Tag: kindness

Anti-Bullying Week: Insight and advice from Childline and the NSPCC Helpline

Anti-Bullying Week is an annual event in the UK that aims to raise awareness about the bullying of children and young people and highlights ways of preventing and responding to the issue. The week is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and this year’s theme is ‘Choose Respect’.

The theme will encourage children and young people to start a national conversation about how to handle disagreements and differences of opinion without resorting to bullying. It aims to encourage people to support each other to champion kindness – highlighting that being kind is not a sign of weakness but a mark of strength. 

Childline Data

  • Between April 2023 to March 2024 Childline delivered 7,931 counselling sessions where a child’s main concern was bullying  
  • 6,999 were about bullying in person
  • 932 were about online bullying. 

Quotes from children who contacted Childline about bullying 

Quotes are based on real contacts to Childline but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child involved:

A girl aged 13 told Childline: “My bully had been threatening to beat me up for weeks. The girl cornered me today and shoved my head into a wall. She did it so hard that it gave me a nosebleed. I’m scared it’s only going to get worse.” 

A boy aged 11 told Childline: “A while ago we were just playing a game online and when I won my friend got really angry and told me to kill myself. Since then, at school that’s all he’ll say to me or something else horrible to bully me. It’s making school really lonely for me.” 

A girl aged 18 told Childline: “Someone’s making loads of accounts online to message saying to self-harm. I block and report all of them, but they keep making more accounts. I wish I wasn’t so upset by it, but I was bullied when I was younger and this has brought it all back again.” 

A girl aged 12 told Childline: “My friends have set up a group chat to talk about me. One of them sent me screenshots where they’re making fun of how I look and act. I just feel silly being played and don’t get why they want to upset me.” 

Shaun Friel, Childline Director said: “Bullying can take on many different forms, and it can happen anywhere including in school, at home or online.

“With almost 8,000 Childline counselling sessions on the issue over the past year, we inevitably hear from young people on a daily basis who want to talk about bullying.

“It’s important that campaigns, such as Anti-Bullying Week exist, so we can continue the conversation of the effects this type of behaviour can have on children. It can make young people feel incredibly lonely, afraid and impact their mental wellbeing. 

“Childline is always here for young people to turn to, no matter what the issue. Our trained counsellors will be here 24/7 over the phone and online.”

NSPCC Helpline data 

  • Between April 2023 to March 2024 the NSPCC Helpline handled 805 child welfare contacts where the main concern was bullying  
  • 666 concerned bullying in person
  • 139 concerned online bullying 

Quotes from adults who contacted the NSPCC Helpline about bullying 

Quotes are based on real contacts to the Helpline but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child and adult involved.

A parent told the NSPCC Helpline: “Last month my son’s bullies beat him up badly. They made people film it, so there’s evidence for the school and police, but he’s been terrified to go back. He’s only 12, how can I get him back to school and feeling safe?” 

A parent told the NSPCC Helpline: “We’d noticed our daughter had become withdrawn over the last few months and turns out she’s being bullied. School has done some detentions, but these children are calling her racist slurs, is there a way to get the school to address this seriously as racism?” 

A parent told the NSPCC Helpline: “My daughter has told me she’s being bullied at school and having panic attacks from it all. My husband thinks we should encourage her to just push through it but I think she needs more support; what can we do?” 

Martha Evans, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: “With thousands of young people turning to Childline and the NSPCC Helpline for support on bullying which aligns so much with our own research, it’s clear we must take action. 

“This Anti-Bullying Week, let’s come together, lead by example and commit to always choosing respect, creating safer spaces for every child.” 

Advice for children

  1. Share how you are feeling with other young people. Childline’s monitored online message boards are a safe non-judgmental space where you can speak to other children who are in a similar situation to you about your experiences and feelings. This can help you feel less alone and will give you an online support network that you can turn to.
  2. Talk to an adult you trust about the bullying you are experiencing so you feel less alone and so that adult can support you. This could be a parent, teacher or you can speak to a Childline counsellor on 0800 1111 or online at childline.org.uk
  3. Take a break from your device if you are being bullied online and do something you enjoy such as sport, listening to music or art.
  4. Remember that bullying is not your fault.
  5. Report and block someone if they are sending you messages online that upset you.

