Mother’s Day pride: mum and daughter tell of joy at working together at same hospital

A nurse and her daughter who work at the same hospital have both told how they love being part of the NHS family – and how proud they are of each other for the work they do.

Geraldine Sparkes is lead nurse for the Acute Medical Unit and Medical Assessment Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley, and 18-year-old Gemma is a Health Care Support Worker on Ward 10.

They live together in Paisley with dad Trevor and nine-year-old daughter Mirren, and the whole family is spending Mother’s Day together. 

The pair travel together to work every morning – stopping on the way for a coffee that’s “totally essential” according to Gemma – but because of Gemma’s shifts it’s quite unusual for them to get time off together, and Geraldine is really excited because of that.

“We’re all going out for a steak dinner, and I’m looking forward to spending the day together. I think it will be really special.”

What Geraldine doesn’t know is that Gemma “sweet-talked her boss” to be able to spend time with her mum. “It’s great that we’ll all be able to celebrate Mother’s Day together this year. I’ve got a few wee bits for mum, and Mirren loves arts and crafts so she’s been doing lots. I think it will be a lovely day.”

Geraldine, 38, has only been a nurse for eight years, after deciding to change career to care for patients. She juggled her training with her day job, as well as doing bank shifts to get additional experience, and she is now passionate about the NHS, the RAH and being a nurse.

She said: “There’s no denying that nursing has its challenges just now, but I feel so strongly that it’s a wonderful job. There are so many different roles in the NHS that once you’re part of the NHS family the world’s really your oyster.

“I’d encourage any young person to come and work with us – and especially at the RAH! Working locally is great – we really feel part of the community, and to be supporting neighbours and friends is the best feeling.”

But it’s when she starts speaking about Gemma that her pride really shows.

“I’m so proud of her. She’s been working since she was 16 and has a great work ethic. It’s great to see her in a full-time job, and hopefully it will be the start of a great career for her.

“When she first started at the hospital she was quite apprehensive, but she’s hit the ground running and I’ve been told she’s doing really well and has a great way with patients and relatives.”

Gemma has only been a HCSW since November, but she’s loving her time at the RAH. “It’s a great place to work,” she said. “I really feel like a part of the team. Everyone is so helpful – and not just the people at my grade but everyone, right up to the managers.

“I love working here and I’m really proud of the NHS. I’m always telling my friends to go for it, that working here is really worth it.”

But she admits working with her mum has taken her a bit by surprise. “It’s really weird! At home she’s my mum, but I see a completely different side of her when she’s working. She’s so committed and professional – she takes the care of her patients so seriously.

“In fact I’m really proud of her.”

Geraldine feels very lucky to be sharing today with her family, and she has one final message.

“Happy Mother’s Day to all mums today – and special thanks to my colleagues at the RAH who are on duty caring for our patients, or any other mums who are working. You’re all doing an amazing job.”

Emergency Alert mobile phone service system launched across UK

A new system that will give the Government and emergency services the capability to send an alert directly to mobiles phones when there is a risk to life has been launched today.

  • UK-wide Emergency Alerts service launched and in operation from today
  • System will bolster the UK’s resilience and provides the capability to send alerts direct to mobile phones when there is a risk to life
  • UK-wide test to take place on Sunday 23 April

Working with mobile broadcasting technology, the Emergency Alerts system will transform the UK’s warning and informing capability; providing a means to get urgent messages quickly to nearly 90 percent of mobile phones in a defined area; providing clear instructions about how best to respond.

The system is now ready to be tested across the country following successful tests in East Suffolk and Reading, as the Government continues to strengthen its resilience capability, making sure it offers the best possible protection against an ever-evolving range of threats.

A UK-wide alerts test will take place in the early evening of Sunday 23 April which will see people receive a test message on their mobile phones.

The alerts will only ever come from the Government or emergency services, and they will issue a warning, always include the details of the area impacted, and provide instructions about how best to respond – linking to gov.uk/alerts where people can receive further information.

