The dinner saw SSAFA’s Edinburgh & Lothians outgoing President, former Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Gray, host for the final time as he hands the role to new President, former Brigadier Tim Lai.
Nearly 70 guests gathered at The New Club, raising a total of £4,740 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. Among the guests were Major General Robin Lindsay, General Officer for Scotland; the Honourable Barney Campbell; and representatives from Close Brothers, which has provided generous corporate support for SSAFA.
The funds will go directly towards the Armed Forces charity’s work with serving personnel, veterans and their families in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Jonny said: “While always a fantastic fundraising event, this year felt particularly special as I hosted for the very last time.
“We are very grateful to everyone who attended and showed their support for our work with the local Armed Forces community. I would like to thank the event organisers for a fantastic night.
“I’d also like to wish our incoming Branch President, Tim Lai, the very best as he takes on a new role. I know he will excel, supporting our team as they provide tailored welfare and wellbeing support to the local Armed Forces community.”
Tim added: “Having served in the Armed Forces, and working in the defence sector as a veteran, I am proud to now join SSAFA’s branch in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
“The charity, with its team of local volunteers, does fantastic work to support Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families in the area.”
SSAFA has been working for the whole UK Armed Forces community since 1885.
Its mission is simple: to reach and embrace the Armed Forces family, so they never battle alone.
Fort Kinnaird has revealed the successful candidate in its search for a new Chief Christmas Officer (CCO) – with six-year-old Ruari from East Lothian appointed in the inaugural role.
Ruari was recruited to try out the wealth of retailers and festive experiences at the centre for free, indulging in tasty seasonal treats and bagging plenty of Christmas goodies to make sure they’re fit for a fun-filled festive season.
Ruari’s application stood out to Fort Kinnaird due to his volunteering efforts from a young age and passion for helping others, that the team felt should be rewarded. Ruari volunteers for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) with his granny, helping to collect cans and support at craft stalls. He has also encouraged his school to take part in fundraising for CHAS at Christmas over the last few years too.
Ruari spent a full day at the centre this week, testing out the diverse range of activities available. From watching seasonal favourite, Home Alone, at ODEON Cinema to reviewing the new festive menu at Frankie & Benny’s.
After sampling the new festive hot chocolate and treats at Hotel Chocolat, Ruari also got to test out this year’s most popular toys and gadgets at Menkind – and even got to take one home!
He said: “When Mummy told me I was going to be Chief Christmas Officer for Fort Kinnaird I felt really excited and happy – it was such a fun visit!”
Mum Sarah added: “Ruari knows being kind is the most important thing you can be and to have his efforts recognised in this way is really special.
“I’m so grateful to the team at Fort Kinnaird for making the day so much fun.”
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We had some wonderful applications for our Chief Christmas Officer role, and were blown away by the number of entries and everyone’s passion for the job!
“It was a difficult decision to select just one candidate, but Ruari stood out as a brilliant choice for us and he’s done a great job in putting our festive fun to the test.
“We’re always looking for ways to enhance our visitor experience, and we’d like to thank Ruari for helping us to do just that.”
For more information on the stores available at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
Last year, the NSPCC-service delivered almost 5,500 counselling sessions to children and young people across the UK over the 12 Days of Christmas, averaging more than 450 a day.
Recurring festive worries for young people include bereavement, family relationship issues and adults drinking too much.
Childline remains open for children and young people throughout December, including Christmas Day, for any questions, concerns or worries they may have.
The NSPCC’s Childline service is anticipating thousands of children and young people reaching out to them for help and support across the upcoming festive period, with counsellors available around the clock throughout the holidays.
Over the 12 Days of Christmas last year (24th December 2023 to 4th January 2024) Childline delivered almost 5,500 counselling sessions to children living across the UK, averaging out at more than 450 a day.
As throughout the rest of the year, problems with mental health and wellbeing is the main reason why children and young people contact Childline.
