SASS4US (Support And Survival Skills for Unleashing self love) is a trauma support group facilitated through LIFT, bringing together women aged 20 to 50 from the Muirhouse and West Pilton communities.
The group provides a safe and supportive space where women can talk openly about life experiences, mental health, personal challenges, and goals for the future. Around eighteen women attend every week.
Through mutual support, encouragement, and understanding, members work together to build confidence, develop resilience, embrace positive change, and support one another in their personal journeys.
Recently, many group members shared their concerns about the negative atmosphere they feel has developed within the local community. Some residents have expressed feeling anxious or even afraid to visit local shops, and there is a growing sense that negative stories are overshadowing the many positive aspects of the area.
Wanting to make a difference, the women of SASS4US decided to take positive action. They created inspirational stones and uplifting quotations, which have been placed throughout the Muirhouse and West Pilton communities.
Their writings aim is to spread kindness, hope, and encouragement, while reminding people that even small acts of positivity can have a meaningful impact.
This project reflects the group’s commitment not only to supporting each other’s wellbeing but also to helping create a stronger, more connected, and more hopeful community for everyone.
The girls would like to be anonymous as they want to start making these each month and placing them around the community continuously.
Morven MacKinnon was inspired by loved ones to develop her Degree Show project
An Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) student has drawn inspiration from her gran to design a space for people experiencing hair loss.
Morven MacKinnon’s project, The Wellness Factory, is the concept of a treatment centre based in the Biscuit Factory in Leith.
Her work is on display alongside fellow Interior & Spatial Design students as part of ENU’s 2026 Degree Show – which is currently being held at its Merchiston campus.
A combination of sketches, visual renderings and a scale model, The Wellness Factory imagines a treatment centre specialising in hair loss and regrowth, with a strong focus on nutrition and overall wellbeing of an individual.
It is designed as an inviting, stress-free environment, with an open plan food hall and breakout areas to promote connection and recovery.
The 22-year-old from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire was inspired by loved ones who have experienced hair loss. She said: “A lot of people close to me have been affected by hair loss – my gran being one of them.
“She went through chemotherapy twice and lost her hair. I understand how difficult it can be, so I wanted to do something which would help people in that situation.
“My gran was a massive help in putting it all together. I interviewed her to ask how she felt about it at the time.
“It is an understandably touchy subject for anyone who has gone through it. I think she was quite moved that I chose this as a project.
“I focussed on three case studies in particular, alopecia, eating disorders and chemotherapy patients.
“It formed a big part of my concept – which is bringing people together. People I interviewed told me how it is such a lonely and daunting prospect.”
For Morven the Degree Show marks a full-circle moment, as it was where she made the decision to study at Edinburgh Napier University.
She added: “I always wanted to do something arty and creative, so I spent time looking at different degree shows around the country.
“The work at Edinburgh Napier stood out as being very impressive. It looked so professional and clean, it really stuck with me.
“I’ve had sleepless nights putting my final project together, but I’m so excited to show it off.
“The lecturers have been amazing. You can tell how passionate they are. I can’t wait to start my career now.”
Showcasing work from across ENU’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, the 2026 Degree Show is being held at the University’s Merchiston campus between 29 May and 5 June.
The newly re-elected Scottish Government must show that it is serious about tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments – as A&E waiting time records continue to be broken.
New figures on ED performance from Public Health Scotland covering the month of April 2026 were published today (2 June).
In April, fewer than two thirds (64.2%) of major ED attendances were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours. The government-mandated target is 95%.
Meanwhile, almost one in eight (12.4%, or 14,846) patients waited more than eight hours.
This made that month the worst April since records began for eight and four-hour waiting time metrics in ED.
A total of 6,196 – or 5.1% of patients – waited more than 12 hours – constituting the second worst April on record.
Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Scotland Vice President, said: “Emergency Department clinicians are working tirelessly to try to provide safe and good care to our patients – but the pressure is overwhelming and relentless.
“We are out of winter. This time of year is supposed to see a break in the clouds. Instead, we are as busy as ever.”
Today’s data also showed that, in April 2026, there were an average of 1,902 beds occupied by patients medically fit to leave each day – also known as delayed discharges.
