As Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May 2025) begins Scotland’s children’s charity is urging parents and carers across Edinburgh to call their support line if they are worried about their child’s mental health.
A recent survey commissioned by the charity showed a staggering 92% of children and young people aged 11-25 in Scotland were worried about mental health. The same survey showed less than one in four children believed childhood is better now than when their parents were young.
Last year more than two thirds of the people who contacted Children First’s national support line were worried about a child’s emotional wellbeing.
From mental health, money worries and online harm, to struggles at school, the charity’s support line offers emotional, practical and financial support to any family in Scotland.
Last year Children First’s support line gave expert, confidential advice to more than 2,500 families and supported over 9,400 people in 2024.
Simon McGowan, Assistant Director at Children First, said: “Every day our support line team are helping more and more families who are desperately worried about their child’s mental health.
“No family should struggle alone. Whatever your concern about your child, we are here to help. Our friendly team can provide expert support and advice that can make all the difference.
“Call us on the Children First support line on 08000 28 22 33 or start a webchat at childrenfirst.org.uk.”
One mum who called Children First’s support line in a desperate plea for help and worried sick about the mental health of her daughter, Orla*, said: “I honestly don’t know what I’d do without the Children First support line.”
Orla was only 14 when she tried to end her life. Support from Jess*, a recovery worker at Children First, has resulted in Orla feeling less anxious and more positive about the future.
If you live in Scotland call the Children First support line on 08000 28 22 33 free, visit www.childrenfirst.org.uk for advice and support, or start a webchat.
The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s ‘failed experiment’ in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country
Migration system will back British workers, boost economic growth and control our borders under the Plan for Change
New contributions-based model will extend route to settlement from five to 10 years – with reductions for those who contribute to economy
New English language requirements across all immigration routes to promote integration
The Prime Minister will today announce an end to Britain’s ‘failed experiment’ in open borders that saw migration soar to one million a year by ensuring people coming here earn the right to stay in the country.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of today’s (Monday 12 May) publication of the Immigration White Paper, the Prime Minister will say that living in this country is a privilege that must be earned.
New immigration rules will reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, prioritise those who contribute to Britain’s economy and put more money in the pockets of working people, the first priority of our Plan for Change.
The new system will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.
Instead, migrants must spend a decade in the UK before applying to stay unless they can show a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society.
Under a new framework to be rolled out high-skilled, high-contributing individuals who play by the rules and contribute to the economy and society would be fast-tracked, such as nurses, doctors, engineers and AI leaders.
The government will also raise English language requirements across every immigration route to ensure those wishing to live and work in the UK speak a higher standard of English.
For the first time this will also extend to all adult dependents by requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English – helping individuals integrate into their local community, find employment and reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse.
The changes are part of the government’s Plan for Change to turn the page on over a decade of decline that saw Britain’s immigration system spiral out of control with record migration numbers, undermining the confidence of working people.
The Prime Minister will take a ‘new common-sense’ approach, one that backs British workers over cheap overseas labour and links migration policy with skills to boost economic growth.
The full package of radical reforms will be unveiled by the Home Secretary in Parliament later today and builds on action already taken by the government to restore order to the immigration system.
More than 24,000 people with no right to be here have been returned since the election – the highest rate in 8 years – including a 16% increase in foreign national offender removals.
In a press conference today the Prime Minister will announce his overhaul of the broken system, and is expected to say: “For years we have had a system that encourages businesses to bring in lower paid workers, rather than invest in our young people.
“That is the Britain this broken system has created.
“Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.
“We will create a system that is controlled, selective and fair.
“One that recognises those who genuinely contribute to Britain’s growth and society, while restoring common sense and control to our borders.
“This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.
“And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.
“Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.”
The Immigration White Paper comes after net migration reached nearly one million in the year ending June 2023 – four times the levels seen in 2019.
Public services were stretched, housing costs soared, and employers swapped skills investment for cheap overseas labour. In sectors like engineering, apprenticeships almost halved while work visas doubled and communities were asked to absorb record numbers.
Visas have already fallen by 40% since the government took power, but our new approach will go further and faster – reshaping the system around the needs of the economy and fairness for working people.
There will be tougher rules on who can come to work, study or bring family. Every part of the system is being tightened. Backdoor routes to settlement will be closed, enforcement will be stepped up as we end abuse of the system.
