Following complaints from an increasing number of constituents arising from the lack of grass cutting in rural cemeteries, Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Alex Fergusson has written to Council Chief Executive Gavin Stevenson asking that the policy be reviewed immediately. Speaking from his constituency office Mr Fergusson said:-
“I understand that, as part of the budget agreement, cemeteries with less than 2% of the overall number of burials in the Region will only have the grass cut three times a year and that the grass will simply be left to rot. Those with over 2% will be cut fifteen times a year.
“This is not only discriminating against rural communities, which pay their Council Tax just the same as their urban counterparts, but it is a slap in the face for those with family members interred in those cemeteries.
“Not only that, but the increasing numbers of visitors who come to our Region to research their ancestral history will be horrified trying to find their family headstones. It doesn’t take much imagination to realise that their impressions of our Region will hardly be glowing.
“I have therefore written to the Council’s Chief Executive asking that this policy be revised. Given the incredible growth of grass that we have seen during the month of May, I trust he will do so with some considerable urgency.”
Artists from Cumbria, Ayrshire and the Borders Leap into Spring Fling Neighbours scheme gives high quality artists outwith Dumfries and Galloway the chance to join Scotland’s premier open studios event
Five excellent artists from Ayrshire, the Borders and Cumbria are exhibiting in the prestigious Spring Fling visual art and craft open studios event.
Spring Fling in Dumfries and Galloway, which takes place from 24-26 May, is recognized as the leading event of its kind in Scotland, largely because all the participants are hand-picked to guarantee their quality.
The Neighbours scheme was developed to strengthen links between the arts communities in D&G and surrounding areas of England and Scotland.
This year sees provides a chance to see work by three highly distinctive exhibitors from Cumbria, a superbly talented willow weaver from Ayrshire and a Borders painter with a passion for the Scottish coast.
Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “The artists from neighbouring regions each bring a real fizz to Spring Fling – they are a hugely accomplished group covering all sorts of different areas of visual art and crafts.
“Ceri Allen’s paintings of scenes from urban life are really compelling, and Heather Davies’ abstract landscapes have already proved very popular at the recent Spring Fling exhibition in Newcastle, while Dorothy Ramsay’s work has a superbly lively and colourful character.
“We are really pleased to welcome Geoff Forrest back again, his willow weaving is of the highest quality and visitors love to watch his demonstrations. It’s great to be able to bring someone to Dumfries who is normally tucked away in the tranquil remoteness of Loch Doon.
“Deborah Campbell’s exhibition of work inspired by the Scottish coastline will really be worth seeing. She has a wonderful style that really captures the essence of our beaches and oceans.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming visitors from all over Scotland and England to this year’s Spring Fling – with 95 studios to choose from it will be a wonderful way to enjoy the bank holiday weekend.”
About the artists
Ayrshire
• Geoff Forrest – willow weaver from Lardoughty Farm, near Loch Doon, Ayrshire, exhibiting at CatStrand in New Galloway.
“Spring brings the end of the living willow season and finds me back in the studio sorting willow ready to make baskets, leaf forms, figures, strangely named platters and a host of other twisted, woven, tensioned objects. The seasons govern and influence all I do.”
What to expect: “In my temporary residence at the CatStrand I will be demonstrating making plant supports while answering your willowy questions and explaining the techniques of willow weaving. I will have a range of woven objects and some interesting things growing in pots… curious?”
Borders
• Deborah Campbell – visual artist from Peebles, exhibiting in Langholm Town Hall.
“My work is an exploration and expression of the coastal landscape; I take inspiration from the detail that occurs through the interaction of the land and sea. I like to work outside responding directly to my subject using acrylic and watercolours.”
What to expect: “I will be exhibiting my new collection of paintings, drawings and textiles inspired by the coastal scenery of Scotland. I will also have my sketchbooks on show and plan to be working on some large charcoal drawings throughout the exhibition.”
Cumbria
• Ceri Allen – painter specialising in urban scenes, from Carlisle, exhibiting in Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.
Ceri Allen is interested in portraying the figure in an urban environment using traditional picture making techniques. Her oil paintings are worked from preparatory sketches, photographs and memories. The Etchings are interpretations of her painted work.
What to expect: Visitors will find a working artist’s studio. They will have the opportunity to see the materials and equipment used – including source material used in production of the painted work. They can also view and participate in the ‘daily drawing’ which will be on display.