For Adults: 

Signs to spot that your child may be being bullied online:

  • Not wanting to go to school or take part in normal activities. 
  • Getting anxious or angry if you go near their device. 
  • Feeling withdrawn, upset or angry at home.
  • Problems sleeping or eating.
  • Having angry outbursts that seem out of character.
  • Spending more or less time online than normal.

Signs to spot that your child may be being bullied in-person

  • Belongings are getting lost or damaged.
  • Physical injuries such as unexplained bruises.
  • Being afraid to go to school.
  • Not doing as well at school.
  • Being nervous, losing confidence, or becoming distressed and withdrawn.
  • Problems with eating or sleeping.
  • Bullying others.

What to do if you think your child is being bullied

  1. Talk to your child and remind them to come to you with anything that might be making them feel anxious or sad.  If your child speaks to you about an experience of bullying that they’ve had online or in person, try to remain calm and don’t overwhelm them with questions and reassure them that it will be ok, and that you’re always there for them. 
  2. Show them how to report or block a message that they’ve received from someone online that upsets or worries them. 
  3. Don’t take their device away if they’ve had a negative experience online. Although you may want to do this if they are upset, this may make them feel like whatever has happened is their fault.  Instead, suggest they take some time away from the app they received the messages on and do another online activity they enjoy like playing a game.  

Know where you can get further support.

Adults can call the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000.

There is also further advice on the NSPCC website.

Edinburgh cinema fans’ festive chance to raise funds for the homeless

Christmas cinemagoers in Edinburgh get the chance to enjoy a new heart-warming animated short film this month and raise funds for the homeless. 

The Scotsman Picturehouse on North Bridge, The Cameo Cinema in Home Street and the Dominion Cinema on Newbattle Terrace are among cinemas all over Scotland showing Scottish author Angela Proctor’s festive story Arthur’s Christmas Tale. 

Angela, who writes under the name AH Proctor, initially crafted the story as a poem highlighting kindness and homelessness for schoolchildren doing a charity sleep-in.  

The tale of a brave little dog defying a Scrooge-like misery guts who despises Christmas was so successful that she has now transformed it into a short film, Arthur’s Christmas Tale, to raise funds for Shelter Scotland. 

The animation features a little pug, Arthur, who encounters cold-hearted Jack Frost as he watches over his homeless master, James, sleeping on cardboard in the snow.  The little dog wins over the icy, stranger with an act of kindness demonstrating the true spirit of Christmas. 

“I love Christmas, I’m a big kid at heart, although I’m not really interested in presents,” says Angela, also a successful businesswoman, mentor and mother.  

“It’s family time I love and togetherness and spending time with loved ones is what is reflected in Arthur’s Christmas Tale. The little dog is happy because he’s with James whom he loves unconditionally. He feels sorry for Jack Frost because he’s all alone, so sorry in fact that he gives him the only possession he has in the whole world – a shiny white bone, so that Jack doesn’t feel so alone anymore. 

“It’s a poignant message and I’m hoping it will resonate with cinemagoers, where it is being shown during trailers throughout December, and help raise much-needed funds for Shelter Scotland.” 

Sharryn McKelvie, Shelter Scotland Senior Community Fundraising Area Manager said: “This is a fantastic initiative by Angela at a time of year that can be full of despair for those without a home.

“We hope that those lucky enough to enjoy quality time in the warmth of a cinema will think about others less fortunate and donate what they can to help make sure no one has to fight the threat of homelessness alone. 

“Shelter Scotland exists to defend the right to a safe home and fight the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and society. Shelter Scotland believes that home is everything. 

“As of 31 March 2023, there were 15,039 households in temporary accommodation, 9,595 of them children, the highest number recorded.  Between April 2022 and March 2023, another 32,242 households became homeless – the equivalent of a household losing their home every 16 minutes.” 

