NFU Scotland has branded the UK Government’s response to the Business, Innovation, and Skills Committee report on the Draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, as published over the weekend, as extremely disappointing.
Whilst some of the Select Committee’s smaller recommendations for change to the draft Bill have been accepted, the Union’s primary concern has not been adequately addressed. That is, that the bill does not go far enough to tackle the climate of fear that exists among suppliers and processors feeding into the retail sector.
NFU Scotland still believes that without guaranteed anonymity suppliers will not risk bringing instances of abuses of power to the attention of an adjudicator.
Chief Executive of NFU Scotland, Scott Walker, said:
“It is extremely disappointing that the UK Government have rejected some important recommendations for positive change to the draft Bill.
“While the bill remains hugely important, and is a step forward in terms of ensuring greater transparency within the food sector, the opportunity that is there to ensure this bill makes a real difference to the working lives of retail suppliers is in danger of being missed.
“The climate of fear that has existed for many years within the food sector is well documented, and understandably many suppliers are loath to complain when so much of their output may be directed at a single buyer. With this in mind, the one recommendation we just can not understand being rejected is the option for third parties to make complaint on behalf of a supplier. Without this additional layer of anonymity the likelihood of any complaints being made remains miniscule.
“Even at this late hour, we would urge the Government to think again, and look at taking on board the recommendation that information provided by third party sources should be enough to trigger an investigation. Without this being permissible, we see very little being done to encourage suppliers and processors to make a complaint when they feel they are being subjected to abuses of power.”
Thursday, 20 October 2011
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 29 October – Friday 4 November 2011
Title: SPL: Hearts v Kilmarnock
‘As-live’ coverage from the Scottish Premier League as Hearts host Kilmarnock at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Blas Music Festival 2011
Kirsteen MacDonald with more music and song from Blas 2011 including performances from Karen Matheson and Kathleen MacInnes.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 8.55 – 10.00pm
Title: Horo Gheallaidh / Celtic Music
World class musicians from the Celtic Connections festival drop in to give special, intimate performances at the Horo Gheallaidh ceilidh session's filmed in Glasgow and presented by Sarah Cruickshank. This week, Rachel Sermanni, Ireland's Glackin Brothers, Linda Macleod from Uist and Jamie McMenemy with Soig Siberil are among the guests. This is a unique opportunity to watch world-class artists up close, performing stripped down versions of their songs live on our sofa in a way you won't have seen them before.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm
Title: Gach Creutar Beo / Highland Vets
A new series following the wild and wonderful world of Scottish vets.
We’re out on the farm with vet Iain Maclean in Wick as he's called out to a cow who has lost a lot of blood during calving, then he heads back to the surgery to tend to some cats. Following this, our next stop is Blair Drummond Safari Park, where the cats are a whole lot bigger and a whole lot wilder, as park vet Colin Scott gives his attention to the lions.
Transmitted: Monday 31 October
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Ceol Country
Anne Morrison presents highlights from the Kelso Country and Western Music Festival. Among the artists showcased at the festival are Henry Smith and Country Dreams and Chris Raddings.
In addition to the music, Anne takes part in a Western quick draw competition and samples the pre-gig nerves with a band as they introduce new material into their set.
Transmitted: Tuesday 1 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Eorpa
Another edition of Eorpa, reporting on the most interesting stories from around Europe.
Transmitted: Wednesday 2 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Na Geamannan / World Island Games
Shona hopes for a good showing at the Benbecula half-marathon but Donald MacInnes has a bad day at the clay pigeon shoot.
Transmitted: Thursday 3 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Air An Rathad / On The Road
'Air an Rathad'- it's all about cars! Presenters Fiona Mackenzie, Murray Macleod and Calum Iain Mackenzie are back with a new series of Scotland's very own car show. All the thrills and spills you expect from 'On the Road', with guest appearances from stunt driver Paul Swift, 'rollover' Roy Maclennan, and rally drivers David Bogie and Donnie Campbell. And let's not forget the weird and wonderful Wacky Races! There's more fun on the track as our presenters battle it out for the coveted Wacky Races Cup. Sit down and buckle up for the new series of Air an Rathad.