Emergency Alerts will be used very rarely – only being sent where there is an immediate risk to people’s lives – so people may not receive an alert for months, or even years.

The service has already been used successfully in a number of other countries, including the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan, where it has been widely credited with saving lives, for example, during severe weather events. In the UK, alerts could be used to tell residents of villages being encroached by wildfires, or of severe flooding.

Announcing the launch of the new alerts system, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden MP, said: “We are strengthening our national resilience with a new emergency alerts system, to deal with a wide range of threats – from flooding to wild fires.

“It will revolutionise our ability to warn and inform people who are in immediate danger, and help us keep people safe. As we’ve seen in the U.S. and elsewhere, the buzz of a phone can save a life.”

Emergency Alerts will be used across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and their initial use will focus on the most serious severe weather-related incidents, including severe flooding in England.

The Government has been working closely with a range of stakeholders and partners across the UK on developing the system, including colleagues from the emergency services, transport groups and the Environment Agency.

Scotland’s Justice Secretary and lead Minister for resilience Keith Brown said: “This new service builds on the arrangements we already have in place with responders and other key organisations in Scotland to keep people safe during emergencies and save lives.

“The system has already been used successfully overseas in other countries including New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan and the USA where it has been credited with saving lives during severe weather events and earthquakes.

“During rare events where there is an imminent risk to life, alerts can be sent direct to people’s mobile phones with clear instructions explaining what action to take and how to seek help.”

Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Mark Hardingham, said: “Together with every fire and rescue service in the country, I’m looking forward to having Emergency Alerts available to help us to do our jobs and to help communities in the event of emergencies.

“We’ve seen this type of system in action elsewhere across the world and we look forward to having the facility here in the UK – by working together with fire services and partners we want this system to help us to help you be as safe as you can if a crisis does hit.”

Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management at the Environment Agency, Caroline Douglass, commented: “Being able to communicate warnings in a timely and accurate manner during incidents is really important to help people take action to protect themselves, their families, and their neighbours.

“This year is the 70th anniversary of the 1953 east coast surge, one of the worst flood events in our recent history which saw over 300 people perish in England – while our ability to warn and inform has come on leaps and bounds since then, Emergency Alerts is a fantastic addition to our toolbox that we can use in emergency situations.”

By broadcasting from cell towers in the vicinity of an emergency, the alerts are secure, free to receive, and one-way. They do not reveal anyone’s location or collect personal data.  

Alerts can only be sent by authorised Governmental and Emergency Services users. Successful live tests of the service have already taken place in East Suffolk and Reading.

Frequently_asked_questions_about_Emergency_AlertsDownload

Healthy Heart Tip: Sleep is Essential for Health

The theme for World Sleep Day yesterday (17th March) was ‘Sleep is Essential for Health’. Poor sleep can negatively impact our heart health, along with many other areas of our physical and mental wellbeing.

Prioritising your seven to nine hours shut eye every day is one of the best things you can do to support your health. During sleep, our body gets to work helping us to recover both mentally and physically, which helps us feel energised, alert, and ready for the day.

Sleep isn’t something to overlook, so here are some tips for helping to improve your sleep:

Limit caffeine

Who doesn’t love a morning cuppa? Whilst a small amount of caffeine early in the day is unlikely to impact our sleep, caffeine can stay in our blood stream for many hours after consumption.

This can negatively impact the quality of our sleep and ability to fall asleep. So, say no to caffeine after lunch!

Turn off the screens

Melatonin is our sleepy hormone, and we need to allow our body to produce lots of it to ensure a good night’s sleep. Bright lights in our environment can reduce the production of melatonin, specifically the blue light from computer screens, tablets, and mobile phones.

Try switching off screens an hour before sleep time and read a book or have a bath instead.

Spend time outdoors

Research shows that simply being inside during the day, rather than spending time outdoors, reduces our melatonin production at night by 50%!

Grab your trainers and hit the pavement for a walk or run outdoors for at least 20 minutes every day.

