FOCUS: S COT L A N D
Autumn 2014
THE MAGAZINE FOR VOLUNTEERING AND THE THIRD SECTOR IN SCOTLAND
HEALTH & WELLBEING
CITIZENSHIP
Change Lifestyle
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Placement While Studying New Services
Helping Others Getting Recognised Retirement
Give Something Back
Into Employment Career Change
SOCIAL CHANGE
Use Spare Time
Stronger Communities
Peer Support
EMPLOYMENT
Broaden Horizons
VOLUNTEER
New Skills
Bringing Communities Together
Meeting New People Use Your Skills
Change Your Community
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Volunteer - Choose your destination. Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go....volunteering can get you there. To book your journey call 0141 941 0886, text the word volunteer free on 80800 or visit www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
FOCUS ON: WHATS INSIDE
Inside... 7 PATIENT OPINION
… every opinion matters
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EDITOR Selina Ross DESIGN Ritchie Marshall PHOTOGRAPHY Daren Borzynski NEWS TEAM Ritchie Marshall Daren Borzynski
COMMONWEALTH GAMES … Clydesiders reflection
BEFRIENDING WEEK
… recognising the value of befriending
CYCLE TO WORK DAY
… Thursday 4th September
BAG LEVY
… are you ready for the levy
ADVERTiSING T: 0141 280 0115 E: ritchie@wdcvs.com PRINT
Stephens & George
Focus Scotland is a service of WDCVS Scottish Charity No: SC032003 T: 0141 941 0886 E: media@wdcvs.com W: www.wdcvs.com
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
IN KIND DIRECT
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HELPING YOU GET THE THINGS YOU NEED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES.
n Kind Direct, one of The Prince’s Charities, redistributes products from companies to charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations across the UK.
and charities are looking for new ways to save money. In Kind Direct is free to join, and you only pay a small handling charge for the service – typically it’s around 20% of the retail price and this includes delivery.
Many companies have a lot of products they no longer need, from over-stocked toiletries and cleaning supplies, to last season’s clothes. In Kind Direct works with companies to get these items and redistribute them to charities. This helps companies clear valuable space and support their corporate responsibility goals, while helping charities by giving them a convenient source of the things they need to operate. Products such as toilet roll, nappies, toiletries and cleaning supplies are the most popular items amongst In Kind Direct’s network of over 6,700 charities.
76% of charities using the service said In Kind Direct allowed them to get goods they wouldn’t usually be able to afford.
The products In Kind Direct receives are all new but have been donated because they are end of lines, expromotional stock, or because they have small defects in the packaging or branding. To date In Kind Direct has worked with over 930 companies such as Procter & Gamble, Amazon, and Asda and has delivered products to 726 organisations in Scotland alone. Do you want to save money? With limited funding, most not-for-profit organisations 4 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
One story: Carers of West Dunbartonshire One organisation using In Kind Direct is Carers of West Dunbartonshire. The organisation offers a range of services both practical and emotional, which support unpaid carers within West Dunbartonshire. They joined In Kind Direct in 2013 and have already received over £2,000 worth of essential products such as cleaning supplies and toiletries. Kim McNab, Service Manager explains: “Thanks to In Kind Direct and the support of the Bank of Scotland Foundation we have been able to set up our ‘Help Pack’ project. The Help Packs provide carers and those that they are caring for with personal care items. Caring for someone can be costly, often due to increased laundry bills and utilities costs. These individuals are more at risk of financial hardship and this project has provided us with a way of helping carers in those situations.
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY It is a valuable addition to our service and wouldn’t be possible if we weren’t able to get these essential products from In Kind Direct.” Since the project was started in April 2014, 65 Help Packs have been given out to carers in a variety of situations, such as parents of disabled children, carers for the elderly and those affected by addiction. One carer, a single mother of three children, the youngest of whom has Autism and mobility problems, recently described the difference the pack made: “This is such an amazing help. Some weeks I really struggle and this bit of help freed up some money which meant I can do other things. I’m so grateful for that.” The carer lives on a low income and has increased laundry and personal hygiene needs, and higher electricity bills as a result of her child’s continence issues. The help pack provided contained washing powder, fabric softener, soap, wipes and disposables gloves.
DUMBARTON RIVERSIDE HOLD THEIR THIRD ANNUAL DISABILITY FOOTBALL FESTIVAL
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umbarton Riverside ‘Champions’ are now a fully functioning team as part of the wider club. The club, who are part of the Dunbartonshire Football Development League, currently have a player roll of approximately 240 spread across ten age ranges. As the team prepare to kick of their third season, the Disability Football Festival will be held at Goals, Great Western Road in Clydebank on Sunday 21st of September between 1.00pm and 4.30pm. Alistair Bateman of the club said: “The day will be held in the format of a 5-a-side tournament in which every game will be refereed by a Scottish FA referee and every participant will receive a bespoke medal. Each game will last 10 minutes and teams will play a minimum of 7 games.” Alistair, who won the West Dunbartonshire Sports Awards Community Coach of the Year in 2012 for his work with the club, added “With twenty four teams scheduled to participate in the festival, it will be a fantastic opportunity for those already involved in the sport to showcase their talents.”
This is just one example. In Kind Direct supports a hugely diverse network of organisations, including youth charities, disabled groups, community nurseries, hospices, overseas relief organisations, homeless shelters, refuges and elderly welfare groups. Organisations use the products received in a variety of ways. Many use them to keep their offices and community centres clean. Those running residential centres need a constant supply of cleaning and household supplies, including bed and bath linen. Other charities receive cookware and cleaning products to use in their kitchen. Or they give them out to the people they support, moving into their own home after a period of homelessness. Youth and disability groups order sports and outdoor gear to run their activities, and many nurseries depend on a regular supply of nappies and baby toiletries to keep their services running. If you think your organisation could make use of the service, or if you would like to find out more, then visit the In Kind Direct website www.inkinddirect.org
The ‘Champions’ team comprises of adults with a range of disabilities such as cerebral palsy and down syndrome. The team has a strong nucleus of almost 30 players who regularly train irrespective of the weather conditions. At present, ‘Champions’ is a team focusing mainly on adults, however once a solid foundation has been established it may be rolled out to younger ages. Alistair explained “Due to the rise in popularity of disability football, there is also the possibility of a National League being created. Held between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The idea is that any such league would take place between every six to eight weeks until the end of June.” The club’s progression has seen them awarded both Disability Club and Quality Mark status by the Scottish FA. In addition, to have met all the criteria for the Quality Mark award, three coaches have undertaken disability education courses. Over the past couple of seasons, Riverside’s continued drive and commitment from players, coaches and volunteers alike have ensured that regardless of their ability, everyone has the opportunity to play the beautiful game. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 5
NOW Staff kNOW the differeNce they made tO Our family
What’S yOur StOry?
