Coughs are irritating – they can disturb your sleep and make you feel quite unwell at times. But how can you tell the difference between a short-term cough or whooping cough?
Read on to find out more …
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. Also known as pertussis, it is frequently described as the 100-day cough.
The first symptoms of whooping cough include:
runny nose
red and watery eyes
sore throat
a slightly raised temperature
Intense bouts of coughing then begin around a week later. Coughing symptoms at this stage include:
bouts lasting a few minutes at a time
more common at night time
bringing up thick mucus
can cause vomiting
gasping for breath between coughs, which may cause a ‘whoop’ sound (not everyone has this)
Whooping cough can affect people of any age, although young babies under 6 months of age are at a particularly increased risk of complications. Treatment depends on the age of the patient and how long they have had the infection.
Vaccination can protect babies and children from whooping cough. The vaccine is offered to:
women after the 16th week of pregnancy
babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age (the 6-in-1 vaccine)
children by 3 years and 4 months (the 4-in-1 pre-school booster)
Find out more about when to seek help for whooping cough and details on the whooping cough vaccine by visiting NHS inform – useful links in comments!
It’s less than two weeks until we’re officially fully open so make sure that date’s in your diary – Friday, 6th December – and be one of the first down to Granton to check us out. And if you’ve been wondering who’s going to be quenching your thirst and filling your belly, our official Resident foodies will be:
Choola: Nepalese street food with a Scottish twist Fire Bowl: East Asian style street food Buffalo Truck: Delicious fried chicken with all the added delights Social Bite Does dessert: amazing sweet treats and lots of custard Lazeez: Authentic Lebanese delights (fully halal) and shish Pulp Friction: Seasonal fresh fruit infused drinks, from mulled sangrias to frozen margaritas Barney’s and Newbarns: supplying the best locally brewed beers Serving up Williams and Johnson coffee, savoury and sweets will be Long Shot Coffee.
Don’t forget, The Pitt also has two saunas from Soul Water Sauna (booking opening soon), a weekly local produce market from Granton Community Garden, community and family areas, a co-working space and one of the best views in Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth.
December opening hours: Friday 6th: 5pm-10pm Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th: 8am-10pm Then weekly until 29th: Thursday to Sunday: 8am-10pm Hogmanay, Tuesday 31st: 8am-2am – family friendly entertainment with free entry all day to The Pitt Market. Please note, the Hogmanay Extravaganza is a separate, ticketed event which is suitable for 16+ only.
Entry to The Pitt Market is from the Granton Promenade. The Market will always be free to enter and is family and dog friendly every single day.
Retail / Lifestyle Opportunity
Perfect for anyone who wants to trade and be part of a supporting community of entrepreneurs looking to kick start their business or any pop up ideas.
The disclaimed audit opinion from the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Gareth Davies, on the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) 2022-23 is the first ever.
The cause is the severe backlogs in English local authority audits, with the consequence that there is inadequate assurance over material amounts throughout the WGA.
The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets and liabilities. It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective.
The PAC Chair’s statement can be found here PAC Chair’s statement – WGA.pdf. The link to the WGA 22/23 can be found in the notes to editors.
Backlogs in firms’ audits of England’s 426 local authorities have led to the National Audit Office (NAO) disclaiming the 2022-23 WGA for the first time.
As well as local authority accounts, the WGA combines the accounts of over 10,000 public bodies, such as central government departments, devolved administrations, the NHS, academy schools and public corporations.
Within his audit report, the NAO’s head, Gareth Davies, said he had been “unable to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence upon which to form an opinion”.
Just over 10% (43) of England’s 426 local authorities submitted reliable data to the WGA.
Of the near 90% of local authorities that failed to submit reliable data, 46% (196) submitted information that hasn’t been audited, and 44% (187) did not submit any data at all.
The Government is taking steps to address the backlog in audited accounts for English local authorities, including the use of fixed dates by which each year’s audits must be completed.
This process is unlikely to allow the disclaimer on WGA to be removed for 2023-24, but it does offer a medium-term solution to the problem.
The WGA is a vital tool in the management and scrutiny of public spending, as it brings together all public sector assets, liabilities, income and expenditure. This means that long-term costs to the public purse such as clinical negligence and nuclear decommissioning are visible to policy makers and Parliamentarians.
Gareth Davies, head of the NAO said:“It is clearly not acceptable that delays in audited accounts for English local authorities have made it impossible for me to provide assurance on the Whole of Government Accounts for 2022-23.
