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Car insurance prices in Scotland jump by £275 (59%) IN JUST 12 MONTHS

Following steep increases, drivers are now paying a record-breaking £738, on average

It’s not just over the past year that we’ve seen the biggest increase. Prices have also increased by £114 (18%), on average, in the past 3 months alone.
All of Scotland is seeing the highest prices ever recorded, but it’s drivers in Central Scotland who are likely to be paying the most. Following a £315 (62%) annual increase, prices are now £820, on average. The Scottish Borders is the cheapest, despite increasing by £211 (54%) in just 12 months. Prices are now £602, on average.
Glasgow is the most expensive area in Scotland overall, with prices now £908, on average. That’s as prices increased by £344 (61%) in 12 months. And despite prices rising by £187 (51%) in 12 months, Hebrides is the cheapest, with average prices now £555.
It’s a similar picture across the UK as all regions are seeing the highest prices ever recorded on the Confused.com car insurance price index. And with financially challenging times ahead, there millions of drivers risk becoming priced off the road.
Although prices are becoming more expensive, drivers who recently shopped around were able to save £88(1), on average. Motor expert, Louise Thomas at Confused.com car insurance explains why prices are increasing and offers ways drivers can save money.

The cost of car insurance in Scotland is up £275 (59%) in just 12 months. That means drivers in Scotland are now paying a record-breaking £738, on average, for their car insurance.

That’s according to the latest (Q3 2023) Confused.com car insurance price index, powered by WTW. Based on more than 6 million quotes over the quarter, it’s the most comprehensive car insurance price index for comprehensive policies.

And it’s not just annual figures that have seen the biggest increase. In the past 3 months alone, prices in Scotland have grown £114 (18%), on average. That’s the second consecutive quarter prices have increased so substantially, meaning prices are the highest recorded since the index began in 2006.

Prices are on the rise across the whole of Scotland, but Central Scotland is the most expensive region overall. Prices have increased by £315 (62%) compared to this time last year, making the average price of car insurance now £820.

In the East and North East, average prices are now £675 following an annual increase of £244 (57%). And in the Highlands and Islands, prices are £654, on average, following an increase of £234 (56%) in 12 months. But the Scottish Borders is the cheapest region, despite an annual increase of £211 (54%). That means prices are now around £602.

When looking at specific areas that could impact drivers the most, Glasgow has the most expensive car insurance prices in the whole country. Following an annual increase of £344 (61%), drivers could now expect to pay £908, on average.

And for the cheapest car insurance prices, it’s drivers in the Hebrides who will benefit the most. Despite an annual increase of £187 (51%), prices are still the cheapest in all of Scotland. Prices in this area are now around £555, on average.

Here’s a full overview of how prices currently stand in Scotland:

Borders:
Postcode area	Avg £	YOY %	YOY £	Q %	Q £
Dumfries	£597	+52%	+£205	+17%	+£87
Galashiels	£608	+56%	+£218	+18%	+£94

Central :
Postcode area	Avg £	YOY %	YOY £	Q %	Q £
Edinburgh	£733	+63%	+£284	+17%	+£107
Glasgow	£908	+61%	+£344	+20%	+£151
Kilmarnock	£714	+63%	+£277	+16%	+£101
Motherwell	£833	+65%	+£328	+19%	+£134

East and North East:
Postcode area	Avg £	YOY %	YOY £	Q %	Q £
Aberdeen	£675	+56%	+£241	+18%	+£104
Dundee	£701	+59%	+£259	+19%	+£114
Kirkcaldy	£658	+57%	+£239	+18%	+£101

Highlands and Islands:
Postcode area	Avg £	YOY %	YOY £	Q %	Q £
Falkirk	£667	+59%	+£247	+16%	+£94
Hebrides	£555	+51%	+£187	+19%	+£91
Inverness	£591	+50%	+£196	+14%	+£72
Kirkwall	£565	+54%	+£197	+23%	+£104
Paisley	£737	+58%	+£270	+18%	+£112
Perth	£616	+55%	+£218	+18%	+£92
Shetland	£702	+64%	+£275	+10%	+£61

And it’s not just in Scotland where drivers can expect to pay the highest prices on record. Across the UK, all regions are seeing prices soar, proving just how volatile the car insurance market currently is.

