
Is it right that spending quality time with family is now a privilege?
Summer holidays mean extra meals, outings, childcare, the clothes that don't fit any more – the swimming gear and shorts are too small and tight. Replacing it all adds up quickly. Even when you try to do things on the cheap, sun cream, snacks, shoes, ice creams, and bus fares all take planning and money.
Some people have the flexibility to take time off in the summer. Others don't, especially single parents. If you can't find childcare, you can't work. If you don't work, the bills stack up. Even in homes where both adults are working, I know people who are on Universal Credit just to keep things going.
That's the reality for many families now. Summer compounds the issue.
READ MORE: Meet the Scot who who suggested schoolchildren be given free milk
And it's not just about money. There's a lot of pressure on parents to make things 'fun' over the summer. To give their kids memories. But that can be hard when you're running on empty both financially and emotionally.
I know what it's like to be in a busy household where you're juggling the washing, the cleaning, the feeding, the tidying. Especially if you have children with additional needs, it can feel like you never stop. But at some point, we need to stop. We need to have space to enjoy being with our children, not just managing them.
Is it right that having fun, spending quality time with friends and family, is now a privilege? Summer should be about connection, not just routine. Families and friends need time together.
Children need play and laughter, not just boundaries and structure. Parents need to be able to breathe. That's why I think it's important we talk about holidays – and I don't just mean fancy flights or theme parks.
READ MORE: Shona Craven: I spent the weekend beach-cleaning and it really is a race against time
I mean having time away from the everyday stress.
Being able to slow down. To enjoy a picnic, or a walk, or a day at the beach without panicking about every pound spent. These things shouldn't be a luxury. They should be part of what we consider a good life.
To be fair, the Scottish Government has brought in support that does help families, such as the Scottish Child Payment, the Best Start Grant, school clothing grants, and the Carer's Allowance Supplement.
These don't solve everything but they're helping families stay afloat, and in some cases giving a bit of breathing room during tough times.
It's a different approach and one that recognises that poverty isn't a personal failure but something we can tackle together through good policy and compassion.
I'm glad to live in a country that is choosing to build something better. That sees social security as a safety net, not a punishment. That is willing to say that kids deserve a joyful summer. Parents deserve rest. And that wellbeing isn't soft, it's essential.
All of this is part of a bigger picture. The idea that people's need for happiness and family life should come before short-term profits. That's what a wellbeing economy means to me.
It doesn't mean we don't care about business, but we recognise that thriving people are the foundation of a thriving economy.
Having something to look forward to, some time out, joy, a break from stress, matters more than we often admit. It's what keeps us going.
I do think there's a wider conversation to be had, because even with all the good intentions and strong policies, Scotland is still operating with limited powers.
We don't control the minimum wage. We don't set the rules for Universal Credit. We can't make sure that every family in Scotland gets the consistent support it needs throughout the year.
So much of what we do is about mitigating the effects of decisions made elsewhere. But imagine if we didn't have to do so much patching up. Imagine if we could build the kind of country we know we're capable of without tied hands.
That's what independence is really about for me. It's about having the tools to create a country where no child dreads the summer holidays. Where no parent has to choose between earning and caring. Where wellbeing isn't wishful thinking it's built into everything we do.
So yes, the sun is shining and Scotland is looking glorious. But let's not forget the families behind closed doors who are just trying to make it to bedtime.
Scotland is already showing what's possible when we put people first. With full powers over welfare, employment and tax, we could stop just softening the blows and start creating real, lasting change.
We build a stronger nation by putting people first, starting now. Choosing a different path from Westminster and delivering it here in Scotland, valuing the whole person, not just statistics.

