On Monday (18 November), Scottish Opera is launching a new, trauma-aware, inclusive, accessible vocal education resource, created by Education Artist in Residence, Lea Shaw, entitled The Small Magician, which enables participants to healthily challenge and build their vocal technique and knowledge from the comfort of their own home or chosen space.
The launch coincides with National Self-Care week, which runs from 18-24 November and isan annual awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self-care across communities, families and generations, with this year’s theme being ‘Mind & Body’.
Lea is an award-winning Black/BIPOC mezzo-soprano from Colorado, who lives and works in Scotland. A Scottish Opera Emerging and Associate Artist since 2021, she has performed in many recent Company productions including Ainadamar, Il trittico and Opera Highlights.
With The Small Magician, Lea aims to empower participants to embrace their voices (both singing and speaking) and practice, as part of a wider sense of well-being and an awareness of mental and physical health.
The guidance draws on classic pedagogy, scientific research, and Yoga and embodiment practices, and Lea has created a series of short videos, audio guides and workbooks covering breath-work, texture, diction, intonation, pattern, embodiment, and recovery which can be accessed for no charge on Scottish Opera’s website.
Designed to be a safe place to explore and foster curiosity, The Small Magician puts emphasis on engaging with the voice as a form of play, with every voice being valid.
The written resources are presented in PDF form so that they are easily accessible and printable if desired, whilst contents come in a digestible quantity of exercises, with the time needed to work through a session being flexible.
Lea also designed the resources using trauma aware and responsive principles, understanding that anyone coming to the project, either as a facilitator or as a participant, will have their own complex history. That history does not have to be shared with anyone to be valid, and the impacts they feel do not need to be justified.
Knowing this, the language of the project is open, encouraging, and positive, and there is a large emphasis placed on participants’ personal sovereignty, autonomy, and intuitive practice.
By being aware of all of this, The Small Magician can respond to the needs of participants by providing tools that can be of use, and by having a clear practice of open, non-judgemental communication, creating resources in direct response to these needs as they are shared.
Lea is currently working on more resources that are still in the research and development stage and will be added to The Small Magician in the near future, including workbooks for changing voices (transitioning voices, and for menopausal and menstruating people), lesson plans for teachers, warm-up books for choirs and in-person workshops.
Lea Shawsaid: ‘I gave The Small Magician this title as it originated with the idea that working with the voice and its relationship with the brain and body is indeed, magical!
‘It has always been important to me to feel part of something bigger, and to make others feel welcome in whatever space I’m in, in whatever way I can. Working with my voice has given me so much: a passion to share with others, a home within myself, and a community that gives me confidence and context. I know how crucial it is to have a positive working relationship with your voice, both artistically and in life as a whole.
‘The Small Magician is my way of opening my practice outward, and creating a support net and toolbox for anyone who wants to explore their voice: those who are be right at the beginning of their vocal learning, those who want to engage with their voice in a holistic way, or those who may not know where to start.
‘While many desire to engage with voice-work, they may not always feel that it is accessible to them. This can be due to the cost of accessing lessons or resources, a fear of an unfamiliar person critiquing a very vulnerable part of themselves, other accessibility needs that are not considered, or because of the events that led them to feeling voiceless from the outset: harsh words from authority figures or friends, their right to personal autonomy and consent being denied.
‘Their wishes and needs being disregarded or ridiculed, or anything else. Because our voices are so linked to our internal landscape and our mental wellbeing, it is important to me that this project is as safe a space as possible in approach and method.
‘My wish is that you feel empowered to use your voice as an extension of your authentic self, and to revel in the small magic that makes you, and your voice, unique.’
Jane DavidsonMBE, Director of Outreach and Education at Scottish Opera said: ‘Lea’s beautiful and empathetic programme aligns perfectly with a key objective that underpins much of the past 50 years of our work with schools and communities; namely, to encourage people of all ages to learn about the unique relationship between their voice and their sense of ‘self’.
