GRANTON Youth is teaming up with National Galleries of Scotland for a brand new creative project for young people aged 12–18
Inspired by American artist and photographer Catherine Opie’s “To Be Seen” exhibition, we’re going to be exploring photography, identity, and creativity!
We’re looking for young people who are into art, photography, making stuff, being creative or just trying something different.
You don’t need to be an expert photographer. You don’t even need to know exactly what you want to make yet!
We’ll be experimenting with:
Portrait photography
What we choose to show / hide about ourselves
Props, clothing & fashion
Shadows & reflections
Creative writing
Identity, belonging & representation
A big group portrait
And loads of space to take things in your own direction
If this sounds like your, or someone you knows thing, DM us or email ryan@grantonyouth.com to get involved!
From part-time store roles to senior leadership, four Scotmid colleagues are marking career milestones that together span more than 110 years.
Their journeys highlight how one of Scotland’s leading convenience retailers continues to grow talent from within, creating long-term career paths across stores, operations, HR and learning and development.
Today, each continues to support colleagues, strengthen the business and help shape the next stage of Scotmid’s growth.
For Lynne MacGillivray, the journey started in March 1991 in what was then known as a ‘shelf filler’ role at Scotmid’s South Queensferry store while she was still at school.
More than 35 years later, Lynne is now a senior member of Scotmid’s HR team, having spent the past two decades supporting and developing colleagues across the business.
Lynne said: “I never expected to stay as long as I have, but Scotmid’s variety of opportunities and strong community values made it somewhere I wanted to build my career.
“Seeing colleagues build confidence, progress and achieve their potential has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role.”
Kevin Lowe joined Scotmid in April 2001 as a Regional Business Manager.
Over the last 25 years, he has supported significant change across the business, including major acquisitions, business transformation projects and the growth of Scotmid’s store estate.
Reflecting on his time with Scotmid, Kevin said: “When I first started, we had around 50 stores, four Regional Business Managers and the bones of an expansion plan.
“Today, we have more than 180 stores and a custom-built Head Office. It has been a fantastic growth journey, both personally and professionally, to be part of.”
Following Scotmid’s acquisition of Morning Noon & Night in 2004, Jane Burns joined Airdrie’s Scotmid store as an experienced manager. Since then, she has progressed through compliance, training and learning and development roles and is now a Lead Learning & Development Consultant, helping colleagues build successful careers of their own.
Jane said: “I quickly saw that Scotmid genuinely puts people first. The care, compassion and empathy shown during the transition made a lasting impression.
“What has kept me here is our people. I feel fortunate to support colleagues as they grow, progress and build careers of their own.”
While studying Business and Information Management at university, Lynne Hedger joined Scotmid 25 years ago as a Customer Service Assistant. What began as a part-time job developed into a career spanning store management, change management and major business projects. Today, Lynne is Head of Central Operations and a member of Scotmid’s Retail Leadership Team.
Reflecting on her Scotmid journey, she said: “I did not expect to stay after completing my degree, but I quickly got the retail bug.
“The people, progression opportunities and support within the Society have shaped my career, with numerous mentors guiding and encouraging me along the way.”
Margaret Anne Clark, Chief Operating Officer – Services at Scotmid, said: “All four of these incredible colleagues have each made an outstanding contribution and commitment to Scotmid over many years.
“They have helped serve customers, support colleagues and guide the business through periods of growth and change. Their stories demonstrate the opportunities that exist within Scotmid and the difference people can make when they build a career with us.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their commitment and proud to celebrate their milestones.”
Together, their stories reflect Scotmid’s long-standing commitment to developing colleagues, recognising loyalty and creating careers that grow with the business.
Belshill-born and now Glasgow-based badminton star Kirsty Gilmour, and Edinburgh-born now Stirling-based Olympic curler Bruce Mouat are among 30 LGBTQ+ celebrities and high-profile allies appearing in a new film for LGBTQ+ youth charity The Proud Trust, calling for greater support, safer spaces and understanding for LGBTQ+ young people.
The line-up also includes pop icon Dannii Minogue, national treasure Sir Stephen Fry and Olympic legend Dame Kelly Holmes.
