Outsmart Winter Blues with the Comfort of Houseplants

It has been revealed that in the UK, people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. This is particularly significant during January, when shorter days and gloomy weather can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Spending so much time inside can take a toll on mental health, but there are ways to counteract these effects. According to research, spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing (nature.com) – and there’s no need to feel excluded if you’re indoors a lot, as simply looking at greenery within the home can provide similar benefits.

Research has linked houseplants to reduced stress, lower blood pressure and an improved state of mind. In light of this, the house plant experts, Beards & Daisies have provided expert advice on the benefits of indoor plants:

The Benefits of Plants

They’re purifying

You might not think of pollution as a problem in your home, but toxins at home are caused by factors like home heating and chemicals in household products. 

Jo, founder of Beards & Daisies and author of the houseplant guide ‘The Unkillables’, notes that “common household toxins include formaldehyde, ammonia, and carbon monoxide.

Fortunately, houseplants can remove these toxins, increase oxygen levels, and reduce airborne dust for healthier air”. Some of these plants include The Kentia Palm (our favourite) or the Peace Lily.

They boost your mood

The presence of plants can enhance the visual appeal of a space, making it more inviting and comforting. This can create a more positive environment, contributing to feelings of happiness and relaxation. Research has shown that interacting with plants can lower blood pressure, reduce feelings of anxiety, and increase feelings of calmness and satisfaction.

They’re calming

Benefits of plants include lower blood pressure, heart rate and a reduction of that dreaded stress hormone, cortisol. Caring for plants is a calming process too which requires attention and patience, which can encourage mindfulness.

The act of watering, pruning, and nurturing plants can be meditative, helping to slow down the mind and reduce anxiety.

They make you more productive

Beat procrastination with a plant!

Adding colour and greenery to your desk space can increase your productivity and creativity by serving you with a source of inspiration. This is because plants are proven to enhance focus. Impressive studies have shown that attentiveness is increased by 70% when houseplants are present in a room.

They boost your immune system

Jo reveals that plants contribute to a stronger immune system in several ways:

“By improving air quality, they reduce respiratory issues and help maintain overall health. Many plants release antimicrobial compounds that can support immune function. Additionally, their ability to lower stress levels indirectly strengthens immunity.”

For those that bear edible fruits or vegetables, they also provide nutrient-rich foods that further boost your immune system.

They promote healing

Studies have shown that houseplants can aid in the recovery of sick individuals. Research from Kansas State University suggests that plants serve as a “non-invasive, inexpensive, and effective complementary medicine for surgical patients.” The findings revealed that when patients recovering from surgery have plants in view, they experience less anxiety and fatigue compared to those in rooms without plants.

“What does a Trump presidency mean for Europe?”

Expert on US and EU affairs Lord Kerr of Kinlochard in online conversation with Alyn Smith

“What does a Trump presidency mean for Europe?”

Thursday 16th January 7pm

President-elect Donald Trump will become the 47th leader of the United States on 20th January. He has already sent shock waves across the world with his proposals to bring Greenland and Panama under US control. Mr Trump is reshaping the world. How will his second term in the White House affect Europe?

Lord John Kerr is one of the UK’s most experienced and skilled analysts of the political workings of the USA and the EU.

He will join former MEP and MP Alyn Smith for an online conversation to look at what the near future might hold for Europe. The event, which is part of a European Movement in Scotland webinar series, is on Thursday 16th January at 7pm.  

The Trump presidency is likely to have a broad impact on Europe and EU policies, including trade relations with the US, competition policy, product standards and consumer protections, climate change strategies, energy security and the regulation of internet and social media companies.

To register and book free tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-does-a-trump-presidency-mean-for-europe-tickets-1113603109879

Lord Kerr, who was born in Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire, and schooled in Glasgow, has held the highest offices in the British foreign service.

He brings unparalleled insight into transatlantic relations and the complexities of European and US diplomacy. He served as British ambassador to the US while Tony Blair was prime minister. During John Major’s premiership he was the UK’s ambassador to the EU.

As Sir John Kerr he rose to become head of the Foreign Office and of the head of the Diplomatic Service. On retiring from the UK government, he was a member of the European Convention, which first drafted what became Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which describes the process to be followed by a country leaving the EU.

He was elevated to the peerage in 20024, taking the title Lord Kerr of Kinlochard. He served on House of Lords committees on European affairs. Lord Kerr was a vocal critic of the Conservative Party’s Brexit strategies and negotiating stances.