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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I won big on the lottery and I'm sick of hate from jealous men – I earned this cash, they need to get over it
A LOTTO winner has hit back at bitter trolls who have tried to mock her appearance and windfall - insisting she's "earned" her new life. Olivia Love, who was previously on Universal Credit, scooped £10,000-a-month for a year alongside hubby Kevin last month. 2 Olivia Love won big on the lottery in June Credit: TikTok/@mrsolivialove 2 She's been trolled over her £10,000-a-month for a year prize Credit: ALAN PEEBLES PHOTOGRAPHY The 36-year-old, from Glasgow, has been able to quit her job at a local supermarket, and hire a cleaner and gardener. Thanks to her massive tax-free win, she's also launched her own business as a wedding content creator. Before this, the mum-of-four was earning just £800-a-month working in a supermarket's customer service kiosk. She was on benefits to subsidise her eye-watering £1,800-a-month childcare costs and "dreaded" her council tax bill coming through. Since going public with her win, Olivia has been giving social media users an inside peek at the life of a lottery winner. She's been branded "embarrassing" and cruelly body shamed over her videos, with trolls even hoping she's left jobless and without a penny at the end of her 12-month windfall. And she revealed it's mostly hateful men who resent her big win. In a TikTok clip (@mrsolivialove), she said: "When I won the lottery, I knew it would change my life. But I didn't expect how loud the internet would get. "With the win came judgement, assumptions and a lot of hate. Especially from men who can't stand to see a woman win. "Just for being proud of my life. For spreading hope and positivity. For being proud of what this win does for my children. EXCL Woman who dumped boyfriend after winning £1m scratchcard jackpot splashes cash with NEW man - while leaving ex with nothing "Almost every hateful comment I get comes from men. When a woman is confident, when she shares her success, some men can't handle it. If a man posted this win, would you call him embarrassing? Or would it be inspiring?" But the proud mum has refused to let the trolls get to her or stop her from sharing her lotto life. She insisted: "I'm not here to be small, quiet or even easy to digest. I'm here because I earned this. "If that makes you uncomfortable, that's not my problem. "[And] there are women out here choosing love. Choosing celebration. Choosing to lift each other up. "These are the voices I hear loudest. This is the energy I'm listening to. "The ones who said you deserve it. The ones that laughed with me when the trolls came. The ones that reminded me that my win isn't just about money. It's about joy and freedom and sharing moments that matter. "Thank you to every kind woman that showed up." LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT Set For Life offers a top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years when the five main numbers and the Life Ball are matched. Players can also win £10,000 a month for a whole year by matching the five main numbers. Olivia revealed she did six lucky dips at £1.50 each on the app, with one of them bagging the second tier prize of the cash for a year. She's never played her own numbers, explaining: 'I've always had the fear that if you did play your own numbers the one time you didn't play it, that would be the time your numbers came in.' She was shocked when she received an email from The National Lottery team at 12.33am on May 16 June that changed everything for this couple. The winning numbers in the draw were: 03, 27, 42, 45, 46, plus Life Ball 06. Before she won, she had been playing sporadically for four to five months and would play when she had the 'notion to do it.' And despite winning, she still hasn't stopped buying lucky dips 'from time to time.' DOWNSIDE While buying items like her hubby's car has brought her 'so much joy', there are some downsides to the winnings. Olivia has had people message her to beg for money, with one saying: 'Can I have like £20,000 to pay my debts off?' As a result, the Lottery winner said: "I've got my dms very closed.' Since going public with her win, Olivia has hilariously joked about wiping away fake tears with £20 notes in response to cruel comments from trolls. However, she said it has changed her life for the better, saying: 'I feel like I can be more present now. Enjoy more moments. 'The stress I felt before stopped me enjoying the little things.'


