Tag: letters

Letter: Moving the settlement goalposts will cost Britain dearly

Dear Editor,

The Home Office’s latest policy overhaul to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), shifting the default settlement timeline from five years to a gruelling ten, is a short-sighted political stunt that threatens to inflict severe, long-term damage on Scotland and the wider UK.

Britain cannot ask overseas workers to build their lives here, pay their taxes and keep essential services running, then treat their hopes of a secure future as a political bargaining chip.

The Home Office’s settlement announcement deserves scrutiny. Its own estimate is that more than 500,000 people will wait longer than five years for indefinite leave to remain. That means years more uncertainty for families who have followed the rules.

There are important protections. Existing settled status will remain untouched, while doctors, nurses, teachers and qualifying care workers retain shorter pathways. These exceptions matter. But they do not answer the wider question: why should a worker’s salary carry such weight in deciding when their family can put down permanent roots?

A care worker’s payslip does not measure the value of helping somebody live with dignity. Nor does a hospitality worker’s wage capture their contribution to keeping a local business open.

The economic warning is clear. Skills for Care reports 96,000 vacancies in adult social care in England in 2025/26. Around 150,000 posts in independent, regulated care services were filled by workers on Health and Care Worker visas in March 2026. These are England’s figures, but the lesson reaches beyond its borders: retention matters as much as recruitment.

Scotland faces distinct demographic challenges, alongside acute sector-wide labour shortages. Our care homes struggle for staffing, our health service is under persistent pressure, and tech and hospitality businesses regularly cite workforce deficits as their primary barrier to expansion. Disincentivising global talent from settling permanently will only worsen these shortages, weaken our public services, and hamper national wealth creation.

For Scotland’s hospitals, care providers, hotels and technology businesses, prolonged uncertainty risks making recruitment and retention harder. Replacing experienced staff costs money, disrupts services and takes time. Training more domestic workers is essential; unsettling existing workers is no substitute.

Of course we must tackle immigration fraud, unlawful employment and exploitative sponsors. Enforcement should target wrongdoing, not make compliant workers, international students and their families feel permanently unwelcome.

Ministers should protect existing settlement expectations, publish a full economic assessment and work with Scotland and employers on practical workforce needs.

Britain’s reputation for fair dealing is an economic asset. Sacrificing it for a tougher headline would leave us poorer in every sense.

We need an immigration strategy rooted in economic reality, compassion, and fairness, one that respects international talent and supports the public services relying on them.

Yours faithfully,

Dhruva Kumar

Letter: Knit and crochet this November for Bowel Cancer UK

Dear Editor,

Could you knit or crochet a little hope this festive season for people affected by bowel cancer?

Bowel Cancer UK is inviting stitchers to get sponsored to knit or crochet a star a day or do your own thing, every day in November. You can attempt our star, knit a Christmas jumper, crochet tea cosies, sew a special Star of Hope symbol or anything in between! If you can’t stitch every day, then you can choose a challenge that suits you.

Your donations could help save lives through earlier diagnosis, improve the quality of life of those affected by the disease and bring us one step closer to a future where nobody dies from bowel cancer. 

Sign up today and receive your free online welcome pack including your knitting and crochet patterns: bowelcanceruk.org.uk/knitting

Yours sincerely,

Genevieve Edwards

Chief Executive, Bowel Cancer UK

Unit 301, Edinburgh House, 170 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 5DP

Letter: Accessible letters from Santa

Dear Editor, 

Things may only just be cooling down after what has certainly been a long hot summer, but at the North Pole, things are hotting up with the elves and Father Christmas already gearing up for another jam-packed festive season. 

Once more, the residents of the North Pole are teaming up with their friends at RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People) to make sure that every child experiences the magic that Christmas time brings by helping Santa reply to their letters in a format that’s accessible to them. 

In the lead up to Christmas Day, children with a vision impairment can receive their very own Letter from Santa from RNIB in braille, large print, audio or email format, completely free of charge. 

Last year, more than 1,600 children across the UK were brought the joy of Christmas magic by receiving a letter from Santa in an accessible format thanks to RNIB and Father Christmas’s elves.  

If you know a child with a vision impairment who would love to receive an accessible Letter from Santa, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/santa.

The last date to request a physical letter in braille, large print or audio is Monday 30 November.  

For a Letter from Santa in email format, you have until Tuesday 15 December to submit your request. 

Remember to include the child’s name, age, address, the format they’d like their letter in, and whether they’d like to receive their letter in English or Welsh, and then leave it to Santa’s elves to sort out the magic. 

