The NEN – North Edinburgh News – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

New Scots Gathering puts stories at the heart of change

North Edinburgh event brings the refugee and migration sector together to explore how narrative can influence policy, public attitudes and belonging

Over 80 organisations, practitioners and community leaders from across Edinburgh and central Scotland came together at North Edinburgh Arts on Wednesday 16 September for EVOC’s 2026 ‘New Scots Gathering: Stories That Shape Change’ event.

The fully booked event explored how storytelling and narrative can influence systems and decision-making, challenge harmful narratives about migration, strengthen public understanding and support New Scots to shape the policies and services that affect their lives.

The morning plenary considered how stories can be used as a tool to influence policy and decision maker on the issues that matter to the lives of New Scots.

This was followed by four workshops giving practical case studies from across Scotland and the opportunity for participants to learn and share together.

The afternoon was led by creative voices, exploring how the sector can tell stories that are impactful and that shape public attitudes.

The Gathering was opened by Simita Kumar MSP, Minister for Equalities and International Development; Councillor Jane Meagher, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council; and John Hawryluk, EVOC’s Service Lead.

Minister for Equalities and International Development Simita Kumar MSP said “Public services, third sector organisations and community groups play a really important role in Scotland’s warm welcome and ongoing work to support refugees and people seeking asylum.

“I am grateful for all their efforts and contributions – here in Edinburgh and further afield. This has been a hugely valuable event, underlining the importance of collaboration to the success of the New Scots approach in continuing to support refugees, people seeking asylum and communities across Scotland now and in the future.”

Councillor Jane Meagher, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council said “I’m proud that Edinburgh remains a diverse and welcoming city. We are, after all, a city of migrants.

“Many of us are migrants or have migrants in our families. Many have lived here for generations and some of the city’s best loved institutions are thanks to those who have chosen to build their lives here.

“We all benefit from this, and our city and its culture are all the better for it – something we’re aiming to promote through our ‘Edinburgh is Our Home’ campaign.

“Unfortunately, however, with a rise in racist language, political rhetoric and hate crimes, we know that some in our communities are understandably feeling uneasy or unsafe.

“That’s why it’s more important than ever for us to come together and challenge this harmful messaging and I’m very grateful to EVOC for organising this gathering of New Scots. It was so moving and insightful to hear their stories and perspectives first hand and I’m determined to do everything I can to make sure Edinburgh remains a place where people from across the world want to call home.”

John Hawryluk, EVOC’s Service Lead commented “The stories told about migration can shape public attitudes, services and policy.

“This third edition of the Gathering created space for organisations working alongside and with New Scots to connect policy discussion with creative practice, share what they are learning and consider how we can communicate with greater purpose and care.

“Bringing people together from across Edinburgh, the Lothians and other parts of Scotland showed the value of collaboration. We want to build on these conversations and support approaches that strengthen participation, challenge harmful narratives and help create communities where everyone can belong.”

Recorded sessions from the Gathering will be shared through EVOC’s digital channels after the event. Anyone interested in the next stages of this work can sign up to EVOC’s newsletter for updates.

Job Fair at Millennium Centre

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER from 10am – 1pm

Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network

@esenscot

Join Capital City Partnership for the Muirhouse Community Job Fair!

Find a new job & training opportunities with a variety of employers and get help with CV’s, applications, interviews & more

Wednesday 23 September 10am – 1pm at Muirhouse Millenium Centre

https://helix.hanlonsonline.co.uk/Web%20Forms/Public/ClientRegistrationWizard.aspx?ID=189

University of Edinburgh Sport unveils Edinburgh Wildcats

Bringing together 70 sports disciplines under one umbrella, Edinburgh Wildcats showcases the sporting prowess from Scotland’s number one sporting university

The University of Edinburgh Sport has unveiled the Edinburgh Wildcats – bringing together all 70 sporting disciplines, from rugby to archery and weightlifting, to showcase the incredible sports prowess of the university.

In a move that will see the university become the first in the UK to adopt the American collegiate sporting model, Edinburgh Wildcats is the country’s biggest multi-sports club and creates a movement that will encourage the community of Edinburgh to get behind the university’s talented athletes.

Bringing together more than 10,000 students across 200 teams, Edinburgh Wildcats has been created to reflect the community built at the University of Edinburgh Sport, which has supported both alumni and current students to compete across a range of competitions, including the most recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

Scotland’s most decorated athlete, double Olympian Eilidh Doyle, is leading the charge for Edinburgh Wildcats. An alumna of the University and Global Ambassador for Sport, she said: “The facilities and support that young and emerging athletes receive from the university is second to none.

