COSLA: Education reform must be led by evidence, outcomes and local democracy

COSLA today commented on education reform as part of the Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform proposals.

The First Ministers publication of a proposal to move to fewer regional councils and create many community authorities creates extensive structural reform which carries significant financial, operational, democratic and service-continuity risks, with transition costs and benefits not yet quantified or thought through.

COSLA and Scottish Local Government has long supported reform, but reform that makes the most of the democratic spheres we have. We must recognise the separate roles but collective responsibilities we have to deliver vital public services to the people of Scotland. Doing so creates a Scotland where all children and young people can grow up feeling loved, safe and respected so that they realise their full potential.

The integrated services that councils deliver are essential to achieving this.  COSLA is clear that structural reorganisation should not be the starting point. Scotland’s education system must instead focus on improving the curriculum, supporting children and families, attracting and retaining a highly skilled workforce, strengthening leadership and ensuring that responsibilities and resources are clear at every level.

Commenting, COSLA spokesperson for Children and Young People, Cllr Tony Buchanan said: “Scotland should be ambitious for every child and young person. Reform must close the gap between a good education system and a great one, while recognising that learning is inseparable from family support, tackling poverty, health, housing and the strength of local communities.

“Structural change is not an outcome in itself. Large-scale reorganisation without a clear, costed and independently tested business case could divert money, time and professional capacity away from classrooms, children and families.

“Councils are uniquely placed to connect education with the wider services that help children and young people thrive. We support reform that strengthens teaching, the curriculum, prevention, workforce planning, regional capacity and accountability, while keeping decisions as close as possible to the communities they affect.

“Our preferred approach is practical, proportionate and evidence-led: agree the functions and outcomes, establish the financial and workforce baselines, test stronger collaboration, and scale or legislate only where independent evaluation shows that change will deliver better outcomes, greater equity and stronger public value.”

This Weekend: Big Bulb Blitz at Clermiston Park

Drumbrae Library Hub will be joining Friends of Clermiston Park for The Big Bulb Blitz on Saturday 24th October 2026 at Clermiston Park from 1:30pm.

Come along and join in!

#GoAllIn

#friendsofclermistonpark

LifeCare: Volunteer Opportunity

We are looking for a new volunteer to join our team!

Are you sociable, enthusiastic and want to be apart of a charity that tackles loneliness and isolation? We’d love to hear from you!

We are looking for a new hub greeter to join us on Mondays in our LifeCare building.

LifeCare is a registered charity with an 85 year history of providing uplifting support to older people around Edinburgh. Our hub at the heart of Stockbridge is home to our office, cafe, day club and is a bustling centre where multiple activities take place throughout the day.

You’d primarily be greeting visitors, providing a warm welcome and answering calls. There will be a few weeks of shadowing to get yourself comfortable with the space.

One of our current hub greeters had this to say “My favourite reason for volunteering at LifeCare is quite simply all the wonderful people that make LifeCare the incredibly place that it is.

“It is an absolute joy to be a volunteer here and spend time with everyone.”

To register your interest, or for more information, please get in touch with sarahduckmanton@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.

#volunteering

#opportunity

#charity

#stockbridge

#localcharity

#volunteer

Food Collection at Easter Road

SUNDAY from 10.30am

We’ll be holding a food collection at Sunday’s home match against Celtic. Supporters are invited to donate food items from the listed provided below, which will be used at our Community Hubs to support those in need across our community.💜💚

The collection point will be opposite the club store at the Famous Five Stand from 10:30 before kick-off. We’ll also be accepting cash and card donations 👇️

https://hiberniancf.org/food-collection-for-sundays-home…

Tesco Corstorphine Extra to give away free pre-carved pumpkins

TESCO TO STOCK FREE PRE-CARVED PUMPKINS IN STORE THIS HALLOWEEN

Pumpkin carving might be a Halloween tradition, but for busy families, finding the time to wrestle with a giant pumpkin and create the perfect spooky design can feel more trick than treat.

New research shows that despite pumpkin carving being one of our favourite traditions for almost half the population, just over a third (36%) of Brits say they’d appreciate a little help with pumpkin design. In response to this, Tesco is stepping in to help the UK get Halloween-ready.

For a limited time, Tesco will be giving away free pre-carved pumpkins in selected UK stores, meaning shoppers can pick up a Halloween-ready pumpkin while stocking up on everything else they need for spooky season.

From the 22nd – 31st October, a selection of spooky designs will be available for shoppers to take home, carved by Tesco’s very own pumpkin artists in residence.

The help for Britain’s pumpkin carving comes as Tesco research shows that over a quarter (28%) of Brits admit they feel pressure to carve a pumpkin good enough to proudly display on the doorstep while a third (33%) want their decorations to look as good as their neighbours’. 