However, there are also recurring issues and worries arising that are more specific to the festive season including:
Young people reflecting on the prospect of Christmas without a loved one
Being worried about family conflict and adults consuming alcohol
Feeling pressure to eat more than normal/coping with an eating disorder
Concerns about family money worries
Feelings of guilt or jealousy about the presents they receive
One girl from Scotland aged 18 told Childline: “I’m feeling very on edge right now as all the family is home for Christmas. They’re all in a room laughing and drinking, but any time I try to say anything they just talk right over me, like I don’t exist.
“I’m now in my room alone, so I thought I’d come on here for a chat.”
Another girl from Scotland aged 15 told Childline:“I feel like a failure whenever I eat something cos my brain tells me that not eating is the only thing I’m good at – and in a way it’s true.
“I’m worried about Christmas tomorrow as there is obviously going to be lots of food and my parents don’t know that I’ve been struggling a lot with it. I don’t know what to do.”
Childline bases across the UK, including in London, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Cardiff, will be in operation throughout the Christmas period, filled with both full-time staff and volunteers.
Adeniyi Alade, Service Head of Childline and based at the Aberdeen base, said: “Childline will be there, as always, to help the thousands of children who contact us by phone and online over the festive period.
“We know Christmas can be a difficult time for some children and young people when they are spending more time at home.
“This time of year, can cause added stress to family life such as financial worries, arguments, and adults drinking a lot of alcohol.
“Whatever they may be worried about we’d like to reassure children and young people that our trained counsellors will be there to listen and support them on every day of the 12 Days of Christmas and into the New Year.”
Adam Perry (36)from Glasgowhas been a volunteer at the city’s Childline base since January this year.
He’s doing a shift on Christmas Eve for the first time and said: “Children have got all sorts of things going on in their lives, and often they are trying to cope with so much that’s happening to them.
“Someone needs to be there for them to listen, without judgement, and I feel privileged to be able to do that.
“At the end of every shift at Childline you feel like you’ve made a positive difference for at least one child, often more. To be honest there’s not much else I could do in an evening after work that would be as worthwhile.
“While I know it will be tough, I’m happy to volunteer this Christmas Eve. During the festive period, children have less support from their usual networks, such as school and friends, so I’m looking forward to being there to listen to them.”
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.
Police Scotland, supported by Heriot-Watt University, has created a series of British Sign Language (BSL) videos aimed at the deaf community affected by domestic abuse.
The series, comprising 13 videos, provides crucial information on domestic abuse, including how to recognise abusive behaviours and how to report them. These videos are available on the Police Scotland website, offering accessible resources for the deaf community.
Professor Jemina Napier, Chair of Intercultural Communication at Heriot-Watt University, collaborated with Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit (DACU) and its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Unit to develop the project.
As a leading expert in the field of sign language interpreting and translation, Professor Napier brought extensive experience, having led significant studies such as Justisigns2 and SILENT HARM, which were among the first UK research efforts to document the unique experiences of deaf women surviving domestic abuse and communicating via interpreters.
In this latest project, Professor Napier led a mixed deaf-hearing team of experts who created a BSL glossary of 33 key terms related to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. This glossary was integral to the videos, ensuring that critical concepts were accurately conveyed in BSL.
Professor Napier explained: “The translation of the videos was made possible through generous support from the Heriot-Watt University Impact Acceleration Fund, allowing us to effectively donate the BSL-translated videos to Police Scotland.
“Collaborative research and evidence-based development of resources like these are essential to ensure that deaf individuals reporting domestic abuse have equitable access to information, services, and support. It also ensures that BSL interpreters are equipped to meet the needs of deaf BSL users in such sensitive contexts.”
Early next year, Professor Napier will begin a new project examining the impact of domestic abuse on families across the UK.
The 12-month study will involve interviews with deaf survivors of domestic abuse and practitioners, documenting the impact on children as co-victims if they get drawn into interpreting for their deaf parents in domestic abuse situations.
The new Police Scotland videos tackle some of these barriers by translating key information into BSL. Topics include questions such as “What is domestic abuse?” and “What can I do if this is happening to me?”
Detective Constable Sarah Winters, from Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit, has been working with Professor Napier on the development of these videos.
She said: “The opportunity to collaborate on these groundbreaking projects has been one of the most profound and humbling experiences of my career. I feel incredibly privileged to have learned directly from those with lived experience.