The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I won the lottery and I'm sick of hate from jealous men – I earned this, they just hate my confidence
A LOTTO winner has hit back at bitter trolls who have tried to mock her appearance and windfall - insisting she's "earned" her new life. Olivia Love, who was previously on Universal Credit, scooped £10,000-a-month for a year alongside hubby Kevin last month. 2 The 36-year-old, from Glasgow, has been able to quit her job at a local supermarket, and hire a cleaner and gardener. Thanks to her massive tax-free win, she's also launched her own business as a wedding content creator. Before this, the mum-of-four was earning just £800-a-month working in a supermarket's customer service kiosk. She was on benefits to subsidise her eye-watering £1,800-a-month childcare costs and "dreaded" her council tax bill coming through. Since going public with her win, Olivia has been giving social media users an inside peek at the life of a lottery winner. She's been branded "embarrassing" and cruelly body shamed over her videos, with trolls even hoping she's left jobless and without a penny at the end of her 12-month windfall. And she revealed it's mostly hateful men who resent her big win. In a TikTok clip (@mrsolivialove), she said: "When I won the lottery, I knew it would change my life. But I didn't expect how loud the internet would get. "With the win came judgement, assumptions and a lot of hate. Especially from men who can't stand to see a woman win. "Just for being proud of my life. For spreading hope and positivity. For being proud of what this win does for my children. EXCL Woman who dumped boyfriend after winning £1m scratchcard jackpot splashes cash with NEW man - while leaving ex with nothing "Almost every hateful comment I get comes from men. When a woman is confident, when she shares her success, some men can't handle it. If a man posted this win, would you call him embarrassing? Or would it be inspiring?" But the proud mum has refused to let the trolls get to her or stop her from sharing her lotto life. She insisted: "I'm not here to be small, quiet or even easy to digest. I'm here because I earned this. "If that makes you uncomfortable, that's not my problem. "[And] there are women out here choosing love. Choosing celebration. Choosing to lift each other up. "These are the voices I hear loudest. This is the energy I'm listening to. "The ones who said you deserve it. The ones that laughed with me when the trolls came. The ones that reminded me that my win isn't just about money. It's about joy and freedom and sharing moments that matter. "Thank you to every kind woman that showed up." LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT Set For Life offers a top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years when the five main numbers and the Life Ball are matched. Players can also win £10,000 a month for a whole year by matching the five main numbers. Olivia revealed she did six lucky dips at £1.50 each on the app, with one of them bagging the second tier prize of the cash for a year. She's never played her own numbers, explaining: 'I've always had the fear that if you did play your own numbers the one time you didn't play it, that would be the time your numbers came in.' She was shocked when she received an email from The National Lottery team at 12.33am on May 16 June that changed everything for this couple. The winning numbers in the draw were: 03, 27, 42, 45, 46, plus Life Ball 06. Before she won, she had been playing sporadically for four to five months and would play when she had the 'notion to do it.' And despite winning, she still hasn't stopped buying lucky dips 'from time to time.' DOWNSIDE While buying items like her hubby's car has brought her 'so much joy', there are some downsides to the winnings. Olivia has had people message her to beg for money, with one saying: 'Can I have like £20,000 to pay my debts off?' As a result, the Lottery winner said: "I've got my dms very closed.' Since going public with her win, Olivia has hilariously joked about wiping away fake tears with £20 notes in response to cruel comments from trolls. However, she said it has changed her life for the better, saying: 'I feel like I can be more present now. Enjoy more moments. 'The stress I felt before stopped me enjoying the little things.' What are my chances of winning the lottery? EVERYONE wants to know how to beat the odds and win the lottery. But unfortunately, the lottery is a game of luck and there are no tips or tricks that can guarantee you'll take home a top prize. The odds show how likely you are to win any particular prize - the lower the number, the better the odds. For example, odds of 1 in 10 are better than odds of 1 in 100 or 1 in 1,000. There are several major lottery games in the UK including Lotto by the National Lottery, Camelot's EuroMillions and Thunderball. Chances of winning the Lotto Lotto by the National Lottery is a game where you pick six numbers from 1 to 59. You can play up to seven lines of numbers on each slip. The game costs £2 to play per slip. The odds of winning any prize on the Lotto are 1 in 9.3. But to win the jackpot on the Lotto, the odds are considerably slimmer. To bag the top prize, you need to have six matching balls. The odds of doing this and scooping the jackpot are currently 1 in 45,057,474. The next highest prize of £1,000,000 is for getting five main matching balls plus the bonus