Tag: NEN

Heart-healthy diet tips

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written and read by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Heart healthy diet

Over seven million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease. By eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of physical activity, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, you can reduce your risk of heart disease.

A healthy diet can improve your blood pressure and cholesterol as well as helping you to manage your weight. Heart Research UK have some tips to help you reduce your risk of heart disease by improving your diet.

Increase your fibre intake

A diet that is high in fibre can reduce your risk of heart disease. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses and wholegrain foods, such as granary bread, brown rice and wholemeal pasta. Try choosing a wholegrain breakfast cereal, such as muesli, porridge or bran flakes and add some chopped fruit or berries.

Choose healthier fats and oils

Fats and oils are high in calories and it is important not to consume too much. Different types of fat are present in foods. Saturated and trans fats can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. It is recommended that saturated and trans fats are swapped for small amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Saturated fats

Eating too much can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.

Examples include

  • Fatty meats
  • Hard cheeses
  • Butter
  • Cream
  • Coconut oil

Polyunsaturated fats

Small amounts are recommended for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and providing essential fatty acids.

Examples:

  • Oily fish (e.g. salmon)
  • Walnuts
  • Seeds (e.g. flaxseeds and sesame seeds)

Trans fats

Eating too much can increase your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.

Examples:

  • Hard margarines
  • Fried food
  • Biscuits and cakes

Monounsaturated fats

Small amounts are recommended for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

Examples:

  • Rapeseed oil
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Nuts
  • Avocados

If you eat meat, you could swap fatty meats for fish and lean meats, such as chicken (without skin), as well as cutting away visible fat from fatty meats, such as bacon.

Coconut oil is often promoted as a health food, however, it is high in saturated fat and can increase your cholesterol. If you currently cook with coconut oil, you could try switching to rapeseed oil.

Reduce your salt consumption

Too much salt in your diet can increase your blood pressure and your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Try swapping snacks that are high in salt, such as crisps and salted nuts, for healthier snacks, such as fruit, carrot sticks and hummus, popcorn and unsalted nuts and seeds.

Read the food labels to identify snacks that are lower in salt. Try to cut back on the amount of salt used in cooking gradually over time and increase the amount of herbs and spices to add more flavour.

Examples of some heart healthy recipes can be found on our website, at heartresearch.org.uk/recipes

Scottish Government funding to support health and wellbeing

£8 million for community projects to help combat isolation

Funding of more than £8 million is helping projects to deliver mental health support and wellbeing services for people who are feeling isolated during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The funding was allocated to 344 projects, who are providing support in communities across Scotland, including to those who are self-isolating or shielding.

It is part of a £50 million Wellbeing Fund that is helping people through the pandemic.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Adjusting to life under lockdown is tough and although we have all found it difficult, for some, the strain on their mental health and wellbeing has been a real struggle.

“A quick phone call or dropping off a few essential groceries can have a huge positive impact on people who may be self-isolating or shielding for health reasons. Small acts of kindness will also help those people who have seen their support network – whether that be friends, extended family, colleagues or community groups – disappear almost overnight.

“That is why this funding has been so important. It has enabled groups providing mental health and wellbeing support, alongside other vital services, to offer help and advice as we deal with this pandemic. I am glad we have been able to support groups across Scotland to provide these lifelines at a hugely difficult time.”

Space and Broomhouse Hub in Edinburgh is using £20,500 of wellbeing funding to provide services supporting mental health and combating isolation for a range of age groups. That includes keeping in touch by phone with elderly people who are self-isolating and providing food parcels and ‘boredom buster’ packs to families.

Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive at The Broomhouse Project, said: “Our community hub is helping many people locally to manage the traumatic consequences of COVID-19, such as empty kitchen cupboards, paying bills, anxiety, social isolation, digital exclusion, increased stresses on family relationships, and lack of respite for carers, young carers and adults.