“Their courage and insights have not only broadened my understanding but reignited a determination to drive meaningful change. The work is far from over – this is the start of a dedicated journey to ensure that all survivors of domestic abuse have access to the resources and services they need, delivered in a way that truly supports and empowers them.
“Partnering with Professor Napier and HWU has been a truly enriching experience, showcasing the power of collaboration in achieving transformative progress.”
Staff and residents at Woodhorn Park and Station Court care home in Ashington are celebrating because their wonderful colleague, Natalie Lochhead, has been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse.
Natalie was selected earlier this year to take part in a nine-month development programme run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS). She is among an elite group of just 21 extraordinary community nurses to have been awarded the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse this year.
Queen’s Nursing in Scotland dates back to the late 19th century, when nurses completed specific training which allowed them to work as district nurses to provide nursing care for the ‘sick poor’ of Scotland’s communities.
QNIS organised the training of District Nurses in Scotland until the late 1960s. Nurses who qualified from the Institute were known as Queen’s Nurses, they provided healthcare and health promotion to people in their own homes and became well respected figures within their community.
Around 20 community nurses and midwives are chosen each year to embark on the Queen’s Nurse Development Programme (QNDP) after which they are awarded the title of Queen’s Nurses. There are now over 170 contemporary Queen’s Nurses working across Scotland.
Natalie Lochhead, Divisional Clinical Lead Nurse for Barchester Healthcare, said: “I have the best job in the world, I work with such brilliant people across our homes and I love each and every one of my residents – it is the best feeling in the world to know you have made someone feel better and put a smile on their face.
“I was very happy to be selected for the programme and it is lovely to be recognised for doing the job that I love.”
General Manager of Woodhorn Park care home, Emma Saunders said: “This is such a fantastic achievement, the whole home is so proud of Natalie.
“She is so dedicated, she is a wonderful mentor and support for her colleagues and always goes the extra mile for her residents. She really deserves this accolade and we are delighted to celebrate her success!”
Dr Sarah Doyle, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “Queen’s Nursing in Scotland is delighted to award the Queen’s Nurse title to Natalie.
“Community nurses and midwives occupy a unique position in Scotland’s health service, working as they do in the heart of communities, championing the cause of those who are not heard, helping those facing real adversity. They do extraordinary work, every day.
“The Queen’s Nurse Development Programme supports participants to build their confidence, inspiring them to find and lead creative responses to the challenges faced by their colleagues and the communities they serve.”
Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland (SMFS) and Edinburgh Leisure are calling for volunteers to help launch a new weekly club that tackles depression, dementia, and loneliness through the power of sport.
The proposed Sporting Memories Club would be based at Meadowbank, with plans to start in the new year, pending volunteer support.
Following a successful one-off session at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, to mark the launch of Edinburgh 900 exhibition, organisers are eager to establish a regular programme for older adults passionate about sports.
Volunteer Opportunity Highlights
The clubs are run by trained by Sporting Memories volunteers who use a wide range of Sporting Memories reminiscence resources developed specifically to help prompt conversation and discussion. There is always great fun and laughter, friendships are forged, and some remarkable sporting stories often emerge.
Sporting Memories has developed an innovative and engaging approach to tackling the challenges of our ageing society. Their work focuses on reducing loneliness and isolation; getting older people physically active; and helping people to live well with dementia.
Donna Mackey, Partnership Manager at SMFS, emphasised the need for volunteers: “We’re looking for people with a love of sport and some spare time. No expert sports knowledge is required – we’ll provide full training and resources.”
Key points for potential volunteers:
No specialised sports expertise needed
Comprehensive training will be provided
Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in community health
Support for older adults, including those living with dementia
Community Impact
Sam Scott from Edinburgh Leisure explained the broader significance: “These clubs support Edinburgh Leisure’s mission to keep people active and well, no matter what age or stage.
“Using the rich history and heritage of sport, we’re creating a space where older adults can connect, reminisce, and build friendships through their shared love of sport.”
The clubs offer:
A welcoming environment for sport enthusiasts
Opportunities to share sporting memories
Social connection and support
Activities designed to combat isolation and support mental well-being
Who Can Participate?
