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Scotsman
16-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Family of Scottish farmer father lost to suicide raise £88k in 100-mile tribute walk
The money will go towards mental health services for those in the agriculture sector. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The family of a farmer from the Borders who took his own life last year have raised £88,000 in a walk in memory of him. Neil Stewart, who farmed in Kelso, tragically died by suicide in June 2024 at the age of 60. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The farmer left behind his wife, Caroline, and their three children, Victoria, Emily, and Charlie. Borders farmer Neil Stewart and Crunchie The family, along with other relatives and friends, walked the Kintyre Way last month, which starts in Tarbert in the north of the Kintyre peninsula and heads to Machrihanish in the south. The trek was in memory of Mr Stewart's death and to raise money for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The charity was set up in 1897 to help the Scottish farming community and their families during a period of agricultural depression. It provides practical, emotional, and financial support to people working in or connected to the Scottish agricultural industry who are facing hardship due to age, illness, accident, or other misfortune. The family's 100-mile challenge raised £74,134.65 for RSABI, with Gift Aid contributions bringing the final total to £88,726.69. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The walk's message also had a particular focus on spotlighting the charity's mental health support, including its 24-hour helpline and free counselling service to encourage farmers not to bottle things up. Last year, RSABI confirmed the service supported 200 calls a month, an increase of 49 per cent more clients compared to the year before. The charity said the walk was also an opportunity for the family and friends to reflect and share fond memories of Mr Stewart. The walk was named '100 for One' as a nod to the length of the walk and his passion for cricket, with 100 being a milestone achievement in the game. Mrs Stewart said: 'We are completely overwhelmed and so deeply thankful for the support we've received throughout this journey. The kindness, encouragement and solidarity shown, along with the amazing donations raised for RSABI, are what kept us going. Being surrounded by friends and family every step of the way meant the world to us. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Caroline Stewart and Carol McLaren, of RSABI | RSABI 'The walk was an opportunity to honour Neil, who we miss every day, while raising awareness of mental health within the farming community. If our message has managed to reach just one person and encouraged them to reach out for help, then it has been more than worth it.' Carol McLaren, RSABI's chief executive, said: 'The strength, courage, and determination shown by the Stewart family has been nothing short of inspirational. By bravely sharing Neil's story, they have made a profound difference to the farming community, delivering an incredibly important message that no one in Scottish agriculture should feel alone and that help is available as well as raising over £70,000 in the process, a truly remarkable achievement. 'We are very grateful to everyone who walked, donated, or shared the '100 for One' message. The impact of this collective effort will continue to support and inspire others long after the final mile was walked.' To support the Stewart family's fundraising, donations can still be made via JustGiving at or by texting 100FORONE to 70450 to donate £20. Samaritans is available 365 days a year, day and night, and can be contacted for free on 116 123 or visit
Daily Record
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Stirling charity launches summer campaign to maintain year-round assistance
The campaign from Start-Up Stirling aims to secure support for those who require it for the full 12 months of the year - and not just for the winter. Start Up Stirling's 'Santa's Sleighing Summer' campaign is reminding people that hunger and hardship exists throughout the year and not just in the winter months. The local foodbank charity needs help to maintain the level of food required to support everyone that is referred to them. Coordinator Julie Christie said: 'Sometimes the summer holidays can be the hardest time of the year, as children don't have school support and meals. 'Even the smallest donation makes a big difference to the children and young people that are supported by Start Up Stirling. 'Currently, the need for the Crisis Food Service is outstripping the food donations we are receiving. 'If you are able to leave a food donation at any of our stations throughout the area, we would really appreciate it. 'Each and every can and packet makes a difference.' Among the items the charity is particularly in need of are cereal bars, diluting juice, jams and spreads, hot dogs and snacks. Donation stations and shopping lists for workplaces or community groups during the summer campaign are available. Any organisation or business who would like to have their own food donation station or fundraising event, or host a permanent station, can ring the charity's office on (01786) 561027 for more details. Anyone ordering a weekly shop online can also make a food donation order for Start Up Stirling. They can accept supermarket food deliveries, including fresh and frozen food, to their warehouse at 16B Whitehouse Road, FK7 7SP, as long as it arrives between Tuesday and Thursday, 9am until 2pm, or Friday, 9am until 12.30pm. Start Up is also making sure that children and young people go back to school with new uniforms and bags. Julie added: 'Everyone deserves to start the new school term with the self-worth and confidence that these things bring. 'This year, Start Up Stirling is appealing for vouchers from the following places - Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Asda, Amazon, Primark, Sports Direct and JD Sport - to purchase school uniforms, underwear, socks, shoes, PE kits and school bags. 'Vouchers help to give the families of children and young people the opportunity to choose the uniforms, school bags and stationery they like, giving them dignity and freedom of choice. 'We would also love to receive donations of water bottles of different sizes and lunch boxes, either at our warehouse, or at our donation stations throughout the area.' Financial donations also help to support all of Start Up Stirling's services, whether it is buying food for the Crisis Food Service, running the Community Hubs, putting fuel into their vans for rural deliveries or picking up donations from supermarkets. Donations can be made via and if you are eligible for Gift Aid, it increases your gift to them by 25 per cent. For any further information, contact the fundraising team by email: fundraising@ or call 01786 561027.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Staff and volunteers at Motherwell's PDSA shop urging locals to donate their unwanted items
The shop is desperate for good quality donations including kid's games, ornaments and jewellery as well as men's and ladies clothes, shoes and accessories. Staff and volunteers at Motherwell's PDSA shop are urging locals to donate their unwanted items or time to help sick and injured pets The shop is desperate for good quality donations including kid's games, ornaments and jewellery as well as men's and ladies clothes, shoes and accessories. PDSA Shop Assistant Manager, Kirsteen Reynolds said: 'Perhaps your wardrobe is bulging with unworn clothes or your shelves are full of books you never read? Why not have a clear-out and donate your unwanted items to PDSA? As well as de-cluttering your home, you'll be helping a very worthy cause at the same time. Kirsteen is also appealing for local people to lend a hand and volunteer at the shop. Download the Lanarkshire Live app today She added: 'We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about pets and who can lend a hand. 'Volunteering for PDSA is fun and the skills you learn look great on any CV, plus you get to meet new people and make some friends along the way. No previous retail experience is needed, as full training is provided for all new volunteers. So, if you would like to help sick and injured pets, why not join our friendly volunteer team.' For more details about volunteering for PDSA, please visit Located at Brandon Parade South, the Motherwell PDSA shop raises vital funds to provide free and low cost vet care for those who struggle to pay treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold. For more information about Motherwell PDSA shop, please contact Kirsteen on 01698 262279.