“Our amazing staff, volunteers and trustees are delivering this with kindness and community. A huge thank you to the Scottish Government for enabling us to progress this work when it is much needed.”

In Dumfries and Galloway, the Lincluden After School Group has used £15,841 of Wellbeing funding to provide extended respite care services for parents of children with additional support needs, helping to prevent burnout and maintain stability during the crisis.

Kathleen Procter, Manager of the Group, said: “At this scary and unprecedented time, we can’t thank the Scottish Government enough for putting the Wellbeing Fund in place to support charities.

“The funding we received will allow us to provide vital support for children with additional support needs or disabilities. This is a very unsettling time for these children and we are grateful to be able to play our part in continuing to provide as much normality and routine for them as possible.”

The £50 million Wellbeing Fund supports organisations across the third sector that are providing important services for people as a result of coronavirus. It is part of the £350 million emergency coronavirus funding announced by the Communities Secretary on 18 March.

£33 million of the Wellbeing Fund is open to applications, with grants available between £5,000 and £100,000.

The fund is being delivered through national organisations and funders including Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Corra Foundation, Inspiring Scotland, Impact Funding Partners, The Hunter Foundation, The STV Children’s Appeal, and all of Scotland’s 32 Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) which provide a single point of access for support and advice for the third sector within local areas.

Phase one of the Wellbeing Fund worth £14 million, has been awarded to a total of 558 projects to provide targeted support in local areas.

Applications for the second round of the Wellbeing Fund opened on 8 May to all organisations that did not apply or receive funding during the first round. As of 20 May, 237 applications had been received during round two worth £4,169,206.

Edinburgh Interfaith Association presents A Spotlight On Faith

Edinburgh Interfaith Association (EIFA) has produced a series of online productions, A Spotlight On Faith.

EIFA strives to bring people together for the greater good, provide expert services, build meaningful and beneficial relationships and to represent the interests and needs of faith communities.

The latest video features an interview with Voice finalist Michelle John talking music, faith and her campaign against domestic abuse.

For more interviews go to the Edinburgh Interfaith Facebook page

FM reminds Scotland: lockdown restrictions remain in place until Thursday

Statement given by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a media briefing in St Andrew’s House yesterday (Friday 22 May):

Good afternoon. I’m joined today by Iain Livingstone, Chief Constable of Police Scotland and Professor Jason Leitch, our National Clinical Director. I want to start – as I always do – by updating you on some of the key statistics in relation to COVID-19 in Scotland.

As at 9 o’clock this morning, there have been 14,969 positive cases confirmed – which is an increase of 113 from yesterday.

A total of 1,257 patients are in hospital with COVID-19 – 874 of them have been confirmed as having Covid, and 383 who are suspected of having it. That represents a total decrease of 61 from yesterday and that includes a decrease of 35 in the number of confirmed cases.

A total of 50 people last night were in intensive care with either confirmed or suspected COVID-19. That is a decrease of one since yesterday.

I am also able to confirm today that since 5 March, a total of 3,508 patients who had tested positive and been hospitalised with the virus have been able to leave hospital. Which is, of course, very good news.

And unfortunately though I also have to report that in the last 24 hours, 24 deaths have been registered of patients who have been confirmed through a test as having COVID-19 – that takes the total number of deaths in Scotland, under that measurement, to 2,245.

Let me emphasise once again that these numbers are not simply statistics. They represent individuals who are being mourned by friends, family and loved ones. I want to send my deepest and heartfelt condolences to everyone who has suffered a loss to this virus.

I also want to thank – as I always do – our health and care workers for the extraordinary, incredible work that you continue to do each and every day.

There are two items I want to briefly cover today.

The first is about the routemap we published yesterday, on how and when we might ease the current lockdown restrictions, while continuing to suppress the virus which is so, so vital.

As of 10 o’clock this morning, I can tell you, more than 100,000 of you have viewed that document on our website.  My apologies to those who tried to do so yesterday and found that the demand had made the website struggle. I’m glad that so many people have managed to do so and my thanks to you for doing that.