This constitutes a serious problem and is a driver of ED overcrowding because it means patients in need of admission from A&E cannot get a bed. This can result in extremely long waits for these extremely sick patients.
As RCEM revealed last year, these waits can be deadly: in 2025, there 871 excess deaths associated with long waits for admission in ED.
Dr Hunter said: “At last month’s elections, the incumbent SNP-run Scottish Government retained power. We must see votes repaid with real, concrete action on A&E overcrowding.
“The new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Angela Constance has an uphill battle ahead of her. As today’s numbers show, waiting times are among the worst they’ve ever been for this time of year.
“Enduring such waits in an ED is stressful, undignified and we know it can cause harm to patients.
“Meanwhile, there has been no significant or meaningful improvement in the number of delayed discharges – a key metric of patient flow.
“We call on the government to make tackling hospital overcrowding a priority and refuse to allow the current situation to continue. Just because our waits are better than other UK nations does not mean they should be accepted.”
Nine in 10 children and young people begin mental health treatment within 18 weeks of referral
The latest figures, published today, show that 91.2% of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) began treatment within 18 weeks — meeting the national standard for a sustained period.
One in two children referred to CAMHS is now starting treatment within six weeks — compared to one in two starting within 12 weeks before the pandemic.
Waits of over 18 weeks are at their lowest level since 2013, down nearly 20% in the past year.
The longest waits have fallen to their lowest level since 2015, with 12 out of 14 Boards now reporting zero patients waiting over a year.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “These figures reflect the dedication and hard work of CAMHS teams right across Scotland, and I am truly pleased to see these sustained and significant improvements in waiting times.
“We have increased CAMHS staffing by 51.6% over the last decade, and exceeded our commitment to fund 320 additional posts by 2026 — increasing capacity for cases by over 10,000. This investment is making a real difference to children and young people across the country.
“While there is still more to do, and we will not be complacent, today’s figures are genuinely encouraging. Long waits remain unacceptable and we will continue to support every Board to meet the standard.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition responded:“While we welcome the fact that one in two children referred to CAMHS is now starting treatment within six weeks — compared to one in two starting within 12 weeks before the pandemic, this is still in itself too long and there is much work to do to tackle the current mental health emergency.
“We still have just under 300 children and young people who have been waiting for more than nine months for treatment and 23 more than a year.
“Many children and young people are still waiting years for help, which worsens their mental health and is a sure-fire way to add to their pain.
“What we need is not just parity of esteem between mental health and physical health, it’s parity of action and parity of spend.
“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the new Scottish Government to ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”
A day after World No Tobacco Day, and a full year after the ban on selling single-use vapes in Scotland came into force, environmental and health organisations and campaigners are calling for further action to protect people and our environment.
While a positive decrease in littered vapes has been recorded in Scotland, alongside a 9% decrease across the UK, there is little data available to identify whether the ban has helped reduce youth vaping. And, the ongoing challenges of disposing of vapes safely, capturing precious resources via recycling, alongside tackling the ever present and harmful issue of smoking-related litter remains.
Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Before taking action on disposable vapes, it was estimated that over half of disposable vapes were incorrectly disposed of each year in Scotland – creating a fire risk and littering our beautiful environment.
“These findings are a welcome demonstration of the success the single-use vape ban has had in its first year in tackling the threat they pose to our environment as well as to our public health.”
Alongside the Marine Conservation Society, health charity ASH Scotland and environmental scientist, campaigner and ambassador to our charity Laura Anderson (Young), we first liaised with Scottish Ministers to call for a ban on the sale of single-use vapes in 2022 after highlighting how vapes undermine the principles of a circular economy, cause harm to Scotland’s environment and damage people’s health.
Now a year-on from the ban the coalition is calling for further action, to build on the momentum and take further steps to address smoking-related litter and health impacts in children and young people – you can read the letter we sent to Scottish Ministers – calling for more action – below.
The coalition will continue to work collaboratively to tackle vapes and smoking related litter and build on its commitment to a cleaner, healthier Scotland.