• Heather Davies – abstract landscape painter, from Penrith, Cumbria, exhibiting in Rockliffe.
Heather’s work is an emotional response to the natural world. Her choice of colour varies from intense reds to subtle greys and even black. This often sombre palette adds a sense of drama to the finished painting, creating a mysterious mix of reality and abstraction.
What to expect: “I have been painting in Scotland for over 30 years, and am therefore delighted to be part of Spring Fling. I will show my preparatory drawings and demonstrate my working methods. Original framed paintings, reproductions and greeting cards will be for sale.”
• Dorothy Ramsay – painter and printmaker from Penrith, Cumbria, exhibiting in Dalton Village Hall.
“I am a painter/printmaker. The drawings are ether interpreted in a romantic realism or taken into an abstraction. My subject is landscape using the drawings done outside. The work is lively and often colourful. The etchings and wood cuts allow me to be playful and produce art work which can be sold at a reasonable price.”
What to Expect: “I will, if space allows, bring my etching press and demonstrate this method of creating editions of drawings. If you are stuck with your own drawings I am happy to attempt some encouragement. I will be working on a current oil painting.”
Have a go at creating your own works of art at Spring Fling studios
Leah Black , Spring Fling Director
Create artworks, win prizes, decorate pottery or make jewellery – this year’s Spring Fling is offering lots of family friendly fun.
Scotland’s premier open studios visual art and craft event takes place in Dumfries and Galloway from 24-26 May and makes an ideal day-trip or weekend away for families.
A total of 95 high quality artists, makers and designers are taking part, with many of them laying on special activities for visitors.
Leah Black, Spring Fling Director, said: “Our exhibitors go out of their way to make people welcome. There are great opportunities to have a go at different art forms, some of them very messy and fun, or to win original works of art.
“Having a toddler myself, I know how good it is to have things available for them to enjoy, especially creative ones where they can take something home afterwards.”
Some of what’s on offer includes:
• Clare Melinsky, Thornhill, illustrator: Make a linocut print of one Clare’s lovely illustrations from Gruffalo author and former children’s laureate Julia Donaldson’s new book Poems to Perform.
• Ailsa Black, Kirkbean, painter: Children can make their own greetings cards for free in Ailsa’s Art Corner.
• Geoff Finch, Potter, Dalton: Colourful fun squirting paint to create Spin Art, glaze and decorate pottery, see the Raku kiln fired up or do some face painting. See Spin Art in action: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up2jrQDfSjs
• Jo Gallant, Castle Douglas, textiles: Create your own motif and have it stitched onto a tote bag. Jo also has a toy box and there’s room outside to run around.
• Lisa Rothwell-Young, Langholm, jewellery: Have a go at making earrings or your very own charm.
• Leeming + Paterson, Dalry, photographers: Bring your own camera for photo workshops, plus photography competition. Children’s refreshments, big Lego box and plenty of space to play.
• Geoff Forrest, New Galloway, willow artist: Geoff will make willow wands with children and bird feeders with adults. The CatStrand where he exhibits has toys, books and a café.
• Phil McMenemy, Laurieston, photographer: Guess the name of the calf competition. His mum’s name is Clarice and Phil has pictures of him on display. The gallery has a large child-friendly garden.
• Sarah Keast, Moniaive, visual artist: Draw your own design and use the special machine to make a badge or fridge magnet. Have a go at printing updated versions of quirky Latin poetry on an Adana press.
• Angela Lawrence, Castle Douglas, painter: Guess the location in one of Angela’s paintings and you could win an original.
• Colin Blanchard, Waterbeck, original printmaker: Colin creates wonderful wildlife images – you can have a go at pulling your own print.
• Marilyn Crawford, Dunscore, painter: Tea, coffee, lemonade or cola, soup, bread, cake and a walled garden with sundial, pond and newts to wander.
• Lisa Hooper, Port William, original printmaker: Try Provincetown printing, a variation on Japanese woodblock printing virtually unknown in Britain.
• Val Macadam, visual artist, Kirkbean: A table with pre-printed outline drawings, with coloured pencils and crayons available for children, or adults, to try out. Plus, win a print by guessing the number of crayon stubbs in a jar.
• Silvana McLean, visual artist, Moniaive: Drawing table and choice of 72 different coloured pencils.
