Scots severely underestimate the scale and seriousness of heart and circulatory diseases, according to a new survey by the British Heart Foundation.
While it’s estimated around half of people in this country will get a heart or circulatory condition during our lifetime, more than a quarter (27 per cent) of those surveyed in Scotland thought the likelihood of them developing a heart condition was just 1 in 10, while over a fifth (22 per cent) thought the chance was just 1 in 50.
Only three per cent of respondents knew the correct answer – which is 1 in 2.
When people were asked if they thought they would be directly affected, Gen Z (33 per cent) are most likely to think they will ever be affected by heart and circulatory diseases, whereas baby boomers are the least likely (22 per cent).
Despite heart and circulatory conditions affecting men and women almost equally, only 27 per cent of women thought they could be at risk compared to 33 per cent of men.
These perceptions stand in stark contrast to the fact that there are currently 700,000 people living with a heart or circulatory disease in Scotland.
Worryingly, the survey also found confusion among members of the public about the seriousness of a heart attack and cardiac arrest. While both are life-threatening emergencies that require immediate medical treatment, only 79 per cent of Scots would call 999 for an ambulance if they thought a person was having a heart attack, while only 60 per cent of people considered a cardiac arrest a medical emergency.
The BHF released the figures to coincide with the launch of a new campaign that aims to shine a spotlight on hidden heart conditions. The charity says that these conditions can often go undiagnosed for too long and that they often aren’t discovered until something goes wrong, or it becomes too late.
For mum-of-two, Hannah Kirkpatrick, from Dalbeattie, the impact heart conditions can have on the family, is something she knows all too well.
Her son Evan, now 10, was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an inherited heart condition which causes the heart muscle to thicken, when he was just 11 months old. But it wasn’t until August last year that he underwent surgery – a septal myectomy – which has helped improve his life.
Hannah said: “He was only diagnosed with his heart condition by accident. When he was born, he had a bit of a flat head and, while it seemed to be getting better after a couple of months, his health visitor referred him to have a check over by his paediatrician.
“At the appointment they spent a long time listening to his heart and I could just tell something was wrong. Why else would they be listening for so long? He was referred to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for a scan where they detected a heart murmur. It was a huge shock.”
Doctors said they would closely monitor Evan’s condition and saw him every six-months for regular check-ups.
However, in March 2022 Evan started to become more breathless. His lips would also get a blue tinge after walking. Hannah, who is also mum to Caitlin, 22, and her husband, Christopher, took Evan back to his cardiologist and he was put on the waiting list for a septal myectomy – surgery which would remove some of the thickened muscle in his heart.
The self-employed domestic cleaner, 40, said: “His surgery was on August 13, 2022, in Glasgow. It was meant to take around four to five hours. It was the worst day of my life, waiting and not knowing if he was going to be OK.”
Thankfully Evan made a speedy recovery and within a few days the then nine year was back home. “He took everything in his stride and bounced back,” said Hannah. “It was a huge relief and we can look ahead to the future.”
An estimated 27,000 people in Scotland have an inherited heart condition. The charity say heart and circulatory conditions can affect almost anyone at any stage of life regardless of lifestyle choices and family history which contradicts common misconception we may have in our heads of them only affecting those who may be older with unhealthy lifestyles.
David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “It is deeply concerning to see that so many people are unaware of the scale and seriousness of heart and circulatory diseases.
“Decades of lifesaving medical advances have perhaps lulled people into believing that we’ve beaten heart and circulatory diseases when nothing could be further from the truth.
“These potentially deadly or life-limiting conditions continue to rob families of loved ones or blight the lives of people facing a future with an incurable disease.
“With this campaign we want to shine a spotlight on heart and circulatory diseases and help people understand that everyone can be affected.
“By funding groundbreaking research, we can get a step closer to breakthroughs that that can save outsmart heart disease for good.”
This September, the BHF is shining a spotlight on hidden heart conditions and urging the whole of the UK to get involved by supporting the charity however they can. Stories, stuff, time, or money: whatever you can give, please give.
Samaritans Scotland has responded to yesterday’s release of data from National Records of Scotland in its annual update on suicide statistics for 2022.
Key Points
762 deaths by suicide were recorded in 2022 – an increase of nine from 2021.
People living in Scotland’s most deprived areas are 2.6 times more likely to die by suicide than those living in the least deprived areas.
At council level, the rate was higher than the Scottish average in Highland, Dundee City, East Ayrshire and Perth and Kinross.
