Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Marginalised Edinburgh communities could receive major funding as national Parkinson’s charity launches new grants offer

Parkinson’s UK has launched a new physical activity grants programme for marginalised communities across the UK to help more people living with the condition to get active. 

The pilot grants programme will run from Monday 2 June to Sunday 10 August 2025. It will run in conjunction with the charity’s established physical activity grants programme, which has been delivering funding of up to £3,000 for exercise professionals and local Parkinson’s groups since 2021. 

In that time, more than £700,000 has been delivered and more than 200 physical activity projects have benefitted from the funding.   

The grants for marginalised communities aim to deliver more innovative exercise, wellbeing and physical activity projects in targeted areas across the UK. They will also offer more opportunities for those in these communities to shape the future delivery and development of the Physical Activity Grants programme. 

Funding of up to £3,000 is available for any of the following social groups affected by Parkinson’s: 

  • Global majority (including all those who are previously categorised as ethnic minorities)
  • People with other disabilities, be it a physical, neurodiverse or hidden disability
  • People from a low socio-economic background
  • People from the LGBTQIA+ community 
  • People from Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant communities
  • Women 

The following community groups and organisations that support the Parkinson’s community are also eligible to apply: 

  • Community-based not for profit organisations (including charities, CICs, and constituted community groups, excluding Parkinson’s UK Local groups/branches) 
  • Community Amateur Sports clubs (CASCs) 
  • Community benefit societies and Co-operatives 
  • Social Enterprises

Funding can be offered for exercise classes, consultation with the Parkinson’s community and towards engagement events. 

Applicants will need to complete a brief project description and discuss their ideas with local Parkinson’s UK staff and area managers. Once they have spoken with a local Parkinson’s UK representative, applicants will be invited to complete an application form.

Selected locations across the UK are now eligible to receive funding if they work with Parkinson’s communities from marginalised groups. 

A full list of these locations can be found by visiting the Parkinson’s UK grants for marginalised communities page. 

Roma Hashim, Physical Activity Grants Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We’re really excited about launching the Physical Activity Grants for Marginalised Communities pilot programme this year.

“The Physical Activity Grants Programme was established to support the Parkinson’s community and the leisure industry to develop and deliver opportunities to be active at a local and regional level. 

“However, we’ve since recognised that there is an increasing number of people from marginalised communities getting a Parkinson’s diagnosis who have limited access to support groups or programmes. 

“Every grant aims to support people with Parkinson’s from marginalised communities to engage in physical activity, to improve their wellbeing. Their insights will also help us understand their needs and shape the future development of exercise and physical activity from Parkinson’s UK.”

For more information about the pilot grants programme for marginalised communities, contact physicalactivity@parkinsons.org.uk 

or visit 

www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/physical-activity-grants-marginalised-communities 

Carena shortlisted for UK-wide ‘What is Care?’ photography award

A powerful photograph taken by Carena Schmid, a Registered Veterinary Nurse from Linlithgow in West Lothian, has been shortlisted in a UK-wide competition by leading home care provider Caremark, as part of its ‘What is Care?’ photography competition.

Launched to mark 20 years of Caremark championing home care in communities, the competition asked the public to capture what care means to them in everyday life, from small gestures to big moments. Out of hundreds of entries, one finalist was chosen from each of the UK’s 12 regions, following a rigorous judging process carried out by Caremark’s head office.

Carena is representing Scotland with a photograph capturing Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies Venice and Jasper receiving their second vaccinations in a setting carefully adapted to their needs.

The image shows the pups in their favourite “paws-up” position, supported by their owners Claire Staines and Tracey Grant at Lothlorien Dog Services in Linlithgow, where the vaccinations took place — making the experience completely stress-free for the animals.

The image is now part of a nationwide public vote on social media to determine the overall winner of the competition. The photographer of the winning entry will receive a £1,000 luxury getaway.

Carena said: “This photo shows how working together can result in a calm, positive care experience — not just for animals, but for people too.

