Tag: letters

Help keep families together with their seriously ill children this Christmas

Dear Editor,

The festive season should be one of joy. Yet for many families, Christmas will be spent facing the fear and uncertainty of having a seriously ill child in hospital.

At The Sick Children’s Trust, we make sure families can stay together during their child’s most critical moments. But we cannot do it alone. We need your vital support.

Without our ‘Homes from Home’, families would face an average of 82 minutes of travel each day to be by their child’s hospital bedside, or be forced to sleep in hospital chairs, expensive hotels that they can’t afford, or even in their cars.

The stress and worry of being unable to be with their seriously ill child is unimaginable, especially at Christmas time. We urgently need donations so we can continue supporting families at this extremely traumatic time.

Families like Frances and Jack experienced this first-hand when their baby son, Milo, developed life-threatening sepsis. They stayed with us at our Acorn House ‘Home from Home’ for ten days while Milo received specialist care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. 

Frances said: “At Acorn House we had somewhere comfortable to sleep, a shower and shared kitchen, meaning we could look after ourselves as best we could while still being on the hospital grounds.

“We never wanted to leave Milo’s side, but The Sick Children’s Trust gave us the chance to rest while being able to return to the hospital in minutes should he take a turn for the worse. We can’t describe how grateful we are to have had that vital support.

“After making a full recovery Milo is now a happy, thriving eight-month-old. We’re really looking forward to celebrating Milo’s first Christmas, which is even more special when we think about how critically ill he was.”

This year has been tough for our charity, with rising costs and supporters feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis but this Christmas, we expect all ten of our ‘Homes from Home’ to be full. For families, it’s free.

For us, it costs £40 to support a family for just one night, and we rely entirely on voluntary donations to make this possible.

Please donate what you can to keep more families together this Christmas.

Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy festive season.

Jane Featherstone

CEO, The Sick Children’s Trust

Letters: Farage’s racist Glasgow remarks betray the true, welcoming spirit of Scotland

Dear Editor,

I am deeply pained by Nigel Farage’s recent remarks about immigrant schoolchildren in Glasgow not only as a Scottish political activist, lifelong Scottish Independence supporter and educationist, but as a father and immigrant who has proudly called Scotland home for two decades.

To describe diverse multilingual classrooms as evidence that Glasgow has been “culturally smashed” is not commentary on policy,  it is a racist attack on children who are already striving to belong, learn and contribute.​

Scotland has long aspired to be “One Scotland, Many Cultures”, welcoming those who come here to build a better life and contribute to the prosperity of Scotland.

From Irish workers in the nineteenth century to South Asian, African and European communities today, migration has helped shape modern Scotland’s economy, arts and civic life. Surveys consistently show that people in Scotland tend to hold more positive attitudes to immigration than elsewhere in the UK, reflecting an instinctive sense of fairness and solidarity.​

As a proud Indian‑origin Scot, I have tried to live up to those values. For over twenty years, I have taught thousands of students from Scotland, the rest of the UK and every corner of the globe.

They are now professional marine engineers, shipbuilders, skilled engineers, entrepreneurs and public servants. My two children are proud second-generation Scots who speak with Glaswegian confidence and carry both Indian and Scottish heritage with ease. They, like the pupils smeared in Mr Farage’s video, are not a threat to Scottish culture; they are its future.​

In 2025, working with colleagues across parties, I helped bring forward the first motion in the Scottish Parliament condemning Hinduphobia and affirming the contribution of Scotland’s Indian Hindu community.

That moment showed what our politics can be at its best: listening to minority voices, challenging prejudice and strengthening the social fabric rather than tearing it. It stands in stark contrast to attempts to win votes by stoking resentment against children in our classrooms.​

As a promoter of Scottish business, I have also championed Scotland’s most successful global product, Scotch whisky, in India, now the world’s largest market for Scotch by volume.

A deep UK–India trade agreement that cuts India’s punitive tariffs could unlock up to £1 billion in extra Scotch exports and around £190 million a year for the Scottish economy, supporting jobs from Speyside to Glasgow.

It is an immigrant like me, with roots in both Scotland and India, who has been working to tell Scotland’s story to Indian consumers and policymakers, proof that migration is not a burden but a bridge.​​

Newspapers help define the boundaries of what is acceptable in our public discourse. When racist language about children is normalised, real harm follows in playgrounds, buses and workplaces. Scotland and the wider UK face serious debates on housing, public services and the pace of change, but these arguments must never be conducted by dehumanising those who are already here and already Scottish.​

I urge editors and readers alike: challenge the politics of scapegoating. Celebrate, instead, the quiet success stories, of classrooms where many languages are spoken, of new Scots helping sell Scotch to the world, and of a nation confident enough to know that welcoming others does not weaken its identity, but deepens it.

Yours in shared ambition,

Dhruva Kumar

Former Glasgow South MP Candidate

Depute Convenor, Alba Party, Glasgow

Letter: Cats Protection urges action as cold snap bites

Dear Editor 

As temperatures plummet, we urge people to keep a caring eye on stray and abandoned cats without access to shelter or food. For them, the risk of hypothermia or painful frostbite is real.  

