Exposure
Continuous exposure to news and media reports can be overwhelming and distressing for children. Monitor their media consumption and be available to discuss any content they may have seen. Encourage activities that offer a positive distraction, such as reading, playing games, or spending time outdoors.
Promote a Routine
Maintaining a regular routine can provide a sense of normalcy and stability for children. Consistent meal times, bedtimes, and daily activities can help them feel more secure and less anxious about the uncertainty around them.
Encourage Expression Through Play and Art
Children often express their feelings through play, drawing, and storytelling. Encourage these activities as a way for them to process their emotions and experiences. Offer them tools such as crayons, paper, or toys to facilitate this form of expression.
Be Patient and Available
Children may need time to process their emotions and may revisit their questions and concerns repeatedly. Be patient and make yourself available for ongoing discussions. Let them know that they can come to you anytime they need to talk.
Seek Professional Support if Needed
If you notice that a child is struggling to cope, exhibiting changes in behaviour, or showing signs of distress that do not improve over time, consider seeking the help of a mental health professional. Early intervention can be beneficial in supporting a child’s emotional well-being.
Sarah Jefferies – Paediatric Health Specialist from Paediatric First Aid Course, says: “By approaching these conversations with sensitivity and care, we can help children build resilience and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
“As adults, it is our responsibility to guide our young ones through challenging times, empowering them with the strength to face the future with confidence.
“Together, we can create an environment of support and understanding that helps children thrive despite the difficulties they may encounter.
“Let’s commit to being the reassuring presence they need as they navigate the complexities of the world around them.”
Animated TV sensation Bluey to have bumper episode compilation screening at cinemas across the UK
UK’s number 1 kid’s show Bluey arrives at Vue this month – with tickets on sale now
Bluey at the Cinema: Family Trip Collection is an hour-long treat for fans of Bluey to enjoy, made up of eight episodes from the TV show’s three series, all based around the theme of Family Trip.
The compilation will revisit several milestones for Bluey, including a Road Trip away, Camping and a visit to The Beach – as well as Bluey’s first trip to the cinema in Movies.
Arriving on 9 August, the title is part of Vue’s newly launched Big Shorts screenings, which will be bringing children’s favourite small screen characters to the big screen, with tickets starting from just £3.99.
The loveable Blue Heeler dog first arrived on-screen in Australia back in 2018 and has since become a household name, proving popular with children and parents alike across the globe.
Jointly commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios Kids & Family, Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio in association with Screen Queensland and Screen Australia.
BBC Studios also holds global distribution and merchandise rights.
In the UK, Bluey airs on Disney+, and on free-to-air broadcast platforms CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.
The arrival of Bluey at the Cinema: Family Trip Collection marks the beginning of a series of summer offerings for families at Vue.
Toby Bradon, General Manager of Vue UK & Ireland, said: ‘We pride ourselves on our family offerings and cannot wait to share the joy of everyone’s favourite Blue Heeler on the big screen this month.
“As our selection of special screenings show, we value our family audiences and want to bring the magic of the big screen alive for as many as possible throughout the summer and beyond.’
For more information and to book tickets, visit myvue.com.
Scottish Government: Supporting parents with children in care
£900,000 for organisations working with birth parents
Parents who have had a child taken into care will receive support from community services through £900,000 of Scottish Government funding this year.
The annual investment, delivered through the Corra Foundation, will be shared in 2024-25 by 11 organisations who work closely with birth parents who see their mental health decline following the loss of their child.
Many of these parents have dealt with multiple traumatic life events, such as childhood trauma, substance misuse, mental health issues or experience of domestic abuse.
The community organisations work to help empower birth parents to take control of their lives, develop new skills and build their self-confidence.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government is committed to keeping The Promise and keeping families together where it is safe to do so. Taking a child into care should only be done in the best interests of the wellbeing of that child. It is a hugely traumatic experience that impacts on the whole family, and doesn’t just stop.