Female deaths increased by 18 – however a decrease of 42 was recorded in 2021.
Although the number of probable suicides increased for females, men are still 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide in Scotland.
Neil Mathers, Executive Director of Samaritans Scotland, said: “Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy and 762 deaths reaffirms the importance of suicide prevention work in Scotland.
“Today’s figures show that it is imperative that we continue to take action on the range of factors that may contribute to suicide risk.
“Those living in Scotland’s most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than those in more affluent areas.
“Samaritans research has previously shown the importance of suicide prevention work with middle aged men. Today’s data reinforces the need to prioritise support for middle aged people and highlights the need for women in middle age and older to receive the help they need.
“While there has been an increase overall in the number of female deaths, men continue to account for most deaths, and are still 2.9 times more likely to die by suicide in Scotland.
“We know that suicide is complex and there is rarely a single reason why someone may decide to take their own life.
“As a lead partner in Suicide Prevention Scotland – a new initiative in delivering Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2022-25 – we will encourage a whole society approach to address the social determinants with the greatest link to suicide risk. We will also consider ‘access to means’, examining locations of concern across the country.
“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and other partners on this ambitious strategy to reduce deaths by suicide in Scotland.”
Dr David Hall, suicide prevention lead, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said: “Although the most recent figures do not show dramatic changes, it is particularly disappointing to note that the slight decrease noted in the last few years has not continued, despite ongoing efforts in suicide prevention.
“We must remember that every one of these probable deaths by suicide represent a terrible tragedy for all those affected.
“The dramatically increased rate in the most deprived areas of Scotland over the less deprived, illustrates the ongoing health inequalities experienced by many Scots.
“Ongoing efforts in suicide prevention and focus on ensuring that those in suicidal crisis can access prompt and appropriate help, wherever they are, remain vitally important.”
Suicide Prevention Scotland has responded to today’s release of data from National Records of Scotland (NRS) for 2022 which shows a small year on year increase in deaths by probable suicide.
Statistics released by NRS show that there were 762 suicides registered in 2022, a 1.2% increase on 2021 (which was down 6.5% on 2020’s data).
Annual data can fluctuate so it is important to also view the figures in terms of five year rolling averages which give a better understanding of the pattern of deaths over time.
The number of deaths by suicide in 2022 is slightly below the previous five-year average (771). Apart from 2021, it’s the lowest number of suicide deaths since 2017 (680).
The average age of death by suicide has risen from the previous year. In 2022 this was 48.1 years; in 2022 it was 41.9 years.
The small increase in the past year can be attributed to an increase in female suicides by 18 and a reduction in male suicides, which decreased by nine. The rate for men remains three times that of women.
Compared to the previous female five-year average (198 for 2017-2021), 2022 shows an increase of eight deaths. Compared to the previous male five-year average (573 for 2017-2021), 2022 shows a decrease of 17 probable suicides.
There was an increase in suicide rate 2017-2019, followed by a decrease 2019-2021, with the lowest numbers seen since 2017 in 2021. Although the numbers released for 2022 do not continue to follow this decrease, it is too early to say if the downward trend has stalled, as several years’ data are needed to confirm an overall trend.
Probable suicides in the 15–24-year-old group have fallen by four to 69 in 2022, from 73 in 2021.
The biggest reduction seen is in the 25–34-year-old group, which fell by 35 to 113 in 2022 from 148 in 2021. However, the next oldest age category, the 35-44-year-olds, saw one of the highest increases (up 22 to 153).
There has also been a slight increase over the last year in older age groups, including the 55-64-year-olds (up 22, to 143 deaths, and mirroring similar findings for 2021) and the 65–74-year-olds (up 18, to 91 deaths).
The increase in these older age groups was driven mostly by male suicides, which increased by 37 to 121 in the 55-64-year-olds.
When we look at the rate of suicide, the highest rate seen in 2022 was among 35-44-year-old males (35.6 per 100,000), an increase from 27.4 in 2021.
In 2022, the suicide rate in the most deprived areas was 21.7 per 100,000, compared with least deprived areas of 8.4 per 100,000.
This means that deaths by suicides in 2022 occurred 2.6 times more in our most deprived communities, an improvement on inequality seen in previous years.
The five-year average 2018-2022 was three times more in the most deprived areas compared with least deprived areas. This is a small improvement from the previous five year average 2017-2021, which was 3.1 times more.