The club welcomes:
Older adults who enjoy talking about sport
Individuals living with dementia
Carers interested in supporting their loved ones’ social engagement
Music fans packed out the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh for Soundhouse’s first ever Winter Festival (28 Nov to 2 Dec). Bringing in an audience mostly comprised of locals (73% from the capital, with 21% from the rest of Scotland), it proved the best antidote to a dark time of year and a great way to mark St Andrew’s Day.
The festival ran over five days thanks to support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and included some of the finest jazz, indy and folk musicians from Scotland. Sellouts included the Nicole Smit Quintet; Fergus McCreadie with an outstanding performance from guest Italian star Mattia Galeotti on drums; and Su-a Lee performing alongside a stellar line-up of trad favourites – Duncan Chisholm, Donald Shaw and Hamish Napier.
Other popular highlights included a screening of The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric (1933), opened by Shetland pianist Amy Laurenson, and accompanied by music composed by award winning multi-instrumentalist Inge Thomson from Fair Isle with Shetlander Catriona Macdonald; a preview of rock goddess Megan Black’s new album; and a performance of Unwritten Women read by Edinburgh’s former Makar Hannah Lavery to a new score written and performed by Kate Young.
The Festival also received five star reviews and was a key part of this year’s Fair Saturday celebrations in Edinburgh.
Jane Ann Purdy and Douglas Robertson, producers of the Soundhouse Winter Festival said: “We are thrilled with the appetite that audiences have shown for live music during the winter months.
“We knew that people would come out for the festival if we programmed great music, so that’s what we did and it paid off.
“It’s been an absolute blast to present five days of jazz, rock, punk, poetry, and silent film, not a line-up we have had the opportunity to programme before, but one that we would definitely look to repeat next year.”
The Soundhouse Organisation returns in May with more live music at the Traverse for Edinburgh’s Tradfest (2-12 May 2025). Dates for the Soundhouse Winter Festival 2025 are to be confirmed.
This vital initiative aims to investigate how environmental factors, such as sunlight exposure, temperature variations, and air pollution, impact the risk of stillbirth.
Around 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth every day in the UK and 2,680 of these deaths were stillbirths in 2022. More children die around the time of birth than at any other time of childhood, yet only 2.4% of UK health research funds go to reproductive health and childbirth.1
Philanthropic funding is vital in enabling Sands to fulfil its mission to end baby deaths and help families rebuild their lives. For over a decade, Teddy’s Wish has been committed to supporting Sands in memory of Jen and Chris Reid’s beloved baby, Eddie.
Through their generosity, Sands has been able to advance research aimed at understanding why some babies die unexpectedly. The Environmental Influences on Stillbirth project will explore how the environment a woman is exposed to during pregnancy affects both maternal and fetal health.
Jen Reid,Co-Founder and CEO of Teddy’s Wish said: “Teddy’s Wish is committed to funding research that brings us closer to understanding and preventing baby loss. We are delighted to be jointly funding this important research project with Sands to explore the impact of environmental influences on stillbirth with the hope that more babies will be delivered safely.”
The link between environmental factors and stillbirth has not yet been studied in-depth in UK populations. This research will link environmental data with comprehensive Scottish maternity records, providing a robust dataset to study potential environmental risk factors.
Dr Murray, Consultant in Maternal and Fetal Medicine and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This work is a step forward in understanding the complex and unknown factors that may contribute to stillbirth.
“Our findings could inform future public health guidelines and targeted interventions, especially in areas with high levels of air pollution.”
The research has the potential to reduce stillbirth rates across the UK by providing clinicians with clearer understanding of how the environment impacts on pregnancy and the baby’s wellbeing. The research insights could help people in government and the NHS improve maternity care for pregnant women and babies.
Janet Scott, Sands’ Head of Saving Babies’ Lives team, said: “Through this research, Sands and Teddy’s Wish aim to support advances in the health of babies and mothers, reducing the devastating impact of stillbirth on families across the country.
“Thank you to Teddy’s Wish for your unwavering support in helping save more babies’ lives and transform the life of future generations of families.”
