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VELUX Launches National Photography Competition
Stripe Communications

VELUX Launches National Photography Competition

Daylight expert and roof window manufacturer, VELUX has launched a UK-wide creative photography competition to encourage the nation to celebrate daylight. The competition is open to all levels of photographer and offers entrants the chance to win the trip of a lifetime to the Arctic Circle.

Launched to coincide with the changing of the clocks, as daylight becomes ever more precious, the ‘Lovers of Light’ photography competition invites amateur and professional photographers alike to capture a moment that brings light to life.

Entries to the VELUX Lovers of Light competition must submit a landscape photograph that appreciates the important role daylight plays in our daily lives and everyone who submits a qualifying image will also be in with a chance of appearing as part of an animated short film made using only still photography.

One winning photograph will be chosen by a panel of expert judges and the lucky entrant will experience a once in a lifetime trip – four nights for four people at the uniquely designed Treehotel nestled in the treetops of the magnificent Boreal Forest, Sweden, in the Arctic Circle. Images must be submitted before 28th February 2013 to have a chance of winning the prize and the lucky winner will be revealed on 31st March 2013 – the date when the clocks go forward one hour to take advantage of the changing light conditions as the days get longer.

To enter the competition, find out more and read full terms and conditions, visit www.velux.co.uk/loversoflight

Sight-see for free this St Andrew’s Day
Stripe Communications

Sight-see for free this St Andrew’s Day

Minister for External Affairs and International Development Humza Yousaf today unveiled a packed programme of events to celebrate Scotland’s Winter Festivals.

This year’s programme includes more sponsored community events than ever before, designed to encourage everyone – whatever age or interest – to get involved in celebrating three key Scottish cultural dates.

Starting with St Andrew’s Day on November 30, a series of free or discounted offers will encourage Scots to take part in activities and experiences on their own doorstep and sight-see close to home.

New for this year, the successful Visit for Free programme has been expanded to include sports centres as well as visitor attractions and community events. Famous attractions including Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth, Inverness’s Highland Wildlife Park, Aberdeen’s Sports Village and Glasgow’s Tall Ships are offering free or discounted entry.

Starting with St Andrew’s Day and spanning Christmas, Hogmanay and Burns Night on January 25, Scotland’s Winter Festivals brings together Scots across the globe in an international celebration of our distinct culture, heritage and creativity. This year the number of sponsored community events happening across Scotland has increased from 12 to 17.

For the full Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme, including Visit for Free offers and details of sponsored events, go to https://www.scotland.org/winter

Survey supports campaign to encourage Scots to get ready for winter
Stripe Communications

Survey supports campaign to encourage Scots to get ready for winter

Scotland’s Minister for Transport and Veterans, Keith Brown, British Red Cross Operations Director for East Scotland, David Miller and COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Well-being, Cllr Peter Johnston, launched the Scottish Government’s Ready for Winter? campaign this week,  encouraging everyone across the country to ‘think ahead’ and get ready for all kinds of severe weather.

While around 40 per-cent of people in Scotland say they feel prepared for severe weather according to new research published, people are being asked to look at all aspects of their preparedness through this year’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign.

Findings from the survey carried out jointly by the British Red Cross and the Scottish Government showed that:

• 39 per cent of people said that they were prepared for periods of severe weather • People are most concerned about power cuts, being cut off from water supply or disruption to fuel supplies (41 per cent) • The vast majority of car owners (76 per cent) think they are doing enough to prepare for poor driving conditions with just an ice-scraper and de-icer

In the last three years parts of Scotland have been badly affected by severe weather – from the damaging storms of early 2012 to the snow and freezing temperatures of the previous two winters which were among the worst in decades.

The campaign includes a range of online resources and will feature integrated marketing activity across TV, local press, radio, news websites and social media, and is due to run until mid-November.

A national roadshow will also take to the streets, visiting all local authority areas across the country, offering practical information and guidance on preparing for all kinds of severe weather.

For more information please visit here.

A.G. Barr unveiled as Official Supporter of Glasgow 2014 Games
Stripe Communications

A.G. Barr unveiled as Official Supporter of Glasgow 2014 Games

A.G. Barr has been revealed as an Official Supporter of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The company, whose links with Glasgow date back more than 100 years, will be supporting the Games through its wide portfolio of brands including: IRN-BRU, Scotland’s ‘other national drink’, Rubicon, the UK’s number one exotic juice drinks range, as well as Strathmore Scottish spring water and Barr, Scotland’s favourite range of soft drink flavours.

A.G. Barr with supply over one million bottles of Strathmore spring water to the Athletes’ Village and IRN-BRU, Strathmore, Rubicon and Barr will be made available across Glasgow 2014 venues.

The company has a long history of sports sponsorship dating back to the early 1900s when IRN-BRU was associated with sporting heroes of the day Donald Dinnie, all round Champion Athlete of the World, and Alex Munro, Champion Caber Tosser of the World and Champion Wrestler.

In more recent times, there is Rubicon’s association with Twenty20 cricket in 2010/11, Strathmore’s support for Glasgow and Edinburgh Road Races, IRN-BRU’s backing of the Scottish Football League and its support for the Rugby Football League in England as well as its sponsorship of Glasgow-based Queens Park FC.

New survey reveals 40% of Scots still not sure how to address mental ill-health in Scotland
Stripe Communications

New survey reveals 40% of Scots still not sure how to address mental ill-health in Scotland

 

To coincide with Scottish Mental Health Week, ‘see me’, Scotland’s national campaign to end the stigma of mental ill-health has reiterated its commitment to challenge the attitudes of some people towards mental ill-health in Scotland.

A YouGov survey commissioned by ‘see me’ has revealed that while 60 per cent of Scots say they would not find it hard talking to a person with a mental health problem, a sizable number of Scots are still unsure how to address mental ill-health.

‘see me’ hopes that by making it clear there is support available out there, more and more people will feel able to speak out about what they are going through and get the support they deserve.

For those living with mental ill-health, the attitudes and reactions of family, friends and workmates can have a big impact on how they feel. ‘see me’ wants to encourage people to think about their own attitudes towards mental health and how they can better support those around them.

To help address stigmatising behaviour, ‘see me’ is launching a new smartphone app. Entitled “Defeat Stigman