To read Lauren and Leah’s full story and tell your own, visit patieNtOpiNiON.Org.uk/laureN or call 0800 122 3135
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
E
veryone wants to help the NHS in Scotland to continually improve the service it provides to patients and their carers. After all, it is the people who use services that are the real experts in how things work for them. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to know how to say ‘thanks’, share your experience or pass on your thoughts for making things better. Patient Opinion can help the West Dunbartonshire community share their healthcare experiences by offering people the opportunity to give anonymous feedback about healthcare online. See the heart-warming feedback about a nurse below from a family who use the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde children’s hospital Yorkhill. “As a family we would be lost without him, and has really helped us through a really tough couple of months as my son has not been great.” Patient Opinion is an independent not-for-profit website that was started by Paul Hodgkins, a doctor from Sheffiled in 2005. Since then more than 87,000 stories have been posted on the website for all to see, and learn from.
“We can all help to make things better for other people using NHS Scotland’s services by sharing our personal experiences and our thoughts,” says Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie. “To be truly person-centred, service providers need to listen to what service users have to say.” The Patient Opinion website allows everyone to see what is being posted about a hospital or other services within a Health Board area, and to follow any action that is taken in response. Postings are moderated for accuracy by the Patient Opinion team, and then brought to the attention of the relevant service provider. Around half of the stories shared are positive, with people acknowledging the superb care they have received in their local hospital or health service. The rest offer personal experience, insight and good suggestions for making improvements. The image below shows an example of the range of organisations who actively use Patient Opinion to find out what patients, relatives and the public are saying about health services, which authors find really useful.
In Scotland, people using Patient Opinion are already driving real change. For instance, someone with breast cancer in Shetland posted a story that resulted in service developments that mean other patients no longer have to travel to the mainland for routine care. A Patient Opinion user in Highland wrote about the problems they were having with booking appointments at Raigmore, which led to improvements in the process. Another wrote about confusing signs in the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow that led to new directions being installed. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 7
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY Patient Opinion would like to see many more people sharing their experiences so that everyone can learn from them. Go online at www.patientopinion.org.uk to get started! Or use the Freephone number 0800 122 31 35
For example the Patient Opinion Story Sharing Widget is an easy way for people who use your website to tell their story to Patient Opinion about using health care services. The person doesn’t have to leave your website the story is sent straight to us.
Working with Third Sector Organisations
Your organisation might like to display a live feed of stories shared about local health services. This is an easy way for people who use your website to see what is going on. Or if your organisation has a particular health interest, eg stroke, asthma or diabetes you might like to show related local stories. Diabetes UK Scotland do this and show all stories in Scotland related to diabetes.
Patient Opinion is really keen to work with third sector organisations in West Dumbartonshire to raise awareness of this new way people can make their voices heard and help to make local health services even better. Patient Opinion currently do some great work with AGE Scotland, Dementia Carers Voices, Angus Long Term Conditions, Diabetes UK Scotland, Hepatitis Scotland and many more national charities. Angela Donaldson, Arthritis Care Scotland’s Director says . “The key to delivering successful health services to people with arthritis is to listen to people living with the condition, understand what support they need to help them live their life to the full, and develop services which take account as far as possible of a person’s responsibilities, goals and aspirations. We encourage people with arthritis to use the Patient Opinion link on our Arthritis Care Scotland website, to give real time feedback regarding the services they receive, to share their experience, both good and bad, and hopefully help to influence the way they receive support in the future.” Patient Opinion is a place where carers and relatives can share their experiences too. “Carers Scotland have been happy to get involved with Patient Opinion as a way for carers to have their voices and opinions heard.” Says Carers Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager Fiona Collie. “It is important that carers have a number of ways that they can raise concerns about the services that they or the person they care for receive and Patient Opinion is a simple and straightforward way to do this – and hopefully to see changes being made to improve support as a result. We also think this it is an important vehicle for carers to share where things have gone well too; to highlight good practice and simple changes that can make all the difference; and to help services from across Scotland to learn from each other.” We make it as easy as possible for organisations to work with us by providing a tool kit filled with some simple and effective ideas about how we can work together to make sure people have their say… 8 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Patient Opinion can make sure your organisation is alerted to local stories and respond too. We would love to see more patient led organisations become part of the conversation. If you’d like to find out more, just visit www. patientopinion.org or alternatively, you can email Natalie Deacon to discuss opportunities to work together on natalie.deacon@patient opinion.org.uk or call on 0141 416 8208. Patient Opinion proved to be a very quick and effective way to get my message across to those who needed to hear it - far quicker and less complicated than the NHS complaints system. “The beauty of Patient Opinion is that people don’t use their real names to post their stories ” says the website’s Scotland director Gina Alexander. “It is well known that some people may feel vulnerable and may be reluctant to make suggestions for improvement in case it is seen as criticism. But it is essential that ideas for making things better are shared, for the benefit of all.”
FOCUS ON: VOLUNTEERING
LAUNCH OF NEW VOLUNTEERING APP
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irst ScotRail and Volunteer Scotland, the national body for volunteering in Scotland, have teamed up to produce a new app to make it easy to find a volunteering opportunity while on the move. ‘Reach Out’ is available now to download for free in app stores. ScotRail realised that they could encourage more of their customers to think about volunteering and that they could support this activity through their digital and social media capacity in partnership with Volunteer Scotland who provide local and national volunteering opportunities on their website (www.volunteerscotland.org.uk). The Volunteer Scotland website has a powerful search function that allows people to search thousands of volunteering opportunities. The mobile app will use the same volunteering opportunities, allowing rail passengers to search on the move. While the Volunteer Scotland website can already be viewed on mobile phones and tablets, the new app will provide another way of attracting people to volunteering opportunities and it will also signpost
users to support in their local area. Users are able to enter a keyword and postcode to search for an opportunity and then view a list of opportunities. They will also be able to look at the detail of a particular opportunity that is of interest to them and send an email to register an interest in relation to it. George Thomson, Chief Executive of Volunteer Scotland said: “We are delighted to partner with First ScotRail on the development of this innovative app. The ‘Reach Out’ app will indeed reach out to people who may be interested in but not know how to go about offering their time. “ “Volunteering offers fantastic health and well being benefits to those who volunteer and we want to enable everyone to enjoy the experience that volunteering provides.” ‘Reach Out’ hits the mark in recognising the importance and benefits of volunteering and ties in with an important year for volunteering in Scotland. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 9
FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE
SEE HEAR A strategic framework for meeting the needs of people with a sensory impairment in Scotland
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dults and children with a sensory impairment should expect seamless provision of assessment, care and support and the same access to employment, education, leisure, healthcare and social care as everyone else. With this in mind, the Scottish Government has worked with partners representing local authorities, health boards and the third sector to develop a Scottish Sensory Impairment Strategy: See Hear – A Strategic Framework for Meeting the Needs of People with a Sensory Impairment in Scotland. For the purposes of this Strategy, sensory impairment includes varying degrees of hearing loss, sight loss and loss of both senses. It also covers people at risk of sensory loss and those who may be living with hidden and untreated loss which may be present in people with learning disabilities or conditions such as dementia or stroke. See Hear is a Strategy for both children and adults. It recognises the rising incidence of those illnesses and disabilities that increase with age and acknowledges the work for children with sensory loss taking place through policies such as Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC), the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament and the Scottish Government’s response to the Doran Review, all of which will have a positive impact on the lives of children and young people with sensory loss. It is set against a background of increasing demand, the requirement for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and Health and Social Care Integration. 10 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
See Hear takes a practical approach and sets out a model care pathway and seven recommendations which should ensure that individuals and service providers have a clear understanding and expectation of what services are available and will be delivered, and a clear understanding of the support that should be available following diagnosis of sensory loss. The pathway and recommendations provide service deliverers, whether in the statutory or third sector, a framework for structured, co-ordinated, person-centred service delivery and support. The Strategy will be implemented via local partnerships, including statutory and third sector partners, which will identify local priorities and approaches. To help the establishment of these local partnerships and the subsequent implementation, the Government has committed £1m in 2013/14 and £1m in 2014/15. Launching the strategy, Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said, “I would like to thank all those who contributed to the development of this Strategy and responded to the consultation exercise. See Hear presents an opportunity to make a significant difference for people with vision, hearing and dual sensory loss in Scotland. I know that all parties involved will be keen to engage in the partnership work required to make the opportunity a reality.” To find out more about the local partnership in West Dunbartonshire contact Selina Ross on 0141 941 0886. For areas outwith West Dunbartonshire, contact your local Third Sector Interface for more information.
