Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Life Without Communication

Stroke Association shares survey to mark Aphasia Awareness Month

The fear of being unable to communicate has been laid bare in a new survey of over 163 people across Scotland. Research conducted by the Stroke Association reveals that more than a third of the respondents (36%) can’t imagine living in a world where they couldn’t communicate. 

A world without communication is an everyday reality for the 350,000 stroke survivors like Tom Middlemass (61), from Edinburgh, in the UK living with aphasia – a communication disability, which is most commonly caused by stroke. 

The research has been carried out by the Stroke Association to mark Aphasia Awareness Month and to encourage stroke survivors living with aphasia to use the information and support that’s available from the charity so they can navigate the challenges aphasia brings. 

Aphasia can affect a person’s ability to speak, read, write and use numbers, but it does not affect intellect.

The charity’s latest survey also reveals people’s biggest fears if they lost their ability to communicate:

  • Over a fifth (23%) of people feared not being able to carry out everyday activities
  • Over a quarter (26%) of people feared how it would affect their relationships with family and loved ones                   
  • Around one in five people (23%) feared being lonely
  • 10% feared not being able to express their emotions
  • 6% feared losing their job.
  • 4% feared l losing their friends.

Tom Middlemass from Edinburgh had a stroke at the age of 52 in 2016.  He couldn’t move or speak at first. At the time, he had an overwhelming instinct to get up off the floor, but couldn’t make himself understood. 

Tom says: “It took three weeks for me to be understood properly and it was scary. I used a pen and paper at first to write down what I wanted to say and felt stupid not being able to get the words out. 

“Shopping was a challenge as I found numbers hard to understand.  I couldn’t socialise with friends, or go to the football with my daughters, I just felt embarrassed and unable to cope. Having relied on meeting in person and talking face to face, it was impossible to do so now.” 

Thankfully, Tom is now mobile and able to talk. He volunteers for the Stroke Association, which allows him to give hope to others. Tom believes that there can be life after stroke and it can be good again. 

He adds: “I would encourage everyone with aphasia to seek help. Find information, get advice and use the tools and services which charities like the Stroke Association provide, to help you with your recovery.”

The charity’s survey also highlighted how vital communication is to our everyday lives:

  • Over half (52%) of people said they rely most on meeting face to face or talking in person 
  • Just under one in five people (19%) rely on email, text or instant messaging
  • Under one in ten (7%) depend upon talking on the phone 
  • Under one in ten (6%) rely most on reading for work or leisure.

For many stroke survivors with aphasia, these commonly used communication tools are either a challenge or impossible to use.

John Watson, Associate Director Scotland of the Stroke Association said: “Aphasia is incredibly common after stroke, affecting one in three stroke survivors.  It robs you of the ability to talk to loved ones, to do everyday tasks such as go shopping, use public services or get online – things we all take for granted. People with aphasia often feel lonely and isolated too, which can impact their relationships.

“But there is hope and the brain can recover and adapt. Stroke survivors with aphasia can make improvements as well as developing alternative ways of communicating.

“Get in touch with the Stroke Association to find out how we can help. We’re here to support people with aphasia to rebuild their lives and to regain their confidence and independence.

“Our ‘Getting Online for People with Aphasia‘ guide equips you with the skills you need to get online, keep in touch with family and friends and to connect with the stroke community. Support is also available through our stroke support groups, My Stroke Guide and communication support service.

“It’s also incredibly important for the public to be aware of what aphasia is, the things to look out for and to learn strategies that might help those with aphasia living in their community. We all have a part to play in adapting our communication to be inclusive for all.”

If you or someone you know is living with aphasia, visit stroke.org.uk/aphasia for information and support.

The ‘Getting Online for People with Aphasia’ guide is available at: www.stroke.org.uk/aphasiaonline 

My Stroke Guide is available at: https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/my-stroke-guide

Superstar students celebrate success as Prize Giving returns at Edinburgh College

More than 100 students gathered with around 300 family, friends, staff and guests to celebrate their outstanding work over the last year, as Edinburgh College’s Prize Giving ceremony returned to Granton Campus on Thursday June).