Angela, from the East End of Glasgow, who is best known for her Thumble Tumble series of stories for children, was determined to support art in Scotland by ensuring that all those involved in creating the film came from small, aspiring Scottish companies.  She worked with Glasgow-based independent animation studio Clubhouse Animations and StrangeWorx Productions. 

Arthur’s Christmas Tale is being shown in independent cinemas from Inverness to Dumfries throughout this month. Visitors will be able to donate via the Shelter Scotland Giving Page or by donating cash to collection buckets at cinemas across Scotland.  

Scotland’s children have their say

New National Charter sets out what children want from school-age childcare services

Kindness, community, fun and fairness are the priorities children in Scotland have identified for a future funded school-age childcare offer, according to the new Children’s Charter launched this week.

As part of the Children’s Charter – which will be used to co-design a system of school-age childcare – young people also shared their views on why childcare is needed, how it is funded, the people who should run it and the sorts of activities it should include.

Around 125 children from primary schools across Scotland created five local Charters for the best out of school care for their community. The groups of children later went on to collaborate on a National Charter, which will guide a future nationwide system of school-age childcare.

Children’s Minister Natalie Don met with some of the participants to the Charter during its formal launch at St Mungo’s School in Alloa.

Ms Don said: “Developing a system of school-age childcare is a key priority for the Scottish Government. Giving children the opportunity to get involved at the heart of policy making ensures that we design services that better meet their needs in the future.

“As we publish the Charter during Challenge Poverty Week, all of the children that took part share our ambition to put fairness at the forefront in a future childcare system. Not only will it reduce barriers for children to access a wide range of activities and support, it will also allow parents and carers to enter or sustain employment or increase their hours at work.

“I am grateful to all of the children who participated so meaningfully in this important exercise. Their input is a vital part of our Delivery Framework, which I am also pleased to be publishing today.

“The Framework sets out our key action areas for building a new system of school-age childcare and how we will continue to involve children, parents, providers and communities in delivering this.”

Irene Audain MBE, Chief Executive at Scottish Out of School Care Network said: “I welcome the launch today of the Children’s Charter for School-Age Childcare and the School-Age Childcare Delivery Framework.

“I firmly agree with the children’s priorities of Kindness, Fairness, Choice, Happiness, and Fun, in their ideal services, rooted in local communities where everyone is respected and looks out for each other, as this too is our ideal good quality service.”

Councillor Graham Lindsay, Education spokesperson at Clackmannanshire Council, said:  “Our approach as a Scottish Government School Age Childcare Early Adopter Community has reflected the ambition of Clackmannanshire Family Wellbeing Partnership to tackle poverty and inequalities.

“Our Child Wellbeing Project has encouraged community groups and childcare providers in Alloa to work together to provide school-age childcare which is funded for priority families and this is already making a huge impact.

“St Mungo’s children thoroughly enjoyed participating in creating the National Children’s Charter for School Age Childcare and it is wonderful to see their hard work reflected at the launch today.”

Currently, all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are able to take up 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare in Scotland. Work is underway with local authorities and other partners to phase in an expanded national offer for families with two-year-olds, as well as targeted early delivery of all age childcare for low income families. 

School age childcare: national children’s charter – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Healthy Tip: Kindness for Heart Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Kindness for Heart Health

The 13th of November is World Kindness Day, an international day formed in 1998 to promote kindness throughout the world.

The idea alone is fantastic, as the more kindness we can get into our lives the better, but did you know that kindness can have a physiological impact on your body and contribute to a healthy heart?

The love hormone

When we witness acts of kindness or do something kind ourselves, we produce a hormone called oxytocin, which is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’.

Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical that dilates our blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease, therefore regularly producing oxytocin can have a protective effect on our heart.

Stress

Some studies have shown that those who are consistently kind have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) than those who are not.

Long-term high levels of cortisol can negatively impact our cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Therefore, engaging in regular acts of kindness may help keep our stress hormones at bay and protect our heart.

Contagiousness

Kindness is contagious and both those who do the kind act and those who witness it can benefit. When we witness a kind act, we experience a boost in mood and some people even report higher energy, this makes us much more likely to commit a kind act ourselves.