And I would encourage those of you who haven’t yet had the opportunity, to go online and read it – and if you have any views about it you want us to know please feel free to send them to us.

The document set out the different phases in which we will aim to ease lockdown.

The steps it sets out are by necessity gradual and incremental.  And we will monitor them carefully as they do take effect.

And our plans will change if the data, evidence or our knowledge of the virus changes.

Let me stress though that that could include lifting restrictions more quickly than we otherwise think we can do.

I want to stress – and this is a really important point – that none of the changes are yet in place.  During this Bank Holiday weekend – and into next week – the current lockdown restrictions are still in place.

That’s important for me to stress. The one thing that will slow down the lifting of lockdown is us taking our foot off the brake too quickly and allowing the virus to spread rapidly again.

However, on a more optimistic note, as things stand, we intend to enter the first phase of easing restrictions, from next Thursday 28 May – now less than one week away.

By then, I hope we will still be seeing progress against the virus, but also by then we will also be ready to start with our Test, Trace and Isolate programme – Test and Protect we’re calling it – as  you’ve heard me say before, that is a key tool for us in continuing to keep the virus suppressed as we start gradually easing these restrictions.

As I said yesterday, not all of the Phase 1 measures will necessarily be introduced immediately next Thursday  – though I hope most will be. But we’ll have to make a judgement at the time.

But I want to reiterate some of the changes that I hope we will see from next week so that you know what you’re able to look forward to.

As the document sets out, more outdoor activity will be permitted. There is a strong emphasis in the first phase on outdoor activity because one of the things we are learning about this virus is that the risks of transmission outdoors, although not zero, absolutely not zero, are nevertheless lower than the risks of transmission indoors.

So You will be able in this first phase to sit or sunbathe in parks and open areas.  And as long as you stay two metres apart, you will be able to meet outside, with people from another household, including in private gardens.

Let me be clear because I know it is a question that has been asked, that doesn’t limit you to seeing just one specific household during this phase – you can see different households, but we are asking you only to meet one at a time.

We’re also not intending to put a five mile limit on the distance you can travel to, for example, sit with your parents in their garden.

But we are asking you to use judgement. And increasingly as we come out of lockdown, I’m going to be relying more and more on you to exercise the good judgement that I know you will.

If, for example you travel a long distance to see a relative outside, you’ll be more likely to go inside the house to use the bathroom, for example.

And we don’t want you to go inside others’ houses in this phase because if you are infectious, maybe without knowing it, you risk leaving the virus on surfaces inside the house and that would pose a risk to other people, particularly if you’re visiting elderly relatives – that is a risk we don’t want you to take.

So please use your judgement and have uppermost in your mind the need to protect those you care about – even if that might mean staying apart from them for just a little a bit longer.

As well as those changes, some non-contact outdoor leisure activities will be allowed to restart from the end of next week – such as golf, tennis, bowls and fishing – croquet as well, as I was asked about in Parliament – subject to appropriate hygiene and physical distancing.

People will be able to travel – preferably by walking or cycling – to a location near their local community for recreation. But here we are asking you to stay fairly local. Five miles will not be a strict limit but it is a guide. We don’t want, in this phase, people congregating at tourist hot spots – because crowds of people – even if they’re trying to socially distance – brings more risk than we judge is safe to take at this time.

Waste and recycling services will resume, as will many outdoor businesses.

The construction industry will be able to carefully implement the first steps in its restart plan.

Other industries, that might not resume straight away but in the next phase, will be permitted in phase 1 to start to prepare workplaces.

Outdoor retail outlets such as garden centres will be allowed to reopen.

And, very importantly, we will also start, albeit gradually and carefully, to resume NHS services which were paused as a result of the pandemic.

Schools will not reopen until 11 August.  But, during June, teachers will return to prepare for the new term and for a different model of learning. 

