Heids Up

Edinburgh writers Neil Renton and Mark Fleming met at a support group run by Scottish Action for Mental Health. As well as overlapping musical tastes, Oasis to Underworld, they discovered both used creative writing to maintain wellbeing and document times they had struggled. This inspired them to collaborate on their first anthology.

In Heids Up, fiction, memoirs, and essays weave a tapestry of shared human experience; disturbing, often hilarious, always life-affirming. These powerful stories will resonate.

“Stories and memoirs that will entertain, enlighten and occasionally shock. These lads are the real deal.” IAN RANKIN

“Tough, tender and crackling with energy, these stories take you through the highs and lows of everyday existence. Refreshing, open-hearted, with just enough bite.” ALAN BISSETT

“Gripping, visceral snatches of explosive emotion. Totally wired writing.” TOMMY MACKAY

Containing over 50 pieces of vibrant fiction and non-fiction, HEIDS UP will resonate with anyone who has faced issues of their own, directly or indirectly.

The Changing Room, initiated by Scottish Action for Mental Health, now runs in partnership with over 20 senior football clubs across Scotland. Aimed at the demographic least likely to address issues - men in their 'middle years' - the programme was pioneered at Hibernian FC in Edinburgh in April 2018, and was so successful, a similar programme was rolled out at Heart of Midlothian FC six months later (and endorsed by longstanding mental health advocate, Prince William). The Changing Room now encourages adults of all ages to share stories in a confidential space.