“It is essential that the steps being taken by Government to restore timely and robust local authority audited accounts are effective”.
The disclaiming of the WGA is in relation to local authority audit omissions and unaudited returns. The impact of this impact is so large and pervasive that the Comptroller and Auditor General is unable to give any opinion on the WGA at all. The C&AG continues to provide assurance over all central government departments via their statutory departmental accounts on an annual basis, and the disclaimer of the WGA does not impact upon the opinions he gives on those accounts.
In the run up to Christmas, Children First is calling for action to address Scotland’s child mental health crisis after a recent freedom of information (FOI) request revealed a ‘staggering’ 100 referrals a day, on average, are being made to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Scotland’s national children’s charity has described the figures as ‘a sad reflection of growing up in Scotland today’ after they declared a childhood emergency last month. At the time, a survey carried out by the children’s charity found 88 percent of adults were worried about children and young people’s mental health.
Children First chief executive, Mary Glasgow, said: “The fact that a staggering 100 referrals for children are being made for children’s mental health support daily is a sad reflection of growing up in Scotland today. This Christmas thousands of children will wake up full of fear and worry.
“Scotland’s children should be safe, loved and happy – not robbed of their childhoods. This must stop. As a nation we have a responsibility to protect their mental health and wellbeing and to ensure they receive the support they need.
“We are calling on the Scottish Government to roll out more early help and support to stop children reaching crisis point and asking the Scottish public to get behind our Christmas fundraising campaign to protect Scotland’s children and keep them safe.”
The news comes a week before the latest quarterly CAMHS waiting list statistics are released and a decade on from the Scottish Government committing to 90 percent of CAMHS referrals being seen within 18 weeks. That target has never been met.
Mary Glasgow continued: “Ten years on the Scottish Government has not kept its promise to stop children getting stuck on waiting lists and children are often not getting help until they are in severe distress. We want to see more funding so that families can quickly get support for their children when they need it.
“Our teams across Scotland are supporting young people who are frightened, worried and anxious and in desperate need of help.”
One young person, Tessa* who was suffering panic attacks, anxiety and fear during a difficult time at home, shared her experience of being supported by Children First: “After I met Sharon* from Children First I felt that I had someone to turn to.
“I could talk to her and share my feelings with her. She helped me learn to cope with my anxiety. Before then I’d been bottling up everything but having Sharon to talk to felt like a weight off my shoulders.”
Glasgow added: “At Children First we provide emotional, practical and financial support to help children and families when they need it most.
“We know Christmas time can be a strain for many families and the support we provide is needed now more than ever. We want children to have hope and a brighter future. Please donate today and give the gift of childhood this Christmas.”
Donations to the Children First Christmas appeal can be made at childrenfirst.org.uk or by calling 0345 10 80 111.
Anyone worried about a child in Scotland can contact the Children First support line by calling 08000 28 22 33 for free or visiting www.childrenfirst.org.uk.
Visual cards break down barriers for inclusive swimming lessons
A PIONEERING visual teaching tool has launched in Edinburgh, making swimming lessons more accessible to everyone.
Supporting Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water’s vision to create ‘Generation Swim’, SwimPix – a collection of waterproof visual instruction cards- is helping to transform how Edinburgh Leisure and George Watsons swimming teachers communicate with their students.
The cards represent the latest learning development in the Learn to Swim National Framework, which currently helps around 81,000 children and adults learn to swim each week across Scotland.
SwimPix features multiple display options, including sequence boards and lesson planners, covering lessons through pictures which children with autism, hearing impairments, or where English isn’t their first language may find benefit – supporting the Framework commitment to creating inclusive, supportive and quality environments in which individuals can learn to swim regardless of their age, ability or skill level.
Alison Bell, Founder of Aswim, said: “SwimPix are a tried and tested teaching and communication tool for swimming teachers that helps create a more inclusive swimming environment.
“It’s great to see teachers using SwimPix and children having fun in the lesson with the cards. It really reduces anxieties and helps children know what the teacher is asking them to do, therefore faster learning.”
Edinburgh Leisure and George Watsons are two of 37 Learn to Swim providers who are introducing the SwimPix cards in their lessons across 165 pools in Scotland.
Euan Lowe, Chief Executive Officer at Scottish Swimming, said: “By making swimming lessons more accessible through tools like SwimPix, we’re taking another significant step toward our mission of creating a generation of confident and safer swimmers.