The event honoured further education (FE) students across the curriculum for their achievements over the year. Students received awards from the College’s four faculties – Creative Industries; Engineering and Built Environment; Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences; and Tourism, Hospitality and Business.

It was a welcome return to a large-scale event within the College, the first since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

This year’s ceremony saw prizes awarded to outstanding FE students and Schools College Partnership (SCP) students as well as Foundation and Modern Apprentices. 

Prize Giving celebrates the academic achievements and dedication of students, as well as the commitment many have to juggling home life and work to succeed in their studies. The prizes included Recognition Awards, awarded to those who have gone that extra mile to succeed, Academic Excellence Awards and each curriculum areas Student of the Year award.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford also presented the Principal’s Award to Hairdressing student Harry Lyons, while Interim Chair of the Board Ann Landels presented special awards for Outstanding Achievement and International Student of the Year to Alexander Irvine and Nadia Caimi respectively. 

Forth Two radio presenter Micky Gavin was the compere for the evening at the Hub in the College’s Granton Campus.

College partners including businesses and local politicians joined the celebrations, with some sponsoring awards. Awards sponsors included former hairdresser to the Royal Family Denise McAdam, and restaurateur and hotelier James Thomson OBE, among others.

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “It was fantastic to bring Prize Giving back to our Granton Campus. There was an incredible atmosphere in the hub and it was wonderful to see so many of our students recognised with awards for their outstanding work throughout session 2021/22. 

“Whatever our award winners choose to do next, whether that be continuing their studies, or gaining employment, I’m confident they will thrive and I wish them all the best for the future.”

We wish all prize winners good luck in the next step of their journey.

Council consults on sustainable transport connections across city

Views are being sought on proposals to improve walking, wheeling and cycling, plus public transport links, parks and public spaces, around new and future residential developments across the city.

Plans have been developed for four neighbourhoods identified as significant areas of new residential development in Edinburgh’s Local Development Plan – Leith, Lochend and Easter Road, Queensferry and Burdiehouse.

Amongst the potential measures are walking, cycling and public realm upgrades complementing changes already proposed through the Leith Connections project, pavement widening, dropped kerbs and placemaking improvements around Lochend and Easter Road and segregated cycle lanes and enhanced crossings in the Burdiehouse area.

These have been drawn up in close collaboration with the Council’s public transport team and in discussion with bus operators – improving access to bus stops is an important component of the schemes.

In Queensferry, changes in the Echline Estate, the Builyeon Road development, Viewforth Road, Scotstoun Avenue and Queensferry High School would make it easier and more pleasant to travel by foot, wheel or bike, especially to Dalmeny station and a planned new primary school at Builyeon Road.

A new linear park would be introduced on part of the current Builyeon Road route as well as ‘pocket parks’ and tree-planting.

Proposals support Edinburgh’s City Mobility Plan by encouraging people to make healthier, more sustainable transport choices, and align to our 20-minute neighbourhood strategy. This aims to help residents meet their daily needs within 20 minutes of their homes by walking, using public transport, wheeling or cycling.

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Over the coming years we’re going to see tens of thousands of new houses built in Edinburgh, and it’s essential that we support residents in these homes, and those living nearby, to make healthy, sustainable transport choices.

“These proposals target areas where new developments are planned or are already underway and look to make improvements or introduce new infrastructure – like cycle lanes, widened pavements and safer crossings – to help people move around their neighbourhood, and further afield, by foot, wheel or bike.

“It’s crucial that we support travel by bus, tram and train as well as active travel, which is why we’ve worked closely with our public transport team and with providers to develop these plans – for example they will significantly improve access to bus stops and will transform travel on foot and bike from the Builyeon Road area in Queensferry to Dalmeny rail station.

“Recent research has shown that most people would walk, wheel or cycle more if they could access local amenities more easily. We need to encourage this kind of behaviour change if we are to achieve net zero goals, healthier lifestyles and a more pleasant city for future generations.