THE LETTER READS:
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs Scottish Government St Andrew’s House Edinburgh EH1 3DG 21st May 2026
Dear Ministers,
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointments as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, and Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs. As a coalition of organisations and individuals working to protect and improve Scotland’s environmental and public health, we look forward to working with you on tobacco and nicotine related litter.
Marking progress: disposable vapes ban anniversary
As we approach the anniversary of Scotland’s ban on single-use disposable vapes, we wanted to recognise the brilliant cross government working that led to the legislation coming into force, and the role Scotland played in pioneering the introduction of the ban
Laura Anderson (nee Young), also known as Less Waste Laura, is an environmental campaigner and a signatory to this letter. She catapulted the issue of littered single-use vapes to the forefront of public awareness in 2022. Since then, she has inspired politicians, charities and councils to take action to tackle Scotland’s fastest growing litter item.
The Marine Conservation Society, Keep Scotland Beautiful and ASH Scotland worked closely with Laura and others to raise awareness of this issue and call for the ban on both environmental and public health grounds which came into force on the 1st June 2025.
The ban has been an important step in raising awareness of, and tackling litter that pollutes our landscapes, communities and marine environment. Early indications in litter data from Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Marine Conservation Society show a decline in littered single-use vapes.
Initial Source to Sea litter data from the Marine Conservation Society demonstrates a 9% decrease in the presence of vapes across the UK.
Keep Scotland Beautiful has seen a decrease in the percentage of sites recording a presence of littered vapes – with vapes found on just 5% of Scottish sites.
As there has been no robust data about children’s use of vapes since the 2021/22 Health and Wellbeing Census, it is currently not possible to identify whether the ban on single-use vapes has been impactful in tackling youth vaping.
The ongoing challenge of smoking-related litter
Smoking-related litter — particularly cigarette butts — continues to be one of the most commonly discarded items in Scotland’s streets, green spaces and coastlines. Keep Scotland Beautiful auditors counted almost 20,000 cigarette butts nationally in 2025/2026.
Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch data from 2025 highlighted over 2000 smoking related litter items were found on Scottish beaches and Keep Scotland Beautiful found 60% of sites nationally were polluted by cigarette butts. These contain plastics and harmful chemicals that persist in the environment, pollute waterways and pose risks to wildlife.
Cigarette filters do not reduce health harm but mislead people who smoke into perceiving cigarettes to be safer and discourage attempts to quit smoking.
In the recent passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which had a four nations approach, and the associated Legislative Consent Motions, we were pleased to see the extension of provisions to ban some or all cigarette filters in the future. Local authorities, communities and volunteers bear a significant burden in clearing this waste, yet prevention remains the most effective and sustainable solution.
Opportunities for further action
We believe there is a clear opportunity to build on the momentum of the single use vape ban and take further steps to address smoking-related litter.
We believe the following steps would help to achieve this:
1. Introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme (EPR) for tobacco and nicotine waste not covered by market restrictions. 2. Increase awareness and tighten up the enforcement of existing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Waste Batteries Regulations for producers, distributors and retailers of vapes including disposal and recycling. 3. Ban the sale and manufacture of single-use cigarette filters which offer no health benefits and exacerbate environmental damage. 4. Require businesses to report on the number of vapes (as a percentage sold) that are returned for recycling under WEEE. 5. Routinely publish robust data on children in Scotland’s use of tobacco and nicotine products.
Taking forward these measures would deliver clear environmental, social and economic benefits—supporting cleaner communities, healthier ecosystems, and reduced clean-up costs.
A shared ambition
Our organisations share a commitment to a cleaner, healthier Scotland. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your officials to discuss how we can work collaboratively to tackle vapes and smoking-related litter and build on Scotland’s leadership in this area.
We are planning on issuing a press release on Wednesday 27th May focusing on this statistical information and our collaborative asks, under embargo for 1st June. We invite comments from both of you to include to highlight the successes and further opportunities.
We wish you every success, and look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Less Waste Laura Marine Conservation Society Keep Scotland Beautiful ASH Scotland
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the “RCPE”) is urging Scotland’s MSPs in the new session of Parliament to support a national pilot programme to monitor air pollution around city primary schools, following compelling evidence that Scottish children may be exposed to harmful levels of pollution that are currently going unmeasured.
