Scottish Recovery Network has launched their new online resource full of free tools, events, and opportunities to inspire you to develop and champion peer support for mental health recovery.
It’s a space where they’ll be shining a spotlight on your fantastic peer support projects, services, and organisations and a place to share ideas and learning from people planning and delivering peer support activities, to help you do the same.
Find it here: www.PeerRecoveryHub.Net
National Galleries of Scotland has been shortlisted for Community Engagement Programme of the Year by the prestigious Museum + Heritage Awards for its work with Rowan Alba.
The nomination recognises an incredible collaborative initiative that supports people with alcohol addiction. The winners will be announced at a glittering live ceremony on Wednesday 15 May.
Beginning as a one-off photography project in 2013, the much-needed programme has since delivered 42 sessions in the last year in Edinburgh.
Developed in partnership with Rowan Alba as part of its befriending scheme, CARDS, it recognises the wellbeing benefits that art brings. Participants are welcomed into the gallery where they take part in creative activities, designed by the National Galleries of Scotland, Rowan Alba and artist Sam Rutherford.
The artist hosted sessions help people whose long-term alcohol addiction has led to poor health and social isolation, to feel more connected. Each month a different topic is discussed and participants are able to explore the collection and exhibitions of the galleries, as well as make their own art using photography, painting, collage, poetry and more.
The gatherings also support with emotional wellbeing, building friendships and assisting in recovery.
98% of participants reported anxiety, depression and low self-esteem while 25% have long-term mental health issues. However, after participating in the project 83% reported feeling less isolated, 95% felt less anxious and an amazing 95% felt their opinion mattered where they hadn’t before.
National Galleries of Scotland had the exciting opportunity to work with CARDS participants on exhibitions including co-creating audio content for Making Space | Photographs of Architecture and the current exhibition Conversations with the Collection in Modern One.
With one participant, sharing that this allowed them to feel a sense of pride and boost their self-esteem, saying: ‘I can’t believe the National Galleries asked for my opinion on the pictures, I took my grandchildren to hear the audio on the headphones.’
Creating the audio guide was an opportunity for National Galleries of Scotland to work in collaboration with participants to re-look at artworks in the collection and rethink their interpretation.
Following the spectacular success of CARDS, a new group and weekly programme ‘The Guided Self Discovery Group’ was also established after networking sessions for health and social care organisations, run by Rowan Alba at the Portrait.
Led by an NHS Occupational therapist, small groups meet at the Portrait gallery for 8 weeks. This supports people to transition from in-patient rehabilitation hospital, Milestone, back into the community. The sessions aim to ease the process, which can be stressful and isolating.
Both initiatives explore themes around identity and connectedness and the creative activities encourage reflection and self-expression. The groups have also come together for a joint session, helping participants connect with the longer-term support that is available.
The sessions are integral to supporting client’s mental health as they provide new ways to express issues they are facing. Shifting focus to artistic activity enables participants to converse freely, informally, and openly.
Siobhan McConnachie, National Galleries of Scotland Head of Learning and Engagement, said: “The feedback we get from participants is overwhelmingly positive, and we are thrilled that this has been recognised by the awards. The programmes create environments where individuals feel safe and encouraged to participate – something they do not always feel elsewhere.
“Through Rowan Alba. we have succeeded in welcoming isolated people with addiction issues to the gallery and revisit. In 2023 we delivered 42 sessions with 517 attendances overall. Many are individuals who might not otherwise leave their homes, and have no other support or access to help.
“Being able to work hand in hand with Rowan Alba to accomplish this and highlight the importance art has in helping people is something we are incredibly proud of.”
A CARDS service user said: “I thought it was about art. It is in a way, but not in the way you would think. At first it was the only reason to turn over the months in the calendar other than to remember what day the blue bucket goes out.
“The best part for me is my own visits to the galleries, the solitary ones, where I can be around people and still be by myself. That bit creeped up on me and all of a sudden when things got bad at home, I thought, I’m going to the gallery.
“There is an art to that. Whether its deliberate or not. That is an art!”
LOCAL PARENTS LAUNCH DAMNING REPORT ON HOUSING CRISIS
North Edinburgh Parents Action Group has launched an exhibition and publication highlighting the horrific housing conditions local people are being forced to live in.
The group also screened a new film about the lived experience of a local woman’s heart-breaking attempts to secure a decent home for her children.
North Edinburgh Parents Group hope that the event held at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre yesterday will draw attention to the significant impact that poor housing is having on local families’ physical and mental health and will send a clear message to politicians at all levels of government that urgent action is required to tackle North Edinburgh’s housing crisis.
