Here are some practical steps you can take to protect vulnerable family members or friends against financial abuse by someone in a position of trust:
A fire starting at night while you’re asleep means less warning to escape.
Your smoke alarms should wake you if a fire does break out but you can further reduce your risk by carrying out these simple checks before you go to bed.
More info: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/at-home/bedtime-checks/
Earn up to 4.84% annual return by investing in nature-based projects and flood prevention in Edinburgh.
By investing you will help us to reduce emissions, improve access to nature, offer cooler spaces during heatwaves, reduce flood risk during heavy rainstorms, and boost biodiversity.
Learn more about the Edinburgh Green Investment, including full terms and risk information https://www.abundanceinvestment.com/council/edinburgh
GOVERNMENTS AND UNIVERSITIES MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS, SAYS FORMER MSP
The commencement of a five-week strike at the University of Edinburgh, planned to run until 30th October, is deeply alarming for students, families, and our wider Lothian community (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MBE).
While I fully respect university staff and support their fight against compulsory redundancies and excessive workloads under proposed £140 million budget cuts, we cannot allow our students to become collateral damage in this ongoing crisis.
There is a common misconception that all home students in Scotland attend university completely free. The reality is that thousands of local Scottish students enrolled in Postgraduate Diplomas, professional qualification courses, and specialized diploma programs are paying thousands of pounds directly out of their own pockets. Many exhaust life savings or take on heavy personal debt to gain these essential qualifications for their future careers.
At the same time, international students pay exorbitant tuition fees alongside steep visa and living costs to study in our capital city. Whether local diploma students or international postgraduates, these individuals have invested enormous amounts of money with the expectation of receiving top-tier, uninterrupted education.
To expect students to pay premium fees, or exhaust life savings, while losing over a month of core lectures, seminars, and academic support is unjust and unacceptable. Their degrees, financial livelihoods, and future career prospects are being placed at serious risk through no fault of their own.
University management must urgently return to the negotiating table with staff and trade unions to resolve this dispute fairly. Crucially, university leadership must immediately put protections in place, including academic remediation and financial compensation or tuition fee rebates for lost teaching time.
However, the burden does not rest solely on the university. The Scottish Government must also take accountability for the systemic funding crisis across our higher education sector.
Throughout my tenure in the Scottish Parliament representing the Lothian region, I have continuously raised parliamentary questions, challenged Ministers, and worked on parliamentary committees to champion student welfare, from campaigning against spiraling student housing costs to advocating for hardship support and fair education funding.
Our universities cannot fix institutional budget deficits at the expense of staff security and student futures.
Emergency action is required now from both university leadership and government ministers to step in, protect our staff, and ensure our students get the education and fairness they have paid for.
Pilmeny Development Project are having an induction session on Tuesday 20th October 5-6.30pm.
If you are interested, please contact Mary:
WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER
Will you make time for a wee read on 7 October? 
We’re joining #WeeRead26 – a national campaign celebrating the joy of reading, encouraging people across Scotland to make time for a wee read.
Make your pledge today, link in the comments. Visit Corstorphine or your local library if you need help finding something to read, but anything counts!
2026 is the National Year of Reading – #GoAllIn
Get ready for half term with hands on activities and workshops at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian and the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride.
Looking further ahead, the major new exhibition Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire opens in November with a legion of special events including the return of Museum Lates and a weekend of ancient craft demonstrations.
EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
OPENING SOON
Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Saturday 14 November 2026 – Sunday 18 April 2027
Tickets from £13.50, concessions available.
Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire will reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world. This exhibition will bring the military communities of Rome’s most northern frontier to life through new research, significant loans from across Europe, and previously unseen archaeological discoveries.
Visitors will encounter objects and stories that bring a vibrant and diverse frontier community to life. This will include finds from a 2nd century AD Roman fort at Inveresk, East Lothian. Central to the exhibition will be two spectacular altars from the fort’s Mithraeum (a temple to the god Mithras).
Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/Roman-Scotland-Life-on-the-Edge-of-Empire
Scotland’s First Warriors
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Until 16 May 2027
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free
Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.
Scotland’s First Warriors is supported by Postcode Lottery players
Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors
EVENTS
Short Courses with the University of Edinburgh
1 Oct 2026 – 28 May 2027
Various prices, book via Centre for Open Learning website
Explore our collections with expert tutors on a University of Edinburgh Short Course hosted at the National Museum of Scotland. Courses include Victorian Edinburgh, Georgian Scotland and Colour in Science and Nature.
For more information nms.ac.uk/events/short-courses-with-the-university-of-edinburgh
Find out Fridays
Until 26 Feb 2027, Friday afternoon during term time
13:30 – 16:00
Free, drop-in
All ages
Explore a different theme each week on Friday afternoons with our Learning team. Find out fascinating facts and hear surprising stories about our collections and get hands on with some of our favourite objects.
Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/find-out-fridays
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Scotland
4 Oct – 6 Dec 2026
10:00 – 12:00 (Quiet space open until 12:30)
Free admission, drop-in
All ages
A monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
This session is primarily for, but not limited to families with neurodiverse children, neurodiverse young people and adults, adults living with dementia, adults and children with mental health problems and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Find out more www.nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-scotland
October Half Term: The Stories We Tell
Mon 12 – Fri 16 Oct
10:00 – 16:00
Free, drop-in
All ages
This October Half Term explore a world of stories with free family activities.
From historical happenings and fantastical myths to local gossip and traditional folktales, explore the different ways people of the past and present have kept a record of the world around them. Journey through the many forms that stories can take, from oral storytelling and written tales to stories told through dance, song and objects. Discover the stories that shaped Scotland and those that have reached us from distant shores.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/october-half-term-the-stories-we-tell
Creative Workshops for Kids: Imagine That!
Wed 14 Oct
9:30 – 12:30, 13:30 – 16:30
Tickets £20, Members and concessions available
Ages 7 -11
Artist and writer Hannah Kelly leads a workshop all about stories. Children will explore the museum through playful prompts and let their imaginations transform objects into story ingredients. Back at the studio they will create their own terrific tales.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshops-for-kids-imagine-that
Shadows on the Wall: Storytelling through Shadow Puppetry
Wed 14 Oct
9:30 – 12:30, 13:30 – 16:30
Tickets £15, Members and concessions available
Ages 7-11
A creative workshop exploring storytelling, Scotland, and shadow puppetry. Taking inspiration from Scotland’s landscape and folktales, children will learn more about the museum’s collection. Then they will craft a story of their own, told through the art of shadow puppetry.
Book now https://www.nms.ac.uk/events/shadows-on-the-wall
Museum Socials
Fri 17 Jul – Fri 19 Mar 2027
10:30 – 12:00
National Museum of Scotland
Free, booking required
Museum Socials are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials
Perspectives: Black History Month Tour
Fri 16 Oct
16:00 – 17:00 and 17:30 – 18:30
Free, booking required
Ages 16+
Join Lisa Williams for an after-hours tour of the National Museum of Scotland to celebrate Black History Month. Lisa will explore the stories behind iconic objects and give fresh insights on the links between Scotland and Africa and the Caribbean. From the Darien Chest to Althea McNish fabrics, you’ll uncover groundbreaking design and new perspectives.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/perspectives-black-history-month-tour
We Were Here: Film screening and in conversation
Fri 16 Oct
19:00 – 21:00
Free, booking required
Ages 12+
We Were Here interweaves art history with social narratives, offering a fresh lens on European Renaissance and the complex tapestry of Black presence often overlooked in conventional historical accounts. After the screening, there will be a discussion and Q&A with Director Fred Kudjo Kuwornu and historian, writer and presenter, Dr Onyeka Nubia. The event will be chaired by Dr Anna Groundwater, Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/we-were-here-film-screening-and-in-conversartion
Family Storytelling Day
Sat 24 Oct
10:30 – 16:30
Free, drop-in
All ages
Join us for a day of free fun for families, including storytelling, crafts and object encounters. Get to know birds, beasts and beasties of all kinds at the National Museum of Scotland this October half term.Settle in for a story with our friends from the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, get creative at our craft tables, or get up close to some of the incredible animals in our collections.