And with a cost-of-living crisis still at the forefront of conversation, the rate of inflation for car insurance prices could be damaging for many. The latest data shows how millions of drivers risk being priced off the road if prices continue to rise as quickly as they currently are.

Why are prices increasing?

There are many reasons why car insurance prices are increasing so rapidly and drivers may feel they’re being penalised unfairly. Especially as the FCA introduced the General Insurance Pricing Practices (GIPP)(2) to ensure pricing was fairer. But adjusting to life after the pandemic and recent industry changes have both had a huge knock-on effect on how much drivers are paying.

The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow in popularity, especially due to the government’s ambitious Net Zero plans. Some manufacturers have even announced that they’ll only manufacture EVs going forward. But EVs often come with a hefty price tag and not all drivers can afford them. They often come with enhanced technology features as standard, so can cost the insurer more to repair or replace. But the pandemic has impacted its supply chain, meaning there are often backlogs for drivers. EVs also generally have quicker acceleration speed than other vehicles, so could appear riskier to insurers.

And because EVs aren’t affordable for everyone, second-hand vehicles are also keeping their value for longer, especially since the pandemic. But if a driver has an accident and their vehicle is a write off, this now costs insurers more to pay out. There are also lots more drivers returning to normal driving habits since the pandemic, so naturally there are more drivers on the road. This means claims frequency is increasing, so insurers are paying out more than they have in recent years. All of this plays into the overall risk factor linked with insurance, which is why drivers are likely to see an increase.

How much are UK drivers paying elsewhere?

All regions in the UK are seeing the highest prices on record, but it’s drivers in London that are paying the most expensive rates overall. Inner London is the steepest, with the cost of car insurance now £1,503, on average. That means prices have increased by £567 (61%) in just 12 months.

Outside of London, drivers in Manchester and Merseyside are seeing annual increases of around £417 (57%). That makes average prices £1,154. And in the West Midlands, the cost of car insurance is £1,139, on average, following a £442 (63%) increase.

And once again, younger drivers are taking the brunt of the most expensive prices. But it’s those aged 18 who continue to pay the most, with average prices now £2,995. That’s increased by 89% (£1,414) in the past 12 months and by 25% (£591) in the last 3 months, on average.

But 17-year-olds might have the biggest surprise of all. That’s as their insurance prices have almost doubled in the past 12 months. Their car insurance prices have increased by £1,262 (93%), on average, meaning prices are now £2,613. Data also shows that drivers aged 38 and under aren’t paying less than £1,000, on average, for their car insurance.

And although insurers can’t price by gender, males still see the most expensive prices(3). The average price for men is now £987, following an annual increase of £359 (57%). And for women, prices have increased by £304 (59%). That makes average prices for them £820.

Further research by Confused.com of 2,000 UK drivers(1) also found that the majority were feeling the pinch. Around 3 in 5 (63%) drivers who renewed in the past 3 months (July to September) had a more expensive price of around £87 more. That’s despite 1 in 4 (26%) saying they had a clean licence and almost 1 in 3 (28%) saying they had 1 or more year’s no claims. Almost a third (28%) also said that they weren’t sure why prices were on the rise.

How can drivers keep costs down?

With all of this to factor in, it’s understandable that drivers may feel frustrated. Especially as prices seem to be going up in all areas of everyday life right now. But drivers can still make savings, even if the initial price is more expensive than first anticipated.

Data shows how drivers with a more expensive renewal between July to September 2023 were able to save around £88 when using a price comparison site. And even though 9% of drivers said they had a cheaper renewal quote, they still saved around £64 by switching. So that proves how drivers can still save money when switching at renewal, whether prices are higher or lower than before.

And although one size doesn’t fit all, there are also some tips drivers can try to keep costs down when it comes to renewal.

