Tag: Health and wellbeing

Make friends through plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

A study commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has highlighted that more than half of adults consider themselves to be ‘lonely’ because they are too busy or shy to socialise with others. Continue reading Make friends through plants at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Make Blue Monday a new kind of Monday – get walking and boost your mental health

The organisers of The MoonWalk Scotland, health charity Walk the Walk, are urging women and men across the country to get walking – to boost their mental health. 

Blue Monday is traditionally the third Monday in January and is dubbed the most depressing day of the year. After the excesses of the festive season, money worries, failed New Year’s resolutions and the cold, dark winter weather can take their toll on the mental health of many people.

Whilst walking is recognised as a near perfect way to keep fit and maintain a healthy weight, benefits for our emotional well-being are often overlooked. When we exercise, we release feel-good hormones known as endorphins into our bloodstream.

This natural high helps reduce stress and anxiety, calming and relaxing both the body and mind. Particularly at a time of year when money is tight, walking is one of the most accessible types of exercise around. It costs nothing, and can be done at anytime and anywhere.

Nina Barough CBE, Founder and Executive of Walk the Walk and organiser of The MoonWalk Scotland said: “Walking really is one of the most perfect forms of exercise there is – physically, it tones your body, strengthens your muscles and keeps your heart healthy.

“But it’s crucial for our mental health too. Going out for a daily walk can help reduce tension, stress and anxiety, which is an issue for so many of us, particularly at this time of the year. It sounds perverse, but this can be the best time of the year to get out walking, as the worse the weather is, the better it feels. It’s really empowering – as long as you’ve got the right clothes of course! Walking is a type of exercise which you can build up slowly – no matter your ability and it really is a cure for the January blues. Why not give yourself a goal and sign up for a walking challenge like The MoonWalk. Often having something to aim for can boost motivation and drive you to keep going!”

Lucie Joels has secondary breast cancer and completed The MoonWalk with a group of friends. She says that walking is incredibly important for her mental health: “For me, living with cancer, getting out of the house and walking is grounding. It’s an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.

“I’m in the fifth cycle of my latest round of chemotherapy, but when I am able, just walking the dog, watching the sunrise and seeing the clouds move across the sky is amazing. Yesterday I manage 4,000 steps and I was very happy with that – I feel like I’m winning!

“Being outside I am just a tiny part in a huge world whilst when I’m indoors I’m a big part of my small world and occasionally that can be overwhelming. I strongly believe that there is always something good in every day, no matter how small it seems. Sometimes it would be easy to get stuck in the gloom and have a pity-party, but I try not to stay there long enough to put the bunting up!”

The MoonWalk Scotland is an iconic night-time fundraising event, which sees women and men wearing brightly decorated bras as they walk 10K, 13.1 miles, 26.2 mile or 52.4 miles through the streets of Edinburgh at Midnight.

Walk the Walk makes grants to fund both research into breast cancer and to help improve the lives of those living with cancer now.

The MoonWalk Scotland 2020 takes places on Saturday 6th June.

Sign up at www.walkthewalk.org 

New Year A&E record reveals Scotland’s GP crisis

A record-breaking number of people attending accident and emergency in the first week of January is a symptom of the country’s GP crisis, the Scottish Conservatives have said. Continue reading New Year A&E record reveals Scotland’s GP crisis

NHS Lothian rolls out ‘robust’ Winter Action Plan

NHS Lothian has rolled out a ‘robust action plan’ to ensure patients continue to receive the highest quality care throughout the busiest time of the year.

A detailed multi-million pound strategy to manage the predicted increases in demand is underway to bolster community and hospital services. Continue reading NHS Lothian rolls out ‘robust’ Winter Action Plan

Local derby opens new pitches at Hunters Hall

Sports facilities at Hunter Hall Park in Edinburgh have received a boost thanks to the opening of two new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP).
The park, can now boast some of the best sporting facilities in the local area and both pitches will be floodlit, allowing year-round use in late evenings and during the winter.

The new pitches were officially opened by Culture and Communities Convener, Donald Wilson on Friday 10 January. He was joined by representatives from Edinburgh Leisure and Scottish Football Association at a special opening ceremony.

Players from local teams Edina and Gold & Gray cheered the opening before kicking off a friendly match.

The football pitches offer outstanding amenities for the local sports clubs and the wider community. This phase of the redevelopment of the facilities in the area has also brought improved path network and overflow car park.

Funding from Section 75 contributions from local developments has enabled the Council to refurbish the existing 2G full size pitch and convert an existing grass pitch area to form a new 7-aside floodlit 3G playing surface.

This modern facility can be much more widely used, becoming a community hub for football in the area. The work was carried out by Allsports Construction & Maintenance Ltd.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “I’m delighted that with our partners we have been able to provide these pitches which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport.

“Not only will it help to increase participation in football and outdoor sport, it will also help the development of grassroots football in the area.

“As a council, we are committed to encouraging and enabling everyone to become more physically active and enjoy the associated benefits. We want sport to be as accessible as possible for our residents and our investment in fit-for-purpose sports facilities is helping to ensure that as many people as possible can get involved in sport throughout the year.”

An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “Making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do.

“The upgraded 3G floodlit pitches will mean more opportunities for the local community to get involved in grassroots football.”

David Gold from Gold & Gray Soccer Academy added: “We are very fortunate to work in partnership with Edinburgh leisure and the Jack Kane Centre.

“The standard of Astro allows us to put on quality sessions that benefit the physical health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.”

Brian Gunn, committee member of Edina Hibs added: “The new Astro turf pitch facilities at the Jack Kane Sports Centre are just what Edina Hibs Football Club and the local sports community needed.

“The new facility will enable Edina Hibs, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure and Jack Kane Sports Centre, deliver our core aim of providing team sports to help keep children healthy and happy in the local community and beyond.

Jennifer Malone South East Regional Manager, Scottish Football Association added: “It’s fantastic to see this new facility opening which in turn will hopefully see even more of the local community taking part in the game.”