Three mental health charities will host a General Election hustings event in Edinburgh for a lively discussion on mental health policies with the five main Scottish political parties.
Change Mental Health, Penumbra Mental Health and Health in Mind have all joined forces to organise the hustings event, taking place at the Augustine United Church in Edinburgh on Tuesday 18th June.
Despite mental health being devolved to the Scottish Parliament, all three charities are emphasising that political parties must prioritise and improve mental health.
Nick Ward, CEO of Change Mental Health, said: “We are in the middle of a mental health crisis. Mental health services aren’t getting the funding they need and people aren’t getting the support that they need, when they need it most.
“It’s time for politicians to tell us what they are going to do about this. We need the mental health of our communities to be at the top of the agenda for this election and we need to make sure that the voices of people affected by mental health are heard so that we can build a future where no one faces mental illness alone.”
Mike Burns, Chief Executive of Penumbra Mental Health, said: ““Each of the main political parties will have a chance to outline how they will challenge the inequalities which impact our mental health.
“People in the audience will rightly be looking to candidates for a commitment to creating a society that supports good mental health for everyone.”
Wendy Bates, Chief Executive of Health in Mind, said: ““Over recent years, our mental health has been affected by events locally, nationally, across the UK and globally.
“People accessing our services tell us that they continue to feel the impacts of the Covid pandemic, conflict across the world, the cost of living crisis and the climate crisis. With over one in four of us now dealing with mental health issues, and support services stretched increasingly thin, we need mental health to be at the top of the agenda for our next government.
“Although health is a devolved matter in Scotland, decisions made in Westminster will have knock-on effects for us here.
“We are delighted to be hosting this hustings together with Change Mental Health and Penumbra Mental Health to open up this vital conversation ahead of next month’s election, hear more about candidates’ commitments, and create space for them to share how they plan to improve our nation’s mental health – which will impact us all both directly and indirectly.”
A recent survey from Change Mental Health’s sister charity, Rethink Mental Illness, found that 4 in 10 people say mental health will be important in shaping their decision on which party to vote for at the General Election on 4th July 2024.
The hustings event on mental health will be an opportunity for people to have their voice heard on improving and prioritising mental health and wellbeing across the country.
Representatives will be available from the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
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Leading the PYC segment, Phoebe championed the views of young people in the SEC nationwide around the need to protect women’s rights, the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, nuclear disarmament, and global equality, justice and peace.
Phoebe Pryce, Chair of the PYC, told members: “We are not a group which tends to bring motions or debates to General Synod, but we do have ideas and opinions on things that you as General Synod make decisions about.
“We are still here to share our experiences and tell our stories, but we are also here today to share our thoughts and our opinions on some of the topics you are discussing later in the agenda.
“We hope that through being here today, you can gather from us where our views lie on these issues, and that you will bear them in mind as you go forward in the next few days.”
Ms Pryce then told the story of Lucy, a 12-18 representative from the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, ahead of Motion 14 on nuclear weapons.
Her opinion echoes the views of youth representatives that nuclear weapons are “highly dangerous and immoral, having the capacity to kill millions if they were ever used, potentially without solving underlying issues”.
Ms Pryce said: “Lucy’s question to you is this: ‘Why is there such investment in the building and maintenance of unethical and illegal weapons when that same money could be invested in other projects and make a real and positive difference to people’s lives?’
“Lucy voices the views of the whole PYC in encouraging you to take a decisive stance against nuclear weapons: we believe it would show that, as a community, the SEC is against the use of these incredibly destructive and immoral weapons.
“Whilst passing such a motion may not have an immediate effect upon our country’s nuclear programme, we think it’s important to show that we do not agree with the production, storage, and potential use of nuclear weapons in the UK, and across the world.
“Please consider this decision as one of human decency, morality and ethics, which reflect the Christian values of peace, compassion, and universal love that we strive to live by.”