“This is how things used to be, and it is a great way of supporting local jobs. People’s feedback and ideas will be really important as the Council develops these proposals, and I’ll also be working closely with local councillors to ensure your voice is heard.”

Four separate consultations will run until 17 July and feedback will help inform the design process in each of the areas.

Drop-in events, where people can view proposals and provide feedback, will take place over the period of the consultations. Proposals for Queensferry will be on show at Queensferry Community Centre on 30 June (3pm to 7pm) and for Burdiehouse at Valley Park Community Centre on 30 June (3.30pm to 7.15pm). Further drop-ins are being arranged and will be announced in the coming weeks and publicised on the Council’s consultation web pages.

In Leith, proposals form phase three of Leith Connections. Consultations have already been undertaken on recommendations for phase one, a high-quality cycle track between Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, and phase two, a low traffic neighbourhood where through traffic is removed and new community spaces are created.

View the full proposals and take part in the consultations online:

Walk Wheel Cycle Burdiehouse 
Queensferry – walking, wheeling and cycling improvements 
Lochend and Easter Road – walking, wheeling and cycling improvements 
Leith Connections: Phase 3 west – east proposals.

Communities across the UK can bid for Levelling Up funds to save pubs, clubs and historic buildings

Community groups across the UK can today (11 June 2022) bid for levelling up funding to take back control of pubs, music venues, sports facilities, and historic buildings for the benefit of the public.

Groups will be able to bid for a share of the government’s £150 million Community Ownership Fund to rescue cultural buildings in their area that could otherwise be lost forever, as the second round of funding is open.

The first round of funding has already helped local people transform their communities into a more desirable place to live, work and visit, supporting 39 projects across the UK. This included £550,000 to establish a boxing gym in Oldham, £250,000 to rescue a historic spinners mill in Leigh and £1 million for Bury fans to rescue Gigg Lane stadium.

Changes to the fund announced at the end of May will ensure it is more inclusive and flexible, so that more communities can benefit and more local economies are supported.

Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP said: “We want to help communities across the UK save the pubs, sports clubs and historical buildings which matter most to them, and would otherwise be at risk of being lost forever.

“This is part of our plan to spread opportunity, boost local pride and level up every corner of the UK while growing the economy to address the cost of living.”

Backed by £550,000 of government funding, a historic Victorian building in Oldham has been transformed into a boxing gym and personal development centre which provides support for vulnerable young people.

Without this funding, the centre would have been forced to move and local young people would have missed out on the opportunity to flourish in their local community.

Eric Noi, head coach at Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre said: “The gym is already a major part of the community, and this funding will help us improve our facilities and allow us to continue supporting people of all ages, including some of the most vulnerable in society.

“For organisations such as ours, funding like this is a vital lifeline – without it we would not be able to help people improve their lives, fitness and futures.”

In Leigh, locals stepped up to take ownership of the historic Spinners Mill, which has been vacant for many years and was at risk of being lost to deterioration.

With £250,000 from the Fund, the building will now be restored and used to create new sports and leisure facilities alongside an area for creative arts whilst protecting wider access to the heritage-rich building.

Director of Leigh Building Preservation Trust, Peter Rowlinson, said:  “Leigh Building Preservation Trust is delighted at the support from government to allow the further development of Leigh Spinners Mill.

“We believe this project is a true example of Levelling Up by being a community partnership restoring the heritage of the town of Leigh whilst also creating new jobs and community facilities.

“The restoration of Leigh Spinners Mill would not have been possible without the Community Ownership Fund assistance.”

The fund has been updated to widen eligibility criteria, including removing the requirement that assets have had a use within the last 5 years and will now consider any asset which has had a previous community use, massively expanding the projects eligible to apply.

Applicants who have a minimum of a 15-year lease on an asset would now also be considered for funding. Previously, leases were restricted to a minimum of 25 years.

Today’s announcement is part of the UK Government’s ambition to level up local communities across the country, create more local jobs, boost local businesses and build up local economies as a result.

Turing Fest returns to Edinburgh to connect the best in tech

One of Europe’s leading tech conferences, Turing Fest, is returning this July to a fully in-person event, bringing over 1,000 people from across the globe to learn and connect with the best in the industry.  