Create a routine

Humans are creatures of habit, and we thrive on routine. Creating a bedtime ritual can help signal to our bodies that it’s time for sleep.

Try to choose low stimulation activities like reading, listening to music, or even having a cup of (caffeine free!) tea such as camomile.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

Asda release FREE recipe e-book for Mother’s Day

Introducing ‘Messy Brekkies’: the first ever Mother’s Day recipe book to show what really happens when kids take to the kitchen 

In a twist on the usual highly styled and perfect food photography, Asda’s ‘Messy Brekkies’ e-book showcases classic Mother’s Day breakfast dishes in all their perfectly imperfect glory

Waffles by Alfie, 6.jpg
  • This Mother’s Day, Asda releases the first recipe book that reveals the less-than-perfect results of kids let loose in the kitchen 
  • Asda’s ‘Messy Brekkies’ e-book includes food photography that is a far cry from the usual stylised shots – because as mums know, it’s the thought, not the presentation, that counts 
  • Asda tasked a team of budding chefs with the all-important job of recipe testing: Alice (7), Elijah (7), Alfie (6) and Grace (4) 
  • The little novices took to the kitchen to work up seven delicious recipes: from pancakes and waffles to eggy bread and scrambled eggs – getting very messy in the process
  • Asda’s Messy Brekkies e-book is available now to download free of charge at https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/asda-messy-brekkies 

Mother’s Day. The one day of the year when mums and mother figures get a lie-in and are treated to breakfast in bed, over-enthusiastically made by little hands. Whether its swimming in syrup or camouflaged by caster sugar, each messy breakfast is a labour of love and, as mum knows, it’s the thought that counts. This year, to celebrate Mother’s Day, Asda launches a unique recipe book of ‘Messy Brekkies’, showing the reality of what the mums in our lives typically get served – and the glorious mess made in the kitchen.

Set the all-important task of recipe testing, Asda appointed four children aged 4-7 to cook their Mother’s Day breakfasts in all of their perfectly imperfect glory. The adorable team, comprised of Alice (7), Elijah (7), Alfie (6) and Grace (4) rolled up their sleeves and took to the kitchen to develop a repertoire of recipes full of heart for March 19th. 

The seven resulting dishes include Perfectly Imperfect Pancakes, Seriously Scrambled Eggs on Toast, Warm-Your-Heart Waffles, an Eggstra-exciting Eggy Bread Sandwich, a Wonderfully Warm Croissant Sandwich, Heavenly Hot Cross Buns with Chocolate & Fresh Fruit and a Totally Tasty Pastry Plate. 

Asda’s ‘Messy Brekkies’ e-book ensures there’s something for every mum and shows that even in the age of Insta-worthy food shots and Michelin star plate arrangements, it’s really just the thought that counts when it comes to Mother’s Day.

To inspire other little cooks ahead of Mother’s Day, the ‘Messy Brekkies’ e-book is available to download from https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/asda-messy-brekkies, complete with all seven recipes and instructions for little chefs to try at home (with adult supervision, of course!). 

Alice, aged 7, Mother’s Day Recipe Tester at Asda and daughter to Kate, said: “My mummy likes eggs for breakfast, so I made Eggy Bread with Daddy’s help. I liked cracking the eggs and dipping the bread in, but it was a bit messy – my hands had stuff all over them!”

Elijah, aged 7, Mother’s Day Recipe Tester at Asda and son to Roxsanne, said: “I made pancakes, because they’re mine and my mum’s favourite. My favourite bit was putting on the toppings, especially the chocolate chips…”.

As Asda spokesperson said: “When it comes to Mother’s Day, nothing beats a heartfelt gesture like homemade breakfast in bed. The outcome isn’t always pretty, but the knowledge that it’s been made with love is better than any aesthetically pleasing plate.

“When it came to appointing our Mother’s Day recipe testers we wanted to hand creative control to those who know Mum best – the kids! The dishes tested by Alice, Elijah, Alfie and Grace make use of the fantastic range of products across The Bakery at Asda and wider store and are totally delicious. 