Scottish Book Trust has announced that it will gift books to children and families visiting food banks this winter including Community One Stop Shop (3 Broomhouse Market) as well as Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, and primary school children.
The charity has been inundated with requests, from food banks and local authorities across Scotland, to support more vulnerable children and families facing challenging circumstances.
While the cost of living crisis continues, over a million people in Scotland are already living in poverty, a quarter of which are children.1 Too many children are growing up without books and the impact of this lasts a lifetime. Children and young people who don’t have a book of their own are twice as likely to have lower mental health.2
The charity’s Christmas Appeal 2024 will feature Eric Carle’s iconic and well-loved children’s book character, The Very Hungry Caterpillar with kind permission from Penguin Random House LLC and The World of Eric Carle.
Marc Lambert, CEO Scottish Book Trust, commented: “The power of books and the importance of children and young people having access to books should not be underestimated. Reading has the power to redress the impacts of disadvantage.
“We know the difference that books make in children’s lives and we want to ensure no child misses out. Books bring comfort, escapism and togetherness in families. Every child deserves the magic of a book and donations to our appeal will provide vital support for those most in need.”
Mary Mekarnom, Senior Director, Creative & Strategy, World of Eric Carle Penguin Random House, said “We are so happy that we can help support Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas Appeal this holiday season.
“Eric Carle used to say that he did not see children as a group. He saw a child, a child, a child. Meaning every child has individual needs and has a different way of learning or responding to a book.
“We are hopeful that The Very Hungry Caterpillar can help support this appeal and make a difference in the lives of each individual child and family in need.”
Over the past three years, the charity has given over 290,000 books to children in need of our support and living in areas of deprivation through food banks, community hubs and other charities.
Funds raised from the appeal will enable Scottish Book Trust to give books to families, via food banks, other charities and community hubs, and deliver more of its life-changing work.
Some examples of its programmes include specialist support for young families facing significant challenges through Bookbug for the Home, providing tactile books for children with additional support needs and supporting those living with dementia and the people who care for them.
To learn more about Scottish Book Trust’s Christmas appeal, visit:
Refugees, people seeking asylum and other forced migrants in Glasgow are benefitting from English classes to help them integrate into communities, supported by £500,000 in Scottish Government funding which will help 800 learners.
The classes are helping people who have been forced to flee their country gain the language skills needed to rebuild their lives in Scotland, communicate confidently with people in their new communities and establish and strengthen their social connections.
On a visit to Glasgow Clyde College, Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart met people who are benefitting from the classes.
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, including those seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. We’re committed to helping those who find refuge in Scotland to settle into their new communities.
“As a refugee or a person seeking asylum whose first language is not English, having the opportunity to learn English opens up a world of possibilities – from being able to interact confidently with people, to taking part in community events and making new friends.
“Learning English will also make the process of finding work easier, which I know is a key priority for many New Scots.”
“It was great to visit Glasgow Clyde College to meet some of the people who are benefitting from these classes and hear about the real difference that language skills are making to their lives.”
Karzan Mahmood from Iraq said: “Learning English has meant everything to me. When I was in my country I couldn’t go to school or college.
“When I came here I actually couldn’t write a word. I started in a class for beginners. The teachers have been brilliant, really helpful, unbelievable. Now I can write paragraphs, formal and informal emails, everything like that.
“I’m in the Intermediate class now. Next year I want to go to Upper Intermediate and then look for work in IT or accounting.”
Sohail Siraj from Pakistan said: “I am nearly halfway through my Higher English (ESOL) lessons at Glasgow Clyde College and so far it’s been an amazing experience with a great learning environment.
“The teacher himself has a very calm and cool manner and I love the way he teaches, always motiving and at the same time testing your limits. I love every minute of my time spent here and I wish there were more than two classes a week.
“Being there simply lifts my spirits and motivates me to do more.”
Nataliia Yanishevska from Ukraine said: “Participating in the Higher English (ESOL) course at Clyde College has been incredibly beneficial for both my volunteering activities and daily life.
“The course improved my confidence in communicating effectively in English, enabling me to lead workshops and engage with diverse groups. It also strengthened my skills for everyday interactions and professional growth.”