Use a price comparison site – If you’ve had a higher renewal quote, the best thing you can do is compare prices. That way you can ensure you’re getting the best deal to suit your needs and not paying more than you need to. And it’s likely that you can make a saving.

Pay for your car insurance annually – If you can afford it, paying for your insurance in one go rather than monthly is one way to get cheaper car insurance. That’s because insurance companies often charge interest for spreading the cost of your cover over the year.

Increase your voluntary excess – Increasing your voluntary excess can help you get cheaper car insurance. But you need to make sure you can afford to pay it, if you need to claim.

Be accurate with your mileage – Generally, the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to have an accident and make a claim. This means the higher your mileage, the more you pay for your car insurance. So, driving fewer miles can be a great way to save money on your car insurance policy. But don’t assume that a low mileage always means low prices. If you barely drive at all, your insurance company could see that as a risk as well.

Enhance your car security – The harder it is to steal your car, the less of a risk it is. This usually means cheaper car insurance.

There are several ways to improve your car security including:

Installing a Thatcham-approved car alarm or immobiliser, if it doesn’t already have one
Adding secondary levels of security like a steering lock.
Parking overnight in a secure, well-lit car park, or at home in a garage or driveway, if possible.

For more advice on how to reduce costs, visit Confused.com’s guide on how to get cheaper car insurance.

Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com car insurance comments, “For another consecutive quarter, we’ve seen some of the highest inflation rates when it comes to car insurance.

“With prices up on average £148 (19%) in just 3 months, and £338 (58%) in 12 months, drivers are likely to be paying more than ever. So those who haven’t yet been affected should be wary of how pricing may affect them at their next renewal.

“But there are deals around and drivers can still save money, even if they’ve noticed their renewal has gone up. And in a time of financial uncertainty, this can be really helpful if you need to watch your money more closely than before.

“So if you’re due to renew, consider ways in which you can keep costs down. Whether it’s reducing your mileage or improving your car security, these can certainly help. But remember to always be truthful to your insurer, otherwise you risk invalidating your policy.

“Our aim is to keep helping customers save money, especially in the current climate. That’s why switching and saving has never been more crucial, and we guarantee savings can be made.

“We’re so certain that we offer a guarantee to beat your renewal, or pay you the difference, plus £20(4). In this scenario, you not only get the best price, but you also get more cash. So there’s nothing to lose and lots to be gained.”

Healthcare awareness campaign launched

Where to go for help over winter

An awareness campaign has been to launched to make sure people know the best place to go for healthcare over the winter.

Right Care Right Place has been rolled out earlier than in previous years to help Scots know which health setting is best for their medical concerns, and in turn to help alleviate pressures on the NHS and social care ahead of an expected increase in demand.

The campaign, featuring targeted advertising on television, radio and online, tells people how to access the most appropriate care for their physical or mental health needs.

The public is advised to use self-help guides on the NHS inform website, visit their local pharmacy for advice, telephone NHS 24 on 111, or contact their general practice surgery. Accident & Emergency departments should be used only for genuine emergencies.

The series of self-help guides include advice on the most common winter illnesses, based on the health concerns raised on calls to NHS24 on 111.

Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: ““Since early spring we have been working closely with colleagues across the NHS and social care to make sure that every possible mitigation is in place ahead of winter. Our Winter Plan will be published later this month.

“Public information and awareness is a key part of our plan, and that’s why we are starting our awareness campaign earlier than in previous years.

“Through this campaign we want to make sure the public know exactly how to access services when they need them. This will help everyone to get the right care, in the right place as quickly as possible. Crucially, it will also help to alleviate pressures on the rest of the system. People can also help by making sure they get their Covid and flu vaccinations if eligible.”

Self-help guides can be found on NHS inform

Free family event being held as part of new campaign in Edinburgh to help keep children safe from abuse

The first event for a new campaign in Edinburgh helping to protect young children from sexual abuse will be held at the McDonald Road Library next week.

This FREE fun, family friendly event at McDonald Library is open to all parents, carers and children aged 3-11 from across the city, from 3 to 4.30pm on Tuesday, October 17.