The Proud Trust, one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ youth charities, has brought together two of Scotland’s biggest sporting names with stars from film, TV, music and sport for a major new celebrity film supporting LGBTQ+ young people.
Kirsty Gilmour, who was born in Bellshill and now lives in Glasgow, is one of Scotland’s most successful badminton players.
She has represented both Scotland and Great Britain, competed at three Olympic Games and became the first Scottish badminton player to win a European title, as well as winning Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow in 2014.
Bruce has also won two Olympic silver medals with Team GB, at the 2022 Beijing and 2026 Winter Olympics. Kirsty and Bruce appear in The Proud Trust’s new #DeserveBetter campaign film alongside 28 other LGBTQ+ celebrities and high-profile allies.
The #DeserveBetter campaign launched earlier this summer to highlight the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people and call for greater understanding, safer spaces and better support. The new film brings all 30 names together behind one message, that every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to feel safe, accepted, heard and able to thrive.
The campaign comes at a time when LGBTQ+ young people continue to face significant challenges. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ pupils experience bullying because of who they are, almost six in ten have seriously considered suicide, and almost a quarter may never complete secondary school, twice the national average.
The Proud Trust supports thousands of LGBTQ+ young people through youth groups, one-to-one support, mentoring, family services, education programmes, professional training and its Rainbow Flag Award programme. Following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, referrals to the charity increased by 171%, underlining the growing demand for specialist LGBTQ+ support.
The film also features singer and presenter Dannii Minogue, actor and broadcaster Sir Stephen Fry, Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, comedian Tom Allen, RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Danny Beard and Courtney Act, television favourite Denise Welch, Heartstopper actor Kizzy Edgell, radio presenter Adele Roberts, and author Matt Cain MBE.
Completing the line-up are comedian James Barr, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story actor Cyril Nri, Coronation Street favourites Charlie Condou and Alexandra Mardell, former Lioness Anita Asante, It’s A Sin actor Nathaniel J Hall, Brassic regular Neil Ashton, Smoggie Queens stars Elijah Young and Peter McPherson, Tip Toe actors Shakeel Kimotho and Gabriel Clark, West End performer Rob Madge, former England footballer Lianne Sanderson, England rugby stars Heather Fisher and Meg Jones MBE, British wheelchair tennis player Lucy Shuker BEM, and further RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Catrin Feelings and Elle Vosque.
Kirsty Gilmour said, “Everyone deserves the chance to grow up feeling safe, confident and accepted.
“The Proud Trust is providing life-changing support to LGBTQ+ young people across the UK, and I’m proud to help shine a light on that through #DeserveBetter.”
Bruce Mouat said, “Having a strong support network can make all the difference in life.
“The Proud Trust provides that for thousands of LGBTQ+ young people every year, and I’m proud to stand alongside #DeserveBetter and the incredible work the charity does.”
Rachel Williams, CEO of The Proud Trust, said, “Every young person deserves to feel safe, accepted and proud of who they are. At a time when LGBTQ+ lives are being debated more than ever, it’s vital that young people know they are valued, supported and never alone.
“We’re incredibly proud that Kirsty, Bruce and the other 28 LGBTQ+ people and allies taking part in the film have chosen to stand with us and support #DeserveBetter.
“Their voices send a powerful message that there is a whole community standing beside LGBTQ+ young people, championing their right to be themselves and thrive. #DeserveBetter is a call for all of us to do better, as if we come together we can build a future where every young person gets the support, acceptance and opportunities they deserve.”
For more information about The Proud Trust and the #DeserveBetter campaign visit www.TheProudTrust.org
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced a new pilot fund to help Scotland’s listed places of worship carry out vital repairs and conservation work.
The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund will support eligible listed places of worship across Scotland by helping them recover VAT costs associated with repair works, helping to protect some of the country’s most valued historic buildings and the communities that use them. The fund is expected to open for applications in autumn 2026.
Historic places of worship form an important part of Scotland’s historic environment. As well as places of worship, many also serve as community spaces, local landmarks, visitor destinations and venues for a wide range of activities and services.
The pilot scheme has been developed in response to the closure of the previous UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which helped eligible listed places of worship reclaim VAT costs on repair and conservation projects.