Transmitted: Thursday 3 November
Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm
Title: Grinn / Makeover
This week, hotelier John MacRitchie gets a re-style from experts Donna Macleod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford.
Transmitted: Friday 4 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Am Boireannach a Dh’ith Bo
As an artist, Heather Dewar has travelled the world for inspiration. But as a cook, her inspiration is her native Islay and its produce. A thrifty Gael, she loves food - but hates waste. But with rising food prices, there's never been a better time to re-embrace Heather's good old-fashioned thrifty kitchen skills. With this in mind, Heather's on a quest to find an animal to cook and eat, using the cuts of meat that people would normally cast aside.
Transmitted: Friday 4 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
‘As-live’ coverage from the Scottish Premier League as Hearts host Kilmarnock at Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Blas Music Festival 2011
Kirsteen MacDonald with more music and song from Blas 2011 including performances from Karen Matheson and Kathleen MacInnes.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 8.55 – 10.00pm
Title: Horo Gheallaidh / Celtic Music
World class musicians from the Celtic Connections festival drop in to give special, intimate performances at the Horo Gheallaidh ceilidh session's filmed in Glasgow and presented by Sarah Cruickshank. This week, Rachel Sermanni, Ireland's Glackin Brothers, Linda Macleod from Uist and Jamie McMenemy with Soig Siberil are among the guests. This is a unique opportunity to watch world-class artists up close, performing stripped down versions of their songs live on our sofa in a way you won't have seen them before.
Transmitted: Saturday 29 October
Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm
Title: Gach Creutar Beo / Highland Vets
A new series following the wild and wonderful world of Scottish vets.
We’re out on the farm with vet Iain Maclean in Wick as he's called out to a cow who has lost a lot of blood during calving, then he heads back to the surgery to tend to some cats. Following this, our next stop is Blair Drummond Safari Park, where the cats are a whole lot bigger and a whole lot wilder, as park vet Colin Scott gives his attention to the lions.
Transmitted: Monday 31 October
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Ceol Country
Anne Morrison presents highlights from the Kelso Country and Western Music Festival. Among the artists showcased at the festival are Henry Smith and Country Dreams and Chris Raddings.
In addition to the music, Anne takes part in a Western quick draw competition and samples the pre-gig nerves with a band as they introduce new material into their set.
Transmitted: Tuesday 1 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Eorpa
Another edition of Eorpa, reporting on the most interesting stories from around Europe.
Transmitted: Wednesday 2 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Na Geamannan / World Island Games
Shona hopes for a good showing at the Benbecula half-marathon but Donald MacInnes has a bad day at the clay pigeon shoot.
Transmitted: Thursday 3 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Air An Rathad / On The Road
'Air an Rathad'- it's all about cars! Presenters Fiona Mackenzie, Murray Macleod and Calum Iain Mackenzie are back with a new series of Scotland's very own car show. All the thrills and spills you expect from 'On the Road', with guest appearances from stunt driver Paul Swift, 'rollover' Roy Maclennan, and rally drivers David Bogie and Donnie Campbell. And let's not forget the weird and wonderful Wacky Races! There's more fun on the track as our presenters battle it out for the coveted Wacky Races Cup. Sit down and buckle up for the new series of Air an Rathad.
Transmitted: Thursday 3 November
Time: 10.00 – 10.30pm
Title: Grinn / Makeover
This week, hotelier John MacRitchie gets a re-style from experts Donna Macleod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford.
Transmitted: Friday 4 November
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Am Boireannach a Dh’ith Bo
As an artist, Heather Dewar has travelled the world for inspiration. But as a cook, her inspiration is her native Islay and its produce. A thrifty Gael, she loves food - but hates waste. But with rising food prices, there's never been a better time to re-embrace Heather's good old-fashioned thrifty kitchen skills. With this in mind, Heather's on a quest to find an animal to cook and eat, using the cuts of meat that people would normally cast aside.
