SBH Scotland | Latest news

“We need to focus on what disabled people can do; not what they can’t”

Clare Cogan Turner — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:12:00 +0000

Doug Ross lives with spina bifida. He has devoted his professional life to supporting disabled people into employment and supporting them in the workplace.

“It took me eight months to get funding and I’m still facing another long wait to get access to respite. The process is leaving me feeling more tired and overwhelmed”

Clare Cogan Turner — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:07:00 +0000

Leanne Belch is mum to Amber, 6, who has spina bifida and hydrocephalus and Laila, 12, who has arthritis.

“The constant battle to live fully in an inaccessible world is becoming increasingly difficult for many of us”

Clare Cogan Turner — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:27:00 +0000

Amjid Majeed is a regular attendee at SBH Scotland’s adult social groups, where he has found connection, belonging and most importantly, friends for life. He plays an active role in his community supporting charitable activities including an initiative to recycle used mobility aids and share them with those in need in developing countries. He said:

SBH Scotland launches ‘Choose Opportunity’ campaign

Clare Cogan Turner — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:23:00 +0000

Bread and flour to be fortified with folic acid to prevent birth defects

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:04:00 +0000

New legislation has been introduced that will help prevent around 200 cases of brain and spine defects in babies each year in the UK by fortifying non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid.

The legislation requires millers and flour producers in the UK to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid by the end of 2026.

Cumbernauld Farmers Market is back with a new indoor venue for Christmas!

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:53:00 +0000

Cumbernauld Farmers Market is back with a bang on Saturday 7th December! This special Christmas-themed extravaganza is taking place at a new winter indoor venue, the Antonine Shopping Centre!

Cumbernauld Farmers Market
Saturday 7th December 2024
9am - 4pm
Antonine Shopping Centre, Cumbernauld.

Come along and get all your Christmas shopping done under one roof! Shop the wide array of stalls selling a range of fabulous gifts, home accessories and artisan produce from 9am – 4pm. Special guests like Eric the Christmas Elf will even be popping in for photo opportunities with children (and adults)!

Minister praises innovative spina bifida service “helping disabled young people grow”

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:27:00 +0000

Natalie Don, Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise visited the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh on Wednesday to find out more about a project run by NHS Lothian and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland.

NHS Lothian’s Spina Bifida Transition Clinic, delivered in partnership with SBH Scotland, brings together all the services needed to enable a young person’s transition from paediatric to adult care and facilitate wider support with transition into adulthood. The Transition Clinic is the only fully integrated clinic of its kind for people with spina bifida in Scotland.

A Christmas Appeal making sure families get support at the most challenging of times

Clare Cogan Turner — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:47:00 +0000

Last year little Amber McRae wasn’t able to spend Christmas with her family. Instead, she spent six weeks in hospital after undergoing gruelling and risky skull expansion surgery. Amber has spina bifida and hydrocephalus and the surgery was the last chance to try and bring down the pressure in her head caused by hydrocephalus and save her life.

SBH Scotland helped to support the family as they navigated this incredibly difficult time. Now Leanne and Amber are teaming up with the charity to launch a Christmas Appeal to raise funds to support other families going through the same thing this year.

Celebrating the return of Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ festive fundraiser in Edinburgh

Clare Cogan Turner — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:35:00 +0000

Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ venues in Edinburgh have welcomed the return of their ‘GReat Donate’ festive fundraiser, which raises money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland.

Charity CEO, Lawrence Cowan took charity mascot, Spiney the Diney, along on Wednesday 30th October for a special campaign launch at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants’ Bread Street Kitchen & Bar on St Andrew’s Square to celebrate the return of the ‘GReat Donate’ fundraiser.

CEO dresses up daily as dinosaur to raise vital funds

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:15:00 +0000

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland Chief Executive Lawrence Cowan has gone Jurassic this month by launching a #DineyDays Challenge to fundraise for the charity’s vital support services!

For every £100 raised, Lawrence has committed to donning the charity’s mascot ‘Spiney the Diney’ costume for a whole day. This means completing daily tasks including getting the train, doing the school run and hosting important meetings, all while dressed up as a giant blue dinosaur!

Mum inspires Isla to ‘zip it’ for SBH Scotland

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:08:00 +0100

Student Isla Horsburgh, 19, from Edinburgh took to the sky over Glasgow’s River Clyde to raise money for a cause that is very close to her heart, SBH Scotland.

Isla, who is studying medicine, was inspired to take part in Zipslide the Clyde on the 31st August and raise money for SBH Scotland in honour of her mum Gillian Horsburgh (both pictured), who has spina bifida. Isla’s mum Gillian is a member of SBH Scotland and is supported by the charity. She regularly attends SBH Scotland’s adult social groups in Edinburgh where she thoroughly enjoys getting out and meeting up with her charity friends.

