Outdoor learning trailblazer Juliet Robertson awarded honorary degree by Queen Margaret University

Juliet Robertson, one of Scotland’s leading educators specialising in outdoor learning and play, has been awarded an honorary degree by Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh in a special ceremony at the University’s new outdoor learning hub.

Juliet, who is known throughout the education profession as a trailblazer for outdoor learning and play for children and young people, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education in recognition of her significant contribution to learning.  

The recently opened Outdoor Learning Hub and Discovery Trail, at which the honorary award was conferred in a special ceremony, is located in the grounds of the University. An oration celebrating Juliet’s achievements, along with a video recorded response from her, was delivered at one of QMU’s graduation ceremonies held in the Usher Hall on 2nd July, and so heard by hundreds of new graduates, including future teachers. 

Juliet’s passion for nature has been lifelong. Throughout her career, she has worked to ensure that all children, and the adults who work with them, have positive and enjoyable outdoor experiences, regardless of their location. Her work enables schools, play organisations, and early years settings to offer quality outdoor learning and play opportunities – which have now become an essential part of the Scottish education curriculum.  

As a primary school teacher, Juliet consistently integrated outdoor activities into her teaching, taking children on weekly visits to local woods and spearheading school grounds development projects. Her leadership as head teacher from 1998 to 2007 saw her managing three different schools, significantly influencing the educational experiences of hundreds of young people. 

In 2007, Juliet founded Creative Star, an independent company dedicated to providing training for educators and diverse outdoor learning opportunities for children across Scotland and beyond. Her influential books, ‘Dirty Teaching’ and ‘Messy Maths,’ have become essential resources for educators, and are core texts in undergraduate courses at QMU. 

Juliet’s pioneering efforts include the development of the Forest Kindergarten qualification, a benchmark in outdoor learning provision for Early Years in Scotland.

Her expertise has significantly shaped national outdoor education initiatives, including advising government officials and ministers to promote outdoor learning, even in urban environments. Notably, she played a pivotal role in the creation of the ‘Loose Parts Play’ toolkit, a cornerstone of good practice in outdoor education.   

Her influence extends beyond Scotland and the UK, having worked in Canada, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Australia and Hong Kong. In 2004, she won a Developing Effective International Education research award for her report into Sustainable Development Education in the Czech Republic.

And in 2008, she was the recipient of a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to study technologies outdoors. Juliet provided the initial training for the first outdoor nurseries in Lithuania, and worked with universities and schools in Spain and Belgium.  

Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, said: “Throughout her distinguished career, Juliet Robertson has demonstrated an unwavering passion for nature and education. Her inspirational vision and ideas have significantly impacted the higher education sector, with the concept of outdoor learning expected to continue growing in significance.  

“Throughout Scotland, wherever there are educators working in nature with children, the principles and methodologies championed by Juliet Robertson are being implemented, leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit future generations.” 

Sir Paul concluded: “We were delighted to recognise Juliet’s accomplishments with an honorary degree, while also enjoying the outdoors and showcasing our newly opened Outdoor Learning Hub, which is now part of our campus grounds – essentially the Hub is a physical manifestation of QMU’s commitment to the important concept of outdoor learning.

“As a facility for all, it will support activity, wellbeing, and teaching locally, as well as upskilling teachers across the UK in outdoor learning. Juliet’s work has been an important influence on QMU’s drive to incorporate outdoor learning, not only in our teacher education courses, but across our wider course portfolio, so even more people can benefit from learning in nature.” 

National Galleries of Scotland celebrates acquisition of rare work by ‘Glasgow Girl’

National Galleries of Scotland is celebrating the acquisition of a painting by one of Scotland’s most accomplished female artists, Bessie MacNicol (1869–1904). The Lilac Sunbonnet, created in 1899, joins the national collection and is free to visit in the new Scottish galleries at the National. 

This bright, sunny painting acquired for the people of Scotland is incredibly rare. Many of MacNicol’s works were dispersed or lost following her tragic death in the late stages of pregnancy, aged just 34. In recent years there has been strong competition to acquire the precious few artworks by this talented artist which remain in private collections, making this an exciting addition to the national collection.  