Take on a young person and you’ll be amazed what you get in return. There’s lots of help for businesses in Scotland to attract, recruit, train and pay young people. From arranging quality short term work placements to creating full time jobs, there’s a package to help your business. Support for employers comes from Scottish Government, all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities, and a range of public sector agencies.
What young people bring to your business FRESH PERSPECTIVE ENTHUSIASM EASY TO MOULD INTO CULTURE DIRECT CONNECTION TO YOUTHFUL CUSTOMER BASE
Here we set out the direct benefits to you as an employer of taking on a young person:
PART OF TALENT PIPELINE
NEW IDEAS WILLINGNESS TO LEARN FLEXIBLE COST-EFFECTIVE TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN AND SUCCESSION STRATEGY
FOUR OPTIONS TO FIT EVERY BUSINESS REQUIREMENT INTERNSHIP AND PLACEMENTS WORK EXPERIENCE
Internship and placements for college and university graduates can last from a few months up to a year and they’re ideally suited to help your business with a specific project or specialism. Support includes a free recruitment service and professional development training for the graduate from ScotGrad which can be enhanced with financial support from Scottish Enterprise or Highland and Islands Enterprise. Scottish Government’s Adopt an Intern initiative also facilitates paid internships with financial subsidies.
Offering a work experience place can mean as little as a few days commitment from you with no financial cost. They can serve as an informal trial period, meaning that any decision to commit to a permanent position will be an informed one. Examples include the Certificate of Work Readiness, an employer assessed qualification. Vijay is very enthusiastic and he has helped us speed up some of our processes which has been very welcome Jacqueline Molloy, Scotia Wealth Management
Food and Drink Hub
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MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS Modern apprenticeships are available across many sectors and job types, not just trades. They include training tailored to your business with participants working towards vocational qualifications. If you take on a Modern Apprentice you can get help with training costs and this can be combined with the financial support available for recruitment. Kirsty is one of the first four apprentices we took on and its worked really well and I would say it certainly increases our profitability. We’ll continue with the programme for as long as it’s offered. Stuart Richie, OPG Ltd
Find out what’s available in your local area at
ourskillsforce.co.uk/youth or by calling Skills Development Scotland on
0800 783 6000
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Graduates bring fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and experience. We find that graduates are extremely capable and are often able to rapidly progress their careers. Paul Anderson,
ASK US ABOUT THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT Your local authority can help you meet the costs of paying for a young person for at least the first 6 months when you offer a sustainable job. You can combine the funding with other financial support, for example the training costs of a Modern Apprenticeship.
Samuel is very sociable, great to work with and impressed right from day one. Alex Glass, Glasgow Housing Association
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
Write your way to Mental Health Recovery
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rite to Recovery is a new website designed by the Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) to empower people affected by mental health problems. It was recently launched at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, by renowned ‘indie’ fiction author Linda Gillard. Write to Recovery helps people create and take control of their own personal stories. It responds to a growing body of evidence of the important role that writing, sharing, listening to and learning from others plays in terms of recovery, wellbeing, resilience, identity and meaning. Why use Write to Recovery? Creating your story puts you at the centre of it – in other words, you become the hero. You don’t have to be defined by the terms and phrases you hear as a result of mental health problems and can take a much wider view. When you write your story, you can begin to look back on your experiences over time and to reflect on your journey of recovery, with all its ups and downs. Creating your story can also help you see some of the things that might help with your recovery – and some of the things that might hinder it. 12 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, said: “The Scottish Recovery Network should be praised for creating the Write to Recovery story-sharing website. It will give valuable support to people with mental health issues on their journey to recovery. “It’s important to remember that although a quarter the Scottish population will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives, recovery is not only possible but likely. This website will aid that recovery by helping people to realise they are not alone” There have already been lots of submissions to Write to Recovery and over time SRN believe it will develop into an extensive online resource where people can learn about recovery through reading personal experiences. You don’t have to register to read stories – visit the website and take a look today! How does Write to Recovery work? The website has been designed to let budding authors get started straight away – once you’ve registered and logged in, it couldn’t be easier to simply start writing. You will have your own account which allows you
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY to choose whether to use your real name or remain anonymous. If you would rather write your story and save it without publishing, that’s fine too.
FUNDING NEWS:
AWARDS FOR ALL RE-OPENS
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he Awards for All Scotland programme has re-opened to applications. Awards for All Scotland paused to new applications from 9 May until 4 August to concentrate on assessing and administering grants related to building a legacy from the Commonwealth Games. Changes to the programme include. •
A renewed focus on funding smaller organisations with an annual turnover of less than £250k. Schools will be unaffected by this change.
Quick Burst Short of time? Take two minutes to quickly write down your thoughts and feelings about something that’s important to your or bothering you. Research shows that even two minutes of writing on two consecutive days can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing.
•
Priority for organisations that have not received funding from Awards for All Scotland in the previous three years.
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Priority for projects where beneficiaries are mainly BME, disabled, LGBT, older or carers.
Surviving, Thriving and Recovery We all encounter failures and disappointment, suffering and pain in life. So what skills, strengths and abilities have you used to overcome life’s challenges so far? This theme can help you discover your own powers of recovery – some you didn’t event know you had.
•
The core aims of Awards for All Scotland and the activities it can support remain broadly the same.