Burns Night Community Ceilidh: Tickets go on sale tomorrow

Coming soon! Our 11th Annual Burns Night Community Ceilidh!

Saturday 25th January 5-8.30 at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

Tickets on sale from tomorrow – Monday 13th January.

With Pilton Community Health Project 

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre 

Tinderbox Collective and many more..

The Big House Multibank launches campaign to support child hygiene

  • Amazon supports with the launch of You Buy. We Donate which will donate thousands of hygiene products to local families in need
  • The Big House Multibank is a charity initiative formed by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Amazon, which has donated essential items to over 120,000 families in need acrossScotland

The Big House Multibank in Fife is calling on local residents to support its drive to combat hygiene poverty in the region and help to ensure children can return to school this week feeling comfortable in their own skin.

To kick-start the campaign, Amazon has joined forces with its suppliers of well-known household brands including Unilever, L’Oréal, and Colgate-Palmolive to deliver thousands of hygiene products to families in need acrossFife via The Multibank charity.

From today until 28 January, for every two purchases on Amazon.co.uk from a selection of over 800 personal hygiene, household and baby products, Amazon and its suppliers will donate a third item to the network of Multibanks across the UK, including The Big House Multibank, Fife.

According to a recent survey for The Hygiene Bank, teachers are spending £40 million out of their own pockets to combat the effects hygiene poverty in the classroom as 1 in 4 children (28%) are reported to be regularly missing school because they or their clothes or kit are not clean.

Former UK Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown, said: “I’m delighted Amazon, whose surplus stocks are already a mainstay of Multibank goods, are launching a multi-business collaboration amongst hygiene companies to increase the amount of hygiene goods supplied to our Multibanks. I thank all the companies involved.

“We know The Multibanks are making a real difference keeping hard-pressed families facing the future with some hope of better days ahead. We must now keep innovating how we do charitable work in our communities because too many children need the help right now and teachers tell us that keeping kids clean and smelling fresh is for them a priority issue.”

Kirsty Thomson, CEO of The Big House Multibank, said: “Rising living costs are forcing people into impossible situations where they’re having to choose between feeding their families, and keeping them clean.

“Family finances are under even more pressure during the winter months so we are grateful to Amazon and its suppliers for their commitment to unlock more hygiene products which will provide life-changing support to the most vulnerable in our communities.”

John Boumphrey, Amazon UK Country Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to have supported the foundation and growth of The Big HouseMultibank.

“We want to support their drive to combat hygiene poverty across the region helping as many families in need as possible. By working together with our suppliers and our customers, we hope to generate hundreds of thousands more donations.”

Chris Barron, General Manager for Personal Care UK&I at Unilever, said: “The support that The Multibank provides is so important, helping households that are facing hygiene poverty to access the daily products that help people to feel clean and confident.

“We know that together we can do more, so we’re really pleased to be partnering with Amazon with a shared commitment to get more products to the charities and people that need them most.”

Brands participating in You Buy. We Donateare Amazon brands by Amazon, and Mama Bear, as well as, Dove, Elvive, Colgate, Garnier, L’Oréal Paris, Lynx, Men Expert, Nivea, Palmolive, Radox, Revitalift, Sanex, SheaMoisture, Simple, Sure, Tommee, Tippee TRESemme, and Vaseline.

Transport logistics specialists, Palletline is providing logistics support for the campaign free of charge, handling the storage and onward distribution of all donations to The Multibank’s network of regional hubs.

Together with Mr Brown, Amazon formed the UK’s first Multibank in Scotland three years ago to redistribute surplus stock from its largest returns centre in Fife to local families in need.

A second Multibank in Wigan opened in 2023, followed by Swansea, London and Middlesbrough in 2024.

Working together with local charity partners and a network of suppliers, The Multibank movement has donated more than 5 million surplus essentials to help more than 500,000 families experiencing poverty.

Chancellor marks £600m of secure growth for UK economy in Beijing

  • Lifting of market access barriers across areas such as agri-food, helping British business compete on level-playing field and grow exports.
  • Pragmatic cooperation results in agreements worth £600 million to the UK economy over the next five years and sets course to deliver up to £1 billion.
  • The UK continues to challenge China on areas of disagreement, with the Chancellor raising concerns over China’s support for Russia’s illegal war, domestic interference and sanctions against British parliamentarians.

Working people and businesses across the UK will feel the benefits of agreements worth £600 million to the British economy, as agreed in the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD).