National Galleries of Scotland is determined to celebrate such pioneering female Scottish artists and in recent years has made a concerted effort to acquire more of their works.

In the lead up to the opening of the new Scottish galleries in September 2023, a significant number of watercolours, drawings and prints by Scottish female artists active before 1945 were added to the collection.

They include important groups of works by Phoebe Anna Traquair and Mabel Royds, and single artworks by Ethel Gabain and Alice Boyd. Pre-20th-century oil paintings by female artists, such as MacNicol’s The Lilac Sunbonnet, are generally not widely represented in museum collections and don’t often come on to the market.

The challenges faced by women wishing to train, exhibit and make their living as artists, have meant that their work has often been overlooked and their histories poorly recorded. 

The Lilac Sunbonnet is a joyous painting of a farm girl in the countryside, dressed in light, summery fabrics. MacNicol successfully captures a feeling of spontaneity and playfulness. Her lilac-coloured sunbonnet, blonde hair and light-coloured clothing are skilfully illuminated by bright, dappled sunlight.

The Lilac Sunbonnet joins two very different works by MacNicol in the collection, a small oil painting, Portrait of a Lady (‘Phyllis in Town’) which is also on display at the new Scottish galleries and a fabulous watercolour, Three Ladies of Fashion, which probably depicts a milliner’s shop.  

MacNicol may have been inspired by the 1894 runaway bestseller, The Lilac Sunbonnet, by Scottish novelist Samuel Rutherford Crockett (1859–1914). Set in the Galloway countryside, the story tells of the romance between a prim divinity student called Ralph Peden and the golden-haired Winsome Charteris, granddaughter of a local farmer and owner of the lilac sunbonnet.

Crockett’s book was hugely popular in the 1890s and even inspired costumes at the fancy dress parties that were fashionable at this time. It must have captured the imagination of MacNicol, who loved costume and fashion – an interest she inherited from her grandfather, a skilled tailor. 

MacNicol studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1887 to 1893 under the groundbreaking directorship of Fra Newbery.

This is where she met fellow artists Margaret and Frances Macdonald, Jessie Keppie and Katharine Cameron, part of the fascinating and diverse group of women artists and designers that has become known as the Glasgow Girls.

In 1893 MacNicol exhibited at the Royal Academy in London before undertaking further studies at the Académie Colarossi in Paris. Contributing almost annually to the Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts exhibitions, she began to attract attention and also had her own studio, on St Vincent Street at the heart of Glasgow’s thriving art world, in the 1890s.

Her friend, the art critic Percy Bate wrote: ‘Art lovers at once saw that in Bessie MacNicol a new artistic force had arrived in Glasgow’. From 1896 MacNicol made several visits to the artistic town of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, where she became friends with Glasgow Boy EA Hornel. 

An established Glasgow-based artist, MacNicol exhibited internationally – in Ghent, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and St Louis – before her early death in 1904.

At the time of her funeral, the Glasgow Herald noted: ‘So brilliant was her work and of such promise that it is felt that her premature death has robbed Scotland of one who would have left a name worthy to rank with the best of her artist sons.’

In 1908 the new director of the National Galleries of Scotland, James Caw, considered MacNicol to be ‘probably the most accomplished lady-artist that Scotland has yet produced’. 

Dr Patricia Allerston, Deputy Director & Chief Curator of European & Scottish Art, National Galleries of Scotland said: “Bessie MacNicol’s light-filled painting ‘The Lilac Sunbonnet’ is like a dose of vitamin D on a dreich day.

“It instantly lifts the spirits!  We are absolutely delighted to add this lovely painting to our new Scottish galleries at the National.” 

Anne Lyden, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “The Lilac Sunbonnet by Bessie MacNicol is a fantastic addition to Scotland’s amazing national collection of art.

“It’s a beautiful painting by an incredibly talented Scottish artist, and we’re really happy that everyone will be able to enjoy it for free at the National.

“We’re proud to continue to increase representation of works by women across our galleries, and have been making a considerable effort to acquire works by a diverse range of artists.