“We hope that in reading our Messy Brekkies E-book, everyone is inspired to get in the kitchen and give these Messy Brekkies a go.”

Asda’s Messy Brekkies E-book is available now, and can be downloaded free of charge at https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/asda-messy-brekkies.

Share the love around the Quarter this Mother’s Day and spoil her with the Perfect Gift

Whether you’re looking to plan the ultimate day out or find the perfect gift, St James Quarter has everything you need to keep the whole family entertained. 

From pet mums to step mums, everyone deserves to be spoiled this year and shoppers can enjoy retailer offers from a selection of some of the Quarter’s top brands including H Beauty which will be offering customers a choice of five deluxe samples as part of a female founded brand beauty box when they spend over £75.  

Those looking to add a personal touch can get their gifts engraved by talented calligrapher Laila Lettering in John Lewis from 1-4pm on 18th March. Just spend £50 or more in store to take advantage of this unique and complimentary service.

 

Rituals and Neom will be providing the zen factor with complimentary hand and arm massage treatments so you can treat the mother figure in your life to some pamper time.

Rituals will be welcoming walk-ins across Mother’s Day weekend and Neom will be taking bookings between Monday 13th March – Sunday 19th March for massage for two, accompanied by a ‘mumosa’ and Hotel Chocolat treats. Anyone who books with Neom will also receive a 15% discount so they can treat themselves or choose the perfect gift. 

If you want to indulge in a little luxury, Coach and Kate Spade will be giving shoppers £100 off when they spend over £400 between 9th – 19th March. 

Those looking to make a day of it can continue the celebrations with a bite to eat at one of the Quarter’s many impressive dining destinations including Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay which will be offering a free strawberry spritz cocktail for all mums on the day. Duck & Waffle will also be offering complimentary fizz on arrival as well as a little chocolate dessert, the perfect sweet treat to round off a great day out with mum. 

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show the mother figure in your life some appreciation, and St James Quarter is on hand to help you celebrate in style to make this year extra special. 

“From our selection of world class retailers to our impressive dining and leisure destinations, there’s something for everyone at the Quarter and we look forward to welcoming you to celebrate this special day with us.”  

Mother’s Day retailer discounts and activities will be taking place at St James Quarter from 9th – 19th March.

Keep up to date with the full range of promotions on offer by visiting the website: https://stjamesquarter.com/ and stay up to date with the latest via the @StJamesQuarter Instagram page. 

Government reaffirms support for the ban on hunting trophies

The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill has been passed by the House of Commons

The UK Government made a manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies of endangered animals and yesterday supported the passage of Henry Smith MP’s Private Member’s Bill which delivers this.

The Government will continue to support the Bill in the Lords helping to protect animals listed by the internationally agreed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

After the debate, International Biodiversity Minister Trudy Harrison said: “This is a pivotal moment in delivering one of our key manifesto commitments on international conservation and animal welfare.

“Using an internationally agreed list of species, this will play an important part in helping reverse the decline of wildlife across the world. I look forward to it becoming an Act of Parliament.”

Conservative MP for Crawley Henry Smith said: “At the last General Election we stood on a manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies of endangered animals. The House of Commons passing this legislation today marks an important moment in ensuring that this pledge to support conservation becomes a reality.

“I’m grateful to the Government for supporting my Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill and I look forward to it now progressing through the House of Lords.

“Our country does not want to be part of a trade in the body parts of endangered species. Today the Commons sent this message loud and clear.”

The Bill will ban the import of trophies hunted from around 6,000 species including lions, elephants, rhinos, and polar bears.

It follows the government’s world-leading Ivory Act which came into force last year, introducing a near total ban on the import, export and dealing of items containing elephant ivory in the UK. We will also be setting out measures in due course on whether to extend that ban to other ivory bearing species.

The Government will also support Angela Richardson’s Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill in the Lords, which will provide the ability for government to ban the sale and advertising of activities abroad which involve low standards of welfare for animals.

