Dementia Friendly campaign coming to Granton Campus

Did you see North Edinburgh News’ recent story about the city council’s campaign to make Edinburgh a Dementia Friendly city? Well, representatives from Alzheimer Scotland will be at

Edinburgh College Granton Campus

on Wednesday 11 March between 10am and 4pm

to tell you how you can get involved.

We will be there talking to the students about the work of Alzheimer Scotland and various fundraising and volunteering opportunities within the organisation and will be encouraging people to sign up to become Dementia Friends.

We want to get people talking about dementia and would welcome you to come along on the day to talk to us. We look forward to seeing you and thanking you for helping us make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.

Abbi Parkhouse, Regional Fundraiser

Minister chooses North Edinburgh to launch health initiative

National healthy eating campaign launched at Pilton Community Health Project

The Scottish Government launched a new healthy eating initiative at Pilton Community Health Project on Boswall Parkway this morning. The ‘Eat Better Feel Better’ campaign will help Scotland’s families make simple changes to the way they shop, cook and eat.

Home cooking in Scotland is declining, according to a new survey commissioned by the Scottish Government, which shows that more families are turning to convenience foods and takeaways due to the pressures of family life.

The research accompanies a new campaign from the Scottish Government which was launched today to inspire and support families with practical tips, advice and tools to help them make simple, quick and cheap changes to how they shop, cook and eat.

The research shows that less than half of Scotland’s mums (47 per cent) consider themselves as very capable cooks and are happy to cook a meal using fresh or frozen ingredients, without the use of a recipe. However, more than a third of families (35 per cent) are eating takeaway food at least once a week and around one third of families (32 per cent) are eating ready meals at least three times a week.

Kirsty Day (left) with Public Health Minister Maureen Watt

Public Health Minister Maureen Watt launched the Eat Better Feel Better campaign at Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP) – the first community health project in Scotland – which supports local people to eat more healthily through cooking skills, budgeting and meal planning.

PCHP’s Food team works with volunteers and local partners to help local people develop their understanding and knowledge to eat well on a budget, including cooking skills, budgeting, meal planning and wider food issues.

It does this by running cooking sessions, lots of ‘cook and taste’ sessions in the community, delivering ‘bite size’ sessions on eating well and much more. People can also get involved by joining one of the groups, becoming a volunteer or attending Food for Thought Forum meetings.

For many mums, the reluctance to cook from scratch is down to a number of obstacles which they see as prohibitive to making healthier meals for their families. Four in ten (42 per cent) think that it costs too much money to shop for and cook healthier family meals, a third (33 per cent) think that it takes too much time, around the same number (31 per cent) say that they’re too busy. A quarter (24 per cent) say that their kids are too fussy.

Speaking at the launch Ms Watt said: “For many families across Scotland, buying, cooking and eating healthy food can be a real challenge. However, there are many quick and cheap changes that we can make which can lead to significant improvements in our daily diets. From dealing with fussy eaters and shopping on a budget to planning your meals and finding time to cook, Eat Better Feel Better aims to address the various challenges faced by families by providing lots of practical hints, tips and recipes to help families eat more healthily.

“We know that helping children to eat healthier from a young age can help them avoid major illnesses later in life. That’s why we’re working together with retailers and community groups from across the country in getting behind Scotland’s families – to provide the support, encouragement and advice which will help them eat better and ultimately feel better.”

Anita Aggarwal, Community Development Manager at Pilton Community Health Project, said: “It’s great to have a Scottish Government campaign that complements and supports the work that community food and health projects like us are already doing. Pilton has a wealth of local community food projects that link together through the Food for Thought Forum. Because of the dedication and skills of these local residents and agencies, eating well in the area is easier. This campaign should help all these groups reach more local residents.”

PCHP also gives the local community access to food related training courses to develop their skills, and can now support others to deliver quick and easy healthy eating sessions using a new nutrition toolkit:

http://pchp.org.uk/projects/food

Through PCHP’s work, local people tell them that although they do want to eat better, the barriers they face can make it difficult. Often people who attend the cooking groups lack basic equipment like cookers and fridges. Budgets are tight; we find that while locals are good at making small amounts of money go a long way, this often means they cannot afford healthier food options, or the fuel to cook them.