“These important artworks mean we can not only look back on Scotland’s past and remember our history, but we can also look to the future and the generations that will be inspired by artists such as Bessie MacNicol.” 

Bessie MacNicol’s The Lilac Sunbonnet, 1899 was purchased with funds from the Cowan Smith, MacDougall and Treaty of Union Bequests, 2024. 

PYCP Open Day tomorrow

THURSDAY 4th JULY from 12 – 2.30pm at THE GREENHOUSE

Hi All,

Join us on our Community Open Day tomorrow – Thursday 4th July – with Places for People.

12 Midday to 2.30pm

We are inviting our local community to come along with your children for some fun, treats and special activities!

We won’t have PY Dinners on the day but we will have hot dogs and sweet treats instead.

If your child is under 8 you will need to accompany them.

PY Team.

#BecauseCommunityMatters

Eric Liddell Charity set to inspire new generations with Holyrood exhibition

THE INSPIRING EXHIBITION WILL CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF THE FLYING SCOTSMAN AND OLYMPIC HERO, ERIC LIDDELL

An inspiring exhibition commemorating the legendary athlete Eric Liddell will be unveiled at the Scottish Parliament this summer, marking the centenary of Liddell’s iconic Olympic gold medal victory in Paris in 1924.

Launching on the 25th of July and coinciding with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the exhibition, ‘Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic legend’, will be on display in the Parliament’s Main Hall and will run until the 12th of September.

Eric Liddell’s remarkable story reached global audiences through the 1981 Oscar-winning film, ‘Chariots of Fire’.

The film, celebrated for its inspiring narrative and memorable soundtrack, continues to influence and uplift people around the world. Born in Tianjin, China, Liddell was a devout Christian who famously withdrew from the 100m heats at the Paris Olympics because they were held on a Sunday, his Sabbath.

Instead, he competed in the 400m event, where he triumphed, securing his place in history as the last British athlete to win gold in this event.

This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the life and legacy of Eric Liddell – the Flying Scotsman and 1924 Olympic champion – alongside other legends from the Scottish Sporting Hall of Fame and Scottish athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics.

Organised by The Eric Liddell 100 campaign, which Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal serves as Patron, this initiative seeks to honour Liddell’s legacy and inspire future generations through a series of events and activities emphasizing his core values of passion, compassion, and integrity.

John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell Community, said: “We are thrilled to see the launch of the Eric Liddell exhibition today, as part of our exciting programme of events to celebrate the centenary of Eric Liddell’s gold medal win.

“All of our partners involved in this initiative spent a significant amount of time considering what Eric Liddell would have wanted and how important it is that we reflect him in our endeavours; we believe that any individual can make a positive impact on the world if they approach the challenges they face with passion, compassion, and integrity, which are our three values for The Eric Liddell 100.

“We hope everyone who visits the exhibition leaves feeling uplifted, inspired, and motivated to live life with these values in mind.”

Rt. Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, said: “We are delighted to host this exhibition in the Scottish Parliament, which celebrates the significant achievements of Eric Liddell but also serves as a powerful reminder of his legacy.

“It seems particularly relevant as Olympians from across the world prepare to compete in Paris. The Scottish Parliament is delighted to provide a platform for sharing his inspiring story with the thousands of people who will visit us this summer.”

The Eric Liddell Exhibition will be on display at the Scottish Parliament daily, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The display is free to the public, with no ticket required.

For more information on the event, please visit:

https://www.parliament.scot/visit/events-and-exhibitions/eric-liddell-legacy-of-an-olympic-legend, or for more information on The Eric Liddell 100, please visit https://ericliddell.org/the-eric-liddell-100/.

Roads closed as explosive device uncovered in Comely Bank

POLICE were made aware of a potential item of ordnance at Comely Bank Road in Edinburgh around 3.15pm yesterday (Tuesday, 2 July). Road closures were put in place as a precaution and people were urged to avoid the area while emergency services worked in the area.