The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund will operate as a standalone scheme until the end of March 2027, with up to £1 million made available through the existing HES Grants budget. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants. The pilot will help assess demand for the scheme in Scotland and provide evidence to inform any potential future funding arrangements.
Katerina Brown, Chief Executive Officer at HES, said: “Scotland’s historic places of worship are an important part of our shared heritage. They contribute significantly to the character of towns, villages and cities across the country, and many continue to play a central role within their local communities.
“The Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund pilot will help organisations caring for listed places of worship undertake essential repair and conservation work by offsetting eligible VAT costs.
“By supporting early intervention and ongoing maintenance, the Fund will help protect historic buildings, sustain traditional skills and support the long-term resilience of significant heritage assets across Scotland.
“This is a pilot scheme for 2026/27. The experience and evidence gathered through the pilot will help inform discussions on any potential future deliveryarrangements.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said: “Historic places of worship are religious centres, landmarks and important community hubs, offering meeting places for local groups and a lifeline to those in need.
“This new fund will help care for these important buildings and keep them at the heart of community life, since VAT charges on essential repair work can act as a barrier to investment in historic buildings. It shows our ongoing commitment to Scotland’s cultural heritage, and I am glad we have been able to work with Historic Environment Scotland to plug the gap left by the UK Government’s withdrawal of this vital support.”
Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at HES, said: “We are delighted to provide an opportunity for listed places of worship to reduce some of the financial pressures associated with caring for historic buildings that are often at the heart of their communities.
“Many organisations eligible for the Scotland’s Places of Worship Fund may also be able to access support through our Historic Environment Grants Programme, and we encourage anyone planning repair and conservation work to explore the support available through HES.
“We look forward to consulting with representatives from places of worship across Scotland in the coming weeks to help shape a Fund that supports the care of these important historic buildings and responds to the needs of the diverse communities that use, value and maintain them.”
HES will review the outcomes of the pilot at the end of the funding period with the Scottish Government and any decisions on future support will be considered separately, following that review.
The new fund will be open to eligible listed places of worship from all faiths and denominations across Scotland. Guidance and application information are being developed in consultation with faith groups and sector stakeholders before launch.
More information on eligibility, application requirements and opening dates will be published on the HES website ahead of the launch of the scheme at the start of October 2026.
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “We wanted to call this the Fuck the Government Award but then we thought the award name should probably come from a more positive place, so we’re putting it in the copy instead. It’s been ten years since essay anthology The Good Immigrant was released and in those intervening ten years, everything has gotten a lot worse.
“We are giving this award in recognition of the seminal work The Good Immigrant has done in reframing conversations around immigration in this country, and to recognise how much work we all still have to do in the next ten years, and the next and the next. Congratulations to the team behind The Good Immigrant, winners of The Truth to Power Award! Here to collect the award is Nikesh Shukla, who edited the anthology.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Here at The Skinny, we love a puppet. And so when it came to awarding a show for its puppetry credentials, which obviously we had to do, Dracula: Lucy’s Dream was an easy call.
Plexus Polaire have created a production which showcases the magical possibilities of physical theatre: the ways in which materiality and liveness can be central to the emotional and narrative qualities of a piece.
From our review: “Dracula: Lucy’s Dream is both a visual and literary tour-de-force, using astonishing puppetry to frame Lucy’s descent into vampirism as an act of violation and psychological devastation.” Congratulations to Dracula Lucy’s Dream, winners of The No Strings Attached Award!”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “There are some comedians you come across who you feel were simply born to do it, and Tia Rey is the perfect example. First trying stand-up in 2024, as well as hosting Too Queer, a comedy night in Glasgow, she is one of the most exciting emerging Scottish talents to burst on to the scene.
Her debut hour ‘Oot Ma Banger’ takes us with her on a wild psychedelic journey which she experienced in her twenties, told with the skill and tenacity of a performer who would appear to have been on the circuit for years – decades, even. We’re so excited to see where Tia Rey will go next and how she will develop.
And of course, to see her back at the Fringe next year with a brand new hour! Congratulations to Tia Rey, winner of The Debut Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Theodore Schafer’s dizzyingly experimental sophomore feature, The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight, recalibrates the very notion of what a film can be.