Last September, the Scottish Government and COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) launched the country’s new long-term suicide prevention strategy and action plan, Creating Hope Together.
To deliver the new strategy, a new community of organisations and people, Suicide Prevention Scotland, has been established.
Creating Hope Together sets out four key outcomes. Partnership is at the heart of the approach, and so a strategic partner(s) has been appointed to drive delivery. They are:
Creating a safer environment that protects against suicide across the whole of Government and society – Samaritans
Improving understanding of suicide and tackling stigma – SAMH
Providing compassionate support for anyone affected by suicide – Penumbra & Change Mental Health
Working in a connected way, that always draws on evidence and lived experience – Public Health Scotland
A new National Suicide Prevention Advisory Group has also been established.
Led by Rose Fitzpatrick CBE QPM, its members represent many of the sectors leading work on the social determinants of suicide. This includes poverty, as well as partners who are working in key sectors affected by suicide – such as the criminal justice sector.
Their role is to provide advice to Suicide Prevention Scotland, Scottish Government and COSLA which helps us focus on the complexity, intersectionality and inequality of suicide.
Suicide Prevention Scotland’s recently appointed National Delivery Lead Haylis Smith comments: “Today we learnt that 762 families lost a loved one to suicide in 2022. Every person was a family member or friend – important to and loved by others. Each and every one drives our commitment to do everything we can to prevent suicide.
“Creating Hope Together – the new strategy and action plan, along with Suicide Prevention Scotland, the community of people across the country who are involved in suicide prevention, will help to ensure we deliver a joined up whole of government – and society – approach.
“The year one priorities provide a strong base for us to continue the detailed work that has been undertaken in recent years and the outcomes framework will help us measure our progress.
“Understanding the determinants of suicide is vital to our work and will continue to help shape the critical focus on inequalities, particularly the impact of poverty, because we know that you are 2.6 times more likely to die by suicide if you live in the most deprived areas, than the least.
“Everyday we should remind ourselves that talking about suicide saves lives. People often worry about bringing the subject up, about saying the word suicide, but we know that talking about suicide is an important way that we can ensure that no death is inevitable. ”
SteveMcHughis part of Suicide Prevention Scotland’s Lived Experience Panel. His son died by suicide in 2016. He said: “No one underestimates the complexity or the size of the challenge that we face, and we all understand that a lot of the work we are doing in Suicide Prevention Scotland is building institutional strength, capacity and awareness that will drive these numbers down over the longer term.
“It is totally regretful that we’ve seen a short term increase from 2021 to 2022, but we believe we are working extremely hard on the right things. That being said, we have to try and move quicker from the ideas into implementation in our communities.
“We were all very fearful that lockdown was going to have a spike impact on suicide rates, and that didn’t happen, but we are aware that lockdown has had a long-term impact on the population’s mental health and there are going to be further challenges ahead.”
NadineDougall, Professor of Mental Health & Data Science at Edinburgh Napier University and a member of the Suicide Prevention Scotland Academic Advisory Group comments: “Every death by suicide has devastating consequences on families, friends, and communities. The deaths by suicide registered in 2022 showed a 1% increase on the previous year, although they were also slightly below the previous five year average.
“The 2022 data also reveals that stark inequalities remain between our most and least deprived communities, with 2.6 times as many deaths registered in our most deprived areas.
“Although we have seen a slight improvement in this inequality comparing previous five year averages, it is still clear that as well as bringing down numbers of deaths by suicide, we must tackle the wider inequalities that contribute to suicide.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or feeling suicidal, please don’t hesitate to ask for help by contacting your GP, NHS24 on 111, Samaritans on 116 123 or Breathing Space on 0800 83 58 87.
The impact of poor housing will be explored in the inquiry into how to prevent ill-health. In tomorrow’s second session focusing on ‘healthy places’, MPs will question experts on the relationship between housing and health with questions expected to cover the costs of poor housing to the NHS, the quality of rental properties, indoor ventilation and noise pollution.
The inquiry is seeking evidence on how housing can be designed to improve people’s health.
The session is also likely to consider the extent to which UK Government plans to create more homes through housebuilding or the transformation of non-residential buildings will help to deliver healthy homes.
The role of ‘healthy places’ is the second theme to be explored by the Health and Social Care Committee in its major inquiry into how to prevent ill-health.
There have been reports in the media that some buildings in the NHS Estate across Scotland may have been constructed using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). This material, which was widely in use between 1960 and 1980, was used mainly for components such as roof and floor planks. It is known to be weaker than other forms of concrete and its use was phased out in the 1990’s.