Causey Development Trust (CDT) will welcome those from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds for a professionally led cycle this morning (Saturday 15 June).
Starting off at the Canal Basin in Fountainbridge at 10.30am and swinging by The Causey in Edinburgh’s southside en route for refreshments, this event is part of the charity’s ongoing Active Travel campaign.
Featuring foraging and plant identification en route, the ride will be carried out in partnership with Woodland Wheels, an organisation committed to bringing cycling and nature connection to those who may not otherwise get to engage with it.
Sarah Drummond, Chair of the Causey Development Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with Woodland Wheels, who do such important work within sometimes marginalised communities here in Scotland, to deliver this event.
“Cycling isn’t something that is available to everyone, and we want to enable everyone to feel safe and secure in sustainable travel – or just enjoying being on a bike! – both across the city and further afield.”
Part of CDT’s ongoing Active Travel campaign, which supports those who might face barriers to cycling and other forms of active travel, the ride is free to participants thanks to Woodland Wheels’ funding from Scottish Forestry’s Engagement Programme, and helmets and bikes will be provided where needed. The cycle will be mainly off-road and suitable for inexperienced cyclists.
Anna Canning, ride leader and coordinator at Woodland Wheels said: “We are so excited to be working with The Causey to deliver this event, and hopefully more into the future!
“Cycling in a sociable group and spending time outside, in nature – especially in woodland – works wonders for mental health, alongside the physical health benefits, and we look forward to welcoming new faces this Saturday.”
Committed to transforming this soulless traffic island and traffic dominated street in The Southside, Edinburgh, into a place that prioritises pedestrians, active travel and the coming together of community, this is just one of a series of upcoming events to be hosted by Causey Development Trust throughout 2024.
Causey Development Trust hopes that capital works at The Causey will begin in 2025.
For more information on the plans, created by local Landscape Architects Ironside Farrar, and how the Causey Development Trust reached this point, visit: www.thecausey.org
Scotland is facing a huge public health crisis. In recent years, there has been a massive increase in non-healthcare professionals offering medical treatments, often using counterfeit medicines and operating from unlicensed premises.
In addition, two new threats have emerged as a result of new English regulation creating a “border hopping” phenomenon. Firstly, non-healthcare providers from England are travelling to Scotland to take advantage of the void in regulation.
And secondly, under 18s in England, where it is now illegal to have a procedure, are travelling to Scotland where it is still legal. The consequences of this public health crisis will be catastrophic if action is not taken immediately.
To that end, representatives from the Scottish Medical Aesthetics Safety Group (SMASG), British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM), and British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) met with a cross-party group of MSPs at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday to outline their concerns and call for change.
The meeting was a positive and proactive one, with those present expressing their agreement that urgent action is absolutely necessary.
Jenni Minto (SNP) Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health agreed that action was urgently required and that a decade had been lost since the government created the Scottish Cosmetic Intervention Expert Group to advise on regulation.
Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) expressed his concern that the lack of regulation was allowing criminal gangs to exploit the situation by selling unregulated and unsafe products that endangered the public.
Miles Briggs MSP (Con) voiced his worries that the lack of regulation would enable another blood borne disease scandal created by non-healthcare providers using unhygienic premises and sharing treatment consumables.
He stated: “The lack of regulation is deeply troubling and makes it easy for people to procure unsafe products from unlicensed sources and could be set to get worse in Scotland if it doesn’t follow the example of England, which is moving to correct some of these issues.”
Foysol Choudhury MSP (Lab) asked if there were accurate statistics showing the scale of the problem and was informed there were not, since non-healthcare professionals are not currently regulated and therefore this information was not held by Scottish or UK Governments.
Jenni Minto explained that codes to track NHS treatments for complications from such procedures did not exist – so statistics were unavailable, and the establishment of such codes was not a devolved matter. However, she agreed to engage with her UK counterparts after the general election to resolve the matter.