Write to Recovery also provides a range of themes and prompts for anyone stuck for inspiration. For example:
The Scottish Recovery Network and Narrative Research The launch of the website also celebrates SRN’s 10 year anniversary. It builds on a successful history of using narrative research - learning from people’s personal experiences - to increase knowledge and understanding of mental health recovery. Simon Bradstreet, SRN Director, commented: ‘When SRN was launched ten years ago we were confident that the best way to raise awareness of the reality of recovery from mental health problems was to find ways to share and learn from personal experiences. That confidence has proved well founded and Write to Recovery offers an important new tool as we continue to push for a Scotland where mental health recovery can be a reality for all.’ For more information about SRN visit www. scottishrecovery.net or follow @SRN_Tweet. Visit Write to Recovery at www.writetorecovery.net
The application process has been streamlined by reducing the amount of information required and incorporating the guidance notes into the form so it will take less time for an organisation to complete the application. The programme will also now be operated as a partnership by sportscotland and Big Lottery Fund. Creative Scotland will not be a partner in this financial year. Awards for All Scotland continues to be a priority for Big Lottery Fund Scotland. Last year Big Lottery committed £8.9 million to this fund and expect to commit £9 million during the 2014/2015 financial year. The new version of the Awards for All Scotland application form, including the guidance, can be downloaded from their website at
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
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new scheme to recognise employers who give extra help and support to carers in their workforce has been launched.
The Carers’ Kitemark is one of the Scottish Government’s key policies to help Scotland’s estimated 660,000 carers. Under the scheme, employers will be able to sign up to demonstrate their commitment to supporting employees who provide care and support for elderly or disabled relatives. Michael Matheson, Minister for Public Health, launching the Carers’ Kitemark, developed in conjunction with Carers Scotland, said: “There’s no doubting the benefits that carers deliver and they deserve as much support as possible for the amazing job they do. Carers make up a significant proportion of Scotland’s working population, meaning there’s a strong business case for developing carerfriendly policies. If you look after the carers in your workforce you’ll have better staff retention, better morale and higher productivity. I’d urge all employers, big and small, to consider signing up to the Carers’ Kitemark. This Government has invested nearly £114 million in supporting carers and their families since 2007. We have introduced the Self-directed Support Act, invested heavily in the Short Breaks Fund, and consulted on proposed new legislation to further support carers and young carers.” The Kitemark launched as “Carer Positive” will allow recognised employers to be known as a Carer Positive 14 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Employer in Scotland. There are some simple steps employers can take to help carers, including offering flexible hours, or access to a private phone line. The Kitemark aims to raise awareness of the growing number of working carers and gives recognition to employers who support carers in their workforce. It also aims to highlight the strong benefits to employers of supporting attracting and maintaining carers in the workplace. It is estimated that there are around 250,000 working carers in Scotland – approximately 1/7 of the workforce. Some of the benefits of carer-friendly policies include retaining experienced workers, reducing staff absences and better morale. Simon Hodgson, Director of Carers Scotland, said: “Carers Scotland is acutely aware of the challenges many people face juggling work with their caring responsibilities. We are confident that raising awareness through the Carer Positive employers’ Kitemark will both provide vital support to working carers and help employers retain their skilled and experienced staff.” A number of organisations, across all sectors, have joined the scheme as early adopters, including West Dunbartonshire CVS.
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
“From previous volunteering experience I know of the invaluable skills that can be gained that all go towards increasing employability.’
15,000 volunteers descended on Glasgow to be a play a massive part of the success of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. On the contriubition of the volunteers, Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: “Of course, the real heroes of the Games were those who gave up their holidays or took time off work so that they could volunteer to make the Games a success. What really struck me from meeting the clyde-siders and Host City Volunteers was their unstoppable enthusiasm. Through hard work, grit and good humour, we have proven that when we are handed such a great responsibility, Scotland delivers and delivers in style.” Focus Scotland had the opportunity to talk to some of the volunteers involved.
MARIANNE MURPHY ROLE: PRESS TRIBUNE TEAM LEADER Press Tribune Team Leader was my role at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. I was allocated to work at the Weightlifting at first I was pretty apprehensive
having no previous interest in the sport. That soon changed as I learned about the tactics and logic behind weightlifting becoming pretty fascinated with the sport. The press tribune is the area allocated to journalists to watch the competition and where they can write their articles from. Basically my role was to ensure the journalists had all the information they needed (ie competition lists and previous results) and that only people accredited to be in the tribune where there. I was lucky to be given this position as it’s known that the press tribune is the best seats in the house to watch the competition. The commonwealth games coming to your home city is a once in a lifetime opportunity and not something I wanted to miss out on being a part of. From previous volunteer experience I know of the invaluable skills that can be gained that all go towards increasing employability however the best thing about volunteering was the variety of people you meet and the friendships that are made. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 17
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“I can honestly say that I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people.”
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
BRODIE PRYKE ROLE: VEHICLE TEAM MEMBER Can you tell us a little about yourself and your usual work/volunteering activity? My name is Brodie Pryke. I am a 63 year old retired Ministry of Defence police officer and now a committed volunteer. I currently volunteer as a Supervisory Committee member with Dumbarton Credit Union and as a Volunteer Assistant with WDCVS. I have also recently completed a period of 3 months as a clyde-sider during the XX Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014. What made you want to get involved? Even before I had retired I had set my mind on getting involved in the voluntary sector and quickly got in contact with WDCVS. However, when the once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved as a volunteer in the greatest sporting event ever to be hosted in Glasgow presented itself, there was nothing which could have prevented me from applying. Can you tell us the title of your role in the Games? My role during the Games was as a Vehicle Team Member based at the Fleet Depot on South Street in Scotstoun. What processes did you go through to become a clyde-sider? I applied to be a clyde-sider early in 2013 and was fortunate to be one of 25,000 people, from a total of 50,000 applications, selected for the second stage of the process. I attended an interview in August 2013 and in October I received an email saying that my application had been successful and that I was one of 15,000 people to be offered a position as a clyde-sider. This was quickly followed by a telephone call one evening from Commonwealth House asking if I was interested in starting my clyde-sider experience in April 2014, well before the majority of volunteers would be starting. I had no hesitation in agreeing to this request and so my amazing journey began. What have you been doing during the games? I, along with around 50 other long term volunteers, known as LTVs started a period of 4 weeks training at the Fleet Depot on 2nd April 2014. During this time 25 of us, including LTVs and Glasgow 2014 staff, received 2 days Train the Trainer sessions on 7 different Ford vehicles. We then trained the other LTVs so that we could all be involved in training the volunteer drivers.