New Statesman
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Gordon Brown on the 'cruel' two-child benefit cap
(Photo by Jeff) The two-child benefit cap is 'cruel', the former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown tells the New Statesman Podcast in a special interview out on Friday 23 May. Devised by the former Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2016, the limit is considered a driver of child poverty and it is a certain source of division within today's Labour Party. The Labour government chose not to scrap the cap, and has removed the whip from MPs rebelling against this decision. The party promised in its manifesto to end reliance on food banks, and to reduce child poverty in this Parliament. Removing the two-child benefit cap could pull hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty. Speaking to the New Statesman's Britain Editor and podcast host Anoosh Chakelian ahead of his guest-edited issue themed around child poverty, Brown laid out his funding ideas for reducing child poverty. These include a gambling tax, commercial bank levy, and changes to Gift Aid rules for higher-rate taxpayers, among other measures. Outlining these on the podcast, Brown suggested they would be possible without 'breaking the government's tax commitments' or 'breaking the fiscal rules, which, of course, [the Chancellor] Rachel Reeves is obviously right to be concerned about'. In the interview, Brown drew on exclusive polling for his New Statesman guest edit by Focaldata, which revealed 42 per cent of voters are against the cap, and more than 75 per cent of those who support it say it should be scrapped if it is shown to be a cost-effective way of reducing poverty. 'The Reform Party, many of the Conservative Party, the Liberals, the [Scottish] Nationalist Party, they all support lifting the two-child limit,' Brown revealed. 'Now, of course, it's expensive because it was designed to save a lot of money at the expense of children, but you just think of a family that has lost £66 a week overnight – their child is born, the third child, and they don't get the same amount that they get for the second child. 'It really is cruel to see a third child as almost a second-class citizen in that way, and that's what's got to change. Now, I think the government can do this because I've suggested the ways it can be funded. I think it should be hypothecated in the sense of earmarks, so that people know that the money is going for a good purpose.' [See more: Inside the Conservative Party's existential spiral] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Gordon Brown urges Keir Starmer to fix 'child poverty emergency' with major plan
Labour former PM Gordon Brown said Keir Starmer must act to help 'austerity's children' as rising levels of child poverty could see 4.8 million kids living in hardship by 2029 Gordon Brown will pile pressure on the Government to do more to fix child poverty with a plan to raise billions from taxes on gambling industry and banking profits. The former Prime Minister said Keir Starmer must act to help "austerity's children" as rising levels of child poverty could see 4.8 million kids living in hardship by 2029. Pressure is mounting on the Government to spell out its plans to lift children out of poverty as a review promised for the Spring has not yet emerged. In a submission to the Government's Child Poverty taskforce, Mr Brown proposed creating a "Child Fairness Guarantee" to ensure a minimum amount of support to afford essentials such as food and household bills. This would be funded by raising £9billion from online gambling levies, tiered interest scheme on commercial bank funds and reforms to Gift Aid and corporate philanthropy. It comes as a poll found more than 75% of UK voters believe it's morally wrong so many children go to bed hungry or without a proper place to sleep. The survey by Hope not Hate found 82% think the government should be doing more to reduce child poverty. Nearly 9 in 10 people (87%) would support taxes on from gambling industry and banking profits to fund a Child Fairness Guarantee. Mr Brown warned that the "long tail of austerity" meant numbers of children in poverty were projected to rise by 100,000 per year over this Parliament. He said: "The rising levels of poverty stem largely from the long tail of austerity and are the lingering result of decisions made a decade ago by George Osborne to create generation of austerity's children which deliberately added one million children to the poverty numbers. "Thousands more children are hit by benefit caps that have in turn created an enormous challenge for the current government's Child Poverty Review to roll back the worst of the Conservative inheritance, before even beginning to tackle future challenges." He added: "70% of the children in poverty are in working families exposing the false argument that poverty is caused by feckless or work shy parents who are part of a co-dependency culture." In cities like Birmingham and Manchester, 46% and 44% of children respectively are already living in poverty, with some communities seeing rates as high as 85%. That means in some classrooms, 25 out of 30 children are condemned to live in hardship, according to the report. Every night one million children are trying to sleep every night without a bed of their own, while each day three million children regularly skip meals due to the strains on family finances. He said: "When asked why we must act, people say our children are our future — and we all benefit if they grow up healthy, educated, and productive. The costs of inaction are greater: in poor health, increased crime, and lost contributions to the economy. 'Britons say they are embarrassed and disgusted that countries like the Netherlands and the Nordics are doing far better for their children than we are. "There is now a clear public mandate to act on the government's manifesto promise to reduce child poverty in this parliament and to "end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.' Labour committed to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, with a taskforce appointed last summer to develop a blueprint. The PM promised at the time to "leave no stone unturned to give every child the very best start at life".