“Through Edinburgh Wildcats this feeling and belief in the achievements that can be created through hard work, dedication and perseverance has been captured.

“It brings all of the athletes together, allowing them to share in one passion and one journey for greatness, while also allowing the local community to get behind them and show their support.”

Mark Munro, University of Edinburgh Director of Sport and Active Health, said: “At the University of Edinburgh Sport we have been able to support a phenomenal number of athletes to perform on a global stage across so many disciplines.

“Through Edinburgh Wildcats our aim is to bring these athletes together and create a space in which to champion the incredible talent that lies within current students and alumni who have come through our doors.

“The facilities here at the university are second to none, something that can be seen from the volume of international teams choosing to train here while visiting Scotland, and this, paired with the fantastic support of our staff, comes together to create an environment that pushes athletes to greatness.

“Our hope is that through Edinburgh Wildcats we’ll be able to welcome even more students and spectators to discover the sporting expertise we are known for.”

Friday 18 September will see the first official rollout of the Edinburgh Wildcats, during the men’s rugby varsity match at Hive Stadium, Murrayfield where The University of Edinburgh will take on St Andrews University in the World’s oldest Varsity match.

Residents across the capital will also see the new team name put in the spotlight over the coming week, with billboards and digital adverts going live throughout the city.

Featuring world-class training facilities, The University of Edinburgh Sport is renowned as the number one sports University in Scotland and one of the best in Europe. For over 150 years, the university has assisted some of the most decorated athletes and sporting communities in the world – from Olympians to pioneering researchers – creating a lasting legacy that sees its impact reach across the world.

Notable alumni include Multiple Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy; Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, Baroness Katherine Grainger; Scottish Rugby Head Coach,Gregor Townsend; and Commonwealth Games swimmer Archie Goodburn.

For more information on University of Edinburgh Sport, visit:

www.uoesport.ed.ac.uk.

Give Blood at Spartans

THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER

Want to be a HERO?

Then join us on Thursday 1st October for Spartans’ Blood Donation Day.
EVERY donation helps save lives

Cancer treatment, operations, childbirth and emergencies; you never know when you or a loved one might need donated blood for survival.

If you haven’t donated before, it’s really easy and painless! The NHS team will be here at the Vanloq Stadium and we have appointments available all day.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and lunch to say thank you

Just tell us you’re coming! Book online here https://donor.scotblood.co.uk/dwp/portal/login
or call the Blood Donor Centre on 0345 90 90 999

Or contact our very own Jenni who can get you booked in: 07831 721086 jenniferpullen@spartanscf.com

Then feel good because you are going to save lives! THANK YOU

#Hereforgood.

Tree of Life(Care)

FRIENDS FOR LIFE(CARE)

We have officially installed the first batch of our Tree of Life(Care) plaques!

Our Tree of Life(Care) recognises those who support us, past and present. This beautiful mural that wraps all the way up our stairwell in the LifeCare hub was painted by the talented Ross MacRae Art .

Each message, name or names on the plaque represents those who share our values and passion tackling loneliness and isolation through fundraising efforts, major donations, in memory giving or being a dedicated Friend for Life(Care).

Thank you to everyone who supports the vital work we do as a charity. We are excited to continue to see the names grow and the tree flourish. In a city where many older people feel invisible, the Tree of Life(Care) stands as a reminder: they are not alone.

If you would like to know more about how to get involved, please get in touch with mollynicoll@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk and she’d be delighted to chat with you!

ONE MILLION NEW GARDENS

Campaign calls for a new standard for Britain’s new-build homes

The New Build Manifesto launches with a call to make gardens part of the infrastructure of new housing – designed from the outset for people, wildlife and a changing climate

As Britain embarks on one of its biggest periods of housebuilding in a generation, a new national campaign is calling for the gardens around those homes to be given far greater attention.

The New Build Manifesto https://newbuildmanifesto.co.uk/, founded by award-winning garden writer and designer Andrew Jackson, launches on 24 September with a mission to raise the standard of new-build gardens across Britain.

With more than a million new gardens potentially being created during this Parliament, the campaign argues that Britain has a once-in-a-generation opportunity: not simply to build new homes, but to create an entirely new generation of gardens.