Britain will remain open to the best global talent – but the days of mass recruitment to plug avoidable skills gaps will end. New mechanisms will ensure employers wanting visas must show they are investing in British workers and raising skills in this country to boost economic growth.
The Labour government says it will support businesses to take on British workers through new industry workforce strategies, while introducing much tighter restrictions on recruitment for shortage occupations.
The full package of policies in the Immigration White Paper will be published later today (Monday 12 May).
Overseas recruitment for care workers to end
International recruitment for care workers will end under plans announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
The government’s Immigration White Paper, published in Parliament today, will include the change as the government takes action to bring down historically high levels of net migration.
Care workers from overseas have made a huge contribution to social care in the UK, but too many have been subject to shameful levels of abuse and exploitation.
Workers seeking to support the UK’s care sector arrived to find themselves saddled with debt, treated unfairly, or in extreme cases discover the jobs they were promised did not exist.
In March, the Home Office revealed over 470 care providers had had their licence to sponsor international staff suspended since 2022. Under plans to be outlined today (Monday 12 May), the government will go further and put an end to any more overseas recruitment.
The crackdown on rogue care providers has seen around 40,000 workers displaced, many of whom are ready to rejoin the workforce. They will be given the opportunity to do the jobs they were promised, while long-term plans are drawn up to train homegrown talent into the care sector.
International workers who are already sponsored to work legally in the sector will be able to continue to extend their stay, change sponsors and apply to settle, including those who need to switch employers following a sponsor licence revocation.
The Labour government says it is committed to tackling these issues and has committed to establishing Fair Pay Agreements which will empower worker, employer and other sector representatives to negotiate improvements in the terms of employment. This builds on the announcement in January of the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway which will support the adult social care sector to professionalise the workforce.
Together, these measures will move the UK away from a dependence on overseas workers to fulfil our care needs. Baroness Casey has also begun work on an independent commission into adult social care – a once in a generation opportunity to transcend party politics and build consensus on the future of the sector.
The Immigration White Paper, published in full today, is part of government efforts to restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth.
Exercise isn’t just about hitting the gym or going for a run, it is any movement that gets your muscles working and burns energy. No matter your age, fitness level or ability, there is something for everyone. Lauren Hewitt, Registered Associate Nutritionist at Heart Research UK, breaks down the benefits of physical activity and simple ways to get started.
Many people believe physical activity is a scheduled “workout,” but it can take various forms. Walking to the shops, gardening, dancing around the kitchen, or carrying heavy shopping bags all count.
The key is finding what works best for you, so regular movement becomes part of your routine.
How much physical activity should you aim to do?
If you’re an adult, the World Health Organisation recommends that you carry out at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Muscle-strengthening activities are also advised for two or more days a week to reduce time spent sedentary.
Lauren Hewitt, Registered Associate Nutritionist at Heart Research UK, says: “Moderate-intensity physical activity can be described as any activity that increases your breathing rate, makes you feel warmer and raises your heart rate.
“You can measure this during any physical activity by seeing if you can talk comfortably, but shouldn’t be able to sing. This could include brisk walking, cycling or mowing the lawn.
“Vigorous-intensity physical activity is when you’re breathing hard and fast, but won’t be able to say more than a few words without gasping for breath. This includes exercise such as running, team sports or aerobics.”
Your heart is the hardest-working muscle in your body, beating over three billion times over your lifetime. By meeting or exceeding these recommendations, you’re helping keep your heart beating longer.
How does physical activity benefit your heart?
Like the rest of the muscles in your body, your heart needs to be worked out to stay healthy. Physical inactivity leads to a 24% higher risk of coronary heart disease.
Lauren explains: “Regular physical activity can strengthen your heart and reduce your blood pressure. As your heart becomes stronger, it pumps blood more efficiently, needing less effort to circulate it throughout your body. This can help lower your blood pressure and reduce strain on your arteries.
“Regular physical activity can also improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes – a major cardiovascular risk factor. When you’re active, your body becomes more sensitive to insulin, allowing your muscles to use blood sugar more effectively for energy.
“When you are physically active, your cholesterol will begin to alter. Your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels may lower and your HDL (good) cholesterol levels may increase. You will burn fat and build muscle, which will help keep your heart healthy. Ultimately, physical activity is essential for a healthy heart.”
What about the benefits for the rest of your body?
