By Val Sweeney, Inverness Courier 19 November 2024

Inverness barber backs new campaign launched by mental health charity Mikeysline

An Inverness barber is urging men not to be embarrassed about talking about their feelings as part of a new mental health campaign.

Sean Macleod (21), who has his own business in King Street, is backing the new campaign #MikeyslineMirrorMission being run by Highland mental health charity, Mikeysline.

The charity is putting a call out to local barbers and ultimately hopes to roll out it out other places such as hairdressers, beauty salons, tattooists and gyms.

The campaign aims to encourage men to talk and not to wait until they are at a crisis point to reach out.

It has been launched as part of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month which runs throughout November to raise awareness of men’s health issues and encourage men to seek help if needed.

“You don’t have to feel embarrassed about opening up about your emotions and feelings,” Sean said.

Sean, who has been a barber for the last three-and-a-half years, has put up campaign stickers on the mirror in his shop and is also donating £1 from every haircut to Mikeysline up until March when he will do the Inverness Half Marathon for the charity.

For more information, visit www.mikeysline.co.uk – or find Mikeysline on Facebook and Instagram.

Mikeysline win Inverness Bid City Centre Charity of the Year

On 14th November, we were absolutely delighted to receive the ‘City Centre Charity of the Year’ Award at the Inverness City Centre BID  2024 Awards.

It was a fantastically organised evening with a great atmosphere in the room and we sincerely congratulate all the other winners and runners up who won highly commended awards and everyone who was shortlisted and present on the evening.

This award is especially important to us as we were nominated, shortlisted and chosen as the winner of this award via public vote, demonstrating the amazing support for our charity across the Inverness community.  We really appreciate people taking the time to vote for our charity and for the thought and kindness this demonstrates.

At Mikeysline, we care deeply about making a real difference and being that confidential, non judgmental listening ear for local people in our  community.  So, on behalf of everyone at Mikeysline, we would like to express our gratitude and say thank you for this acknowledgement of the hard work and efforts carried out by our amazing volunteer and staff team 365 days a year.

 #BeeTheChange #ItsOkNotToBeOk

For more information, visit www.mikeysline.co.uk – or find Mikeysline on Facebook and Instagram.

Siobhan encourages Sir Jim Walker to try the new Mikeysline scarf

Fashion with purpose: Mikeysline to sell new tartan scarves to support mental health

Highland mental health and suicide prevention charity Mikeysline is weaving Scotland’s heritage into mental health advocacy with the launch of its new tartan scarf collection.

Created in collaboration with acclaimed Black Isle designer and Mikeysline ambassador Siobhan Mackenzie, the limited-edition collection combines the timeless appeal of Scottish tartan with a powerful message: to support those struggling with mental health across the Highlands.

Centred around Mikeysline’s key messages of “it’s ok not to be ok” and urging us all to  “bee the change” to change the dialogue around mental health in Highland,  the scarf features black and yellow bumblebee stripes woven into the traditional tartan pattern and is finished with a bumblebee pin.

Designer Siobhan Mackenzie recently debuted the new scarf alongside Sir Jim Walker of Walker’s Shortbread during a visit to New York City, where she received the prestigious Young Scot Wallace Award from the American Scottish Foundation. The Young Scot Wallace Award recognises young Scottish individuals making remarkable contributions in their field, with Siobhan honoured for her distinctive impact in fashion.

During her time in New York, Siobhan showcased the Mikeysline tartan against iconic city backdrops, bringing global attention to the tartan and its mission.

CEO of Mikeysline, Emily Stokes, said: “We can’t thank Siobhan enough for the hard work and skill she has put into these products. Seeing the Mikeysline tartan worn on the streets of New York really is quite something. 

“To us, the new collection is more than just a fashion statement; it’s a heartfelt tribute to our rich Highland heritage and a tangible symbol of our commitment to mental health and suicide prevention support in Highland. By integrating the bumblebee stripes into the design, we hope it can be a reminder to all that it’s ok not to be ok and that support is all around, as well as igniting conversations around that.”