Lack of carving skills (26%), the mess pumpkin carving creates (19%) or simply not feeling creative enough (19%) are putting a dampener on pumpkin carving plans for Halloween lovers. In addition, over three-quarters of parents (78%) agree that they love seeing their little ones’ creativity come to life but over a third (37%) admit they would rather have a more polished pumpkin on their doorstep.

2026’s Most Memorable Moments

Tesco is also giving the Halloween staple a distinctly 2026 makeover by transforming some of the year’s biggest cultural moments into pumpkin art with professional carvers. The collection of designs is inspired by the moments Brits couldn’t stop talking about, based on new research from Tesco.

The four limited-edition designs showcase the most talkable moments of 2026 and have been meticulously sketched onto pumpkins, taking professional carvers over 50 hours. The key moments include:

  • The Eclipse (38%): Brits were captivated by this year’s eclipse, with the design capturing the moon’s journey across the sun. A playful nod to the nation’s inventive viewing methods, including the iconic glasses featuring within the carving.
  • Bayeux Tapestry (37%): Inspired by the historic tapestry’s long-awaited visit to Britain, the design celebrates one of the year’s biggest cultural moments. More than half (58%) of Brits agree the tapestry is of great historical importance.
  • Artemis II (31%): This moment captured the imagination of a third (33%) of Brits and a fifth (20%) admit they still dream of becoming an astronaut.
  •  The summer’s biggest football tournament (62%): This moment spanned living rooms, pubs and fan zones, bringing together communities across the UK, with more than half (53%) saying the communal viewing experience was part of what made it so memorable.

For shoppers looking to pick up a pre-carved pumpkin at Tesco, there’ll be two designs to choose from: the Eclipse and the classic Halloween jack o’ lantern. 

The pre-carved pumpkins will be available at 10 selected stores for one afternoon at each store between 22nd – 31st October.

For those who prefer to do their own carving, Tesco has a range of pumpkins available this Halloween, from cute mini munchkin pumpkins, to classic large pumpkins which are perfect for carving, starting at just 55p.

Shoppers can also pick up everything else they need for spooktacular Halloween celebrations, from costumes and decorations to sweets and party food, making Tesco a one-stop-shop for all things spooky.

Participating stores (each store has pre-carved pumpkins for one day only):

  • Thursday 22nd October: Tesco Risca Extra
  • Friday 23rd October: Tesco Cheltenham Superstore
  • Saturday 24th October: Tesco New Oscott Extra
  • Sunday 25th October: Tesco Nottingham Top Valley Extra
  • Monday 26th October: Tesco Sheffield Extra
  • Tuesday 27th October: Tesco Stockport Extra
  • Wednesday 28th October: Tesco York Tadcaster Road Extra
  • Thursday 29th October: Tesco Middlesbrough Coulby Newham
  • Friday 30th October: Tesco Newcastle Upon Tyne Extra
  • Saturday 31st October: Tesco Edinburgh Corstorphine Extra

Four Square welcomes community response following vandalism attack

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT AFTER VANS DAMAGED

We are overwhelmed by the incredible support our community has shown over the past few days. ❤️

Thank you so much to everyone who shared our post, sent messages, or made a donation following the theft and vandalism relating to our vans. Your kindness keeps us going.

To everyone who has made a monetary donation: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Things are a bit busy right now as we manage the fallout, but please know we will be getting back to each and every one of you individually to thank you properly once things have settled.

Things are hectic behind the scenes, but please know our team sees all of your lovely comments and support, and it means the world to us.

We still urgently need your help to keep our services running. We are relying heavily on direct furniture drop-offs right now.

If you have quality furniture to donate, bringing it straight to our drop-off zone makes a massive difference. 454 Gorgie Road.

Also, if you have contacts or connections at local media outlets, please let local news outlets know about our situation!

Raising awareness across Edinburgh will help us reach more people who might be able to support us or drop off donations.

Thank you for standing with us when we need our community most. ❤️

www.foursquare.org.uk/donate-money/

Giving communities more of a say in land reform

Consultation on how Land Reform Act will empower people

Communities will have more opportunities to have their say in shaping how Scotland’s largest landholdings are managed under proposals now open for public consultation.

The Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 consultation paper is the next step in ensuring communities have more information about large land holdings of more than 1,000 hectares.

It is seeking views on what information should be included in new Land Management Plans, required by the Act, and what landowners should do to involve the communities in the creation of these plans.

The consultation also gives consideration to introducing new processes for community groups to request to lease land or establish a croft, providing more opportunities for communities to use land for their benefit, and what enforcement should be available if these requirements are not met.

There is also an opportunity to comment on guidance that will help landowners understand if they own land that will be covered by these requirements.

Climate Action and Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin said: “The Land Reform Act reflects our commitment to a fairer, more transparent and more inclusive system of land ownership and use.

