whatsongala

#whatsongala
What’s on in Galashiels?
Local Health Advice
Local Travel Advice
Contents
Page 1-2 What is #whatsongala?
Page 3-4 What’s on in Galashiels?
Page 5-6 Local health advice
Page 7 Local travel advice
#whatsongala
Page i
What is #whatsongala?
My Story... Charlotte Redpath
I first realised the issue of rural isolation
when some of the young people in my
village were complaining about having
nothing to do. On reflection I realised that
when I was younger I didn’t feel there was
much to do either. This is partly to do with
the fact that my village, Fountainhall, is 12
miles from the nearest town and the buses
are every half hour. When I was younger,
activities and groups in Galashiels were
never advertised therefore I never knew
about them. I realised that the issues of
rural isolation I faced when I was younger
are still quite apparent and not a lot is
being done to resolve them.
Young people need social
interaction to help them develop
and grow into young adults. Rural
isolation defers this process which
can sometimes leave young people
feeling lonely and very bored. If
these issues are not addressed the
situation can become worse than
just feeling lonely.
Page 1
#whatsongala
Young people in rural areas need to
be thought about and included when
planning and implementing activities.
Often they are forgotten about in terms
of bus times and finding out about the
activities in the first place. It is important
that young people from all around the
Borders feel involved in social events
and activities.
All young people will benefit from
this project. It hopes to reach out to
young people and inform them of social
events and activities that they can attend
as well as relate to personal issues they
may be facing. Hopefully young people
will be able to relate and will benefit
from knowing they are not the only ones
out there that face these issues.
I want to see more young people
from rural areas being involved in
activities and events. I’d like to see
advertisements in rural areas as well
as suitable times and areas that
these events are held. I hope that
young people, in time, feel like they
are more able to socially interact
with friends and peers through
social events and activities available
for them.
#whatsongala
Page 2
What’s on in Galashiels?
EMERGING EVENTS
facebook: www.facebook.com/EmergingEventsOfficial
twitter: @EmergingEvents
Emerging Events is a company
set up to organize events for the
young people in the local area and
to catch some of the local DJs
from the Borders, whilst bringing in
bigger names in the music scene
where possible. Emerging Events
also supports charities, by donating
a percentage of the money they
raise from each event to a different
charity every time.
BORDERS SPORTS
AND LEISURE
web: www.bslt.org.uk
Check out the website for tons of
sports activities for all ages in the
local area!
TD1 YOUTH GROUP
address: TD1 is based at 47a
Ladhope Vale, Galashiels (just next
to bus station, in front of B&M’s).
tel: 01896 752 442
facebook: www.facebook.com/
td1youthhub
twitter: @TD1YH
If you’re bored and want
somewhere to hang out head
over to the TD1 youth group.
There’s a pool table, internet
access and places to chill.
PAVILION CINEMA GALASHIELS
web: www.pavilioncinema.co.uk
address: Pavilion Cinema, Market Street,
Galashiels, TD1 3AF
tel: 01896 752767
Check out the website for the latest
cinema showings. Remember your
Student Matriculation Card, or ‘Rewards
for Forces’/MOD90 identy card for
discount rates!
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#whatsongala
THE FOCUS CENTRE
web: www.focuscentre.co.uk
address: The Focus Centre, Livingstone
Place, Galashiels, TD1 1DQ.
tel: 01896 752636
Queens Leisure Centre
offers activities from
fitness classes to roller
skating! Check out their
website for timetables.
The Focus Centre offers
education, recreation and
leisure-time activities in the
heart of Galashiels.
QUEENS LEISURE CENTRE
web: www.sportborders.org.uk/queens-leisurecentre.html
address: Marigold Drive, Galashiels, TD1 2LP
tel: 01896 753873
SKATE PARK
address: Eastlands Road,
Galashiels, TD1 3BU
#whatsongala hashtag!
If you have an event coming up in
Galashiels add the hashtag #whatsongala
to your posts on facebook, twitter and
other social media sites!
Remember to set your post to public so
that others can see it.
#whatsongala
Page 4
Local Health Advice
MENTAL HEALTH
Dear Charlotte,
When my doctor first referred me to Penumbra, an
organisation that offers emotional support, I too
thought I was going mad. After a couple of sessions
of support and guidance I began to realise that I
was merely having a difficult time and needed to
talk to someone outside the situation. In almost
eight months I was able to learn new things and
challenge myself. I now feel I can work through my
issues and use strategies that Penumbra helped
me develop. I learned that there are many different
aspects to mental health and that you should never
be afraid to ask for help.