Mother’s Day Celebrations at Johnnie Walker Princes Street

Treat your mother figure to an afternoon of whisky and chocolate tasting

On Sunday, March 19, Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Edinburgh’s five-star whisky attraction, will celebrate Mother’s Day by offering guests a chance to treat the mother figures in their lives to a guided tasting of three delicious whiskies, each perfectly paired with a chocolate truffle from The Highland Chocolatier lain Burnett.

Set to take place in the ground floor retail area at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, this 45-minute experience will give lucky mother figures a taste of some of Scotland’s best whiskies, as well as some Johnnie Walker hospitality at Scotland’s visitor attraction of the year, as awarded by Whisky magazine.

The tasting will start with the velvety smooth and aromatic Dalwhinnie 15-year-old, then the delicate fruity Cardhu 15-year-old with bitter chocolate notes that pair perfectly with The Highland Chocolatier. This will be followed by a classic Johnnie Walker old fashioned with a raspberry twist. Guests will also learn about these unique drams, their distinct flavours, their history and the delicious chocolate they are paired with.

As a parting gift, all the lovely mothers on show will be presented with a mini dried bouquet to take home. 

Rob Maxwell, head of Johnnie Walker Princes Street said: “Our mother figures play such important roles in our lives, and they always deserve to be celebrated. We are really looking forward to hosting a great tasting experience that’ll live long in the memories of all the whisky-loving mums in attendance.”

A 20% discount will be offered for the bottle of each whisky from the tasting, as well as 10% off other retail purchases of up to £500 and for drinks in the bar on the day of the experience, and for up to 7 days afterwards (T&Cs apply). 

To redeem, guests must show their confirmation ticket to a member of staff at the till. 

For more information and to book an experience, please visit: 

www.johnniewalkerprincesstreet.com

Climate Fund winners announced

A total of £140,000 is being awarded to community and voluntary groups to implement projects related to climate change.

The Edinburgh Community Climate Fund (ECCF) votes have been cast and counted and we are delighted to announce that eight different groups from across the city are to be awarded funding for their projects. There were 2,510 voters who cast 10,025 votes in total during the ballot process.

The successful projects, as voted for by the people of Edinburgh, are:

The ECCF received fantastic applications from no less than 56 community groups across the city.

Due to the high number of proposals submitted, £40,000 worth of extra funding was exceptionally made available in addition to the original £100,000, to allow as many projects to go ahead as possible. Given the high quality of the remaining projects that applied for funding, work will be undertaken to signpost groups to other opportunities to progress their ideas where possible.

The initiative was designed to support the delivery of the Council’s climate change targets together with providing learning to inform the wider approach to participatory budgeting (PB). 

Participatory budgeting is a way for citizens to have a direct say on how money is spent. In Edinburgh, PB has been used as an approach to distribute funding since 2010.

The Edinburgh PB Framework was approved in 2021 which included a commitment to a number of PB initiatives including running a green PB, the ECCF, for the first time this year.

The ECCF has provided £140,000 of one-off funding which is available for local groups to undertake projects which align with the objectives of the Edinburgh Climate Strategy and goal of becoming a net-zero city by 2030. 

Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The Edinburgh Community Climate Fund is a very welcome approach which recognises the importance of sharing responsibility for decision-making with representatives from local communities. 

“We have a bold and ambitious plan to become a net-zero city by 2030. Our citizens and communities should rightly be at the heart of this. We hope that through this exercise we have provided an opportunity for communities to both identify problems and design and implement solutions. I very much celebrate this innovative approach to working with communities.

“A huge thanks to everyone who took part. We very much look forward to seeing the projects progress and hope that the community will enjoy the benefits from this exercise.”

Criteria for the ECCF are set out below:

  • Creating opportunities for community leadership and learning on climate change.
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within communities and contributing to the net-zero agenda for Edinburgh.
  • Generating sustainable projects for the benefit of local people to build resilience or adapt to climate change within communities.
  • Building relationships between neighbourhoods of different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds to work together on just, equitable and accessible climate and resilience activities contributing to the city’s net zero agenda, also ensuring that activities work towards reducing or removing barriers for disabled people in the transition to net-zero.