“The owners worked with me and the pups ahead of time to make sure their second vaccinations were completely stress-free. They chose the environment, used their favourite position, gave them treats, and practised gentle handling the week before.

“To me, care means compassion, kindness and adapting what you do to suit the individual, whether human or animal. This image is important to me as it shows how the best level of care can be achieved when everyone works together. Little things like this can have a such an important and powerful impact in animal welfare.

“I was shocked and surprised to be selected as a finalist — in a good way! I’m very happy that a photo which promotes positive care for dogs is representing Scotland.

“If I were to win, I’d love to go somewhere rural in Scotland with my husband and our lovely arthritic Border Collie Miss Darcy and spend some quality time together.”

Voting is open to the public via Caremark’s Facebook page and will close at 9am on 29th September 2025. The entry with the highest number of public votes will be announced as the winner shortly after voting closes.

Emma Scholes, Caremark’s Director of Marketing, said: “We’ve been genuinely moved by the creativity and thoughtfulness behind so many of the entries.

“With such an incredible standard from across the country, narrowing it down to just 12 finalists was tough because each photograph carried a personal story, so judging them was emotionally challenging. We felt that Carena’s photograph stood out as a powerful reflection of what care can mean.

“This competition marks 20 years of Caremark championing care in communities across the UK. It’s about shining a light on what care looks like in everyday life, from small gestures to life-changing support, and how differently people experience and express it. Each finalist has brought a unique perspective, and it’s been inspiring to see care interpreted so personally through their lens.

“We’re excited to now share these images with the public, celebrate the value of care in all its forms, and see who the UK public chooses as their overall winner!”

For more information about the competition and to view the finalists’ photographs, visit: www.caremark.co.uk/whatiscare

Additional funding for independent hospices in Scotland

Support for pay parity with NHS staff

The Scottish Government is to distribute £5 million of funding in 2025-26 to support independent hospices with pay parity for clinical staff with their NHS counterparts.

Hospices have now had their funding allocations confirmed and the investment, set out in the 2025-26 Budget, will ensure that frontline staff providing essential palliative and end-of-life care in independent hospices are fairly paid in line with NHS pay scales.

The funding aims to help hospices recruit and retain skilled healthcare professionals during a time of rising workforce pressures and increasing demand for palliative care services.

Health Secretary Neil Gray, said: “Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their lives. I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in supporting pay parity for their clinical staff.

“This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay reflects the immense value of their work.”

Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group Jacki Smart, said: “This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist palliative care for Scotland.

“It is right for patients and staff that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.”

Independent hospices across Scotland are independent charitable organisations providing care tailored to local needs. Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of independent hospices to meet the needs of their local population.

Hospices work closely with a wide variety of health and social care services, including NHS Boards, to deliver high quality care and support.

The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new national framework to support more effective planning and commissioning between hospices and IJBs. This work will continue alongside discussions about long-term pay parity and funding arrangements.

Out of the Blue: What’s On in August

Programme reveal! 📢

From Print Expo 2525, celebrating 10 years of Out of the Blueprint, to other workshops and performances, there’s lots going on at the Drill Hall in August.

What do you fancy getting involved in? 👀

Just take a look at our website for the full programme.

https://outoftheblue.pulse.ly/o0h7qp8wur

Poster design: Out of the Blueprint

Active Inquiry

Edinburgh Flea Market

BALKANARAMA

Granton Nature Watch

LEARN ABOUT LOCAL NATURE WITH COMMUNITY GARDENERS

Can you help us learn about nature in Granton?

We have a new project to survey, map and learn about our local wildlife and how nature and people can live well together in Granton.

We’d love to see your nature photos and hear about the wildlife that you see!

We’re also looking for people who would be willing to do regular surveys on a walk, in a park or in your own garden.

No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Suitable for children too.

Get in touch with Katie on katie@grantoncommunitygardeners.org to find out more.

Heritage Portfolio and Mansfield Traquair Trust continue ongoing partnership amidst SCVO departure

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Mansfield Traquair Centre’s primary tenant for many years, has formally given notice and will be vacating the building.