This black-and-white portmanteau triptych acts like a love letter to New York, unfolding as three surreal stories centred on love, money and faith that feel closer to poetry than any straightforward narrative.
Schaefer’s filmmaking style is as unpredictable as the plot, and the resulting work is one of the most confident, original and exciting American indies we’ve seen in quite some time. The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight had its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Congratulations to the team behind The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight, winners of The Visionary Award. Here to collect the award on their behalf is Lynda Myles.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Part of the Sao Paolo showcase at this year’s festival, Border Bodies is unlike anything we’ve seen before – a frenetic celebration of plurality and collectivity told through meticulous choreography and seven dancers’ bodies. In a time of increasing political and geographical division, it speaks to what is possible when we transcend the borders between us. Congratulations to Border Bodies, the winners of the Outwith Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “It’s getting to that part of the Fringe where tiredness is setting in and it takes the rumblings of something special to tempt many a punter to stay out past 11pm.
Well, Basil Crumbwick – AKA Sam Eley and his giant papier mâché head – is that something special. Boiling over with “impotent rage”, as Fest’s reviewer put it, Basil Crumbwick is an act worth sacrificing many a good night’s sleep for. Congratulations to Sam Eley, winner of The Night Owl Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “not for glory meets at the crossroads between dance, theatre, gig and comedy, as well as therapy for those who have survived the youth competition culture of the traditional arts world. In it, dancers Jack Anderson and Charlotte Mclean and piper Malin Lewis bind together their pasts in order to examine the interaction between passion, reward, and memory.
The show has a genuinely unique point of view – Fest reviewer Eilidh Akilade singled it out for its “thoughtful dissection of heritage and all its complexities” and “empowered disregard of tradition for tradition’s sake”.
We also loved it for its humour, for the weird and obscure elements of the scene that the trio so generously bring to life for us – after all, bearing witness to these absurd joys is normally the privilege of an exclusive club, one whose membership is earned through years of toil and despair. Congratulations to the team behind not for glory, winners of the Collaboration Award.”
Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and celebrating the breadth of Edinburgh’s Festivals, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. 2026 winners will be announced at weekly ceremonies taking place at Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on 15, 22 and 29 August.
The Besties awards, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter a graduate of Interior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, use recyclable plastics gathered by the partners and leftover wood sourced locally.
FM outlines progress made in first 100 days of government
Helping people with the cost of living, strengthening public services and growing the economy are the focus of policies delivered so far in the first 100 days of government, First Minister John Swinney has said.
Since appointing the Cabinet on 20th May, the Scottish Government’s action has included setting up the First Homes Fund to help first-time buyers with up to £10,000 support towards a deposit, investing in and expanding health and social care provision, and setting up initiatives to boost business.
Work is also underway on key commitments including expanding support for breakfast clubs, extending the £2 bus cap beyond the Highlands and Islands, the Welcome to School Bag which builds on the success of Scotland’s Baby Box and on mobile phones in schools.
First Minister John Swinney said: “From day one, this government has been focused on the issues that matter most to people across Scotland – helping people with the cost of living, making our public services like the NHS stronger, and supporting our economy to prosper. My government will deliver on its promises to the people of Scotland.
“In our first 100 days, we have taken decisive action to support these priorities. That includes investing £90 million to bring down NHS outpatient waiting lists, boosting the social care workforce and opening new GP walk-in services.
“Our First Homes Fund is helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder, and launching the £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund will make sure fewer people reach the point of crisis.
“To support our economic growth, we have established the National Council for Economic Growth and set up a fund to support island business impacted by travel disruption.
“As we near the end of the first 100 days of this government, we will continue to deliver action that will help improve people’s lives – including launching the consultation on the food price cap and delivering more school breakfast clubs to help families with essential costs.
My Programme for Government will then set out how we build on the progress to go further in improving lives and delivering change to build a stronger,fairer Scotland.”
We’re calling on people all around the Firth of Forth coastline to join us and this is a special callout to folk in East Lothian who might be interested in organising or joining a beach clean along our coastline!
