As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, it’s more important than ever to prioritize our well-being. Spending time in nature and with loved ones can be a powerful antidote to the winter blues.
Here’s why:
Boosts Mood and Reduces Stress: Nature has a calming effect on our minds. A walk in the park or a hike in the woods can lower stress levels and improve mood.
Enhances Physical Health: Fresh air and physical activity are great for our bodies. Even a short outdoor stroll can boost your immune system and keep you active.
Strengthens Relationships: Spending quality time with friends and family fosters deeper connections and provides emotional support. Whether it’s a cozy indoor gathering or an outdoor adventure, these moments are invaluable.
Combats Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Exposure to natural light, even on cloudy days, can help alleviate symptoms of SAD. Pairing this with social interactions can further enhance your mental health.
Encourages Mindfulness: Nature encourages us to slow down and be present.
This mindfulness can help us appreciate the beauty around us and find joy in the little things.
So, bundle up, step outside, and make time for the people who matter. Let’s make this winter a season of connection and wellbeing!
PCHP’s Community Wellbeing Programme has lots to offer you this #Winter, why not pop in and take a look at our sessions or speak to one of the team.
This winter the City Art Centre presents Through Line, a one floor group show, featuring work by nine artists.
Spanning an array of artistic mediums including ceramics, drawing, jewellery, painting, printmaking, poetry and textiles, the ‘through line’, or common visual thread, of this exhibition is the use and exploration of line in the artists’ diverse practices.
There are hand-drawn and painted lines, lines woven as threads and modelled in wire, and lines that are poetic. They take both geometric and organic forms. Some are bold, expressive lines, which excite and convey movement, others are more delicate and elicit a sense of calm.
There are lines that extend beyond flatness, projecting into our space. There are also implied lines, which we see in our mind’s eye or tell a narrative story. In some artworks line and background are fused, giving significance to the space in between.
A line can separate but also connect; it creates divisions and boundaries, but also generates space. For centuries, the line has been a critical tool for artists, and it remains one of the principal elements of abstraction. Flow I and Flow II by Michael Walton are abstract oil paintings, dealing with pure form.
These works are influenced by the ideas of the Bauhaus, Marcel Duchamp and Jorge Luis Borges. In each composition, green and blue lines have become entangled within a circular shape.
David Connearn’s practice is primarily based in procedural, non-figurative drawing, and deals with themes of experience and temporality. In the two ink studies, Coming Going (I) and Coming Going (II), Connearn has drawn a single line at the top of each page, which has then been retraced repeatedly underneath. Each line sets the new path for the following one, resulting in converging and diverging forms.
Meanwhile, Charles Poulsen’s expressive drawings are made in layers of pencil, wax and gouache on paper, in a square grid-like format. The drawings are abstract, contemplative works without narrative or direct observation, through which he communicates often intuitive ideas about the universe. Poulsen thinks of his drawing as akin to organic geometry.
Encouraged by botanical forms, Lara Scobie’s work also has an organic quality, the lines in her ceramics refuse an exact uniformity. Her pieces relay the spontaneous process of hand-to-paper drawing; responding to how the materials react with the marks. Fascinated by the relationship between form and surface, she allows them both to inform each other as her ceramics develop.
Over her 25-year career, Frances Priest has followed a line through ceramics and drawing, exploring spatial relationships, mark making, languages of ornament, and colour. Priest’s ceramic Cobalt/White Mesh explores her interest in the liminal point between two and three dimensions, while its surface patterns create movement across curved planes of clay.
The physical process of working in metal, such as drawing it by hand into fine lengths of wire, is hugely inspiring for Andrew Lamb. An ingot of gold becomes a thread of wire, a line that offers infinite creative possibilities. Lamb also references visual illusion and optical principles in his jewellery, to echo the perfection found in nature, tempered by the shifting patterns of how we see and perceive the world.
Rhona Taylor’s work is concerned with light and colour; line, pattern and repetition; as well as time, place, mapping and the navigation of space. Her site-specific mixed media installation, Against the Dying of the Light, responds to and physically interacts with the City Art Centre’s gallery space.
Also created specifically for the show, Susan Mowatt’s artwork, Tangle, which draws inspiration from a treasured keepsake and consists of a 33 metre, multicoloured woven line, presented in a tangle on a black wall. Mowatt’s recent works repurpose older ones, with the process of making becoming the most meaningful aspect.