People associate ‘mental health’ with
patients in special hospital units, or
‘loopy’ people. This is not the case at all.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health
Services (Andrew Lang Unit, Selkirk)
web: www.nhsborders.org.uk/healthservices/services/child--and--adolescentmental-health-services-andrew-lang-unit,selkirk
address: Andrew Lang Unit,
Viewfield Lane, Selkirk, TD7 4LJ
tel: 01750 23715
Penumbra (ages 16-21)
web: www.penumbra.org.uk
tel: 0131 475 2380
The Andrew Lang Unit is the base for the Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Service in the
Borders. It provides assessment, treatment
and support for children, young people and
families who are having problems.
LGBT
LGBT Youth Scotland
web: www.lgbtyouth.org.uk (Click on
the ‘Hide me!’ tab on right hand side for
privacy).
facebook: www.facebook.com/lgbtys
twitter: @lgbtys
get in touch: [email protected]
tel: 01896 755 110
Page 5
Penumbra
Borders
Youth
Project
encourages people to talk about their
problems on their own terms in a friendly
non-judgemental way. They offer emotional
support and advice to young people
experiencing any difficulties relating to their
mental health and wellbeing.
LGBT Youth Scotland is the largest youth &
community based organisation for lesbian, gay,
bisexual & transgender (LGBT) young people in
Scotland. In the Central Borders, LGBT Youth
Scotland run a weekly youth group for LGBT
young people aged 13 – 25 every Wednesday
from 5.45pm till 7.45pm. Youth group activities
include games nights, topical LGBT workshops,
sexual health and relationship workshops, guest
speakers and DVD nights.
Online and one to one support is also available.
Visit our website, Facebook or Twitter page for
more details.
#whatsongala
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
Dear Charlotte,
Drugs and alcohol don’t just affect
the abuser, they can affect their family
and friends too.
My Mother is an alcoholic and I never noticed until
I was in my early teens. It got progressively worse
and she started to forget things and do dangerous
things unknowingly. When she was angry I got the
blame and I was threatened if I ever suggested telling
my Dad. Eventually I plucked up the courage to tell
him how I was feeling and a year later my parents
separated. I still don’t have a good relationship with
my Mother and it affects my relationships with other
family members. I sometimes just wish she would see
it from my side, everyone else’s side... but she won’t.
face2face (Young people 11-18 & Parents)
web: www.face2faceborders.com
tel: 01896 668811
face2face borders are a non-profit organisation
providing advice, education and one to one
support on alcohol, drugs and volatile substance
abuse.
SEXUAL HEALTH
GUM Clinic
web: www.borderssexualhealth.org.uk/Galashiels
address: The Health Centre, Currie Road,
Galashiels, TD1 2UA
tel: 01896 663700. 9am - 1pm. Monday to Friday.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Change4Life
web: www.nhs.uk/change4life/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/change4life
twitter: @Change4Life
app: search “change4life” in your application store.
#whatsongala
Hey Chlo, I slept with that
guy the other night, after we
had been out. I don’t know
what to do next?
Omg really? Maybe you
should get checked out, he
has a bit of a reputation...
Does he? But wouldn’t
know where to go or who to
speak to?
Just call the health centre
and ask for an appointment
with the GUM clinic. It’s
really simple. All they do is
take your name and number
and no one knows who you
are because it’s over the
phone :)
Great advice Chlo! I’ll just do
that! Thanks for your help, I
don’t feel as scared now :)
Change4Life aims to help
families and adults make
small, sustainable yet
significant improvements to
their diet, activity levels and
alcohol consumption. It uses
the slogan “eat well, move
more, live longer.”
Page 6
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Local Travel Advice
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
First Bus
web: firstgroup.com/ukbus/scotland_
east/ or www.firstborders.co.uk
twitter: @FirstScotland
app: search “First Bus” in your
application store.
Bus timetables can change all the time...
check out the handy journey planner
and service updates on the First Bus
website.
Megabus
web: uk.megabus.com/routemap.aspx
twitter: @megabusuk
Tweet questions to megabus @megabusuk
Mon-Fri 9-5! Check out their website and
select ‘Galashiels’ from the dropdown menu
to see services to Bolton/Horwich, London,
Manchester and Preston.
National Rail
web: nationalrail.co.uk
twitter: @nationalrailenq
app: search “National Rail” in your
application store.
Tweet queries to nationalrail
@nationalrailenq 24/7!
USEFUL APPS
Traveline Scotland
Search “Traveline Scotland” in your
application store.
Next Buses
Visit: www.nextbuses.mobi on your
mobile device.
This is really handy for planning
your journey quickly on the move!
Add a shorcut to your homescreen
for quick access!
Page 7
#whatsongala