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was hosted by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing today, in support of a stable and balanced UK-China relationship. Both sides agreed to deeper cooperation across areas such as financial services, trade, investment, and the climate to support secure growth, while being frank and open on areas of disagreement.

Overall, this government’s reengagement with China sets us on course to deliver up to £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “The agreements we’ve reached show that pragmatic cooperation between the world’s largest economies can help us boost economic growth for the benefit of working people – a priority of our Plan for Change.

“More widely, today is a platform for respectful and consistent future relations with China. One where we can be frank and open on areas where we disagree, protecting our values and security interests, and finding opportunities for safe trade and investment.

Britain is a leading financial services partner for China. A range of financial services companies with a substantial presence in the market – HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, Schroders, abdrn, Fidelity International and London Stock Exchange Group – accompanied the Chancellor as a business delegation on the trip. The granting of new licences and quota allocations for UK firms such as HSBC, Schroders, abrdn and Aspect Capital to enhance their business in China will further strengthen these ties.

Alongside this are initiatives to improve capital market connectivity – including a commitment to further enhance the UK-China Stock Connect and welcoming the launch of UK-China over-the-counter bond business – as well as initiatives on pensions, countering illicit finance and sustainable finance cooperation.

As part of this, China announced plans to issue an inaugural overseas sovereign green bond – to be used to finance environmentally sustainable projects – in London during 2025. The UK and China will also explore a Wealth Connect programme in recognition of the role asset management has to play in supporting growth. The agreements today in financial services will provide significant value to the UK economy over the next five years.

Both sides have committed to improving existing channels to discuss more sensitive issues, including the need to speak candidly about national and economic security. In her engagement, the Chancellor made clear UK concerns about imbalances in the Chinese economy, and both sides agreed to discuss industrial policy in support of a global level playing field.

The UK and China have agreed to further cooperation including through strengthening the existing UK-China clean energy partnership and committing to a dialogue on international development – to work together in tackling shared global challenges.

The lifting of barriers that restricted export to China across a range of goods and services will support UK exports and innovation, particularly in the agri-food sector where a package headlined by pork, wool, poultry, and pet food stands to boost UK trade with China and support new jobs. China has also agreed to continue to liberalise sectors that restrict foreign investment, such as education and culture, and support a level playing field and fair competition.

The EFD is also part of a wider programme making substantive progress in improving arrangements for UK exports and investors.  This is reflected in new agreements on vaccine approvals, fertilizer, whisky labelling, legal services, automotives and accountancy which set course for the EFD to unlock £1 billion of value for the UK economy.

In her meetings with Chinese government counterparts yesterday the Chancellor was clear on the importance of open channels on areas where we disagree. She urged China to cease its support for Russia’s defence industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war against Ukraine.

In recognition that upholding national security is this government’s first duty, the Chancellor raised this government’s deep concerns over cases involving interference in our democracy and malicious cyber activity emanating from China. Reeves also raised the case of British National Jimmy Lai and raised UK concerns around the respect of protected rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.

She raised human rights, including in Xinjiang, and forced labour. The Chancellor made clear that China’s sanctions against Parliamentarians are completely unwarranted and unacceptable.

Looking ahead, regular dialogues and technical exchanges to progress pragmatic cooperation have been established. This includes further engagement at Ministerial and official level on trade, science and tech, intellectual property, customs, sports and creative industries.

A full list of outcomes from the 2025 UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue can be found here.

Scotland’s Salute: Tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for Scotland’s National event to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe:

Scotland’s Salute – A Tribute to VE-Day 80th Anniversary Concert

Organised by Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, this exciting May event follows on from last June’s hugely successful Scotland Salutes: D-Day 80 concert.

Tickets can be purchased directly from the Usher Hall Website on:

 https://www.usherhall.co.uk/…/scotlands-salute-tribute…… 

Breathing Spce at PCHP

🧘‍♀️BREATHING SPACE

🧘‍♀️9.30AM tomorrow (MONDAY)

🧘‍♀️PILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT

Welcome in the New Year with a fresh breath! Join Jules on Monday morning for Breathing Space; a 30 minute deeply relaxing class that honours the #Seasons and helps you cultivate DEEP REST.

Winter is not the time for strenuous exercise or diets, give your body and mind what it wants… R E S T.

Learn to be in tune with #Nature and enjoy the stillness, the quiet, giving yourself permission to be present for each and every breath.

Women Only. Comfortable clothing, just bring yourself and breathe with me.

Due to the nature of this class, late arrivals will not be able to attend.