Yet many buyers currently receive outdoor spaces that are little more than a starting point – compacted or poor-quality soil, thin turf, close-board fencing, limited planting and little provision for wildlife, shade or increasingly extreme weather.

For homeowners, the result can be years of work and considerable additional expense before the space outside their new home becomes the garden they expected it to be.

The New Build Manifesto wants that to change.

Its central argument is simple: a garden should not be treated as the space left over once a new home has been built. It should be regarded as part of its essential infrastructure.

“We are building new homes at a huge scale, but we urgently need to ask what we are building around them too,” says Andrew Jackson, founder of The New Build Manifesto.

“We have the opportunity to create more than a million new gardens in just a few years. Imagine the impact if those gardens began life with decent soil, better planting, space for nature and the ability to cope with heavier rainfall and hotter summers.

“A new garden shouldn’t be an expensive problem handed to the homeowner with the keys. Done properly, it can be an asset from day one – for the people who live there, for wildlife and for the neighbourhood around it.”

MORE THAN A LAWN AND A FENCE

There are around 25.8 million gardens across Great Britain, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. Collectively, they form an enormous network of green space, providing habitat for wildlife while helping to absorb rainfall, moderate temperatures and make towns and cities greener and more liveable.

The creation of more than a million new gardens therefore represents an environmental opportunity at a scale that is easy to overlook.

The New Build Manifesto is calling for the quality of gardens and outdoor spaces to be considered alongside the quality of the homes themselves.

It wants the conversation about new housing to include practical questions about the ground beneath our gardens, how water moves through developments, the trees and plants we establish, how wildlife can move between plots, and whether gardens being created today will remain comfortable and resilient as the climate changes.

The ambition is not to prescribe what every garden should look like. It is to ensure homeowners are given the foundations from which a good garden can grow.

FROM BLANK PLOT TO THRIVING GARDEN

Jackson knows the experience first-hand. When he moved into a new-build home, his own garden began as many do: a relatively blank plot surrounded by fencing.

Over the following years, he transformed it into a mature, wildlife-rich garden. That experience eventually prompted a much bigger question: why are so many new homeowners expected to begin their gardens almost entirely from scratch?

The New Build Manifesto grew from that question.

It combines a national campaign for better new-build gardens with practical support for the people already living with them – helping homeowners understand their soil, improve drainage, choose resilient plants, create habitats for wildlife and allow young gardens to develop character and maturity over time.

The message is deliberately optimistic: the blank plots being created around new homes are not simply a problem to solve. Collectively, they could become one of Britain’s biggest opportunities to create new green space.

A CAMPAIGN FOR HOMEOWNERS AND INDUSTRY

The New Build Manifesto is bringing together homeowners, housebuilders, developers, garden designers, horticultural businesses, environmental organisations and policymakers around a shared ambition for better new-build gardens.

Rather than seeking to create identical gardens, the campaign wants to establish some basic principles for what homeowners should reasonably expect: good ground, sensible water management, opportunities for planting and trees, connectivity for wildlife, and gardens capable of adapting to a changing climate.

It will also provide homeowners with practical information and inspiration to help them transform the gardens they already have.

Andrew Jackson adds: “This isn’t about demanding elaborate landscaped gardens with every new house. It’s about getting the fundamentals right.

“We are going to build these homes anyway, and the land around them is going to become millions of gardens. We can either regard that space as an afterthought, or recognise what an extraordinary opportunity it represents.

“Britain is a nation of gardeners. The next generation of British gardens is being created right now.”

From 24 September 2026, homeowners, organisations and industry professionals will be invited to take the New Build Manifesto pledge and support the campaign for a better standard of garden alongside every new home.

One Block Too Many? MSPs take on Scotland’s Tumbling Policy Tower at Tourism and Hospitality Event

The ASSC and SHG host parliamentary reception to introduce MSPs to the visitor economy for the new parliamentary session, inviting politicians to test how much regulatory pressure the sector can take before it all comes tumbling down

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) and the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) hosted a drop-in reception at the Scottish Parliament to introduce MSPs to Scotland’s vital tourism and hospitality industry as the new parliamentary session gets under way.

The event, hosted by Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Tourism Daniel Johnson MSP, was attended by politicians from the SNP, Labour, Reform Scotland, Conservative and Liberal Dem benches, alongside self-caterers and hospitality operators from across the country.