Furthermore, when you carry out an act of kindness, you indirectly have a positive impact on the heart health of those who are observing, as they too receive a surge of the cardioprotective ‘love hormone’, oxytocin.

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for our weekly healthy tips at www.heartresearch.org.uk/healthy-tips.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our Healthy Heart recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2/.

Or have a look through our Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-cookbook/.

Communities across Scotland come together to celebrate kindness for St Andrew’s Day

Local communities, businesses, tourist attractions, retail units, charities and transport providers across Scotland have come together to share a message of kindness in the run-up to St Andrew’s Day today, in efforts to highlight the importance of community and compassion for others and the environment that we live in.

A special kindness-themed illustration to support the Scottish Government’s St Andrew’s Day campaign, featuring the message ‘When Kindness is Shared it Grows’ by Edinburgh-based artist Emily Hogarth has been created,inspired by the many small acts of kindness that have made a positive difference to many across the country this last year.   

Organisations right across the country have lent their support across the weekend in the lead up to Scotland’s national day.ScotRail, Loganair and Stagecoach were among the transport groups that displayed and broadcast messages across their networks, from Edinburgh’s iconic Waverley Station to Inverness Station.

From Dundee City Square to Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre and St James Quarter to the V&A Museum, the message of kindness was also displayed in the form of clean graffiti in Scotland’s cities. Passers-by were encouraged to stop and reflect this St Andrew’s Day, and importantly, to share kindness with others. 

Up to 100 individual cultural and community events have been taking place in cities and towns around the country to mark St Andrew’s Day, delivered by EventScotland, BEMIS Scotland, the Fair Saturday Foundation and the English Speaking Union Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Many events were also broadcast online, bringing more people together from further afield to enjoy the celebrations – both in Scotland and beyond.  

The Scottish Government has provided funding support of up to £430,000 to deliver Scotland’s Winter Festivals event programme in 2021/22 which provides a significant opportunity to boost Scotland’s dynamic tourism and event sectors as they progress towards post-pandemic economic recovery and bring diverse communities together to celebrate the resilience, community spirit and shared kindness.

For further information on the Andrew’s Day events programme visit:

www.onescotland.org/st-andrews-day

Edinburgh to champion the value of kindness in St Andrew’s Day programme of events

Up to 100 events taking place across the country between 26 – 30 November

This weekend people in Edinburgh are being encouraged to celebrate our national day by coming together to share kindness with friends and neighbours, and recognise the value we place on having compassion for others and the environment we live in.

Kindness is a central theme of the St Andrew’s Day events programme – part of Scotland’s Winter Festivals 2021/22.  The Scottish Government has provided over £430,000 in funding for Scotland’s Winter Festivals and the events programme is delivered by EventScotland, BEMIS Scotland, the Fair Saturday Foundation and the English Speaking Union Scotland.

Up to 100 individual events are planned for the five-day festivities marking St Andrew’s Day across the country including theatre performances, poetry readings and music concerts as well as ceilidhs, torchlight parades and a Diversity Cup football tournament. 

Events happening across Edinburgh, which will give a welcome boost to the tourism and event sectors as they recover from the pandemic, include:

●        Summerhall Presents: FAIR PLAY – 30 November 2021: An evening of music, theatre, spoken word, dance and film. Edinburgh’s independent performing arts venue Summerhall is working with Fair Saturday to present FAIR PLAY, celebrating some of the artists who’ve been involved with Summerhall’s Artist Development Programme. MC’d by poet and theatre maker Leyla Josephine, the night will include dance from Katie Armstrong and Róisín O’Brien, spoken word from John Osborne (My Car Plays Tapes) and Colin Bramwell (Three Pints on a Sunday), and a screening of a new short film Auntie Empire (Julia Taudevin, Niamh McKeown and Jana Robert), all rounded off with music from a surprise guest.

●        Scottish LGBTQ+ Walking Tour – 27th November 2021: As part of St Andrew’s Fair Saturday there will be a new 2-hour walking tour in Edinburgh’s Old Town featuring Scottish LGBTQ+ history. Starting at either 10am or 2pm on the 27th of November the tour will discuss pioneering lesbian doctors in the Victorian era, a gender non-conforming army surgeon, and the sites of some of the first public queer social events in Edinburgh in the 1970s and 20% of all proceeds with be donated to Mermaids.