The year-long campaign was launched earlier this month (October 5) with an online event for professionals who work with children and families. It is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.

Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.

With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.

At the family event there will be refreshments, a Bookbug session, colouring in, games and Talk PANTS materials for parents and carers to take away.

Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.

Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to this event at the library, and look forward to chatting with them about Talk PANTS.

“This campaign doesn’t use scary words or talk about sex, instead we focus on the PANTS rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried about something.

“We hope this campaign will provide parents with the knowledge and skills to be able to talk about this difficult topic with their child from a young age, to help prevent abuse. “

Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe.

“I’d urge as many parents and carers as possible to come along to this and other events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”

Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talk PANTS with Makaton guide, which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs, and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.

Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.

Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.

Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.

Sight Scotland urges restaurants and venues to open their doors to the vision impaired

Charity launches new Customer Service Guide for bars and restaurants during National Braille Week

Sight Scotland has joined forces with Swanston Brasserie in Edinburgh to urge more restaurants and venues to ‘open their doors’ to the vision impaired.

The charity has produced a free Customer Service guide aimed at the hospitality industry, which gives simple advice and tips on what venues can do to improve the visitor experience for the vision impaired.

The new Sight Scotland campaign has been inspired by Swanston Brasserie, situated about five miles south of Edinburgh City Centre, which has become one of the first restaurants in Scotland to place accessibility for the visionary impaired at the top of its priority list.

The pioneering Edinburgh eatery has made changes to its layout, ensuring that a person with vision impairment is made to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible from the moment they step in the front door to the moment they leave. Swanston has assessed all its signage, has introduced braille and large print menus, has an audio menu for its website and has produced its own printed VI training guide for all its staff to follow.

The restaurant has also created an accessibility tab on its website, which shows users exactly what to expect when they arrive, with a step by step walk through of the venue, ensuring there are no unexpected surprises on arrival.

Swanston enlisted the help of Marie O’Donnell, who works for Sight Scotland as a rehabilitation and mobility officer, who has been blind since birth, to give advice on what accessibility changes were needed, and to assist with staff training so they know exactly how to welcome and serve a person with vision impairment.

Sam Lockhart, who is Marketing Manager at Swanston Brasserie, comments: “I am very passionate about this due to my Great Grandfather who was blind, he lived until he was 102 and there was literally nothing he could not do. We want to improve the visitor experience for everyone, and make people with vision impairment, or any disability, feel as welcome and comfortable as possible.

“As a society we need to work on education, and improve our understanding that everyone is different, but these differences should not prevent anyone from doing things they enjoy. I very much believe that we should try and give 100% to everyone.

“Unfortunately, most people with a VI have anxiety; they don’t like new places and they don’t like surprises. This is why it is so important for them to know a venue is accessible and that the staff are friendly and aware of what assistance they may require. People with a VI spend their life planning, so if they find a restaurant or venue which suits their needs, and where they are well looked after, it stands to reason that they will return.

“Marie O’Donnell from Sight Scotland was a great help to us and gave us lots of advice on what people with a VI require and what changes we needed to make. There was so much she explained to us that you just wouldn’t think about, it really was quite an eye opener!

“Marie also helped train our staff and helped us with our new VI training guide. As a business we are determined to do everything we can to be as inclusive as possible and we want to help show everyone that just because you have vision impairment that life does not need to stop.”

Sam adds: “I want to stress that this has not been a financial burden and most of the changes we have made are small and easy to implement.

“I would fully recommend that other restaurants and venues take advantage of the Sight Scotland Customer Service guide and together we can all open our doors to the vision impaired.”

Gillian McDonald, Director of Operations at Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “We are really hoping more restaurants and venues follow Swanston’s Brasserie’s lead and open their doors to the vision impaired.

“Small, easy changes can make such a huge difference to someone with a VI, and this is why we are launching our restaurant accessibility campaign.”

National Braille Week was launched by Sight Scotland to raise awareness of Braille. It takes place during the second week of October every year to shine a spotlight on the tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired.

