More than £9 million is being made available over the next three years to give people who access social care more choice and control over decisions relating to their care.
This funding builds on an additional £2 billion investment in social care and integration, as part of the Scottish Budget for 2024-25, and delivers on the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase spending by 25% over this Parliament – two years ahead of the original target.
The funding for the national ‘Support in the Right Direction’ programme will enable organisations to deliver independent support and advocacy to help people live independently and participate in all aspects of life.
The grants are part of the Scottish Government’s Self-Directed Support Improvement Plan which empowers people to make informed choices about the support they need.
Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: “Through this funding, people and carers will be supported to have more choice and involvement in how their social care is delivered.
“We want everyone accessing social care to feel confident participating in every stage of their social care journey and be equal partners in their care and support decisions, so that they can live a full and independent life.
“The ambition is to have the right independent support available at the right time and place to meet the specific needs of each individual.”
Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living Chief Executive Gaby Nolan said: “We are delighted to be awarded the Scottish Government funding.
“By offering peer support, as well as individualised casework, this funding will enable us over the next three years, to raise more awareness of Self-Directed Support to disabled people and carers, improve access and support people at all stages of their social care journey.
“This fund is also supporting us to work with carers from Black and Minority Ethnic communities increasing awareness and access and offering accessible, person-led support.”
Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive Celia Tennant said: “We are pleased to be working with the Scottish Government on Support in the Right Direction. This vital funding commitment will help bring stability to organisations over the next three years and strengthen the network across Scotland of providers of independent advice and advocacy with self-directed support.
“We know that locally based organisations are vital in enabling people and their carers to understand and navigate the social care systems in their areas.
“Each of these organisations bring expertise in social care, self-directed support and a good knowledge of local resources meaning they are best placed to work with people at every stage of their journey.”
MPs to vote on legislation to create first smoke-free generation, protecting young people turning 15 this year or younger from harms of smoking
MPs will vote today (16th April 2024) on world-leading legislation to protect future generations across the UK from the harmful effects of smoking.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009 – children aged 15 or younger today. Smoking itself would not be criminalised and anyone who can legally buy tobacco today will never be prevented from doing so in the future by the legislation.
If passed, the Bill will progress to the next stage, bringing the UK closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.
Responsible for around 80,000 deaths annually, smoking is the UK’s single biggest preventable killer and costs the NHS and economy an estimated £17 billion a year—far more than the £10 billion annual revenue from tobacco taxation.
It is also highly addictive – 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and remain addicted for the rest of their lives despite most smokers having tried to quit.
The legislation will cover all tobacco products, recognising that tobacco kills two-thirds of long-term users. In England alone, almost every minute someone with a smoking-related condition is admitted to hospital.
The Bill will help deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment of creating a smokefree generation which could prevent over 470,000 cases of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other deadly diseases by the turn of the century.
Alongside action to prevent creating future smokers, the government has already announced significant additional funding for stop smoking services over the next five years, effectively doubling the money available for local initiatives that can help existing smokers to quit. The government is also rolling out an innovative financial incentives scheme to help all pregnant smokers to quit.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “Too many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irreversibly changed because of smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK’s biggest preventable killer.
“The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation.
“This Bill will save thousands of lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and improve the UK’s productivity.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also give the government new powers to tackle youth vaping by restricting flavours and regulating the way that vapes are sold and packaged to make them less appealing to children.
While vaping can play a useful role in helping adult smokers to quit, non-smokers and children should never vape. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive.
To ensure compliance with the new rules, trading standards officers will be given new powers to issue on-the-spot fines (fixed penalty notices) to retailers unlawfully selling tobacco or vapes to children. All the money raised would be used to fund further enforcement action.
The Bill follows the government’s previously stated commitment to ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes under existing environmental legislation, which have been a key factor behind the rise in youth vaping. The ban is planned to take effect from April 2025.
Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said: “Smoking is the number one preventable cause of disability, ill health and death in this country. Once it becomes a habit, its addictive nature means that it is extremely difficult to stop.