●        Kindness of Words – 26th – 30th November 2021: Enjoy a little ‘spoken word sustenance’ with a curated programme of special events within the St Andrew’s Fair Saturday Festival this year. Take a chance to pause and enjoy sessions created by charities and organisations across the world that promote a love of reading, storytelling, poetry and literature. Events include Elevenses poetry event with Jackie Kay on St Andrew’s Day at the Edinburgh Storytelling Centre, a celebration of books and stories at Streetreads library in Edinburgh and a special mini Bookbug session with Scottish Book Trust.

As part of this year’s celebrations, Edinburgh-based artist Emily Hogarth has designed an illustration which encapsulates the spirit of St Andrew’s Day and reflects small acts of kindness that have brought us together over the past 12 months. 

The illustration and its message, ‘When Kindness is Shared it Grows’, will be brought to life and displayed at St James Quarter and the Festival Theatre reminding people around Scotland to share kindness with others this St Andrew’s Day.

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “Scotland’s Winter Festivals bring a much-needed brightness and joy to the winter darkness and I’m very pleased that the Scottish Government is contributing up to £430,000 to the programme of events.

“The past year has been challenging for everyone so the government is proud to fund a programme of events that bring people together from near and far to showcase our world-class culture and heritage as well as our values of fairness, kindness, inclusivity and empowerment.”

For more information on the full St Andrew’s Day events programme visit: 

www.onescotland.org/st-andrews-day.

World Princess Week: Moments that Matter

  • Singer Anne Marie and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson support Disney Princess pledge to deliver 45,000 ‘Moments that Matter’ to children in hospitals and hospices around the world –
  • Nine in ten British parents believe small acts of kindness have the power to change the world –
  • Two thirds of children say treating others with kindness is the most important way to behave –

Famous faces including singer Anne Marie and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson are coming together to launch World Princess Week next week to inspire small acts of kindness around the world.

The stars are supporting a Disney Princess pledge to deliver 45,000 ‘Moments that Matter’ for isolated and seriously ill children in hospital and hospices in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

Pop star and The Voice coach Anne-Marie is hosting an intimate acoustic performance of her chart hits ‘2002’ and ‘Beautiful’ as part of Disney’s ‘Ultimate Princess Celebration’, which champions the qualities of courage and kindness.

The performance is being screened to children in hospital, via Disney’s charity partner MediCinema, which build and run cinemas in NHS hospitals. The content will also be available to view on Disney Junior’s UK YouTube channel. 

Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be doing a virtual reading of Moana’s story from Tales of Courage and Kindness, an online story collection featuring 14 brand new Disney Princess stories that launched in April this year and is available for children to download for free during World Princess Week at Disneyprincessstories.co.uk.

Katarina’s reading will be available for fans to enjoy later this year.

As part of ‘World Princess Week’ (23-29 August), Disney has created brand new video tutorials featuring simple ideas on how families and children can have a big impact on others, which will be available on Disney’s social channels.

Disney fans will be able to follow along with ‘kindness activity’ tutorials, including how to make Cinderella-inspired kindness cards for friends, or how to bake Tiana’s beignets for loved ones. Families are encouraged to share their own acts of kindness by using the hashtag #UltimatePrincessCelebration.

Disney will also share brand new Princess stories, experiences and fun ways to spread kindness following research that reveals nine in ten UK adults believe small acts of kindness have the power to change the world for the better.

45,000 Princess-themed adventure packs will be delivered to seriously ill children in hospitals and places of care across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, as part of Disney’s wider commitment to bring comfort and provide inspiration, with support from long standing charity partners.

These specially designed packs, created with charity partner MediCinema, aim to reduce isolation, stress and anxiety amongst children and families in places of care, providing ‘Moments that Matter’. The packs will contain new stories focusing on Disney Princess characters Rapunzel, Moana and Ariel, as well as arts and crafts activities that help to increase confidence and encourage acts of kindness.