Guests were welcomed by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre chairperson Billy Fitzpatrick and the event was launched by Forth SNP councillor Stuart Dobbin, who has been taking a particular interest and holding surgeries on the issue:
“Living in a home safe from Damp and Mould should be a basic right that all Council and Private tenants should enjoy.
“This important event was made all the more powerful and moving by hearing the testimony of women who, with their families, have to live with Damp and Mould and the exhibition showing pictures from inside their homes.
“Dampness creates a risk to our physical health and our mental health. It impacts on the future life chances of our children. And if not addressed, it places additional burdens on our doctors and the wider NHS services.
“This is the issue that I am most passionate about addressing as a Councillor. By my estimate about one quarter of all Council dampness cases in Edinburgh are in North Edinburgh.
“I have been raising cases and campaigning within the Council for faster action to be taken to eradicate damp from tenants homes, and as a result, the Council has now set up a dedicated, skilled team to do just that. Early days and a lot to do.
“I want to hear from residents who have damp and mould, or are having difficulty getting the problems addressed.
“I will be at Pilton Community Health Project tomorrow morning (Friday) from 09.15-11.00 if anyone needs to discuss this or any other matter that I can help with. Or you can email me – cllr.stuart.dobbin@edinburgh.gov.uk”
Few who attended the event could fail to have been moved by the heart-rending stories of local woman struggling to be heard. The women, for many of whom English is not their first language, bravely shared their dreadful experiences to a packed room.
As one said after the event: “Speaking to a big crowd made me very nervous and I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it.
“But we all did do it – we had to do it. We want people to hear how we are living.”
A spokesperson for the group said: “We understand that there are no simple solutions or easy fixes to Edinburgh’s current housing emergency.
“However, Edinburgh is one of the richest cities in the country and it is time that all levels of government – Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Government and the UK government – come together and prioritise spending on improving housing conditions in this city.
“We are serious about our demands and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure a decent place to live. We hope that we do not have to resort to a class action which is the route that over 50 tenants from various local authorities have taken in order to secure a warm, safe home.
“However, nothing is off the table. Enough is enough!”
Sara, who spoke at the event, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to tell our stories and have our voices heard.
“We’re fed up of nobody listening to us and being blamed for causing the problem. It’s not our fault. It’s well documented that people have been having problems with dampness and mould down here for decades and its time that something was done about it for once and for all”.
Susan, another member of the group, added: “We are really disappointed that the ‘high heid yins’ didn’t come to our event to hear our stories and see for themselves the conditions that people are having to put up with.
“We will be making sure that they all get a copy of our report and we will be expecting to hear from them soon about how they are going to respond to our demands. They need to understand that we’re not going away.”
Dr Olivia Swann, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Infectious Disease at Edinburgh University, also spoke at the event.
Thanking the women for their moving testimonies, Olivia’s presentation explained how homes are much more than just physical structures and made clear that “strong scientific evidence has shown that poor housing can affect someone’s physical and mental health throughout their life”.
Sara says this is an extremely worrying fact for those of us with young children who have been living in mouldy homes for most of their young lives.
Dawn Anderson, Director of Pilton Community Health Project (PCHP), who attended the event along with members of her Board, including former Leith MP/MSP and Holyrood Health Secretary Malcolm Chisholm, said: “We are very concerned about the problems the parents group has raised.
“PCHP has been supporting people to get help for some time. One parent has been working with Media Education on a new film featuring the nine year battle of Anita, a local women, desperately trying to escape her damp house”.
Dawn explained how it was fitting that the parents action group had called their exhibition ‘Home Sweet Home’: “It’s 40 years since PCHP was established in North Edinburgh and dampness and ill-health was one of the first issues the campaigners worked on. Meetings with local parents led to a womens’ group forming.
“They produced a slide show called “Home Sweet Home” and presented it to health professionals in the area. This resulted in The Scottish Executive backing a research project conducted by the University of Edinburgh who established a direct link between dampness and ill-health all those years ago.
“There have been countless studies on this issue over the years which have drawn the same conclusions. Sadly, we can see from Anita’s film and from the parents stories and photographs, little has changed and family’s in the area are still faced with health threatening living conditions.”
The Group is already planning a follow-up event to build on the momentum created by yesterday’s launch.
The perfect home is
dry and warm
and doesn’t have mould or furniture on clothes.
It doesn’t
smell of dampness or chemicals or bleach
and there’s even
a drying area to dry your wet stuff.