“Sadly it is often the case that birth parents are left with little support after their child is taken into care – leaving them isolated having to deal with the situation alone, often when they are at their lowest point. However, much evidence and positive outcomes have been gathered by those working with birth parents as part of this programme.
“Feedback from birth parents involved in the programme to date has been extremely positive, with some calling it ‘life changing’. I am pleased we can continue this and show our appreciation for the Corra Foundation and all the groups they work with and the parents they support.”
Carolyn Sawers, Corra CEO said: “The funded services provide vital support to birth mums and dads. The relational, compassionate support the organisations provide means birth parents feel safe, valued and cared for.”
The list of funded projects is online here https://corra.scot/grants/supporting-birth-parents/…
Police Scotland ‘monitoring protests in other parts of the UK’
Police Scotland is closely monitoring the violent protests which have occurred in parts of the UK over recent days.
Police Scotland wishes to reassure communities that there is no intelligence indicating similar incidents are likely in Scotland. We continue to liaise with a range of partners to maintain this level of reassurance.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton, Policing Together, said: “We understand that these recent events may cause concern, that is why we have focused our efforts on increasing policing visibility and engagement across the country as our primary commitment remains the safety and wellbeing of all our communities and our officers and in building trust and confidence.
“We continue to closely monitor the events in England. Police Scotland is dedicated to upholding human rights and will not tolerate violence or discrimination against any group.
“ We wish to thank the Scottish people for their support and while we believe there is no cause for alarm, we encourage anyone with concerns or information to report them to us.”
Evening sewing sessions at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
NEW: Evening Drop-In Sewing Classes!
We are excited to announce new evening Alterations & Mending classes with Frank Francia! These classes will be on a Thursday evening 6-8pm, running from 8th – 29th August.
Looking to learn or refine your sewing skills? These drop-in sewing classes are perfect for everyone, from beginners to experienced sewers! We will have the fantastic Francia on hand to support your learning. Bring your own clothes or garments for repair and alteration, or bring your own fabric to create something new. All equipment and some materials are provided.
The best part? These sessions are free! We do suggest a donation of £5 or more to help cover costs, but there’s no need to commit to every week—just come when you can!
Join us for some creative fun and skill-building in a suppportive space 
Specialist reporters targeted in latest round of cuts at the Scotsman
NUJ members at the Scotsman have passed a motion of “anger and dismay” and are seeking an urgent meeting with their editor to discuss the latest round of cuts in which one out of four in the newsroom has been placed at risk of redundancy.
The cuts, which were announced on Wednesday, are across specialist reporters, business and features, with a proposal to cut five roles. They follow the axing of two football writers in January, leaving just one dedicated football reporter.
At the same time, their Glasgow-based rival has been recruiting football writers and last year launched two new football websites covering Edinburgh teams Hibs and Hearts.
The NUJ chapel at the National World flagship title has called upon editor Neil McIntosh to hold a meeting with staff to explain why such severe cuts were needed only three weeks after he told journalists they had achieved year-on-year growth and congratulated them for their performance, effort and hard work.
The decision on the cuts was made by National World’s senior executives based in England following what has been described as a failure to hit targets for subscriptions. The page view target for scotsman.com was to double traffic by the end of 2024, and the first half of the year had been described as a “good start” by the editor in an email to staff.
National World boasted in their half-yearly results that their websites and apps had increased by 8 per cent since year end, and The Scotsman, Yorkshire Post, News Letter, Express and Star and Shropshire Star had grown their subscriber base by 17 per cent since December 2023.
The Scotsman, like many newspaper groups, has been unable to capitalise on switching revenues from print to digital at a time when the traditional newspaper model is in decline.
The latest ABC figures available show The Scotsman sold 7,710 daily copies on average for the last half of 2023, around a tenth of what it sold 25 years ago.
It has recently ranked poorly and below rivals in Google News’s organic search for Scottish news stories.
Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ national organiser for Scotland, said: “Our members at The Scotsman shouldn’t have to pay the price for the muddled mess of a business strategy from National World. They have achieved what they have been asked to do, and their editor has congratulated them for it.
“National World management claim they are trying to turn the company into a ‘premium content business’, but these job cuts fall on those same talented, award-winning journalists who consistently produce excellent Scottish journalism.
“National World CEO David Montgomery needs to be supporting the editor of The Scotsman and its journalists so they can continue to produce quality, informed journalism. You don’t attract more subscribers by offering them less content.”
Cyber fraud organisation issues fraud warning to festival-going businesses
- The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland is encouraging organisations to stay diligent and enjoy a fraud-free Fringe
With Edinburgh preparing for thousands of visitors to descend for the world’s largest performing arts festival in August, Scotland’s leading cybercrime and fraud organisation is urging businesses to be on the defensive against fraudsters during one of the busiest seasons of the year.
Ticketing scams, although uncommon, can ruin the Fringe experience, and the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland is warning businesses that might be looking to book tickets as a team day activity or treat for clients to be on the lookout for counterfeit tickets. The Centre is urging businesses to be aware of look-alike and unauthorised websites, and, with fake sponsorship ‘opportunities’ also on the rise, businesses need to do their due diligence when approached about becoming a sponsor.
The Centre is also encouraging businesses to be mindful of the legitimacy of accommodation offers during the Fringe when booking stays for staff or clients and says that unusually cheap holiday offers or ones asking for a high deposit should be treated with suspicion.
Furthermore, with Business Email Compromise (BEC) becoming a more and more common method of scamming, particularly within a business environment, the Centre is urging employees to be vigilant. BEC involves fraudsters using fake but convincingly designed emails to compromise email accounts and therefore potentially access sensitive data.
With fake invoices being an example of BEC likely to be used during the Fringe, the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland is encouraging organisations to ensure that their staff have received robust cybercrime and fraud prevention training and are aware of how to identify and respond to potential security threats in the workplace.
Jude McCorry, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, said: “It’s crucial that organisations have well-developed and tested cybersecurity systems in place all year round, but businesses might find themselves particularly vulnerable during the Fringe.
“Education and communication are foundational to being well-prepared against the threat of cybercrime and fraud. We would encourage Edinburgh’s businesses to stay aware of the cyber climate around them, implement robust security measures and ensure their staff are sufficiently trained to give themselves the best possible chance of enjoying a Fringe festival free from fraud”.
Lyndsey Jackson, Deputy Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, added: “The Fringe is a wonderful celebration of creativity and community and we’d encourage everyone to jump in and take part as see as many shows as you can squeeze in.
“To keep yourself and your business fraud safe always buy directly from the venue or the Fringe Box Office, website and app and look for the STAR Logo for extra assurance and if something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.
“The Fringe is fast paced, exciting and dynamic so don’t let that trick you and your business into letting your guard down – and don’t forget we have customer service and artist support teams you can speak to if you’ve got questions – we’re here to help you find your seat at the Fringe.”
Individuals and organisations interested in learning more can follow this link to read the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland’s tips and advice in full online.
Never Stop Playing: World’s First Playable Golf Billboard Unveiled for the AIG Women’s Open
The R&A has unveiled the world’s first ‘playable golf billboard’ at Edinburgh Waverley Station to allow fans to experience playing the par-3 8th hole of the iconic Old Course in St Andrews, host venue of this year’s AIG Women’s Open.
As part of AIG Women’s Open new ‘Never Stop Playing’ campaign, the activation aims to elevate the excitement of golf for fans. This innovative billboard transforms into a golf simulator, offering an engaging opportunity for both new and longtime fans to connect with the Championship in a fun and interactive way.
The R&A has created this playable billboard to reimagine how golf enthusiasts engage with the sport, while also promoting the upcoming AIG Women’s Open, which will be held at St Andrews from 21 – 25 August 2024.
Fans can step up to the billboard, grab a real club and ball, and take a swing like never before. The technology employs cameras to track the player’s velocity, arc, and direction, digitally encoding the swing in real-time to show where the ball will land on the virtual par-3, 8th hole.