At their December ‘Good Food for All’ event local people told PCHP that low income is the most significant barrier to eating healthily. Austerity measures, increasingly insecure employment and low wages (below Living Wage) mean that increasing numbers are resorting to food banks. The Poverty Alliance told PCHP about the shame people feel when they need to use food banks. While local food projects are working hard to support people with their cooking and budgeting skills, these financial barriers also need to be tackled at a policy level.

Kirsty Day, a 21 year-old student from Edinburgh and a mum of one, was a big fast food fan but following the birth of her son Kelvin almost three years ago, she decided that she didn’t want him to be brought up with bad food habits and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. She was put in touch with Pilton Community Health Project.

Kirsty said: “I was eating a typical student diet, but as a mum I wanted to be able to set a good example for my son. The changes in my lifestyle over the past two years have been huge. I’m happier, I feel less tired and have more energy, and Kelvin is happier too.

“With my new knowledge of food and the cooking skills I have learned, I find it really easy to make healthy meals with fresh ingredients now. Over the course of the week it’s affordable to eat and cook with fresh ingredients instead of pre-packed products and it definitely feels better eating fresh food. Some of my dishes actually work out cheaper than buying ready meal equivalents. I definitely feel better by eating better.”

Eat Better Feel Better will be working alongside supermarkets and the convenience sector, as well as stakeholders and community groups from across Scotland’s food and health industry, to provide ongoing support for families. From practical cooking classes at community groups to special offers on healthy ingredients in-store, the campaign will aim to provide advice and practical help in places and at times which suit them.

A new website – eatbetterfeelbetter.co.uk – provides recipes, tips from parents and healthier offers available from Scotland’s food retailers. The site will also host a series of cook-along videos to provide practical, easy to follow guides to cooking healthier family favourites such as spaghetti Bolognese, home-made burgers and chicken curry.

A key strand of the campaign will be directing families across Scotland towards local events and support in their community, such as that provided by Pilton Community Health Project.

The campaign contributes to the Scottish Government’s food and drink policy and aspiration for Scotland to become a Good Food Nation, a nation where it is second nature to serve, sell and eat fresh, healthy food.

It is also part of a co-ordinated Scottish Government programme of measures to support healthier choices in Scotland, including the Supporting Healthy Choices Voluntary Framework, launched in 2013, which sets out specific voluntary action for the food industry, including retailers, manufacturers, caterers and the public sector to support healthier diets in Scotland.

Call to employers: make the living wage your New Year resolution

Campaigners are calling for employers in Scotland to commit to paying the living wage in 2015.

More than 30 Scottish employers signed up to become become accredited Living Wage Employers last month, meaning that all their staff will now be at least £7.85 an hour.

There are now 94 Living Wage Employers in Scotland. Of the 32 new organisations that have joined the accreditation scheme 70% had less than 50 employees and 38% had less than 10 employees. The majority of the newly accredited organisations are private sector companies.

Peter Kelly, Director of the Poverty Alliance, who host the Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative said: “We have seen a significant increase in enquiries from employers about Living Wage accreditation since Living Wage Week at the start of November, when we reported that the number of Living Wage Employers in Scotland had tripled to 60. Since then, an additional 32 Scottish employers have gone on to become accredited, including Digby Brown law firm, Heart of Midlothian football club and An Clachan Café in Glasgow.

“This is great news, especially for those workers that get a pay rise as a result. It is clear that in-work poverty will remain a real problem for thousands of workers in Scotland in 2015, but if more employers commit to paying the living wage we can begin to make a real impact.

“We are here to help and advise employers who wish to be recognized for paying the living wage. We have been overwhelmed by the response from Scottish employers in the last few weeks and look forward to working with many more in 2015. The living wage is a key way of ensuring that more workers have a prosperous New Year.”

Graham Bell, Managing Director of Glasgow-based retailer Guitar, Guitar who also have shops in Edinburgh and Newcastle said: “Our staff are our greatest asset, and the backbone of our company. By moving onto a living wage, we are solidifying our commitment to the well-being of our employees, their families and the future of our local community. It is a move we’re very proud of.”