We already have a few beach cleans taking place in east Lothian, but we’d love to see even more communities getting involved!
When you register your beach clean, you’ll have the opportunity to add it to the Big Forth Cleanup map. You’ll also receive lots of useful information, including:
Top tips for beach cleaning
Information to help you plan your event
Guidance on waste disposal from your local authority
Every clean makes a difference, so why not get involved and help us make an even bigger impact along the East Lothian coastline?
Girlguiding Scotland members “inspired” to aim for the top by leading female executives at Camp CEO
86 Girlguiding Scotland members aged 14-18 took part in Camp CEO, a 4 day camp with top female CEOs and industry leaders from a range of sectors.
Taking place in rural Perthshire, young members were able to take part in workshops on everything from goal setting and personal branding to feminist leadership and networking.
Girlguiding’s recent Girls’ Attitudes Survey showed that 64% of 7-21 year olds want to be leaders in their chosen job and 58% of 11-21 year olds want more support in building their skills and confidence so they can become leaders of the future.
Girlguiding Scotland hosted Camp CEO to give their young members the opportunity to develop skills that will help them get through exams, prepare for college or university or start their first job.
Camp CEO was an adventurous 4 days of fun activities and workshops aimed to help young women be the best they can be, and to realise that they don’t have to follow the same path as everyone else.
One of the young people (15) who attended shared: “Camp CEO has really inspired my potential at a time I have felt mostly worried for my future.
“I didn’t realise how much listening to other people’s experiences could change my mindset. It has made the world feel bigger and with hard work, my goals feel achievable.
Another young person (17) said, “I really enjoyed Camp CEO.
“Talking to the CEOs and learning that none of them really knew what they wanted to do in life when they were in school made me feel better about feeling unsure what I want to do in the future.”
Young members who attended Camp CEO had the opportunity to speak to CEOs and other women in leadership positions and learn from them.
They were also shown what other opportunities Girlguiding can offer and took part in some fun activites including:
Ask a CEO where girls got to ask CEOs questions, like what inspired them, and what their career journey was like.
Dragons Den where girls came up with a project to sell to a panel of Camp CEOs very own “dragons”
Team building with the Navy where girls worked together to build items they could use in a crisis – such as a wind turbine.
Goal setting where girls thought about what they’d like to achieve and all the things that will help them get there.
Storytelling session where girls learned how to have and develop more confidence in public speaking.
A young person (15) shared, “I had the best time and am so grateful for the opportunity. Talking to the CEOs at the networking event and being given advice on various subjects as well as having to meet a whole new set of people really boosted my confidence.”
Another attendee (15) said,:“It was great to learn that experience opens more career options than exam results.”
There were female leaders present from various sectors including the Scottish Government, the health sector, charity sector, youth work sector and more.Opportunities like this are just one of many opportunities Girlguiding Scotland offers girls and young women.
As the leading charity for girls and young women in Scotland with nearly 40,000 members, Girlguiding Scotland’s unique programme includes badges in everything from mindfulness to bushcraft, plus opportunities to enjoy outdoor adventure, gain awards, develop leadership skills, use their voice and take action.
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer or know a girl who would like to join guiding, please visit girlguidingscotland.org.uk.
Stewart Lamb Cromar, from Edinburgh, has achieved a lifelong ambition after Lego turned one of his designs into an official set.
It is a goal he has been working towards for more than a decade, and one he feared might never become reality after a detached retina left him with a visual impairment in 2020.
Lego has always been an important part of Stewart’s life. During some of the most difficult periods following his sight loss, the hobby helped him stay focused, motivated and creative. Today, Stewart is sharing his story to raise awareness of visual impairment and encourage others to seek support when they need it.
Living With Sight Loss
Stewart experienced significant sight loss after suffering a detached retina in 2020, a complication linked to his Type 1 diabetes. What followed was a series of surgeries and ongoing challenges, leaving him with permanent sight loss in one eye.
He explains: “I would love to raise awareness for people with visual impairment. Sight loss is an invisible disability, which is why it’s so important to talk about it, raise awareness of available support, and remind people they are not alone.