From everyone at RNIB and at the North Pole, we wish you a magical Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 

Lara Marshall 

Library Engagement Manager at RNIB (the Royal National Institute of Blind People)

Letter: Public transport inaccessible

Dear Editor

Like most of us, I don’t think twice before hopping on a bus or train to go to work, meet friends or do a spot of shopping.

However, for millions of people across the country who are deaf or have hearing loss, barriers on public transport can make even every day journeys feel impossible.

Challenges like inaccessible live travel information and a lack of deaf awareness from transport staff can cause huge amounts of stress and anxiety and even force people with hearing loss to stop using public transport altogether.

These are the shocking findings in Clear Signals, a major new report from RNID which found widespread accessibility barriers on public transport in the UK, including buses, trains, trams, underground services and ferries.

It’s unacceptable that in 2026, people with hearing loss are facing these barriers, simply because they want to get from A to B.

As our report makes clear – solutions do exist but it needs a coordinated response. We’re calling on the Government and transport sector to take action, so everyone has access to the safe and independent travel they deserve. 

Yours sincerely,

Victoria Boelman

Director of Policy at RNID

Clear-Signals-FinalDownload

Letter: Battle of Britain Day, 15th September

REMEMBERING THE FEW

Dear Editor,

As we mark the 86th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day on 15 September, we remember the courage, sacrifice and resilience of the remarkable generation known as ‘The Few’.

During the summer and autumn of 1940, they fought and won against incredible odds in the skies over southern Britain, helping to defend our nation in one of its darkest hours and secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

Their legacy continues to inspire generations that have followed.

This commemoration carries a deeply personal meaning for me. As a former RAF Sergeant and parachute jumping instructor, I know first-hand the challenges military service can bring. During a routine exercise, my main parachute failed and my reserve became tangled, resulting in a 6,000ft fall that left me paralysed.

With the support of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s longest-standing charity, I was able to rebuild my life, regain my independence and find a new purpose. Today, I am proud to serve as an ambassador, helping others understand that support is available when they need it most.

The men and women who fought during the Battle of Britain faced extraordinary pressures and uncertainty. While the nature of military service has changed over the decades, the demands placed on those who serve remain significant. Around the world, members of the RAF continue to deploy and operate wherever they are needed, often at considerable personal cost to them and their families.

That is why it is so important that we continue to honour our commitment to those who serve. No one who has served their country should face life’s challenges alone. Just as the RAF Benevolent Fund was there to support RAF personnel and their families during and after the Second World War, it remains committed today to providing support when need arises and to strengthen the resilience and wellbeing of the RAF Family, enabling individuals, families, and communities to thrive through all stages of life.  

The Battle of Britain provides a poignant reminder not only of what was achieved through courage and determination, but also of our responsibility to look after those who have served. It is a responsibility that spans generations and remains as relevant today as it was eighty-six years ago.

If you know anyone who could benefit from the life-changing services the Fund provides, you can find more details at rafbf.org, or you can call on 0300 102 1919.  

Yours sincerely,

Bob Greig

RAF veteran and RAF Benevolent Fund Ambassador

Bob Greig picture by Ollie Dixon

Battle of Britain crew picture: MOD Crown Copyright

Letter: Students flying the nest can struggle to leave the family cat behind

29/08/2-17 – Ciaran McCrickard Photography – Tink, Hero Cat of the Year, from Shrewsbury

Students packing for university aren’t just anxious about Freshers’ Week or locating the best all-day breakfast in a new town. Many face a lesser-known emotional hurdle; parting ways with the family cat.

Leaving home is a massive milestone and feeling a sense of loss when saying goodbye to a companion you’ve shared your teenage years with is a genuine form of homesickness.

Pack a cherished cat photo, a familiar toy or a blanket your cat sleeps on to make your new room feel more like home.

Remember, you won’t be the only one missing a pet. Sharing stories and photos with flatmates is a great way to make friends and support each other. Video calls are another good way to stay in touch, especially since cats love to screen-bomb.

Back at home, cats can be unsettled by change, but a few simple steps can help. Cats thrive on routine and leaving a worn t.shirt in your cat’s favourite sleeping spot provides a comforting scent.

Families should watch for subtle signs of distress, such as changes in appetite or grooming habits, and consult a vet if concerned. But don’t worry, your cat won’t forget you. They’ll probably get over your absence faster than you will.

So, enjoy student life and look forward to the ultimate homecoming. Few things beat a warm, purr and head-bump greeting when you return for the holidays.

To learn about volunteering in your area, visit: 

cats.org.uk/support-us/volunteeropportunities

Daniel Warren-Cummings

Senior Behaviour Engagement Manager, CATS PROTECTION

Letters: Don’t Turn Your Back on Arthritis

Dear Editor,

Arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect 1.7 million people in Scotland – around one in three of us.

