Tag: Health and wellbeing

Getting more girls into sport

Scotland to hold first-ever Women and Girls in Sport Week

More women and girls across Scotland are being encouraged to get involved in sport. An awareness-raising week from 1 to 8 October 2017 will build on recent success stories – such as the women’s national football team’s qualification for its first major tournament this summer – to promote the benefits of a more active lifestyle.

A Women and Girls Advisory Board – made up of key leaders from the world of women’s sport, business and media – will offer independent advice to support the Scottish Government’s work to encourage more women into sport and raise awareness of women and girls regularly taking part in sports and physical activity at all levels.

Sport Minister Aileen Campbell announced dates for the inaugural week and the membership of the board during a visit to Shawlands Academy earlier this week. There, Scottish netball stars the Sirens were hosting a body confidence session as part of their Sirens for Success Programme.

Ms Campbell (above) said: “Research shows that sport improves health and well-being, leads to improved self-esteem and, at the elite level, gives everyone something to cheer for as our stars excel on the international stage. These initiatives will help us to increase female participation in all areas of Scottish sport and support our work to transform public perceptions.

“There is much to be proud of, but I am conscious that we must do more to increase sporting participation among women and girls, and to build awareness around the successes we already have.

“That is why the inaugural Women and Girls in Sport Week, and the expert advisory board, are so important. Together, they will develop and promote news ideas and approaches that will drive participation, transform perceptions, and develop the stars of the future.”

Claire Nelson, CEO of Netball Scotland and Women and Girls Advisory Board member, said: “Despite the pockets of progress that have been made in female sport recently, the levels of disparity are still significant. There is much that still needs to be done to achieve a landscape that is fair and equal for all.

“The Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board will aim to address the key challenges currently facing women and girls in sport, as well as the many barriers to participation. We will seek to find an aligned strategic approach to driving long-term, meaningful change.

“The work that we have undertaken at Netball Scotland to tackle many of these challenges has delivered significant results – the Sirens For Success Programme being one notable achievement in this area – and I am hoping to bring the learnings, insights and expertise from my sport in order to support the drive for positive action.”

 

 

 

 

Bench unveiled at Botanics to mark Suicide Prevention Week

A bench has been unveiled by suicide prevention campaigners in Edinburgh. Representatives from Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) and Choose Life unveiled the bench at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Thursday ahead of Suicide Prevention Week (10-16 September). Continue reading Bench unveiled at Botanics to mark Suicide Prevention Week

New support and companionship service launches in Edinburgh

A new premium alternative for those who require support or companionship but want to live independently in their own homes has launched in Edinburgh. Continue reading New support and companionship service launches in Edinburgh

Combustible cladding found, but health chief insists Royal Infirmary “remains safe”

NHS Lothian chiefs have assured the public the Royal Infirmary is safe after panels of combustible material were found during safety inspections at the hospital. The checks were initiated following the Grenfell Tower blaze in London. Continue reading Combustible cladding found, but health chief insists Royal Infirmary “remains safe”

Police Scotland supports Suicide Prevention Week

Police Scotland has thrown its support behind Suicide Prevention Week 2017. If you can read between the lines, you can save lives. That’s the message Choose Life continues to send out to people in Scotland to mark this year’s Suicide Prevention Week (4 – 10 September 2017). Continue reading Police Scotland supports Suicide Prevention Week

Charlie Miller: Hair raising funds for SANDS Lothian!

FIVE hairdressers, one trainee, a maintenance technician and a PR and marketing manager were delighted to recently team up as the ‘Charlie Miller Hair Angels’ and show off their speed and agility at It’s A Knockout Edinburgh 2017 to raise funds for SANDS Lothians. Continue reading Charlie Miller: Hair raising funds for SANDS Lothian!

LEAP of joy: pioneering programme celebrates 600th success story

A groundbreaking initiative which helps people overcome their addictions has celebrated helping its 600th graduate. Edinburgh resident Angie Dunn is the latest person to complete the Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP), and she joined staff and NHS Lothian Chair Brian Houston to mark the event.  Continue reading LEAP of joy: pioneering programme celebrates 600th success story

Students urged: learn to look after your health

Universities and colleges across Scotland are gearing up for the arrival of students in the next couple of weeks. It is a busy time of year and students are being encouraged to add health care to the list of things they need to think about before starting their course. Continue reading Students urged: learn to look after your health

Charity giants team up to tackle Scotland’s snacking crisis

A major charity initiative between Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Tesco has discovered that snacking habits in Scotland are risking families’ long term health.

A survey commissioned by the National Charity Partnership, a partnership between the three organisations, found that nearly half of all adults in Scotland (45 percent) worry about the extra calories their families consume through unhealthy snacks, yet almost three in ten (29 percent) never actively choose nibbles that are low in fat and sugar. In fact, despite nearly half of those surveyed worrying about snacking habits, more than one-third of Scottish parents are still regularly offering crisps (37 percent) and 45 percent say they offer biscuits as snacks for their children either alongside or in between meals. 

Katherine Hale, Prevention Programme Manager for the National Charity Partnership, said: “Eating foods high in fat and sugar on a regular basis can contribute to increased calorie consumption – which can then increase the likelihood of being overweight. It’s particularly concerning that crisps and biscuits are still popular snacks for children because the food habits we learn at a young age can become ingrained and stay with us into adulthood.

“By developing unhealthy habits, you may be risking your family’s health. Regularly consuming ‘empty calories’ from snacks that contain lots of calories but little to no nutrients heightens your risk of obesity and the long-term conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease associated with this.“

As the summer holidays come to an end and a new school year begins, the National Charity Partnership is launching its Snack Goals Challenge to help UK families start the new term right by making some healthy snack swaps to curb those junk food cravings and improve their long-term health.

The partnership is encouraging people to set a goal to ‘eat healthy snacks’ using its online Eight Week Challenge. To support the challenge, the partnership has developed a series of articles to provide affordable and tasty recipe inspiration at https://lets-dothis.org.uk/tips/topics/snack-well/. Ideas include swapping crisps and biscuits for air-popped popcorn with cinnamon or spicy chilli.

Ms. Hale said: “Snacks are usually small and can seem insignificant. However the reality is that the calories they provide can really add up, especially for children.  By making a change now and taking our Snack Goals Challenge, to swap to healthier snacks it will help you stay on track and kick those bad snacking habits. For even more motivation, take the challenge with the whole family or friends for that extra element of competition.”

The most common reason why people in Scotland shun snacks low in fat, sugar or salt is that it costs too much money (24 percent). Almost one in five people in Scotland (18 percent) said that healthier snacks lack variety and 16 percent of those surveyed claimed their family prefers the taste of snacks like crisps and chocolate. The survey also found that adults in Scotland have a sweet tooth when it comes to snacking choices, with mid-afternoon the most popular time to snack. Four of the top five regularly consumed snacks for adults are sweet and include biscuits (37 percent) and chocolate bars (28 percent).

The National Charity Partnership between Diabetes UK, the BHF and Tesco is working to help millions of people look after their bodies and reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease by moving more and eating healthily.

To get involved set your goal at www.lets-dothis.org.uk/challenge and upload your healthy snack ideas on social media using the #snackgoalschallenge.