“These visual teaching resources ensure that swimming really is for everyone – breaking down communication barriers and helping all children feel included and supported in the water.”
Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water said: “Learning to swim and understanding water safety are vital life skills, especially in Scotland where we have so many miles of rivers, reservoirs, lochs and coastline to enjoy.
“Rolling out inclusive teaching tools like SwimPix is such a positive step, helping provide opportunities for every child to learn the vital knowledge and skills to help them feel safe in, on and around water – and help their parents and family network feel confident and comfortable in their swimming abilities.”
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to remove barriers to swimming across Scotland, with visual learning tools becoming increasingly important in inclusive education.
The Learn to Swim National Framework has already seen more than 100,000 children take part in lessons up and down the country and is targeting another 100,000 by 2025.
For more information on the Learn to Swim programme, visit:
If you are worried about heating bills and the cost of living this winter, the Citizens Advice network is here to help.
Continued high living costs and months of unaffordable energy bills means many of us are worried about managing payments again this winter. Sadly, too many of us are switching off the heating, turning to credit to cover essential livings costs, or feeling like there is no solution to unmanageable bills.
But the Citizens Advice network in Scotland is here for you with free, impartial and confidential advice.
Find your local CAB
Your first port of call should be contacting your local Citizens Advice Bureau to get free, confidential and impartial advice. One of our specialist advisers will be able to talk to you face-to-face, go through your situation and work out the next steps. They will be able to help communicate with your energy supplier, set up a manageable repayment plan or find out if you are eligible for any grants or discounts.
Our Money Map tool is a great online resource, finding ways to make the most of your money, decrease your bills and help meet the costs of daily living.
You might be able to save money on monthly bills. Our Council Tax tooltells you quickly if you’re entitled to a discount, reduction or exemption.
Specialist services
If you are thinking about claiming Universal Credit for the first time, we can help. Our Help to Claim advisers are available by webchat or telephone (0800 023 2581, Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm) and can guide you through the process, whether you’re looking for answers to quick questions or step-by-step support to make your claim.
The Money Talk Team at your local Citizens Advice Bureau helps you maximise your income, look at options to reduce costs and offers specialist debt advice. To find out more, start a webchat here.
If you are elderly, have certain health conditions, are pregnant or have young children, you may be eligible for additional support from your supplier. Check if you are eligible for the Priority Services Register here.
You can also call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 for help with your home energy this winter.
Scotland’s party leaders are being urged to unite and take bold, immediate action to overhaul the devolved tax system, to build a fairer, more prosperous, and sustainable future for all.
In an open letter, Tax Justice Scotland, a newly formed campaign group which represents over 50 Scottish civil society organisations, trade unions, economists, and academics, says that Scotland’s existing tax system is undermining public services while exacerbating economic and wider inequalities. They say it’s time to break free from short-termist tax policymaking.
Campaigners say that a fairer, more effective devolved tax system is needed if the Scottish Government is to deliver on its legal commitments to cut child poverty and tackle climate change, while avoiding damaging cyclical emergency budget cuts.
Ahead of the publication of Scotland’s new Tax Strategy and the 2025/26 Scottish Budget, the Tax Justice Scotland campaign is warning Scotland’s finances are “beyond breaking point”, while urging leaders to “stop dodging the hard but necessary decisions” on tax reform for future stability.
The letter says:
“Scotland’s finances are beyond breaking point. Tweaking the status quo on tax is not working; it’s failing our communities, our economy, and our planet. Inaction will condemn current and future generations to deepening inequality, crumbling public services and environmental collapse.
But you have the power to choose a different future.
To do so, you must choose to move beyond inadequate tweaks to our flawed tax system. It’s time to think beyond the narrow constraints of budget and electoral cycles to deliver a better and fairer tax system while ensuring those with the broadest shoulders carry the greatest weight of change.”
While the recent UK Budget will boost public spending and somewhat ease immediate finance pressures in Scotland, this won’t put Scotland’s public finances on a sustainable path.
The campaign is urging the Scottish Government to leverage the upcoming Tax Strategy as a catalyst for overdue and essential long-term reform.
Tax Justice Scotland also sets out a series of immediate steps the Scottish Government should take, using devolved powers, to make progress towards a fairer tax system:
Launch an immediate nationwide property revaluation, the first critical step to finally scrapping the outdated and unfair Council Tax. At the same time, Ministers must start the search for fairer, more equitable alternatives.