In the past 12 months, Cats Protection has taken in more than 26,000 cats left behind by life, including over 3,000 kittens from unwanted litters.  

Through no fault of their own, these cats have been given up or abandoned. They know only cold, fear and hunger. But we’re here for them until the tough times pass. 

Our winter fundraising and awareness campaign (cats.org.uk/alfie) aims to provide food, shelter and care for neglected cats.  

We have some simple tips to help all cats stay safe and warm this winter:  

  • Provide warm, draught-free resting spots. Self-heating pads are ideal for older cats. 
  • Tap your car bonnet and check underneath before starting up – cats love to hide there.
  • Check sheds and garages to ensure that cats seeking shelter don’t become trapped inside. 
  • Wipe your cat’s paws and coat when they come in. Grit, salt or antifreeze can be toxic if licked. 
  • Provide fresh water, checking it cannot freeze over. An indoor litter tray means your cat doesn’t have to venture out. 
  • Keep your cat in at night – and lock cat flaps to prevent them sneaking out in the cold. 

Cats are good at finding warm places to rest but for outdoor cats struggling to find shelter, we have tips to create a safe and dry winter bolthole that might save a life this winter. 

Yours faithfully  

Daniel Warren-Cummings 

Central Behaviour Officer, Cats Protection 

Letters: Stop MS Appeal

Dear Editor, 

Ten years ago, the MS Society launched the Stop MS Appeal – a campaign to raise £100 million for life-changing multiple sclerosis research. 

This came at a time when I was coming to terms with my own MS diagnosis , and hearing about their ambitious goal gave me much-needed hope. Now they have just two months of the appeal to go – and £1.5 million left to raise. 

I was lucky to be able to start on a treatment that helps me manage my MS, but for thousands of people there are still no treatments that work for them. This winter people with MS across the country are writing letters to their younger selves and loved ones about the unpredictability of life with MS. And about hope for the future. These letters show how important is it that we reach the £100 million target, so I wanted to write my own. 

So far, the money raised by generous supporters has funded the world’s largest ever academic-led trial for progressive MS, and shown that repairing myelin – a potential gateway to slow, stop, or even reverse disability – can be achieved. 

I hope your readers will consider helping us write an end to MS, for everyone. 

Kadeena Cox OBE – Paralympic gold medallist and MS Society Ambassador  

Letters: Community call for help for deaf children

Did you know there are around 50,000 deaf children in the UK, with three born every day? Nine out of ten deaf children are born to hearing parents, with little or no knowledge of deafness. 

Our own research has shown that the early years are absolutely vital in setting up deaf children with the essential communication and social skills they’ll need in later life, but all too often this happens too late. That’s why it’s critical that they get the right support as early as possible, so they can get the best possible start in life.

The National Deaf Children’s Society knows a lot about the challenges facing deaf children nationally, but it’s the parents of deaf children, and the local organisations who support them, who have the local knowledge. They are best placed by far to know what support deaf children need within their own communities – and how to get it to them quickly.

So we’re offering grants for local groups to provide support for deaf children in their local communities. We’re urging community groups across the region to join us in helping deaf children get the vital support they need, when they need it.

Because every moment really does count.

For more information about the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Community Grants Programme, visit: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/community-grants 

Angela Calder,

Community Grants Lead, National Deaf Children’s Society

www.ndcs.org.uk 

Letters: Home Alone

Dear Editor, 

During the October holidays, many families across Scotland will be weighing up childcare options and wondering whether their children are ready to be left home alone. 

There’s no legal minimum age for a child to stay at home or go out alone, and it’s common for parents to contact the NSPCC Helpline for advice. Every child is different, and between work and other responsibilities, it’s understandable that parents may need to consider this decision. 

It’s not always easy to know what’s best, but there are some important things to keep in mind. Very young children, especially those under three, should never be left alone – not even briefly while popping to the shops or leaving them in the car. For older children, we wouldn’t recommend leaving anyone under 12 at home alone, especially for long periods. 

What matters most is how your child feels. If they’re anxious or unsure, they shouldn’t be left by themselves – even if they’re older.

Feeling safe and confident is key, and they need to know what to do in an emergency. Talking things through can help you understand their concerns and decide if they’re ready. 

To support families, the NSPCC has created online checklists to help guide these decisions.  And for children who need someone to talk to, Childline is available 24/7.

They can speak to a trained counsellor for free by calling 0800 1111 or using the 1-2-1 chat at www.childline.org.uk. 

Yours sincerely, 

Carla Malseed 

NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns Manager 

Letters: Let’s talk lymphoma

Dear Editor

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and Lymphoma Action is inviting everyone to join the conversation to raise awareness about lymphoma, the UK’s most common type of blood cancer.

There are lots of ways that people can get involved in our Let’s talk lymphoma campaign.