During our training period we also undertook route testing and timing around all the Games venues and became very familiar with the Games Route Network (GRN), as well as collecting the 556 assorted vehicles, from the Commissioning Depot in Linwood, which would be based at the Fleet Depot. During May and June every volunteer driver received 2 days training which included vehicle and satellite navigation familiarisation and route training. During those 2 months our team delivered training to 1800 drivers. The Fleet Depot went live on 8th July and started to provide services to clients, including athletes and officials, arriving in the city. Since then I have been employed allocating vehicles to drivers as well as dispatching vehicles safely from the car park. One of my most memorable tasks was driving a Fleet car, which was used as the Queen’s stand in car, onto the field of play at Celtic Park during the full dress rehearsal on Monday 21st July and in front of 30,000 volunteers, G2014 staff and their families. It was an experience I will never forget. In total I have completed around 65 shifts and nearly 600 hours of volunteering during the Games. How do you think you have contributed to making the games a success? The Transport Team is one of the most important functional areas of the Commonwealth Games and I am proud to have been able to help in the transportation of VIPs, Celebrities, Technical Officials, the media, Team Officials and, in some cases athletes, between the various venues, transport hubs and accommodation. What do you think you have gained from being involved? As far as what I think I have gained from being involved is concerned I can honestly say that I have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful people, have made many friends including some from as far afield as Germany, France, Greece, Australia and New Zealand, and have had some wonderful experiences during my time at the Fleet Depot. The “Friendly Games” certainly lived up to their reputation and Glasgow can be proud of its people and the extended Games Family. Would you do it again? Definitely. I’ll be looking out for any other similar opportunities and have already looked into the possibility of visiting Australia for the XX1 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 !!
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FOCUS ON: SOCIETY From my own perspective, it has taught me a lot about how to motivate people. The teams I had were superb and the coordinators I had were brilliant - that helped a lot because I do like doing it my way! Most of all it what was really special were the friends that I made and I will never forget the hundreds of memories the experience has given me. Yes Glasgow did us proud... but the people from West Dunbartonshire helped a lot along the way.
JACKIE MACEIRA ROLE: SPECTATOR SUPPORT SERVICES TEAM LEADER I volunteer with a number of organisations in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland. Currently I am the Convenor with the Scottish Disability Equality Forum, the umbrella organisation for Access Panels all across Scotland but I also volunteer for Capability Scotland and Stroke Association. Additionally, I also serve as the Vice Chair of the Independent Living Movement in Scotland, and locally I am an active member of West Dunbartonshire Access Panel. In the last few years, I have helped to develop Clyde Shopmobility and serve as a Director and a member of Clydebank Forum On Disability. Recently I have been involved in helping establish a new coalition of disability groups in West Dunbartonshire. I have been a volunteer with the Commonwealth Games for the past three years actually, being an adviser on the Accessibility Group and then a team leader for Spectator Support Services at the Games themselves. My role at the Games as team leader meant that I was in charge of a group of volunteers involved in the opening ceremony at Parkhead, the rugby sevens at Ibrox, and the athletics and closing ceremony at Hampden Park. Why did I get involved? Well, in the past I have been on the other side as a competitor and I wanted to see what like it would be as a Clydesider so I put myself forward to become one really not expecting to be picked out of 50,000 others! To be picked as a team leader was incredible and the experience was just amazing. Like everyone else I applied on-line, was interviewed and then attended various training sessions to get me ready for the Games – leadership, Venue specific and spectator support training. During the Games I was volunteering between 10 to 12 hour shifts but everyday went in so quickly - I dont like to think how many miles I covered a day in my wheelchair! My role covered ticketing, welcoming, monitoring, and singing and dancing with the supporters at every opportunity. It was just amazing. 20 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
CRAIG SULLIVAN ROLE: BATON BEARER I wanted to be involved with the Commonwealth Games as I currently contribute to my community by volunteering in a number of local projects including the clean up of the Clydebank Canal, Oxfam Glasgow Group, West Dunbartonshire Fairtrade Group and the Oxfam book shop. Through my volunteering work I was selected to represent West Dunbartonshire at the carrying of the Baton by running through Dumbarton Town Centre with the Baton. 
 It was fantastic to be a part of the Commonwealth Games and by becoming a Baton Bearer I gained once in a lifetime opportunity to a carry the Baton in my hand.
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MAURICE DONOHUE ROLE: BATON BEARER Until February 2014, I previously worked as a Sports Development Officer for West Dunbartonshire Sport Development Leisure Trust and currently I am employed with the Charity SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) as the Get Active National Programmes Manager for Scotland. Get Active is SAMH’s programme to improve Scotland’s mental health through participation in, and engagement with, physical activity and sport. There is a lot of evidence that participation in regular physical activity (including sport, exercise and active living) is good for you in many ways. It can promote good mental health, prevent mental ill health and improve the quality of life of people who experience mental health problems. Key partnerships have been formed with SAMH such as Paths for All, jogscotland and Scottish Athletics to support the Get Active message by Walking, Jogging and Running
Here in West Dunbartonshire, I organise a free weekly community 5k Walk, Jog or run event in the grounds of the National Park in Balloch. Saturday morning – 9.30am. The weekly event started in 2012 in order to try and give a platform for people to engage in Greenspace landscape, encourage social interaction, activity/ exercise for all the family and improve physical and mental health wellbeing as well as a bit of fun. I also volunteer as a coach and committee member of West Dunbartonshire Athletics Club, where again we try to encourage children and adults to be active through jogging and running. Finally, in my spare time I took up a challenge to run 50 Half Marathons last year, which has now been extended to 100 Half Marathons in 100 Weeks in support of raising awareness and fundraising for SAMH. I started back on the 6th of January 2013 and hope to complete the challenge on the 30th of November 2014. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 21
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S
ilver Sunday, on 5th October 2014, is an annual day of free activities and events for older people across the UK. It aims to celebrate the value and knowledge they contribute to our communities and to combat the loneliness which affects many older people. A recent survey announced that 2/5 of older people regard their TV as their main form of company and Silver Sunday’s goal is to reach out to these isolated members of the community. The organisers of Silver Sunday invite you to take part by organising and hosting an event for older people. It can be anything you want as long as it’s for older people and it’s free! 2013 saw many events in support of this cause right across the UK; from a matinee at The Royal Albert Hall to chair zumba and they are looking to significantly expand this year when Silver Sunday returns on 5th October 2014. Anything you could do to bring people together on the Sunday would help to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people in your community. How to get involved:
Decide on an event:
Dance lessons, museum tour, or a coffee morning – your Silver Sunday event can be anything, anywhere, just so long as it brings older residents together. So get creative! Previous events have ranged from tea dances, to computer lessons, to dance classes. Or just invite 22 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
neighbours round for a cup of tea and cake – anything to celebrate and involve older people!
Find a venue:
The world is your oyster! But if you’re struggling to find an appropriate location try contacting your local community centre, library or council.
Submit your event:
Large or small, near or far, Silver Sunday wants to hear about your plans. Submit your event and it will be promoted on the website.
Get the word out:
Whether it’s putting up posters, contacting your local council, promoting it online, or good old fashioned word of mouth, spreading the message will help make your Silver Sunday a success. The Silver Sunday team will also offer support through promotional materials and liaising with local media to help promote your event. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate older people and to get involved in the community! If you would like to discuss ideas or register your interest in holding an event then please contact the Silver Sunday team on 0207 6415294 or by email at info@silversunday.org.uk. To find out more about Silver Sunday, visit the website at http://www.silversunday.org.uk.
