Celebrating Scotland’s world-leading cultural brands
To mark the 75th anniversaries of the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Film Festival, £2.1 million in Scottish Government funding will support anniversary programmes.
This year’s Edinburgh International Festival will also include a special appearance of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, one of three free concerts – including opening and closing events – staged thanks to this additional funding.
A showcase of the largest Made in Scotland event at the Fringe will demonstrate the best in home grown talent with 27 artists, companies and ensembles performing. The Edinburgh International Film Festival, which is back in its August slot for the first time in over a decade, includes a line-up of over 80 new feature films.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The culture sector is renowned for its creativity and resilience so I’m delighted to see the Edinburgh Festivals back with ambitious and diverse programmes following the pandemic.
“With over 3,000 shows to choose from over the next few weeks, there really is something for everyone and many of these shows are free. As well as gallery exhibitions, film screenings and author events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, there are live performances of theatre, dance and music.
“For people who are not in Edinburgh or unable to attend in person, they can support the festivals by buying tickets to view, or live stream content, online.
“Edinburgh has an incredible 75 year pedigree of offering the best in world-class talent across all genres so I would encourage people to take the opportunity to sample this abundance of culture we’re so fortunate to have on our doorstep.”
Director of Festivals Edinburgh Julia Amour said: “Everyone at the Festivals has greatly welcomed the Scottish Government’s PLACE Resilience Fund – including these awards for our three founding festivals celebrating their 75th anniversaries – as their financial and wider support is crucial not only to our ongoing recovery but also to our continuing ambition to bring increased opportunities to artists and audiences throughout the country, while also showcasing Scotland as a contemporary, creative, outward looking nation.”
Edinburgh’s hottest new bar in town, Counter at Native, has revealed a new take on a night out in the city; a creative ‘Paint and Sip’ workshop. With a delicious drink in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, guests can create their own piece of abstract artwork while enjoying Counter’s classic cocktails.
The Paint and Sip Class is part of Counter’s cultural programming, bringing the best of the city’s eclectic scene to the bar’s plush surroundings and supporting local artists.
Open to all, including non-residents, the Abstract Paint and Sip Class takes place on Wednesday 10th August, 7pm – 9pm. Spaces are limited – book tickets from £35 now www.classbento.co.uk
Partnering with Class Bento, a creative workshop booking platform which supports local artists, Counter will offer a series of workshops – bringing a few hours of peace and inner bliss to Edinburgh’s city centre, in Counter’s sophisticated surroundings. First up in the series, the Abstract Paint and Sip Class will see guests guided by an expert art tutor, taking inspiration from Native’s Scottish landscape-inspired surroundings.
The perfect way to unwind after work or embrace your creative side, the tutor will guide guests to create a beautiful piece of art on canvas using acrylic paints while they enjoy some of Counter’s blissful cocktails.
From wall scrapers to cooking spatulas, guests will try out a range of tools to experiment and find their perfect match, soaking up Counter’s idyllic aesthetic. The class is completely beginner-friendly, and guests can take home their artwork to adorn their own homes, and perhaps find a new way to unwind and channel their creative energy.
Recently revealing an impressive venue refurbishment, Native Edinburgh’s new aesthetic takes its inspiration from the city itself; from the new lobby space with luxurious green hues and botanical themed prints influenced by the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, to the wall plaques nodding to the venue’s heritage-steeped history, commemorating the birthplace of great Scottish inventors like who lived within the city.
Following the epic refurbishment, Native Edinburgh revealed the jewel in their crown, the one of a kind Counter – coffee by day and cocktails by night. Open 11am – 1am to all, including non-residents, the speakeasy serves up cocktails and wine as well as artisan coffee and bagels, ensuring guests can enjoy a nightcap before bed, or start their day with a hot coffee before setting out to explore the city.
Native’s aparthotel allows guests to ‘live like a Native’, with the freedom of a spacious apartment and the comfort and convenience of a boutique hotel, perfect for any stay in Scotland’s capital. Counter is set to host everything from spoken word poetry and DJ sets, plus record listening sessions every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Native’s stunning lounge.