As well as raising awareness about lymphoma with family, friends and colleagues, we want to get information into GP surgeries, pharmacies, schools, colleges and universities so as many people as possible know about lymphoma -what it is, the symptoms to look out for and where to find help.  And of course, by raising funds, or making a donation to support our work you can help us reach more people across the UK who need us.

We are also encouraging people to share their experiences on World Lymphoma Awareness Day on Monday 15 September.

According to the Lymphoma Coalition’s 2024 Global Patient Survey, 67% of people living with lymphoma report emotional effects like anxiety, depression and fear of the cancer coming back or getting worse.

Yet many aren’t talking to their healthcare teams or seeking support.

We hope that by opening the conversation around lymphoma, we can encourage those affected to address the emotional impact of a diagnosis and connect them to specialists and resources that can help, whether they are being treated for lymphoma themselves or are supporting a loved one.

Every 26 minutes one of us is diagnosed with lymphoma.

Join our mission this September and talk lymphoma, so no one has to face it alone. For further details, please visit: www.lymphoma-action.org.uk/BCAM 

Best wishes

Lymphoma Action

Letters: GERS exposes the cost of Westminster rule – not Scotland’s potential

Dear Editor,

I, Dhruva Kumar, Former MP Candidate for Glasgow South, write with great concern about the publication of the latest Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.

At present, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture, with a fiscal deficit of £26 billion in 2024-25, equivalent to nearly 12% of Scotland’s GDP. The UK figure is larger in cash terms, unsurprisingly, but significantly smaller in relative terms at around 5% of GDP.

Once again, we are treated to the annual ritual of the GERS figures, paraded as though they were a true reflection of Scotland’s finances. The reality is very different.

Every year, the GERS report is wheeled out to suggest Scotland is running a deficit too large for independence. But GERS doesn’t measure the finances of an independent Scotland—it measures Scotland under Westminster rule.

GERS is not an account of what an independent Scotland would look like. It is a snapshot of Scotland under Westminster control. The figures are compiled largely by the UK Treasury, riddled with estimates and assumptions, and loaded with spending on projects that bring no benefit to Scots – from HS2 in England to Trident nuclear weapons on the Clyde.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s vast revenues from oil, gas, whisky, renewables, and exports are understated, or simply swallowed up into UK-wide accounts. The result is a manufactured “deficit” that is then used to tell us we are “too poor” to be independent.

If Ireland had listened to London’s version of its accounts in 1922, it would never have left the Union. Today, Ireland is more prosperous than the UK. The lesson is clear: the only deficit Scotland truly suffers is the deficit of self-government.

We will not accept Westminster’s rigged figures as gospel. Scotland is one of the most resource-rich nations in Europe. With independence, we can build an economy designed for our people, instead of living with a balance sheet designed to keep us in our place.

Yours sincerely,

Dhruva Kumar

Letters: Cats Protection thanks players of People’s Postcode Lottery

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY

Dear Letters Editor,

This International Day of Charity (5 September) we would like to say thank you to each of the players of People’s Postcode Lottery whose generosity has enabled us to help around one million cats to date.

Since 2018, People’s Postcode Lottery players have raised £12,439,702 for Cats Protection, helping us be there for cats and kittens in need. One million cats’ lives have been changed for the better and this incredible milestone could not have been achieved without players’ support.

Thanks to People’s Postcode Lottery players we have been able to remain at the forefront of research on cat welfare, using our decades of experience to support cat owners to keep their pets happy, healthy and safe.

Helping people understand their cats means we can often avoid owners having to give up their pets. But when rehoming is the right thing to do, our teams look after cats with care and kindness,  finding them loving new homes.  

We speak up for cats, changing laws to give cats more protection and also run the world’s largest single-species neutering programme, for both pets and feral cats. 

When cat owners face hard times, we work to keep them with their pets, offering a temporary foster service for those fleeing domestic abuse, supporting those facing the loss of their cat as well as peace of mind when an owner passes away that their cat will be looked after and rehomed. 

Whatever it takes, we’re here for cats and the people who care for them, thanks to People’s Postcode Lottery players. 

Yours faithfully

Cat Jarvis

Senior Philanthropy Communications Officer, Cats Protection

Letters: Beauty treatment regulation cannot come soon enough

Dear Editor

Cosmetic treatments which do not require surgery, such as Botox, dermal fillers, and liquid Brazilian butt lifts, are rocketing in popularity. Many people might not know that, as yet, the industry is largely unregulated.

All too often we hear of some such beauty treatments going horribly wrong, and people who have suffered severe, and even life-changing, injuries as a result.

Cases include people left with permanent scarring to their faces from botched chemical peels. Multiple cases of the over-use of Hyalase injections to dissolve filler have led to tissue loss and cavities to the face, which then required multiple fat grafting treatments.

The Scottish Government has now said it will forge ahead with legislation this autumn. The sooner this burgeoning industry is regulated, the safer consumers will be.

Gordon Dalyell

Scotland representative, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Rennie Hogg Road,

Nottingham NG2 1RX