Regular physical activity will help build cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength, improving flexibility and balance. Any activity that increases heart rate and blood flow will release endorphins, raising your energy levels and mood. Moderate-intensity activities such as brisk walking, jogging or tennis have been found to release the most endorphins.
Increasing your physical exertion levels will improve sleep quality and duration. Physical activity can also improve anxiety and depression by reducing the amount of stress hormones in your body, acting as a stress reliever. All aspects of your health are connected – these added benefits directly support your heart.
How can you add physical activity to your life?
Start with small daily changes to boost your activity and build healthy habits. This could be taking the stairs, walking instead of driving or standing on public transport. Over time, these simple and small actions become part of your everyday life.
“It’s important that you get involved in physical activity safely and at the right ability for you,” Lauren says. “Gradually build up your activity and work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
“Don’t try to do all your exercise in one day, make sure you spread it out over the week. This will help you to avoid injuries, get your body used to new movements and be on your way to meeting the physical activity guidelines.
“Before and after any exercise, make sure you perform a warm-up or cool-down with gentle stretches or walking to prevent injury. Take breaks when you feel fatigued and keep hydrated during your activity, this will help you stay active throughout the week without making you feel unwell.
“If you don’t feel good one day, then take a rest day where needed before starting again.”
Motivation is key to setting goals and tracking progress. This will help you increase your physical activity and stick to a routine. You could monitor the number of steps you do each day or how long you’ve been active.
Remember, any increases in your physical activity levels mean that you’re improving your heart health. Download our Meals and Movement Journal here to track your daily physical activity.
Physical activity is a powerful way to protect your heart with small daily changes, it can make a big difference. To make it easy, download our ‘Design Your Own Home Workout’ and start moving toward a healthier heart today.
2025 was another successful year for the Pomegranates Festival which ran from 25th to 30th April.
The packed five day programme of traditional dance, saw ticket sales up by over 40% on 2024; a sold-out Ceilidh Plus event mixing Scottish, Hungarian and Polish dancing; and a packed house for Charlotte McLean’s new not for glory dance theatre piece, brought to life by the incredible sure footing of Irish traditional dancer Jack Anderson and music from Malin Lewis.
Supported by Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding programme through TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) and Edinburgh Local Community Fund through the University of Edinburgh, the Pomegranates Festival celebrates Scottish and world traditional dance practised by anyone, including cultural migrant communities across Scotland.
Now in its fourth year, the festival has grown from a two-day showcase of work performed by local dancers, into a five day festival of workshops, exhibitions, walking tours, discussions and a showcase for new work.
Marking UNESCO International Dance Day on 29 April, this year’s festival finale Hidden Faces, was a powerful example of the strength of workshopping that the festival has anchored in its programme from the outset.
The piece – a hip hop dance theatre tribute to the masked trad dances from around the world – was created across 2 intensive days, choreographed by 2 guest artists – hip hop dancer and clowning theatre practitioner Sean Edwards, and Scotland’s only professional B-girl Emma Ready; performed by 15 dancers and 3 musicians all based in Scotland; and produced with direction from Jonzi D, founder of Breakin’ Convention, MC, spoken word artist and hip hop dancer.
Other new work that premiered this year was the festival commission Sequins – a hip hop piece fused with Congolese traditional Luba dance by Kalubi Mukengela-Jacoby, aBelgian Scot dance artist with Congolese heritage who choreographed and performed her solo to another festival commission Sequins of Poems to Dance To, a set of 10 poems written and spoken by broadcaster Ian McMillan with a haunting soundscape by Robert Russell.
One of the festival themes this year was masks, and the dancers took inspiration from the exhibition Masks by Lorraine Pritchard which was on display in the Storytelling Centre and the Edinburgh Central Library.
The exhibition included handcrafted Venetian style masks, books on the Venice Carnival and a collection of photos and newly-commissioned documentary film by Franzis Sánchez shot at this year’s Carnival and at various locations across Edinburgh.
Audiences also enjoyed a lively discussion following the screening of ten short films by home-grown and international teams of choreographers and cinematographers with an innovative focus of traditional dance on screen; a fantastic new piece of contemporary dance rooted in traditional dance and music Socratic Circles workshopped with pupils from Royal Mile and Abbeyhill local primary school, and postgraduate dance students from Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh; and a new podcast and a sold-out walking tour of Edinburgh with historian and dancer Alena Schmakova exploring Mary, Queen of Scots’ passion for dance.
Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova, co-curators and producers of the Pomegranates Festival said: “We couldn’t be happier with this new edition of Pomegranates.
“It is really rewarding, also on behalf of the 100s of the dance artists featured and our new and returning audiences, to know that the festival has earned its unique place in Edinburgh’s cultural calendar and is treasured by anyone passionate about trad dance and its links to poetry and art, film and fashion, craft and heritage.
“We are proud that through this year’s 3 festival themes – trad dance, masks and intangible cultural heritage – we were able to focus on the fine examples of already recognised living heritage, such as Hungarian Csardas and Buso, Polish Polonaise, Chinese Yi culture and Venice Carnival.
“We are determined to build on the festival success of convening Scotland’s first-ever gathering about traditional dance and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.
“Watch this space as we continue to explore the opportunities this UNESCO Convention opens up for Scotland’s traditional dances in an international context.”
The Pomegranates Festival plans to return in spring 2026 with a new five day programme of Scottish and world traditional dance. Dates to be confirmed.
The Festival is initiated and curated by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland and presented and produced in partnership with Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh City Libraries, Dance Base and the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Pomegranates is funded by Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding through TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland); the City of Edinburgh Council and University of Edinburgh through the Edinburgh Local Community Fund.
New state-of-the-art gigafactory ignites growth in industrial heartlands, supporting 1,000 jobs and powering up 100,000 electric vehicles a year
Chancellor visited Sunderland today following landmark economic deal with the US that saved thousands of auto jobs and slashed tariffs on car exports.
Latest action in the Government’s Plan for Change to strengthen our industrial heartlands, make Britain a clean energy superpower and put more money in people’s pockets through good jobs.
Working people will benefit from 1,000 jobs at a new state-of-the-art gigafactory in Sunderland in a £1 billion auto deal to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and boost growth.
This investment is another boost for the British car industry after yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the United States saved thousands of jobs by slashing tariffs on British exports.
The new AESC gigafactory will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, powering up to 100,000 EVs each year – a six-fold increase on the country’s current capacity – making the UK globally competitive selling more British EVs at home and abroad and helping to achieve our net zero target.
In the landmark transaction, the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance will provide financial guarantees which unlock £680 million in financing from banks including Standard Chartered, HSBC, SMBC Group, Societe Generale and BBVA. This will cover construction and operation of the new plant. The remaining £320 million has been secured through private financing in addition to new equity provided by AESC.
In addition to this £1 billion investment, the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund is also investing £150 million in grant funding.
This is the Government’s Plan for Change in action, making us more competitive on the world stage, helping Britain on its way to becoming a clean energy superpower through innovation in the automotive sector, and delivering economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets through high skilled jobs.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “We are going further and faster to boost our industries’ resilience and encourage their growth as part of our Plan for Change, and this investment follows hot on the heels of yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the US which will save thousands of jobs in the industry.
“This investment in Sunderland will not only further innovation and accelerate our move to more sustainable transport, but it will also deliver much-needed high quality, well-paid jobs to the North East, putting more money in people’s pockets.”
Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: “We’re backing our world-class car industry, and this investment is yet another vote of confidence in the North East’s thriving auto manufacturing hub which will secure a thousand well-paid jobs and boost prosperity across the region.
“Our modern Industrial Strategy will drive this growth even further, powering our high-potential sectors like advanced manufacturing so we can deliver jobs and investment in every corner of the UK and make our Plan for Change a reality.”
The Chancellor visited AESC in Sunderland today [Friday 9 May] where she met staff and local leaders to discuss how the investment will bring jobs and prosperity to the North East, and how the landmark economic deal secured with the US will secure the industry for years to come.
The deal slashes car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10% and will apply to a quota of 100,000 UK cars – almost the total exported last year.
This will save some car companies hundreds of millions of pounds, making high skilled jobs in industrial heartlands like Sunderland more secure.
Shoichi Matsumoto, CEO of Japanese headquartered AESC, said: “This investment marks a key milestone in AESC’s ongoing efforts to support the UK’s path towards decarbonisation and the expansion of its EV market.
“Through close collaboration with strategic partners, we strive to accelerate this transition while creating high-quality local jobs and building resilient, sustainable supply chain.
“We are honoured to contribute to the development of low-carbon economy with our advanced battery technologies.”
John Flint, National Wealth Fund CEO, said: “AESC’s gigafactory will not only help to retool our car industry for net zero it will also support jobs, growth, and prosperity in the Northeast.