• John Threlfall, Rockliffe, visual artist: Children can ‘have a go’ at pastel painting.
• Kim Ayres, castle Douglas, photography: Prize draw for a photo shoot.
• Kay Ribbens, Kirkcowan, textiles: A children’s corner, basket of toys, paper, crayons etc, pile of books for all ages. Also families are welcome to picnic in our 12 acres of wild garden.
• Joyce Woodcock, Moniaive, textiles: A table loom, floor loom, tapestry loom, peg loom, cardboard looms and a rag rug frame set up which anyone can have a go on.
• Hannah McAndrew, Kelton, potter: Try out slipware decorating techniques using the tools of the trade.
Also, painter Julie Dumbarton has a special project. She has painted 99 mini canvases for Spring Fling which people can buy for £65 each.
Please note that some activities are free but charges apply for others.
It is with great disappointment Scottish Youth Theatre has decided to withdraw summer festival courses in Dumfries. Due to lack of applications from young people in the Dumfries area the financial viability of the Festival was compromised. The small number of applicants from Dumfries resulted in additional funding not a being made available. Scottish Youth Theatre and others have tried everything within our power to ensure these courses were available to the young people who have been our priority through out the process.
Dumfries audition dates announced for Scottish Youth Theatre’s prestigious Summer Festival.
Scottish Youth Theatre has announced the audition dates for its first ever Summer Festival 2014 performance courses in Dumfries.
Young people from Dumfries and Galloway could become the next Gerard Butler or Karen Gillan by attending the auditions which will be held on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June at the Electric Theatre Workshop, Dumfries.
Summer Festival is a flagship national course for young drama enthusiasts from across the country. From 21st July – 9th August young people can take part in a variety of performance courses. Funded places and bursaries are also available for young people in and around Dumfries.
Previous participants of Scottish Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival include Hollywood star Gerard Butler best known for his roles in Law Abiding Citizen and 300; Karen Gillan, Dr. Who’s flame- haired assistant Amy Pond; Douglas Henshall of Shetland and Kirstie Steele of Waterloo Road.
Young performers who attend the Summer Festival will also form the cast and crew of a brand new production of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, adapted and directed by Scottish Youth Theatre’s Artistic Director Mary McCluskey. This highly entertaining and engaging production brings Barrie’s beloved story back to the town where it was originally conceived.
Graham Main, Artistic Director of the Electric Theatre Workshop in Dumfries , where the performance courses will be held, said: “Electric Theatre Workshop is delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Youth Theatre. The Summer Festival courses in Dumfries are a great opportunity for young people locally to get professional performance training which could lead to a career in drama.”
Local Moffat teenager, James Charlton (18), who took part in last year’s Summer Festival, went onto hold one of the leading parts in the successful production ‘Now’s the Hour’ about the Scottish Independence Referendum through the eyes 16 & 17-year-old actors & first time voters.
James said: “I feel like Summer Festival really defined what I wanted to do in the future, which is becoming an actor. I loved working with such skilled people who supported me every step of the way. I made a whole bunch of new friends too.”
‘Now’s the Hour’ has been so popular it will be running at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. James, who was praised by reviewers for his performance and stage presence in ‘Now’s the Hour’, added: “I would definitely recommend Summer Festival to anyone who wants to find who they are and what they really want to do.”
Mary McCluskey, Artistic Director of Scottish Youth Theatre added: “Scottish Youth Theatre’s Summer Festival has something to offer everyone “Every summer, hundreds of young people who are passionate about theatre and performance take part. It gives young people a fantastic insight in to the thriving world of theatre and the opportunity to make friends with other young people their age with the same interests”.
The following Summer Festival Courses are available: 3-week Performance Course, 16-25 yrs; Intermediate Ensemble Course, 14-18 yrs; Foundation Course, 12-15 yrs.
To apply for Summer Festival or for more information on funded places go to www.scottishyouththeatre.org, call 0141 552 3988 or email: info@scottishyouththeatre.org. Apply now to book an audition.
Celebrated local musician Wendy Stewart and four of Scotland’s leading harpers will perform The Song of the Oak and the Ivy at Moniaive and Castle Douglas as part of this year’s Dumfries and Galloway Art Festival.
Wendy, along with Mary Macmaster, Bill Taylor, Heather Downie and Corrina Hewat will use nine different harps between them to a wonderful 45 minute piece.