Transmitted: Friday 4 November
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
BBC ALBA ANNOUNCES LATEST VIEWING FIGURES
BBC ALBA, the Gaelic television channel, has today (Thursday 20 October) announced its most recent viewing figures.
The figures have been compiled over a four month period since the channel was made available on Freeview and Virgin Media’s Cable at the start of June this year.
During this period (June to September 2011), BBC ALBA has attracted a significant number of new viewers averaging a total claimed weekly reach of 12.9% of adults aged 16 and over, equating to 530,000 viewers.
The claimed fifteen minute plus reach for the channel over the same four month period was 10.6% which equates to 430,000 viewers per week.
In addition, the average time viewers spent watching BBC ALBA per week was 1 hour 40 minutes.
Prior to the channel being made available on Freeview, the total weekly reach for the channel was 220,000 viewers with the weekly fifteen minute plus reach being 179,000 viewers.
This figure is for those tuning into the channel in Scotland only and does not take account of anyone in the rest of the UK who may be viewing programmes on BBC ALBA. It also does not include the under-16 age group who may watch the schedule of children’s programming on offer.
Furthermore, a watch-again facility provides 10 hours of BBC ALBA content on the BBC iPlayer each week. Latest figures available, covering the period January to September 2011, found that there was an average of 29,000 requests per week for BBC ALBA content on iPlayer.
Channel executives have attributed the increase in viewing figures to the distinctive and high quality range of programmes offered, as well as the increased accessibility for viewers.
The figures have been compiled over a four month period since the channel was made available on Freeview and Virgin Media’s Cable at the start of June this year.
During this period (June to September 2011), BBC ALBA has attracted a significant number of new viewers averaging a total claimed weekly reach of 12.9% of adults aged 16 and over, equating to 530,000 viewers.
The claimed fifteen minute plus reach for the channel over the same four month period was 10.6% which equates to 430,000 viewers per week.
In addition, the average time viewers spent watching BBC ALBA per week was 1 hour 40 minutes.
Prior to the channel being made available on Freeview, the total weekly reach for the channel was 220,000 viewers with the weekly fifteen minute plus reach being 179,000 viewers.
This figure is for those tuning into the channel in Scotland only and does not take account of anyone in the rest of the UK who may be viewing programmes on BBC ALBA. It also does not include the under-16 age group who may watch the schedule of children’s programming on offer.
Furthermore, a watch-again facility provides 10 hours of BBC ALBA content on the BBC iPlayer each week. Latest figures available, covering the period January to September 2011, found that there was an average of 29,000 requests per week for BBC ALBA content on iPlayer.
Channel executives have attributed the increase in viewing figures to the distinctive and high quality range of programmes offered, as well as the increased accessibility for viewers.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
NEW INTERACTIVE WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR GAELIC LEARNERS
A new interactive website was launched today (Wednesday, 19 October) that provides a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in learning Gaelic.
LearnGaelic.net was launched at an event held at the Royal National Mòd in Stornoway and is the result of a unique collaboration between Bòrd na Gàidhlig, MG ALBA, the BBC, the Board of Celtic Studies Scotland and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. LearnGaelic.net has also received financial support from the Scottish Government.
The core aim of the website is to present enhanced Gaelic learning resources in a single online portal where, through time, learners of all ages and abilities can source the help they require when learning the language.
The website is split up into three broad areas of content for adult learners focusing on beginners, intermediate and advanced, with a further three sections for young learners at stages under five, primary and secondary school, with detailed guidance for parents, carers and teachers.
The website draws together newly commissioned content including a brand new online dictionary and thesaurus, a searchable Gaelic terminology database and guidance on Gaelic grammar, all of which are essential tools for learners and users of Gaelic. Additional language tools are also available such as spellcheckers and web browsers.