Make sure your Ramadan donations reach those in need

As British Muslims enter the month of Ramadan, regulators issue advice on giving safely to registered charities

Ramadan is a time of huge generosity among British Muslims, and the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, as well as the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, make it especially important that their charitable contributions support good causes through registered charities. Regulators are therefore issuing advice to remind British Muslims to make checks, ensuring their donations reach registered charities.

Most fundraising is genuine, however fraudsters and criminals sometimes take advantage of public generosity at times of increased giving, using methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from fake charities.

There have been several reports of fake appeals on social media to help those affected by the disaster in Turkey and Syria. We recommend these simple steps donors can take to make sure their donations reach their intended cause:

  • Check the charity’s name and registration number on the Charity Register at www.gov.uk/checkcharity – most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.
  • Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information.
  • Be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them.
  • Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re seeking to donate to or work with to understand how they are spending their funds
  • Look out for the Fundraising Badge – the logo that says ‘registered with Fundraising Regulator’ – and check the Fundraising Regulator’s Directory of organisations which have committed to fundraise in line with the Code of Fundraising Practice.
  • A face-to-face collector should have a licence from the relevant Local Authority Licensing team or the Metropolitan Police (in Greater London).

If after making these checks you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it to Action Fraud over the phone at 0300 123 2040 or online.

Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission, said: “British Muslims are immensely generous in their support for good causes, especially during Ramadan. It’s vital that generosity reaches those in desperate need – whether here at home, in Turkey and Syria, or around the world.

“By following a few simple checks, donors can continue giving to registered charities with confidence.”

Gerald Oppenheim, CEO of the Fundraising Regulator said: “The British Muslim community are incredibly generous.

“This generosity enables charities both at home and abroad to undertake crucial work impacting those that need it most. By carrying out a few simple checks you can make sure that you are giving to a genuine cause and that your generously donated money reaches its intended destination.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1636718402864594944

Fadi Itani, CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum said: “Giving to others holds spiritual significance in Islamic teachings, however this good-will can sometimes be taken advantage of.

“It’s vitally important for donors to give smart and give safe in order to have the most benefit to those in need. Donors must check carefully and give to only registered charities that specialise in the cause, are present in afflicted areas, and who offer regulated and secure donation methods.

“This will ensure that funds can have the most impact in changing and saving the lives of others.”

Scottish Government: Support for equalities and human rights groups

Funded organisations report on progress

A fund that helps to tackle inequality and discrimination has supported more than 115,000 people in its first year.

The Scottish Government’s Equality and Human Rights Fund is providing £21 million in grants over three years to 48 organisations working with diverse communities to further equality and protect human rights.

Funded initiatives include advice helplines, mental wellbeing sessions, English classes and benefits advice.

Equalities Minister Christina McKelvie visited the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) in Glasgow, to see how people have benefited from their work.

Ms McKelvie said: “We want to build a fairer, more equal Scotland which is free from discrimination and where the human rights of everyone are respected, protected and fulfilled.

“I was very pleased to visit WSREC and see the range of activities that they deliver. For example, their cost of living advice service for people from minority ethnic communities has helped to boost family incomes and lift children out of poverty.

“WSREC is just one of 48 organisations that receive grants from the Equality and Human Rights Fund. From advocacy support to public education, these organisations are transforming the lives of the thousands of people that they work with.”

Ghzala Khan, Executive Director at WSREC, said: “Based in Glasgow, the West of Scotland Regional Equality Council supports a range of minority ethnic communities across 12 local authorities.

“The Equality and Human Rights Fund has enabled us to deliver bi-lingual, culturally sensitive services to marginalised minority ethnic groups in the areas of advice and information, employability, direct discrimination, civic participation and health and wellbeing.

“Our work reduces inequality, increases opportunity, and supports people and families to achieve their full potential.”

Equality and Human Rights Fund — second progress report.