We want to make sure as many local people as possible have access to our weekly Community News. We would appreciate you sharing with any local friends or family who can subscribe to receive it directly to their inbox at http://trust-linlithgow.org.uk/news/newsletter-subscription. Thank you!
Mental Health Coping Guide for Winter
It seems like we are going to be living with some kind of restrictions to our normal lives over most of the Winter. For many, this will be an extremely difficult time and it is important to recognise ways in which we can help different people with their mental health.
This infographic suggests some coping strategies which may be useful. Have you got any other suggestions? Are you able to offer support to others?
If you need support the following organisations can help.
- Breathing Space – call 0800 83 85 87 from 6pm every evening.
- Clear Your Head – idea to help clear your head.
- Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) – mental health resources.
- Samaritans – call 116 123 (24 hours a day 365 days a year) to get support over the phone.
- Young Scot – advice for young people.
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Update
On Remembrance Sunday Linlithgow paid respect to those who gave their lives during the two World Wars of the last century with a march through town by several organisations followed by a church service.
With 2020 disrupting all forms of normal life, from celebration to commemoration, this year was going to be different.
Although there was no march, Chair Gordon Smith had the opportunity to lay a wreath at St Michael’s on behalf of LLBCC while the service was streamed virtually and is still available on the church website.
This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Whether you spend the two-minute silence thinking of family members who lived through the wars or of those who never returned, we will remember them.
You can stay in touch with the Community Council on Facebook and their website.
Events
Business Spotlight – NYCOS Mini Music Makers
NYCOS Mini Music Makers classes with Tracy Curle have been running in Linlithgow for over 10 years, helping babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers (and their grown-ups!) to gain a love of music and singing, but 2020 has been a year like no other! In March this year, as lockdown struck, we very quickly had to make the move from in-person classes to running our classes online.
We are desperate to get back to in-person classes as soon as we possibly can, however, due to Government restrictions which ban singing in groups indoors, we are unable to do that just yet. Mini Music Makers would just not be the same without singing, so for now, we have to stay online!
Research has shown that singing and early musical activity can have huge benefits in many areas of child development including speech and language, motor skills, memory and concentration. Our online classes mean that you can continue to nurture this development in your wee ones from the comfort and safety of your own home. Singing is great for adult mental health too and a fantastic way to spend special one to one time, bonding with your little one.
Tracy is running 3 classes online every Monday:
9.30am – 10.10am 0 – 2.5 years
10.20am – 11.00am 2.5 – 4 years
1.20pm – 2.00pm 3 – 5 years
A block of 4 classes costs only £12 and bookings can be made at https://www.nycos.co.uk/choirs/mini-music-makers-online/.
If Mondays don’t suit you, Tracy’s colleagues at NYCOS are running a variety of classes on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays too.
NYCOS (National Youth Choir Of Scotland) is Scotland’s national singing organisation providing singing and music learning opportunities across all ages from babies to adults and is a Registered Scottish Charity SC024899.
You can follow Tracy’s Mini Music Makers page on Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
Community Spotlight – Humans of the Walk
Linlithgow local Jasper was featured by Paths for All as part of their Humans of the Walk project. It collected powerful personal accounts and images showing the life-changing ways walking helped many people cope with the pressures of lockdown.
Jasper said “Going for a walk is just awesome. Me and my mates have learned that playing computer games all day is never fun. It makes you annoyed and stressed. Going out walking never makes me feel that way. When we’re outside, we’re running around, we see more wildlife, there’s so many things to see. I would have been miserable without it, definitely.”
Here is Jasper at the top of Cockleroy overlooking the town. What an inspiration!
Walking is a great way to enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces of our town. For Book Week Scotland this year (16-22 November 2020) a nature-themed book trail will pop up across the outdoor spaces of Linlithgow. Featuring favourite nature books, quotes and authors, it can help you discover some new nature writing to inspire us through the winter months.
We will share more details next week about the trail but in the meantime, you can find out more about it at https://www.transitionlinlithgow.org.uk/book-week-nature-trail.html.
Latest Covid-19 Guidance
West Lothian is in Level 3 of the Scottish Government Strategic Framework of restrictions. These include the following:
- Socialising – No in-home socialising, 6 people/2 households outdoors and in public places, e.g. hospitality. Different rules apply to children – more information available soon.
- Schools – Open with enhanced protective measures in place.
- Hospitality – No alcohol on-sale outdoors or outdoors. Food for consumption on premises permitted until 6pm, last entry 5pm. Takeaways permitted for alcohol and food.
- Travel – No non-essential travel into or out of the West Lothian council area. Exemptions include essential travel for work, education, caring responsibilities, healthcare, shared parenting, outdoor exercise or essential shopping not available locally.
- Transport – Avoid car sharing with people outside extended household wherever possible. Avoid non-essential use of public transport.
- Sports & Exercise – Indoor: individual exercise only (exemption for under 18s). Outdoor: all except adult (18+) contact sports.
- Shopping – Open.
- Public buildings – Open (with protective measures).
- Leisure & Entertainment – Closed.
Full details about the restrictions for each level can be found in the document Scotland’s Strategic Framework. More details can also be found on level 3 restrictions.
The current advice to stay safe, protect others, save lives is available on the Scottish Government.
Many thanks to everyone who has been so vigilant in following these procedures already. This will help to keep our community safe.