With every scarf sold, Mikeysline’s supporters are helping to fund mental health services for those in need across the Highlands.

Crafted from premium Scottish wool and priced at £40, the scarves are available online, with all proceeds directly supporting Mikeysline’s essential work.

To purchase a limited-edition Mikeysline scarf, please visit https://shop.mikeysline.co.uk.

Since 2015, Mikeysline has offered confidential, non-judgemental support to people of all ages dealing with mental health issues, emotional distress or thoughts of suicide in the Highlands, Islands and Moray. It does this via a text line service at 07786 207755; WhatsApp at 01463 729000, messenger and via its website and live chat.

The charity also produces a popular podcast, Speaking of Suicide; provides support for businesses; works closely with teachers and pupils in schools across the north of Scotland; and offers face-to-face support in Hives across the region – at its Inverness headquarters and in Alness, Nairn, Tain, Portmahomack, Thurso and Elgin. Here, service users can engage in one-to-one support or, at some venues,  join in group sessions for adults, men, families and school communities.

For more information, visit www.mikeysline.co.uk – or find Mikeysline on Facebook and Instagram.

Following on from last year when Mikeysline’s very own Ross and Callum Kinnaird won HTSI’s Youth Volunteer of the Year Award, we are absolutely delighted to announce that Mikeysline Community Volunteer, Darrel Patterson, has been awarded the HTSI Volunteer of the Year Award 2024.

We are so proud of Darrel and his achievements as a member of our wee team.

Darrel said “Volunteering with Mikeysline is so rewarding, I am very passionate about driving forward the message of Mikeysline, everyone has Mental Health and the more we do to talk about it, defeats the stigma associated with it. Mikeysline is a grassroots charity and is totally reliant on the fundraising efforts from volunteers and the support of people across Highlands and Moray. When I first started volunteering as a Fundraiser for Mikeysline I was shocked and continue to be so, that there is no statutory funding provided, The work Mikeysline do is so important, every suicide is heartbreaking and here in the Highlands it is still more prolific than anywhere else in the UK in Men, so continuing to be a fundraising volunteer so that Mikeysline message and services can be reached far and wide is so important. I believe in what Mikeysline continue to do to help people, and being part of the wider team and supporting them with fundraising is so rewarding, anything I can do to help the charity I will do.”

This award doesn’t take into account length of service but instead focusses on proving the impact that his volunteering role has had on Darrel’s personal growth and development.

For those of you who may not know Darrel, he joined the Mikeysline team during lockdown and has worked tirelessly networking with the business community to secure funding to help keep our services operational which is super important for a grass roots charity like ours that receives no statutory funding and is reliant on the generosity and kindness of the public and businesses. Darrel also helps with our events and promotions securing sponsorship and ticket sales to cover the costs of our events and he also takes part in our own fundraisers such as Miles for Mikeysline as well as helping with stalls.

On behalf of everyone at Mikeysline – Congratulations Darrel!

By Rachel Smart, The Inverness Courier

A two-night dancing extravaganza raised more than £50,000 for a Highland mental health charity.

Mikeysline’s Glitterball saw 18 dancers take centre stage at Inverness’ Drumossie Hotel.

Leann Hunter and Dale MacLennan were crowned the winners last Friday night while Michelle Newell and Craig Taylor were the Saturday night winners.

Emily Stokes, chief executive of Mikeysline said “Like the judges, two of whom each night were technical judges, we were blown away by the standard of the dancing each evening and the entertainment this offered to our audience.

We are so grateful to all of the dancers for their incredible commitment and support they have provided to Mikeysline, for putting on such a show over the weekend and for helping to highlight and raise funds for our charity over these past six months”

The format was a Toe2Toe trained dancer dancing with a non-dancer.