The Mansfield Traquair Trust is now welcoming expressions of interest from organisations that would value and complement the unique cultural and architectural character of this iconic heritage site, home to the celebrated murals of Phoebe Anna Traquair, often called ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel.’

During this transition, event operations will continue as normal. The Trust has an existing partnership with Heritage Portfolio, the venue’s longstanding catering and events provider, which remains in place to support planned and future events. 

With a track record of delivering exceptional hospitality across landmark Scottish venues including the Signet Library, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery among others, Heritage Portfolio brings continuity, experience and reassurance during this period of change.

Dr. Duncan Thomson, Chair of the Mansfield Traquair Trust, said: “For those planning special occasions, we know how vital reliability and consistency are.

“Our longstanding relationship with Heritage Portfolio reflects a shared commitment to making Mansfield Traquair a distinctive and memorable setting for weddings, corporate events and celebrations.”

Sandy Robson, Executive Director of Heritage Portfolio said “We want to reassure all current and prospective clients that Mansfield Traquair is very much open for business and operating as normal.

“Working within the venue for over 20 years, our team knows what it takes to deliver unforgettable events with the exceptional service and attention to detail that Heritage Portfolio is known for, while respecting the building’s remarkable history and architecture.

“We look forward to working with the Trust through this transitional period and celebrating many more special moments with our guests.”

As we move forward, the Trust remains committed to ensuring Mansfield Traquair continues to thrive as a venue for celebration, culture, and community, supported by partnerships that reflect and uphold its unique character.

This commitment is further supported by the Friends of Mansfield Traquair Trust, a dedicated group of volunteers who help bring the building’s rich history to life.

The Friends provide trained guides for Open Days, lead private tours by arrangement. They also offer talks for local groups and societies, helping to share the story of Mansfield Traquair with wider audiences.

Heritage Portfolio, a division of Sodexo Live! is a leading provider of private and corporate hospitality for cultural destinations.

Producing outstanding catering and event services, it serves some of the most prestigious venues across Britain, delivering amazing experiences that go beyond the remarkable food it creates.

In Scotland partners include Musselburgh Racecourse, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, National Galleries Scotland, V&A Dundee and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. 

Local volunteering event at North Edinburgh Arts

FRIDAY 1st AUGUST from 10am – 12 noon

Local Volunteer Recruitment Fair celebrating the diversity of volunteer opportunities in the North West area

Friday 1 August, 10am – 12noon

There will be a lovely diverse mix of volunteer-involving organisations coming along to share their volunteer roles and answer any questions about what volunteering with them is like.

Come along and find out more about local volunteering opportunities.

Note our address: NEA, MacMillan Hub, 12C MacMillan Square, EH4 4AB

New discovery could halt secondary breast cancer growth

Finding could prevent disease spreading

Scientists at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute have made a discovery which could help stop the spread of breast cancer – one of the leading causes of death from the disease.

The research, published in the journal Embo Reports, found there are key metabolic changes which occur in the body before the cancer spreads, offering a vital window to intervene.

Detecting these changes early could allow therapies to stop cancer cells being able to move around the body and grow tumours elsewhere. 

The study was conducted in the labs of Professor Jim Norman and Professor Karen Blyth at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and the University of Glasgow.

Study lead Dr Cassie Clarke, of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and University of Glasgow, said: “This study represents a major shift in how we think about preventing the spread of breast cancer.

“By targeting these metabolic changes as early as possible we could stop the cancer progressing and save lives.”

With around 56,800 people diagnosed with breast cancer in United Kingdom each year * and around 11,300 people sadly losing their lives to the disease each year, finding new ways to tackle it is vital.**

Thanks to research, breast cancer has become a far more treatable disease, but once it spreads to other areas within the body it becomes harder to control effectively.

Understanding how and why breast cancer spreads is key to preventing the disease becoming unmanageable with current therapies.

Cancer Research UK’s Director of Research, Dr Catherine Elliott, said: “Discoveries in cancer research have made huge strides in making breast cancer a far more treatable disease than ever before.