Finally, Katy Clark MSP (Lab) expressed her concern that further consultations and delays would result in regrettable public harm and that interim measures were urgently needed now.
Campaigners left the round-table event feeling hopeful, as Jenni Minto agreed to convene a cross-party group in September, after the Parliamentary recess, to fast track an effective solution.
Hamish Dobbie, organiser of the roundtable event said: “Scotland needs action now, even if that requires interim measures.
“I was delighted with Ms Minto’s suggestion for a cross-party group to get consensus and momentum behind new regulation. A quick win would be to bring Scottish Law into alignment with the rest of the UK and make it illegal to provide and target under 18s in aesthetic procedures.”
Campaigners are adamant that to avoid a major public health crisis, a comprehensive approach is required – including stricter regulations, improved public education, and enhanced enforcement of existing laws.
Both the UK and the Scottish Governments have had over a decade to formulate a strategy to combat the crisis which was identified in the 2013 Keogh Report.
Time is running out before unnecessary and wholly preventable loss of life occurs.
Over 1,000 people from across the UK have received honours in HM The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024, published today by the Cabinet Office.
Among the recipients is Pauline Bowie, founder of LIFT (Low Income Families Together) based at Muirhouse Millennium Centre. Pauline receives an MBE.
Pauline said: “I found out on the day of the Community Festival at West Pilton Park and the day went by in a bit of a daze. I was a wee bit overwhelmed and I was quiet for once!”
A LIFT team member posted on Facebook: ‘On behalf of all the LIFT staff would would like to say a massive congratulations and well done to Pauline! Who truly deserves this, she has put her heart and soul into this community, endlessly supporting families.
Thank you for being you Pauline – LIFT wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for you we are all so proud of you! Never stop being you.
Love, Your Team.
The focus of the Honours List is individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country – such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.
Many are active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers.
Alan Bates, founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, receives a Knighthood for services to justice. Tracey Emin receives an DBE for services to art, as does Imelda Staunton for services to drama and to charity.
The youngest recipient in the List is Shamza Butt, who is 20 years old and receives a BEM for her work as a Member of the National Citizens’ Service Trust Youth Voice Forum. Harold Jones is the oldest recipient, who at 100 years old receives a BEM for his fundraising for charities relating to Motor Neurone Disease and the community in Sutton Coldfield.
Innovators and change makers
Michael Palmer, Andrew Airey and Timothy Owen, who founded the 3 Dads Walking campaign after losing their young daughters to suicide, each receive an MBE for services to the prevention of young suicide. The three dads have walked all across the UK to raise awareness of suicide in young people and raise funds for charity Papyrus UK.
Eight people are recognised for their contributions to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Angus Heddle from the Orkney Islands receives an MBE for 73 years of voluntary service to the RNLI, and David Nicoll from Cornwall receives a BEM for his 43 years of service, having started volunteering at the age of 18.
Clodagh Dunlop from Northern Ireland receives an MBE for services to stroke survivors and the reform of stroke services. In 2015 Clodagh suffered from a brain stem stroke, leaving her with locked in syndrome. She has made an incredible recovery over recent years and has returned to work as a serving detective. She is a Stroke Association ambassador and has educated and inspired many stroke survivors in the UK and worldwide.
Patrick and Karen McCourt from Larne, County Antrim, both receive BEMs for services to foster care in Northern Ireland. Both over 70 years old, together they have fostered more than 331 children in the last 45 years.
Rebecca Redfern from Droitwich receives an MBE for her services to young people and to the community in Worcestershire. She was diagnosed aged 7 with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and at the age of 14 was discovered as a para swimmer by British Swimming. She has since won medals at the 2016 and 2021 Olympics as a GB paralympic swimmer and has visited hundreds of schools throughout Worcestershire speaking to children about overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
Deborah Pezzani from Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, receives a BEM for services to teenagers and young adults with cancer. In 2007, she set up Teens Unite to bring together young people aged 13-24 who are living with cancer. The charity hosts over 100 beneficiary activities and events annually, has almost 100 volunteers and has raised just over £1 million.