A range of existing resources that offer quality Gaelic learning materials have also been incorporated into the website including more than 400 video clips from the popular television series Speaking our Language. Information about the Gaelic language and culture is also available through links with new resources recently launched by the Open University.
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning and Skills (with responsibility for Gaelic & Scots) was in attendance to endorse the new website, and said: “The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant and sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland, and with recent research showing high levels of interest in where and how people can learn the language, initiatives like LearnGaelic.net must be welcomed. As a Gaelic learner myself, I warmly welcome these new resources.
“The site should have something for everyone – beginners, youngsters and teachers – and I expect it to become an important resource in Gaelic education.”
Sean Batty, STV weather presenter and current Gaelic learner, said: “I am so glad that this website has been set up, it really is great to finally see all the Gaelic resources pulled together into one contained site. It took me weeks to find a course to learn Gaelic in my local area as there was no one place to look and check.
“Learners like myself will find this new site absolutely fantastic as there are so many learning resources to hand which are very well organised into categories. For a learner it's vital that materials are easy to find and are well laid out, otherwise someone can lose interest very quickly and stop the learning process.
“My hope is to speak enough Gaelic by 2013 so that I can be involved in some way when the Mòd comes to Paisley. I know that this user friendly site will really help me learn more outside my evening classes and I hope that it will encourage more people to start on the journey of learning our language.”
A dedicated freephone helpline will also be made available from Friday 21 October which will allow users to gain expert advice, directed to appropriate resources pertinent to their individual needs, as well as being assessed on their level of fluency.
In addition, for those also keen to learn Gaelic on a face-to-face basis, full details are available on where you can find Gaelic classes and courses in your area.
LearnGaelic.net was launched at an event held at the Royal National Mòd in Stornoway and is the result of a unique collaboration between Bòrd na Gàidhlig, MG ALBA, the BBC, the Board of Celtic Studies Scotland and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. LearnGaelic.net has also received financial support from the Scottish Government.
The core aim of the website is to present enhanced Gaelic learning resources in a single online portal where, through time, learners of all ages and abilities can source the help they require when learning the language.
The website is split up into three broad areas of content for adult learners focusing on beginners, intermediate and advanced, with a further three sections for young learners at stages under five, primary and secondary school, with detailed guidance for parents, carers and teachers.
The website draws together newly commissioned content including a brand new online dictionary and thesaurus, a searchable Gaelic terminology database and guidance on Gaelic grammar, all of which are essential tools for learners and users of Gaelic. Additional language tools are also available such as spellcheckers and web browsers.
A range of existing resources that offer quality Gaelic learning materials have also been incorporated into the website including more than 400 video clips from the popular television series Speaking our Language. Information about the Gaelic language and culture is also available through links with new resources recently launched by the Open University.
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning and Skills (with responsibility for Gaelic & Scots) was in attendance to endorse the new website, and said: “The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant and sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland, and with recent research showing high levels of interest in where and how people can learn the language, initiatives like LearnGaelic.net must be welcomed. As a Gaelic learner myself, I warmly welcome these new resources.
“The site should have something for everyone – beginners, youngsters and teachers – and I expect it to become an important resource in Gaelic education.”
Sean Batty, STV weather presenter and current Gaelic learner, said: “I am so glad that this website has been set up, it really is great to finally see all the Gaelic resources pulled together into one contained site. It took me weeks to find a course to learn Gaelic in my local area as there was no one place to look and check.
“Learners like myself will find this new site absolutely fantastic as there are so many learning resources to hand which are very well organised into categories. For a learner it's vital that materials are easy to find and are well laid out, otherwise someone can lose interest very quickly and stop the learning process.
“My hope is to speak enough Gaelic by 2013 so that I can be involved in some way when the Mòd comes to Paisley. I know that this user friendly site will really help me learn more outside my evening classes and I hope that it will encourage more people to start on the journey of learning our language.”
A dedicated freephone helpline will also be made available from Friday 21 October which will allow users to gain expert advice, directed to appropriate resources pertinent to their individual needs, as well as being assessed on their level of fluency.