Lastly, Ian Hamilton Finlay’s print suite, The Blue and Brown Poems, focuses on the look and sound of words. The words in the twelve poems have been removed from a standard verse structure and arranged into striking shapes, in which typography and font colours take on equal significance to literal meanings.
Through Line will be accompanied by an illustrated exhibition catalogue with a thoughtful essay by writer Greg Thomas. Alongside the exhibition, the City Art Centre will also offer an extensive events programme for all to enjoy.
City Art Centre Curator, Maeve Toal said: ‘”Through Line’ is the last in a series of four group exhibitions at the City Art Centre spotlighting contemporary art and craft practice in Scotland.
“It showcases artworks from our collection alongside works by artists who are not currently represented. Its focus is the beauty and versatility of the line – from the simplicity of a single stroke to intricate linear patterns – and the impact it can have on our visual experiences.”
Councillor Val Walker, Edinburgh’s Culture and Communities Convener, said: “I am delighted that ‘Through Line’ will be presented at the City Art Centre this winter, showcasing the works of nine exciting artists and an array of artistic mediums including ceramics, drawing, jewellery, painting, printmaking, poetry and textiles.
“There is also a fantastic events programme running alongside the exhibition where some of the artists will take visitors on exclusive tours or give talks on their practice.
“I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit our City Art Centre and explore and reflect on the variety of artwork created by the nine impressive artists whose work is being showcased in this exhibition.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was delighted to welcome Hugh Bonneville and Paddington Bear to the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow this week.
The BAFTA-nominated actor was welcomed in a delightful reception by excited young patients and their families, who were treated to a special screening of Paddington in Peru in the MediCinema at the hospital.
Bonneville, who plays the character Mr. Brown in the beloved family film series, made a surprise visit to the in-hospital cinema in Glasgow run by MediCinema, a charity which improves the wellbeing and quality of life of NHS patients and their families through the power of the shared cinema experience and the magic of film.
The actor handed out soft Paddington bear toys to young patients at the MediCinema, speaking to them and their families before introducing the special screening.
Lucas, a young patient at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children said: “I enjoyed everything about tonight, it was amazing.I’m so happy I got to see a premiere and ask questions to one of the actual people in it.
“This has been my favourite movie experience – Paddington is my new number one.”
The highly anticipated third film follows in the paw prints of two hugely successful cinematic outings of the charming and lovable bear, bringing Paddington’s story back to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears.
With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru.
Guests at the MediCinema screening on Wednesday were amongst the first in the UK to watch the brand-new Paddington cinematic adventure, ahead of its nationwide release on Friday 8th November.
Mandy Meechan, Chief Nurse at the Royal Hospital for children said: “The children and parents were absolutely delighted to meet Hugh and Paddington.
“We aim to deliver person-centred care and visits like these enable us to create special moments that make a difference.
“A huge thank you from all of us to Hugh, Paddington, Medicinema, and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for making this possible.”
Paul Giggal, MediCinema Chief Operating Officer said: “It’s been a true joy to have Hugh and Paddington make this surprise visit to the MediCinema for patients and their families in Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.
“Then seeing the film before it’s open to the public has been the icing on the cake – or the marmalade on the sandwich! Experiences like this can transform a young person’s experience of hospital and bring joy at the most difficult times. The children loved every minute tonight and it is something they’ll remember forever.”
Hugh Bonneville said: “It’s a real privilege for me to visit Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children and to introduce some young adventurers to Paddington’s latest escapade, Paddington In Peru at the wonderful MediCinema.”
Susan Jack, a shining star at Marks & Spencer’s Princes Street store in Edinburgh is celebrating a half-century of holiday magic this year.
Sales Advisor for Jaeger and Womenswear at Marks & Spencer Princes Street, Susan is celebrating her 50th Christmas working for the high-street retailer and is particularly excited about this year’s range of sparkling dresses and skirts, perfect for any festive occasion.
Susan’s M&S career began just before Christmas in 1974 at the Princes Street store, just in time for the holiday rush in the ‘Ladies Fashions’ department.