Roads remained closed for around three hours while the item – described as ‘historic ordnance’ and thought to be a hand grenade – was examined, made safe and removed from the scene for disposal.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Party Manifestos “all but ignore” challenges facing older people in Election 2024

Ahead of releasing its own manifesto scrutiny document, Hourglass would like to see stronger safer ageing commitments from parties ahead of the 2024 General Election

A leading charity has voiced its disappointment at the level of commitment to support older victim-survivors of abuse, neglect and exploitation in party manifestos.  

Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity focused on older victims of abuse, has condemned the lack of innovation and understanding in the vast majority of UK party manifestos – with only the DUP mentioning the issue, and Sinn Fein and the Green Party (England and Wales) endorsing the OATH campaign (Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope).  

The charity, which deals with around 50k contacts relating to older victim-survivors, has produced its manifesto ahead of the election which calls for policies that would support safer ageing including a strategy to tackle abuse of older people, funding for specialist older people support and  measures that would raise public awareness of these issues.

The OATH campaign specifically calls for a Safer Ageing Society by 2050. 

Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO of Hourglass and Policy Director, explained: “Hourglass runs a 24/7 helpline and casework service and despite seeing a dramatic increase in case work since the pandemic, policy makers continue to ignore this policy imperative. It’s a scandal. 

“We are disappointed that parties have all but ignored policies which support safer ageing at this election. Though there are some broader commitments to fund services and to improve funding to the criminal justice system which are welcome, older people specific policies are required.

“We welcome the much-needed profile for the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy (VAWG) and we are, of course, entirely supportive of these commitments. However, with over 2.5 million people affected by the abuse of older people, a suite of policies focusing on this area are long overdue.

“Especially as there appears to be no end to the growth in casework. We strongly urge the new government to speak to us when elected and look at investing in this still hidden form of abuse.”

The Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has committed in their manifesto to “support tough measures to address all forms of elder abuse, including financial crime.”

The charity acknowledges that this is an important commitment, but Hourglass feels the public need more detail on how they plan to achieve this. And hope the other major political parties will join both Sinn Féin and the Green Party in formally endorsing Hourglass’s Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope (OATH) campaign.

Anyone can sign the OATH here: www.wearehourglass.org/take-oath 

Hourglass has also completed analysis of all major UK political parties’ manifestos assessing their commitments to supporting older people and abuse services. While most parties included strategies to tackle domestic abuse, this was usually through a Violence Against Women and Girls strategy rather than a specific strategy directed towards older victims. 

Hourglass will be releasing a full analysis of party manifestos, which looks at the key strengths and weaknesses of this from a safer ageing perspective. 

 The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460. 

The Green Party is the latest to endorse landmark Safer Ageing OATH

Hourglass, the safer ageing charity, is delighted that the Green Party support the OATH campaign to end abuse and neglect of older people.

The Green Party in England and Wales has become the latest political party to endorse OATH. The ‘Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope’ campaign, pledges to create a Safer Ageing Society and to end abuse and neglect of older people by 2050. It has seen upwards of 500 candidates and influencers sign in recent weeks.

The Greens join Sinn Féin who declared their support for the campaign, while the Democratic Union Party have made commitments to tackle abuse of older people in their manifesto.

OATH has been created by Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity supporting older abuse victim-survivors and runs a 24/7 helpline and casework service. The OATH campaign calls on everyone in all walks of life to fight against the abuse, harm, exploitation and neglect of older people

Along with two parties formally supporting this campaign, candidates from all major political parties have now signed up to this campaign. There is a growing consensus that we should all live in a society which is safe place to grow old independently and free from harm and abuse.

With two days left of the 2024 General Election Campaign, Hourglass urges all other political parties to endorse this campaign.

Hourglass has written to all Party Leaders contesting the General Election asking that their party sign up to OATH. Hourglass believes there should be a consensus on the need to end abuse of older people and that policy makers from across the political spectrum must work together to achieve this.

The charity, which supported almost 50,000 people in the last year, is also calling on the general public, influencers, third sector leaders, care professionals and businesses to also sign up. They can do so here: www.wearehourglass.org/take-oath

Carla Denyer Green Party co-leader, said: ”Ensuring the safety and dignity of our older population is paramount; they deserve to age in an environment free from abuse, exploitation and neglect.