Yet despite the enormous impact these conditions have on people’s health, independence and ability to work, Scotland has no dedicated national strategy for MSK health. That needs to change.

Arthritis UK is calling on First Minister John Swinney to deliver Scotland’s first-ever MSK Action Plan, providing the national leadership needed to improve diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and support.

Behind the statistics are people living every day with pain, fatigue and disability – some waiting years for a diagnosis or treatment that could transform their lives.

Our “Don’t Turn Your Back on Arthritis” campaign gives those people, their families, and supporters the opportunity to make their voices heard.

We are urging people across Scotland to send a simple message to the First Minister: arthritis affects too many people to remain an afterthought.

It is time to face arthritis head-on and give MSK health the priority it deserves.

Yours faithfully

Lauren Bennie

Head of Scotland

Arthritis UK
Edward House, 199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EX

Letter: Take action to improve lymphoma care this Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Dear Editor

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and as part of our Let’s talk lymphoma campaign, Lymphoma Action is inviting people affected by lymphoma to write to their MP, MSP or MS and ask them to raise important issues about lymphoma treatment and care in Parliament.

The campaign aims to make it easier for decision-makers to understand the realities faced by people affected by lymphoma, and to encourage practical action to improve diagnosis, treatment and care.

Lymphoma is officially categorised as a rare or less common cancer. The recent National Cancer Plan recognised that people affected by rare and less common cancers often face major challenges with diagnosis and care. Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer, but too many people still experience delays in diagnosis, limited access to treatment and unequal care.

For the first time, the National Cancer Plan gives rare and less common cancers dedicated focus and commits to improvements in treatment and care. It recognises that people with these cancers must receive the same priority as those with more common cancers. But making promises is only the first step – they need to become reality.

This September, we want to hold the government to account and make sure the plan is put into action, leading to meaningful change for people affected by lymphoma and other cancers. If you are affected by lymphoma, you can write to your representative this September and ask them to raise lymphoma in Parliament.

Together, we can push for the improvements people affected by lymphoma deserve and help make sure the National Cancer Plan delivers real change.

Find out more about how you can get involved at www.lymphoma-action.org.uk/BCAM.

Once you register your interest, we’ll send you a draft email with the information your representative needs and details of how to send it.

Yours sincerely

Amanda Harris

Lymphoma Action

Letter: Families cannot wait any longer for LDAN Bill

Dear Editor,

Families cannot wait any longer for LDAN Bill

The Scottish Government’s failure to include a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill in its Programme for Government is hugely disappointing.

A recent Scottish Parliament committee report highlighted the stark reality facing families, with children and adults frequently waiting years for ADHD and autism assessments. It called for urgent action to ensure clear and consistent pathways to support across Scotland.

Yet the Government has failed to introduce the legislation that could help deliver this. An LDAN Bill could tackle inequalities through national and local strategies and mandatory training for health, social care and education staff.

After years of discussion and consultation, warm words are no longer enough. Thousands of children, adults and families need action.

Service improvements are welcome, but without clear targets and timescales there is no guarantee they will deliver the lasting change that children, adults and families desperately need.

The Government itself acknowledges that legislation can drive accountability and change. It should therefore set clear, measurable timescales for improvement – and commit to introducing an LDAN Bill if these are not met.

Yours faithfully

The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:

Patrick Gannon, Falkland House School

Lynn Black, LOVE Care

Kenny Graham, Spark of Genius

Niall Kelly, Young Foundations

Letter: Protect your hearing health

Dear Editor, 

Some of life’s best moments come with a soundtrack – whether it’s at a music event, a festival or a night out with friends. It’s how many people connect, celebrate, and make memories. To keep it that way it’s really important to protect your hearing health. 

Our new research found that a startling 83% of young people aged 20-29 have experienced ringing, buzzing or muffled hearing after listening to loud music or attending an event, and 10% experience it regularly. This could be you, your children or your grandchildren. 

While these effects can initially be temporary, repeated exposure to loud sounds can risk hearing damage becoming permanent, leaving people to manage hearing loss or invasive tinnitus for the rest of their lives. 

Despite this, only 7% of young people said they wore earplugs at music events in the last 12 months, and just one in five said they wear them often. 

The good news is that protecting your hearing doesn’t have to be complicated. Small actions such as wearing good quality earplugs, which also make a thoughtful gift for festival lovers, stepping away from the speakers, or taking listening breaks can make a big difference and improve their experience.  

By following these simple steps, you can enjoy music more safely while keeping sound quality clear. 

RNID’s ‘Don’t Lose the Music’ campaign is helping music lovers understand the risks of loud music and take simple steps to look after their hearing.

Find out more at rnid.org.uk   
 

Sincerely, 

Franki Oliver 

Audiology Manager at RNID