Over the summer, an increased number of children will have access to critical childcare.

And we intend to provide, where possible, transition support for children going into primary 1 or moving from primary 7 to secondary school.

Childminders can re-open during phase 1. And over the summer all early years childcare providers will open again subject to necessary health measures.

The routemap provides more detail on these steps – and on each subsequent phase.  It also outlines how they will work alongside our ‘Test and Protect’ approach – which as I said a moment ago, will be vital, in helping to control the virus.

In the days ahead we will publish more detailed advice and information for you the public, as well as guidance covering key sectors of our economy, travel and transport. That’s a really important part of preparing for the move to phase 1. So that there is as much clarity as possible about what we are saying and what we are asking you not to do at this stage.

However, I want to emphasise a key point.  None of the changes I’ve talked about today, are yet in place.  We can only begin to implement them if we continue to suppress this virus. And that’s why – for the moment – the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.

That brings me to the final item I want to cover.  It’s about our support for people, in dealing with the lockdown.  And it has particular relevance, as we mark the end of mental health awareness week.

We know this crisis is causing increased anxiety and stress for probably everybody in the population.  We also know that – because of the lockdown – many people are cut off from their usual support networks – be that family, friends, or the wider community. That problem is – of course – particularly acute for those of you who are isolating or shielding.

The Scottish Government has been trying to take action throughout this, to address this issue.  Today, I can tell you that – since the lockdown began – we have provided more than £8 million to projects aimed at tackling social isolation.

That money comes from our Wellbeing Fund.  And it is now supporting around 350 projects, in every part of the country.

The services they are providing include phone calls for older people who are self-isolating; food parcels and special packs for families; help with digital technology for those who need it; and respite care for parents of children with additional support needs.

So I want to take the opportunity today to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone working across the third sector organisations and volunteers who are involved in providing these services. Your willingness to help others – at what will also be a difficult time for you, as well as for others – is hugely appreciated.

And I want to stress one of the key messages of mental health awareness week is that it’s okay not to feel okay – and that help is available if you need it.

I would encourage any of you to look for help if you do feel you need it

The Clear Your Head website – clearyourhead.scot – brings together all of the different information about support that is available.

I want to close today by just emphasising the point I’ve made a couple of times already, that for the time being, the current lockdown restrictions remain in place.

The Chief Constable will say a few words in a moment, for now I just want to reiterate – once again – what those restrictions are.

Except for essential purposes – exercise, going to essential work that can’t be done at home, or getting food or medicine you should stay at home.

You can now exercise more than once a day – but please stay more than 2 metres from other people. And don’t yet meet up with people from other households.

Please wear a face covering if you are in an enclosed space like a shop or on public transport. And you should wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Finally, if you have symptoms, or someone else in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, isolate completely.

I know how hard these restrictions are.  And I know that hearing me talk about easing them as we head into a bank holiday weekend, will make all of this seem even tougher.

But we need to stick with it for a few more days.  And if we do, I really hope that this time next week when I’m standing here telling you all to have I nice weekend, I’ll also be telling you to enjoy, for the first time in a long while, seeing some family or friends over the weekend – as long as you do it outdoors and remember to stay physically distanced.

Everybody’s been magnificent so far, please stick with it for a few more days and we can take that first step on the road back to some kind of normality.

Thank you all very much for your co-operation and I’ll now hand over to the chief constable to say a few words before handing over to Professor Leitch.

The routemap has been welcomed by SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald. He said: “We all know that we can’t live this way forever and we all want to get back some sense of normality. 

“While we need to move carefully and gradually, the route map laid out today by the First Minister clearly sets out the steps that will take us there. 

“Too many people in Edinburgh and across Scotland have lost their lives to this disease and we can’t risk another peak – so we must move in line with our own circumstances. 

“We will get through this by working together by sticking to the advice to suppress the virus further and get back a way of life that is as close to normal as possible.”