In partnership with the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/family-storytelling-day
Words of the Wild: Changing Seasons
Sat 24 Oct
15:00 – 16:00
Free, booking required
Ages 6+
Join the Scottish Wildlife Trust and storyteller David Hughes to take a turn of the “Celtic Wheel of the Year”. David will explore what can be learnt about our changing seasons when Scottish myths, legends and folk tales are looked at through an ecological lens.
This event is part of Family Storytelling Day and is held in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/words-of-the-wild-changing-seasons
The Sunday Sketch
25 Oct
14:00 – 16:00
Tickets from £13
Ages 16+
Join artist Sheena Russell to take a new look at our collections and be guided through a range of drawing activities within the museum’s galleries. All abilities are welcome at this relaxed and informal session. Each month we will explore a different theme, and all materials are supplied.
Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/the-sunday-sketch
Music at the Museum
27 Oct – 2 Mar 2027
11:30 – 12:15 and 13:30 – 14:15
Free, drop-in
All ages
In collaboration with Live Music Now Scotland, we are bringing live music into the heart of the museum on Tuesdays. With experienced performers and rising stars of live music, each week features a different soloist, duo or ensemble.
Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/music-at-the-museum
Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
Third Friday of the month
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required
Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. Tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials
Curiosity Club
Sat 31 Oct 2026 – Sat 27 Mar 2027
10:30 – 12:00
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Ages 7-11
Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, Curiosity Clubs are a chance for kids to explore the museum without their adult helpers through games, activities and gallery visits.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/curiosity-club
Relaxed Curiosity Club
Sat 31 Oct 2026 – Sat 27 Mar 2027
14:30 – 15:30
£10 (Members and concessions £9)
Ages 7-11
These relaxed sessions are designed for children with additional support needs and their families.
Get inspired through games, activities and an optional gallery visit. Explore some of the fascinating facts and stories behind our collection. We aim to create a fun, friendly, and relaxed environment for ASN children to explore our Curiosity Club activities with the reassurance of their parents/carers being with them or nearby.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-curiosity-club
Magic Carpet
Nov 9, 16, 23
10:30 – 11:15 or 11:45 – 12:30
Tickets from £4 per session
Ages 0-4
Our Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way.
Each month we will explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play and handling objects. This will help you and your little one discover more about our topic.
Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet
Perspectives: A guided LGBTQ+ tour of the National Museum of Scotland
Fri 13 Nov 2026 and Sun 21 Feb 2027
14:00 – 15:30
Free, ticketed
Ages 16+
Researcher Joe Setch presents a free guided tour that highlights some of the LGBTQ+ histories in the National Collection. Explore the museum’s collections from a queer perspective. Discover stories of creativity, innovation and love, alongside often hidden truths about harm and exclusion.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/perspectives-lgbtq-tour
Museum Late: When in Rome
Fri 20 Nov
19:30 – 22:30
Tickets £26, Members and concessions available
Ages 18+
A night of Roman-inspired revelry in the spectacular setting of the National Museum of Scotland after hours, inspired by the major new exhibition Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire.
When in Rome, do as the ancient Romans do! Get ready for a night like no other with music, bars and Roman-themed performances and activities throughout our galleries.
Book now www.nms.ac.uk/events/museum-late-when-in-rome
Meet the Makers: Prehistoric and Roman Scotland
Sat 21 and Sun 22 Nov
10:00 – 16:00
Free, drop in
All ages
Free, drop-in demonstrations and displays showcasing craftsmanship of the past.
Contemporary makers will represent craft skills from Bronze Age Scotland to the Roman military occupation. Discover how pottery, jewellery, textiles, leather, tools, and wooden objects were made in the past. Inspired by our major new exhibition Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire.