ball. The odds of taking home the million pound prize are 1 in 7,509,579 - far higher than the jackpot, but still unlikely. The odds of taking home £1,750 for getting five main numbers without the bonus ball are 1 in 2,180, while you have a 1 in 97 chance of bagging £140 for getting four main numbers. Your chances of taking home £30 for getting 3 main numbers are much better at 1 in 97. And you have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a free lucky dip for 2 matching numbers. Chances of winning the EuroMillions The EuroMillions costs £2.50 to play and is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1-50 and two "Lucky Stars" from 1-12. Players with the most matching numbers win the top prizes. Your chance of bagging the EuroMillions jackpot is even slimmer than winning the top Lotto prize. This is because it generally has higher jackpots on offer, meaning it attracts more attention. Currently, the odds of matching five numbers and two lucky stars - the top win - stand at 1 in 139,838,160. The average jackpot prize is £57,923,499, according to EuroMillions. The odds of winning the second top prize for matching 5 balls and a lucky star, which is typically around £262,346, are 1 in 6,991,908. The chances of taking home the third prize for five matching balls, with an average payout of £26,277, are 1 in 3,107,515. For four matching balls with two lucky stars, it's 1 in 621,503, and for four balls with one lucky star, it's 1 in 31,076. These come with an average prize of £1,489 and £95, respectively. Chances of winning the Thunderball Thunderball is another game run by National Lottery where you pick five numbers and one "Thunderball". It costs just £1 to play and you can enter up to four times a week. The jackpot of £500,000 for matching five balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 8,060,598. Your odds of bagging the next highest prize of £5,000 for matching five balls is currently 1 in 620,046, while the chances of winning £250 for four balls plus the Thunderball is 1 in 47,416. You have the best chance of winning £3 for matching the Thunderball, with odds of 1 in 29.


Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Sostrene Grene reveals opening date of Stirling store - and first 100 shoppers will get freebie
The Danish retailer will open its doors at the Thistles Shopping Centre on Friday, August 8. The first 100 shoppers at Stirling's newest homeware store will be handed a freebie when the store opens next month. Søstrene Grene will throw open its doors at the city's Thistles Shopping Centre on Friday, August 8. The Danish retailer brings its "signature Scandinavian design, ever-changing seasonal collections and calm, curated shopping experience to the heart of Scotland". The outlet stocks homewares, kitchen accessories, furniture, gifts and craft supplies. To celebrate the launch, the first 100 customers through the doors will receive a voucher for a free large, tufted rug worth over £60. Visitors will also receive a canvas tote bag filled with Søstrene Grene goodies and will be able to browse the brand's latest collections whilst enjoying refreshments and live performances by a classical string duo and ballerinas. Stirling marks the company's seventh Scottish store. It comes after the opening of the Livingston store late last year. Mikkel Grene, CEO and co-owner of Søstrene Grene, said: "Opening our seventh store in Scotland, Stirling is a further step towards our expansion goals. We're incredibly proud of and a testament to the strong connection people in Scotland have with our brand. "Stirling's rich history, with historic landmarks makes it a perfect location to share our Scandi-inspired products and calming shopping experience. We're excited to welcome both new and loyal customers to explore what Søstrene Grene has to offer and continue to grow throughout Scotland." UK Partners Norma Jacob and Richard Power run Søstrene Grene shops throughout Northern Ireland, Southern England, Scotland and Wales. Norma Jacob said: "Opening in Stirling means bringing Søstrene Grene's unique blend of simplicity and creativity to a community that truly appreciates both. We're offering more than just products; it's about creating a space where customers can find inspiration and a moment of calm in their busy day. Stirling's character fits perfectly with what we stand for and we're excited to connect with the local community through every visit." Richard Power commented: "We're thrilled to bring Søstrene Grene to Stirling, adding to our growing presence across Scotland. Launching within a town in central Scotland, it will give the opening an extra buzz and we can't wait to welcome both local shoppers and visitors to discover our calm, design-led experience in the heart of this community." Thistles Centre Director, Gary Turnbull, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new addition to the shopping centre, stating: "Søstrene Grene will be a welcome addition to Thistles. The unique blend of Scandinavian design and affordability will bring a homely feel to our range of offerings, and we're sure shoppers will love discovering its charming, ever-changing selection. Excitement has been building as we approach opening day, and we know our shoppers are just as eager as we are to welcome Søstrene Grene to Stirling." The grand unveiling of the new Søstrene Grene store is set to take place at The Thistles Shopping Centre on Friday, August 8, at 9.59am.