Hot tips to keep canine companions cool during lockdown

With temperatures set to soar, Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is offering top tips to help owners make sure dogs can stay safe and happy in the sun and keep cool during lockdown.

The charity is advising dog owners how they can keep cool – indoors as well as outdoors – and prevent them from overheating as the days get hotter.

The charity advises:

  1. Avoid walking or doing activities either indoors or outdoors with your dog at the hottest times of the day, so early morning or later in the evening is often best.
  2. Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog and make sure they have access to fresh water at home at all times.
  3. Tarmac can get very hot in the sun – check it with your hand before letting your dog walk on it so they don’t burn their paws. Try the ‘seven-second test’ – if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws
  4. If you need to take your dog out in the car, even if travelling a short distance, avoid travelling during the hottest times of the day and never leave your dog in a car on a warm day. Not even with the window open.

Dogs Trust says that having fun with your dog indoors can be just as stimulating as a long walk, but owners still need to be aware that they need to make sure their dogs stay cool indoors too – so choose the coolest room in the house, stay out of direct sunlight, always have fresh water available and make sure your dog has somewhere cool to relax and sleep.

To help owners keep their dogs entertained whilst we are all spending more time at home,  Dogs Trust has come up with eight fun ways to have fun with a cardboard box and tubes (like those you’d find in a toilet or kitchen roll).

  1. The paw-fect figure 8: Get two boxes and set them out a little distance apart. Hold your dog’s treats or a favourite toy in one hand and slowly start to move them in a figure of eight around the two items, swapping the reward into your other hand at the centre point. One arm will guide your dog around the item to the left and the other arm will guide your dog around the item to your right. Repeat several times until you’ve got the movement smooth and well-rehearsed!
  2. Digging deep: Shred or scrunch up newspaper or any paper items and pop them in an empty box. Drop in some treats or toys, and watch your dog dig away!
  3. Paws-up: Can you get them to put their front feet on the box? Their back feet? Can you get them to run round to the left, to the right? Can smaller dogs sit in the box? Think outside of the box and we’re sure you won’t be able to contain yourself with all this fun!
  4. Bowling balls: Create a 10-pin bowling alley with spare kitchen roll tubes. Have a competition and see how many pins you can knock down vs. your dog!
  5. Tunn-els of fun: Cut the sides of a few boxes and line them up to make your very own DIY tunnel. Encourage your dog to go through with the promise of treats or their favourite toy at the end of the tunnel!
  6. Jog your dog’s memory: Lay out multiple boxes in a semi-circle and pop a treat in one of them, making sure your dog is watching. Hold up a sheet to block your furry friend’s vision, drop and then see if they remember which box the treat was in! Repeat the game and change the box with the treat in, see how many times they get it right!
  7. Snoot challenge: next level – remember the original snoot challenge where you had to make a circular shape with your hands and wait for your pooch to run up and put their nose through the hole? Building from this, cut a hole out in your box and see if you can get your dog to poke their nose through it! *boop*
  8. Teach your dog to read: for starters write different words (e.g. sit, down, paw) on different boxes that you want your dog to learn. Say the word that’s on the specific box in front of them, and ask them to do what the word says. When your dog does as you’ve asked, reward them with a tasty treat and repeat several times until your dog has associated the new word, with the specific box!

Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, says: “There are so many things we can do to make sure our dogs stay happy and healthy in hot weather, but it is crucial we keep a close eye on them, even if we are playing indoors as many of us are at the moment.

“If you want to spend time in your garden with your dog, make sure they have plenty of shade and if they have shown they are comfortable around water, introduce them carefully to a shallow paddling pool in the shade.

“If you do need to head out in the car with your dog, please be very careful. As little as twenty minutes can prove fatal if a dog is left alone in a car on a warm day.

“Many people still believe it’s OK if the windows are left open or they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s not and we strongly advise that dog owners never leave their dog in a car on a warm day, even if it feels cool outside.”