Newly accredited Strata Cleaning are the first cleaning firm in Scotland to become Living Wage Employers. The company’s Director, Steven Homer, said: “We made a strategic decision at the formation of the business that it would stand out from the majority of cleaning companies by committing to our staff to adopt the Living Wage threshold for all staff employed by us.

“Within the cleaning sector it is common practice for many staff to be paid at the National Minimum Wage. Our business strategy is to provide a specialist cleaning service where our product knowledge, operating skills and a high level of customer service are paramount. We believe that a part of creating this culture within our business from the very outset is to recognise that it is our staff who are the main customer facing element of our business.

“Our many years of experience teaches us that staff who feel they are correctly rewarded will be much more positive and go that extra step in meeting our customer needs. We believe that long term this will be a major business benefit rather than a cost to us.”

Graeme Thomson, a member of staff at Timber Company Group in Dumfries, is directly affected by his employers’ decision to implement the living wage. He said: “I have recently started working with DTCG and already I feel like a valued member of staff. I was recently informed that DTCG have become a living wage employer, consequently this directly affected myself, making a positive contribution to my salary.

“As expected this has been hugely beneficial. At present I am currently saving for a deposit to take my first step on the property ladder. The increase in my wage makes living month to month that little bit easier whilst saving a large portion of my monthly wage. Working for this increased and fairer wage will make a huge difference to me and many others who will now feel more valued at work and encourage working harder.

“Since joining the company I have been encouraged through continuous development to both learn through further education and hands on work experience to better myself and add to my skill set. Moving to a living wage employer is another reason why I feel privileged to have found employment with the Dumfries Timber Company Group”

Colin Cameron , Operations Director, Dumfries Timber Company said: “We firmly believe that signing up to the Living Wage will only benefit the company. By treating your staff with respect, of which paying the Living Wage is only a part, you get a more contented and motivated staff.

“Respect is always a two way thing, and is extremely beneficial to both sides. Low wages was one of the factors that led to the formation of Dumfries Timber Company. Previously, we worked for one of the large national companies and we were constantly frustrated with the wage structure they had in place. When we started Dumfries Timber Company 7 years ago, the members of staff who joined us were immediately paid more than they were before.

“By signing up to the Living Wage, there are added benefits to our Company such as low staff turnover. We believe that, if you treat your staff with respect in other areas as well as salary, there will be an increased awareness of our company.
Signing up to the Living Wage scheme, will also bring benefits when we are looking to recruit new staff.”

The 32 Living Wage Employers who have become accredited in the past month are:

• Aberdeen YMCA
• The Social Enterprise Academy
• Ypeople
• Harper Macleod LLP
• Cutting Edge Engineering Ltd
• Scotwest Credit Union Ltd
• Conveyancing Direct
• Scottish Out of School Care Network
• Gavin Watson Ltd
• Lift Control Ltd
• Digby Brown LLP
• Dumfries Timber Company Ltd
• Energy Action Scotland
• Heart of Midlothian PLC
• ITC Training Academy
• Strata Cleaning Limited
• Animac Vets Ltd
• Muehlhan Surface Protection Limited
• Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway
• Saltire Roofing and Building Ltd
• Scottish Parliament
• An Clachan Cafe
• Scottish Youth Parliament
• Crannoch Residential Child Care Resource Ltd.
• Village Vets
• GuitarGuitar
• Neil Findlay MSP
• The Spark
• Nutrend Office Furniture
• Trade Right International CIC
• teclan ltd Digital Marketing
• The Royal Bank of Scotland

A full list of all Scottish Living Wage Employers is available at:

www.scottishlivingwage.org/accreditation/which_employers_are_paying_the_living_wage

Save Stockbridge to hold emergency meeting

Campaign group Save Stockbridge has organised an emergency meeting to discuss the collapse of the wall adjacent to Edinburgh Accies rugby ground on Comely Bank Road.

A Save Stockbridge spokesperson said: “This is a very controversial issue and local people are infuriated at what has happened to the wall and how it has been allowed to collapse.”

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 December at 8pm at the LifeCare Centre on Cheyne Street. All welcome.