In addition, for those also keen to learn Gaelic on a face-to-face basis, full details are available on where you can find Gaelic classes and courses in your area.
Positive food standards inspection
Independent inspectors who looked into the work of Argyll and Bute Council’s food standards team have been positive about what they found.
The Food Standards Agency (Scotland) visited the council for three days last month to carry out a rigorous audit on the environmental health service’s levels of compliance with the relevant food safety legislation.
The resulting report confirms that the team is performing well, with competent and professional staff championing food safety issues across Argyll and Bute.
It also identified several areas requiring further attention, which the council has already drawn up an action plan to address.
The auditors targeted Argyll and Bute, Highland and Aberdeenshire councils for inspections, as these are the three main local authorities regulating food manufacturing and processing in Scotland. Argyll and Bute was selected because it regulates:
One of Europe’s main shellfish sectors
The main scallop sector in Scotland
One of the main salmon smoker sectors in Scotland
The inspectors looked at the council’s food safety enforcement performance, joined enforcement staff on visits to selected premises and assessed the appropriateness of systems, processes and enforcement levels undertaken by the team.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, chair of the planning, protective services and licensing committee, said he was very pleased with the overall report.
“We take our responsibilities in the area of food safety extremely seriously, and it is very satisfying that the inspectors have had so many positive things to say about how we’re doing,” he added.
“The audit recognises the exemplary work being undertaken by Argyll and Bute Council’s environmental health service to protect food safety and - more widely - the general public, and I am delighted that it identified three major areas of best practice, including our very comprehensive inspection procedures.
“The report also highlights several areas in which we could improve our work, and an action plan is already being implemented to address these.
“Overall, it is reassuring that the inspectors concluded that our team is committed to keeping food safety at the top of the agenda for the protection of Argyll and Bute’s residents and visitors.”
The full report will be available for viewing on the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk once it is formally published in November 2011.
Independent inspectors who looked into the work of Argyll and Bute Council’s food standards team have been positive about what they found.
The Food Standards Agency (Scotland) visited the council for three days last month to carry out a rigorous audit on the environmental health service’s levels of compliance with the relevant food safety legislation.
The resulting report confirms that the team is performing well, with competent and professional staff championing food safety issues across Argyll and Bute.
It also identified several areas requiring further attention, which the council has already drawn up an action plan to address.
The auditors targeted Argyll and Bute, Highland and Aberdeenshire councils for inspections, as these are the three main local authorities regulating food manufacturing and processing in Scotland. Argyll and Bute was selected because it regulates:
One of Europe’s main shellfish sectors
The main scallop sector in Scotland
One of the main salmon smoker sectors in Scotland
The inspectors looked at the council’s food safety enforcement performance, joined enforcement staff on visits to selected premises and assessed the appropriateness of systems, processes and enforcement levels undertaken by the team.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, chair of the planning, protective services and licensing committee, said he was very pleased with the overall report.
“We take our responsibilities in the area of food safety extremely seriously, and it is very satisfying that the inspectors have had so many positive things to say about how we’re doing,” he added.
“The audit recognises the exemplary work being undertaken by Argyll and Bute Council’s environmental health service to protect food safety and - more widely - the general public, and I am delighted that it identified three major areas of best practice, including our very comprehensive inspection procedures.
“The report also highlights several areas in which we could improve our work, and an action plan is already being implemented to address these.
“Overall, it is reassuring that the inspectors concluded that our team is committed to keeping food safety at the top of the agenda for the protection of Argyll and Bute’s residents and visitors.”
The full report will be available for viewing on the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk once it is formally published in November 2011.
The Food Standards Agency (Scotland) visited the council for three days last month to carry out a rigorous audit on the environmental health service’s levels of compliance with the relevant food safety legislation.
The resulting report confirms that the team is performing well, with competent and professional staff championing food safety issues across Argyll and Bute.
It also identified several areas requiring further attention, which the council has already drawn up an action plan to address.