“Because the case against these harmful products is so strong, it’s not surprising that the majority of the British public—including those who smoke and those who sell tobacco—support plans to protect the next generation from the misery of smoking.
“Our plan will save lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and ensure a brighter future for our children.”
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said: “Smoking kills and causes harm at all stages of life from stillbirths, asthma in children, stroke, cancer to heart attacks and dementia.
“This Bill, if passed, will have a substantial impact – preventing disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill being voted on today is radical but, hard as it is now to believe, so were the smokefree laws when they were put before parliament. Parliamentarians can be reassured that the public they represent back the Bill.
“New research just published by ASH shows that the majority of tobacco retailers and the public, including smokers, support the legislation and the smokefree generation ambition it is designed to deliver. This historic legislation will consign smoking to the “ash heap of history.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation said: “Smoking continues to devastate the nation’s health, taking 15,000 UK lives every single year due to cardiovascular disease alone.
“Raising the age of sale for tobacco each year will be a game changer, meaning that future generations are protected from serious disease and death caused by smoking.
“Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy – we urge every MP to vote for this landmark legislation at the Bill’s Second Reading.”
Professor Steve Turner, Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health President, said: “Without a doubt the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will save lives.
“By stopping children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco we decrease their chances of developing preventable diseases later in life, and will protect children from the harms of nicotine addiction.
“As paediatricians, we strongly urge MPs to use the important responsibility they have and support this Bill to protect children’s and our nation’s current and future health.”
Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “Today’s vote is a critical step towards the UK becoming a world leader in tobacco control. By voting in favour of the age of sale legislation, MPs will be putting us on the right side of history, and helping to create the first ever smokefree generation.
“Smoking is still the leading cause of cancer in the UK. Now is the time to take action, end cancers caused by smoking and save lives.”
As the biggest provider of sport and fitness in the city, Edinburgh Leisure has launched their latest membership offer. The new membership offers more flexibility and value than ever before.
Edinburgh Leisure has unlocked fitness, swim, gym, and fitness class memberships giving customers access to all venues across the city, including 12 pools, 17 gyms and over 750 fitness classes each week. There will be a limited time no joining fee offer from 15 April – 31 May 2024.
Jill Davidson, Head of Marketing, Communications and Sales explains “We are committed to providing the best membership options that will support the health and wellbeing of Edinburgh.
“We’ve changed our offering to allow more people to be active through sport and fitness and allow our venues to thrive in their communities.”
The updated memberships include a lower price for Full Fitness and access to all venues for Gym, Swim and Fitness Class Members. Customers can now do the activities they love where they want, and when they want; choosing to train at any gym and attend a host of new fitness classes with any of their instructors.
In addition, site only memberships continue to be available at selected School and Fitness venues. Community School Memberships include: Queensferry High School, Trinity Academy Sports Campus, Wester Hailes High School. And Community Fitness Memberships include Dalry Swim Centre, Kirkliston Leisure Centre, and Jack Kane Sports Centre.
Climb and Golf Memberships can be bought separately or as bolt-ons to any existing membership to give customers more access than ever before.
To welcome the changes to membership, Edinburgh Leisure is offering a limited time ‘no joining fee’ from 15 April – 31 May 2024, available online or in venue.
Edinburgh Leisure boasts 1 world class climbing centre, 6 golf courses, 3 soft play centres, 8 saunas and 4 steam rooms, 12 swimming pools, 17 state of the art gyms, and 750 fitness classes per week across 25 venues.
Memberships have been tailored to offer customers flexibility wherever you’re at, in life or in the city!
Hearts & Minds are delighted to welcome Diane Thornton and Lucy McGreal as their new Joint Artistic Directors as the charity celebrates 25 years of delivering their therapeutic clown programme.
Diane and Lucy have been artists with the charity for several years and both are trained as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers. The charity is delighted that they are now going to lead the Artistic Programme. They will be working alongside Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles who will now become joint Programme Engagement Managers.
Fiona and Rachel have been Interim Co Artistic Leads for the last two years and will remain an integral part of the team that co-ordinates the programmes in hospitals, hospices, schools, and residential healthcare units.