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FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE
BEFRIENDING WEEK
B
efriending Week is an opportunity for befriending services across the country to celebrate and promote their work.
Some choose to hold an event during the week to promote their service locally, some will have a fun day for all those involved in their service, or a celebration to thank their volunteers. Some services will run a fundraising event, be interviewed on local radio, or have a volunteer recruitment drive. Befriending services work by matching trained and supported volunteers with people from a wide range of service user groups, from people with disabilities, to those with long term health conditions, those recovering from drug or alcohol misuse, or people with mental health issues. An increasing proportion work to support very elderly members of the community, including those with dementia. 24 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
The primary aim of befriending is to enhance the quality of the life of the ‘befriendee’ by offering them the opportunity to form a trusting relationship and minimise isolation. Most befriending services use the model of one paid employee who recruits, trains, matches, deploys and supports a range of volunteer befrienders who provide one to one support for their ‘befriendee’. However, other models do exist: peer befriending services, where people with the same condition are matched up for support which might be mutual, group befriending services, distance befriending which is telephone or internet –based, and intergenerational
FOCUS ON: FRONTLINE projects which aim to provide support for older people by harnessing the enthusiasm and energy of young people. ‘We walked in my garden. I have not done that for a long time’
She said, “It was the best move I have ever made. I was introduced to Elsie in October 2009. We go out every week – to local cafes or the shopping centres and have lunch, a good natter and a laugh.”
Befriending projects frequently match volunteers with people who have no other social contact. For many, their befriender is the only person they ever see who is not paid to see them, as their opportunities for community participation are so limited. We believe that befriending represents a key strand in a range of vital support services for people marginalised by such issues as old age, disability, or longstanding health condition. It can prevent unnecessary GP referrals, hospitalisation or calls to out of hours social work services. For children and young people struggling with difficult domestic circumstances, a visit from their befriender can provide respite from a stressful home situation, and an opportunity to have a relationship with someone who is there ‘just for them’, who may well be the only person in their life outside their family who spends quality time with them. There are hundreds of befriending services across the UK supporting thousands of beneficiaries with the help of an army of volunteer befrienders, who offer their time for a huge variety of reasons. ‘I like being part of a service that looks after people in the community and allows me to give something back. I have gained an amazing insight into mental health services, and a good friend! Befriending exceeded all my expectations’ Befriending services who are members of Befriending Networks can be found at www.befriending.co.uk West Dunbartonshire Community & Volunteering Services (WDCVS) offer a befriending scheme for elderly in the community. Some elderly residents can become isolated because of ill health, disability or social disadvantage, being matched with a befriender often fills a gap in their lives – and the results are often significant. Mary Jamieson has been befriending Elsie Haig for the last five years and says both have benefitted from being involved in the befriending scheme.
“We were really well matched as we share a lot of similar interests like the same television programmes, reading and talking.” “I would like to think that I have made a difference and hope Elsie gets as much pleasure from me as I get from her. I would recommend befriending, as it is very rewarding. I thoroughly enjoy my time spent with Elsie.” Elsie added: “I feel very lucky to have Mary as my befriender and I hope it will continue for many years to come.” If you would be interested in sparing a few hours a week to befriend within West Dunbartonshire please contact Frank Gow at WDCVS on 0141 941 0886 or email volunteering@wdcvs.com For information on befriending in other areas please visit www.befriending.co.uk FOCUS SCOTLAND | 25
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ORGANIC SEPTEMBER
BIGDIFFERENCE
SMALL CHANGES
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oil Association urges UK public to make a small change with 2014’s Organic September campaign – Small Changes, Big Difference.
The UK’s biggest celebration of all things organic takes place in a year according to the Soil Association’s Organic Market Report saw the organic market return to growth. Building on the success of the 2013 campaign, which saw a sales increase by 9% last September (Nielsen), this year’s theme is once again Small Changes, Big Difference. Consumers are encouraged to make one small change to their shopping habits in order to make a big difference to sustainable food, animal welfare or the environment. Some of the small changes people can make include switching to organic milk, eggs, apples, choosing an organic moisturiser or even buying an organic cotton t-shirt. For example, if 20 families switched to organic milk, another cow will be free to range on clover rich organic pastures. By telling the Soil Association what organic product 26 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
they’ve bought this September, consumers could also be in with the chance of winning a year’s free supply of electricity from Good Energy, a 100% renewable electricity company, who are supporting this year’s campaign. Switching energy suppliers to Good Energy, who use power from British sunshine, wind and rain, is just another green and simple way to make a small change that will make a big difference. Juliet Davenport, CEO and founder of Good Energy said: “Organic September is a great idea from the Soil Association, and its theme of ‘small changes making a big difference’ makes a perfect match for our own goals. “We think we can all help make a difference – just think what could happen if everyone switched to a 100% renewable electricity supplier like Good Energy and everyone went 100% organic – what a great world we’d live in!” Throughout September members of the public will also be asked to vote for their favourite organic products in
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY the 2014 Organic Awards. This year’s awards have seen the categories extended from food and drink to cover all things organic – from eating out and holidays, to skincare and clothing. For more details about the awards and how to vote, visit www.soilassociation.org.uk/organicawards. Independent, online and national retailers will be promoting organic, offering discounts and holding events. The Soil Association is also hosting key events throughout September. A key part of the activity is Organic Beauty Week, taking place from 8-14 September, celebrating organic health and beauty products with a series of regional events with major retailers, as well as providing a number of discount vouchers. Neal’s Yard Remedies, Pai, Odylique and Spiezia are among the organic brands taking part. In addition, Organic Fashion & Textiles Week – taking place from 12-16 September, to coincide with London Fashion Week – will also be a focal point for organic textiles and fashion brands and retailers, with ethical clothing company People Tree planning a series of activities and events as well as many others from across the sector. Helen Browning, Soil Association chief executive said: “If everyone makes a small change like switching to organic milk or choosing an organic moisturiser we can make big strides towards a healthier world. By choosing organic, you help protect wildlife and make sure we have more bees and pollinators to support biodiversity, while choosing an organic beauty product or an organic t-shirt will not only give you peace of mind that what you’re putting on your skin is better for you but also that it’s caring for the people in developing countries, who are producing cotton and herbs. “It might not seem like these simple changes could make that much difference – but together, everyone’s small changes can add up to a really big difference for a kinder, green and better food and farming system.” There will be offers, competitions and other activities for consumers to get involved in, as well as listings for the wide variety of activities being undertaken by organic companies and brands across the country. For more information and the latest update, visit www. soilassociation.org/smallchanges The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by farmers, scientists, doctors and nutritionists to promote the connection between the health of the soil, food, animals, people and the environment. Today the Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use.
