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Events over the last 15 months have inevitably increased work-related stress levels across the UK. Joining Pippa this week is Martha Simpson, a life coach, who provides valuable advice on what we can all do to help relieve some of the stress.

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Pippa speaks to Dr Kate Cowcher from St Andrews University and our Cultural Co-ordinator Madeleine Conn on the remarkable story of the discovery of important works of modern African art which are part of the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Collection and currently being exhibited at Dunoon Burgh Hall until 13 June.  You can find more details online at and see the whole collection on the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Collection website.

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07 to 13 June marks UK Coaching Week to celebrate the important contributions coaches make to the welfare and wellbeing of our communities. Stuart Green from my team is actively involved in sports coaching within his community and talks about his motivation and offers insights to anyone else thinking about getting involved within their own community.

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This week Pippa spoke to Alex Brown of who design, build and operate drones for passenger transport and delivery of goods. In partnership with the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute HSCP, Alex recently completed a trial using drones to deliver medical supplies from the Council’s airport in Oban to some of our islands. Learn more about how this fast evolving and low carbon technology may bring benefits to the lives of our communities.

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To say thanks to the critically important contribution of volunteers to our communities, Pippa listened to the personal experiences of individuals who responded to the pandemic. Special thanks to Fiona McTaggart and Sheena Lamont for sharing their personal experiences and Takki Sulaiman, CEO of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute Third Sector Interface.

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Following world refugee day on 20th June Pippa spoke with Morag Brown who leads the work we do to support Syrian refugees settle on Bute and they talk about some of the great success stories.

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World Wellbeing Week runs in the last week of June and aims to raise awareness of wellbeing and its importance for individuals, in society and in the workplace. In this week’s podcast, Pippa has a conversation with Seona Laird, Kay Owen and Sharon Johnson from the Wellbeing Team, and also catches up with the group of radiant ramblers returning from the Wellbeing Walk around Kilmory, which was one of the many activities arranged for Council employees during the week.

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National Allotments Week falls in August, so Pippa took the opportunity of speaking with our Local Biodiversity Project Officer, Marina Curran-Colthart, about the Council’s , and also catching-up with some representatives of community food growing projects from across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ & Bute: Sara MacLean from ; Ed Pybus from Kyles Allotment Group; and Catriona Petit from .

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With all the improvement work going on in Lochgilphead at the moment, Pippa takes the opportunity to chat with Anna Watkiss and James Lafferty, who are project managing the Lochgilphead Front Green, CARS and Public Realm works, and also catches up with Lee McKeever from Hawthorn Heights, the contractors working on the Front Green redevelopment.

For more information on these and related projects, please click on the following links:

Lochgilphead Front Green

Lochgilphead CARS

Tarbert and Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund

Shop local and shop front grants

And if you would like to register to receive email updates about the Front Green project, please contact anna.watkiss@argyll-bute.gov.uk.

Ahead of the event, Pippa caught up with director and curator, Dr Sharon Webb, about the significance of Kilmartin Glen locally, nationally and internationally, and what the Museum’s new visitor experience offers.

To find out more, listen here and see also the website and socials.