Established in 2016, Turing Fest brings together founders and leaders of startups and scaleups together with their teams to support them in making the right connections and facilitating learning between them and the top experts across the industry, enabling them to build better businesses. 

The conference which takes place on 27-28 July at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is filled with two days of keynotes, interviews, networking and parties with 40+ speakers from leading tech businesses, from start-ups to global organisations. 

During the pandemic, Turing Fest Founder and CEO Brian Corcoran spearheaded an open letter to the Scottish Government signed by 50 Scottish tech company CEOs. This open letter was followed by the Scottish Government commissioning the Logan Report signalling a renewed focus on the industry. 

This year’s top tier speaker line-up includes Paul Adams, CPO of Intercom, Maria Gutierrez, VP of Engineering at Twitter, Jonny Brooks-Bartlett, Senior Engineer at Spotify, Shane Curran, CEO of Evervault, April Dunford, Founder of Ambient Strategy, and Rob Walling, Co-Founder of TinySeed, with more speakers still to be announced. 

Brian Corcoran said: “We’re extremely excited to be bringing some of the best minds in the global technology industry back under one roof fully in person in Edinburgh.

“The purpose of Turing Fest is to bring people together from across the tech industry with diverse skills, from different geographies and backgrounds, to learn together to help people get better at what they do professionally so they can build better startups and scaleups. 

“The conference typically has a great atmosphere: the attendees are keen to learn, the speakers are keen to teach, everyone is open to sharing – and they all want to have fun together. It makes for a wonderful community, a genuinely fun and enlightening few days, and gives many startups a better chance of success. 

“The future of Scotland’s economy is going to be built on the tech industry, and on startups and scaleups. We’ve worked closely to support Mark Logan’s work over the past two years in highlighting this and are delighted to see the commitment from Kate Forbes and the Scottish Government in driving the agenda forward.”      

Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: “It’s great to see Turing Fest coming back to Edinburgh to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas within our tech sector. 

“Turing Fest has been supported by the Scottish Government’s £1 million Tech Ecosystem Fund, which will open for applications again later this summer, helping to create spaces to incubate, accelerate and educate Scottish start-ups, as well as improving networking, through meet-ups and international conferences.” 

Mark Logan added: “To thrive, a tech ecosystem needs a vibrant ‘market-square’ that connects people, propagates best-practice, and builds a shared sense of belief and confidence.  Turing Fest consistently over-delivers in all these areas and is an essential cornerstone of the Scottish tech industry.” 

Turing Fests partners this year include TravelPerk, Twilio, Skyscanner, Administrate, Current Health, Amplitude, xDesign, FanDuel, Smartsheet, FreeAgent, Recast, PODFather, Cleo, Amiqus, Cyacomb, Playerdata, Baillie Gifford, Kin + Carta, CodeClan, The Scottish Government.  

Tickets for Turing Fest 2022 are available via the website:

https://www.turingfest.com/tickets

 

PizzaExpress serves up refurbished restaurant at West End

Edinburgh’s Queensferry Street PizzaExpress has undergone a full refurb and will welcome customers back through its doors to grab their most loved pizzas with a brand-new look.

The pizzeria will offer a wide range of dishes from the Piccolo menu for children to numerous vegan options and comes complete with a vibrant setting for all the family to enjoy.

The refresh brings the flavour and passion of Italian dining culture to the town, inspired by the original vision of Founder, Peter Boizot, who first introduced the taste of authentic pizza to the UK in 1965.

At the heart of the restaurant is the open kitchen, the stage from which expert pizzaiolos showcase their talent – and love – for pizza making. As much of a feast for the eyes as for the belly, diners will delight as they bring the theatre and authenticity of the craft to the fore.

Ben Hicks, Territory Manager at PizzaExpress Edinburgh Queensferry, said: “We know the love people have for PizzaExpress, and we think they’ll enjoy coming returning to the new look of our pizzeria in Edinburgh Queensferry. The refurbishment has added a great feel and ambience to the space making it the perfect space for family dining.”

