This is a classic Taking Action podcast. It focusses on the `Talbot Association(https://talbotassociation.org/news) which works with the most vulnerable people in Glasgow. It is an organisation which takes action every day to assist homeless people and its work deserves to be highlighted. Michael O'Neill does much more than talking about the Association. He takes us into some really important territory which we don't explore enough. He talks about the complexity of the people that the Association supports, the wide range of needs that they have and the challenges that they present. He talks about the response to that within communities where the "most vulnerable" can face as much resentment and empathy. We discuss the othering and hostility that they can experience and the pressure that this puts on workers and volunteers who are doing their best to support them.

We talk further about the growing crisis in the care sector where it is increasingly difficult to staff organisations like the Talbot Association. as part of this we discuss the motivation of some of those drawn into this sort of work who carry their own trauma. Often they are attempting to pay back the assistance that they received, but remain vulnerable themselves. We explore the idea that "hurt people help people" at least as much as they might hurt people, yet the support for these colleagues and, indeed, for all those working in demanding contexts is, simply, not there in too many cases.

Michael offers a remarkable blend of realism, a willingness to be open about the difficulties faced by the care sector, and a sense of optimism and hope. The abiding message is powerful. We need to ask ourselves how far we are prepared to make the sort of investment that will make Scotland a more compassionate and equal society

This is an episode that I really wanted to record and promote.

Jonathan Letch and others are campaigning against plans to build a massive Data Centre right next to a tiny village community in Fife in Scotland. He talks about the intimidating scale of it.

It is a story of how greed and a blind faith in the value of artificial intelligence can threaten a community. It is also a story about how a campaign, even on this David vs Goliath scale, can have some success. Jonathan and his colleagues have achieved a pause. It is a success but it is not enough. They want a moratorium on the creation of centres on this scale until the full implications are clear. I think we should all want that. Creating facilities which demand unimaginable amounts of water and power, dominate landscapes and dwarf communities on the basis of limited knowledge, at best, is a remarkable gamble.

This is very much a story of people taking action. It is one about the importance of community and connection and these are key themes for this series, even if we don't spend much time discussing trauma and ACEs in this episode . Ultimately it is another conversation about the sort of country we want to live in and whether or not we will prioritise the needs of people over the interests of large companies and capital.

You can find out more about the plans here https://aprs.scot/auchtertool-dc/

and find the campaign Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1472242997516977/?ref=share&rdid=36VbLMN7AoVt3lgs&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fg%2F1EUxMHg23g%2F

It is great to have Suzanne Zeedyk back on "Taking Action", albeit in a different role. Suzanne was the instigator and driving force behind the "Getting to grips with Trauma" Book Festival held in the Cumbernauld Theatre on the 6th of September. The event was organised by the Scottish ACEs Action Community. Please check their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/p/Scotlands-ACEs-Action-Community-61578663712550/

It was a remarkable event which I have been trailing one the podcast over the last 5 episodes, so I am delighted at the response to it. Nearly all 300 tickets were sold and the feedback on Linkedin as well as through emails, Vox pops and direct contact has been hugely positive. It felt like a landmark event and I really wanted to reflect on it with Suzanne.

If you attended or were involved in the Festival this offers a great opportunity to reflect on the day and its potential. if you weren't there, it is a great taster for, and description of, the day.