Work is underway at a national level to check and risk assess all NHS buildings which may potentially contain RAAC.
As part of that work, NHS Lothian has identified those candidate buildings in our Estate and supplied the information to NHS Scotland Assure. We have identified the following buildings as requiring investigation:
• Bonnyrigg Health Centre
• Lauriston Building
• Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion
• Royal Edinburgh Hospital – Cullen/River Centre Extension
• Royal Edinburgh Hospital – Link Corridor/X-Ray
• Stoneyburn Health Centre
• Tranent Medical Practice
• Western General Hospital – Gas Store
It is worth noting that the risk assessment that took place by NHS Scotland Assure was based on a desktop exercise and does not confirm the presence of RAAC within our buildings.
The next stage of the process will be for discovery surveys to be undertaken by an independent contractor appointed by NHS Assure to confirm or rule out the presence of RAAC within our buildings. This is a national process and the surveys are scheduled to be carried out in Lothian in the Autumn.
The output of these surveys will provide further information on any recommended remedial actions. This work is precautionary and not the result of any known issues in any of our buildings.
Come, along for a blether, laugh, cuppa, or a good greet! M Club provides a safe space to do all and to get the support you need when experiencing pre, peri, or even post-menopausal symptoms. Learn how to cope and explore new solutions.
We also have our very own Jules coming to offer taster sessions of Seasonal Yoga
People and businesses are invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer as thousands complain of ‘botched’ procedures
UK Government to seek views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer for consumers
Calls for views from industry and people who have undergone these procedures will be used to shape regulations
Proposals considered include restrictions on who can perform certain high-risk procedures and age limits for those undergoing cosmetic procedures
People and businesses are being invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures – including Botox, laser hair removal and dermal fillers – safer as thousands complain of ‘botched’ procedures.
The UK Government’s first-ever consultation on treatments – also known as aesthetic procedures – will be used to shape a new licensing scheme for practitioners and cosmetic businesses which operate in England. This could include age limits and restrictions for high-risk procedures, including those involving injecting fillers into intimate parts of the body – including the breasts and buttocks.
Any new licensing scheme would protect patients from potential harm associated with poorly performed procedures. This will provide reassurance to people that wherever they go to get their treatments, they will receive the same high standards of practice.
The beauty industry is hugely important for the UK economy and is largely made up of female-owned small and medium sized businesses, with the non-surgical cosmetic industry previously being valued at an estimated £3.6 billion in the UK.
New regulations will support businesses by introducing high standards across the sector, raising the reputation and professionalism of the industry.
Minister for the Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield said: “Whether it’s Botox, dermal fillers or even a chemical peel, we have heard too many stories of people who’ve had bad experiences from getting a cosmetic procedure from someone who is inexperienced or underqualified.
“There’s no doubt that the popularity of cosmetic procedures is increasing, so it’s our role to ensure consistent standards for consumers and a level playing field for businesses and practitioners.
“We want to make sure we get this right for everyone, which is why we want to hear your opinions and experiences through our new consultation.”
An estimated 900,000 Botox injections are carried out in the UK each year. Save Face – a government approved register of accredited practitioners – received almost 3,000 complaints in 2022, with over two-thirds of those complaints relating to dermal fillers and almost a quarter relating to Botox.
Ashton Collins, director, Save Face said: “Whilst we appreciate that we are still at very early stages of any potential licensing scheme being implemented in England, we are delighted to have been invited by the government to contribute our thoughts and ideas ahead of the release of this public consultation.
“Being involved in the process has enabled Save Face to actively contribute to roundtable discussions with ministers, policy makers and key stakeholders.
“As the largest and longest established Professional Standards Authority accredited register, we are able to provide a unique level of insight based on ten years of gathering data from practitioner and clinic audits as well as patient reported complaints, adverse reactions, and complications.
“This will enable us to help develop a fit for purpose scheme that has public safety as its primary focus. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the government and key stakeholders during the next stages of the process.”
Professor David Sines CBE, Chair of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, said: “I warmly welcome the government’s decision to consult on this new, proposed licensing scheme.
“It will help to ensure that people who undergo non-surgical cosmetic procedures receive treatment from practitioners who are properly trained and qualified, have the necessary insurance cover and operate from premises that are safe and hygienic.
“I would urge everybody to seize the opportunity provided by this consultation and support the move towards sensible and proportionate regulation in this important sector.”