Each contestant found a corporate sponsor and this helped pay for their costumes.  They were trained for both a Latin and ballroom dance by Tristan Hill and Jennifer Hill, who own and run Toe2Toe Dance in Inverness.  “We are unbelievably proud of every single one of our competitors”, said the trainers.  “Not only did they work so hard on perfecting their dance routines, but they raised a phenomenal amount of vital funds for Mikeysline with every penny raised going towards helping them to continue their vital work. Heartfelt thanks to our corporate sponsors and everyone who has donated to their journey along the way”

Ms Stokes added “With regards to our partnership with Toe2Toe Dance we could not be happier that Tris and Jen chose to partner with Mikeysline.  We have loved the whole process.

A couple of us at Mikeysline already attend their dance lessons and we would strongly encourage anyone who was at one of our fundraisers to either consider signing up for next year’s event or to check out what Toe2Toe Dance can offer you from beginners Latin and ballroom classes to a range of dance fitness classes.  Dancing can be so joyous and beneficial for your mental wellbeing.

From the start of our friends at Stagecoach were there with us and have given us enormous and invaluable support to run this event.

Our friends at HIS, they came on board as our entertainment sponsor, enabling us to have the wonderful Dancing with Sharks as our live band.

Each of our 18 dancers had a separate corporate sponsor.

We were supported by our judges, our photographer, Sb Photography and by the wonderful James Cook our MC on both nights.  The Drumossie Hotel was a fantastic venue with its amazing dance floor.  We are so grateful and still absolutely buzzing.”

Get ready for an incredible evening of live music and community spirit, all in support of a vital
local cause! On 12th of October 2024, a special charity concert will be held at the Osprey
Arena, Macdonald Aviemore Resort, bringing together some of the most talented artists from
the area to raise much-needed funds for Mikeysline, a local mental health charity making a
huge impact in the Highlands.

Lineup & Entertainment: Headlining the night is none other than the internationally
acclaimed Mànran, known for their vibrant blend of traditional Scottish music with a
contemporary twist. Their high-energy performances and unique sound will have the
audience captivated from start to finish.

Also joining the stage are local talents Calum Macphail and Dylan James Tyrnie. Calum
Macphail, a household name in the Highland music scene, will deliver his signature
accordion-driven tunes, perfect for getting the crowd moving. Dylan James Tyrnie, another
rising star, will bring his soulful voice and heartfelt songwriting to the stage, adding a special
touch to an already electric lineup.

With a combination of internationally recognized talent and beloved local performers, this
promises to be a night of music and celebration like no other.

Supporting a Crucial Cause: All profits raised from the concert will be donated to
Mikeysline, a local charity that provides vital mental health support across the Highlands.
Mikeysline is dedicated to offering a lifeline to those experiencing mental health struggles
through their crisis text line, 1-1 support, and their Hives in Inverness, Alness, and Tain.
These safe spaces allow individuals to seek help, speak openly about their feelings, and
receive guidance from compassionate professionals.

Since 2015, Mikeysline has been a beacon of hope for many, and the proceeds from this gig
will enable them to continue their life-changing work, expanding their services and reaching
even more people in need.

Get Involved: Not only will attendees enjoy a fantastic evening of live performances, but
they will also have the opportunity to travel with ease, thanks to Stagecoach, who is
generously donating buses for the event. For just £30, concertgoers can purchase a ticket
that includes both entry to the gig and a return journey between Inverness and Aviemore. If
you prefer to arrange your own travel, concert-only tickets are available for £25.

With Stagecoach’s support, this event offers an accessible, stress-free way to enjoy great
music while supporting a fantastic cause.

Event Details:
● Date: 12th of October 2024
● Venue: Osprey Arena Macdonald Aviemore Resort
● Ticket Prices: £25 (Concert Only), £30 (Concert + Return Journey from Inverness
via Stagecoach)
● Tickets Available At:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/manran-live-in-aviemore-tickets-877831155617

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this memorable night and support Mikeysline in their
mission to make a difference in the Highlands. Book your tickets today and join us for an
evening filled with music, community, and hope!

For media inquiries, please contact:
Darrel Paterson
Fundraising Volunteer
darrelpaterson@mikeysline.co.uk
www.mikeysline.co.uk

Dylan James                                                        Calum Macphail