If you see a dog in a car in distress, Dogs Trust advises that members of the public call 999. Signs of a dog suffering from heatstroke include excessive panting, heavy salivation, vomiting or diarrhoea, lack of co-ordination or loss of consciousness.

We understand dog owners are anxious to ensure their four-legged friends are being well looked after and exercised in these difficult times, while we all stick to the government advice on each of the four nations.

While in England you can now go out to exercise as much as you like, please remember to keep your distance from other dog walkers , keep your dog on a lead and think about going out at a time of day when it might be a bit less busy.

Of course, some may need to use dog walkers, who are prioritising key workers – just be sure to hand your dog over in space large enough to maintain social distancing and to wash all equipment after your pooch returns.

For more information and advice, see www.dogstrust.org.uk

Scotland’s Hockey Clubs make the pledge

Despite their inability to play matches, Scotland’s 100 hockey clubs have been invited to sign a Club Pledge to keep the sport connected and vibrant throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

And so far, in just over one week, over 60 of them have done so, with yet more looking to sign-up in course of the month of May.

The Club Pledge can be found at https://www.scottish-hockey.org.uk/clubs/club-pledge/.

The Club Pledge is intended to bring the hockey community together and connected, while showcasing the good work being done by clubs and to enable other clubs to do the same.

Scotland’s hockey club members are being urged to maintain club togetherness and community to help the sport to thrive.

By making the Club Pledge the clubs will:

  • Hold weekly club/team online (Zoom/Teams/GoTo) meetings at the time their training session would be.
  • Host virtual club social events – online quiz; karaoke; party nights
  • Set club challenges to raise money for charity and good causes – for example run 5k and donate £5.
  • Profile club members who are on the front line – working in the NHS; carers; supermarket workers; refuse workers etc.

Paul Elliott, Communications Manager at Scottish Hockey, said: “Scotland’s hockey club members are missing the bonds and companionship they get from playing and training with their team mates for the game they love.

“This initiative helps clubs and teams maintain those bonds and keep spirits high in preparation for that time when we can all meet up again on the hockey pitch.

“In the meantime we are hoping that all of our affiliated hockey clubs will make the Club Pledge to maintain the great sense of community and togetherness people enjoy through hockey.

“There’s also an amazing amount of fundraising taking place through Club Pledge, so collectively we will hope to establish the amount of funds that have been raised for good causes right across the country.”

Mental Health Awareness Week: Kindness Matters

NHS 24 reminds us that kindness matters during Mental Health Awareness Week:

NHS 24 is taking time during Mental Health Awareness Week to remind those who might need some support of their Breathing Space service, and the importance of being kind to yourself.

Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone and web based service for people in Scotland experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety.  The service offers a friendly ear while also providing professional support to those who might need it.

Tony McLaren, National Coordinator of Breathing Space, says: “We all need support from time to time, and it’s really important to remind ourselves that it’s ok to ask someone for help.

“Sometimes we can feel a bit stuck- you might think that others appear to be coping well, so why do I feel I am struggling? It’s worth remembering if you aren’t comfortable speaking to friends or family, you can ask for help on the phone as well. Our advisors will give you time to open up, should you be experiencing distress in your life.

‘Please don’t feel you have to wait until things are very bad to get in touch. Our service is there to provide space to think about why you might be feeling anxious or low. At this time it’s important to look after our mental health, and remind ourselves that kindness matters.”

Breathing Space is available on 0800 83 85 87 or on www.breathingspace.scot, Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am and from Friday 6pm-Monday 6am.

Find us at www.twitter.com/nhs24 and www.facebook.com/nhs24

Spot a special species in Scotland this summer

The wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC) is asking people in Scotland to keep an eye out for a small but brightly-coloured butterfly, the Small Copper. 

Small Copper populations have fallen by a third in Scotland over the past decade, and sightings from members of the public are important in helping researchers find out what’s happening to this beautiful butterfly.