Find our more nms.ac.uk/events/meet-the-makers-prehistoric-and-roman-scotland
Creative Workshop: Roman Pottery
Sat 21 and Sun 22 Nov
10:30 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:30
Tickets £50, Members and concessions available
Ages 16+
Master potter and ancient pottery specialist Graham Taylor leads a workshop on the skills and techniques of ancient Roman Pottery making and decorating, inspired by objects on display in the major new exhibition Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire. Working with a pot fresh from Graham’s wheel, participants will create their own replica pot that will be taken back to the Potted History workshop, fired, and returned to them.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-roman-pottery
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Relaxed Afternoon is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life
Autumn Explorers
Tue 13 – Fri 16 Oct
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
All ages
Autumn Explorers family activities are back, and this time we’re going back to our roots, digging into the traditions of the Scottish potato harvest.
Ever wondered why there’s a school holiday in October? Come along and discover how this tradition began when children would swap the classroom for the fields to help with the tattie howking. Find out how this crop has fed families for generations and get hands-on with sustainable activities, some surprising science and spud-tacular storytelling.
Autumn Explorers is supported by Postcode Lottery players
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/autumn-explorers
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month
10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission
Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight
Half Term: How Things Fly
Mon 12 – Fri 16 Oct
10:30 – 15:30
Free with admission
Ages 3+
The National Museum of Flight is full of things that fly of all shapes and sizes. This October half term, families can discover how they fly with a range of fun activities. Build a glider with wings shaped like a real aeroplane, try some popular flying toys from and watch the How things fly show.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/half-term-how-things-fly
Expert Talks
Concorde Theatre
16 Oct
11:00-11:20
Free with museum admission
Ages 7+
Learn more about the collections and history of East Fortune Airfield with a series of free expert talks at the museum. In October, Curator Ian Brown will discuss ‘Mythbusting the Raid on the Forth, 16 October 1939’. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk.
Find out nms.ac.uk/events/expert-talks
A man has been sentenced to six years in prison following a series of sexual assaults, including attempted rape against two children in Edinburgh.
Along with his custodial sentence, Akbar Ali was also placed on the sex offenders register at the High Court in Livingston on Wednesday, 30 September, 2026.
He was previously convicted of the crimes, which took place between 1996 and 1998, on Friday, 7 August, 2026 at the same court.
Detective Inspector Steph Garnett said: “Ali subjected child victims to years of horrific abuse, causing lasting trauma and having a profound impact on their lives.
“I would like to acknowledge their incredible strength in coming forward, and throughout the investigation and court process.
“Sexual crime of any kind has no place in society and we remain committed to supporting victims and bringing those responsible to justice.
“I would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual assault to report it to police. Every report will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.”
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tron Theatre, Traverse Theatre and ETT today announce the world premiere of The Ferry, a powerful new play by acclaimed Scottish playwright Linda McLean (The Long Drop, Citizens Theatre), inspired by an original idea by Paul Rattray, and directed by Tron Theatre Artistic Director Jemima Levick (Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit In, Tron Theatre and National Theatre of Scotland).
Opening at Dundee Rep Theatre in February 2027 before touring to the Tron Theatre, and Traverse Theatre, The Ferry explores what happens when opportunity comes with a price, and when the line between being looked after and being controlled becomes dangerously blurred.
Fifteen years old, newly orphaned, and trying to keep his head above water, Freddy is offered a job and a train ticket from Glasgow to Dundee from a new acquaintance, Chris. At the end of the line is Broughty Ferry, a place his mum always spoke about, somewhere life might have been different.
Darren is a recovering heroin user caring for his dad Rab, whose dementia is getting worse, while his aunt June is doing what she can to look out for them. When Freddy arrives, their lives are pulled together and the world around them starts to close in.
The Ferry explores family, grief, exploitation and at its heart is the relationship between care and control, and the ways vulnerability can be exploited under the guise of opportunity and support.