The Song of the Oak and the Ivy was written in 2011 by Corrina Hewat. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Harp Festival to celebrate their 30th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the Clarsach Society.
It premiered at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, April 2011 and has also been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 2011; Cromarty Arts Trust, September 2011; Victoria Halls, Dunblane, September 2011 (included two days of school workshops); Celtic Connections, Glasgow, January 2012; Lorient Interceltic Festival, Brittany, August 2012;Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 2013.
The group is currently applying for funding to make a studio recording.
Wendy said: “If you thought you didn’t like harps but love jazz, classical, traditional or any good music, come and have a listen.
“Expect contrapuntal fireworks, tender jazzy waltzes, electric harp storms and homecoming reels.
“Don’t expect your usual harp concert, though the first half will satisfy that need very adequately with Gaelic and Scots song, ancient wire harp pibroch and dance tunes.
“Do come for a truly great concert of clever, clever music.”
The first concert takes place in Castle Douglas Town Hall on Saturday. The second takes place at Glencairn Memorial Institute, Moniaive, on Sunday. Both concerts start at 7.30pm.
Tickets to both concerts are available from the Midsteeple Box Office, Dumfries, tel: 01387 253383.
Also on the stage over 16 and 25 May is a trio of ground-breaking theatrical performances.
With a five-star review in the Herald Scotland this week, Oran Mor’s lunchtime theatre experience of A Play, A Pie and A Pint, presents Voices from the Black that I Am, a quartet of monologues reflecting on the eponymous play of award-winning Jamaican playwright Karl O’Brian Williams. Voices will be heard at the CatStrand, New Galloway, on Sunday, 18 May. Watch the performance with a pie and a pint in an informal and cheery atmosphere.
The personal theatre experience continues with Pirates and Mermaids in Gatehouse and Thornhill. This is a passionate, moving and funny transatlantic love story set in both New York and a small coastal village in Scotland. This 90-minute production staged for small audiences sees actor Jeremiah Reynolds deliver an acclaimed solo performance in a small setting. Pirates and Mermaids takes place at the Mill on the Fleet, Gatehouse, on Saturday, 17 May, at 2pm and 4pm; and at Thomas Tosh, Thornhill, on Sunday, 18 May, at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.
Drama al fresco, takes the form of a one-woman outdoor show in Moffat and Dumfries in Wee Betty. Catherine Major plays a dual role of young teenager and old farmer in this thought-provoking regional tale of hopes and dreams of home. Wee Betty takes place at Meikleholmside Farm, Moffat, on Friday, May 23, at 6.30pm. A show bus will be waiting outside Moffat Town Hall at 6pm to take audiences to the farm where the outdoor stage is set. The performance then moves to Mill Green, Dumfries, on Saturday, 24 May, at 6pm.
Consent granted for Ewe Hill wind farm.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has granted consent for a wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, while refusing permission for a similar sized scheme in the Scottish Borders.
Consent has been granted for the 22-turbine wind farm at Ewe Hill, six of which already had planning permission from Dumfries and Galloway Council. At the same time, an application to build the 21-turbine Rowantree wind farm near Oxton in the Scottish Borders has been refused on the grounds of noise impacts to nearby residents, in addition to visual impacts.
The Ewe Hill project represents a £65 million investment by developer ScottishPower Renewables, and will have a generating capacity of up to 51MW. It could power the equivalent of approximately 24,000 homes in the area.
It is expected to deliver the equivalent of around 80 short-term construction jobs, with further employment opportunities likely to arise during the decommissioning process.
It is also estimated that around £20 million will be spent on the construction of civil and electrical infrastructure, with ScottishPower Renewables seeking to encourage contractors to hire from local suppliers, where possible.
Over the operational life of Ewe Hill Windfarm, ScottishPower Renewables expects to deliver the equivalent of £5,000 per MW of installed capacity per annum towards community led initiatives, totalling around £6.3 million over the lifetime of the development, and is currently in discussions with local communities on how to take this fund forward.