The auditors targeted Argyll and Bute, Highland and Aberdeenshire councils for inspections, as these are the three main local authorities regulating food manufacturing and processing in Scotland. Argyll and Bute was selected because it regulates:
One of Europe’s main shellfish sectors
The main scallop sector in Scotland
One of the main salmon smoker sectors in Scotland
The inspectors looked at the council’s food safety enforcement performance, joined enforcement staff on visits to selected premises and assessed the appropriateness of systems, processes and enforcement levels undertaken by the team.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, chair of the planning, protective services and licensing committee, said he was very pleased with the overall report.
“We take our responsibilities in the area of food safety extremely seriously, and it is very satisfying that the inspectors have had so many positive things to say about how we’re doing,” he added.
“The audit recognises the exemplary work being undertaken by Argyll and Bute Council’s environmental health service to protect food safety and - more widely - the general public, and I am delighted that it identified three major areas of best practice, including our very comprehensive inspection procedures.
“The report also highlights several areas in which we could improve our work, and an action plan is already being implemented to address these.
“Overall, it is reassuring that the inspectors concluded that our team is committed to keeping food safety at the top of the agenda for the protection of Argyll and Bute’s residents and visitors.”
The full report will be available for viewing on the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk once it is formally published in November 2011.
Independent inspectors who looked into the work of Argyll and Bute Council’s food standards team have been positive about what they found.
The Food Standards Agency (Scotland) visited the council for three days last month to carry out a rigorous audit on the environmental health service’s levels of compliance with the relevant food safety legislation.
The resulting report confirms that the team is performing well, with competent and professional staff championing food safety issues across Argyll and Bute.
It also identified several areas requiring further attention, which the council has already drawn up an action plan to address.
The auditors targeted Argyll and Bute, Highland and Aberdeenshire councils for inspections, as these are the three main local authorities regulating food manufacturing and processing in Scotland. Argyll and Bute was selected because it regulates:
One of Europe’s main shellfish sectors
The main scallop sector in Scotland
One of the main salmon smoker sectors in Scotland
The inspectors looked at the council’s food safety enforcement performance, joined enforcement staff on visits to selected premises and assessed the appropriateness of systems, processes and enforcement levels undertaken by the team.
Councillor Daniel Kelly, chair of the planning, protective services and licensing committee, said he was very pleased with the overall report.
“We take our responsibilities in the area of food safety extremely seriously, and it is very satisfying that the inspectors have had so many positive things to say about how we’re doing,” he added.
“The audit recognises the exemplary work being undertaken by Argyll and Bute Council’s environmental health service to protect food safety and - more widely - the general public, and I am delighted that it identified three major areas of best practice, including our very comprehensive inspection procedures.
“The report also highlights several areas in which we could improve our work, and an action plan is already being implemented to address these.
“Overall, it is reassuring that the inspectors concluded that our team is committed to keeping food safety at the top of the agenda for the protection of Argyll and Bute’s residents and visitors.”
The full report will be available for viewing on the Food Standards Agency’s website at www.food.gov.uk once it is formally published in November 2011.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
MOVING DOCUMENTARY ON BBC ALBA EXPLORES MANY OF THE STIGMAS OF BIPOLAR
BBC ALBA Monday 24 October, 9pm
The mental health condition, Bipolar has become increasingly known in recent years with many celebrities and public figures talking openly about the illness.
In a moving documentary as part of BBC ALBA’s Trusadh series, Suas is sìos nam Inntinn : Bipolar & Me, Rhoda Meek (29) who has strong family links to the Island of Tiree but now lives in the Glasgow area, takes viewers on a personal journey providing an insight into living with the illness as well as exploring the many stigmas that those with mental health problems experience.
Hearing from others who have experienced mental health problems, Rhoda learns how they have managed to cope with difficulties. Amongst those that she speaks to is her father, Professor Donald Meek, as well as the psychologist Dr Rachel MacLeod.
