http://onthesilverside.co.uk Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:00:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en New findings released by the British Journal of Psychiatry have shown that 14% of teenage youngsters in Scotland have self-harmed; a further 14% have harboured thoughts of self harm; 4 in ten expressed a wish to be dead. This is a cry for help which cannot be ignored. The results ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/06/scottish-teenagers-in-despair/ The Scottish Government has released figures which show that since April 2008 almost 700 Scottish pensioners who applied for a free benefits check have received  £801,456.  Most of the money came in the form of  increased Pension Credit,  Attendance Allowance or a full Council Tax rebate. Every pensioner who applies to ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/06/financial-health-check-for-pensioners/ With financial doom and gloom all around it is encouraging to hear that almost 300 Scottish projects will benefit from the first round of the 2007-13 European Structural Funds programme. Something in the region of  £200 million has  been allocated to support economic development, enhance skills, increase turnover and help ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/06/funding-for-core-skills/ The new year is starting with a major row between the  Scottish Government and Westminster over the funding of a new Forth road bridge. Scottish ministers want the Treasury to bring forward money due to the Holyrood administration over a number of years to pay for the crossing. The bridge ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/05/no-budget-for-bridge/ * To commemorate the year of Homecoming the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society have commissioned a special 'Homecoming Dance'. Following in the tradition of reels and strathspeys danced the world over the new dance will be spreading through dance societies around the globe. *  Witness Scotland's historic Border towns compete ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/05/homecoming-2009-events-in-january/ Source: Scottish Government: Highland Heartbeat, a popular Scottish music entertainment programme, will capitalise on the interest in Scottish culture and Homecoming 2009 when it airs across the US in February on the US 'free-to-air' channel PBS. The programme will include the Homecoming Caledonia advert and will reach tens of millions of viewers. ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/05/highland-heartbeat/ The Scottish Government has announced its plan to make Scotland's schools  greener under a new initiative to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. To tie in with the requirements of the Scottish Climate Change Bill the local government education departments will have to work closely with 'Carbon Trust' in order ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2009/01/05/scottish-schools-go-greener/ Shoppers in Dunfermline have been enthralled by the antics of one of the peacocks from the town's Pittencrieff Park. In an effort to beat the winter chill the birds often wander up in to the town for a bit of retail therapy, but one particular peacock has taken a particular ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2008/12/19/pittencrieff-percy-parades-in-peacocks/ Some fascinating research has shown that here in Scotland we still like our Christmas traditions to include turkey and steak pie; and that we actually want to, and like to, buy local produce despite the overwhelming range of goodies offered by the supermarkets. 66% of Scots will choose a traditional roast ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2008/12/19/turkey-triumphs/ The political leaders in Holyrood joined together to announce the release of  an updated events guide for Homecoming Scotland 2009. More than 300 events and festivals are planned, all aimed at celebrating Homecoming through  culture, heritage,Burns, whisky, golf,  innovation and ancestry. Among the many new events just announced  is 'Iconic Burns', an ... http://onthesilverside.co.uk/2008/12/19/homecoming-2009-programme-launch/