Latest news with #StirlingUniversity
Scotsman
a day ago
- General
- Scotsman
A Midlothian student has been hailed as a 'game changer' for her voluntary work
A Midlothian student is being highlighted by the The National Lottery as part of a new campaign spotlighting the inspirational young people driving change across the UK. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... New research shows that 82% of Scottish young people feel a personal responsibility to be positive role models – with many already making a real difference in their communities. Hayley Melrose from Danderhall, was chosen for the campaign in recognition of her commitment to preserving Scottish heritage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A fourth year history student at the Stirling University, Hayley has been a volunteer for the eco-museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes since the project launched in 2024. With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project set up a virtual museum which explores the hidden local landscape legacies of coal mining across the Scottish midland coalfield through a series of cycling and walking routes. Hayley has been recognised for her dedication to local heritage. Through her volunteering, Hayley was invited to sit on the board of the Collection Trust for the National Mining Museum of Scotland. With just five trustee members before Hayley joined, at just 21 she is the youngest member to have been on the trust, and the second woman to sit on the collection trust with her university tutor, Dr Catherine Mills. Hayley said: 'Inspired by my own family's rich mining heritage, I'm passionate about preserving the legacy it leaves and making sure these stories don't get lost. Getting involved in volunteering and the Eco-Museum has opened up opportunities I never knew young people could get involved with. Looking ahead, I want to use my platform to advocate for other young people and change the face of heritage in the UK.' This surge in real-world role modelling is fuelling a wider movement, dubbed 'Generation GC' (Game Changers) by The National Lottery – a generation using their skills, values and energy to build stronger, kinder, more connected communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery Promotions Unit, said: 'This study shows how passionate young adults are about stepping up as positive role models and making a difference in their communities. They're determined to shape a better society, and that commitment deserves real recognition.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Stirling Uni lecturer sets Radio One 'abuzz' with special Taylor Swift cover
Listeners to the Radio One Breakfast Show were treated to an extra special version of one of the pop star's top hits - all from the perspective of a wasp. A Stirling University lecturer played a star turn on the biggest radio show in the country this morning when she shared her extra-special cover - from the perspective of a wasp. Dr Rebecca Boulton is a lecturer in the university's School of Biological and Environmental Sciences who studies the evolution and mating practices of insects. However, she took her mission to spread the gospel about the positives of the often ill-regarded pests to the airwaves of Greg James' Radio One show and treated listeners to her version of Taylor Swift's 'Anti Hero'. Rebecca and host James sang along to the extra-special version - performed from a wasp's perspective - which was first penned by the lecturer and her friend for the Edinburgh Fringe. On the show, she explained about her work and also said the aim of the song was to "change the reputation" of wasps. After singing together live on air, James said to the Stirling expert: "Becky, that is so good, I love you for that and I love your brain. "Not only are you a lecturer, but you're a fun lecturer and that means you've changed the world!"# He then invited Rebecca back on to the show to perform more of her bizarre catalogue, including one track which she says discusses the topic of insect genitalia to the tune of Robin Thicke's song 'Blurred Lines'. On her personal page, Dr Boulton describes herself as an "evolutionary ecologist interested in how animals find mates, how many times they mate, and who they mate with". She continues: "I work with parasitoid wasps which are ecologically and economically very important. "Many parasitoid species attack pest species like aphids and caterpillars; healthy populations of parasitoid wasps can reduce and even eliminate the need for using chemical pesticides."
The Courier
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Stirling Uni lecturer joins Greg James on Radio 1 for Taylor Swift-inspired duet
A Stirling University lecturer has joined DJ Greg James to perform a duet on his Radio 1 show. Rebecca Boulton, known as Becky, joined the presenter on his breakfast show on Thursday morning. The pair performed wasp impressions to the tune of the Taylor Swift hit Anti-Hero. It came after Becky, a wasp biologist, wrote a parody of the 2022 song from the perspective of the insect for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. She hopes to change the reputation of wasps and highlight why they are important The song features lyrics like: 'I have this thing where I'm misunderstood by everybody, just cause I like to have my space.' Another line says: 'What they don't know is my sisters and I stopped a famine, so maybe get off of my case.' The song ends with: 'It would be nice if you started rooting for us anti-heroes.' After performing the song live on air, James said: 'Becky, that is so good. 'I love you for that and I love your brain.' He added that he had 'struck gold' after inviting her on the show and promised to join her for another duet. Becky then teased a Blurred Lines parody about the genitalia evolution of insects. The evolutionary ecology lecturer is a regular listener of the breakfast show. After hearing a segment about flies flying into people's mouths, she was reminded of her song and decided to get in touch. Becky told The Courier: 'Talking to Greg on Radio 1 and doing a duet of our song was a great opportunity to spread my love for wasps. 'It was Greg's idea to do the wasp voice, and I am always up for that sort of nonsense. 'It was great fun and certainly an unexpected series of events for what would have otherwise been a quite routine day of doing wasp genetic work in the lab.'
