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The National
01-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Glasgow arcade fights anxiety with calm games and quiet sessions
Located in Saltmarket in Glasgow, this retro arcade holds hour-long, inclusive sessions every week amid a rising mental health crisis in Scotland. During those times, video games are made quieter, some of the flickering screens are turned off, and the arcade's capacity is reduced from 16 people to 10. The sessions were designed as safe spaces for people who have issues with auditory and visual overstimulation, such as neurodivergent people, and anyone else who would like to enjoy video games in a calmer environment. READ MORE: Nigel Farage has brought 'racism and hatred' to by-election, says John Swinney Andrew Lindsay-Faulkner, 39, is the company director of R-CADE Ltd. He started the business in 2018. 'The first year that we opened, we realised that there were a lot of carers and mentors that were coming down, and they wanted to bring down their mentees and the people they look after,' he said. 'We started doing quiet sessions so that they would have their space to themselves.' First located in a smaller unit, R-CADE expanded to a larger space in 2022. Home to more than 2300 video games, the store is now part arcade, part board game café. Yet recent years have been tough for the company. Rising energy costs, rent rates, and government taxes, as well as the ramifications of Brexit and the pandemic on the cost of imported goods, have limited R-CADE's spending budget. 'We've had a tough couple of years, just sort of trying to survive,' said Lindsay-Faulkner. But managing to host inclusive, soothing gaming sessions continues to be important for the director. 'I don't think that it's ever going to be unnecessary,' he said. 'There's always going to be people who need that space. I'm just happy that we can provide it.' Lindsay-Faulkner's (below) own experience with anxiety also influenced his decision to create quiet gaming sessions. 'I've had anxiety in the past. I know that feeling well, and I never want anybody to actually feel that sort of pressure,' he said. The number of people in Scotland who experience two or more symptoms of anxiety has been on the rise, from 9% in 2008 to 17% in 2022, according to the 2022 Scottish Health Survey. Anxiety can also be related to experiencing sensory overload and feeling overwhelmed, according to the NHS. Lindsay-Faulkner is aware that video games provide a needed break from stress and worry for many people. 'We're so disillusioned with the world around us currently, and we have a need to escape that. I feel like video games – and not just video games, whatever your passion is – is the best way to get away from the things that we have to deal with,' he said. 'A lot of people on the spectrum actually adore video games. It's a really good focus point for them. It's something that they can talk about for hours and hours and not feel judged, which I think is incredible,' he added. Many different people have come to the quiet sessions, some of them for years. The space is visited by people with anxiety, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and people who have issues with claustrophobic spaces. Any carers who accompany them can come for free. 'It's nice for them to experience the games together. Being able to offer that to people who work for some amazing charities is something that we can give back,' Lindsay-Faulkner said. Summers are usually one of the busiest times of the year for the arcade, as families are more available to come during the week. This coming autumn, the company hopes to be able to launch a new expansion. 'If we were to get a bigger space, then I would love to have a dedicated area that would be constantly for people on the spectrum, people who have issues with overstimulation,' he said. 'Having a permanent area that we could put aside would be phenomenal.' R-CADE is not the only business in Glasgow which offers these quiet spaces, according to Lindsay-Faulkner. 'It's a big part of the alternative community or anybody that's into geek culture, like comic books, video games, board games, or just collectibles. Our businesses are very in tune with people who have issues with overstimulation,' he said. 'I feel like more businesses should be like that as well.' As a long-time collector and lover of video games, Lindsay-Faulkner is clearly proud of the space and the community he has built over the years. 'My favourite thing is probably watching people walk into R-CADE for the first time and the look of wonder in their eyes when they look around,' he said. 'It's all about community, at the end of the day. A lot of people ask me, 'has it not ruined video games for you? Has making it your passion, your entire life, not ruined it?' 'No, not at all! As long as I remember why I'm doing it, then it's all good,' he said. R-CADE is open Thursday to Friday from 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 7pm. Their Quiet Time Sessions are on Thursdays at 12pm and 1:10pm, and are bookable on their website
STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways have 'lots of scope' for reduction amid obesity crackdown