“Losing my sight meant having to adapt to a completely new reality, and I found that incredibly difficult. There were some very dark days when I genuinely wasn’t sure how I was going to cope. As everything changed around me, I started desperately searching online for advice, support and someone who understood what I was going through.
“Before my sight loss, I had never heard of Sight Scotland. During lockdown, when things were at their toughest, I found myself searching for Scottish charities that could help.
As my situation became more serious, I realised I couldn’t face it on my own. Making that first call wasn’t easy, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed, but looking back, it was one of the most important decisions I made.
“That’s the message I want to share with anyone going through something similar: support is there and it can make a real difference, so don’t be too proud or too scared to ask for help.
“I had great support from my family, but I really needed to hear another voice who was removed from my inner circle but who genuinely knew what I was going through. I was really scared and felt so alone. When I made the phone call to Sight Scotland’s helpline and someone called me back, it made such a difference. Suddenly I found reassurance that help was out there, that I wasn’t alone, and that, yes, it was going to be hard but that I could get through it.
“I was still depressed, but I was given reassurance when I needed it most. They talked me through what I was going through, all the feelings I was experiencing, and told me about the help and support available. There was so much kindness and understanding from the support line. Finding that kind of support when you are struggling isn’t always easy, but it can make an enormous difference.
“Having someone listen without judgement, acknowledge what I was going through and reassure me that my feelings were normal helped me more than I can put into words. Looking back, I honestly don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t made that call.
“A huge turning point for me was accepting that I needed a white cane and being shown how to use it properly. I kept bumping into things and walking into people who thought I was being rude, which I found really embarrassing.
It was difficult because using a white cane felt like a public acknowledgment of my disability. But it has huge benefits. It helps people understand that I have sight loss, even though it isn’t immediately visible, and makes everyday life much easier to navigate. Coming to terms with using a white cane was a significant step in accepting my visual impairment and adapting to a new way of living.
The charity also does fantastic work campaigning for change, from making streets more accessible for people with sight loss to helping secure free rail travel for companions of blind and severely sight-impaired people. Seeing the real difference it makes is incredible.”
Flora the Highland Cow
Known by many friends as “Mr Lego”, Stewart has built hundreds of models over the years and says his passion for Lego became even stronger after losing his sight.
“I have always loved Lego, and I was so worried that I would no longer be able to do it with my visual impairment. But in reality, it has driven me on.
“Lego is much more than a hobby for me – it keeps me moving forward. I’m always trying new things and pushing myself, and it is actually a really practical, tactile, activity for someone with sight loss.
“I build sensory models that people can touch and feel, and it has text-based instructions that can be read by screen readers. Through Lego, I’ve also met and helped other families affected by sight loss.
“At a recent exhibition, a young boy with a visual impairment kept returning to my display and, after speaking to his dad, I gave him some Braille Lego bricks. The boy could see that I was still creating all these models despite having a visual impairment myself, and it showed him that he could do it too.”
In 2026, Stewart achieved something he had been working towards since first submitting designs to Lego more than 10 years earlier.
His model, Highland Hike, featured a Highland cow called Flora and was inspired by childhood family holidays in the Scottish Highlands. The design was selected as a finalist in a Lego Ideas challenge before being put to a public vote. Stewart’s entry won, meaning Lego chose it to become an official Lego set.
“I never thought this would be possible, I had been trying for so long. It shows what can happen if you keep going. The goal of having one of my models released as an official Lego set has been a genuine dream for over a decade. After all the setbacks, surgeries and difficult times, to see Flora become a real Lego set is incredible.”
Stewart hopes his story will encourage others living with visual impairment to keep pursuing the things they love.
“No one chooses to be visually impaired. It is vital to make peace with it, try to be optimistic and be honest about the hard times because that is normal. Reach out for help because you will need it.
“If I can help or inspire one person through sharing my story, that would be fantastic. Visual impairment doesn’t have to stop you achieving your goals.”
Portrait photography
Props, clothing & fashion
Shadows & reflections
Creative writing
Identity, belonging & representation
A big group portrait
And loads of space to take things in your own direction
Top tips for beach cleaning
Information to help you plan your event
Guidance on waste disposal from your local authority
Register your beach clean and get involved! 