Accompanying the production will be a programme of outreach activity, engaging with young people and communities within each of the touring cities. Further details will be revealed prior to the production opening.
The Ferry previews at Dundee Rep Theatre from Saturday 6 February, ahead of its world premiere on 11 February, and runs until 20 February, before touring to Tron Theatre, Glasgow from 23 February to 6 March, and Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh from 9 to 20 March.
Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, said: “When Paul and I first spoke about this project, I knew immediately that this was a story that needed to be told on the Dundee Rep stage.
“Linda McLean is one of Scotland’s most powerful theatrical storytellers, and working with her and the brilliant Jemima Levick on this extraordinary piece feels like a very special coming together of creative talent. With an amazing creative team and cast alongside us, I’m thrilled to bring this visceral and deeply affecting play to audiences in Dundee and across Scotland.”
Jemima Levick, Director of The Ferry, and Artistic Director of the Tron Theatre said: “The Ferry is one of the most captivating and important new plays I’ve read in years. I’ve always known what an exceptional craftswoman Linda is but I’ve never actually directed any of her work.
“When Andrew, and later, Linda and Paul talked to me about the project it was a no brainer that the Tron should be involved. County lines and the impact of this world is something that surrounds all of us, and yet it remains sheltered and underground.
“The Ferry gives us an opportunity to point a spotlight at that world, to raise awareness, and pull the people that occupy it into focus. This play does all of that, with power and humour, and heart and poetry.”
Playwright, Linda McLean said: “There is a staggering number of vulnerable young boys, some not even teenagers, who are being lured into criminal gangs by unscrupulous men who tempt them with smart clothes, fast money, and membership of an elite gang. However, once inside this closely-knit criminal network, they find it well-nigh impossible to escape.
“I grew up in the kind of housing schemes where this is happening, so when I was made aware of the scale of this problem, I felt passionately about bringing it to light.”
Paul Rattray said: “This story is particular to Dundee. Its voice, its spirit, its energy and its people will be known to local audiences. However the story is also one which reaches out of Dundee, across Scotland, the UK. So while the play’s soul is of Dundee, its story resonates beyond.
“It is also a national story about the devastation that is happening to young people and communities and neighbours throughout the country.
“In a post-industrial landscape, what use is youth?”
Tickets for Dundee Rep Theatre performances are on public sale from 11am on 25 September and on sale now for priority members. Tickets for all Tron Theatre and Traverse Theatre performances are on public sale now.
Cast details will be announced in due course.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has launched a new online Advice Hub offering free, practical guidance to cat and dog owners at every stage of their pet’s life.
The charity, which has been part of Edinburgh for more than 140 years, has created the Hub using the experience of its Animal Welfare Team, insights from the support requests it receives and the questions pet owners are searching for online.
From welcoming a new pet and helping them settle in, to tackling training challenges or finding ways to enrich their daily life, the resource gives owners trusted information when they need a helping hand.
The Hub includes guidance on separation anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity, recall training, moving house with a cat and introducing a dog to new pets.
Advice is organised into categories covering behaviour and training, diet and health, seasonal guidance and adoption, with a search function helping owners quickly find the support most relevant to them.
As Edinburgh’s Home for pets and the people who love them, the charity provides far more than a safe place for animals to stay. Alongside rehoming it supports pet owners with advice, training and community services helping more cats and dogs remain in loving homes.
Amelia Morgan, Chief Executive at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Every pet owner needs advice or reassurance from time to time, whether they are preparing to welcome a new companion or facing a change in their pet’s behaviour.
“Our team has a wealth of experience caring for cats and dogs with different needs and backgrounds. Our new Advice Hub allows us to share that knowledge more widely and provide clear, practical steps that owners can use at home.
“We believe everyone deserves free access to trusted guidance that can help them better understand and care for their pets. The journey home does not end when a pet walks through the front door, and we are here to support owners through every step of the way.”
The Advice Hub is available now at www.edch.org.uk/advice