“These proposals can ensure communities have better information about how large landholdings are managed and more opportunities to influence decisions that affect them and mark the next step in Scotland’s land reform journey.

“We saw strong engagement as our land reform legislation passed through Parliament, and I hope communities, landowners and others will bring that same enthusiasm to this public consultation on our plans.”

As the consultation will go over the festive period it will be open 14 weeks, rather than the usual 12 to allow as many people as possible to have their say.

Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025– Consultation paper – gov.scot

New Friday Cooking Club at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre

🍲 Join our new Friday Cooking Club!

Would you like to learn some new recipes, share your own cooking skills and meet new people?

Come along to our new Cooking Club at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre!

🗓️ Fridays, 10am–12pm

We’ll be coming together each week to plan, prepare and cook our Community Lunch. We’ll take turns being ‘head chef’, choosing a meal for the group to make, with everyone pitching in to help with the preparation and cooking.

It’s a great opportunity to:

🥕 Learn new recipes and share your own favourites

👩‍🍳 Build your confidence and try new skills

🍽️ Meet others and enjoy cooking together

📜 Get support to achieve your Food Hygiene Level 2 Certificate, if you’re interested. This could be useful for future employment opportunities or simply as a way to develop your skills.

You can come along every week or just drop in whenever suits you. Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a confident cook or just starting out!

Interested or have questions?

Get in touch with Rebecca at rebecca@drylawnc.org.uk for more information.

Independent Age comments on new Benefit Take-Up Strategy

Responding to the Scottish Government’s new Benefit Take-up Strategy, released yesterday, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Today, the Scottish Government published its third Benefit Take-up Strategy. As the charity for older people facing financial hardship, we know firsthand how important income maximisation is for the older people in Scotland that we work with. 

“With over £350 million going unpaid every year to older people on low-incomes, improving take-up of social security is essential to tackling poverty in later life. Our research shows that if there was full take-up of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction across Scotland, 30,000 older people would be pulled out of poverty and there would be a £90 million reduction in health and social care spending each year.

“However, our Older People’s Index 2026 revealed that 1 in 5 older people don’t know about Pension Credit, and around 1 in 4 don’t know about Council Tax Reduction and Housing Benefit, with even lower awareness of support like the Scottish Welfare Fund. So, this strategy and the actions proposed are incredibly important. 

“We are therefore pleased to see a greater focus on how agencies can work together to increase take-up across all entitlements including those reserved to Westminster.

“We also welcome moves to better use existing data to help people access their entitlements no matter who administers them and look forward to seeing measurable progress.”

benefit-take-up-strategy-2026-2031Download

Shop local and support local artists and makers this November

  • Monday 2nd to Friday 6th November:  Over 15 Drill Hall based artists and makers taking part in the Makers Amok pop-up.
  • Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November: Over 30 studio holders at Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios taking part in the Winter Open Studios.

Out of the Blue are delighted to be supporting local artists and makers this November, with a series of special events, featuring a fantastic selection of handmade goods, all created in Out of the Blue Leith-based studios.

Makers Amok Pop-Up

At the Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Dalmeny Street, over 15 of the artists and makers based there are busy putting together Makers Amok. It’s a unique pop-up shop, showcasing and celebrating local art with all pieces crafted from the studios at the Drill Hall. What better way to make an early start to your Christmas shopping?

You’re invited to come along between Monday 2nd and Friday 6th November (10am – 5pm) and meet a vibrant collective of Edinburgh makers and explore an eclectic showcase of handmade jewellery, artwork, textiles, and original design.

To celebrate, the Drill Hall based artists and makers are hosting a Closing Event on Friday 6th November (3pm – 5pm) – an exciting opportunity to chat to some of the participating artists and find out more about their work.

Winter Open Studios Weekend

Over at Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios (Easter Road) the resident artists are delighted to be opening their doors to the public for another exciting Open Studios Weekend (their second of the year) on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November, 12noon – 5pm (free entry).

It’s a great chance to see the creative spaces at Abbeymount, meet the makers and browse a wide range of original artworks and gifts. Everything is handmade by local designers and makers here in their studios in the heart of Edinburgh. It’s the perfect opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done, or perhaps get an extra treat for yourself, while supporting local artists and makers.

With over 30 artists and makers taking part, there really is something for everyone to suit all budgets, from fine art, paintings and illustration to ceramics, textiles and photography.

Participating artists include painter Pippa Brown, textile artist Jen Byrne of Studio Nine plus illustrators like Trista Yen.

Out of the Blue Chief Executive, Rob Hoon says: “Out of the Blue support artists to help make Edinburgh a thriving hotbed of creativity all year round.

“Providing space for artists to create and sell their work, means they can earn a living, and people get to own the beautiful hand crafted fruits of the artists’ labour! Makers Amok at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall and the Open Studios Weekend at Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios are brilliant showcases of the many participating artists’ talent.”