Kick-start a bold plan to tax wealth more fairly, ensuring those with the most contribute their share to Scotland’s future.
Make polluters pay for the damage they cause while encouraging greener, fairer business practices, including through reforms of existing Non-Domestic Rates and tax breaks.
On behalf of Tax Justice Scotland, Lewis Ryder-Jones, Oxfam Scotland’s Advocacy Adviser, said:“Scotland’s finances are perpetually teetering on the edge of a perilous precipice. Poverty and inequality are rampant, public services are badly stretched, and the climate crisis is escalating. Fairer taxes, alongside a fairer economy, and ensuring public money is well spent, can and must do more to secure a fairer, greener future for everyone.”
Tax Justice Scotland has been established to build public and political pressure for tax reforms in Scotland, as part of improved UK and global tax systems.
The letter coincides with growing global momentum on tax, with the leaders of G20 governments making a ground-breaking commitment to cooperate on taxing the world’s super-rich at a summit in Brazil last week.
Bold, well-designed changes to devolved taxes could build on this global momentum, unleashing more resources to invest in healthcare, education, social security and climate action while reducing the widening gap between the wealthy and the rest of society in Scotland.
Lewis Ryder-Jones added:“Scotland can lead the way in the UK and internationally. It’s time for our leaders to stop dodging the hard but necessary decisions, and instead start making the case that fairer taxes are good for the economy.
“We need grown-up tax governance that takes Scotland’s future seriously; moving beyond piecemeal, patchwork fixes and instead delivering a tax system that works for everyone, not just the privileged few.”
With your help we can support survivors this Christmas
We are collecting donations to provide vouchers to the women and children we support throughout the festive period. The provision of vouchers allows those we support to celebrate Christmas however they would like without the financial burden this time of year often brings.
£10 would contribute to the cost of a Christmas meal for a woman and her children living in refuge.
£25 would contribute to the cost of presents, activities, and trips over the holiday period to ensure that a child in refuge has a more enjoyable Christmas.
£50 would contribute to the cost of food, presents, and essentials for a woman and her children living in refuge over the Christmas holidays.
£75 would contribute to the cost of food and essentials over the holidays and beyond for women and children who have access to no other funds.
We have had extraordinary success in providing those we support with vouchers at Christmas for the past three years. The women who received these vouchers were thrilled that they were able to make choices about what gifts they and their children most needed or wanted.
Women told us:
‘Today I am going shopping and am excited to be able to choose presents for my children.
“I want to say a big thank you for your kindness, love, and the gift vouchers we received. I cannot express our joy and gratitude to you all.
“From our hearts we say a big thank you and know that we appreciate all your love and care so much.“
We’re also happy to support you in your own fundraising campaign for EWA. We’ve been so honoured by the heartfelt fundraisers our supporters have organised in the past.
An initiative to provide free after school and holiday clubs for families on low incomes has helped more than 3,500 children to attend football and other sport sessions, increasing access to sports and improving their mental health during its first year.
An impact report published by the Scottish FA shows a £4 million investment from the Scottish Government is helping efforts to end child poverty by supporting parents and carers to increase their working hours, thereby maximising the effect of any financial savings, and has been especially successful in supporting lone parent families.
The report also shows that the number of parents and carers benefitting from the Extra Time initiative rose by 80% in the first six months of the programme, with increased funding helping thousands of children attend regular services which provide childcare options for their parents.
Extra Time is a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish FA that provides funding for 31 local football clubs and trusts to provide free access to before school, after school and holiday clubs for targeted primary school children from families on low incomes.
Attending the first anniversary celebration of the launch of the project at Hampden Park, with Extra Time Ambassadors and former professional players Stephen O’Donnell and Suzanne Winters, Minister for Sport Maree Todd said: “Extra Time is having a positive impact right across Scotland by providing affordable and accessible childcare options in local communities for thousands of families.
“The First Minister has made clear we will continue to prioritise action to end child poverty by removing barriers to affordable and accessible childcare. This initiative will contribute to this.
”We know it is working for those most at risk of living in poverty, supporting parents to maintain their current employment or gain new employment.
“It is making a real difference for children and young people too, with mental health benefits for participants – improved confidence, happiness, and social skills – and the provision of food at sessions is helping to tackle food insecurity and to promote healthy food choices.”