#MomentofCalm

#NewYearSameMe

#Breath

#NervousSystem

#FiveWaysToWellbeing

PYCP: We’re Back!

❗ WE’RE BACK! ❗

We’re so excited to welcome everyone back to our groups next week!

All our groups are back from Monday 13th of January – remember if you are new to us or have not completed a consent form since before September 2024 then you need to collect one to come along!

Also please pay attention to the age of the groups as some of them have changed! Any questions, give us a call or pop by and we are happy to help

🤩

Jet2holidays and Jet2CityBreaks are recognised as Which? Recommended Providers once again

  • UK’s largest tour operator receives good news to start 2025, after receiving prestigious status in five categories – Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers, Family Holiday Providers, Tailor-Made Holiday Providers and City Breaks Providers
  • Jet2’s brands named Which? Recommended Provider in seven categories in total!

Jet2holidays is starting this year on a high, having been named a Which? Recommended Provider in an unprecedented five categories.

The UK’s largest tour operator has once again been praised for its customer first approach and received the prestigious status in the Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers and Family Holiday Providers categories, as well as in a brand-new category for Jet2holidays – Tailor-Made Holiday Providers. Jet2CityBreaks is also recognised as a City Breaks Provider once again.

For the first time, Jet2holidays has received recognition in the consumer champion’s Tailor-Made Holiday Providers category which involved surveying almost 13,000 Which? Connect panel members who had discussed their holiday requirements with a travel advisor and had their specific holiday needs catered to or had been provided with recommendations on destinations or hotels. After being highly praised for its customer service and value for money of their holiday overall, Jet2holidays was awarded a customer score of 81%.

Adding to its success, Jet2holidays also received Which? Recommended Provider status in the Beach and Resort Holiday Providers category for the seventh year running. This accomplishment comes after respondents to the survey rated their beach and resort package holidays based on their customer service, accommodation, description matches reality, organisation, transport to and from destination and value for money, seeing Jet2holidays score an impressive 82%. Assessing Jet2holidays, Which? concludes ‘For a short-haul European beach break, Jet2holidays’ quality and wide number of destinations make it unbeatable.’

There was cause for even further celebration, as the company has also been named as a Which? Recommended Provider in the Family Holiday Providers and Solo Holiday Providers categories for the third year running. This recognition was achieved after customers rated the package holiday specialist highly in both categories, with Jet2holidays receiving a total score of 78% in the ‘Solo Holiday Providers’ category and 80% in the ‘Family Holiday Providers’ category.

Jet2CityBreaks has also been named a Which? Recommended Provider for City Breaks for the fourth consecutive year, after receiving a customer score of 80%.

In addition to these latest successes, Jet2.com is also a Which? Recommended Provider for Airlines and Jet2Villas is a Which? Recommended Provider for Villas and Holiday Lets Abroad. It means that Jet2’s brands are recognised as a Which? Recommended Provider in seven categories in total. These are: Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Tailor-Made Holiday Providers, Family Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers, City Breaks (Jet2CityBreaks), Villas and Holiday Lets Abroad (Jet2Villas) and Airlines (Jet2.com).

In further recognition for providing customers with industry-leading products and customer service on their well-deserved holidays, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays also secured the title of Travel Brand of the Year for the third year running at the prestigious Which? Awards 2024.

To help holidaymakers secure their well-deserved holiday for even less this year, Jet2holidays has launched a promotion giving customers £90 per person off all holidays that depart between now and 15th November 2026.

The tour operatorhas also announced that customers with a myJet2 account can access an even bigger saving – with a whopping £100 off per person on all holidays. To take advantage of this saving, customers can sign up quickly and easily for a myJet2 account at https://www.jet2holidays.com/myjet2

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This is fantastic news to start the new year. We are extremely proud to receive Which? Recommended Provider status once again and to be repeatedly recognised for our commitment to delivering outstanding customer service.

“This in-depth study carried out by the consumer champion, which is based on the experiences of paying customers, demonstrates who holidaymakers and independent travel agents can trust and look to when booking their next holiday, as we enter the peak booking season.

“With no fewer than seven Which? Recommended Provider accolades, this recognition reflects the hard work we put into delivering our industry-leading customer service.

“Whatever type of getaway a customer is after, they can be assured that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will go above and beyond to deliver their much-deserved holiday. We are looking forward to even more successes in 2025.”

To view the findings of the survey, please follow the links below:

Best & Worst Tailor-Made Holiday Providers: Best tailor made holiday providers – Which?