Seven days to save St Paul’s

Time’s running out for a campaign to save a local church. St Paul’s RC Church in Muirhouse will close next week – unless campaigners can force a last-minute change of heart from church authorities.

Hundreds of local residents joined the campaign to save the closure-threatened RC Church, with over 700 people signing a petition to keep the church alive. However church leaders say the building is too costly to maintain and St Paul’s will close with a ‘thanksgiving Mass’ on 10 October.

In a June letter to parishioners, The Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh, Leo Cushley, said the church had eaten up hundreds of thousands of pounds in wasted cash since it was built in 1971 and added that the building now urgently needs a new heating system. He said this cost, on top of current parish debt of over £284,000, had led officials to consider the church’s future.

The number of worshippers who regularly attend the Muirhouse church has fallen over the years but that’s not unique to Muirhouse, and parishioners argue that the declining congregation has much more to do with the ongoing regeneration of the area.

Local people believe St Paul’s has a future in Muirhouse. They argue that merging with nearby St Margaret’s is not a realistic solution, and are convinced that St Paul’s could blossom again as the heart of the community when new homes are built and families return to the area.

Last month, campaigners wrote a well-argued five page letter to the Archbishop, pointing out many reasons why church authorities should reconsider: financial, community outreach, the Polish community, the ongoing regeneration of Muirhouse and Pennywell, the expansion of St David’s RC School … all were cited as valid reasons for keeping St Paul’s alive.

The letter concludes: ‘We are not calling for the entire building of St Paul’s to be retained, although many uses have been suggested for all areas of the building, but we fundamentally wish to maintain the wonderful community and spirit of St Paul’s parish that has been fostered over decades.

‘We want to remain as a strong Catholic community in Muirhouse, to be a part of the rejuvenation and regeneration of the area, retaining our unique parish and continuing to do the work of the Lord in our local area.

You stated at the Question and Answer session at St Paul’s on 13 July 2014 that you are in a position to write off the debt of the parish and we would urge you to consider this course of action while we all work together to create a new future for St Paul’s.

The parishioners and wider community are eager and willing to take on more responsibilities and support St Paul’s in every way possible, as has always been the case, taking on new challenges and supporting both the parish and the wider community.’

But now, after months of meetings, petitions, letters and appeals, the decision has been made and St Paul’s will close on 10 October.

Campaigner Lorraine McTigue said: “ The closure date is 10 October when a thanksgiving mass will be held, and previous priests, nuns and the Archbishop himself will attend – but the strong feeling in the church is that we do not want to attend, we do not want this church to close for valid reasons.

“I have just met an elderly parishioner outside who said – and I agree – that the parishioners are being emotionally blackmailed and ‘duty-bound’ to accept what is being said and attend this mass, while doing so would be the end of the line.

“There is so much that could be said about this situation. One example: after the mass at 10am on Sunday, there were literally hundreds of people flooding in for the Polish mass – busier than I personally have ever seen the church. We all want expansion and integration, but people have been separated and never encouraged to communicate or socialise – all the reasons for closing the church are contradictory.”

West Pilton parishioner Pamela Hanlon, who has attended the church for twenty years, said: “I think closing St Paul’s is big mistake. I don’t think they realise the damage it does to our community. I understand the financial reasons for it, but what’s happened over the years is that instead of fixing the problems, they have just patched them up. If we had known about it before we could have done some fundraising, but we’ve not been given the opportunity.”

Theresa McGlynn was one of the original parishioners when the church was founded in 1971 and has faithfully attended ever since. “It will break my heart, but I think many of us knew it would come to this in the end. The church has been well used over the years but gradually, since they started knocking the houses down, we have lost a lot of parishioners with them moving away and, of course, many have also gone to their eternal reward now. This church was built when Muirhouse was just being built and we feel we are losing our community.”

In their letter to the Archbishop, parishioners summed up their feelings about impending closure:

‘A ‘celebration’ thanksgiving mass was mentioned for Friday 10 October but alas, as the disenfranchised, we find nothing to celebrate. Are we really expected to feel thankful for an impending closure of our beloved parish of St Pauls? Such is the feeling of frustration and discontent that we believe the mass will be attended by very few people.’