New research conducted by Disney as part of the Ultimate Princess Celebration revealed that 70 per cent of children say it’s important to always show kindness and almost half (46 per cent) would stand up for people who are being bullied or are being treated in an unfair way.

The survey highlights some of the top ways children like to show kindness, including:

  1. Kind acts to make their family or friends happy e.g. baking a cake (49 per cent)
  2. Asking parents to read a book with them (49 per cent)
  3. Comforting family members and friends when they are upset (47 per cent)
  4. Asking parents to spend time with them e.g. watching a movie or making dinner together (47 per cent)
  5. Making time to play and catch up with friends (46 per cent)
  6. Sharing stories with friends and family (44 per cent)
  7. Helping friends with problems they are facing (37 per cent)
  8. Listening when parents or friends are telling them a story that they know is important to them (36 per cent)
  9. Offering to do chores around the house for parents (33 per cent)
  10. Speaking to friends and family regularly (30 per cent)

The study suggests that the majority of British parents – 91 per cent – agree that everyone can play a role in making the world a kinder place, with the research also revealing some of the kind acts kids have shown over the past year:

  1. Been caring towards friends (56 per cent)
  2. Wanting to spend more time with parents / family members (53 per cent)
  3. Drawn and made signs for the health service to say ‘thank you’ (50 per cent)
  4. Video calling friends to check in (47 per cent)
  5. Offering to help around the house (45 per cent)
  6. Been caring towards the planet (42 per cent)
  7. Sharing stories or reading books together (40 per cent)
  8. Being kinder to their brother or sister (39 per cent)
  9. Donating some of their toys to other kids (37 per cent)
  10. Been looking after their pet / been kind to animals (37 per cent)

Tasia Filippatos, Senior VP, Consumer Products EMEA at Disney said, “Courage and kindness are universally important qualities that are just as relevant for adults as they are for young children. We hope that families will help celebrate ‘World Princess Week’ by sharing their own small acts of kindness to help make the world a kinder place.”

Disney fans will also be able to shop brand new Disney Princess product ranges, including toys, dress up apparel, accessories and homeware, available from shopDisney.co.uk and other major retailers.

Feeling anxious about restrictions being lifted? Here’s how you can stay in control

Excellent advice from the National Wellbeing Hub …

The majority of Covid restrictions in Scotland have now been lifted. For many this will signal the beginning of the end of the pandemic, and a return to ‘normality’.

For some of us though, this is going to be an anxious time. We might be feeling anxious about going out, meeting friends, or going back into offices without the previous social distancing measures that were in place. This reaction is normal, and there are some simple things that you can do to help yourself.

If you’re worried about going back to the office speak to your line manager – they should be able to reassure you about what will be in place to keep you safe when you return.

Equally, if you’re going to be working from home for a little longer and are concerned about the impact this is having on your mental wellbeing, raise these concerns.

We’ve put together some helpful tips on Working from Home as well as some on Supporting Teams to help managers support their staff.

If you’re worried about getting back into ‘normal’ life, talk to friends, family or trusted colleagues about how you’re feeling. You might find they share your concerns – support one another through these times.

Most places are going to feel busier, but with cafes, pubs, restaurants, and shops more accessible, outdoor spaces like parks and public gardens may be that bit quieter.

You might feel more comfortable easing yourself back into things by meeting people outdoors to begin with. Just because we can meet more people in more places doesn’t mean that we have to. Take things at your own pace and build up confidence gradually.

The pandemic has taught us all how to keep connected at a distance, and to develop creative ways of keeping ourselves entertained. Just because things are opening up again doesn’t mean we can’t continue with some of these things.

When you are out and about, try to keep in mind some of the things we still have to keep us safe from the virus such as wearing a face covering in shops and on public transport. Most of us will now have had both doses of the vaccine. While this won’t make you invincible, it does make it much less likely that you will catch Covid and that the severity of illness is lessened.

Think about your breathing. Taking slow, deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth, as you’re walking out the house. Have a listen to this 10-minute guided relaxation podcast.