‘We use the phrase ‘to have a voice’ in everyday conversation, but what does that really mean? Our voices are one of the most precious ways in which we can express ourselves – through the spoken word and through song, as individuals and as a group. Regular singing can ground us and help us to feel more at ease with ourselves, and others. Learning to use The Small Magician’s simple vocal, physical and mindfulness techniques is a wonderful way to help us negotiate the sometimes complex world we live in.’
More information about The Small Magician is available from 18 November at:
FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP SPONSORS EVENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RETROFITTING TO NET ZERO
Foysol Choudhury MSP has sponsored an event at Holyrood on the important economic and environmental benefits that retrofitting Scotland’s traditional buildings would bring.
The MSP for Lothian joined staff from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) at a parliamentary reception to learn more about the issue.
The event, on November 7, gave politicians a chance to speak to the heritage body about its work in this area and how retrofitting can contribute to the nationwide push for net zero.
Entitled ‘The greenest building is one that already exists’, the event made the case for improving the nation’s existing buildings, making them as warm and efficient as possible.
Around one in five of Scotland’s homes were built prior to 1919. Research by HES has shown that owners collectively spend £1.3 billion each year on repairing and maintaining such buildings, which make up a distinctive part of Scotland’s towns and cities and create a sense of local identity and place.
At the event, MSPs learned how pairing retrofitting technologies and traditional building skills with new innovations could provide jobs, as well as increasing the energy efficiency of homes.
Recent research commissioned by HES shows that a clear majority of people in Scotland are supportive of retrofitting when it comes to managing traditional buildings.
In a survey of more than 1,400 adults in Scotland carried out in September, more than two thirds (67 per cent) said investing in retrofitting was the best way forward.
Recent data published by the body also revealed the critical economic role that heritage plays in Scotland. The historic environment generates £6 billion per year for the economy, £2.1 billion of which is attributable to heritage tourism. It also supports over 81,000 jobs.
The HES event covered the huge potential economic benefits and new employment opportunities that could be realised through ensuring existing buildings are in a good state of repair, and that retrofit measures are technically sound and effective.
HES has been awarded £1M from AHRC to establish a new national centre for the retrofit of traditional buildings, which will expand the organisation’s technical research and put heritage science at the heart of its approach to developing best practice for the retrofit of traditional buildings.
The new hub will also focus on delivery of training and foster innovation in the use of low-carbon retrofit materials.
Foysol Choudhury said of the event: “It was great to see the work HES are doing to improve and protect our built environment.
“Scotland’s built heritage is vitally important to our culture and economy. Traditional buildings aren’t just nice to look at, they are people’s workplaces and homes, and through retrofitting we can make them warmer, cheaper and more efficient”.
Roger Curtis, Head of Technical Resources at HES, said:“It was encouraging to see so many MSPs keen to learn more about how retrofitting and reusing historic buildings can help Scotland’s national drive for net zero.
“Traditional buildings can sometimes be seen as a draughty hindrance to cutting emissions, but this is a misconception. Many were built with our climate in mind and are inherently adaptable.
“Giving a new lease of life to these older buildings will not only help us retain the distinct historic character of local places, but will also drive economic investment, jobs and tourism.
“In order to maintain these buildings and improve their energy efficiency, we also need to make sure we have a workforce with the necessary skills to do so.
“This is one of the reasons why we are in the process of creating a new national centre of expertise for retrofitting, which we hope will help improve energy efficiency across Scotland, inspire others and play an important role in helping us reach net zero.”
A speech delivered by Martin Coleman, Inquiry Chair for the CMA’s market investigation into veterinary services for household pets at the BVA Congress at the London Vet Show:
Introduction
As an owner of cats and dogs for many years – I currently have a very energetic Sprocker spaniel – I have great respect for veterinary professionals and the care they give, sometimes in very pressured and emotive circumstances. Nothing we have seen or heard in our inquiry so far has caused me to have doubts about the care and professionalism of the vast majority of veterinary professionals.