Festival focus for mouth cancer campaign

Health professionals took to the Fringe to raise mouth cancer awareness at the weekend …

Dental and oral health experts gathered in Edinburgh at the weekend as part of the campaign to raise awareness of mouth cancer.

The “Let’s Talk About Mouth Cancer” campaign has been set up to provide information and support to tackle the oral disease, which is increasing in the UK. The main goal of the campaign is to improve survival through early diagnosis of disease.

The team raised awareness among festival-goers, holiday makers and locals at the Meadows over the weekend, offering a 24 hours screening service from a marquee on Middle Meadoww Walk.

NHS postgraduate trainees from the Edinburgh Dental Institute also delivered oral health messages at various sites in Edinburgh and used social media and their website to make sure they get their point across – and one daring duo even braved the elements for 24 hours on a tandem to raise awareness of mouth cancer symptoms!

The campaign is a collaborative project between NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University and urges people: ‘If in doubt, check it out’.

Professor Victor Lopes, Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, NHS Lothian, said: “Early detection and timely treatment of mouth cancer is vital and can lead to a significantly improved survival rate. It cannot be stressed enough – the earlier a cancer is detected, the better the treatment options and outcome.

“Remember, most mouth conditions are not cancerous. If you are in any doubt, check it out with a dentist, doctor or pharmacist – also make sure you have regular dental checks and look after your health.”

Mouth cancer affects all age groups – with a significant rise among people under 45 years – and there are now more cases of mouth cancer in the UK each year than cases of cervical cancer in women and testicular cancer in men put together.

The campaign has important messages for people of all ages, but organisers are keen to target specific groups, including young people and people from ethnic minorities.

Common risk factors include:

Regular high alcohol intake
Smoking
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. World-wide, HPV is the most widespread sexually transmitted virus
Poor diet
Poor oral hygiene.

People who combine smoking and regular high alcohol intake increase by 40 times their risk of developing mouth cancer. But some younger patients with the disease have none of these risk factors, which is why it’s important to check regularly for signs of mouth cancer.

Signs to look out for include:

Oral lumps that grow
Oral ulcers that do not heal after two weeks
Red, white or mixed patches in the mouth
Persistent soreness in the mouth
Bleeding in the mouth
Lump in your neck.

Budget: ‘government is leaving retirement to chance’

‘Pensions ‘fiddle’ proves government is leaving retirement to chance‘

Britain’s biggest pensioners’ organisation The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) say pension changes in the recent Budget will simply store up bigger problems for later. The group adds that the private pensions industry might ‘make a killing’ but changes proposed by the Chancellor do not address the underlying problems of funding an adequate income in retirement.

The NPC’s main objective is to promote the welfare and interests of all pensioners, as a way of securing dignity, respect and financial security in retirement, and the organisation believes that the Chancellor’s real intention is to place further responsibility for retirement onto individuals and the market, rather than seeing it as a role for the government. The campaigning group adds that welfare caps, pensioner bonds and changes to pensions prove government ‘is leaving retirement to chance’.

Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: “Pensioners will be concerned that benefits such as the winter fuel allowance, cold weather payments and the Christmas Bonus have all been placed into the welfare cap, which could lead to cuts in the future, at a time when fuel bills in particular are continuing to rise. The announcements regarding a new Pensioner Bond and changes to ISAs were also rather rose-tinted. 55 per cent of all pensioners receive less than £10 from their savings and 29 per cent of older couples have less than £1500 put aside.

“The idea that older people therefore have huge amounts of money to invest is rather optimistic, but the most serious change was related to defined contribution pensions. These reveal that more has to be done to improve the prospects for future pensioners. The state pension is one of the worst in Europe and the high water mark of decent company pensions has long gone.”

She went on: “However, allowing people to take all their pension pot doesn’t make the pot any bigger and belies the fact that the average worker will have a pension pot of little more than £30,000 to cover all of their retirement. Enabling people to take their pensions from aged 55 also shows the chancellor has realised there is a huge problem coming down the line which has to be funded. His plans to raise the state pension age to 68 will create an army of older workers, who if lose their jobs in their late fifties will be unable to find work. The only way they will have to fund this period of limbo until they reach retirement age will be to use their pensions – which might solve the problem in the short-term but will store up bigger problems later on when their money starts to run out.