For more information or to request a copy of Sight Scotland’s Customer Service Guide on accessibility for restaurants and venues please visit: sightscotland.org.uk

Nominate your Bookbug Hero for national award

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has opened nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award 2024, run in association with Walker Books.

Now in its fifth year, the award seeks to honour those who make a real difference to the lives of the young children, families and communities they work with.

People across Scotland can nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work for the award. The winner will be celebrated with a short film made about their work, a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500.

Nominations can be made on Scottish Book Trust’s website until Friday 10 December.

Bookbug, delivered by Scottish Book Trust, is the biggest nationwide universal book gifting programme in the world, through which every child in Scotland receives four free book bags between their birth and first year of school.

Around 375 Bookbug Sessions take place each week in libraries and community spaces across Scotland, and Bookbug for the Home practitioners support families on a one-to-one basis.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Bookbug reaches children all over Scotland, providing vital access to books. Without the work of Bookbug practitioners, many families would not discover the fun and lifechanging benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes.

“It is fantastic to be able to recognise this important work through the Bookbug Hero Award, for the fifth time. Our thanks to Walker Books for their continued support in recognising these heroes.”

The team at Walker Books added: ‘We really appreciate all that Bookbug and the heroes who run the programmes do for communities, and we are really pleased that we can continue to show our appreciation and support of that work by sponsoring the award.

“We love that it shines a light on those practitioners who champion reading, and work tirelessly to change lives through stories and can’t wait to hear more about the next winner!’

Return of the Elf Toddle Walk for children’s charity CHAS

One of Scotland’s largest shopping malls – The Centre, Livingston – has announced plans to run its ‘Elf Toddle Walk’ fundraising event again this year for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (CHAS), on Sunday, 19^th November at 9am, following the success of the inaugural event last year.

Over 150 little elves took part last year dressed top to toe in elf outfits, and adults too, and completed a one-mile lap around The Centre, Livingston, led by Santa’s elves, raising over £5000 for the charity, which provides the country’s only hospice services for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The charity has been providing full family support, including medical care and emotional support, for over 30 years and is committed to ensuring that no matter how short their time may be together, it is a time filled with happiness and fun.

To help get the toddlers on their way, there will be entertainment by acrobatic elves getting up to mischief and Christmas tunes by Go Radio’s afternoon presenter, Gina McKie and Floorfillerz presenter, Stevie Lennon, who will be joining in the fun, light warm up.

On completion of the walk, all children will receive a commemorative wooden keepsake medal and a Christmas treat.

Tickets for the event, which starts at 8.30am on Sunday, 19^th November are £5 per child, with all proceeds going to CHAS. Tickets can be booked at:

www.thecentrelivingston.com.

Once registered, a Christmas goody bag with a personal walk number and elf hat can be collected from the Customer Service Desk at The Centre, Livingston between the 31^st October and 18^th November, with proof of ticket, to enable participants to take part on the day.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “After the success of our first Elf Toddle Walk last year it made perfect sense to make this a firm fixture in the calendar every year.

“The atmosphere in the shopping centre at the event last year was fantastic – it really is such a great way for families to enjoy taking part in a fun-filled event together in the run up to Christmas whilst raising money for such a great charity at the same time.”

Zhenya Dove, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We at CHAS are absolutely delighted to join hands once again with The Centre, Livingston for the fundraising Elf Toddle Walk.

“It was a tremendous success last year, and we can’t wait to create even more wonderful memories this time around while also raising funds for the families we care for.

“Our goal is to make their time together, no matter how short, as joyful and memorable as possible, filled with love, laughter, and precious moments. We invite everyone to be a part of this heart-warming event.”

New Lanark announces the ultimate Christmas experience for all the family

New Lanark World Heritage Site has announced the return of its magical Christmas Experience, launching November 24, 2023 and running until January 7, 2024, with booking now open.

The historic location will be transformed into a Scottish winter wonderland filled with an array of special events, attractions, activities and magic for families of all ages.