It’s comfortable and safe and
doesn’t make you ill.
It isn’t overcrowded and
there’s plenty of room
for the kids to study and play
or just be alone.
In the perfect home
we’ve all got a bedroom
and there’s even a separate living room.
The perfect home doesn’t need lots of repairs
everything has been fixed and
is shiny and new.
But the best thing about it
and this we agree
our home is permanent
and is perfect for you and me.
The report:
SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FOR MEMORIES PROGRAMME
Edinburgh Leisure, the city’s leading sports and leisure provider, has received a significant grant from the Encouraging and Supporting Grassroots Activity Fund to support their dementia programme.
Funded by Age Scotland’s About Dementia project in partnership with the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Leisure has received £19,800 to support their Movement for Memories programme.
Sam Scott, Development Officer at Edinburgh Leisure, welcomed the support saying: “We’re delighted and thankful to receive the grant.
“The funding will enable us to continue offering people with dementia in Edinburgh a range of opportunities to keep active, from 1:1 support from buddy volunteers to enjoy activities of their choice, to dementia friendly activities within our sports and leisure facilities, to our physical activity outreach service with community groups across the city.
“Edinburgh Leisure is always looking for volunteers to support people living with dementia. Our volunteers make a real difference by accompanying and supporting individuals with dementia to take part in a physical activity of their choice, like gym, golf, fitness classes, tennis, or swimming.
“Whatever the participant enjoys, your support will play a vital role in helping them enjoy their activity and improve their wellbeing. So, if you have an interest in health and physical activity, we’d love to hear from you.”
The funding will support people like 79-year-old David, who plays badminton with his buddy volunteer at Craiglockhart Leisure and Tennis Centre.
His sister and carer Julie said: “David used to play football professionally, so physical activity has always been a big part of his life. He wanted to keep active, but his dementia meant that he could no longer do it without extra support.
“The change in him since he started playing badminton has been enormous. His short-term memory is poor, but he remembers how to play, and he hasn’t lost his competitive spirit. He comes out of the session like a new man – his spirits are lifted, he’s chattier, and often his memory seems to improve for a while. He’s almost like ‘enhanced David’ when I pick him up.”
Movement for Memories offers people at all stages of their dementia journey with a range of options to be active, from personalised one-to-one support to enjoy activities they previously enjoyed independently but need a helping hand with now, to a physical activity outreach service for local support groups to enable people to get active in familiar community settings like church halls or community centres.
All participants referred to Movement for Memories receive an Edinburgh Leisure card providing 12-weeks free access to gym, swim, golf, tennis, and fitness classes followed by 9 months of subsidised access.
Not only does getting active help participants to maintain or improve their physical health, but it also helps them to improve their mental wellbeing, build social connections, remain integrated in their community and maintain independence for longer.
Dementia affects an estimated 8,000 people in Edinburgh and 90,000 people in Scotland, an estimated 3,000 of whom are under 65.
Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. It is an umbrella term that can be caused by a number of diseases which, over time, damage the brain, typically leading to deterioration in both brain and bodily health.
The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia.
To find out more about Movement for Memories, visit: http://rb.gy/xeua2l
To find out more about being a Movement for Memories Buddy Volunteer, visit: http://rb.gy/nzsnp7
New research has revealed that over a third of women (35 per cent) say there is a lack of education or readily available, trusted support and guidance on women’s health issues, including hormone health across the life-span from menstruation to menopause.
60 per cent of women agree there needs to be more access to information and support on women’s health, with a third (31 per cent) stating they were last equipped with information on their cycle and hormones when at school, or not at all.
Understanding the need, Holland & Barrett, the UK’s leading health and wellness retailer, is launching a long-term commitment to address four key areas:
The H&B Women’s Wellness Commitment* will kick-off with an awareness campaign on hormone health.
The ‘Own Every Day Of The Month’ campaign, supported by award-winning actor and writer, Hayley Morris, will aim to empower women to optimise their overall wellness by understanding the rhythm of their hormone cycle across their lifespan and break down associated stigmas.
Despite almost half (49%) stating they have experienced negative symptoms throughout their menstrual cycle, such as weight changes, low energy, stress, cramps, 48 per cent say they have felt dismissed when speaking about their symptoms, with health professionals ranking top of the list (16 per cent) versus employer (8 per cent), and partner (8 per cent) amongst others.
Over a quarter (28 per cent) of women admit to living with symptoms for longer than a year before seeking help, or not seeking help at all.