“Once again it’s a pensions’ fiddle and those left to carry the burden will be some of the lowest paid workers.

“The reality is money purchase defined contribution pension schemes are simply not the answer to funding a decent income in retirement. The private pensions industry might make a killing from the schemes but most workers end up with much less than they thought.”

For further information about the National Pensioners Convention visit www.npcuk.org or email npc.scotland@yahoo.co.uk

Local MP backs Living Wage

This is Living Wage Week and Mark Lazarowicz MP has backed Labour’s plans to raise wages for thousands of low-paid workers in Edinburgh.

If the party wins power at the next General Election, Labour says it will introduce new tax breaks for employers that commit to paying the living wage – currently set at £7.65 in Scotland. As well as making sure work really pays, it will also help cut benefit bills through savings in lower tax credits and benefit payments.

The North and Leith MP (pictured below) said: “In-work poverty has risen sharply so that many families that are being forced to turn to food banks or take out pay-day loans actually have a wage coming in. It is simply wrong that almost 60% of children in poverty in the UK come from households where at least one person is working.

“I know there are already councils like the City Council here in Edinburgh and private employers as well who are doing the right thing by their staff and paying the living wage. I strongly support Ed Miliband’s plans to encourage more employers to do the same so that hard-working staff are treated decently and paid a fair wage.”

As well as the City of Edinburgh Council, Fife, East Lothian, Falkirk and Scottish Borders Councils have also committed to paying the living wage.

Under Labour’s plans, firms that commit to paying their employees the living wage in the first year of the next Parliament will be offered a 12 month tax rebate of up to £1,000 for each individual worker that receives a pay rise. The money would be funded directly from increased income tax and National Insurance revenues.

Let’s talk about it

Campaign launched to make organ donation wishes known

Two-thirds of organ donors were not on register

Almost two-thirds of organ donors in Scotland over the past five years were not on the organ donor register at the time of their death, according to new figures.

The statistics showing that 62 per cent of donors were not on the NHS Organ Donor Register have been revealed to coincide with the launch of a campaign to encourage more Scots to make their organ donation wishes known.

Over forty per cent of Scots are already on the register, but the campaign is also aiming to increase the number of people signed up to donate their organs.

Mum-of-one, Jill Polanski, whose husband Matt’s life was cut tragically short after a motorbike accident in August, has given her backing to the campaign.

Jill is proud that she was able to honour Matt’s wishes to be an organ donor – a hugely difficult decision that was made easier by a chat they’d had three years earlier.

The television and radio campaign has been designed to encourage people to have a ‘wee chat’ with their family to make their wishes known, and to sign up to the register.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson met Jill and her 13-year-old daughter Bethany to learn about their story.

He said: “I am incredibly thankful to Jill and Bethany for sharing their story, and for helping to highlight how important it is for you to share your wishes with your loved ones.

“In Matt’s case, this discussion meant that Jill was able to make the decision to donate his organs, and this meant that he was able to save four lives.

“Matt and Jill’s story is a very real example of how important organ donation is, and how joining the register could save lives.

“This campaign has two simple yet equally important messages – join the register and have a chat about organ donation with your family and loved ones.

“The reality is that more than 600 people in Scotland are waiting for a life-saving transplant and across the UK three people die every day because they don’t get the organ they need in time.

“That 41 per cent of Scots are now on the Register – higher than the UK average of 31 per cent – shows we are on the right track.”

Three months on from the accident, Matt’s family are sharing their experience in a bid to get people talking about organ donation.

Matt was just 30 when he came off his bike at Knockhill. A seasoned and talented rider, Matt had weathered countless injuries through his love of racing and riding in general. However that day, Matt succumbed to a serious head injury, leaving his wife, daughter, family and the racing community devastated.

Motorbikes run through the heart of the Polanski family, with Matt, Jill and their daughter Bethany all regulars at the Knockhill Circuit.