Project Officer Anthony McCluskey said: ‘Small Coppers are delightful little butterflies, and their declines in Scotland are a great concern for us. Finding out more about where they are can help us to conserve them.

“Observing wildlife is known to have a wide range of mental health benefits. This can be a mindful activity during these uncertain times and one which will help contribute to scientific research too.’

The butterfly can be seen in gardens and parks, and also found along paths and cycle routes so it may be seen on daily exercise outings. The charity is urging people to respect Government advice on social distancing by only recording the butterfly if they happen to find it as they take their normal exercise, and not to travel anywhere to find it.

Small Coppers can often be seen basking in sheltered sunny places, especially where there is some bare ground. Their caterpillars feed on wild sorrels, which are the smaller relatives of the Docks that people use to relieve nettle stings.

With their wings open they are a little larger than a 50p coin, but they are easily overlooked as they are rarely seen in large numbers. The upper sides of the wings have distinctive bright orange and black markings.

Depending on the spring weather the butterfly can emerge in Scotland between the middle of April and middle of June, disappearing until late summer, when a second brood emerges. You can report your sighting of Small Coppers at www.butterfly-conservation.org/scottishsmallcopper.

This survey is being supported by Scottish Natural Heritage and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, through the Helping Hands for Butterflies Project.

Three in four people blind and partially sighted people concerned about getting access to food

Difficulties in social distancing are adding to the stress many blind and partially sighted people are experiencing in getting access to basic shopping, a survey by the charity RNIB has found.

“This first nationwide survey of how people with sight loss are coping during the current lockdown situation suggests it might be impacting particularly severely on them,” James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, has warned.

“Three in four respondents to our survey reported being very or quite concerned about getting access to food. Uncertainty and confusion over access to shopping and information – compounded by isolation and the barriers to being guided because of social distancing – all add to the stress many people are feeling.

“We are working with supermarkets to ensure those who can’t leave the house, or who can’t see to easily social distance themselves from other shoppers, do have access to basic food supplies.”

People with sight loss can struggle to maintain social distance as they can’t always see other shoppers approaching them, pointed out Mr Adams.

Eighty per cent of people replying to the RNIB survey said that the way they do shopping has changed since lockdown.

Before, 28 per cent said they had done their own shopping. Now, half that proportion do. And while only 18 per cent had previously relied on someone to shop for them, now 49 per cent do. 25 per cent said there was no one in their household who could guide them around a shop.

Shopping online has also proved a problem. 67 per cent of respondents had experienced difficulty finding a supermarket delivery slot, while 26 per cent said they couldn’t access the supermarket booking web-page. RNIB has pressed government and supermarkets to add blind and partially sighted people to the priority delivery list.

The survey has also revealed that the isolation imposed by lockdown has hit blind and partially sighted people particularly hard.

78 per cent said they had less contact with ‘the people who matter to me’; one in five people reported that they now rarely speak to people either over the phone, on video calls or in person since lockdown; while five per cent did not know how to contact many of the people they would normally be in touch with at least once a week.

Accessible information was another worry. One in four respondents had struggled to get written information in a format that they could understand.

“We have urged government and public bodies to ensure that often vital  information is available in formats such as audio and braille,” said Mr Adams.

“While social distancing is an important health measure, the consequences for those who are less able to comply can be difficult, especially if other people wrongly assume they are just being lackadaisical. We need to give more thought to how we ensure people with sight loss don’t end up becoming prisoners of lockdown.

“Our RNIB Helpline is available to help and support all blind and partially sighted people and their families and carers on 0303 123 9999. We want people with sight loss to know they are not alone and that help is available”

Case study – Kirin Saeed from Edinburgh:

One in five respondents to the RNIB survey said they have had to ration food during the current lockdown period:

Kirin Saeed from Edinburgh is registered blind. “I’ve found myself limiting the food I eat as I’m never that sure when my next food delivery will be,” she says. “I have a paid carer who lives some distance away and I’m conscious I don’t want to burden her with too much shopping. Also, as I’m in the black and minority ethnic group and possibly more vulnerable to the coronavirus virus, I need to limit contact with others.