NHS Fife has said takeaways and restaurants offer 'lots of scope' in reducing Scots calorie intake amid a pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see the health board work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' Service Manager Lisa McCann said: 'The council is not considering introducing calorie or portion size limits to takeaways. We're working with partners to see how best we can take forward a range of initiatives to encourage physical activity and improve access to healthier diets. 'One of these initiatives is in the very early stages of exploring the feasibility of a calorie reduction pilot project with our Public Health partners. It would potentially look at the understanding among retailers of the calories on their menus and portion sizes, how they may be able to reduce these and what support would be required if they were interested in doing so.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways facing portion control limits amid obesity crackdown
Fife Council could implement portion control limits on the amount of food offered at takeaways in a new pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see NHS Fife work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Sunday Post
11-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
Fire crews record hefty increase in call-outs to help obese people
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up The number of call-outs for fire crews to assist obese people in Scotland has soared by 52% in just four years, new figures show. Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) responded to 302 'bariatric' incidents between 2020 and 2024, with the number of annual calls rising from 50 in 2020 to 76 in 2024. The figures show a 7% rise in call-outs between 2023 and 2024. In 2021, there were 57 incidents, followed by a further rise to 67 in 2022, and 71 in 2023, before reaching the highest number on record last year. From 2020 to 2024, there has been a 52% increase in calls. Across the UK, firefighters were called out 2,169 times to assist obese individuals in 2023, a 390% hike from the 2013 figure of 442. Health experts have warned that the sharp increases reflect the growing problem of obesity. Data from the 2023 Scottish Health Survey found that approximately 32% of adults are classified as obese, marking the highest level recorded in the survey's history – and up from 24% in 2003. In 2023, it took 39 firefighters in more than 15 vehicles more than six hours to help a 50-stone heart attack victim from his home. Britain's heaviest man, Jason Holton, needed to be winched from his flat in Surrey by crane to be taken to hospital after his organs began to shut down. He died aged 33 in May of last year. His mum, Leisa, said: 'He's probably had about eight lives, and I thought the doctors would be able to save him again, but sadly it wasn't possible. 'He was put on kidney dialysis and an IV drip but his kidneys weren't working. The doctor told Jason he'd pass away within a week as his organs were failing.' The coroner's report stated that Jason died from organ failure and obesity. He had started to overeat as a teenager while grieving his dad's death. Experts say that a major factor fuelling the obesity crisis is the prevalence of processed foods. A recent study by Cambridge and Bristol universities found that ultra-processed products – including ready meals, packaged snacks, and sugary drinks – make up a staggering 66% of the average Scottish teenager's diet. These types of foods are linked to obesity, heart disease, and other chronic health problems, according to the experts. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance – a coalition of 60 organisations advocating for policies to improve population health and address obesity – said it is not a case of people living with obesity who are failing public services, but that the real issue is decades where governments have failed to act on diet-related ill health. She said: 'Obesity is a complex, long-term condition driven by a food environment flooded with unhealthy products aggressively marketed and promoted at every turn. Now we're seeing the consequences: rising obesity rates, especially among younger age groups, with serious impacts on both physical and mental health. 'For lasting change, we must prioritise prevention – by tackling the root causes of obesity and shaping healthier environments. We can turn the tide on obesity, but we need our governments to act now.' The Sunday Post previously highlighted a study showing that the marketing of junk food – especially online – disproportionately targets children and young people in Scotland. It called for tighter restrictions on advertising and clearer labelling of unhealthy products. Researchers said that, without government action, the current generation could face lifelong health consequences, including early-onset diabetes and heart disease. Ads for unhealthy foods aimed at children are set to be banned on TV and online from October. The SFRS said: 'While the transportation and care of bariatric patients is a medical issue, we assist partner agencies whenever it is appropriate to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those involved.'