This year, a brand-new ice rink will be erected alongside the banks of the picturesque River Clyde, which runs through the attraction, so visitors can glide through the festive season while taking in the sights.

Santa Claus will be back in his enchanting Grotto, where every child will receive a special gift and get the chance to share their Christmas wishes.

Elsewhere there will be Santa’s elves, games in the grounds, as well as regular showings of movies in the New Lanark theatre showing a series of classic and feelgood films such as The Snowman.

The New Lanark indoor Christmas Market will also make a return where, in the countdown to Christmas, visitors can browse a range of treasures and treats for gifting from over local vendors. The market will be open every weekend from Saturday 25^th November.

Opening from Friday, 24^th November, New Lanark’s Christmas Experience will be open most days between 10am-5pm. Ticket prices start from £5. Car parking is available, and the site will also be offering free shuttle buses from Lanark train station.

This year, the attraction has launched the ‘Christmas Experience’ package, where visitors will get full access to the site including The Annie McLeod Christmas Ride, Robert Owen’s School, Robert Owen’s House, the Millworker Housing, and 360 degree view Garden Roof Terrace, as well as the ice rink and Santa’s Grotto. Tickets for under 16s are £19.00.

Andy Cuthbertson, Heritage and Engagement Manager, New Lanark added: “We are delighted to bring back our Christmas Experience to New Lanark, bigger and better than ever before with the exciting addition of a brand-new ice rink.

“Christmas at New Lanark presents the perfect opportunity for family and friends to come together and make cherished memories and create new traditions, over the festive season. We look forward to extending our warmest welcome to our visitors.”

New Lanark is one of six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland. Located in the heart of Lanarkshire, under an hour from Glasgow and around 70 minutes from Edinburgh, it is a showcase of Scottish history and innovation, with archives and attractions which show the transformation of the mill village over centuries.

Today, it has been transformed to pay homage to its heritage alongside some of the finest walkways in the country.

Additional information:

Christmas Experience opening times – 10am – 5pm
Full experience tickets – Adult £14.00, Under 16s £19, under 2 £5.00
Ice Rink opening times Wednesday, Thursday 10am – 5 pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 8pm from 24^th November
Ice rink tickets – Adult £10.00, Child £8.00
The indoor Christmas Market will be open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 25^th November
Christmas Experience and Ice Rink close at 4pm on Christmas Eve
Ice Rink will be open from 12pm until 4pm on Boxing Day

For further information on New Lanark, visit: https://www.newlanark.org

More than half of all Childline counselling sessions focus on children struggling with mental health issues

Mental and emotional health and wellbeing is the top reason for children contacting the NSPCC service
Over the past year, more than 4.600 Childline counselling sessions were delivered on the issue to children in Scotland, with over 1,300 of these being related to stress and anxiety
This World Mental Health Day (October 10), Childline encourages children to speak out about any mental health concerns

More than half of all counselling sessions delivered by Childline in Scotland last year focused on young people struggling with mental health issues.

In 2022/23 the NSPCC service delivered at least 4,627 counselling sessions to children living in Scotland on mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Of these, 1,310 were specifically related to stress and anxiety.

This World Mental Health Day (October 10), the charity is raising awareness of the mental and emotional health issues children and young people are facing, and to let them know they are never alone.

NSPCC Scotland says it is vital that children are able to access early intervention support, such as through school, which can prevent young people’s mental health problems from getting worse and potentially reaching crisis point.

The charity believes that a top priority for Scottish Government investment should be in better support for families during pregnancy and in the early years, which can lay the foundations for positive mental health and wellbeing in a person’s life.

Childline continues to be a safe space for anyone under the age of 19 who is seeking help and support, with the option for them to speak to a counsellor either over the phone or online. Last year the service delivered more than 8,500 counselling sessions to children and young people in Scotland.

The top five issues raised by children and young people when speaking to Childline about their emotional and mental wellbeing were:

Anxiety and stress – 1,310 counselling sessions
Low mood and unhappiness – 634 counselling sessions
Depression – 292 counselling sessions
Accessing support and services for mental health – 287 counselling sessions
Loneliness – 210 counselling sessions

A 15-year-old girl from Scotland told Childline*: “I’ve been struggling with even basic tasks lately because of anxiety. I get filled with panic, can’t function and then I get angry with myself, so it gets even worse.