Commenting on the granting of consent for the Ewe Hill wind farm, Mr Ewing said: “The Ewe Hill wind farm will create a significant number of jobs, as well as generating power for many thousands of homes. “It’s encouraging to see that a solution has been found to deal with the aviation radar issues which have held the proposal up. “Projects like this provide considerable benefits to the local community, and play an important part in helping Scotland reach its target of 100 per cent of electricity demand generated from renewables. “The Scottish Government wants to see the right developments in the right places, and Scottish planning policy is clear that the design and location of renewables projects should reflect the scale and character of the landscape, as well as being considered environmentally acceptable. “That is why I have refused permission for the proposed wind farm at Rowantree, which would have brought unacceptable environmental impacts to people living in the area.”
A DAD from Dalbeattie who dropped dead like heart scare footballer Fabrice Muamba is celebrating being brought back to life — by running a MARATHON. Dalbeattie Dad-of-three , Ex-soldier Steven Mckillop is lucky to be alive after his heart dramatically stopped for over TEN MINUTES back in 2012.
The ex-soldier was only saved when a quick-thinking pal raced Steven in his car to the local doctor’s surgery, where he was zapped back to life.
The 46-year-old is using his second chance to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and grinned: “I’m a dead man running. Steven was enjoying a tea break in pal Frank Stitt’s van when he suffered a massive cardiac arrest on July 26, 2012.
College lecturer Steven, from Dalbeattie, Dumfriesshire, said: “The very last thing I remember is Frank saying ‘Are you going to give me a drink of that water?’. I was joking ‘No’ and that was it. Bang.
“I had no pain, there was no feeling of being unwell — but that was it. Frank says he just turned round and my whole upper body was shaking in a spasm. He said my eyes were just dead.
“The only thing he could think of was to put my seat belt on and race me to the clinic in Dalbeattie a mile away.
“Frank was panicking. He went the wrong way down a one-way street and got beeped at. He ran in and shouted he needed a doctor. Dr Sebastian Pflanz took over. He couldn’t feel any pulse.
“They got a defibrilator and luckily for me it picked up a trace of something and Dr Pflanz pressed the button. One blast and I was back.”
Steven back in his military days
An ambulance rushed stricken Steven to the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, where he was put in a medically induced coma for three days.
Steven said: “I vividly remember wretching as they pulled a pipe out of my throat.
“I was stunned when people explained what had happened to me because I was only 44 and had never been ill in my life. I’m one hell of a lucky guy to still be here.”
“I remember thinking ‘What’s going on? Why am I being sick? Who are these people?’.
He added: “I’ve been fitted with the same device as Fabrice Muamba.
“The Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator fits in your chest and leads go into your heart.
“If anything like what happened happens again, it will automaticvally defibrilate me. I feel like the bionic man.”
Understandably, Steven’s confidence was rocked by his sudden health scare.
Steven with his Family
He said: “It was certainly a shock to my wife and kids. They were on eggshells when I came home, not wanting me to do anything.
“My wife actually said to the kids, ‘I bet when your dad wakes up the first thing he does is apologise’ and funnily enough that’s what I did.
“I just felt bad for them. I thought, ‘By God, what have they been going through here?’.
“You go from a feeling that you are invincible to suddenly you are all too aware of your own mortality. I’d get anxious.
“I spent a long time, as most people do in these situations, feeling a bit down.
“I’m absolutely over the moon that I’m still here but when I was sleeping, I was very, very worried. I’d wake up panicking.
“I’d always kept myself fit running 10km races and the odd half-marathon but it took about nine months to get my head round wanting to run again.
“I gained three stone in weight until one day I said ‘Right, that’s it. I want to run’.”
Steven’s now determined to prove himself by tackling the gruelling Edinburgh Marathon.
“I’d told myself that if I managed that, I’d sign up for the Edinburgh Marathon.
He said: “In November I grew a moustache for Movember and set myself a charity challenge of running three miles every day for the whole month.
“There were no ill effects so that was when I decided to go for it.
“My wife’s understandably still a bit paranoid. On long runs she follows me on her bike feeding me jelly babies and just checking I’m still alive.
“If you look at me, you’d think ‘There’s no way he’ll run to the end of the street let alone a marathon’.
“I describe myself as a ‘fit-fat’ guy.
“I’m the wrong shape to run — but I can run.
“I want to cross that Marathon finishing line thinking ‘That’s me, I’m back’.”
Steven said in a recent interview “I want to say ‘Thank you’ for all the help and support I’ve had. It sounds cheesy but without it all I wouldn’t still be here.