“We must all commit to creating a society where everyone can grow old safely. This is why the Green Party is supporting OATH”

Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO of Hourglass, said: “We are delighted with the initial support we have received for our OATH campaign. We are especially pleased that the Green Party has joined Sinn Féin in signing up to this movement for a safer ageing society.

“OATH is about building a Safer Ageing Society by 2050 where older people can grow old free from abuse and neglect. We hope that in the next parliament we will see a consensus on safer ageing where critical steps are made by policy makers to support older victim survivors.”

Donna Mullin, Head of Sinn Féin VP Office, said: ”Sinn Féin want older people in our society to be supported and protected from violence, exploitation and other forms of abuse so we are supporting the Safe Ageing pledge.”

Hourglass is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting  www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

‘A voice to shape Scotland, a voice above all for the future’

‘THERE SHALL BE A SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’

YESTERDAY marked the 25th Anniversary of the Scottish Parliament, which took up it’s legal powers on 1st July 1999.

The Parliament was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Scotland’s First Minister Donald Dewar replied to the Queen’s address with a speech thanking her for the Mace, the parliament’s symbol of authority.

FIRST MINISTER DONAL DEWAR’s SPEECH IN FULL:

“Your Majesty, on behalf of the people of Scotland I thank you for the gift of the Mace.

It is a symbol of the great democratic traditions from which we draw our inspiration and our strength.

At its head are inscribed the opening words of our founding statute: “There shall be a Scottish Parliament”.

Through long years, many long years in the case of many of us, those words were first a hope, then a belief, then a promise. Now they are a reality.

This is indeed a moment anchored in our history. Today we can reach back to the long haul to win this parliament, to the struggles of those who brought democracy to Scotland, to that other parliament dissolved in controversy over 300 years ago.

Today we can look forward to the time when this moment will be seen as a turning point – the day when democracy was renewed in Scotland when we revitalised our place in this, our United Kingdom.

This is about more than our politics and our laws. This is about who we are, how we carry ourselves.

And in the quiet moments of today – if there are any – we might hear some echoes from the past: the shout of the welder in the din of the great Clyde shipyards, the speak of the Mearns rooted in the land, the discourse of the enlightenment when Edinburgh and Glasgow were indeed a light held to the intellectual life of Europe, the wild cry of the great pipes and back to the distant noise of battles in the days of Bruce and Wallace.

The past is part of us, part of every one of us and we respect it. But today there is a new voice in the land, the voice of a democratic parliament, a voice to shape Scotland, a voice above all for the future.

Walter Scott wrote that only a man with soul so dead could have no sense, no feel for his native land.

For me – and I think in this I speak at least for any Scot today – this is a proud moment, a new stage in a journey begun long ago and which has no end. This is a proud day for all of us.

A Scottish Parliament, not an end but a means to greater ends and these too are part of our Mace. Woven into the symbolic thistles are these four words – wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity.

Burns would have understood that. We’ve just heard beautifully sung one of his most enduring works, and at the heart of that song is a very Scottish conviction that honesty and simple dignity are priceless virtues not imparted by rank or birth or privilege but part of the soul.

Burns believed that sense of worth ultimately prevail, he believed that was the core of politics and that without it our profession is inevitably impoverished.

Wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity – timeless values, honourable aspirations for this new forum of democracy born on the cusp of a new century.

We are fallible – we all know that. We will make mistakes but I hope and I believe we will never lose sight of what brought us here – the striving to do right by the people of Scotland, to respect their priorities, to better their lot and to contribute to the common weal.

I look forward to the days ahead and I know there will be many of them. This chamber will sound with debate, argument and passion, when men and women from all over Scotland will meet to work together for a future built on the first principles of social justice.

But today we pause and reflect.

It is a rare privilege in an old nation to open a new parliament. Today is and must be a celebration of the principles, the traditions, the democratic imperatives which have brought us to this point and which will sustain us in the future.

Your Majesty, we are proud that you are here today to hansel this parliament and here with us as we dedicate ourselves to the work that lies ahead.