With 50 years retail experience now under her belt, Susan has witnessed incredible innovations, from the evolution of tights to the affordability of cashmere and to the sparkle of the modern-day beauty counter, particularly at Christmas. She has always been fascinated by the changing trends in customer shopping habits.
From 1994 to 1999, Susan left the Princes Street store to join the opening team at the Gyle Shopping Centre. Remarked as one of Susan’s proudest moments, she thrived in training the new store team before returning to Princes Street as a Section Manager for Womenswear.
For Susan, the Christmas season is a magical time, she reflected: “Christmas is always special, particularly watching customers come in for their Christmas food shop. It brings so much joy to the store.”
She fondly looks back on the annual ‘turkey trot’, a term the team has coined for when Edinburgh shoppers collected their turkey and cranberry sauce!
The Turkey ordering service was soon introduced in 1982 to enhance convenience for customers.
As for Susan’s favourite turkey, she reveals: “The British Oakham Turkey Breast Joint is my favourite, we get it every year as it carves like a dream!”.
Susan has cherished celebrating Christmas with her colleagues over the years. From being amongst the first to sample the Christmas range as soon as it’s released, to attending January Christmas parties (a retail tradition), she has seen it all.
Reflecting on her five decades working for the retailer, Susan Jack, says: “More than anything over the years, M&S has given me confidence; I was very shy when I started, but my time at M&S has taught me how to be outgoing, reassuring me in my skills.
“I’d like to thank all my colleagues for creating such an enjoyable working environment and M&S for all the opportunities I’ve had over the last 50 years. The friendships I have made over the past five decades are truly irreplaceable and will last a lifetime.
“Watching their children grow up and become parents themselves is something I am forever grateful for.”
Store Manager Jon Cameronadded; “I am immensely proud of the incredible dedication and achievements Susan has made over the past 50 years.Her unwavering commitment, exceptional service, and the positive impact she has on both our team and customers are truly inspiring.
“We are honoured to celebrate this remarkable milestone and look forward to many more years working alongside Susan.”
MSPs’ EXPENSES INFORMATION FOR 2023/24 PUBLISHED ONLINE
Latest details of all MSPs’ parliamentary expenses have been published . Quarter 4’s expenses from the financial year 2023/24 are now available online via the Parliament’s searchable database facility.
A briefing paper setting out end year total expenditure figures has also been published (7th November).
The end year total for the financial year 2023/24 is £25,359,035. This represents an increase of £1,891,082 or 8.06% on the previous year’s corresponding figure of £23,467,953.
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said:“As with every year, staff salaries comprise the largest single expense, with £20.60m covering staff employment in MSPs parliamentary and local offices – that’s 81.25% of the total cost.
“The remainder covers the cost of running those offices, travel, and support for party leaders who are not in government.”
“The 8.06% rise in expenses reflects that the Retail Price Index was running at more than 13% in January 2023, and Average Weekly Earnings was above 5%.”
Search function:
Details of all MSPs expenses claims can be viewed on the Parliament’s searchable database:
Quarterly expenses information is also published in an open data format that is machine-readable and enables the user to manage raw information and re-present in different ways.
The data sets can be accessed via our API or as a single downloadable item which is around 60-70MB in size.
Quarters 1-3 for 2023/24 are already available. Note: Quarter 4 will be available in open data format from Monday 11 November.
Before reading about all the exciting things that are happening this month at The Heart, please take a few minutes to do our survey.
In August 2022 Heart of Newhaven Community secured the purchase of Victoria Primary School.
In January 2023 we opened the buildings, now known as The Heart, for community uses in support of our vision- an Intergenerational Community Hub where everyone is better connected, less socially isolated and more actively engaged with their community.
In our first year of operation we focused on the buildings and their spaces and this year we undertook essential repairs to the fabric of the building.
We’ve also begun to develop community projects including the Dementia Meeting Centre, an intergenerational heritage project, a community lunch with Cyrenians and our ‘open4 coffee’/knit and natter/ IT support with AceIt, Newhaven Friendship Group.
We now need to know, from you, how we are doing? Are we meeting your needs? What are we missing?
Please do our survey and share as widely as possible The closing date is November 30th Thank you!
