Sir, I write as the recently retired rector of Woodmill High School, Dunfermline.
It was with a great deal of concern I read about the threat to the continued existence of the Talk Matters counselling service in West Fife because of lack of funding. In particular I am deeply uneasy that the associated service for West Fife schools Headroom could also fall victim to financial pressures.I was rector of Woodmill when the Headroom counselling service was set up in the school, initially on a trial basis, and then as a key element in the school’s support for pupils which has now been available for over six years.Mental health issues across the spectrum are on the increase among young people with family break-up, bereavements domestic violence, bullying, eating disorders and self-harm among the common factors. Without appropriate intervention these factors have a detrimental effect on young people’s life chances, most noticeably in a failure to attain their full academic potential.Headroom provides a service to West Fife students which is based on early intervention and a speed of response not provided by other services. In Woodmill, students meet their counsellor in a purpose-designed therapeutic environment in which to discuss their problems.Councillor Neale Hanvey quotes a guidance teacher as saying that Headroom has “counselled students from the brink of suicide”. From my own experience I can vouch this is no exaggeration and can cite examples of pupils who have been brought from the depths of despair to a position where they were able to fulfil their ambitions whether in employment or a place at college or university.Health and well-being lies at the heart of the new Scottish curriculum. I would suggest that Fife Council would not be fulfilling its duty in this regard if it allowed Headroom to disappear from West Fife schools.The service it provides cannot be replicated and undoubtedly takes the pressures off other services. The costs involved are relatively small given the positive, life-affirming impact which Headroom has on the lives of many students.Michael J Gilmour.124/29 Lothian Road,Edinburgh.Scots could then decideSir, At last we have the “legal” position for an independent Scotland in Europe from the very portals of Westminster.The same old chestnut, “Scots will have to reapply to the European Parliament as a newly independent country”, is still being peddled by the so-called legal experts in London (and the Better Together campaign). Now can someone enlighten us Scots as to what happens if they vote “yes” in the campaign for independence.Surely post-independence the citizens will be entitled to vote on whether to stay in Europe or leave it? (Norway doesn’t do to badly outside Europe.)At least a newly independent Scotland will give its citizens the opportunity to have a referendum over the European issue instead of waiting along with the rest for a “promised” referendum from Westminster. That has yet to be realised after the connivance of the unionist parties to avoid one.By throwing this option of being outside Europe to those who are thinking of voting “yes” to independence the Better Together campaign may have given Scots valid reason to vote for independence and allowing those that live in Scotland rights that have been denied them being within the union.Bob Harper.63a Pittenweem Road,Anstruther.A lamb to . . .Sir, I am so glad that Stefan Morkis did not chicken out of sampling horse meat, even if he did feel sheepish, he was not cowed by the prospect. I suppose that you were all egging him on and although he must have been beefing about it you soon whipped him into shape.From his picture, you also made him ham it up. I expect you got his goat in the end and he went like a lamb! I must say that “eating on the hoof” was rather below the fetlock!John Dorward.89 Brechin Road,Arbroath.Contradiction is “barmy”Sir, Fergus Ewing’s new announcement on Renewables Obligation Banding Review is a bad step backwards. It says: “Ministers believe that there should be a greater focus on biomass in smaller scale energy projects wherever possible, and in generating stations which are either heat only or which capture and use heat alongside the electricity generated.”Then it says: “As such, Scottish ministers have decided to introduce a slightly higher installed capacity ceiling of 15 MW under the RO [subsidy] in Scotland”, which is an encouragement to build big. A total contradiction in policy. This is barmy!The report goes on to list serious concerns about the effect of increasing demand for wood: potential social, economic and environmental impacts. “We believe that these are strong arguments.” So, “[We] therefore intend to hold to our proposal that a restriction be placed on the size and type of biomass fuelled station which can receive support under the RO.”However, the report does not refer to the fact that the government is prepared not to restrict but to support the type of highly inefficient plants such as the one proposed for Dundee, which will only produce half the amount of heat that it should.A loop-hole allowing virtually any biomass plant access to subsidies has not been closed. Forth Energy’s three proposed power stations could attract more than £5 billion in subsidies.Mary Henderson.36 Luke Place,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.