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “At the Scottish FA we regularly speak of the power that football has to positively benefit society and the Extra Time programme is a shining example of the social benefits that football is able to provide off the pitch.
“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for their support in delivering this programme over the past twelve months and look forward to continuing our work on the programme to deliver tangible benefits to families and communities across the nation.”
Former Scotland Women’s International and Extra Time Ambassador Suzanne Winters said: “Through my work with Queens Park Football Club I have witnessed first-hand the incredible impact that this programme has had on the families involved with it.
“It is a fantastic example of football making a difference off the pitch.”
Former Scotland Men’s International and Extra Time Ambassador Stephen O’Donnell said: “It is heart warming to see the children in this programme enjoying their access to football through this programme while also benefitting them and their families through the free childcare.”
The NSPCC Helpline fielded almost 4,000 contacts about concerns for children experiencing domestic abuse in the first six months of 24/25.
There has been a 19% increase about the issue compared to the same period in 23/24.
Coercive or controlling behaviour, emotional domestic abuse and post-separation domestic abuse were concerns repeatedly raised in contacts the adult helpline received about domestic abuse.
Childline is reminding all children that the service is ready to support them if they have concerns about domestic abuse, or any other issues, this festive season.
The NSPCC is dealing with an increase in contacts to its Helpline from adults with concerns about children who are experiencing domestic abuse.
In the first six months of 2024/25, the charity received 3,879 contacts relating to the issue, a 19% rise compared to the previous year.
A deeper dive into the domestic abuse data reveals mentions of coercive or controlling behaviour (1,279 contacts) and emotional domestic abuse (1,451) increased by a half, while post-separation domestic abuse more than doubled.
A 12-year-old girl from Scotland told a Childline counsellor: “I can’t handle living around my dad; he puts us all on edge. You never know what he’s going to do next or over what.
“Mum thought she’d lost her phone weeks ago, but really dad hid it to punish her. Mum doesn’t even argue back anymore, it’s like he’s made her give up.”
Children are also directly contacting the charity about this issue, with Childline delivering over 500 counselling sessions on domestic abuse in the same 6-month period.
As we move towards Christmas and into the winter months, the concern now is that these numbers will continue to rise with longer, darker nights seeing children spending more time at home and having several weeks away from school over the festive period.
In response, the NSPCC is launching its annual Christmas campaign designed to remind young people that Childline is available throughout the festive season to support on all concerns, including domestic abuse.
Sadly, there will be thousands of children this Christmas across the UK in search of free and confidential help for a range of worries and concerns. These include how to stay safe from abuse and about feeling completely alone. This Christmas, Childline is ready for every call and contact throughout the festive period.
In the charity’s Christmas TV advert, a young girl who has been neglected during the festive period contacts Childline for help. She speaks to a trained counsellor who listens to what is happening to her and provides support.
The issue can still persist after a relationship is over. An adult in Scotland who had concerns for a relative’s safety in a domestic abuse setting told the NSPCC Helpline that they saw signs of controlling behaviour after a relationship had ended.
They said: “My sister recently left an abusive situation with her six-month old baby, but her ex-partner is still in control of their finances and emotionally abusing her. Her ex has drained their accounts so she can’t buy what she needs for my niece.
“The ex is bombarding her with threats over text, even saying they will kill themselves if she doesn’t go back or let them see the baby. Where can we get support and protection for my sister and niece?”
Adeniyi Alade, head of NSPCC helplines in Scotland, said: “Christmas should be a time of wonder and excitement for children, but sadly this is not always the case. For some it can be a time in the year when problems at home come to a head and trigger issues like domestic abuse.
“Contacts to the NSPCC Helpline about domestic abuse have been on the rise this year and the concern now is that this will continue over Christmas and into 2025.
“Our mission is to ensure that no child is left to suffer in silence. Our Childline service is open in December and throughout the year to provide free, confidential advice and support.”
This Christmas, a child will contact Childline every 45 seconds on average. Help the charity to make sure Childline is ready for every question this festive season by visiting the NSPCC website. Just £4 could help a counsellor answer a call this Christmas.
The Childline service is here for children every day, even on Christmas Day. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or childline.org.uk
Any adult can contact the NSPCC Helpline if they have a concern about a child on 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@NSPCC.org.uk. For more information on DART (Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together), visit the NSPCC website.
red and watery eyes
sore throat
a slightly raised temperature
bouts lasting a few minutes at a time
women after the 16th week of pregnancy