The Knitted Christmas Tree News
Firstly a massive thank you to everyone who donated green squares, beautiful decorations, knitted articles,the amazing tree trunk and the time you have given us to help raise money for easier access to The Heart for everyone.
We are almost there, the trunk is ready, the knitting is prepared and the Newhaven Fishwife has arrived. The next thing is to erect The Tallest Knitted Christmas Tree in the atrium of the Heart, ready for the Grand Opening on 30th November.
The official opening is at 11am. The craft fair will be open from 10am-4pm and there will be a raffle, tombola, children’s raffle and bottle stall. There will be the chance to choose the Fishwife’s name, guess the number of leaves on the tree and the number of decorations on the tree. Any contributions and donations to our stalls would be very well received.
On Sunday 1st December from 2.30-5.30 there will be a craft afternoon with the chance to make a Christmas Wreath, a Christmas Ornament and other crafts. Tickets for these activities will be on sale on the Saturday and Sunday.
On both days there will be refreshments including mulled wine.
Come along and see the Tallest Knitted Christmas, meet the creators, support a good cause and start the Christmas season at the Heart of Newhaven.
The Tree can be seen every day from 30th November until 22nd December. Call in to meet us and find out what the Heart can offer you.
Leith Creative Trail
The Leith Creative Trail running from 30th November – 8th December is an initiative designed to encourage people to explore their local creative community, art studios, organisations and services.
Follow the MAP and drop in on 19 different venues across North East Edinburgh including The Heart.
We’re open Saturday 30th Nov & Saturday 7th Dec 10am to 4pm with open studio visits, handmade artisan gifts and artwork for sale, craft demonstration, mulled wine, festive nibbles and cheer.
Meeting Centre Update October/November
Members of the Heart Dementia Meeting Centre have been enjoying our Wednesday morning meetings, working on creative projects with Tortoise in a Nutshell Theatre Company and continuing our intergenerational School Days sessions with students from Victoria Primary School. We celebrated Halloween with spooky bread making and enjoyed some home-made tattie scones.
Meeting Centre Manager Jan Brown also organised ‘Start from the Heart’ two dementia inclusive walks around Newhaven with local poet Ken Cockburn, piloting the idea of celebrating local heritage through poetry and song with a gentle health-walk. Feeback on these Monday afternoon walks was very positive, and we hope to start a series of monthly walks in the Spring.
Jan recently ran a Dementia Awareness session for volunteers at The Heart of Newhaven, if you or a family member is interested in becoming a member of the Heart Dementia Meeting Centre or volunteering with us, please contact:
The Heritage Lottery Funded, Schooldays Project is underway, featuring intergenerational workshops with local primary school students from Victoria, Trinity, Wardie, and Holy Cross.
The students are collaborating with groups that regularly meet in our building, including the Dementia Meeting Centre, the Knit and Natter Group, the Newhaven Friendship Group, as well as new groups such as Feniks.
We’re thrilled about the creative workshops happening and being led by resident and local artists and look forward to sharing these experiences with our groups in the coming months.
Stay tuned for regular updates in future newsletters!
Alarm Bells: Alan Milburn joins the Department of Health and Social Care’s board to ‘support the government’s ambitious plans for reform’
Alan Milburn has been appointed Lead Non-Executive Member to the board of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Mr Milburn ‘brings experience at the highest levels to help transform the health and care system‘
This (Labour) government is determined to work with experts who can provide the best advice to help rebuild an NHS fit for the future
Alan Milburn has been appointed Lead Non-Executive Member to the board of the Department of Health and Social Care.
The former New Labour Health Secretary has a ‘proven track record of reducing waiting lists and improving satisfaction in the NHS’.
Milburn is also a strong advocate of private healthcare involvement in the NHS. Back in 2015, Milburn intervened in the British election campaign to criticise Labour’s health plans, which would limit private sector involvement in the NHS. Milburn was criticised for doing so while having a personal financial interest in the private health sector.
The current Labour government says the NHS is broken and it is the mission of this government to fix it and make the health service fit for the future. As part of this national mission, experts are being brought in to help develop policy, and NHS staff and patients have been invited to share their experience and ideas to change the NHS at Change.NHS.gov.uk.
Members of the department board provide independent advice and expertise to inform the department’s strategy, performance and governance and the Lead Non-Executive Member provides additional support to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in his role as Chair of the board.