Soundtracking an evening of well-crafted cocktails, Native’s upcoming record listening sessions include albums from Diana Ross and Earth Wind and Fire, as well as Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’ and The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’, ensuring an eclectic mix of the very best music.
Keen to encourage guests to unwind and enjoy the records the way they were intended, Counter’s listening sessions take place from 6pm – 8pm with residents and non-residents encouraged to enjoy the 12 “ vinyl spins. Whether sipping on a Whisky Sour or Espresso Martini or even enjoying an Edinburgh Whisky Tea, Counter’s record listening sessions will be the perfect companion to a late summer evening.
With 82 apartments comprising studios, one bedrooms, and ground floor leisure and co-working spaces, Native Edinburgh provides the flexibility and amenities of a design-led boutique hotel, coupled with the space, comfort and privacy of a home from home.
Native’s show-stopping new rooms are available to book now via www.nativeplaces.com and Counter is open seven days a week from 11am to 1am.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL NOW TAKE PLACE NEXT WEEK. FURTHER DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.
On Monday (08 August), 11.20am-12.20pm a free panel at Underbelly’s Friesian Theatre, McEwan Hall, will discuss the issue of producing theatre and art under the rising threat of censorship, with three international grassroot theatre companies to share their personal experiences.
Index on Censorship are partnering for the event, with moderator Nik Williams to give a global perspective on arts censorship.
Panellists include Max Percy and Natalie Chan with their Untapped Award winning show This is Not a Show About Hong Kong, a visually stunning piece of dance theatre which explores the blanket censorship trigged by the imposition of the Chinese government’s National Security Bill in Hong Kong. If the show were to be performed in Hong Kong performances could be summarily banned, and Max & Natalie could face a minimum five years in prison.
Davinia Hamilton and Sam Edmunds of Blanket Ban (also an Untapped Award winner)will be on the panel to discuss their multimedia, docu-theatre show which explores the blanket ban on abortion in Malta and features video testimony of Maltese women who have had abortions.
Of course hauntingly timely in the wake of overturning of Roe V Wade in USA which has caused a seismic shift in the conversation surrounding abortion rights worldwide. Again, if this play were to be performed in Malta, the creative team could face prosecution.
Finally Rhum + Clay’s Julian Spooner and Syrian composer Khaled Kurbeh of Project Dictator will contribute to the panel.
Their shows follows two clowns performing a show amid political instability; initially enjoying apparent freedom of expression against the backdrop of liberal democracy, before the production is slowly engulfed by the creeping shadow of authoritarianism. The play was inspired by conversations with artists living under autocratic regimes from Brazil to Venezuela and Afghanistan to Azerbaijan.
Index on Censorship is an organization campaigning for freedom of expression, which produces a quarterly magazine of the same name from London.
A 100-metre Chinook helicopter, created from sand, appeared on a British beach to draw attention to a serious public safety risk.
Ahead of the busy summer holiday season, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), is urging holidaymakers and locals to take extra care and check military firing and training times when accessing MOD sites shared with the public. This includes a number of popular coastal locations.
Depicting an oversized military vehicle, the sand drawing was brought to life on Saunton Sands beach in Devon, an area steeped in military history and adjacent to the Braunton Burrows Training Estate.
The artwork launches the next phase of the Respect the Range campaign, a public safety initiative to warn visitors about the very real risks they face when entering shared land used by the MOD for training. Risks include:
live firing
unexploded ordnance
fast-moving military vehicles
Accessing military training estate areas when it is not safe to do so, not only places visitors in harm’s way, but can also put service personnel at risk and interrupt vital training exercises designed to prepare the Armed Forces’ to deploy in real-life situations.
The MOD wants to raise awareness of the risks to the general public, especially any holidaymakers or day-trippers heading to coastal hotspots this summer.