The Courier
2 days ago
- Health
- The Courier
How 83-year-old grandad inspired Stirling student Josh to set up university blood donor squad
Josh Wood has found a special way to connect with his grandad and start a new family tradition – while helping to save lives at the same time. The 26-year-old Stirling University student and his grandad Robert Smith, 83, now give blood regularly. And Josh, who is studying an honours degree in sport and business, has also set up a group at the institution encouraging other young people to roll up their sleeves. 'My grandad is one of my biggest inspirations,' Josh says. 'So it is nice to now be following in his footsteps. 'I had always heard about my grandad giving blood. 'So in 2020 I decided to start donating and he encouraged me. 'He was with me and it was a nice experience to do it together. 'We had a sweet treat afterwards which is usually a Tunnock's Teacake or a KitKat. 'It only took half an hour and it was nice to feel like I was making a difference.' This is why Josh is supporting The Courier's Be Our Blood campaign where we are asking people across Tayside, Fife and Stirling to register here and become a donor. Every blood donation can save up to three lives, but currently less than 3% of eligible people in Scotland give blood. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service needs 500 more people become a donor in our area this year. Josh is one of many locals across Courier country who are backing our campaign which is showing just how many lives have been saved thanks to blood donors. Grandad Robert reveals he was in his late 20s when he started donating. 'I had a lot of mates who were going to give blood so we all went and did it together,' he says. 'But when they stopped, I just kept it going. 'Giving blood saves lives. 'But I also felt it was beneficial for me. 'Because when the nurse takes your blood she checks it and you can find out how your iron levels are. 'So it's like having a health check four times a year.' Robert says he was delighted when his grandson started giving blood too. 'I am really proud of him for becoming a blood donor. He is a wonderful young man. 'It has been nice when we have been able to give blood together.' He adds: 'I try to give blood as many times a year as I can and I will keep doing it until they tell me I can't anymore.' Josh and Robert want to make blood donation a family tradition – with Robert hoping his other grandsons will follow suit. But meantime, Josh reveals that he has managed to persuade his dad Michael to become a blood donor too. Josh was taking part in a blood drive last summer in Ayr with his grandad when he spoke to a representative from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. He then discovered that while some Scottish universities had a 'Bloody Brilliant Uni Squad' (BBUS) initiative – like Dundee and Edinburgh – Stirling University didn't. So he decided to set one up. 'There was an induction day in Edinburgh in August that I went to,' Josh explains. 'I got all the information I needed from the charity Give Blood 4 Good (GB4G) to set up a university squad. 'I then started up a team in October.' The Give Blood 4 Good charity works with universities and other organisations to encourage blood donation among young adults 'I put an advert out at Stirling University trying to recruit new members and had four or five people reply. 'From there we set up educational stalls in the atrium, in the middle of Stirling University, where we tried to encourage people to sign up to become blood donors. 'We would walk them through the process. 'And we also did a quiz about why it is so important to give blood. 'We also try to bust some of the myths that might put people off from giving blood – like being scared of needles. 'It really isn't as bad as people think.' So far the Stirling BBUS – which is part of Give Blood 4 Good (GB4G) – has already made an impact. It's first blood drive last November welcomed 68 donors, 40 of whom were brand new donors giving their first donation. 'The biggest aim we have as a squad is to get people under the age of 24 donating,' Josh explains. 'This is because if we get them starting to do it at a young age they are more likely to continue donating throughout their life. 'The university is a great place to target students. 'And as it is such an active sporting university it's a place where students are more likely to do it. 'A lot of people don't really know about the benefits of giving blood – not only for others but also for themselves. 'One little sample of blood has the potential to save three lives. 'That's why blood donation is so important. 'It's about creating awareness and getting the message out there so we can keep the blood stocks as high as we can across Scotland.' He adds: 'My hope is to target first and second year students so we can get a few committed volunteers. 'So after I graduate there will be other students there to keep the squad going in the future.'