“However, metastasis – when cancer spreads – is a major factor in breast cancer becoming harder to treat especially if the cancer returns months or even many years later.

“This discovery gives us new hope for detecting and stopping metastasis early and ensuring people have many more years with their families and loved ones.”

This new study focused on how breast cancer changes the immune system so it can’t tackle cancer cells as they begin their spread.

The researchers found that cancer changes the metabolism (the way cells make and use energy) of specific immune cells, resulting in them releasing a prominent metabolite called uracil.

Uracil is a molecule key to essential processes in the body which was found to help distant organs build a “scaffold” to grow secondary tumours elsewhere in the body.

By blocking an enzyme called uridine phosphorylase-1 (UPP1), which produces uracil, the scientists were able to stop this scaffold forming in mice and restore the ability of the immune system to kill secondary cancer cells to prevent metastasis.

This opens the door to new potentially powerful new tools to tackle cancer – detecting uracil in the blood could help spot early signs of cancer spread then blocking UPP1 with drugs could stop the spread before it starts.

The research was funded by Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, Breast Cancer Now and Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, said: “This is an exciting piece of joint research that expands our understanding of how secondary breast cancer develops.

“The researchers discovered that high levels of a protein called UPP1 may make some cancers, including breast cancer, more likely to spread to other parts of the body, where the disease becomes incurable.

“In mice, targeting the UPP1 protein before secondary breast cancer developed led to fewer secondary breast tumours and a boosted immune response in the lungs.

“Now we need more research to see if this new insight can be turned into new drugs that stop secondary breast cancer, and potentially other secondary cancers, in their tracks. With around 61,000 people living with secondary breast cancer in the UK, research like this is vital.”

The team are now further investigating exactly how UPP1 changes the behaviour of immune cells, exploring the role of immune cell metabolism in early breast cancer initiation, and testing the ability of drugs that block immune cell metabolism to prevent cancer occurring.

Starmer to meet Trump in Scotland for talks today

  • The Prime Minister will travel to Scotland today to meet the President for talks on his golf course in Turnberry
  • The leaders are expected to discuss progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East and applying pressure on Putin to end the war in Ukraine
  • The leaders will travel on together for a further private engagement in Aberdeen

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland today for wide-ranging talks.

The Prime Minister will travel to the President’s golf course in Turnberry, ahead of Trump’s landmark second State Visit to the UK in September.

Over the course of the visit, the leaders are expected to talk one-to-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries.

The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President’s administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.

He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.

Securing peace in Ukraine will also be high on the agenda, with the Prime Minister and President set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war. It is expected they will reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table.

It’s quite possible that President Trump may change that agenda, of course.

After their meeting they will travel on together to a private engagement in Aberdeen.

The UK and the US have ‘one of the closest, most productive alliances the world has ever seen’, working together to cooperate on defence, intelligence, technology and trade.

The UK was the first country to agree a deal with the US that lowered tariffs on key sectors and has received one of the lowest reciprocal tariff rates in the world.

Businesses in the aerospace and autos sectors are already benefitting from the ‘strong relationship the UK has with the US’ and the deal agreed on 8 May.

The Government says it is ‘working at pace with the US to go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic and to give UK industry the security it needs, protect vital jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets through the Plan for Change’.

‘Temporary humanitarian pause’ in Gaza: Lammy statement

The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement following yesterday’s announcement of a temporary humanitarian pause by the IDF in Gaza:

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said : “The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has 2reached new depths.

“The Prime Minister has already announced plans to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza and to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.

“Today’s announcement of a temporary pause by the IDF to allow humanitarian corridors to open and aid drops to resume is essential but long overdue. Access to aid must therefore be urgently accelerated over the coming hours and days.

“This announcement alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza. We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.

“Whilst airdrops will help to alleviate the worst of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza.

“These measures must be fully implemented and further barriers on aid removed. The world is watching.

“The UK supports the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US as mediators and urges all parties to resume talks on a pathway for lasting peace and security.”

But in the meantime, the UK continues to arm Israel … WHY ???