The proposal, led by the RCPE’s Air Pollution Working Group, calls for a pilot study to look at air quality around schools by installing of air quality monitors around three schools in each of four major Scottish cities — Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen — over a minimum period of one year. This duration is essential to capture seasonal variation and provide reliable, policy-relevant data.
The RCPE is urging MSPs from all of Scotland’s political parties to press Ministers in the new Scottish Government to support the pilot.
Why the pilot is required
Scotland rightly prides itself on having some of the cleanest air in the world and among the strongest air quality standards in Europe. Low Emission Zones and investment in cleaner public transport have delivered real progress.
However, new evidence shows that harmful health effects occur at pollution levels below current Scottish targets, particularly for children — prompting the World Health Organization to issue significantly tighter Global Air Quality Guidelines in 2021.
Despite this, pilot mapping carried out by the RCPE reveals a stark gap: air quality is rarely monitored near schools. Across five Scottish cities, over 60% of primary and secondary schools are more than one kilometre from the nearest air quality monitor. Only one primary school was found to be within 50 metres of a particulate matter monitor. The Air Pollution Working Group’s research has now been published in the BMJ Public Health Journal.
“This is a blind spot in our public health system,” said Professor Jill Belch OBE, Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group. “We know that children are more vulnerable than adults to air pollution, yet we are failing to measure what they are breathing during the school day.”
Why schools matter
Schools are often located near busy roads and junctions. Pollution levels are intensified by the ‘school run’, idling vehicles, and congestion during drop-off and pick-up times. Vehicle emissions release nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), pollutants known to damage the lungs, heart, brain, immune system and metabolic health of children.
Robust UK and international evidence links air pollution exposure in childhood to:
impaired lung growth and increased asthma risk
effects on brain development, cognition, behaviour and educational attainment
higher blood pressure and early markers of cardiovascular disease
increased hospital admissions, with over 1,000 excess child admissions per year in Scotland on high-pollution days
These harms are not evenly distributed. Children from more deprived communities are more likely to attend schools in areas with higher pollution, compounding existing health inequalities and environmental injustice.
A practical, affordable pilot with national impact
The proposed pilot would deploy proven Airly air quality monitors within 50 metres of selected schools, measuring NO₂, PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ continuously for 12 months. The project would be delivered in partnership with local authorities and an experienced UK environmental consultancy, ensuring data quality, transparency and independence.
Crucially, the programme includes a citizen science and education component, enabling pupils to engage with real-time data, understand pollution’s health effects, and influence behaviour change such as reducing engine idling and encouraging active travel.
Because the project spans four cities rather than a single neighbourhood, it falls outside traditional community or charity funding models — making political leadership and public investment essential.
Strong professional and workforce backing
The proposal has received full endorsement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
Mike Corbett, National Official, NASUWT Scotland stated:“Being able to quantify the scale of the problem around our schools is the first step to cleaning up the air our children breathe and moving towards a healthier and safer future.
“NASUWT is therefore very pleased to endorse and support this proposal.”
A clear call to action
The data generated by this pilot would directly inform local and national decision-making, guiding targeted interventions such as no-idling zones, low-traffic streets, cleaner school transport, greening measures and safer routes for walking and cycling. The findings would be reported to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, local councils, schools and the public.
In light of recent European human rights rulings recognising that failure to address environmental pollution can violate the right to life, the case for action is both moral and legal.
“There is overwhelming evidence that air pollution harms children — often permanently,” said: Professor Belch.
“What Scotland currently lacks is the data around schools to act decisively. This pilot programme is a modest, affordable step that could deliver lifelong health benefits for our children and reduce entrenched inequalities.”
Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group, said: The College has serious concerns at the lack of data on air quality levels around urban schools and considers that this gap must be addressed as a priority.
“Our Air Pollution Working Group has worked hard to develop a practical and affordable pilot proposal for air quality monitoring around urban schools and I hope that this can be supported by all of our political parties in Scotland.
“It is extremely important that we have an evidence base for mitigation where that is required given the serious impacts poor air quality can have on the health of our children and young people.”
Scotland’s political parties are now being asked to show leadership — and ensure that every child has the right to breathe clean air at school.