3 incredible weekends of zipslide raise £163,000 for SBH Scotland

Clare Cogan Turner — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:20:00 +0100

SBH Scotland is absolutely thrilled to announce that this year’s Zipslide the Clyde event is set to raise a phenomenal £163,000! Over three incredible weekends from the end of August—70 brave participants soared through the skies to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland). And the excitement doesn’t stop there, as throughout September, over 1,530 people took on this thrilling event on behalf of 65 other wonderful charities across Scotland.

A High-Flying Adventure for a Good Cause

Zipslide the Clyde has quickly become a beloved charity event, offering a thrilling, one-of-a-kind way to see Glasgow’s stunning cityscape while raising much-needed funds for vital causes. Participants are launched off a 100ft-high crane next to Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, soaring across the Clyde River on an exhilarating 1,245ft journey. It’s not only a heart-pounding adventure, but a chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Call for clarity on government spending cuts

Clare Cogan Turner — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:26:00 +0100

Reacting to the Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison’s statement in Parliament on Tuesday, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland CEO, Lawrence Cowan said:

“The talk of further ‘difficult decisions’ ahead is incredibly concerning.

Give us a Chance - Sign our Open Letter to the First Minister

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 14:19:00 +0100

The Scottish Government has announced budget cuts are coming and SBH Scotland are calling for the First Minister to protect disabled people from cuts - giving everyone a chance in life. Help us by signing our Open Letter.

#passcodeinc#formbutton#Tap here to sign our letter#

Chisholm Hunter is hitting new heights for SBH Scotland

Clare Cogan Turner — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:01:00 +0100

Staff members at Chisholm Hunter are taking to the sky this September as part of an ambitious challenge to raise over £5000 for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland. The luxury jewellery brand has been supporting the charity for more than 30 years, but this is the first time that such a huge team is coming together to take part in one activity, SBH Scotland’s Zipslide the Clyde event.

25 Chisholm Hunter staff members have been inspired to take part after seeing the impact of SBH Scotland’s work in supporting families living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus across Scotland. Zipslide the Clyde offers a unique and thrilling way to see Glasgow’s cityscape whilst raising all-important funds. The challenge sees participants launched off from a crane next to Glasgow’s Riverside Museum for an exhilarating 100ft high and 1245ft long adventure.

School Students inspire school staff’s Kiltwalk for charity

Clare Cogan Turner — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:30:00 +0100

A team of eight staff from Dales Park School in Peterhead successfully completed the Aberdeen Kiltwalk, raising an impressive £1451.25 for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland.

The epic 17.8 mile challenge from Duthie Park to Bellfield Park saw the team comprising Martin Wright, Wendy Gibson, Beverley Buchanan, Vikki Stephen, Craig Howie, Judith Cardno, Katherine Matthew and Margaret Buchan walking in solidarity and raising awareness for a charity close to their hearts.

Bogleha Bowling Takes Fundraising Total to over £16,000

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:30:00 +0100

Bowlers from across Cowal, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and the Kingdom of Fife travelled to Bogleha' Bowling Club on Saturday 27 April for their 11th annual charity invitation mixed triples, competing for the Lynda Weir Memorial Trophy.

This popular tournament is the regular curtain raising tournament in the Cowal outdoor bowling calendar, and the players were blessed with glorious sunshine throughout the day.

Influencer Guru joins SBH Scotland as Ambassador

Clare Cogan Turner — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:34:00 +0100

SBH Scotland are delighted to announce Scottish communications expert, social media trailblazer, host and presenter Adam Stewart as our new Ambassador.

Adam (24) from Cumbernauld, was introduced to the charity at the end of 2023 and couldn’t wait to look at ways he could utilise his many skills to support all the families helped by SBH Scotland.

Reece Donnelly Announced as Ambassador for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland

Clare Cogan Turner — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:27:00 +0100

Specialist disability charity, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland is delighted to announce Scottish entrepreneur, actor, and presenter Reece Donnelly as its newest Ambassador.

Reece has been involved with the charity for over a year and is now stepping in to increase his involvement to support all families helped by SBH Scotland. With a diverse career in the entertainment industry spanning projects such as Waterloo Road (BBC), appearing on the 17th season of The Apprentice (BBC) and launching his own business podcast “The Scottish CEO Show” he will be joining other high profile names such as Gordon Ramsay OBE and Paralympian Meggan Dawson Farrell in supporting the charity.

Hospital Saturday Fund donate £14,000 to SBH Scotland

Clare Cogan Turner — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:48:00 +0000

The Hospital Saturday Fund donated grants to twenty-five Scottish charities at a special reception hosted at Glasgow City Chambers on 29 February 2024. In total, £110,000 was donated to the charities at the event, which was hosted by The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councilor Jacqueline McLaren.

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, received a grant to fund a specialist nurse in the West of Scotland and other charities such as Clan Cancer Support received grants which will be used to fund support such as complementary therapy sessions.