Victoria Brownlie, Chief Policy Officer at the British Beauty Council: “Since its inception, the British Beauty Council has been working to raise the reputation of the beauty industry and we see greater checks and balances around aesthetic procedures as a key part of this.
“Having worked with the government to achieve the ban on injectables for under 18s in 2021, we are delighted that they have continued this momentum with the commitment to introduce a licensing scheme covering a raft of higher-risk aesthetic treatments, many of which are largely unregulated.
“Those seeking treatments deserve to do so with confidence that their practitioner is properly qualified in the service they’re offering, to the appropriate level of government approved educational standards.
“The Council has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care to get to this point, so we look forward to seeing the outcome of the consultation and helping to shape the regulatory framework as it progresses.”
The consultation will run for 8 weeks and will close on Saturday 28 October.
It follows the passing of the Health and Care Act in April 2022, which gave the Health and Social Care Secretary the power to introduce a licensing regime.
Under the proposed scheme, which will be operated by local authorities in England, practitioners will need to be licensed to perform specific procedures, and the premises from which they operate will also need to be licensed.
The government has already made it illegal for under-18s to access Botox and filler treatments for cosmetic purposes and banned TV and social media adverts targeting under-18s with cosmetic procedures.
Anyone considering a cosmetic procedure should reflect fully on the possible impact of the procedure on both their physical and mental health and, if they decide to go ahead, take the time to find a reputable, insured and qualified practitioner.
The SPFL Trust, in partnership with Prostate Scotland, are continuing their exercise programme for men living with prostate cancer following a hugely successful 12-week pilot programme.
The initial phase of this project took place in the capital at Tynecastle, delivered by Heart of Midlothian FC and at Ibrox, with Rangers Charity Foundation.
The programme is a tailored version of Football Fans in Training (FFIT), the SPFL Trust’s flagship health and wellbeing programme which takes place at football clubs across the country, helping people to get active and feel fitter, healthier and happier.
The next cohort kicks off on September 19 in Kilmarnock, with The Killie Community, and in the capital, with Heart of Midlothian FC at Tynecastle on September 20.
Working together with experts from Prostate Scotland, the University of Glasgow Health and Wellbeing Institute and The Exercise Clinic, the programme has been developed based on clinical guidelines for men living with prostate cancer, which recommend a structured 12-week exercise programme.
Prostate FFIT is open to all men living with prostate cancer, who can self-refer online, or be referred by a clinician.
As well as having the opportunity to take part in exercise supported by trained coaches, participants will learn more about nutrition. They will also receive a personal workbook to help them follow the course and have access to specifically developed videos to continue exercise at home.
Crucially, Prostate FFIT will create space for men affected by prostate cancer to meet others in a similar situation, offering informal peer support.
David Plaintook part in the pilot programme with Heart of Midlothian FC. “It was really good on a number of levels,” he said.“You immediately have something in common with every single person in the room. We’re all at different stages of our journey, but we all have prostate cancer.
David (fourth from left) and his Prostate FFIT group during a session at Tynecastle
“There was someone else on the course who had the same treatment as me. It was just good to know that what I was experiencing wasn’t out of the ordinary.
“I’ve continued with exercise after the course. Three of us meet up once a week to go to a fitness class and have a coffee.
“You don’t feel the need to hide the fact that you have Prostate Cancer. Prostate FFIT is a safe place to go and everyone there is going through a similar journey.”
Adam Gaines, Director of Prostate Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be offering these new courses with our partners at the SPFL Trust, The Killie Community and Heart of Midlothian FC.
“Prostate FFIT is aimed at helping tackle the impact prostate cancer can have on the lives of men living with it, especially for those on hormone therapy.
“The benefit of Prostate FFIT courses, offered in professional football clubs, is in providing engaging and helpful exercise and healthy lifestyle sessions, in line with clinical guidelines. Recent research by the University of Glasgow has shown many benefits that Prostate FFIT courses can have on men living with prostate cancer.”
More pupils to benefit from ‘transformative’ programme
The First Minister has encouraged every school in Scotland to join Reading Schools, a Scottish Government-funded programme that supports attainment and benefits pupils’ health and wellbeing.
So far, 371 schools have been awarded Reading Schools accreditation and 511 more have joined the programme – which independent evaluation has shown leads to more pupils reading for pleasure and can help to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.
It is hoped that every school in Scotland will be a Reading School within three to five years.