Dame Louise Martin, pioneering international sports leader and former President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, has been appointed as the first Project Ambassador for Queen Margaret University’s (QMU) Lydia Osteoporosis Project.
Widely recognised as a trailblazer in global sports administration, Dame Louise was the first woman to serve as President of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Her lifelong commitment to health, wellbeing and active lifestyles strongly aligns with QMU’s ambitions to advance osteoporosis prevention, education and research.
A distinguished alumna of Queen Margaret University and a former lecturer at the institution, Dame Louise brings both professional expertise and a longstanding personal connection to QMU to her new ambassadorial role.
The Lydia Osteoporosis Project is a research and public engagement initiative focused on improving awareness, education and prevention of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens the bones, making them more fragile and more likely to fracture. Dame Louise’s appointment follows the highly successful Lydia Osteoporosis Symposium, held at QMU earlier this May. The event brought together people living with osteoporosis, carers and family members, health and social care professionals, researchers, and the wider community for an inclusive day of learning, discussion and shared experience.
Over three million people in the UK (including around 300,000 people in Scotland) live with osteoporosis, and the condition is responsible for an estimated 527,000 fractures each year. Yet despite its prevalence and life‑changing consequences, osteoporosis remains widely under‑diagnosed, under‑treated and under‑prioritised within public health and clinical agendas. Dame Louise’s appointment as Project Ambassador represents a significant opportunity to challenge this imbalance.
In her role, she will support the Lydia Osteoporosis Project team in building strategic partnerships, engaging key stakeholders and championing the importance of bone health at a national and international level. Drawing on her exceptional leadership experience, she will also provide strategic insight and represent the project at high‑profile events – helping to drive awareness, influence policy conversations and ensure osteoporosis is recognised as a serious, preventable long‑term condition that demands far greater attention, visibility and investment.
Fully funded by donor support, the Queen Margaret University Lydia Osteoporosis Project demonstrates the pivotal role a single committed donor can play in advancing research and improving patient care. To date, over £1 million has been provided by an anonymous donor, enabling Queen Margaret University to establish and sustain a programme inspired by a personal connection to osteoporosis.
The donor’s support has been central to the project’s development, underpinning work to improve manual handling practices in healthcare, expand osteoporosis awareness, and support PhD research. The project exists and continues to grow because of sustained donor commitment.
Dame Louise Martin said: “The Lydia Osteoporosis Project is about people – those living with osteoporosis, those at risk, and those who support them. It is about creating understanding, building confidence, and improving lives through shared knowledge and community.
“The work being done at QMU is innovative, important and life-changing, and I am delighted to champion it. I hope others will join us in supporting bone health and helping people live well with strength, confidence and community.”
Dame Louise has a longstanding connection with QMU, having studied at the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science (now QMU), where she later became a lecturer. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary degree in recognition of her outstanding contribution to international sport.
A talented athlete in her early years, she represented Scotland in swimming and reached the finals of the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia. She went on to teach home economics in Edinburgh before embarking on a highly successful career in sports administration.
Her achievements include becoming the first woman to chair Scotland’s Commonwealth Games Council in 1999, the first female member of the Commonwealth Games Federation Executive Board and later serving as Secretary from 1999 to 2015.
In 2015, she became the first female President of the Federation, a role she held for two terms until 2023. She played a pivotal role in the delivery of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and was awarded a Damehood in 2019.
Dame Louise Martin said: “Throughout my career, including my time as President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, I have seen how preparation, consistency and strong foundations underpin success.
“The parallels with osteoporosis are clear – regular weight-bearing exercise and good nutrition are essential for building and maintaining strong bones.
“Prevention is powerful, and the earlier we start, the better the outcomes. Education and awareness are key to empowering people to take action and support their own health. I am committed to working with the Lydia Osteoporosis Project team to turn this focus on prevention and education into action, and to secure recognition of osteoporosis as a public health priority.”
Professor Sara Smith, Dean of the School of Health Sciences at QMU, said: “Dame Louise brings a powerful combination of leadership, insight and advocacy.
“Her support will be instrumental in strengthening our efforts to improve the understanding of osteoporosis, and drive forward innovation in education, research and practice.”
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