“If I went to a shop myself social distancing would be a massive problem. Touching things to ascertain what they are would, too. Blind people live in a world where touching things is important – but how long does the virus stay on things we touch?

“I don’t think this situation is going to change anytime soon. Everyone’s scrambling through the here and now –  but what about the here and after? There will still be social distancing.

“The hope I have is that shops and supermarkets agree a standardised policy for customers with sight loss, so that we know how to safely get around shops and so do staff. That would be the best way forward for everybody.”

MSPs call for significant changes to debt solution

Holyrood’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has published a report on protected trust deeds citing that changes are needed to make the debt solution more effective in supporting people who are in debt.

A protected trust deed is one of three statutory debt solutions in Scotland. It involves a debtor’s assets being managed by an insolvency practitioner for the benefit of the creditors for a four-year period. During this time, part of the debtor’s income is paid to the insolvency practitioner.

Last year around 8,000 people entered a protected trust deed, 150,000 people sought debt advice and, beyond that 600,000 adults are considered to be over-indebted in Scotland.

Amongst its calls within the report, the Committee asked for changes to the way fees are charged in protected trust deeds. The current rules can see debtors making contributions but not reducing their overall debt levels for at least the first two years.

Committee Convener Michelle Ballantyne MSP said: “Now more than ever people’s finances will be feeling the strain, and some will be contemplating seeking help to clear their debts.

“A debt solution should work in reducing that person’s debt. We heard evidence which showed that fees were being frontloaded resulting in the overall debt not lowering despite payments being made. This needs to change.

“The Committee welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to conduct an overarching debt review. However, it is incredibly important that the Scottish Government listen to the Committees recommendations to ensure that protected trust deeds act as an effective debt solution and debtors are safeguarded from the potential harm that can be caused when things go wrong.”

The Committee also heard evidence that online advertising and social media campaigns can target people in debt, offering a solution which is not always suitable for their circumstances.

Michelle Ballantyne MSP added: “People in debt must receive the right help and advice and not choose a solution based purely on what they saw on social media that day.

“The Committee recommends tighter regulations on online advertising and believes that free independent money advice would help ensure that people make the decision right for them.”

There are three statutory debt solutions in Scotland:

Bankruptcy – All of the debtor’s assets are managed by a trustee for the benefit of creditors for a four-year period. Contributions from income will also be required, where appropriate. Almost all outstanding debts are written off at the end of the four-year period, allowing the debtor to become debt free.

Debt Payment Programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme – Debtors make payments over an extended period of time to pay off their debts. It can last for any “reasonable” time period, but the average is around seven years. Debts are not written off, so the scheme is only available to those who can repay in full over the length of the scheme.

Protected Trust Deed – As with bankruptcy, a debtor’s assets are managed by a trustee for the benefit of creditors for a four-year period. Contributions from income will have to be sufficient to pay the trustee’s fee and provide a return to creditors. Protected Trust Deeds are seen as offering more flexibility than bankruptcy.

Informal debt solutions – Most debtors negotiate informally with their creditors to make lower repayments. These arrangements can be unstable, and do not prevent creditors from taking action to enforce their debts if they think they should be paid more.

The published report can be found here.

Are you struggling to manage debt? Free, independent advice is available. Granton Information Centre’s office on West Granton Road is currently closed to the public, but they at still here to support you.

If you have money worries, employment concerns or housing issues, or if you are claiming benefits for the first time and find it all very complicated, contact Granton Information Centre and speak to an adviser:

Telephone 0131 552 0458 or 0131 551 2459

Email info@gic.org.uk

Granton Information Centre: here to help.