Players will be captivated as they watch the ball fly across the LED screen, displaying its arc and flight path towards the target.
With a real-time leaderboard tracking nearest to the pin shots, participants can compete in a fun golf challenge. Those nearest to the pin will receive an exciting prize from the AIG Women’s Open: a pair of Sunday tickets and a chance for the winner to be an official walking scorer for one of the groups during the final round at St Andrews.
Not just for avid golfers, those keen to take their first ever golf shot can also win prizes in the furthest from the pin challenge.
Zoe Ridgway, Championship Director of the AIG Women’s Open at The R&A said, “This activation brings the excitement of golf to a whole new level, allowing players to experience the thrill of golf in a fun and interactive way.
“As part of our new ‘Never Stop Playing’ campaign, we are giving both new and longtime fans the opportunity to engage with the AIG Women’s Open like never before, reaching new audiences and enhancing their connection to golf.”
Georgia Hall,2018 Women’s Open champion, said, “This looks like such a fun and innovative concept from The R&A.
“The playable billboard is a brilliant idea to introduce more people to golf and get them excited about the AIG Women’s Open. It’s initiatives like these that will keep our sport growing and evolving.”
Designed to resemble a traditional advertising billboard, this innovative attraction offers a unique and eye-catching experience for golfers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a casual player or a first time golfer, the playable billboard promises a one-of-a-kind experience.
The R&A will compile all the shot tracers from the day’s play onto the billboard screen at once, creating a stunning visual display. This impressive feature highlights the relentless passion and continuous engagement of golfers, showcasing how they ‘Never Stop Playing’.
Tickets to the AIG Women’s Open are now on sale via aigwomensopen.com. Adult tickets are available from £20, with Saturday tickets including a full day of golf action and entry to the Tom Grennan concert priced at £55.
To encourage children and young people to attend the AIG Women’s Open, The R&A will continue the successful ‘Kids go Free’ programme on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, which provides children under-16-years-old free entry to the Championship when accompanied by a paying adult.
Half-price youth tickets are also available on those days for 16-24-year-olds. Junior and youth tickets for Saturday’s golf action and Tom Grennan concert are £20 and £40 respectively.
Hospitality packages are also on general sale, offering an unrivalled way to experience the Championship in which guests can enjoy over ten hours of world-class action and fully inclusive hospitality.
Visit www.aigwomensopen.com for further information.
For information on the AIG Women’s Open or to purchase tickets, please visit www.aigwomensopen.com.
Leith sheltered housing tenants take on 1,280-mile walking challenge
A group of 26 tenants living in Leith have walked the distance from John o’Groat’s to Land’s End on paths around north Edinburgh. The group challenge recreated all the steps of the famous route over six weeks.
The walk was inspired by the success of the group’s virtual NC500 walk during lockdown in 2020. Harbour Homes’ sheltered housing coordinators recognised the benefits of a group challenge to promote movement for mental health.
The group exceeded the target distance by travelling over 1,280 miles on foot. This equates to over three million steps in six weeks.
Ellen who joined the walk said: “The virtual walking group was a great incentive to get up every morning and walk instead of sitting watching TV.
“I started to feel better about myself.”
Craig enjoyed the challenge and said: “It showed how much effort everyone put into the challenge.
“It was very worthwhile.”
Michael added: “I liked the challenge, it was really good for the body and mind.
“I really enjoy the walking group and catching up with everyone.”
Maureen Combe, Sheltered Housing Manager at Harbour Homes said: “There would be no challenge without our tenants, and we are very proud of the dedication shown by the walking group this summer.
“It is well known that one of the best things we can do to look after our mental health is to move regularly, and the benefits increase when we move as part of a group.
“I’m eager to see what our tenants accomplish next!”
Harbour Homes’ sheltered housing coordinators plan to keep the momentum going with more walking activities and challenges throughout the year.