“It’s really frustrating. I want to tell someone but I’m not sure if my problems are important to anyone.”

A 14-year-old boy from Scotland told Childline*: “School and my friends are really stressing me out. I want to focus in class but I can’t do it.

“I don’t want to tell my friends they’re making me feel stressed, I don’t want them to feel like I don’t want to hear their problems, but it is affecting me. Thanks for letting me offload to Childline.”

SUPPORT

It can be hard for parents to accept that their child may be struggling with mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. However, it is crucial that young people feel supported, reassured and not judged by the adults in their lives.

World Mental Health Day has a focus on driving a positive change for everyone’s mental health. Adults can support young people’s wellbeing in a range of ways, including:

letting them know you’re there for them and are on their side
being patient and staying calm and approachable, even if their behaviour upsets you
recognising that their feelings are valid and letting them know it is okay for them to be open and honest about their emotions
thinking of healthy ways to cope together, like yoga, breathing exercises or mindfulness
encouraging them to talk to their GP, someone at their school or Childline. Especially if they’re finding it hard to talk at home.
taking care of yourself and getting support if you need to. Try not to blame yourself for what’s happening and stay hopeful for them.

Shaun Friel, director of Childline, said: “Young people may struggle with a range of mental health issues throughout their childhood and adolescence. This can be a time of turbulence, and so it’s important that children feel supported and uplifted.

“Ensuring that young people have a network of support, whether that’s in school, with their peers, at home or through organisations such as Childline, helps young people take the first step to tackling these struggles. Childline is here for any child that may be struggling with their mental and emotional wellbeing.”

All children can speak to a trained counsellor over the phone on 0800 1111, via email or on a 121 chat on the Childline website.

Children can also visit the website to find more advice on any concerns or questions they may have about mental health struggles.

‘Game-changing’ exascale super-computer planned for Edinburgh

Edinburgh has been selected to host a next-gen supercomputer fuelling economic growth, building on the success of a Bristol-based AI supercomputer, creating high-skilled jobs

Edinburgh nominated to host next-generation compute system, 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system
national facility – one of the world’s most powerful – will help unlock major advances in AI, medical research, climate science and clean energy innovation, boosting economic growth
new exascale system follows AI supercomputer in Bristol in transforming the future of UK science and tech and providing high-skilled jobs

Edinburgh is poised to host a next-generation compute system amongst the fastest in the world, with the potential to revolutionise breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, medicine, and clean low-carbon energy.

The capital has been named as the preferred choice to host the new national exascale facility, as the UK government continues to invest in the country’s world-leading computing capacity – crucial to the running of modern economies and cutting-edge scientific research.

Exascale is the next frontier in computing power, where systems are built to carry out extremely complex functions with increased speed and precision. This in turn enables researchers to accelerate their work into some of the most pressing challenges we face, including the development of new drugs, and advances in nuclear fusion to produce potentially limitless clean low-carbon energy.

The exascale system hosted at the University of Edinburgh will be able to carry out these complicated workloads while also supporting critical research into AI safety and development, as the UK seeks to safely harness its potential to improve lives across the country.

Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “If we want the UK to remain a global leader in scientific discovery and technological innovation, we need to power up the systems that make those breakthroughs possible.

“This new UK government funded exascale computer in Edinburgh will provide British researchers with an ultra-fast, versatile resource to support pioneering work into AI safety, life-saving drugs, and clean low-carbon energy.

“It is part of our £900 million investment in uplifting the UK’s computing capacity, helping us forge a stronger Union, drive economic growth, create the high-skilled jobs of the future and unlock bold new discoveries that improve people’s lives.”

Computing power is measured in ‘flops’ – floating point operations – which means the number of arithmetic calculations that a computer can perform every second. An exascale system will be 50 times more powerful than our current top-end system, ARCHER2, which is also housed in Edinburgh.