To support all women, Holland & Barrett is introducing over 600 Women’s Health Coaches to the high-street. Nearly every store will have a dedicated Women’s Health Coach with expanded training to offer a deeper level of expertise and confidential support on hormone health. Additionally, the retailer will extend its current women’s health training to all 4,000 colleagues to be able to offer guidance on personalised solutions.
A free general women’s health helpline will see trained nurses able to offer further support and guidance on the hormone cycle and any symptoms. The specialist nurses can also help prepare individuals for their GP consultation and offer advice on what they can do while they wait.
Lina Chan, Women’s Health Director at Holland & Barrett, said: “Women’s health has been under-served for too long. Being on every high-street, we are ideally placed within the community to support and help add quality years to life and truly champion wellness for all women.
“Our new long-term commitment will start by empowering women to understand their hormones, so they are in control of their marvellous bodies.
“Understanding and optimising the menstrual cycle can unlock a lot of the mysteries about women’s health and even help improve other areas of their wellness such as gut health, energy, sleep, skin and metabolism.
“By proactively engaging with our hormone health we can also better understand gynaecological conditions, fertility and the menopause as hormones sit at the core of these various life transitions where women can experience severe symptoms.”
The new commitment comes at a time when gynaecological conditions were rated the number one issue for 100,000 respondents to the government’s Women’s Health strategy, a 10-year strategy set out to boost health outcomes and radically improve the way in which the health system engages and listens to all women.
Hayley Morris, actress and writer, said: “I’m so proud to be able to support Holland & Barrett’s ‘Own Every Day Of The Month’ campaign, and be a part of a genuine movement for women to understand their health better, and the role of our powerful hormones within it.
“I’ve been on a real journey (it’s still going!) with my hormonal health, there have been really difficult times but understanding my hormones better is empowering and I will keep spreading the word!”
Alongside expert advice and support, Holland & Barrett offers a line of hundreds of products designed to help with the symptoms experienced through the cycle. C
ustomers can also find a hormone guide packed with expert advice to support women at every stage of their hormone cycle and the H&B Health Hub has been updated to include further advice and guidance on a wide range of women’s health topics.
Did you know that we have a secret weapon right under our nose? One that can help us calm our nervous system; helping us to feel grounded, centered and connected to ourselves.
And what is this secret weapon I hear you ask…? Well, it’s the simple act of breathing mindfully.
Join me, Jules. on Monday mornings here at PCHP and together we’ll explore different breath practices that help not only improve our quality of breath but also help us relax and re-charge ready for the week ahead.
10-10.30am – Breathwork, seated warm-up and guided meditation
10.45-11.30am – Yoga Practice
*** Women Only ***
Want to know more? Get in touch with us via email: hello@pchp.org.uk
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: How to Increase Your Physical Activity Levels
Physical activity plays a massive role in the prevention of heart diseases, but around 40% of the UK still do not meet the physical activity guidelines. Being physically active does not mean that you need to go to the gym or go running, it can simply be carrying your shopping bags or doing some gardening.
Your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body, and working it out regularly has significant health benefits, especially for your heart. Did you know that being physically inactive means that you are at a 24% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease?
Here are some tips to help you add more physical activity to your life:
Increase activity in daily life
You may find it best to start by making some small changes to your daily life that will increase your physical activity levels and help you to form healthy habits.
A few examples of what you can do include taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalators, walking instead of driving somewhere or parking your car further away than you need to, and standing when possible, such as on the bus or train.
Get involved
Physical activity comes in all different shapes and sizes, it can range from walking to gardening or even running a marathon. This means there is always something out there for you, it is finding out what you enjoy and getting involved.
It’s important that you get involved safely, at the right ability for you and not to jump the gun. This way you’ll avoid injuries and get your body used to new movements. Find activities that you enjoy doing and be creative with them. Realistically, if you don’t enjoy it, you’re not going to do it.
You don’t have to do all of your exercise in one day, spread it out over the week and make it a part of your everyday life. Gradually work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day, this will help you to meet the recommendations of at least 150 minutes per week.
Take breaks when you need them and stay hydrated. If you don’t feel good one day, then rest for a day or two before getting involved again.
Get into a routine
By making physical activity part of your routine, you won’t realise that you’re doing it and it’ll become an automatic behaviour. Every bit of activity you do matters, and the more that you do, the more you and your heart benefit.
Tracking your progress could help to motivate you to reach your goals and stick to your routine. This could be the number of steps you’ve done, the number of minutes you’ve been active or reaching your daily target.