“This investment further demonstrates the significant role NWF is playing to crowd private capital into the industries and regions where its most needed, boosting government’s growth and clean energy missions.”
UKEF CEO, Tim Reid, said: “This hugely exciting project is a prime example of how export financing is a powerful tool for unlocking growth opportunities for British exporters and strengthening local economies.
“We’re proud to join forces with partners to back this pioneering gigafactory that will help cement the UK’s prowess as an EV battery-making force for years to come.”
The inquiry will explore the prevalence and impact of misogynistic views, attitudes and behaviour among young men and boys, particularly in schools and educational settings and the reasons for this.
It will examine ways that boys and young men are also being harmed and if better support, activities and services need to be available to them.
MPs on the cross-party Committee, chaired by Labour MP Sarah Owen, will examine evidence of rising misogyny among young men and boys, and the role of social media and online communities, referred to as the ‘manosphere’.
It will also look at how online content and the availability of violent pornography, is contributing to sexist and misogynistic attitudes, behaviour and violence against women and girls both online and offline.
The inquiry will examine how social media influencers are shaping attitudes towards women and girls and the strategies and interventions needed to address this.
It will also assess what role social media companies and online platforms are playing in the promotion of misogynistic content and what policies they have in place for deplatforming or demonetising this content.
WEC held an evidence session on April 29 with Jack Thorne and Emily Feller, executive producers of the hit Netflix drama Adolescence, exploring the impact of toxic online misogyny on young men and boys, as well as the public and political reaction to it. WEC’s predecessor committee held an evidence session in May 2024 on incel culture.
Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said: “The recent television drama Adolescence brought into sharp political and public focus the burgeoning issue of misogynistic views and behaviour among young men and boys and the questions over its prevalence, particularly in schools and educational settings.
“With young people spending significant amounts of time online, the Committee want to conduct a timely assessment of the drivers for such attitudes, as well as explore the complex interplay with social media content, the online manosphere and violent pornography.
“This inquiry will examine what more could be done both on and offline to address these trends, and also feeds into WEC’s wider scrutiny of Government work to tackle violence against women and girls.”
Terms of reference
The Committee invites written submissions through the inquiry website addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference by Friday, 6 June 2025.
How prevalent are misogynistic views, attitudes and behaviour among young people today, particularly in educational settings? What examples are there of these views, attitudes and behaviours? In what other settings are such behaviours prevalent?
How is content on social media and online, such as violent pornography, contributing to sexist and misogynistic attitudes and behaviour and violence against women and girls both online and offline?
How are social media influencers shaping attitudes towards women and girls?
What role are social media companies and online platforms playing in the promotion of misogynistic content?
Who is gaining financially from the marketisation of misogyny online, and how? What policies do social media companies have in place for deplatforming or demonetising this content and are they enforced?
What strategies and interventions are needed to address misogyny among young people?
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced the world premiere of Ben Wheatley’s ingenious new film BULK as the opening night film of the Festival’s Midnight Madness strand.
Produced by Andy Starke of Rook Films and financed by Film4, BULK marks a return to the thrillingly free-spirited filmmaker’s homegrown, kaleidoscopic works In The Earth and A Field in England. Executive producers for Film4 are Ollie Madden and David Kimbangi.
BULK will be presented as part of EIFF’s Midnight Madness strand which runs throughout the Festival and unleashes the very best in new genre cinema from around the world.
Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 14-20 August 2025. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival will continue to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Directorof EIFF, said “I have been sworn on pain of death to not give too much away about BULK!
“Suffice it to say this is a truly unique film that took our breath away then fried our brains. We could not think of a better way for us to launch the second year of Midnight Madness at EIFF than with a new trip from a true visionary of cinema.
“It is guaranteed to bring the house down in August. Bring it on!”
Ben Wheatleysaid: “I’m very excited and proud to be premiering BULK at Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness.
“This is a midnight film through and through. Car chases, gun fights, sci-fi and romance. Thanks to Edinburgh for having us. It’s going to be a wild night.”
Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 comments: “Ben Wheatley is one of a kind, and BULK is truly the result of his unique and brilliant filmmaking brain.
“It was an honour to work with him on this secret project, for which Midnight Madness at EIFF is the perfect launchpad. Can’t wait for it to surprise and delight audiences in the way it did us!”
