Letters, February 3 2023

“Go Red” this month for British Heart Foundation

 

You many know me as the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2022 – but what you might not realise is that I am also a researcher funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), working to help save and improve lives from heart and circulatory diseases.

 

This February is Heart Month and I’m urging you to help the BHF save lives today by learning CPR and save lives tomorrow by 'Going Red' to fund vital research. ​

 

The BHF has developed RevivR – a first-of-a-kind tool – which helps you learn lifesaving CPR free in just 15 minutes.

 

All you need is a mobile phone and a cushion. It could mean the difference between life and death in the ultimate medical emergency.

 

​​And to help save lives tomorrow, we're calling on you to 'Go Red' any way you can this February.

 

From red cupcakes and red costumes to red-faced running challenges, your fundraising can power ground-breaking research.

 

So please show your support for the BHF this Heart Month – bhf.org.uk/heartmonth #HeartMonth

 

Dr Syabira Yusoff, BHF-funded researcher and Great British Bake Off winner 2022.

 

Ensure puppies are bred healthily and not just for profit

 

Following the BBC Scotland Disclosure programme The Dog Dealers, which aired on Tuesday January 24, pet charity Blue Cross is appalled that puppies are being deliberately bred with life-affecting deformities and that the painful practice of ear cropping continues, despite being against the law.

 

We are calling on the government to improve legislation around dog breeding and demand enforcement to prosecute breeders and others who practise horrific ear cropping.

 

We urge anyone considering getting a puppy from a breeder to ensure they are being bred with their health and welfare at heart and not just for profit.

 

It is only by not buying from these unscrupulous breeders that deformities and exaggerated features in puppies will ever be stamped out.

 

Tracy Genever, head of welfare standards and education, Blue Cross.

 

Counting down the days to NSPCC's Number Day

 

Schools across Scotland were encouraged to sign up to NSPCC Number Day to help more children engage with and enjoy maths.

 

Number Day is aimed at nurseries and schools, with teachers and pupils raising vital funds for the NSPCC.

 

The event takes place today (Friday February 3) and is being supported by veteran children’s TV presenter and maths enthusiast Johnny Ball.

 

The funds raised from Number Day could help fund NSPCC schools' programmes like Speak Out Stay Safe, which teaches children in an age-appropriate way to recognise the signs of abuse and speak out if something is worrying them.

 

Our schools' team is recruiting new Speak Out Stay Safe volunteers in specific areas of Scotland to deliver workshops in primary schools to years five and six.

 

To find out more about becoming a Speak Out Stay Safe volunteer, please email volunteerrecruitment@nspcc.org.uk

 

Alan Stewart, schools service manager, NSPCC Scotland.