There are a large number of MOD training locations across the UK, but Respect the Range highlights the following key sites with shared public access that could pose significant risk to locals and tourists: Lulworth, Holbeach, Donna Nook, Barry Buddon, Lydd & Hythe, Salisbury Plain and Aldershot.
To protect themselves and stay safe while using military land, the MOD is encouraging visitors to:
check training times before traveling
stick to public access routes
observe safety information including red flags, fences, signs and by-laws while on military land
don’t touch any ordnance they come across, and report it
Brigadier Jonathan Bartholomew, DIO’s Head of Overseas Region and the Defence Training Estate, said: “With the summer holidays now upon us, it’s an important time for us to raise public awareness about MOD training estate locations and how the public can stay safe when visiting them.
“Whilst last year’s Respect the Range campaign targeted the countryside of Salisbury Plain and Aldershot, this year we are focusing on protecting tourists and visitors on our coastline.
“These beauty spots are shared land, where families, tourists and locals spend time. But it’s also where our Armed Forces practise live-fire training, so it can go from tranquil to treacherous by the hour, 24 hours a day.
“The MOD supports public access to much of the military estate and encourages visitors to explore the beauty of Britain’s beaches, but this should be done in accordance with military guidance and with caution.
“We ask that the public do not cross into areas that are prohibited, stick to public paths and always check live firing times. This will help protect yourself, your loved ones and military personnel. It’s key that we work together to share these spaces with respect and consideration.”
Respect the Range highlights the dual use of each location by using memorable photography and design, and targeting the most popular types of land usage in the hotspots.
This phase of the campaign builds on last year’s pilot, which focused on MOD’s landlocked locations, by bringing in coastal locations too. The dangers differ but are equally as dangerous between the distinct terrains, and it is important that the public are aware of these in order to stay safe.
Please note that Braunton Burrows Training Estate is not an area used for live firing exercises.
Former England, Manchester city, Liverpool and Tottenham player Paul Stewart has partnered with online learning provider High Speed Training to offer a free Safeguarding in Sport training course to all grassroots sports clubs in the UK.
Abuse in grassroots sports is a topic which is very much in the spotlight, following many high profile sports players such as Paul revealing their own experiences of mistreatment in their club as a child.
Paul, who scored for Tottenham in the 1991 FA Cup Final, has been open about his own experiences of abuse in sports as a child and was one of the first players to come forward in 2016 with details of historical abuse at the hands of a youth team coach.
Working with the education and safeguarding experts at High Speed Training, Paul has helped to create the only survivor-led safeguarding course aimed at sports clubs, which is being offered for free to all grassroots sporting clubs in the UK.
Clubs can register to take the training, which is supported by the English Football League and Kick It Out, by visiting:
Backed by sporting figures such as Gary Lineker, rugby league giant Kevin Sinfield, former England and British Lions great Brian Moore, Olympic medalist Marilyn Okoro and Ryder Cup golfer Ian Poulter, the course provides sports coaches, parents and volunteers with the tools to be able to confidently identify and prevent abusive behaviours in grassroots sports, as well as understanding and implementing the recommended safeguarding procedures.
Paul Stewart said: “I am delighted that, by working with High Speed Training, I have been able to produce a survivor-led safeguarding course that I absolutely believe can make a difference.
“The support we have received has been incredible and I will be forever grateful to the people and organisations involved. It is an emotional subject, both for me and for others who have been affected. I am sure the course will have a lasting impact on those who take it.
“Everyone involved in all sports and physical activity settings with children and young people should have an awareness of these issues. We all know the benefits of playing sports for young people, and making sure that our children are safe whilst enjoying sports has to be the number one priority.
“Now the course is free to grassroots clubs, it is my hope that all adults will take the course and share what they have learned.”
Alexandra Richards, Head of Safeguarding at the English Football League, said: ‘The EFL are delighted to support this Safeguarding in Sport course and it is great to see the free initiative being made available to other organisations.
“We made the training available to all of our 72 member Clubs because it is unique in the fact that it is survivor-led and covers all the essentials needed for any role on the basics of safeguarding.