The focus of our inquiry is not on that but on how veterinary services for pets are bought and sold – whether there are aspects of that process, or the market structure itself, that are not working as well as they might to provide competitive services to consumers
Competition and animal welfare
And competition is important, not only to ensure that clients get good services at fair prices, but to the animals whose health and welfare is rightly at the heart of veterinary practice. In a service that is, in the main, commercially operated, the welfare of animals is closely connected to the means of owners to pay for diagnostics, medicines and treatments. To state the obvious, the health and welfare of animals cannot be effectively protected if owners are unable to meet the costs of doing so. Competitive markets keep prices down and, importantly, incentivise investment and innovation in different treatments and business models. There is a clear connection between protecting the health and welfare of animals and seeking to ensure that markets for veterinary services are working well.
This connection between effective competition and the ability of patients to access clinical services and medicines is perhaps less apparent in the UK than in some other countries because human medical services, for most patients, are available without charge and NHS medicines are provided at standardised prices and, in some cases, free. So clients have no point of comparison when faced with the price of veterinary services and vets have less external context to judge the role of competition in a clinical setting
Context of the investigation
While the provision of veterinary services has, in large part, always been a business, recent developments including increased corporate ownership of vet practices, price rises and questions about the nature and extent of treatments offered have raised questions about whether competition is working as effectively as it might to help contain costs, improve quality and encourage innovation in the interests of consumers and the animals that they own. This was the context in which our market investigation was set up.
We have yet to determine whether such concerns are justified. And, even if they are, we shall seek to understand whether they may be connected. As all good scientists know, correlation is not the same as causation.
There might for example be a causal link between increased corporate ownership and price increases but equally the two may not be connected and there may be other factors at play including a reduction in the number of vets following Brexit and the increase in pet ownership in recent years.
Changes in the nature and intensity of treatment may be an indication of new commercial profit-maximising strategies but may, for example, reflect developments in technology and changing pet owner perceptions of what is best for their animals.
Our job is to get to the bottom of how the market is working – allegations are one thing, hard evidence is another and we are interested in the evidence.
The process
We are now almost a third of the way through our market investigation. Although we have not been able to say much publicly yet, because we are assessing the evidence and forming our views, we have been very busy. It is a long process because we take the responsibility of exploring the veterinary sector very seriously, and we want to base any action we take – or recommendations we make – on a thorough look at the evidence, allowing enough time to engage with key stakeholders including, of course, the veterinary profession.
We have therefore invested a lot of time in engaging with the profession and its clients to get a full picture of how the sector works. We have held teach ins with, and been on site visits to, each of the large corporate groups, as well as site visits at independently owned practices. We have had the chance to talk formally and informally with senior executives and the people on the ground and with representative bodies.
We have held roundtables with veterinary professionals from different backgrounds including the heads of vet schools, chief veterinary officers at charities, vet nurses, students and newly established vets. We have had discussions with consumer groups, animal charities and regulators.
These have been hugely valuable in giving us an understanding of the challenges facing the sector, the complexities of professional life and business, the experience of consumers and the possibilities for change. Thanks to all who have been part of that process. This engagement will continue as we progress the investigation and in particular will include discussions on any remedies we consider may be appropriate to address any concerns we identify.
Gathering evidence, and then analysing it properly and fairly, takes time – particularly in a complex professional setting.
We have requested information from vet businesses (small and large), including on profitability and business strategies.
We are looking at data on prices charged and treatments bought.
We are mapping all the vet practices in the UK and who owns them for every local area. We have commissioned research – both interviews with veterinary professionals and a survey of pet owners.
We are seeking to understand how the medicine supply chain impacts consumer prices.
We are reviewing the relationships between first opinion practices and referral services and out of hours services and how this may impact consumers.
Later in the process we shall be holding a number of formal hearings.
We are very aware that this is an area of some complexity, and we shall need to assess all the potential consequences of any interventions we are considering We shall consider how far potential remedies are aligned with our statutory responsibilities, workable for the profession and its clients and contribute to the outcome that we all want – a market where competition works well with consumers getting a choice of good quality services at fair prices and providers receiving an appropriate return for their investment and service.
This is why we place such importance in our process on hearing your views and consulting with the sector, the profession and pet owners as we develop any potential remedies.