The investment will mean new high-skilled jobs for Edinburgh, while the new national facility would vastly upgrade the UK’s research, technology and innovation capabilities, helping to boost economic growth, productivity and prosperity across the country in support of the Prime Minister’s priorities.

UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said: “State-of-the-art compute infrastructure is critical to unlock advances in research and innovation, with diverse applications from drug design through to energy security and extreme weather modelling, benefiting communities across the UK.

“This next phase of investment, located at Edinburgh, will help to keep the UK at the forefront of emerging technologies and facilitate the collaborations needed to explore and develop game-changing insights across disciplines.”

Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said: “We have already seen the vital work being carried out by ARCHER2 in Edinburgh and this new exascale system, backed by the UK government, will keep Scotland at the forefront of science and innovation.

“As well as supporting researchers in their critical work on AI safety this will bring highly skilled jobs to Edinburgh and support economic growth for the region.”

The announcement follows the news earlier this month that Bristol will play host to a new AI supercomputer, named Isambard-AI, which will be one of the most powerful for AI in Europe.

The cluster will act as part of the national AI Research Resource (AIRR) to maximise the potential of AI and support critical work around the safe development and use of the technology.

Plans for both the exascale compute and the AIRR were first announced in March, as part of a £900 million investment to upgrade the UK’s next-generation compute capacity, and will deliver on two of the recommendations set out in the independent review into the Future of Compute.

Both announcements come as the UK prepares to host the world’s first AI Safety Summit on 1 and 2 November.

The summit will bring together leading countries, technology organisations, academics and civil society to ensure we have global consensus on the risks emerging from the most immediate and rapid advances in AI and how they are managed, while also maximising the benefits of the safe use of the technology to improve lives.

Dockside contractor to support community groups over next three years

McAleer & Rushe supports Citadel Youth Centre

McAleer & Rushe has announced a three-year commitment to community groups in Edinburgh as part of its Dockside project, a neighbourhood of at least 338 build-to-rent homes where Goodstone Living is the developer and investment manager.

Each year McAleer & Rushe will provide a monetary donation to a community group or charity as well as ongoing support and engagement throughout the year.

The first organisation to be chosen in the Design & Build Contractor’s three year plan is Citadel Youth Centre, which has been providing community based youth work in Leith since 1980, and will receive a £5,000 donation.

As well as funding day trips for Mums and toddlers, new equipment and a Wellbeing Festival, the financial investment will support a number of the charity’s employability schemes including new laptops and personal PPE for young people entering their first new job.

This initiative from McAleer & Rushe will complement Goodstone Living’s social value strategy for the waterfront scheme, which will deliver over £2m worth of socio-economic benefits for the local community – including the creation of 60 jobs – as well as the construction of over 1.3 acres of new public realm space.

Commenting on the partnership Paul Marlow, Project Director at McAleer & Rushe said, “We are incredibly proud to be supporting Citadel Youth Centre who through their hard work and dedication are helping people within the local community via a range of programmes and educational opportunities.

“As a company we are committed to making a positive impact to the communities in which we work to bring wider community benefits and create social value for those living in the local area and this project in Edinburgh is just one example of this.

“Enriching so many lives in the Leith community, Citadel Youth Centre really inspires and supports a range of young people from 6-18 shaping lives for the better, guiding young people into employment and making a real difference with the community.”

Willy Barr from Citadel Youth Centre said: “We would like to thank Paul and all the team at McAleer & Rushe for all of their help and support.

“The money that they have kindly donated will help us to continue to be able to deliver our youth programmes, educational schemes, family support groups and intergenerational work and will really make a difference to those in the community that use our services.”

Lee Hawkins, Construction Director, Goodstone Living, said: “Together, Goodstone Living and McAleer & Rushe will be delivering long-lasting benefits to the Leith community, with direct support for local people as well as the charities and key stakeholders making an impact here.

“In addition to the supply of high-quality and much needed rental housing, we are committed to the creation of jobs, skills and learning in a sustainable manner.”