“The work Paul is doing with High Speed Training to ensure all children are safe at their clubs is outstanding and we will continue to support the wonderful work they are doing.”
Tajean Hutton, Grassroots Manager at Kick It Out says: “This is a great course, which we are proud to support at Kick It Out.
“We hear of several abuse related cases in grassroots sport every year, which is why courses like this are important to help educate those working at clubs, so they can better support young people and participants.
“The more we can do to identify and prevent abuse at a grassroots level, the more inclusive and inviting sport will become.”
In research carried out in September 2021, High Speed Training found that a third (32%) of parents are unsure whether their child’s sports coaches have undertaken safeguarding training.
The study, which was commissioned by the leading online training provider, also revealed that concerningly one in ten (10%) parents stated that they’re unsure whether they’d be confident in identifying the signs of abuse, be that physical, sexual, or emotional, in a child, whilst more than a quarter of parents haven’t discussed safeguarding issues with their children.
The fact that in 2021, 91% of children aged 5-16 particapte in some form of sport highlights the need for this training.2
Further research by the NSPCC3also highlighted the lack of parental knowledge when it comes to safeguarding in sports, with 20% of parents whose children attend sports and leisure clubs admitting that they wouldn’t know who to speak to if they had any worries about a child’s welfare at the club.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart has visited the Hebrides to meet community groups, businesses and council representatives.
Levelling up was top of the agenda as UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart visited innovative island businesses and community projects on a five-day visit to Skye, Lewis and Harris, ahead of the inaugural Islands Forum later this year.
Starting his visit in Skye, Minister Stewart met with the Staffin Community Trust and local fishermen to discuss plans to redevelop Staffin Harbour and consider ways the UK Government could support the project. He then headed to Skye’s largest town, Portree, to host a roundtable discussion with representatives from local community groups, where he invited views on how levelling up could enhance the area.
The Minister then made his way to Harris where he paid a visit to the Harris Distillery. He enjoyed hearing about how the island-based enterprise has grown through training and employing young people from the local area, meaning they don’t have to leave the island for work.
In Lewis, Minister Stewart’s busy itinerary included meeting Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – Western Isles Council – to talk about how levelling up could benefit the local community.
He visited the headquarters of Gaelic Media Service MG Alba to learn about how they are creating premium Gaelic language content, and also paid a visit to Charles Macleod butchers, makers of the world-renowned Stornoway Black Pudding, to discuss their success in exporting from the island.
He also met with Lewis-based Horshader Community Trust, a charity taking forward green initiatives including decarbonising transport and nurturing trees to create woodland. The trust has received more than £70,000 from the Community Renewal Fund to help local residents gain new skills, support the development of two green projects, and work with business partners to strengthen the island’s renewable energy sector.
Minister Iain Stewart said: “It was a pleasure to visit Skye, Lewis and Harris. From discussing plans to regenerate Staffin Harbour, to seeing how the Horshader Community Trust is making Lewis more sustainable, to hearing how the Harris Distillery is supporting jobs for young people, it’s clear these islands have talent, innovation and resourcefulness in droves.
“It’s also clear that the Islands Growth Deal and investment through the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funds are making a real difference in these places, for the benefit of people who live here.
“However, while our island communities have unique strengths, they also face unique challenges. Infrastructure, transport and depopulation are issues that islands often have to contend with, and must be addressed for our rural areas to truly thrive.
“The Islands Forum was set up to discuss these problems. It will give a platform for those who understand remote communities and their needs best, putting islands at the heart of our Levelling Up agenda which has so far resulted in more than £2 billion being invested directly in Scottish projects.”
The UK Government’s first Islands Forum will take place in Orkney later this year. The forum will put islands at the heart of the Levelling Up agenda, with island communities across the UK invited to discuss common challenges including connectivity, infrastructure and demographic trends.
Today the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House launches a groundbreaking pilot programme for young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds. The new scheme will work with young musicians aged 18-25, prioritising engagement with young people from the global majority and other underrepresented backgrounds.