“I’m doing this for a cause but I’m also doing it for me. I need to prove to myself that I’m still physically able.
“My wife was worried when I told her I was planning to do the Edinburgh Marathon and my only goal is to finish it ALIVE.”
You can make a donation to the British Heart Foundation go to www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Steven-Mckillop
Story and photo’s Shared on DGWGO with Full Permissions from Callan Media
Scottish Government is being urged to adopt new land eligibility rules in its future CAP schemes and help reduce the red tape burden on many Scottish farmers.
NFU Scotland has highlighted in a letter and briefing to Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead that significant changes to land eligibility standards are available in the new CAP and these could reduce burdens at farm level. In a win-win situation, the Union has also pointed out to the Cabinet Secretary that the new eligibility rules could also relieve competent authorities, such as SGRPID, from both administrative costs and the risks of disallowance.
NFU Scotland has offered to work with Richard Lochhead and his officials to ensure that flexibilities available on setting the eligibility of land for support payments can be incorporated in the new CAP schemes from 2015 onwards.
Given Scotland’s current review of the red tape associated with the industry, the briefing has also been sent to Brian Pack, the industry figure leading the review.
NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller said:
“The current rules require claimants to map every area of ineligible land such as gorse, bracken, scree, track and pond in support of claims. Asking farmers to quantify both hard and soft ineligible features over Scotland’s farming landscape has been an almost impossible challenge.
“The ever-changing face of our land makes accuracy difficult but, if subject to inspection, the cost of getting the maps wrong is penalties and disallowance.
“Sensitivities over getting eligibility right and avoiding the risks to claims incentivise the removal of landscape features that greening policies have been designed to protect. We have previously demonstrated these issues to the European Commission when officials have visited Scotland.
“In Brussels, we proposed the inclusion of features eligible under the Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) requirements as eligible land and the introduction of tolerances or coefficients to avoid complex mapping but still recognise when landscape features are part of a land parcel.
“The Commission has responded positively. EFAs features are now considered eligible and a coefficient mechanism can allow land parcels which are 90 per cent eligible land to be accepted as 100 per cent eligible.
“These new flexibilities are a true simplification which benefits all parties – the farmer and the competent authority – while protecting both biodiversity and landscape values. It is imperative that they are built in to Scotland’s implementation of the CAP reforms package to optimise both environmental and production outcomes.”
STAY SAFE ONLINE Police Scotland is committed to building safer Virtual Communities for everyone. We want to help young people enjoy the benefits of the Internet by being able to Stay Safe Online, says Police Scotland Community Safety Inspector Stuart Wilson.
“All children and young people need to understand they should only share pictures online that they are happy with friends, family and others seeing. They also need to know how to keep their personal information private and to contact an adult if they feel threatened. This follows a recent case in Dumfries and Galloway which Police Scotland are currently investigating where inappropriate photographic images were put online by a local man who understood he was speaking to a female online. The man has since been contacted with threats that the video clip would be published online unless a sum of money was paid into a named account. Inspector Wilson said “we want people to think about what they share, and to think about the consequences as thousands of children and young people are being bullied, blackmailed or harassed because of photos or video clips they thought were private, went viral and became public.”
Further information about our Stay Safe Online campaign can be found on the Police Scotland website www.scotland.police.uk
Comments, photos and videos you post or share make up your digital footprint, even if you delete it, there is still a record of it.
• Do you really know your online friends? Think about why and how you know people and if you are not friends in real life you shouldn’t be online.
• Never be forced into doing anything you don’t want to do.
• Block people who send cruel or offensive messages and tell someone about it. Also, don’t send them either.
• Don’t open links and attachments from people you don’t know.
• Never arrange to meet someone you have met on the internet.
• Sexting is never a good idea. Once images have been taken and sent to others, control is lost of them and they can end up anywhere. Just think – if you wouldn’t print and pass these images around your school or show them to your mum or dad, then don’t share by phone or other technologies.
• If you receive an indecent image or a naked selfie from someone, do not send this image onto others or respond with one of you – report it.
• Always tell an adult you trust. For more information please visit Choices for Life; Thinkyouknow or Childnet International.
• If you are upset or worried about an image you have sent or received, you can call Childline on 0800 1111, or Police Scotland on 101.
• There are lots of places you can go to get more information and advice. The more people who know the tips the safer we will all be.