PizzaExpress recently launched its 2022 spring menu which includes the nationwide rollout of its vegan-version garlic butter, as well as a range of brand-new dishes celebrating seasonality and freshness. There are also a variety of new drinks from Naturally Pink Apple Juice to the Pornstar Martini and Campari Negroni.

To book a table, please visit https://www.pizzaexpress.com/edinburgh-queensferry-street

Address: PizzaExpress, 32 Queensferry St, Edinburgh EH2 4QS

Opening times:

Mon-Thurs 11.30am – 10.00pm,

Fri – Sat 11.30-10:30pm,

Sun 11.30-10pm

Yotel Edinburgh pledges charity support with Pride!

YOTEL Edinburgh is pledging its support for Pride month by investing in updated LGBTQ+ awareness training on allyship and history for staff, as well as donating 100% of proceeds from a charity cocktail and mocktail to LGBTQ+ helpline charity Switchboard. 

Switchboard provides support through phone, email and instant messaging for people who may feel isolated in their community, have an issue or question they want to discuss or are simply looking to talk to someone who shares their experience.

The UK’s national LGBTQ+ helpline has provided support to millions of people since its inception, promising that all calls are confidential and no topic is off limits. The helpline operates 10am-10pm daily, and can be reached by dialling 0300 330 0630 – find out more at www.switchboard.lgbt . 

YOTEL Edinburgh’s stylish bar and restaurant Komyuniti will roll out the ‘YOTEL Pride’ cocktail and mocktail for the month of June , as well as YOTEL Crew across the UK taking part in updated LGBTQ+ awareness training.

Priced at £6 and available until 30 June,  100% of proceeds from the cocktail and mocktail will directly benefit Switchboard. Switchboard answers on average 18,000 calls a year, with each call costing the charity around £17 for wrap-around support which means they can be there for each and every caller. 

Pledging support for Pride, YOTEL has invested in LGBTQ+ training sessions for YOTEL Crew across the UK, led by Polly Shute, Co-Founder of ‘Out and About’ and former board member of Pride in London.

With training sessions specifically tailored to hospitality staff, Polly’s sessions for YOTEL include open discussions on how to be an ally, LGBTQ+ history and challenges in the workplace. 

Guests in YOTEL Edinburgh can also directly donate to Switchboard via digital ‘Tip Jar’ QR codes located in the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant Komyuniti for Pride month. So guests can donate an amount of their own choosing to the charity, even if not purchasing a cocktail or mocktail! 

Stephanie Fuller, General Manager at Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline said, “We are delighted to be supported by YOTEL as part of its Pride campaign in 2022. Switchboard is the national LGBTQ+ helpline in the UK, and the visibility of our helpline that this partnership will bring across the UK is vital.

“Each year our dedicated team of listening volunteers hold over 18,000 conversations with people in need of support with conversations ranging from, but not limited to coming out, sexuality, gender identity, isolation, and mental health.

“Each call costs us around £17.00 for all the wrap-around support which means we can be there for a caller. The support and visibility this partnership will provide cannot be understated, ultimately it will mean our confidential non-judgemental service will continue to be there 10 am -10 pm, 365 days a year  by phone, instant messaging and email to support people from the LGBTQ+ communities that need someone to listen.”

Polly Shute, Co-Founder of Out and About Festival, organiser of Southbank Surfing and YOTEL consultant said: “It’s great to see a brand as big as YOTEL pledge its support for the LGBTQ+ community with proceeds from the sale of the Pride cocktails this month.

“Through my work, I’m keenly aware of the discrimination and injustices our community continue to face, some of which do occur in the hospitality industry.  It’s essential we educate people on how to be an ally, and I’ve enjoyed starting conversations with YOTEL about how brands can better interact with LGBTQ+ patrons and staff.”

Olivia Donnan, Vice President Brand & Communications at YOTEL HQ said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Switchboard and Polly Shute to celebrate and support Pride in our communities across the UK. At YOTEL, we strive to be an inclusive space for every guest, visitor and Crew member and are pleased to continue our ongoing work supporting the community through donations and training this June.”