The scheme will provide essential mentoring tailored to the participants’ individual needs whilst enhancing skill sets, insight and training in the classical music field. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Black Lives in Music, an organisation established to champion diversity in the classical music industry.
Royal Opera House Music Director Tony Pappano said: “Working in any orchestra is a hugely collegiate experience and we believe it’s vital to assist and mentor young talent as they navigate the very beginnings of their career.
“Gaining access to organisations at the start of your career can feel daunting and overwhelming and we want to support, mentor and positively shape these very first experiences in a professional environment. This new pilot scheme will welcome young, diverse talent, helping them feel like they belong.”
Amelia Conway-Jones, 1st violin in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera Housesaid: “I’m so thrilled and proud that the orchestra are championing opportunities for musicians from diverse backgrounds through this scheme.
“It’s vital that we work towards a time when we as a group are truly representative of our community in London, and our artistic voice will be hugely enriched by the inclusion of musical voices from diverse backgrounds. As part of the orchestra’s Diversity Working Group, I’m really excited to be involved and to work with the mentees on their journey into the profession.”
Roger Wilson, Director of Operations at Black Lives in Music said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians from across the UK to continue their musical journeys.
“The project will help to level the playing field for all young musicians and enable them to realise their aspirations of joining the classical sector as professionals. The ROH mentoring project combines traditional mentoring with real opportunities to play alongside and learn from some of the best musicians around, this is a game changer!
“Initiatives like this will help to break down walls and build relationships. Black Lives in Music are excited to be working alongside the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in this hands-on approach to supporting change in the UK classical music sector.”
Thirteen musicians from the Royal Opera House Orchestra will mentor participants on a range of orchestral instruments. Recruitment for the scheme will be a simple process, reducing barriers to entry and re-thinking the application process so that it breaks with traditional norms and enables those interested to apply in the most accessible way possible.
Participants will be invited to give feedback throughout their experience, and beyond as they embark on their musical careers, to measure the impact of the scheme, with the aim of making the scheme a permanent programme attached to each Royal Opera House Season.
The ROH mentor programme is aimed at young musicians aged 18 – 25, with participants welcome from across the UK. The scheme aims to break-down any traditional barriers to classical music, broadening the available pathways into the industry and make a lasting impact on representation.
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House mentor scheme joins other programmes run by ROH which provide entry level pathways into the arts industry for young talent at the very start of their careers. The ROH Apprentice scheme has been offering sector-leading apprenticeships since 2007 with the scheme recently expanding to include positions in IT, Finance and Marketing.
Apprentices gain a relevant industry qualification and are guided by some of the most accomplished and recognised practitioners in the UK’s arts industry. 76 apprentices have graduated from the scheme since 2007 and 90% of those have remained in the creative industries forging successful careers.
The Jette Parker Artists programme has been running at ROH since 2001 and has launched the careers of over one hundred and fifty singers, conductors, directors and artists – many of whom had no direct experience and came from marginalised communities across the globe.
For a lot of children and young people, body image is a great concern. Going through physical body changes and developments is challenging enough, yet with outside influences such as social media, young people can feel even more pressure to look a certain way to fit in.
Every summer, we are confronted by advertisements asking if we are ‘beach body ready’. Here at Childline, we have seen just how much these advertisements, messages and perceptions can affect the way in which young people view themselves.
Between April 2021 and March 2022, Childline delivered 5,085 counselling sessions on the topic of struggling with eating and body image in Scotland and across the rest of the UK – a 6% increase from 4,787 in 2019/20.
We believe one of the reasons that children and young people are feeling low about their appearance is the increasing amount of time they spend on social media, particularly since the pandemic. Some young people in Scotland have told Childline’s trained counsellors that they feel insecure and self-conscious about their weight after seeing images of others on social media platforms.
Here at Childline, we would like to remind all children that the service’s counsellors are here to support them and that they don’t have to cope alone.