How do I know it’s organic? Organic is a term defined by law. Any food products labelled as organic must meet a strict set of standards that define what farmers and food manufacturers can and cannot do in the production of organic food. Organic product sold in the UK must by law display a certification symbol or number. All farms wanting to produce organic food have to be certified by one of the registered organic certification bodies, and must go through a two-year conversion period before obtaining organic status. It is the certifiers’ responsibility to check that organic standards are being met. In the UK there are several different certification bodies. The Soil Association’s Certification, is one of these – any organic product bearing the symbol has been certified by Soil Association. The certification body must make at least one inspection a year of every organic farm that it certifies. They must also carry out a number of spot inspections. These inspections involve checking the crops plants and livestock animals, as well as paper work and records. Unlike many other food assurance schemes, the combination of legally defined standards and regular thirdparty inspections, mean that when you buy an organic product you can be confident that the claims made on the label about how the food has been produced can be believed. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 27
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
CYCLE TO WORK DAY! Thursday 4th September
C
ycle to Work Day is a national event, championed by multi gold medal winning Paralympic cyclist, Dame Sarah Storey, which aims to encourage everyone to take to two wheels and cycle to work for just one day on Thursday 4th September 2014.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM CYCLE TO WORK DAY 2013: •
6,821.17kg of CO2 were offset
•
12,071,397 calories were burnt
Along with Dame Sarah Storey, scores of UK employers will be putting on events and offering free ‘coffee and croissants’ to their colleagues in a bid to stage Britain’s ‘Biggest Bike Breakfast’ plus hundreds of independent bike shops will once again be offering free bike ‘health checks’ for those wanting to take part. With more activities happening all across the country, Cycle to Work Day 2014 is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
•
Nearly 300 bike shops offered Free Bike Health Checks
Last years event saw a Herculean effort from the 20,000 commuters who hit the streets and cycled over a quarter of a million miles on Cycle to Work Day. This year event organisers Cyclescheme want to double the number of budding commuters saddling up and achieve (at least) half a million miles pledged!
It also helps us pave the way to achieve our long-term goal of getting 1-million commuting cyclists by the next census in 2021. It’s an exciting day for all of us to get involved with.”
28 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
Daniel Gillborn, Director at Cyclescheme commented: “Cycle to Work Day is our way of getting everyone together to celebrate cycle commuting. From our clients and their employees, through to the independent retailers we partner with, the day is a fantastic opportunity for people to give cycling a go.
So be sure to put the date in your diary and get
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY thinking about what you can do to whip up a cycling buzz in your workplace!”
HOW CYCLE SCHEME WORKS
Employers large and small are showing how important cycling is to them by organising a whole host of events and activities to celebrate the day. Everything from taking part in Britain’s Biggest Bike Breakfast - offering their colleagues a coffee and croissant for cycling to work - to arranging led rides, Dr. Bike sessions and competitions for staff to win cycling prizes. Amey one of the UK’s leading public and regulated services providers is supporting Cycle to Work Day by encouraging staff nationwide to take ‘selfies’ with a message of why they are taking part. The company has also recently launched its annual cycle to work scheme where employees can purchase a bike tax free.
Cyclescheme.co.uk offers between 25 - 42% off through tax breaks on a range of bikes, gear, clothing and accessories from over 2000 independent stores. With Cyclescheme you pay nothing upfront and the costs are deducted from your salary over a year so you won’t even notice the payments. Visit www.cyclescheme.co.uk or ask your employer for details. Gary Carvell group HSEQ director at Amey explains the reasons for getting behind the campaign: “The health and wellbeing of our employees is extremely important to us. We have a strong cycling community at Amey and supporting Cycle to Work Day is a great way to further raise awareness of cycling, the associated benefits and encourage more people to take part. “Cycling to work is not only a healthier option and helps maintain fitness, but helps to contribute to the reduction of our carbon footprint.” According the census data, 760,000 people in the UK cycle to work regularly - this number keeps growing steadily, but with Cycle to Work Day’s help they are aiming to make those numbers skyrocket this year and beyond!
CYCLESCHEME SURVEY FROM 2013 THE BENEFITS OF CYCLING TO WORK: •
The average cyclist saves £285 a month on travel, while with Cyclescheme you save between 25 - 42% on equipment
•
69% of cyclists say they have become healthier, 51% lost weight and 54% said their mental wellbeing improved
•
99% of cyclists would recommend it to others
•
Half of 45% of members went from ‘novice or occasional’ to ‘enthusiastic’ cyclists after joining
•
There’s nothing wrong with fair-weather - the majority of cyclists only commute three times a week FOCUS SCOTLAND | 29
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I
n a crisis it is vital that First Aid is delivered with confidence. Scottish First Aid Week is about encouraging people throughout Scotland to learn First Aid skills which could help in an emergency and even save a life. Lat year First Aid was neatly summed up by the Scottish First Aid Week super hero theme, stressing that ordinary people can find themselves heroes by understanding basic First Aid which practically everyone can learn. No one should die because they needed First Aid and didn’t get it. It is surprising just how often knowing even the most basic First Aid can make a difference to a difficult situation. Inevitably it is the public who are first at the scene of an accident and those vital few minutes could make all the difference before the emergency services arrive. Every year around 34,000 Scots are admitted to hospital as a result of burns, falls and choking, but many common accidents cannot wait for the emergency services. 77% of people lack the knowledge and confidence to administer basic first aid and dial 999 instead but it takes just four minutes for choking to prove fatal without appropriate action and the target response time for an ambulance is eight minutes. The message is clear - learn some First Aid and together we can save lives www.firstaid.org.uk/hero. 30 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
In the build up to Scottish First Aid Week 2014 St Andrews First Aid are focusing on a Scottish wide mass-engagement campaign called First Aid Count Me In. The campaign targets the public, voluntary and private sectors and is aimed at encouraging Scots to think about First Aid and whenever possible learn the basics. The campaign aims to build awareness of the fact that First Aid saves lives and the need of individuals and business to gain basic First Aid skills that could save a life. To show your support you can take part in a range of activities - from signing the simple online pledge form, to reading through First Aid information or organising First Aid training in your local area. You can even become a First Aid champion by volunteering with St Andrew’s First Aid in your local community www.firstaid.org.uk/volunteering
111, the NEW free number for NHS 24
If it can’t wait until your GP surgery reopens www.nhs24.com
FOCUS ON: SOCIETY