All four artists will still practise as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers and continue to deliver therapeutic clowning visits to young people and ladies and gents with dementia.
Diane and Lucy commented on their new appointment: “We are delighted to become co-Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds. It feels extra special to take on this role when the organisation is celebrating 25 years of the Clowndoctors.
“We are stepping forward to lead an artistic team we’ve been part of for a long time. Diane started as a Clowndoctor 18 years ago and Lucy started as an Elderflower 13 years ago.
“We have huge respect for our multi-skilled colleagues. We are grateful for the excellent work of interim co-Artistic Leads Fiona and Rachel. We will always be inspired by our former Artistic Directors Suzie Ferguson and Magdalena Schamberger.
“Therapeutic clowning is not unique to Scotland. It is an internationally recognised performing arts in health practice. It’s not just for laughs! Our therapeutic clowns offer authentic emotional engagement with each person they visit, creating connections which have lasting positive impacts on well-being.
“We look forward to developing our programmes in healthcare, education, and social settings. Our aim is for Clowndoctors and Elderflowers to be further integrated in units across Scotland, consistently offering work of the highest quality and fostering strong collaborations with staff.
“We are passionate about equality and access. At the heart of our work is the experience of the children, young people, and adults we visit.”
Sean Donnelly, CEO, Hearts & Minds commented:“I am thrilled to welcome Diane and Lucy into their new roles as Joint Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds.
“Their dedication and long-standing commitment to our organisation, coupled with their extensive experience as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers, make them invaluable leaders for our artistic programmes.
“I am confident that under their guidance, Hearts & Minds will continue to flourish and positively impact the lives of those we serve. I also want to extend my gratitude to Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles for their exceptional leadership as interim Co-Artistic Leads and their ongoing contributions to the ongoing development of Hearts & Minds.
“This is a significant year for Hearts & Minds as we celebrate 25 years of the Clowndoctors, and I look forward to working together to support even more people when they need it most.”
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Traffic Light Food Labels
Reading food labels can be confusing, and it can be hard to know where to look, with the back-of-pack labels often feels like navigating through a maze.
Most food and drink manufacturers, as well as supermarkets in the UK, now voluntarily display front-of-pack information in a colour-coded ‘traffic light system’. Energy, fat, saturated fat, total sugars, and salt content are commonly displayed in green, amber and red on the front of many food and drink packets to help consumers make informed choices.
By being aware of the nutrient content of foods, reading food labels correctly and making healthy swaps, you can keep your heart healthy and live a little longer too.
Here are some tips to help you make the healthiest food choices possible:
Energy value
The energy value of food or drinks is measured and displayed on packets as both calories (Kcal) and kilojoules (kJ).
On average, men need to consume around 2500kcals per day and women need approximately 2000kcals. This should be taken into account when choosing your food and drink options. Lower calorie options are often healthier, but make sure you check the sugar and salt content.
If you regularly consume more calories than you burn off, then it is likely you will gain weight. Increased weight is associated with a higher risk of developing heart diseases
Go green
You should aim to choose foods that have as many areas highlighted in green as possible. Traffic light labelling can help you to make healthy informed decisions about what brand or type of food you buy.
For example, if you are selecting a pre-packed sandwich or a jar of sauce, look at which one has more green sections on the front.
Amber: proceed with caution!
If you notice that food has amber front-of-pack information, then proceed with caution. This food can still be healthy, and it is advised to opt for foods with mainly green and amber labels, but just be aware not to consume too much of it.
Make sure that you are aware of your intake. If you are buying more than one item of food for a meal and they all have amber warnings for salt, then swap one for a healthier lower-salt alternative.
Remember high levels of salt, sugars and saturated fats can all impact your heart health.
Red: STOP!
Are you regularly choosing foods that have lots of red on the labels? Be careful!
Consuming foods that are high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt have a negative impact on your heart and it is generally advised to avoid those with red labels.
Eating these on occasion as a treat and part of a balanced healthy diet is fine, but when they are consumed regularly, they can increase your blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels (LDL).
This puts an increased strain on your heart and heightens your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
There are around 400,000 women in Scotland who are of menopausal age.Too many of them will feel like they are alone.