They can contact our counsellors on 0800 1111 or online at www.childline.org.uk, where they can visit the ‘my body’ advice page and also speak to other young people who might be feeling the same away via moderated message boards.
As the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe gets underway, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society are delighted to announce a full programme of activity for the new Taster Stages in St Andrew Square and Cathedral Square in St James Quarter.
Following an announcement about the extension of the traditional Street Events programme to new sites across the city centre, the Fringe Society team have been excited by the level of support shown by artists for the new spaces.
Scheduled daily from 11:00 – 18:00, the new stages will bring a taster of the Fringe to the New Town, with performers from 170 shows participating in 650 performances across both stages.
From music to magic, dance to comedy, and theatre to circus, there will be something for everyone visiting the spaces this August. In St Andrew Square the TikTok team will be in residence and will live stream on various dates throughout August. In the St James Quarter, the Taster Stage in Cathedral Square will be the first event to take place in this new space.
Audiences are encouraged to make repeat visits to the two stages, with performers changing throughout the day. The tasters have been designed to allow visitors to the area the opportunity to get to know work by the artists, before booking a ticket to see their full show.
Shona McCarthy, CEO at The Edinburgh Fringe Society said: “This summer we’re delighted to be able to expand the Street Events programme to these new spaces in the New Town.
“It’s been fantastic to see the volume of artists who have engaged with these opportunities and we encourage anyone visiting these areas to stop by to get a taste of the Fringe Festival.
“We are grateful to our sponsors and partners in supporting our expansion of Street Events and look forward to watching performance in both the live experience, and digitally on TikTok.”
James Stafford, Head of Community & partnerships, TikTok UK, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Festival Fringe Society this year as the Official Virtual Stage.
“We will be livestreaming from the TikTok Taster Stage in St Andrews Square throughout the festival, so whether you are lucky enough to be in Edinburgh or want to tune in from afar on TikTok, the magic of the Fringe will be more accessible than ever before.’
Cllr Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a very special year for the Fringe, not only does it see the return of an amazing programme of artists and performers from around the world, it also marks 75 years of this extraordinary festival.
“This exciting addition of new sites offering taster performances from the Fringe’s jam-packed programme brings a wider opportunity for current and potential Fringe fans to sample some of the 650 acts who will be entertaining audiences this month.”
Paul Bush, VisitScotland Director of events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting the return of the Fringe Street Events at this year’s Festival as they extend to new locations across the city centre.
“Our atmospheric crowds, iconic venues and picture-perfect backdrops make Scotland the perfect stage for events and after the challenges of the last two years now is the time to get out and enjoy all these free events have to offer.”
Nick Peel, St James Quarter said: “We are thrilled to be hosting the Taster Stage in Cathedral Square kicking off a fantastic summer of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the Quarter.
“The Fringe is such an integral part of the city, the partnership supports our ambition of offering guests new experiences every time they visit. We can’t wait to see the incredible talent from across the globe descend on Cathedral Square, giving us a taste of what’s on offer across the City this August.”
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Fringe Society and St James Quarter to bring free Fringe activity to St Andrew Square Garden and Cathedral Square.
“I encourage everyone to stop by and get a real feel for the fantastic artists and shows on offer. With the addition of the free Fringe stages, there is now significant Fringe presence throughout the New Town, complementing the traditional Old Town offering and ensuring we have a thriving and vibrant area during August, welcoming residents and visitors to our wonderful city centre.”
Glasgow father-of-three Rico Franchi, who has lived with Lyme disease for the past 12 years, has backed a national campaign to raise awareness of tick bites and the symptoms of Lyme disease.
With a new survey revealing over half of people in Scotland (54 per cent) don’t know what to do when bitten by a tick, the Scottish Government campaign drives home the importance of acting quickly if a tick is found on the body.
The research also highlighted how common tick bites are, with almost two thirds of people in Scotland (64 per cent) having been bitten by a tick, or knowing someone who has been bitten.