I know that such a significant investigation creates uncertainty, although I would remind you that the inquiry is in part a response to concerns that have been expressed about veterinary services, not the cause of those concerns. We have not yet reached any conclusions on how well the market is operating; but whether the eventual conclusions are that all is well, or that there are areas of concern which we would seek to address, I would hope that the result will contribute to the further building of confidence in a profession consisting of hard working dedicated and committed practitioners performing important work.
Regulation
One theme common to nearly all we have spoken to, including the RCVS, is that the regulatory system needs reform to better serve the profession and the public. I used to be a practising solicitor and sat as a member of the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, so I know from my own experience that a well-functioning market in professional services requires regulation.
A race to the bottom is not in the interests of animals, owners or the veterinary profession, and it is the job of regulation to ensure that this does not happen. And changes to regulation might help address some of the challenges faced by the sector, for example by widening the range of procedures that veterinary nurses can be authorised to perform – this is something we shall need to think about.
More broadly it is legitimate to ask whether regulation is too lax or too intrusive; its scope too broad or not wide enough; whether there are more proportionate ways of achieving desired outcomes; whether the current regulatory structure is optimal in protecting public interests and whether the regulatory system gives proper weight to the interrelationship between animal welfare, the needs of consumers and the benefits of a competitive process.
These are issues we are considering and will be taken into account in any recommendations on regulatory reform that we make to the government for them to consider taking forward.
Medicines
An example of the interplay between animal welfare, competition, cost and regulation concerns medicines. We have heard veterinary professionals, and their clients, indicate frustration with certain aspects of the way that medicines are supplied, purchased and regulated.
Some of the important issues around medicines we are considering include:
the options available to pet owners when buying animal medicines, and how much they know about these
the barriers to telemedicine and remote prescribing, for both vets and pet owners
the discounts and other terms available to independent vets and larger vet groups from medicines manufacturers and other suppliers
the role of generic prescribing
the mark-ups on medicines and whether these mark-ups influence consultation fees charged by vets and, if so, what this might mean for competition
We have heard concerns about the high cost of certain drugs licensed for animals compared to the drugs’ human equivalents and about very large price increases when branded versions of medicines for animals have been authorised. We have been told by some vets that they are frustrated by the lack of flexibility in the Cascade, which, among other things, sets out the circumstances in which a human medicine may be prescribed or recommended for animal use.
These are a particularly acute problems for some pet owners, given recent cost of living pressures and the rising costs of caring for a pet. Vets told us that in some cases – and more than they would like – pet owners are not able to afford the drugs with an animal licence and therefore animals are remaining untreated – or even being euthanised – when they could be treated if vets could prescribe cheaper human medicines but they believe that they are forbidden from doing so.
It is not our job to second guess the clinical, scientific and public health judgments of the specialist regulators. We know that there are good reasons for prescribing medicines specifically manufactured for animal use, such as targeted dosing and the supporting pharmacovigilance regime to ensure continued safety. But it is our role to ask whether the regulatory process gives appropriate consideration to competition and the impact of that on consumers and prices (which may have implications for animal welfare). Albeit the view we ultimately take may be that there are parts of medicines regulation that involve expert judgments, and public policy considerations, that are for specialist regulators and elected government to assess.
And there may be things that can be done to improve matters even before we report. Government policy has been that cost alone is not a sufficient reason to move straight to prescribing a human medicine under the Cascade and we respect that. However, might it, for example, be possible for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the RCVS (who effectively police Cascade use) to work together to give guidance to vets on circumstances where, if a pet owner clearly cannot afford an animal medicine with the consequence that an animal would go untreated, a vet would be safe to prescribe or recommend a cheaper human equivalent in order to protect the health and welfare of the animal?
Informed consumers and treatment intensity
For the market to work well, consumers must be appropriately informed about the choices they can make when selecting a veterinary practice, whether that be a first opinion practice, a referral centre or an out of hours service, and when considering diagnostic options and treatments.
This is not just a matter of cost but also because, in similar circumstances, each owner will have their own views about what is best for their pet, and each vet and practice will have distinct capabilities. We are considering whether the information consumers have at different stages of their animal care journey facilitates good decision-making and how far pet owners are in a position to act on those decisions.