James Stocker, Brand Manager for Whitley Neill said, “We’re delighted to support YOTEL during Pride month and hope guests across the UK enjoy this special cocktail. As Pride celebrates 50 years in the UK, we’re glad to be able to support the community in some small way.” 

For further information on Switchboard visit www.switchboard.lgbt, follow the charity on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or call 0300 330 0630. 

Royal Bank of Scotland’s Report on Jobs reveals hiring activity slowdown

Hiring activity slows notably amid steep decline in staff availability 

  • Slowest increase in permanent placements since February 2021 
  • Temp billings growth falls to four-month low 
  • Permanent candidate availability contracts at record rate 

May data signalled a further increase in recruitment activity across Scotland, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs survey.

However, the rate of expansion slowed noticeably on the month, with permanent placements and temp billings rising at the weakest rates in 15 and four months, respectively.

This coincided with a further rapid decline in candidate availability, with permanent staff supply falling at an unprecedented pace in May, while vacancies continued to rise strongly. As a result, wage pressures remained intense. 

Permanent placement growth slips to 15-month low in May 

The number of permanent staff appointments across Scotland rose for the seventeenth successive month in May. Anecdotal evidence indicated that increased client activity and improved market conditions resulted in higher permanent placements. Though sharp and comfortably above the series average, the rate of growth eased for the second month running to the weakest since February 2021.  

Moreover, the latest upturn in permanent staff appointments across Scotland was slower than that seen at the UK level for the first time in five months.  

Scottish recruiters noted a marked rise in temp billings during May, thereby extending the current sequence of growth to 21 months. Recruiters often attributed the latest increase to strengthening client demand and the resumption of projects previously on hold due to the pandemic. However, the respective seasonally adjusted index declined from a seven-month high in April, to signal the slowest upturn in four months. The expansion was also softer than the UK average. 

Record contraction in permanent staff availability 

As has been the case since February 2021, permanent staff availability decreased across Scotland during May. Furthermore, the rate of reduction was the fastest on record and rapid. Panellists blamed skill shortages and a competitive labour market for the latest downturn.  

Permanent candidate numbers declined at a quicker rate in Scotland than that seen across the UK as a whole.  

Latest data signalled a sustained fall in temp candidate availability across Scotland in May. Moreover, the pace of contraction quickened for the second month running to the fastest since August 2021. Recruiters stated that robust demand for staff, workforce shrinkage (particularly a drop in European workers), and skills shortages had all reduced temp staff availability.  

The rate of decline across Scotland outpaced the UK-wide average, which in contrast eased slightly during May.  

Starting salary inflation eases to seven-month low 

Starting salaries for permanent joiners in Scotland rose for the eighteenth consecutive month in May. The pace of wage inflation eased to the slowest since October 2021 but remained steep and historically elevated. Recruiters often mentioned that a tight labour market and increased competition for staff had driven up starting pay.  

Average hourly pay rates for short-term staff across Scotland rose during May. The latest upturn extended the current run of temp wage inflation that has been observed since December 2020. According to panellists, some staff had negotiated higher pay due to the increased cost of living. Though the rate of inflation accelerated slightly since April, it was nonetheless the second softest in ten months. 

Softest rise in permanent vacancies for three months 

Scottish recruiters noted a further rise in permanent vacancies during May. The pace of growth softened to a three-month low but remained robust overall and was quicker than the UK-wide average.  

Across the monitored sectors, IT & Computing saw the fastest rise in permanent vacancies, followed by Accounts & Financials. However, the rate of increase for both eased from the preceding survey period.  

May data signalled a strong uplift in temp vacancies across Scotland. While outpacing the UK-wide trend, the rate of vacancy growth eased from April’s recent high but remained marked. The upturn also extended the current sequence of rising demand to 20 months.  

IT & Computing noted the sharpest rise in vacancies, with Blue Collar posting in second place. 

Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at Royal Bank of Scotland, commented:  “Scotland’s job market saw a further marked increase in recruitment activity during the latest survey period. However, hiring momentum eased for both permanent and temporary staff to the slowest in 15 and four months, respectively, as the supply of staff deteriorated rapidly.