Sally Bourton receives a BEM for services to the community in Cornwall. She is the Postmistress for Trewoon and has been at the heart of her community for 24 years. She runs her Post Office alongside local fundraising activities and, during the pandemic, she was instrumental in rallying local volunteers who were willing to help the community. For the Coronation of HM King Charles, she organised for every child in the village to receive a mint coin with The King’s head on it.
Dean Jackson from Derbyshire receives an MBE for services to business and innovation through setting up his own wetsuit company, HUUB. This first came about in 2011 when Dean noticed a gap in the market after seeing little advancement in wetsuit design and performance. HUUB has since expanded its products into cycling gear as well, and is now worn by many of the world’s top athletes, including the Brownlee brothers.
Alison Baverstock from Kingston upon Thames receives an MBE for charitable services to families in the British Armed Forces community. She created the charity Reading Force in 2011, developing a scheme that supports parents in the military read with their children while on deployment or during training.
The scope of the scheme has since expanded across the whole of the UK as well as UK Armed Forces overseas. To date, over 250,000 people have requested reading scrapbooks or received reading books, improving children’s reading ability.
Swinney congratulates Scottish recipients
First Minister John Swinney has paid tribute to Scotland’s recipients in The King’s Birthday Honours list.
In recognition of exceptional contributions to public life and in keeping with the theme of ‘change makers and innovators’, this year’s awards celebrate individuals that have contributed to driving forward positive and innovative change and who use creativity and collaboration to develop new ideas which bring impact and value.
Professor Moira Whyte OBE, the Sir John Crofton Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Edinburgh receives a Damehood for services to medical research.
Former Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Gordon Brown has been appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour for public and charitable service in the UK and abroad.
Those being awarded a CBE include Professor John Irvine, a professor of Chemistry at St Andrews University for services to the green economy; Dr Ann Moulds, Trustee and Founder of Action Against Stalking, for services to victims of stalking and Professor Terence Smith, the Director of the Biomedical Sciences Research Complex at the University of St Andrews for services to disease research.
Among those receiving an OBE is sports broadcaster and former footballer Ally McCoist MBE for services to association football and broadcasting and Sandy Lyle MBE for services to golf. Literary agent Dr Jenny Brown is receives an OBE for services to literature and Jane Spiers, Chair of National Theatre of Scotland, for services to culture in Scotland. Dr Rabinder Buttar is recognised for services to innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership in business and to life sciences.
Those receiving MBEs include Doreen Graham, for services to animal welfare. Puneet Dwivedi for services to the community in Scotland, and Syed Nasir Jaffri, for services to integration in Glasgow, also receive MBEs. Maureen Ferrie receives an MBE for services to people living with a disability in Glasgow.
Harry Brodie, for services to wheelchair curling, and Joan Cameron, for services to the Samaritans, are among those honoured with a BEM.
Catriona Paton, Chief Superintendent, and Alistair Cameron, Special Police Constable, Police Scotland, will receive The King’s Police Medal.
The King’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Ross Haggart, Chief Officer, Gary Carroll, Crew Commander and Lorraine Taylor, Firefighter, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Liam Coughlan, Head of Programmes & Enabling Technology Manager, Scottish Ambulance Service will receive The King’s Ambulance Service Medal.
The First Minister said: “Those receiving recognition in The King’s Birthday Honours have each made outstanding contributions to community and public life, through the arts, education and sport to business, charity, community life and science.I am very pleased to offer them my congratulations. Their dedication and commitment makes Scotland a better place for us all.
“The people who have been awarded The King’s Police, Fire or Ambulance Service Medals have shown exceptional dedication and resilience in serving our communities and keeping us safe. They deserve our sincere appreciation and thanks for the sterling work they do.”
Honours are announced twice annually, in June on the Monarch’s official birthday, and at New Year.
