A study commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has highlighted that more than half of adults consider themselves to be ‘lonely’ because they are too busy or shy to socialise with others. Continue reading Make friends through plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The organisers of The MoonWalk Scotland, health charity Walk the Walk, are urging women and men across the country to get walking – to boost their mental health.
Blue Monday is traditionally the third Monday in January and is dubbed the most depressing day of the year. After the excesses of the festive season, money worries, failed New Year’s resolutions and the cold, dark winter weather can take their toll on the mental health of many people.
Whilst walking is recognised as a near perfect way to keep fit and maintain a healthy weight, benefits for our emotional well-being are often overlooked. When we exercise, we release feel-good hormones known as endorphins into our bloodstream.
This natural high helps reduce stress and anxiety, calming and relaxing both the body and mind. Particularly at a time of year when money is tight, walking is one of the most accessible types of exercise around. It costs nothing, and can be done at anytime and anywhere.
Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Executive of Walk the Walk and organiser of The MoonWalk Scotland said: “Walking really is one of the most perfect forms of exercise there is – physically, it tones your body, strengthens your muscles and keeps your heart healthy.
“But it’s crucial for our mental health too. Going out for a daily walk can help reduce tension, stress and anxiety, which is an issue for so many of us, particularly at this time of the year. It sounds perverse, but this can be the best time of the year to get out walking, as the worse the weather is, the better it feels. It’s really empowering – as long as you’ve got the right clothes of course! Walking is a type of exercise which you can build up slowly – no matter your ability and it really is a cure for the January blues. Why not give yourself a goal and sign up for a walking challenge like The MoonWalk. Often having something to aim for can boost motivation and drive you to keep going!”
Lucie Joels has secondary breast cancer and completed The MoonWalk with a group of friends. She says that walking is incredibly important for her mental health: “For me, living with cancer, getting out of the house and walking is grounding. It’s an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.
“I’m in the fifth cycle of my latest round of chemotherapy, but when I am able, just walking the dog, watching the sunrise and seeing the clouds move across the sky is amazing. Yesterday I manage 4,000 steps and I was very happy with that – I feel like I’m winning!
“Being outside I am just a tiny part in a huge world whilst when I’m indoors I’m a big part of my small world and occasionally that can be overwhelming. I strongly believe that there is always something good in every day, no matter how small it seems. Sometimes it would be easy to get stuck in the gloom and have a pity-party, but I try not to stay there long enough to put the bunting up!”
The MoonWalk Scotland is an iconic night-time fundraising event, which sees women and men wearing brightly decorated bras as they walk 10K, 13.1 miles, 26.2 mile or 52.4 miles through the streets of Edinburgh at Midnight.
Walk the Walk makes grants to fund both research into breast cancer and to help improve the lives of those living with cancer now.
The MoonWalk Scotland 2020 takes places on Saturday 6th June.
Sign up at www.walkthewalk.org
New legislation ensuring that any child witness in the most serious criminal cases will have their evidence pre-recorded comes into force today (20 January 2020). Continue reading Support for children as Vulnerable Witnesses Act comes into force
A RISE in the number of homes in the market in Edinburgh and the Lothians has given fresh hope for those looking to get onto the property ladder. Continue reading Opportunities Out There for First-Time Buyers
Interested in a job in Childcare? The Childcare Academy could be for you: 
THE CHILDCARE ACADEMY IS AN EMPLOYABILITY FUND STAGE 3 PROGRAMME WHICH WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO:
Our next Childcare Academy starts on MONDAY 2nd March 2020
Why not come along to our Childcare Academy information session? This will last approx. 1 hour and will give you the opportunity to find out what is involved in our Academy programme, ask any questions and take away an application pack.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Audrey O’Neill (our Communications & Compliance Officer) on 0131 311 6931 or e-mail audrey.oneill@northedinburghchildcare.co.uk
Follow us on Twitter @NEChildcare
Like our Training Services on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Edinburgh-Childcare-Training-Services/664092880377307
Edinburgh residents who don’t currently use the Council’s paid-for garden waste collection service have an opportunity to subscribe from tomorrow. Continue reading Last chance to sign up for Garden Waste collections
Trainee teachers and students in Africa will receive 1,000 used Scottish Government computers thanks to a partnership with the Turing Trust charity. Continue reading 1,000 computers for Africa
Experience stargazing on Scotland’s biggest rooftop garden, at the end of this month, for an out of this world event for all the family.
This event will take place on the evenings of the 31st January, 1st & 2nd of February commencing at New Lanark’s Mill 3 Exhibition Gallery with a family friendly astronomy talk that will open your eyes to the starscape above and give you an insight to the evening ahead.
Following the talk you can take part in cosmic craft activities, including a chance to create your own telescope with real lenses. The event will then move up to our rooftop garden where telescopes will be provided for observing the skies and stars*.
Join in the games, quizzes and enjoy New Lanark’s pop-up café selling tea, coffee, cakes and child friendly snacks. The Mill Café will be open late selling early dinner to heat you up before the event commences.
Stargazing at New Lanark takes place on Friday 31st January, 1st & 2nd February 2020. Time Slots Available are: 6.30pm, 7pm and 7.30pm.
PRICES Adult/Child £7.00 (under 3yrs free) Family of 3 £16.00 Family of 4 £21.00 Family of 5 £28.00 Family tickets must include 1 adult
Sessions will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please arrive 10 minutes before your session starts. Each session last approximately 2hrs.
*Groups of 10 per telescope.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own telescopes.
The sky clarity is weather dependant. Children must be supervised at all times.
Booking essential!
To book call 01555 661345 or online at www.newlanark.org
For more information about Stargazing at New Lanark World Heritage Site click here.
MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee are seeking views from the public, media organisations and publishers, internet firms and other experts on proposed changes to the law on defamation. Continue reading MSPs seek views on defamation reform proposals
Edinburgh College has signed a new partnership agreement with The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust aimed at enhancing students’ learning opportunities and further promoting Prestonpans Battlefield as a cultural heritage asset.
The three-year partnership, initiated as part of the 275th anniversary of the Battle of Prestonpans, will see the College’s Computing students taking on a project to create an engaging and interactive website for the The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust.
The students will use their skills to develop a site which takes visitors through the story of the iconic battle (the first significant engagement of the Jacobite rising of 1745) and which provides a new digital presence for the battlefield and its heritage online.
Students will also advise the Trust on how it can use social media and mobile applications to improve the experience of visitors interested in exploring more about the famous battle. The College will engage local high school pupils in the project to transfer knowledge and further expand the reach of the work.
The project aims to develop further opportunities for students from across the College’s other curriculum areas by using the battle and project as a theme for work, including students from Broadcast Media courses filming and documenting the project throughout.
As part of the partnership, The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust will provide a monetary donation to the College to help fund the project.
The agreement was signed by The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust Co-Chair Gordon Prestoungrange and Edinburgh College Vice Principal Michael Jeffrey at the College’s Milton Road Campus.
Michael Jeffrey said: “This partnership will bring great opportunities for our students to work on a live project, enabling them to hone their skills and develop an increased presence and improved user experience for The Battle of Prestonpans (1745) Heritage Trust.
“We look forward to developing the partnership further over the next three years to utilise the talents of our students and help to continue to tell the story of such a pivotal event in Scotland’s history.”
Gordon Prestoungrange said: “The Battle of Prestonpans was about a young leader overcoming great obstacles to succeed. Therefore, we are delighted to work with Edinburgh College to encourage and support their students who shall become our future leaders.”