Keep a routine. Regular sleep and activity will help you feel more in control. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, try Sleepio.

Be kind to yourself and other people. We’ve never had to deal with a situation like this before, so don’t be hard on yourself for the way you’re feeling. Try not to be too hard on others either. It can feel frustrating seeing people slip back into the ‘old normal’, but remember, restrictions have been tough for everyone and we will all feel differently about the easing of restrictions.

Try one of these apps. Daylight or Feeling Good are very helpful for managing anxiety, and Silvercloud has a number of programmes to help reduce stress and build resilience. Visit the Free apps and online programmes page of this site for details on how to register for these.

If you can, listen to or view our webinar session on Using Mindfulness to cope with anxiety about a Post-Covid future. You can watch a video of the session here or you can find a podcast version here, which is also available on our Spotify page.

For more tips to help with anxiety, follow this link to visit Clear Your Head.

National Wellbeing Helpline 0800 111 4191

A very different St Andrew’s Day

St Andrew’s Day, 30 November 2020 is our national day and the perfect opportunity for everyone across the country to come together and celebrate the resilience, community spirit and shared goodwill that has helped us through these difficult times.

We may not be able to travel and get together right now but that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to look out for each other. Whether you’re a Scot or a Scot at heart, at home or overseas, let’s celebrate St Andrew’s Day and make connections with others through acts of kindness, sharing a message of hope and positivity from Scotland to the rest of the world.

A St Andrew’s Day message from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1333350208495869952

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack celebrates how much we have collectively achieved, thanking everyone who has done their bit to help us all get through 2020 so far:

St Andrew’s Day is a chance for us to celebrate all that is great about Scotland, and Scots, and to reflect on what it means to be Scottish.

In 2020, St Andrew’s Day will feel very different.

We are living through a global pandemic. Our lives are almost unrecognisable from a year ago.

But I believe that, this year more than ever, we should take the time to mark just how much we have collectively achieved.

Over the past few months, we have risen to the challenge of the, frankly terrifying, virus. We have, and are, all doing our bit to defeat it. We have made huge personal sacrifices because we know it will save lives and protect our precious NHS.

Our frontline workers – from health care staff to supermarket workers, teachers and everyone in between – have been nothing short of heroic. Looking after the ill, supporting the vulnerable, and keeping the country going. You are an inspiration to us all.

So many others have also done their bit. From picking up shopping and prescriptions, to organising spirit-lifting video chats and amazing charity fundraisers – individuals up and down the land have gone out of their way to look after friends, relatives and neighbours, and also strangers in need.

We have much to be proud of. In 2020, it seems to me, being Scottish is about fortitude and kindness. And also optimism. With new vaccines on the way we are starting to see some light at the end of the covid tunnel.

So, this St Andrew’s Day, I ask you to join me in thanking everyone who has done their bit to help us all get through 2020 so far. I have never felt more proud to be Scottish.

Don’t be a Selfish Parker!

New campaign calls for motorists to be kind and respect others when parking

The British Parking Association (BPA) has launched a new campaign to highlight the issue of selfish and anti-social parking, which is a major frustration for many of the public.

As part of a series of new campaigns under the ‘It’s not OK to park where it’s not OK to park’ banner, the BPA will focus on aspects of poor parking behaviour, highlighting why effective parking management is so important and how it addresses many of the issues that impact negatively on local communities.

Outdoor posters will be displayed by BPA members to highlight problem parking areas and the hashtag #selfishparking will be used in posts across social media to encourage motorists to think before they park and show respect for others.

Alison Tooze, BPA Membership Development Manager says: “Our consumer research to better understand perceptions of parking told us that one of the biggest frustrations people have is anti-social and inconsiderate parking.

“This includes obstructing pavements, on or blocking someone’s driveway, in designated bays they are not eligible to use, or taking up more than one space.  We hope that putting an emphasis on the importance of motorists respecting others, thinking before they park and not behaving selfishly will also help us start a different conversation about the role of the parking sector.”

BPA members are being encouraged to actively engage with this campaign in their local areas, building to what is hoped will be a nationally consistent message that inconsiderate parking is not OK!