The Labour government says that, as a former Secretary of State, Alan brings experience at the highest levels of helping transform the health and care system – but health trade unions will be very wary of Milburn’s appointment.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “As Secretary of State, Alan made the reforms which helped deliver the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in the history of the NHS.
“This government has inherited a broken health service with some of the longest waiting times and lowest patient satisfaction in history. I am delighted to welcome Alan to the department board, where he will offer advice on turning the NHS around once again.
“His unique expertise and experience will be invaluable and he has an outstanding track record of delivering better care for patients.”
Lead Non-Executive Director Alan Milburn said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this role.
“Having spent three decades working in health policy, I have never seen the NHS in a worse state. Big reforms will be needed to make it fit for the future.
“I am confident this government has the right plans in place to transform the health service and the health of the nation. I’m looking forward to working with them to achieve that mission.”
Due to ‘the requirements of the role and the unique expertise and experience Alan Milburn brings’, he was appointed directly by the Secretary of State on following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and in compliance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
The Department of Health and Social Care would like to thank Samantha Jones for all her work and support as non-executive director since February 2023.
A GLASGOW school has been illuminated in red in memory of those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
Kelvinside Academy, a War Memorial Trust school with one of the biggest Combined Cadet Forces (CCF) in the country, is one of several iconic locations across Scotland “Lighting Up Red” in support of Poppyscotland.
Some 177 Kelvinside Pupils lost their lives fighting for their country in WWI and WWII.
As has become tradition, the school has also paid tribute to the fallen with a poignant display featuring silhouettes of soldiers and poppies – designed and created by pupils – outside the A-Listed school building in the city’s West End. Handmade ornamental poppies, one for every former pupil whose life has been lost, have also been planted in the school grounds.
Daniel Wyatt, Rector of Kelvinside Academy, said: “The Kelvinside Academy community will never forget our former pupils who fought and died during WWI and WWII.
“Lighting up the school and creating this display is a lasting reminder to everybody of the sacrifice they, and everybody who fought in those conflicts, made. We will always remember them.”
The School’s formal Remembrance Service takes place at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church on Monday, November 11.
POLICE Scotland have released an image of a man they wish to speak to who may be able to assist their enquiries into an assault which took place on Thursday 26 September 2024 at the Grassmarket.
The man is described as being white, slim build, approximately 6ft in height, with short red hair. He was wearing a grey tracksuit and a black jacket.
Detective Constable Mark Richmond said “ I would urge the man pictured or anyone who may recognise him or has information about this incident to contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1768 of 27 September 2024. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Wood-burning stoves, bioenergy and peat heating will now be permitted in new homes and buildings following a review of the New Build Heat Standard commissioned by ministers earlier this year.
An amendment to regulations made today permits the installation of bioenergy and peat main heating systems – and any type of secondary heating systems – in new buildings from 1 January 2025, while maintaining the prohibition on mains gas and oil boilers as a main heating system.
Alasdair Allan, Acting Minister for Climate Action said: “The New Build Heat Standard is crucial to help reduce emissions from new buildings, preventing the need for retrofit in the future and ensuring a cleaner and greener Scotland.
“Heat from our homes and buildings makes up almost a fifth of Scotland’s carbon emissions so we must tackle the most polluting forms of domestic heating to reach net zero.
“We have listened to concerns from rural and island communities about resilience in times of bad weather or power outages, as well as the wider use of bioenergy and peat for other reasons. These changes address these concerns whilst retaining the spirit of the original legislation, which aims to eradicate polluting gas and oil boilers from new homes and buildings.
“I would like to thank all of those who submitted evidence and views, particularly those from rural and island communities – their input has been vital in delivering his positive outcome.”
Luke Fraser, Vice Chair of the Scottish Islands Federation said: ‘The Scottish Islands Federation is delighted that the points raised by our members and others, as part of the review of the New Build Heat Standard, have been taken into account.
“We believe there is a need to help sustain and support the resilience of households in rural and island communities through the use of wood burning stoves and burning of peat, and the changes to the NBHS announced today have taken this on board.
“While we are in support of the need for climate action, progress must be made in tandem with developing and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of our communities, not at their expense. This change is a positive step in that direction.’