With the 2024 European Championships around the corner, a new report by leading online betting and gaming brand Betway has revealed that Scotland’s “Flower of Scotland” is the most popular national anthem of all time in Europe.
The Euros 2024 guide, produced by the bookmaker, scoured through every team’s national anthem to understand which national anthem takes the top spot in fan’s hearts as the most streamed on Spotify.
In first place, Scotland’s national anthem “Flower of Scotland” by The Corries had almost 5 million streams on Spotify. An estimated 200,000 Scottish fans are expected to be proudly singing their national anthem at the Euros this summer as they initially take on Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in their group matches.
In second place is the French’s “Marseillaise”, with 4.2 million streams, while Italy’s “Il Canto degli Italiani” came in third place with 3.4 million streams.
England’s traditional “God save the King” came in 4th place with just over 1.5 million streams, while the Euros host country Germany came in 5th place, with 1.3 million streams for “Deutsche Nationalhymme”.
At the other end, Poland and Spain ranked in 9th and 10th place, with 525,613 and 502,656 streams respectively.
The 10 most-streamed national anthems
Rank
Country
Title
Artist
Spotify streams
1
Scotland
Flower of Scotland
The Corries
4,823,383
2
France
Marseillaise
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
4,246,923
3
Italy
Il Canto degli Italiani
National Anthem Band
3,440,658
4
England
God save the king
Traditional
1,566,902
5
Germany
Deutsche Nationalhymne (Lied der Deutschen, nur dritte Strophe)
Nationalhymne Deutschland
1,353,505
6
Netherlands
Het Wilhelmus
Universal Band
1,034,824
7
Switzerland
Schweizerpsalm
Kpm National Anthems
687,498
8
Turkey
İstiklâl Marşı
Ossi Orkestrasi
680,498
9
Poland
Mazurek Dąbrowskiego
Krakowski Chor Kameralny/ Polish Chamber Choir
525,613
10
Spain
Marcha Real
Jose Angel Tello
502,656
Chad Yeomans, spokesperson at Betway, said:“The Scottish Government may not have officially adopted Flower of Scotland yet, but our research shows there’s no more popular national anthem in Europe!
“National anthems sung before a fixture kicks off have the power to unite travelling fans like nothing else can.
“One thing is for sure, when Scotland faces Germany in the opening match of the Euros the Tartan Army will be in full voice and are sure to produce a rousing and goosebump-inducing rendition of the famous song.”
Class A drugs with a potential street value of over £37,000 have been recovered in North Edinburgh.
Today – Friday, 14 June, 2024 – police searched a premises under warrant on Wester Drylaw Drive, after intelligence was recieved that the property was involved in the supply of Class A drugs.
A substantial quantity of cocaine was sezied and a six figure sum of cash was also recovered from the property.
A 27-year-oldman and a 28-year-old were arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. They were released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.
Police Scotland is committed to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy, and will continue to remove illegal substances from communities.
Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Run by leading creative engagement charity Impact Arts, the free Summer programme will take over space at Edinburgh’s City Arts Centre in July and August
Young participants will work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors before a celebratory showcase at the beginning of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh young people aged 14 – 24 are being invited to explore their creativity and boost their confidence this summer break, as creative engagement charity Impact Arts gets set to bring its successful CashBack Summer programme to the city once again.
CashBack to the Future offers a completely free 5-week summer programme, giving young people the chance to work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors on invigorating creative projects. Young participants will have the chance to learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, make friends, build their confidence, and have fun.
Designed to help increase creative confidence, as well as offering the chance to gain SQA qualifications or a dynamic youth award, CashBack to the Future has been run in the city by Impact Arts for the last six years.
Over the years hundreds of young people across Scotland have been supported by the project, which is designed to benefit participants who find school tricky; struggle with mental health; are care experienced; or are new to Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, which backs projects helping disadvantaged young people.
