Can anyone help?
Our Thursday Tots is a popular group but it can be a struggle to get everything cleared up at the end.
If you can spare an hour to support our current volunteers at the end (or even 30mins from 12) then please get in touch
It would also be good to have a bank of volunteers so our 2 main volunteers could have some time off. Tots runs 10:30-12 on Thursdays during term time.
If you think you can help then get in touch via FB msg or comment
Benjamín Armijo Galdames, a PhD student at The University of Edinburgh, is attending Parliament to present his biosciences research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges as part of STEM for BRITAIN tomorrow (Tuesday 11 March).
Benjamín’s poster, on the valorisation of next generation plastic waste using engineering biology, will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.
Benjamín’s poster was shortlisted from several hundred applicants to appear at the event in Parliament.
On presenting his research in Parliament, Benjamín said, “I applied to STEM for BRITAIN as it is a highly prestigious and long-standing competition. I was also interested in being able to present my research to an audience that is currently involved in the creation of new regulations associated with sustainable development.
“To be able to interact with them, to understand their conception of our work and its importance is fundamental to promote the development of scientific research linked to the needs of society and our community.”
George Freeman MP, Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said: “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.
“These early career engineers, mathematicians, and scientists are the architects of our future and STEM for BRITAIN is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”
Benjamín’s research has been entered into the biosciences session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver, and bronze prize-giving ceremony.
Judged by leading academics, each winner will receive a cash prize with a medal for the gold recipient.
The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the event in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, The Physiological Society, The Nutrition Society, and the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, with sponsorship from Clay Mathematics Institute, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Warwick Manufacturing Group, AWE, the Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Biomedical Science, the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, the Biochemical Society, and the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
A weekly phone call has had a life-changing effect on four vision-impaired veterans, including one who had not left his house for over two years following the loss of his wife and his sight loss diagnosis.
The four veterans, Ann McLean, Jack McVitie, John Barber, and Helen Bennett, meet virtually through Sight Scotland Veterans’ Digital Hub every Wednesday to chat, support each other, and take part in lively quizzes. For them, these calls offer much more than just entertainment; they are a vital source of connection, belonging, and emotional support.
For John Barber, 74, who lives in Dunfermline and has macular degeneration, the group has completely transformed his life. John, a former member of the Territorial Army, was devastated after the loss of his wife. His vision loss and grief plunged him into a cycle of isolation, leaving him housebound for more than two years.
John explains: “When my wife died, I was extremely lonely and isolated, I just didn’t know what to do. I had lost all my confidence and spent two years barely leaving my house, staring at the walls 24 hours a day. But Sight Scotland Veterans has changed my life. The Wednesday Digital Hub group is the highlight of my week. Before, I didn’t speak to anyone all week long. I was so low, but now I’ve made real friends.
“I honestly believe the charity saved my life. I feel like a different person now, even though I still have hard days. Knowing there are people who genuinely care about you makes all the difference. The calls and the quizzes are the highlight of my week, and I just would not miss them. The fun and laughter we enjoy during these calls, it’s just amazing and I can’t thank them enough.”
John recently visited Sight Scotland Veterans’ Linburn Centre in West Lothian to meet up with his Digital Hub friends face-to-face for the first time.
“It was the first time I’d left my house in years, and it was an incredible experience. Meeting everyone face-to-face for the first time was very emotional, I enjoyed it so much. The Linburn Centre was fantastic, and seeing all the ways they support everyone was really impressive.
“The friendships and support I’ve gained from the Wednesday calls have given me the courage to start living again.”
Since John’s first visit to Linburn, his life has completely transformed. He has moved into sheltered housing, returned to the Linburn Centre with plans to become a regular visitor, and even ventured out to his local pub!
Jack McVitie, a former police officer who lost his sight due to diabetes, agrees that the weekly calls have had a profound impact on his life. “The Wednesday call is chaotic and full of laughter, but most importantly, we support each other.
“Before the charity stepped in, I was suicidal, I had lost my sense of purpose. But Sight Scotland Veterans gave me my worth back. Curtis and Donna from the Digital Hub team have so much enthusiasm, and you can tell they genuinely care about what they do.”
Donna McIntyre, Digital Activity Worker at Sight Scotland Veterans, comments: “For these veterans, the Digital Hub is more than just a service, it’s a lifeline.
“It combats the isolation that so often accompanies vision loss and provides them with a sense of community, purpose, and belonging. It’s truly inspiring to witness the strong friendship these four have formed.
“It’s a reminder of how important connection is in life, and the camaraderie they’ve developed is nothing short of remarkable.”
Sight Scotland Veterans’ Digital Hub was created to combat loneliness and isolation and to help veterans connect, chat, and take part in fun activities. Every week, more than 90 veterans join the Digital Hub for virtual calls.
These aren’t just for entertainment; they’re opportunities to build friendships, share experiences, and feel part of something that’s both uplifting and meaningful.
The Digital Hub proves that technology can bring people together, no matter where you live.
For more information please visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk or call 0800 035 6409.
As Scotland’s hospitals experienced the second worst January on record for A&E performance, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has told the government ‘we need more than apologies, we need action’.
The figures, released last week (4 March) by Public Health Scotland, come after the First Minister, John Swinney and Health Secretary, Neil Gray, apologised to patients who have experienced extremely long stays in A&Es.
The PHS data, for the month of January, reveals 8,401 patients waited 12 hours or longer in an Emergency Department before being admitted, discharged or transferred.
Since January 2018, the number of people waiting 12 hours or more in major A&Es has increased by 11 times (767 to 8,401), eight hours or more by six times (2,816 to 16,684) and four hours or more by 2.6 times (15,401 to 40,552).
Patients are often stuck in Emergency Departments, on trolleys in corridors, experiencing extremely long stays because there are no in-patient beds available.
This is caused because people who are well-enough to go home cannot be discharged, often due to a lack of social care support.
Therefore, the system grinds to a halt, with ambulances queued outside EDs, waiting to handover their vulnerable patients.
So called ‘delayed discharges’ meant that an average of 1,964 patients each day were in hospital, waiting to be discharged, despite being deemed medically well enough to go home. This is the highest number since 2016, when guidelines changed.
Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland said: “This data provides a glimpse into the levels of pressure major hospitals in Scotland were under during the depths of winter.
“Each figure, a person who was seeking urgent care in a system that is well off being described as ‘gold standard’.
“And behind each person, is a team of hard-working and burnt-out Emergency Medicine clinicians who are trying to deliver the best care they can to patients who are often on a trolley in a corridor.
“The time for warm words and apologies from policy makers has passed, we need action. Long stays are not just inconvenient – they are dangerous. This is where the real harm lies for patient safety.
“The government’s operational improvement plan, set to be delivered this month, is a golden opportunity to detail how it will address this vitally important issue.
“Until a meaningful plan is put in place, staff and patients will continue to bear the brunt of a system that is in crisis.”
The Scottish Liberal Democrats recently revealed that an 87-year-old woman waited around 12 hours at A&E on separate occasions after she fell and broke her hip.
Her experience was highlighted as the party released data showing 12,438 people aged over 85 waited more than 12 hours in A&E in 2024.
After hearing the patient’s experience, First Minister John Swinney apologised to her and her family for the wait.
Earlier last month, Health Secretary Neil Gray MSP apologised on BBC’s ‘Reporting Scotland’, stating “anybody that is waiting for too long to receive services, either in an Accident and Emergency Department or waiting on elective procedure, I apologise to them. It’s not an acceptable situation.”