Jill said: “When the accident happened, I was in the pit lane with our daughter Bethany who was warming up to race that day as well. As soon as I heard they’d sent for an air ambulance, I knew how serious it was.”

Matt was initially treated by the Knockhill medics before being admitted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Jill, 32, from Cardenden, said: “Matt was in A&E, going through the handover when we arrived at the hospital. I was informed of how serious Matt’s condition was and I just kept asking to see his helmet, over and over again. I knew it would show how bad things were. When I saw it, I knew that was it. That it was over.

“The neuro-surgeon then broke the news that the bleeding and trauma to Matt’s head was so massive, that he’d gone.”

Jill and Bethany, surrounded by Matt’s family and friends, were approached about organ donation.

Jill said: “I remember feeling very numb as the accident had only happened about three hours beforehand. But I knew Matt’s wishes and agreed instantly to donate all his organs, apart from his eyes. His family just looked at me, but I was able to tell them that I knew that’s what he wanted.”

Jill and Matt had first discussed organ donation when Matt was renewing the photo on his driving licence.

Jill said: “I trained as a dispensing optician and have a medical science background so I knew how important organ donation was. A close family member of Matt’s has one kidney, so my view was very much that if anything happened to that kidney, he would rely on someone else giving one up.

“I clearly remember the discussion, and Matt saying he would have no objections for that very reason. He’d made the decision, all I had to do was honour it.”

Jill went through all the authorisation forms with Matt’s mum and dad as it was important to her that they were part of the decision. Jill and Bethany kept vigil beside Matt’s bed, refusing to leave him until the last possible moment when he was taken to theatre.

Jill said: “Bethany was struggling at this point, so I asked my best friend to talk things through with her. When I went outside to explain that recipients and their families would be making their way to hospital, Bethany hit me with the incredibly grown up statement that even though her Daddy was gone, because of his decision, some other little girl could still have her daddy tomorrow.

“The way she handled things helped me find peace and cope with those last few difficult hours.”

Matt’s heart saved the life of a woman, his liver went to a man, his kidney and pancreas to a woman and a teenage boy received his kidney.

Jill said: “It was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do, but I’m so grateful that something positive has come out of Matt’s death. I can see it from the recipients’ point of view and how they must feel knowing someone died to help them, but I’m planning to write to them down the line to let them know the comfort it has brought us as a family.

“I’ll never forget the care and kindness shown by the staff in A&E and intensive care unit at Ninewells. The team looking after us were so patient, answering my unending questions. They were there for us every step of the way.”

Jill said: “Motorcycling is dangerous and we knew how precious life was. I’m just glad we took time to talk about what Matt’s wishes were and I’d encourage anyone to do the same, as with hindsight, it helped during that unbearable 24 hours. People have even come up to me and said they’ve joined the NHS Organ Donor Register as a result of Matt’s death.

“Although Matt was taken from us too soon, he certainly lived his life to the full and I’m a better, more rounded and accomplished person for knowing him.”

You can Join the NHS Organ Donor Register by visiting

www.organdonationscotland.org

or by texting LIFE TO 61611.

New drive to tackle debt

A Scottish Government campaign will highlight help for people struggling with debt, Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing announced yesterday.

The campaign raises awareness of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), an initiative that enables people to pay back debts over any reasonable length of time, based on the amount owed and their income and outgoings.

Administered by government agency Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB), it also freezes interest, fees and charges to prevent debts mounting up. It stops creditors using debt enforcement action, safeguarding people’s homes so long as they keep up mortgage repayments.

The campaign will help people take the first step in solving their money worries by directing them to information on how to find their nearest approved money adviser online at www.helpoutofthehole.org, which goes live today.

Mr Ewing said: “The Scottish Government continues to take action, where it can, to address these problems and introduce measures to help those people in Scotland who are struggling under the burden of debt.

“The Debt Arrangement Scheme is the only government-backed scheme to help people pay back their debts in a dignified way, protecting them from the threat of action by their creditors.

“Recent changes to the Scheme have allowed for earlier freezing of interest, fees and charges helping to prevent debts increasing further. Our aim with this campaign is to raise awareness of DAS which helps people faced with the difficulties of debt to take control of their finances and get help out of the hole.”