Press and Journal
18-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
The Ballater family whose cuddly bear helped thousands of children accept their stoma
Jenny Gow's daughter Eilidh was just three years old when she underwent life-changing surgery to have a stoma fitted. It was a frightening and confusing time; not just for the toddler, but for the entire family. 'We were told the stoma would make her well, and we jumped at that chance,' Jenny recalls. 'But the first stoma I ever saw was Eilidh's.' That moment — difficult as it was — planted a seed. And ten years ago, it bloomed into something extraordinary: A Bear Named Buttony. The Ballater-based charity, which Jenny launched with the help of local volunteers, now supports children and families across the UK who are living with stomas. Each child receives a cuddly bear, fitted with a replica pouch just like theirs, designed to make the experience less isolating. The idea for the bear came from a friend who sewed a button onto a soft toy as a stand-in for Eilidh's stoma. That original gift became Buttony. 'It just helped Eilidh feel seen,' Jenny says. 'And that's what the bears still do. They help kids see themselves. They say: this is normal, this is okay.' Now, a decade on, the charity is celebrating its tenth anniversary — and doing so with a very personal touch. A children's book, Nothing Can Stop Bear Now, is being launched this week, written by Jenny's youngest daughter Louise, a creative writing student at Stirling University. Louise grew up in the shadow of her older sister's condition. While Eilidh was in and out of hospital, Louise found it difficult to talk about the stoma. 'When Eilidh was younger, she wasn't comfortable with anyone knowing about the stoma,' Jenny says. 'There was so much stigma towards bowel disease generally. 'So Lou, as a younger sibling, found that difficult to not be able to talk about what was happening.' The new book tackles this head-on, showing how powerful it can be to talk about things openly. '[Louise] would never say she had anything other than a good childhood,' Jenny says, 'but it clearly wasn't easy. 'When there is a chronically ill child in the family, there was a lot of attention on one child and the other child having to make do.' Eilidh, now 27, still lives with a permanent stoma, which was the result of a congenital issue with bowel development. But she's also living a full life, studying film directing at Glasgow's Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and doing so, in her mum's words, 'with no fear'. 'She bungee jumps. She goes for everything. Maybe that's come from what she's already had to face,' Jenny says. Though the early years were tough, Eilidh is a proud supporter of the charity she inspired. 'She loves what it's become, that it helps other kids realise they're not alone.' And as for the stoma itself? 'She used to say it was prettier than a bumhole,' Jenny laughs. 'And at the end of the day, poo is poo — doesn't matter where it comes from.' Over the past decade, more than 11,000 Buttony Bears have been sent out to children across the country. But it's not just the children who benefit. 'We had a message recently from a granny,' Jenny says. 'She told us her grandson's bear helped the whole family adjust — his sister, his cousins, his aunts and uncles. That was really powerful to hear.' Another parent wrote to say their child, once too embarrassed to go to school, had changed their attitude after being given a colourful pouch cover: 'He's been showing everyone who wants to see it. Thank you for changing his outlook.' One message said simply: 'Buttony Bear is magical.' It's feedback like that which keeps the entirely volunteer-run charity going. Based in Ballater, the team includes around 45 people, five of whom have been with Jenny since day one. 'It's a labour of love,' she says. 'Some of us have no personal connection to stomas — they just see the difference it makes and want to be part of it.' Much of the stigma around stomas, Jenny believes, comes from lack of exposure and conversation. It is something she's determined to change. This year, the team will launch an educational pack for schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, designed to explain how the gastrointestinal system works and why some people need stomas. 'We want kids to grow up understanding it,' Jenny says. 'If you explain things early, they're not scary anymore.' She's also seen progress in wider society, not least from celebrities who've spoken publicly about their own stomas, including comedian Louie Green. 'Louie's an adult with a stoma,' says Jenny, 'but he was gifted a bear to help his children adapt and they found that really helpful.' As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, Jenny and her team launched Louise's new book at the Darroch Learg Hotel in Ballater last month. As part of the celebrations, anyone can pay £5 to sponsor a book for a Buttony child. Among the special touches was a letter of support from Queen Camilla, a local Deeside resident who has long championed community causes. 'It's really special,' Jenny says. 'It means a lot to have that kind of support — but honestly, what matters most is the children.' And though Jenny is already looking to the next 10 years, she's able to look back with pride on what the Ballater charity has achieved. 'We never imagined it would grow like this,' Jenny says. 'We just knew we had to do something.'