In addition to Reading Schools, the First Minister will underline his personal commitment to promoting both literacy and numeracy by supporting the ‘Read Write Count with the First Minister’ programme, which will provide books and literacy materials to children when it opens in the autumn.
The First Minister and the Education Secretary heard about the benefits of Reading Schools during a visit to Claypotts Castle Primary School in Dundee.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I am pleased that the hugely successful First Minister’s Reading Challenge has now evolved into a reading support programme that will benefit even more pupils, and involves the whole school community.
“We know that reading can support improved attainment across the curriculum and that embedding a reading culture in schools can open the door to a lifelong love of books.
“I look forward to working with the Scottish Book Trust and schools across the country on both Reading Schools and the refreshed Read Write Count with the First Minister set to launch in the autumn. These fantastic programmes will support children in improving both literacy and numeracy across Scotland.”
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Evaluation has shown the clear benefits of Reading Schools to pupils and school staff and I look forward to seeing the impact of this next phase in our work with the Scottish Book Trust.
“I would encourage every school in Scotland to join the programme so that pupils can enjoy all of the positive impacts that reading brings.”
Claypotts Castle Primary School head teacher Nicky Murray said: “The Reading Schools award has allowed us to focus our effort, energy and enthusiasm and protect time within our school improvement agenda to drive forward a culture of reading in our school.
“We have already awarded over 250 certificates to children this year to celebrate their reading achievements and the feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The Reading Schools award has given us the opportunity to align our vision of a community and school improvement focus to extend the life and ethos of the school into every home in our local community.”
Marc Lambert , CEO of the Scottish Book Trust, which delivers the Reading Schools programme, said: “We look forward to supporting even more schools on their Reading Schools journey in the years ahead.
“Reading Schools is already having a transformative effect in schools, both on young people and learning professionals, as well as the wider school community.
“We are delighted that the First Minister and Scottish Government continue to show their commitment to literacy and numeracy, benefitting pupils across all ages and stages of their education.”
Over half of Scots (52 per cent) think volunteering could improve their mental health according to a new survey from the British Heart Foundation. It comes as the national charity has also seen a boom in younger volunteers since the pandemic ended.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF), which has around 16,000 volunteers across its shops and stores, and supporting roles from home, has also revealed that over half of its new retail volunteer recruits this year are Gen Z.
A new survey of 1,000 people in Scotland has highlighted that Scots believe volunteering could improve their mental health, boost confidence, and reduce loneliness.
The survey also found that over nine in 10 (94 per cent) of Gen Z respondents nationally would consider volunteering, compared with just under three quarters (74 per cent) of Baby Boomers (people aged 59-77+) respondents.
Flexibility stood out as a key factor for Scottish respondents when it comes to volunteering, with 48 per cent of Scots saying they would be more likely to volunteer if flexible hours were offered, and nearly a quarter (24 per cent) would consider volunteering from home
Further results showed that for 30 per cent of Scottish respondents (32 per cent), the biggest barrier to volunteering in a charity shop was not having time to commit to it regularly. With flexible roles offered, and even the option to volunteer from home, it’s now much easier for anyone to get involved and try out volunteering at the BHF.
Harry McCaughey, a 17-year-old BHF volunteer, initially signed up to gain some work experience and develop his confidence in meeting and socialising with other people. He volunteers at his local shop on the weekends while he studies and loves the social atmosphere and the mix of people and ages in the team. After his A Levels, Harry hopes to go to university and have a career in dermatology.
Harry said: “I started volunteering to meet new people, and it’s been great to get to know people that I wouldn’t otherwise have met and hear advice from those that are older than me.
“I’d encourage younger people to volunteer, it’s a great way to expand your social circle and build confidence and responsibility at work.”
David McColgan, Head of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Scotlandsaid: “Since the pandemic, it’s been great to see consistently high numbers of young people choose to try out volunteering. The flexibility we offers makes it ideal for those looking to gain work experience and build confidence before applying for jobs or heading to university.
“Our easy, flexible, and inclusive approach aims to make volunteering more accessible for all. We encourage everyone to bring their skills to the BHF, whether it’s for one day or one hundred. Whether you want to chat to customers on the shop floor, sort through donations in the stock room, style the mannequins in the window, stay active in the warehouse or research eBay items from home, we have the role for you.”
A recent volunteer photoshoot saw the charity use only real volunteers in their images, rather than models, marking a new direction the charity is taking to reflect the real diversity of their volunteers.