CashBack Summerwill take place at The City Art Centre from 8 July – 7 August, running Mondays to Wednesdays.
It will culminate in a showcase on 07 August, during the first week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, celebrating the participants’ work and their achievements for friends, family, and the public to attend.
At the same time as the Edinburgh groups, Impact Arts will also run parallel CashBack groups in both Glasgow and North Ayrshire over the same five weeks this Summer.
More information on the CashBack Summer programme can be found at:
With an extra NINE MILLION older people, a population the size of London, set to populate the UK by 2050, Hourglass is calling on all Westminster hopefuls to underline their Safer Ageing plans – and take the OATH, a new campaign to increase awareness of the social care timebomb.
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse and neglect of older people, has launched its own manifesto entitled ‘A Safer Ageing Society by 2050’ and is urging the political elite and general public alike to sign up to support it HERE:
The campaign, OATH (Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope) is a pledge to support their 2050 target and to work alongside older people, the age sector and Hourglass itself in raising the profile of this often-unspoken issue.
The charity points to the creation of a London-sized city, full of over sixties by 2050. That’s 9.6 million more older people in the UK. And, they say, for the first time they’ll be more over 60s than under 16s. The charity underlines that this is a social care timebomb waiting to explode.
As the charity’s Policy Director and Deputy CEO, Veronica Gray, illustrates, Hourglass’s big ask isn’t quite as unreachable as it first appears: “Let’s think about it from the opposite perspective.
“If we knew there was to be nine million extra bouncing babies in the next twenty-five years, governments across the UK would be planning now. There would be a strategy to accommodate and ensure their safe arrival into the world.
“There would be new schools, nurseries, perhaps maternity hospitals and safeguarding teams. Early years planning, investment into midwives and ante-natal units would be on the horizon. Our parliamentary representatives would be falling over themselves to promise a safe future for the impending influx of babies. Not just kissing them for the cameras.
“This is unquestionably a population boom – just at the other end of the spectrum. This ageing population needs to be celebrated, safe, independent and free from abuse. This seems like a fairly obvious step and worthy of support and understanding. Hence the Hourglass target of creating a Safer Ageing Society by 2050.”
Therefore, Hourglass is also scrutinising what plans the political parties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have outlined in their manifesto. And so far, in terms of protecting older people from abuse, harm, exploitation and neglect, the charity believes there has been precious little forward planning at all.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, explains:“Hourglass believes, with the impending older population surge and 2.5 million people affected by the abuse of older people annually, we need as many active voices as possible to make the case. The political dial now needs to move to address this significant upsurge and the social care needs of this population shift.
“We are working to analyse, with a variety of indicators, how seriously each political party is taking the notion of a Safer Ageing future. We will be announcing the results next Friday (21st June) and this, Election Safer Ageing Index, will also be used to scrutinise performance as the new parliamentary term takes shape.”
Hourglass, which has been working to support older-victims of abuse and neglect since 1994, has a unique 24/7 helpline, instant messenger and Knowledge Bank service. These services are already under threat due to delayed decision-making on future funding mechanisms.
Richard Robinson continues: “Whoever comes to power after 4th July, has to urgently secure service provision and agree funding for charities like Hourglass. This will go some distance in paving the way for a Safer Ageing future – but this is the bare minimum.
“The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) commitments, whilst inspirational and much-needed, need to be replicated for older victim-survivors. This is another key consideration for the next Downing Street resident.”
The charity was recently in the headlines for working to develop and script the story of Yolande Trueman, in BBCs EastEnders. This, along with many other factors has seen the charity’s calls hit over 700 a week and with a likely 50,000 contacts per year.
Please note we cannot take branded/school logo items
Thank you 
Phoebe Pryce, 
Leading the PYC segment, Phoebe championed the views of young people in the SEC nationwide around the need to protect women’s rights, the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, nuclear disarmament, and global equality, justice and peace.
we are all so proud of you! Never stop being you.