For some it’s still a taboo subject which can lead to a lack of discussion and understanding. Every area of their life impacted and, often, left with crippling social isolation.
Menopause Goals is a pilot programme that aims to harness the power of football to help – thanks to a collaborative effort from the Scottish FA, St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, University of Glasgow, and menopause expert Maria Anderson.
The initial 12-week course – held at St Mirren Park – saw 25 local women, who each had to address a number of issues brought on by the menopause, report improvements with symptoms, a greater sense of empowerment and, overall, better mental health.
The plan is to roll the programme out across Scotland so it can be delivered by other football clubs and charity groups – and it’s coming to Spartans here in North Edinburgh this month (see poster).
Corrie Campbell (Scottish FA, Football Social Responsibility Officer)explained: “So far, the power of football has tackled a lot of issues, but menopause is one of the few remaining taboo subjects that impacts so many people.
“A lot of people are still embarrassed to talk about it, whether it’s in the workplace or within their own family and friendship groups.
“I think there’s a real opportunity for football clubs around Scotland to make a difference.
“We came together to form Menopause Goals because there’s a need for education and knowledge for women in Scotland and we’re really excited about it.
“The tagline is ‘celebrating the second half’ and we want to help provide the tools, knowledge and confidence so people know their life isn’t over when they’re perimenopausal or postmenopausal.
“The University of Glasgow’s research department conducted an evaluation of the project using various methodologies.
“The pilot spanned 12 weeks and involved 25 participants experiencing symptoms at different menopausal stages.
“The Menopause Goals leadership team – including Gayle Brannigan, Chief Executive of St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, and our menopause expert, Maria Anderson – organised weekly in-person sessions, complemented by online resource sharing.
“The pilot aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge about menopause and their personal journeys, helping them comprehend the impact on their well-being, relationships, and professional lives.
“The research outcomes will pave the way for a resource that enables the implementation of similar programs in football clubs throughout Scotland. This resource will also contribute to government objectives, given that menopause is a focal point in the Women’s Health Plan.
“Looking ahead, the objective is to leverage football’s influence. This innovative resource aims to educate and empower volunteers and staff within football across Scotland, providing them with tools and knowledge to support women gradually.
“The goal is to enable women to comprehend the complexities of menopause, fostering logical thinking about their body’s needs. By applying their learning in manageable steps, women can reduce symptoms, boost confidence to communicate with health professionals, and articulate their needs effectively.”
April marks Stress Awareness Month in the UK, which since 1992 has sought to raise awareness of the causes and dangers of stress.
Stress is the body’s reaction to pressure or feeling threatened. It is very common and can help people to work hard and achieve their goals. However, too much stress can have a negative impact on your physical, emotional and mental health.
The theme for this year’s month is Little By Little, focusing on the impacts of small, consistent and positive actions. To mark the month, the learning experts at online training provider High Speed Training have shared some tips to help identify and effectively manage stress at home.
Stress is a normal part of life, and everyone will experience it at some point. There are many causes of stress and they will be different for everyone. Some common sources of stress include:
Feeling under lots of pressure.
Facing big changes in your life.
Being worried about something or someone.
Not having control over the outcome of a situation.
Having overwhelming responsibilities.
Not having enough work or having too much work.
Experiencing discrimination, hate or abuse.
Going through a period of uncertainty.
Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning & Development at High Speed Training, said: “A key part of managing stress is being able to recognise when you are stressed and responding appropriately. This is crucial as preventing and managing long-term stress can lower your risk for other conditions such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and depression.
“There are many sources of stress in our everyday lives. For many, stressful situations occur in the workplace or due to our jobs. All employers must ensure the health and safety of their employees, including minimising the risk of stress-related illness, so if you are experiencing stress at work, you should try and speak to your employer.”
Know the signs
There are many symptoms of stress, from feeling anxious and angry to physical manifestations, such as headaches, difficulty breathing and muscle aches.
When you’re stressed, your muscles can contract and become tense, leading to neck pain, headaches, back ache and cramps. Physically relaxing your muscles can help to alleviate these feelings.