Your Majesty, our thanks.”

Get Help or Get Caught: tackling online child sexual abuse and exploitation

Reports of online child sexual abuse and exploitation in Scotland have increased by 21 per cent, according to new data from Police Scotland.

Between 1 April, 2023 and 31 March, 2024, 2,055 cyber-enabled sexual crimes against children were recorded, an increase of 364 on the previous year. Three offence types accounted for two thirds of this total:

  • Cause or coerce to see/hear sexual images/content
  • Communicating indecently with a child
  • Possession/distribution of indecent images of children.

The scale of online child sexual abuse and exploitation (OCSAE) was highlighted in a recent study by University of Edinburgh’s Childlight initiative. It estimated that 300 million children a year worldwide were victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation.

And the National Crime Agency estimates that 1.3% – 1.6% of adults in the UK pose varying degrees of risk to children.

The scale of the threat is a recognised national risk.

Police Scotland yesterday (1 July) launched its latest #GethelpOrGetCaught campaign to prevent OCSAE, targeting individuals who may already have offended or be at risk of offending.

It signposts them to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland’s Stop It Now service which offers advice and support to prevent offending.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sam Faulds, head of Public Protection for Police Scotland, which leads on child protection, said: “More of us live our lives online and that is particularly true for children and young people. Cyber-enabled crime is on the rise, and increasingly our investigations are focused online identifying offenders and bringing them to justice.

“During the school summer holidays, many more children will be at home and online.

“We want to reduce risk, to stop young people becoming victims of online child abuse and exploitation.

“Many of our key partners provide advice to young people and their parents about keeping safe online.

“Our role is to target offenders.

“Our prevention campaigns offer them a way to stop, a route out before they offend, before a child becomes their victim, before other lives are damaged.

“We want to prevent children becoming victims of online predators and we will use all means at our disposal to identify offenders.

“Think about it – it might not be a child you are grooming or speaking to online. It might be the police. Take your chance to Get Help or you will Get Caught.”

Stuart Allardyce, director of Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland, said: “We have worked with hundreds of individuals who have either been arrested for online offences against children or are concerned about their thoughts or behaviours towards children.

“Through our work, we understand how difficult it is to reach out for help. We also know that those who engage in these behaviours often need support with their mental health and compulsive behaviours, feeling trapped in a cycle of harmful actions.

“The reasons for viewing sexual images of children or online grooming are complex, and many individuals recognise that what they are doing is wrong. Seeking individualised, anonymous, and non-judgmental support is absolutely the right step to take. This can help individuals stop viewing illegal images or engaging in illegal conversations online.

“By making the right choice and getting the support you need, you can move on from offending or potential criminal behaviour and help protect and keep children safe.”

The Police Scotland campaign will run for six weeks across various social media platforms including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and Spotify.

Last month, 61-year-old Ian Heddle, was convicted of the serious sexual assault of a child and possession of indecent images of children. Heddle was arrested and charged in Scotland in connection with possessing indecent images of children.

Following enquiries, it was established he had also sexually assaulted a young girl in Thailand. He was subsequently arrested and charged for this offence. The arrest was made under legislation which protects children anywhere in the world from sexual abuse by British nationals.

Earlier this year, serial predator, Benjamin Young, 42, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and has been given an Order of Lifelong Restriction (OLR). Young created and shared images and videos of the sexual abuse of children.

He was identified and investigated by the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit working with international law enforcement partners.

The majority of perpetrators of online sexual abuse are male (90%). Most victims are female (54%).

Rani Govender, NSPCC Regulatory Policy Manager, said: “Online sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on children and young people. This abuse can be prevented, but tech firms have not done enough to build platforms which are safe by design for children.

“These figures demonstrate the increasing scale of the problem in Scotland. We need strong implementation of the Online Safety Act by Ofcom to protect children and young people. It is vital that platforms are held accountable for tackling all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

“Tech firms need to use best practice approaches to prevent, detect and disrupt abuse, including in private messaging.

“It is important that tech companies do not delay action any longer and that they make children and young people’s safety a priority.”