Rhoda Meek has suffered from depression since she was a teenager. At 19 she was a presenter on the children’s programme, Dè a-nis? Bubbly and with a ‘give anything a go’ attitude, you would never have known that beneath the surface, she was battling with depression through these years.
Two years ago, Rhoda found herself having intense mood swings, going from being in a great mood to becoming extremely irritable, it was then she was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, however, despite this high prevalence, Rhoda is all too aware of the fear that often surrounds the illness.
The programme will look at how difficult it is for people to accept that they, or a family member, are experiencing mental health problems, and how hard it is to acknowledge and to speak out.
Produced by MacTV for BBC ALBA ‘Trusadh: Suas is sìos nam Inntinn : Bipolar & Me’ will be broadcast on Monday 24 October at 9pm.
The mental health condition, Bipolar has become increasingly known in recent years with many celebrities and public figures talking openly about the illness.
In a moving documentary as part of BBC ALBA’s Trusadh series, Suas is sìos nam Inntinn : Bipolar & Me, Rhoda Meek (29) who has strong family links to the Island of Tiree but now lives in the Glasgow area, takes viewers on a personal journey providing an insight into living with the illness as well as exploring the many stigmas that those with mental health problems experience.
Hearing from others who have experienced mental health problems, Rhoda learns how they have managed to cope with difficulties. Amongst those that she speaks to is her father, Professor Donald Meek, as well as the psychologist Dr Rachel MacLeod.
Rhoda Meek has suffered from depression since she was a teenager. At 19 she was a presenter on the children’s programme, Dè a-nis? Bubbly and with a ‘give anything a go’ attitude, you would never have known that beneath the surface, she was battling with depression through these years.
Two years ago, Rhoda found herself having intense mood swings, going from being in a great mood to becoming extremely irritable, it was then she was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, however, despite this high prevalence, Rhoda is all too aware of the fear that often surrounds the illness.
The programme will look at how difficult it is for people to accept that they, or a family member, are experiencing mental health problems, and how hard it is to acknowledge and to speak out.
Produced by MacTV for BBC ALBA ‘Trusadh: Suas is sìos nam Inntinn : Bipolar & Me’ will be broadcast on Monday 24 October at 9pm.
BBC ALBA TO BROADCAST ANNUAL SCOTLAND V IRELAND SHINTY-HURLING MATCH
The annual clash between Scotland and Ireland’s native sports, when Scotland's national shinty team takes on Ireland's national hurling team, will be broadcast on BBC ALBA.
Ireland will welcome Scotland at Athy, Co. Kildare in the first test of this year's shinty/hurling international series taking place on Saturday 22 October. Full match coverage will be provided by BBC ALBA on Sunday 23 October at 4pm.
The return leg will be played on Saturday 29 October when Scotland will host their Irish counterparts at Bight Park in Inverness.
Captain Norman Campbell is hoping that he can lead the national team to success this year after last year’s title went to Ireland who won 7-21 to 5-23 on aggregate.
The programme will also have a special feature with Scotland manager Drew McNeill, highlights from last year’s Internationals as well as a feature looking ahead to the new six-part shinty entertainment series ‘Caman’ to feature on BBC ALBA later in the year.
Coverage of this hurling-shinty international series will be provided by mneTV for BBC ALBA.
Ireland will welcome Scotland at Athy, Co. Kildare in the first test of this year's shinty/hurling international series taking place on Saturday 22 October. Full match coverage will be provided by BBC ALBA on Sunday 23 October at 4pm.
The return leg will be played on Saturday 29 October when Scotland will host their Irish counterparts at Bight Park in Inverness.
Captain Norman Campbell is hoping that he can lead the national team to success this year after last year’s title went to Ireland who won 7-21 to 5-23 on aggregate.
The programme will also have a special feature with Scotland manager Drew McNeill, highlights from last year’s Internationals as well as a feature looking ahead to the new six-part shinty entertainment series ‘Caman’ to feature on BBC ALBA later in the year.
Coverage of this hurling-shinty international series will be provided by mneTV for BBC ALBA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