Support each other
You might find it more encouraging to join a sports club or team. This way you can make new friends and support each other to meet your goals.
Do activities with your family and friends. You could go for a walk or bike ride together and motivate each other to do this regularly.
North Edinburgh Community Herbal Clinic
Affordable Herbal Consultations – Open To All
Grassroots Remedies offer our consultations on a sliding scale to make them more financially accessible, with a reduced price option for ‘Good Neighbours’ – local residents of Granton, Pilton, Muirhouse & Drylaw – and a ‘General Rate’ for anyone outside this area.
Appointments are offered in person at our clinic in the Granton Hub – and phone or Zoom appointments can be available on request.
The clinic is run by Ally Hurcikova, a professional Medical Herbalist registered with the American Herbalists Guild & the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
All treatments have a Good Neighbour Rate for people living in Granton, Pilton, Muirhouse & Drylaw (typically EH4 1, EH4 2, EH5 1 and EH5 2 postcodes), and a general rate for those coming from outside this area.
To read more about the clinic and for information, see the website: https://grassrootsremedies.co.uk/north-edinburgh…/
Edinburgh residents are being urged to contact the City of Edinburgh Council if they have booked a procedure known as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) in the Capital this weekend.
The Council’s Environmental Health team has been made aware that there may be BBL operations taking place from Friday 26th April to Sunday 28th April through people responding to social media posts.
Other local authorities in the United Kingdom have received complaints after similar procedures were carried out resulting in people suffering serious health complications such as sepsis.
Cllr Neil Ross, Convener of the Regulatory Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We have been made aware that there may be procedures known as Brazilian Butt Lifts being performed in Edinburgh this weekend and we have concerns about the safety of such procedures.
“We are concerned about the potential risk to public health and would urge anyone who may have booked such a procedure this weekend to contact us as a matter of urgency.”
Anyone who may have a BBL procedure booked from Friday 26 April to Sunday 28 April in Edinburgh should e-mail environmentalhealth@edinburgh.gov.uk or phone 0131 200 2000.
The SCONe project, run by optometrists, ophthalmologists, and researchers from the University of Edinburgh, and funded by Sight Scotland, is appealing for participants to take part in a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group focused on revolutionising the detection and management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
AMD is the most common vision impairment in the older population and impacts an estimated 60,000 people in Scotland. SCONe research is seeking to find the early signs of AMD, so people can receive support earlier and adjust to living with AMD sooner.
SCONe is inviting anybody with lived experience of AMD, caregivers, friends or family of people with AMD, and regular visitors to optometry practices, to come along to take part in its PPI group.
Participants could help transform how AMD is detected and make a real difference for future generations.
SCONe, the Scottish Collaborative Optometry-Ophthalmology Network e-research, is a new collaborative venture aiming to build a Scotland-wide retinal image resource for innovation in eye research, healthcare, and education.
SCONe is taking two complementary approaches to try and speed up the detection of AMD at an early stage. Firstly, the team is meticulously analysing the SCONe dataset to extract crucial structural information about the retina.
This involves quantifying various parameters, including the total area of drusen, fatty deposits beneath the retina that can sometimes indicate an elevated risk of AMD.
Furthermore, the team is harnessing the power of modern machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a groundbreaking predictive model.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on manual measurements, this AI-driven approach uses raw retinal images to assess a patient’s risk of developing AMD. By automating the analysis process, this model promises to streamline screening procedures and facilitate early intervention.
Professor Baljean Dhillon, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, explains: “The PPI group offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute directly to the development of new strategies and technologies aimed at combating AMD.
“Our research represents a significant step forward in the fight against AMD. By combining cutting-edge technology with comprehensive data analysis, we aim to transform how we detect and manage this debilitating condition.”
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, and Sight Scotland Veterans, adds: “”As advocates for the visually impaired, we understand the profound impact that AMD can have on individuals and their families.
“By investing in research focused on early detection, we aim to empower healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge needed to intervene swiftly so hopefully less people have to suffer.”
SCONe’s Patient and Public Involvement group focused on AMD and the impacts of AMD is taking place on 03 May 2024 at Surgeons Hall in Edinburgh.
For more information or to register to join please contact arubio@ed.ac.uk or call 07876647083. Participants in the group will be compensated for their time.
SCONe is funded by Sight Scotland, RS MacDonald Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.
For more information on SCONe please visit: https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-sciences/ophthalmology/scone
For more information on Sight Scotland please visit: sightscotland.org.uk