“Moreover, permanent candidate availability fell at the quickest rate on record in May. Additionally, rising living costs and the growing imbalance between the supply and demand of labour exerted strong and sustained upward pressure on wages.  

“While the loss of hiring momentum was inevitable following the sharp rebounds in activity seen after the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, it is hoped that any slowdown will be limited as overall demand for staff remains robust.” 

GB-SC_Jobs_ENG_2206Download

Letters: Life-saving X-ray Appeal

Dear Editor,

With household budgets facing increased pressures due to the rise in the cost of living, at vet charity PDSA, we’re issuing a life-saving X-ray appeal to help us continue providing essential care for sick and injured pets whose owners struggle to pay for their treatments.

X-rays sit at the heart of our emergency treatments and help us to diagnose why a pet is in pain. Amazingly, PDSA carries out one X-ray every two minutes across our 48 Pet Hospitals but, at £135 per procedure, they are a costly yet critical part of our work to get our beloved pets back on their paws.

Our devoted veterinary teams provide free and low cost care for thousands of UK pets every day, offering them a fighting chance of survival and the ability to return home to their loving families.

Please help us so we can continue to provide urgent care to vulnerable pets by visiting www.pdsa.org.uk/x-rays-at-pdsa.

Any donation you can give will help give a poorly pet the life-saving X-ray and care they so desperately need. 

Thank you,

Lynne James

PDSA Vet

#SavedByXray

Musselburgh Racecourse partners with Harvey Nichols and Bonnie & Wild for Stobo Castle Ladies Day

Musselburgh Racecourse has partnered with the beauty team at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh and upmarket Food Hall Bonnie & Wild to offer a unique raceday package for Stobo Castle Ladies Day on Friday 5 August.

As part of the luxury package, the beauty experts from Harvey Nichols will be offering appointments from 8:30am until 11:30am and encouraging customers to indulge as they get raceday ready with a full-face makeover.

Additional fragrance consultations, skincare treatments and hand and arm massages will also be available on the day. Prestigious beauty brands including Armani Beauty, Estée Lauder, Dior, Fenty Beauty, Hourglass, Laura Mercier, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Pixi Beauty, Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent will be present and on hand to pamper guests at the event.

The beauty appointments will be followed by a delicious brunch from Bonnie & Wild, which will include a tailor-made mocktail on arrival and a selection of delectable dishes from the sophisticated Food Hall, and finished off with a glass of Prosecco to raise a toast to Ladies Day.

Aisling Johnston, Commercial Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “It’s great to be working with two renowned Edinburgh-based businesses to create this unique package for this year’s Ladies Day.

“It’s going to be a big occasion for people and so we felt it was nice to offer something that will make people feel their best ahead of a great day at the races.”

Tickets cost £132 and will include a 45-minute beauty appointment with a makeup artist from Harvey Nichols Edinburgh, the Prosecco brunch from Bonnie & Wild, transport to and from Musselburgh Racecourse, and a Raceday ticket to Stobo Castle Ladies Day.

Richard Morris, General Manager at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh, said: “Our beauty experts will be primed and ready with an amazing range of brands we carry in store to help people get ready for the exciting day ahead.”

Kate Russell, General Manager at Bonnie & Wild, added “Ladies Day is an important day in the Edinburgh calendar and all of us at Bonnie & Wild are delighted to be welcoming racegoers along before the festivities begin.

“I’m sure they’ll love the bespoke mocktails and beautiful brunch dishes we’ll have available for them, and all topped off by a glass of beautiful bubbly. A perfect start for a day at the races.”

The Bonnie & Wild Bar will offer a full range of alcoholic drinks from 11am (soft drinks and other refreshments will be available all morning), before guests are transported to Musselburgh Racecourse in style to enjoy all the glamour of Stobo Castle Ladies Day.

Book your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/355103342657

To find out more about Stobo Castle Ladies Day please visit:

https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/view-fixture/stobo-castle-ladies-day-2022