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he Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (SMHAFF), now one of the largest social justice festivals in the world, is held all over Scotland in October with the aim of supporting local arts and challenging preconceived ideas about mental health. Each year a vibrant network of artists, activists and volunteers pull together a diverse collection of art, literature, music, film, theatre and dance to challenge stigma surrounding mental ill health and offer those people with lived experience of it a chance to be heard. Now in its eighth year, the festival is recognised as one of Scotland’s most striking and provocative cultural events with over 300 performances and workshops taking place from the 1-19th October. This year’s theme is ‘power’ and the dynamic programme of arts and film will explore the nature of personal, political and social power as well as the disempowerment associated with mental ill health and the empowerment of the arts. Festival Chair Isabella Goldie said: ‘Having the power to determine our destiny is absolutely vital for our mental health. Sadly, power is not equally shared; stigma and discrimination mean that the reality for many people with mental health problems is one of exclusion and unfair treatment. People adopt creative means to explore the complexities of these issues, from personal expressions of power through visual arts and film, to songs of protest and political theatre. We need to consider what power means to us and our mental health and to ask what we can do to ensure people 32 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
who experience mental health problems are valued and have a voice.’ Led by the Mental Health Foundation, The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival was founded upon the belief that art, film, theatre and music have the power to raise awareness of social injustice and to stimulate change. Since its inception in 2007 individuals and organisations across Scotland, and all over the world, have lined up behind this core conviction. Now a collective of mental health professionals, artists, activists, charities, arts venues, researchers, policy makers, and the media, it is the collaborative nature of the festival that instils it with the power to challenge stigma, and is what makes it as diverse, entertaining and thought-provoking as it is today. The festival will kick off on the 1st of October with ‘Moving Minds’. SMHAFF, in collaboration with Voices of Experience (VoX), will be taking over Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum for a day-long celebration of diversity and well-being featuring live drumming, Maryhill Community Network Fashion Show and Freedom Choir, Malawian music, short film screenings from the winners of last Year’s International Film Awards, workshops and a few extra surprises. What will follow will be two and a half weeks that reflect, question, challenge and up-lift. For more information visit the website and download the brochure at: www. mhfestival.com. Alternatively find them on Twitter or Facebook: @SMAFF #smhaff2014
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MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS: Withered Hand Paisley Arts Centre. Withered Hand presents his long-awaited new album ‘New Gods’ with support from Fruit Tree Foundation graduate Marie Collins. Machines In Heaven & Atom Tree, The Art School, Glasgow. A night of music from electro/ shoegaze crossover outfit Machines In Heaven and electronica act Atom Tree in a dedicated SMHAFF show. Deux Furieuses Bar Bloc, Glasgow. The TYCI collective invites female guitar ‘n’ drums duo Deux Furieuses to Glasgow in a dedicated SMHAFF show. Olive Grove Records Showcase. Independent Scottish DIY label, Olive Grove Records, brings music from glacial pop outfit, Call to Mind, and Adam Ross, lead singer of Glasgow-based melody merchants Randolph’s Leap. © Corinne Van Egeraat and Peter Lom
© Victor Franowski
THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS: Status Anxiety & Thinking in the First Person, Emma Jayne Park. Touring all over Scotland it is a visceral hip hop theatre performance exploring how we become when hidden behind a computer screen. Tomorrow, Vanishing Point The Tramway, Glasgow. A thought-provoking piece on growing old and living with dementia described as ‘brutally beautiful and makes you shiver’ by the Guardian. The Assessment, The Vacuum Cleaner The Arches, Glasgow. A piece of theatre which challenges the mental health assessment process in a humorous, thoughtprovoking way.
LITERATURE HIGHLIGHTS: FILM HIGHLIGHTS: Beneath the Blindfold - UK Premiere, Kathy Berger, Ines Sommer, USA, 2012. A ground breaking documentary on overcoming the effects of torture. Ana Ana - UK Premiere, Corinne van Egeraat, Petr Lom, Netherlands, 2013. The story of four young Egyptian women struggling to make sense of their post-Arab Spring world through filmmaking. Alive Inside - UK Premiere Michael Rossato-Bennett, USA, 2014. An exploration of the power of music to reach out to people with Alzheimer’s.
Voices of War Edinburgh Castle. An evening of poetry including work from Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon along with the work of their pioneering psychiatrist Capt. WHR Rivers to uncover their lasting legacy on veterans. Holly McNish Oran Mor, Glasgow. Performance Poetry showcasing the wit, intelligence and sincerity that brought her to Glastonbury, WOW festival, Tate Modern and Channel 4 Random Acts. The Shock of the Fall, Nathan Filer Wishaw Library. A presentation of the resolute, frank writings of a 19-year-old with schizophrenia struggling within the mental health system. FOCUS SCOTLAND | 33
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ARE YOU READY FOR THE LEVY
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he Scottish Government announced in June 2013 it would introduce a 5p charge for all single use carrier bags from October 2014 in an attempt to tackle litter and its environmental impacts by reducing the number of carrier bags being used. The introduction of this charge or Bag Levy follows the successful implementation of similar legislation in Wales and Northern Ireland. A single use carrier bag is provided by a retailer to help a customer take purchases away from the shop and can be made from a variety of materials including plastic, paper, natural starch or plant based material (other than cotton, flax, hemp, jute or sisal) and is not intended for multiple reuse. The proposed regulations will also apply to some types of online shopping. The Scottish Government believes that the introduction of a 5p charge for single use carrier bags or Bag Levy will significantly reduce the number of carrier bags used annually and tackle the litter that
blights our landscape and communities. Draft regulations to implement the Bag Levy are being considered by the Scottish Parliament and are scheduled to receive final approval in time for the charge to be introduced from 20 October 2014. The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee took evidence regarding the Bag Levy on 21 May 2014 – the Draft Regulations will then need to be formally approved by the Scottish Parliament before they can be implemented. The Scottish Government has indicated that the charge will come into effect from 20 October 2014. The Scottish Government has stated that money generated by the Bag Levy in Scotland should be distributed by retailers to charitable good causes, particularly those focused on tackling litter and its environmental impacts.
WEAR JEANS CHANGE LIVES 1 in 25 children in the UK are born with a genetic disorder – that amounts to more than 30,000 babies born each year. This year’s Jeans for Genes Day takes place on Friday 19th September and is aiming to raise £2 million to provide care and support to children with genetic disorders. The day invites people to leave their suits and uniforms at home and wear their jeans to work or school in return for a donation which will help change the lives of children across the UK. Jeans for Genes Day provides vital funding for the care and support of children with genetic disorders. In 2014, 25 charities will benefit from the funds raised on Jeans for Genes Day. Celebrity supporters this year include, Coronation Street’s Kym Marsh and Catherine Tyldesley, reality television stars Louise Thompson, Sam Faiers, Fearne McCann and Caggie Dunlop, Olympic gymnast Louis Smith, Footballer Fabrice Muamba, actress Gemma Merna, dancer Danielle Peazer, fashion designer Coleen Rooney and Katie Price. To see what your jeans could do this year, order a free fundraising kit from www.jeansforgenes.org or call 0800 980 4800. 34 | FOCUS SCOTLAND
ARE YOU READY FOR THE LEVY?
The Scottish Government plans to introduce a 5p charge for all single use carrier bags from 20 October 2014. Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scotland’s leading environmental charity, is working with retailers to make sure that the money generated by the Bag Levy helps tackle litter and improves our local environment. A clean, safe local environment is good for you, good for our community and good for our business. If you want to find out more information go to www.baglevy.com or follow @baglevy Keep Scotland Beautiful T: 01786 471333 E: baglevy@keepscotlandbeautiful.org Registered Scottish charity: Number SC030332
W: www.baglevy.com
BE INSPIRED BY TIME ...volunteer time is free, but it’s priceless. you can’t own it, but you can use it! #BeInspiredByTime