Best & Worst Beach and Resort Holiday Providers: Best Package Holiday Providers – Which?

Best & Worst City Break Providers: Best And Worst City Break Providers – Which?

Best & Worst Family Holiday Providers: Best family holiday providers – Which?

Best & Worst Solo Holiday Providers: Best and worst solo holiday providers – Which?

Rail Sale offers up to half price discounts on over 2 million tickets

  • Rail sale returns with more discounted tickets than ever before
  • Offers on thousands of popular routes across UK to encourage more people to travel by train
  • Comes as Government continues biggest overhaul of the railways in a generation putting passengers at the heart of services
  • Next week, passengers will be able to get their hands on millions of train tickets at half the price as part of the Government’s annual rail sale.

From 14 to 20 January selected advance and off-peak fares will go on sale at up to 50% off for travel between 17 January and 31 March.

As part of this year’s Rail Sale, thousands of popular routes across almost all UK train operators, including Transport for Wales and ScotRail, will be offering discounted tickets with journeys spreading the length and breadth of Great Britain.

Passengers in Liverpool could visit London for as little as £7, a journey from Preston to Edinburgh could be as cheap as £8.40, and a ticket from Nottingham to Manchester could cost less than a tenner.

These offers won’t last long, and there are only a limited number of tickets, so passengers are being encouraged to snap up these deals quickly if they want to save more on their train fares.

Following the success of last year’s sale, which saved passengers around £5.8m in total, the Government tasked the rail industry to deliver an even bigger sale to offer cheaper tickets for passengers and encourage more people to travel by train.

Whether it is connecting with family, friends and loved ones or getting out to explore more of Great Britain, passengers can find thousands of journeys at up to half price.

The railways play a vital role in connecting people and businesses across the UK, providing opportunities through essential links to jobs and education. Getting more people moving on our rail network is a key part of the government’s mission to build strong foundations through fuelling economic growth.

The sale delivers on the government’s commitment to put passengers at the heart of rail services and to raise living standards as part of the Plan for Change so working people have more money in their pockets.

Secretary of State Heidi Alexander said: “I’m launching the biggest ever rail sale so more passengers can get big discounts on train tickets to visit destinations across the country.

“Whether you’re planning a getaway or wanting to visit friends or family, this sale offers huge reductions on all sorts of journeys.

“Make the most of this sale, get your tickets while you can!”

This year’s Rail Sale returns after more than 600,000 tickets were sold in last year’s sale, worth £5.1m in ticket sales for the industry, and resulting in an extra 440,000 journeys taken by train.

This comes on the 200th anniversary of the first steam powered passenger train with celebrations expected throughout the year as part of Railway 200. This will honour Britain’s heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway and recognise the role rail continues to play in forming critical infrastructure and boosting local economies throughout the country.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group, said: “This year, as we celebrate 200 years of railways in the UK, we’re reminded that rail travel is about much more than simply getting from A to B – it’s about bringing people, communities, and opportunities together. Over two centuries, rail has become a vital part of the UK, shaping the economy and lives of millions.

“The year’s rail sale will offer over 2 million discounted advance fares starting on 14 January 2025 which is a great way to save on your travel and celebrate 200 years of railway connections.”

Rail remains one of the quickest and greenest ways to travel, with the Government committed to getting more people onto the railways, cutting carbon emissions, and freeing up vital space on our roads for emergency services and freight.

To encourage more people onto the railways the Government is undertaking the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation through the creation of Great British Railways, which will bring track and train together under one directing mind with a relentless focus on improving services for passengers and customers.

As part of this the Public Ownership Bill recently became legislation, delivering on a manifesto commitment and allowing the Government to get on with improving services by clamping down on unacceptable levels of delays, cancellations and waste under decades of failing franchise contracts.

It will save up to £150 million a year in fees alone by ensuring every penny is spent on services rather than private shareholders, all while coming at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Journey Sale price Full price 
St Pancras to Whitstable £7.20 £11.30 
Ashford to Ramsgate £2.60 £5.20 
Leeds to Manchester Airport£5.90£11.90
Newcastle to Carlisle£6.00£12.00
Liverpool to London Euston£7.00£14.00
Nottingham to Manchester£9.20£18.50
Leeds to Sheffield£3.60£7.20
London to Edinburgh£26.15£62.50
Aberdeen to Edinburgh*£14.50£29.00
Glasgow to Inverness*£14.10£28.10
Preston to Edinburgh£8.40£16.80
London to Newcastle£23.60£52.10

*ScotRail journeys