Helmed by CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival team aims to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent.
Ridd is supported by the EIFF Board, led by Chair Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting; and Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; as well as Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and Romana Ramzan, Producer at No Code Studio.
More information will be released on the 2025 Festivalin the coming weeks.
We’re heading to Cammo Estate for a peaceful walk through woods and open parkland.
We’ll meet at the DNC at 10am and take the bus number 47 to the entrance, or you can meet us there at the Cammo gates on the main road pedestrian entrance for 10:45am (What3words composers.salads.serves)
We’ll stop for a picnic – please bring a rucksack and water bottle.
Easy level walk
All welcome – come enjoy the fresh air and good company!
On Wednesday, May 14, 10 – 11:30am, Mindroom, a leading Edinburgh based charity that champions all forms of neurodiversityand works to improve the quality of life for neurodivergent people by removing barriers, increasing opportunities and shaping a more accessible world, will launch ‘Thriving Workplaces: A Practical Guide to Neuroinclusion’ with a free-to-attend online event .
The guide – developed through a collaborative partnership with Neuroinclusion at Work partners and the Prince Couple’s Foundation in Sweden – brings together real voices to offer meaningful insights into creating more inclusive workplaces.
Registrations to the online event now open: Wednesday, May 14, 10 – 11:30am
Mindroom, a leading charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and works to improve the quality of life for neurodivergent people by removing barriers, increasing opportunities and shaping a more accessible world, will launch ‘Thriving Workplaces: A Practical Guide to Neuroinclusion’ with a free-to-attend online event on Wednesday, May 14, from 10 to 11.30am.
The launch, which will be hosted by Mindroom’s CEO, Alan Thornburrow, will include:
An introduction to the guide’s purpose, principles, and practical applications
A panel discussion featuring employees with lived experience of neurodivergence in the workplace
With research showing that diverse perspectives lead to better problem solving, stronger teams and improved performance, the guide – developed in collaboration with a series of Neuroinclusion at Work partners and with active participation from the Prince Couple’s Foundation in Sweden – is rooted in lived experience and brings together perspectives from neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers and employers to support organisations on their journey towards creating more inclusive workplaces.
Alan Thornburrow comments: “By embracing neuroinclusion, organisations can create better working environments, where new talent is recognised, employees prosper and an inclusive business culture shines through, thus positively affecting growth and innovation in the workplace.
“We are very proud of the work we conducted in collaboration with our partners, and very grateful for everyone’s time. ‘Thriving Workplaces’ is not a set of instructions.
“This is a starting point; a resource grounded in experience and created by listening to neurodivergent individuals and collecting their thoughts on taking meaningful and lasting steps towards inclusion.
“We are very much looking forward to hosting the event and welcoming as many participants as possible to join on the journey to a more accessible world and a more inclusive working environment.”
The guide – structured around core principles of building an inclusive culture (with concrete everyday actions), support and psychological safety (where people feel free to speak openly without fear of judgement) and leadership and accountability (setting the tone with empathy) – aims to support on a practical level, including real-life insights and tools to either get started, or continue on the journey to inspire real change for the better.
“We are pleased with this collaboration and appreciate the concrete guide it has resulted in – especially since it has been developed together with neurodivergent individuals themselves”,says Helene Öberg, Secretary General of the Prince Couple’s Foundation, which is a partner in the project.
“We believe this will be a functional and important tool for employers to see and harness everyone’s full potential, something that truly aligns with our work for dyslexia and everyone’s right to be themselves.
“Being able to complement our portfolio, which focuses on tools for children, with tools that ensure that people with dyslexia/neurodivergent individuals have the best conditions throughout their whole lives feels very valuable, and we look forward to seeing the guide used in workplaces worldwide.”
Whether beginning on this journey or building on existing actions and effort, the guide provides a flexible starting point, including practical and adaptable ideas to help start meaningful conversations in the workplace and take action in a way that works for each specific organisation.
A free downloadable link to this resource will be available after the event.
For more information and to join the launch of ‘Thriving Workplaces: A Practical Guide to Neuroinclusion’, please book your place here:
We’ll meet at the DNC at 10am and take the bus number 47 to the entrance, or you can meet us there at the Cammo gates on the main road pedestrian entrance for 10:45am (What3words composers.salads.serves)
We’ll stop for a picnic – please bring a rucksack and water bottle.
Easy level walk