This does not mean that dealings between a vet and client are, or should be, purely transactional. Relationships, trust and confidence matter, and we have heard this consistently from vets and clients. But this is not an either/or debate – appropriately informed consumers making choices versus trusted relationships. The two are connected. Trust can be built and retained if consumers know that their vet, and the recommendations the vet makes, are the best for them in their particular circumstances.
We have heard about the increasing sophistication in diagnostics and treatments. There is a debate around how best to handle the challenge of ensuring that pet owners are properly informed at the right time about the choices available while receiving appropriate guidance and support on sometimes very complex options. One approach that has been much discussed is contextualised care, to tailor what a vet offers to the specific needs of the pet and its owner.
A number of vets have told us that contextualised care is a new term for what good vets have always done. Others have said that it is a valuable new focus for good practice. We have also been told, by vets who work in the charity sector, about pragmatic care, which can be thought of as aiming to capture much of the benefit of the increasingly sophisticated treatments available at a reasonable cost.
We are looking into these trends in diagnostics and treatments and what they mean for competition, pet owners and animal welfare.
Conclusion
What happens next? We’re preparing a series of (what we call) working papers, where we set out the evidence we have gathered so far and our initial analysis of what this shows. These will be published in a few months and will give interested people and businesses a chance to see how our thinking is developing and the opportunity to comment.
We are expecting to publish our provisional conclusions in early summer next year, when we shall be consulting on what we have found and what we are considering doing about it. This might include making orders that are directly binding and recommendations for change which would be for others to consider and implement.
As I said we are very keen to get the views of the profession on the topics we are considering and, in that spirit, I am looking forward to hearing the panel discussion during the second part of this session.
The Scottish Government will be betraying households and families across Edinburgh if they go ahead with plans to water down rent controls and impose above inflation rent hikes, says Lorna Slater MSP the Scottish Green MSP for Lorna Slater MSP.
Earlier this year legislation was introduced by then Scottish Greens minister Patrick Harvie to finally bring rent controls to Scotland, which would help keep costs down for tenants.
The Scottish Government supported this legislation in March, but has since announced proposals that would lock-in above inflation increases and by up to 6%, even in rent control areas.
Scottish Government statistics show that between 2010 and 2023 average rents for a newly-let 2 bedroom flat in Lothian reached £1,192, an increase of 79%.
Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green MSP for Lothian said: “This would be a shameful betrayal of households and families in Edinburgh. It would lock-in above inflation rent hikes at a time when far too many are struggling to make ends meet.
“Everyone should have a warm, secure and affordable place to call home, but what the SNP is proposing flies in the face of that aspiration.
“If the SNP goes ahead with these disastrous plans they will be selling-out renters in communities like Edinburgh and entrenching a broken and unfair system.
“Homes should be for living in, not for profiteering. The SNP must not cave in to the landlord lobby and introduce legislation that would impose above inflation rent hikes.
“I hope the SNP will rethink their proposals and work with us to deliver a rent control system that truly transforms our broken housing market and gives tenants in Lothian the security, stability and peace of mind that everyone deserves.”
The Stand are hosting a comedy night in aid of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home – don’t miss out!
On the 8th December at 8pm, join host Liam Withnail and special guests Bee Babylon, Robin Grainger and headliner Fred MacAulay for a night of laughter and fundraising.
Communities which are most at risk from the impacts of climate change will benefit from Scottish Government funding which will support them to prepare for climate changes ahead.
The Scottish Government will provide £40,000 to Regions4 to deliver a project focused on the emerging area of ‘just resilience’.
The term broadly refers to actions which prepare countries and regions for the known impacts of climate change – whilst recognising that those least responsible for climate change are often most impacted by it.
The project will help create a standardised definition of the term and identify examples of best practice – to help countries in global south access funding to prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as flooding, fire and disease. It will also assess bids from communities within Regions4 partner regions and match relevant projects with suitable funding.
The Scottish Government will also provide £200,000 to help develop cholera vaccine testing in Malawi and Zambia.
These countries have been experiencing a surge of cases brought about by the impacts of climate change. This funding builds on the Scottish Government’s existing partnerships with both countries, and will strengthen local capacity for vaccine testing, distribution and delivery.
Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Climate justice is at the heart of COP29 – and the Scottish Government is working to ensure that it supports and champions the voice of communities from the global south.
“Just Resilience has the potential to make a significant impact upon the lives of those most affected by climate change and this project represents a rare opportunity for the Scottish Government to lead on an emerging field of climate action in a way that is in line with our climate justice principles.
“By supporting the development of a globally recognised definition of just resilience, as well as identifying examples of best practice – countries and regions will be able to better identify opportunities for funding and support.
“Ensuring that everyone has access to safe and effective vaccines is also critical – as cases of diseases such as cholera become more prevalent as a direct consequence of climate change.
“These two projects are the latest examples of our work as a good global citizen and further developing the resilience of countries in the global south against the impacts of climate change.”
Speaking about the Just Resilience fund, Regions4 Secretary General, Natalia Uribe said: “Scotland’s contribution to the Just Resilience Project shows an invaluable commitment to advancing climate and biodiversity action that is both fair and inclusive.
“This support allows Regions4 to bring the concept of Just Resilience to life by capturing and sharing transformative actions from subnational governments in the Global South.
“By establishing frameworks, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration, we are building the capacity of local governments to implement resilient solutions that prioritize the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.
“Together, we are working to empower these communities, ensuring that they are equipped to face climate challenges and have a central role in protecting our shared future.”
On Friday night we won in the @creativeedinburgh BEST FESTIVAL category.
Our Chair, Willie Black, Festival Director Adele Conn, along with young people from @grantonyouthinsta and Ryan McGlone and young people from @_tinderbox and Jed Milroy and Lucy attended the award ceremony at Central Hall.
We are all immensely proud of the festival and want to thank each and every one of you who have participated in the festival or have visited the festival over the last 3 years. We couldn’t have won without you
Here’s to 2025 and a bigger, better, more diverse and inclusive festival!
Springfield Properties, one of Scotland’s leading private and affordable housebuilders, has submitted detailed proposals to Midlothian Council for the first phase of the new Lingerwood development.
After securing outline planning for around 1,000 homes last year to create a sustainable new neighbourhood off Stobhill Road just outside of Newtongrange, the developers have now designed the first phase of 63 private homes which has been submitted to Midlothian Council for comment.
Ranging from two, three, four and five bedrooms, the homes are part of Springfield’s new collection of house styles, this is the first application to feature the new portfolio. Each of the high-quality homes have been designed to maximise energy efficiency, include a unrivalled level of choice and specification, such as back garden turf as standard and a selection of paint colours for each room, while suiting a range of lifestyles to ensure buyers find their ideal home.
Reflecting the local landscape, the proposals also include attractive open green spaces, nature trail paths, new woodland planting, local links and the retention of existing trees, whilst the wider masterplan features everything a community will need to thrive. Crawlees Road in particular will also benefit from upgrades as a result of the development, as the road will be widened and include the installation of footpaths to provide a safe pedestrian route to the Mayfield industrial estate.
Springfield Managing Director, Andy Curran, said:“We’re pleased to be celebrating this milestone in the Lingerwood development journey as we submit proposals for the first 63, energy efficient homes for people in Midlothian. This is especially the case as it’s the first application to feature our new house style range which will streamline our operations and offer the best choice for our customers.
“At Springfield, we are well versed in creating new sustainable communities and have already taken forward villages which prioritise green space, local facilities and supporting infrastructure in Dundee, Perth, Elgin and we’re at the early stages for a new village on the outskirts of Stirling.
“As with these villages, Lingerwood has been thoughtfully designed to create a well-connected community, embracing the 20-minute neighbourhood model which promotes local, sustainable living and ensures people can access local amenities, such as shops and play parks, easily.
“Lingerwood will see the creation of a thriving village that can sustain the needs of local people for years to come. It will be a best-in-class example of placemaking, and we are confident that it will complement nearby established residential areas that already have distinct identities.
“We have worked closely with Midlothian Council and local stakeholders on our plans and their feedback has been invaluable so far. We look forward to hearing the Council’s thoughts on these designs in the coming months.”
WE WON!!! 