Forty-year-old singer and vocal coach Rico has been living with Lyme disease since 2010, when he first experienced symptoms including extreme fatigue and joint pain. He was diagnosed around two years later, and the disease continues to impact his day-to-day life. Today, he encourages people to be aware of the early signs and seek medical advice early if concerned:
“Rewind to 2010, I was super healthy, super fit, I was always in the gym, or playing football or practicing martial arts. But in the space of a couple of weeks, I started to develop headaches, muscle aches and severe fatigue.
“It completely floored me, and my lifestyle changed completely. I basically had to conserve all my energy for work, and even then, I struggled. For over two years I searched for a diagnosis, which was frustrating, as it was hard trying to explain how I was feeling. Eventually, a friend’s dad who was a doctor suggested I get tested for Lyme Disease. Six weeks later my results came back positive.
“Like many sufferers, I can’t recall where I got bitten. Ticks are incredibly hard to spot so it could have been years before, even when I was a child, with symptoms only occurring years later.
“One of the worst things about Lyme disease is not knowing how you’re going to feel when you wake up in the morning, if it’s going to be a good day or a bad day. I play a lot of gigs and sing at lots of weddings, meaning late nights and long days, it’s quite an intense job. It’s challenging putting on a brave face most days, but when you’re self-employed, you must, and ultimately, it’s usually my family that suffers my complaints.
“I have my three kids, my wife and I love my job, so I am still able to live a happy life. I am fortunate because a lot of others with Lyme disease can’t. However, I would love to be able to do sport again, or just go for a big walk without feeling completely out of breath, and not always have to ration my energy.
“At the time I got infected with Lyme disease, myself and my parents didn’t know anything about Lyme disease or what to look out for. If we’d known, we might have caught it early and had it treated.
“So many people still have no idea what this invisible illness is. I hope this campaign helps create awareness of Lyme disease and associated symptoms and encourages more people to take precautions against tick bites when spending time outdoors, so they don’t have to go through what I did.”
Two thirds of people in Scotland (66 per cent) aren’t aware of the earliest and most common symptoms of Lyme disease, which include a red circular rash on the skin, often described as looking like a bullseye on a dart board.
People can also experience cold or flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain.
Ticks can be found throughout Scotland in wooded and grassy areas, so preventative measures when outdoors, such as sticking to pathways instead of going through long grass, using a repellent spray on clothing and not exposing skin can help reduce the risk of being bitten.
According to data, Scotland has 25% of UK cases of Lyme disease, and Professor of Molecular Microbiology for the University of Glasgow, Tom Evans, today reinforced that prevention is key to reducing the risk of serious infection:
“Ticks are in peak season in summer, and with people spending more time outdoors it’s important that they take steps to prevent becoming ill from Lyme disease.
“If you do get bitten, you should remove the tick as soon as possible to prevent infection. Using fine-tipped tweezers to gently grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull it steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing it. Special tick removers are also available from most pharmacies. You should wash the area with water and soap afterwards and apply an antiseptic cream.
“Lyme disease can be difficult to detect, and while most cases are mild, if not found early it can have serious and lifelong side effects. Therefore it’s really important to be aware of any symptoms in the weeks following a tick bite so it can be effectively treated.”
Dr Emilia Crighton, Interim Director of Public Health for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “As long as you are diligent when out and about this summer, you should be ok.
“Being careful to check yourself for ticks after a trip to the countryside is really important and means if you’ve been bitten, you’ll be able to spot and remove the tick quickly, which help minimize the chances of Lyme disease. Otherwise, be aware of the common symptoms, particularly if you have been out in the countryside recently.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We definitely want people to spend time in Scotland’s beautiful outdoors, but with tick populations especially high in the summer months, we also want to make sure people do so safely.
“Ticks can be found all over Scotland so wherever you are spending time outdoors this summer, taking measures to prevent bites, knowing what to do if you are bitten, and being able to recognise the signs of Lyme disease will help avoid infection.
“More information about ticks and Lyme disease is available at NHS inform, and we’ve also placed information posters in pharmacies across Scotland where you can go for more advice about ticks.”