Trying to control your breathing can also help. Try taking a deep breath through your nose, holding it for 5-6 seconds and breathing out through your mouth. Repeating this three times can help increase the amount of oxygen to your brain and reduce your heart rate.
Take Some Time and focus on rest
Taking some time out of your daily routine is essential if you are going to relax your mind and body fully. Activities such as reading, walking, doing a hobby or spending time with friends can all help alleviate stress and allow you to focus on a positive activity.
Sleep is also essential to our wellbeing so you should aim to get a full night’s sleep every night. Most people need around 7-8 hours’ sleep a night, though some people can manage on 6.
To get a better night’s sleep, try going to bed and getting up at similar times each day to stabilise your body clock, and try to complete a relaxing activity before you go to sleep. It’s also important to ensure your bedroom is sufficiently dark and quiet, and if possible, avoid using electronic devices in bed.
Eat healthily
Dr Andersonsaid: “Without a balanced diet your body may be more susceptible to stress-related illnesses, so it is vital that you continue to eat healthily when you are feeling stressed. Always eat breakfast and keep hydrated throughout the day to stop yourself running out of energy and feeling tired.
“Eating foods from the 5 key food groups at every meal, consisting of a large amount of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods, a moderate amount of protein and dairy and a small amount of fats and sugars, will help to keep you happy and healthy.
“Try to cut out as many saturated, high-calorie foods as possible, such as pies, pastry, cakes, biscuits and crisps, as these can make you feel sluggish and will be detrimental to your mood.”
Get moving
Exercise is a great way to prevent stress and anxiety and a good way to release tension. Whichever fitness activity you choose to do, even if it’s just for 20 minutes a day, it will help to decrease blood pressure and lower your heart rate: two of the worst physical symptoms of stress.
When you exercise, endorphins are released in your body (as opposed to the adrenaline and cortisol released when you are stressed) which help to produce feelings of well-being and calmness.
Dr Anderson continues: “Everyone will experience stress at some point in their lives. It’s clear that long-term or prolonged periods of stress can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health.
“Identifying the causes of your stress and regularly engaging in stress management activities will help you to respond effectively.”
For more information on managing stress, and for lots more practical advice, please visit the High Speed Training Hub.
MORE than half (52%) of over 35s in Scotland admit to displaying at least one of the signs associated with the eye condition presbyopia – despite more than 40% believing their eyesight is good.
The figure was revealed by Specsavers as it seeks to raise awareness of the condition, which is most common in adults over 40. Presbyopia is the gradual loss of your eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects and is a natural part of ageing.
The research found holding squinting when trying to focus on objects or text, keeping something at arm’s length to read it, turning the big light on or a lamp to read and zooming in on your phone to read things were some of the most common behaviours people adopted to compensate for a change in their vision.
The survey also revealed that the changes to vision can lead to some blunders, with those surveyed in Scotland admitting to misplacing important items (20%) or struggling to read maps (15%). Other signs include increasing the font size on your phone in order to read better, struggling to adjust vision when switching between long and short distance and having blurred vision whilst attempting to look at an object.
Presbyopia usually becomes noticeable in your mid to late 40s and gradually worsens until 65. An optician will check your vision in the same way as they would to determine whether someone is short-sighted or ‘myopic’.
Dr Josie Forte, optometrist at Specsavers, says: ‘Most of us will experience some effects of presbyopia as we age because of subtle changes in the lens of our eye. However, it really isn’t something to worry about, but it is important to see an optician if you experience any changes in your vision.
‘There are a variety of solutions on offer, including reading glasses, varifocals, multifocal contact lenses or a combination of both, depending on what you prefer. Your local optician can recommend the best treatment for you, so we would recommend booking an eye test if you are experiencing any symptoms.’
Stand-up comedian Jen Brister will be headlining a new comedy club in London later this month to put the spotlight on the common eye condition.
By launching the ‘At-Arm’s-Length’ Comedy Club, Specsavers aims to highlight the symptoms of presbyopia and encourage people to take action if they recognise any of the signs and behaviours.
