Lending Voices

Mairi takes a quick look at the book, The Voids, this week. Author Ryan O'Connor delivers a haunting yet darkly lyrical debut set in a condemned Glasgow tower block. The Voids asks hard questions about belonging and purpose - an unsparing yet tender exploration that will linger long after the final chapter.Find it in our catalogue.

Mindfulness the Journey, Not the Destination is more than a self-help book. It is an amazing journey of self-discovery, understanding and knowledge that brings clarity and motivation into every aspect of our lives.By practising mindfulness every day, we can achieve a deeper understanding of who we are.The author takes us on her own personal journey through life. She encourages us to become the drivers of our own lives, based on mindfulness, compassion and gratitude.By working towards keeping our minds healthy, we will not only help ourselves but every other precious life we encounter along the way. Our mental health is key to how we choose to live our lives, as:“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.”  (The Dhammapada)

In this episode, Heather and James chat about the Wise Mentoring service and how it helps families take positive steps forward. From money worries to mental health, digital skills to energy advice, they explain how the service works and what kind of tailored support they can provide. And it won’t affect your benefits!It’s a friendly and honest look at a service that’s all about lifting people up when they need it most.Don't know where to start? Talk to us. Contact our team using the details below.Tel: 0141 303 3131 (option 8)Email: relationalmentoringscotland@thewisegroup.co.uk

Descent into MS A podcast by Grahame BrownEpisode 2: Making Use of Broken Pieces and MS ThinkingIn this four-part episode, Grahame Brown explores the cognitive and emotional effects of Progressive MS. Through personal stories, reflection, and dry humour, he examines how the condition affects memory, thought, and self-understanding.Part 1: Reframing the Broken Grahame shares three memories: a ruined tower seen on childhood visits to his granny, a chaotic bullfight in Madrid, and an imagined white horse tethered to a roundabout. These moments explore how damaged or invented things can still offer direction, comfort, or meaning, especially when life becomes difficult to navigate.Part 2: Misplaced Meaning A story about a broken statue mistaken for a lucky charm becomes a reflection on how we assign value when familiar roles are lost. Humorous but pointed, it raises questions about usefulness, embarrassment, and the stories we build to make sense of change.Part 3: Disruption, Memory and Meaning Grahame describes the period before his diagnosis, marked by confusion, low moods, and intrusive thoughts. He recalls the shift that came with understanding his symptoms as neurological, and contrasts this with memories of childhood in the 1980s, now experienced as both nostalgic and alien.Part 4: Support and Survival In closing, Grahame reflects on how shared experience and conversation offer a way through. Exchanges with others who have MS help make sense of what is happening. He returns to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to explore the limits of escape and the quiet act of staying, not fixed but present.Resources and Links:One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Ken Kesey / Milos Forman)Revive MS Support GlasgowMS Society

This short podcast is a personal description of how MS affects me: my thoughts, feelings, and the daily challenges I face living with this life-limiting condition.My Descent into MS: An Abstract View is part of a series exploring the impact of Multiple Sclerosis, treatments, medications, and the support available through the NHS, charities, and local groups. Featuring personal stories and interviews, the series sheds light on living with MS and the help that’s out there.Resources & Links:Dylan Thomas: "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"MS Revive GlasgowSt Andrew's Hospice – Outpatient ServicesMS Society

Welcome to our third LGS inclusion podcast!  I saw this quote below and felt it perfectly sums up what this podcast is all, about much better than anything I could write! “One day I dream that we can grow in a matured society where nobody would be ‘normal or abnormal’ but just human beings, accepting any other human being – ready to grow together”.The Mind Tree - Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay

In her latest episode Mairi talks about Edgar Allen Poe's creepy classic, The Fall of the House of Usher. This eAudiobook also contains lots of Poe's best known and lesser-known tales. Why not give her review a listen and see if you fancy this scary book!Find it on BorrowBox

The Multiply Music Project was created by adults who attend Rutherglen Universal Connections, a vibrant community centre in Burnhill that's part of South Lanarkshire Council's Youth, Family, and Community Learning service.Running every Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm, the group offers adults (school-leaver age and up) the chance to explore and develop music-related skills, including:🎹 Playing instruments✍️ Songwriting🎧 Audio editing🎙️ PodcastingRecorded by the Lending Voices team, this podcast marks the group's exciting first step into producing and editing their own audio content. The members are already gaining confidence with the equipment and look forward to creating many more episodes.In this episode, Pete and Barry share lively stories of teenage life in the '80s, and revisit some unforgettable songs that defined their younger years.Tune in, turn it up, and step back into the '80s! 🎶✨

Welcome to The Happy Tuesday Club!Join the warm, friendly, and lively chat with members of the Whitehill Adult Literacy Group as they share stories about their journey, the fun activities they enjoy, and the supportive tutors who help them along the way. Discover their experiences at Craighead School, memories from past work placements, and the sense of community they've built together.There's plenty to smile about in this heartfelt episode, especially with a special musical treat as the group sings together, wonderfully accompanied by their volunteer worker on guitar. Featuring Wet Wet Wet, Neil Diamond & The ProclaimersFor more information about our Adult Literacy and Numeracy services, please visitAdult literacy and numeracy and English for speakers of other languages - South Lanarkshire Council.