Amongst the MSPs in attendance was Scottish Government Minister for Innovation Alyn Smith MSP and Scottish Labour leadership hopeful Joe Fagan MSP. Speeches were provided by ASSC and SHG leads, Fiona Campbell MBE and Stephen Montgomery.

To bring the sector’s message to life, guests were invited to try their hand at a giant tumbling tower, built from blocks representing the many regulatory and fiscal pressures facing tourism and hospitality businesses. As with any such tower, removing a single block rarely brings it down but each one removed brings the whole structure closer to collapse. MSPs and industry figures took turns testing exactly that.

The exercise also illustrated the argument behind a new infographic released by the two leading industry bodies: that businesses do not experience government policy one intervention at a time, but absorb the combined cost and administrative burden of everything introduced across government at once.

For self-caterers, that ranges from short-term let licensing and planning controls; and for hospitality businesses, from alcohol advertising restrictions, the deposit return scheme to Low Emission Zones. Moreover, that’s on top of shared pressures including visitor levies and rising business rates.

Tourism and hospitality are among Scotland’s greatest economic strengths, supporting jobs, businesses and communities in every constituency. But behind those numbers are people: the owners, operators, employees and entrepreneurs who welcome visitors, create jobs, invest locally and help make Scotland one of the world’s most welcoming destinations.

The ASSC and SHG hope the reception gave MSPs the chance to hear directly from some of those people, and to understand both the contribution they make and the challenges they are currently facing.

With all that in mind, the ASSC and SHG are now calling on national and local government to embed cumulative impact assessment into policymaking, so that any new measure affecting the visitor economy is considered not just on its own terms, but alongside the pressures businesses are already carrying.

With visitor spend reaching £11.4bn, the organisations argue that protecting the sector’s ability to invest, employ and grow is a matter of national economic importance, not just an industry concern.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the ASSC, said: “Businesses do not experience government policies one at a time, they experience them all at once. Each new measure adds yet another block to an already growing burden.

When the regulatory burden keeps stacking up, businesses have less capacity to invest, employ and grow. We were therefore delighted to see MSPs get involved with our tumbling tower but while it was a fun visual, but there was serious thought behind it.

“Namely, that good policymaking must consider how various interventions interact and what the cumulative impact means for business. The reception was a valuable chance to start that conversation with cross-party MSPs and we look forward to building on that engagement throughout this parliamentary session and beyond.”

Stephen Montgomery, Director of the SHG, said: “Hospitality businesses are being asked to carry an ever-growing stack of taxation, regulation and additional costs, without the cumulative impact always being properly assessed.

“Every new block has to be paid for somewhere and government must look at the whole structure rather than adding measures one by one. What we now need, is government to speak to and include us in all the discussions, and take our factual evidence into account, before any policy is determined or implemented.

“Nevertheless, it was fantastic to welcome MSPs from across the political spectrum and we were greatly encouraged by the appetite for genuine engagement with our sector. We want to build on those conversations so that the industry and parliament are working together in partnership in the years ahead.

“After all, when hospitality and self-catering thrive, our communities thrive, our economy grows, and Scotland succeeds.”

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP backs greater choice for children with life shortening conditions

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP has highlighted the importance of ensuring children with life-shortening conditions and their families can access the right care, in the right place and at the right time, after hearing directly from families supported by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

At a recent event in the Scottish Parliament, Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP joined families, health and care leaders, charities and community organisations in making their mark on a special CHAS installation, reflecting a shared commitment to improving support for children and families across Scotland.

The event heard how children’s palliative care helps babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions live as well as possible, while supporting their families emotionally, practically and clinically throughout their journey.

During 2025-26, 59 children and families across Edinburgh and Lothians East received support from CHAS through a combination of hospice care at home, and 24/7 specialist support. Alongside 1279 CHAS at Home hours and 483 specialist hospice bed nights, CHAS provided 1585 out-of-hours contacts, ensuring families could access advice and support whenever they needed it.

With the number of children and young people in Scotland living with life-shortening conditions having increased by 40 per cent over the past decade, CHAS is calling for continued focus on coordinated, family-centred support that gives families greater choice about how and where care is delivered.

Rami Okasha, Chief Executive of CHAS, said: “Every child with a life-shortening condition deserves access to the care and support they need, wherever they live in Scotland.

“As more children live longer with increasingly complex conditions, it is vital that services work together around children and families, providing coordinated support and genuine choice about how and where care is delivered.

“Children’s palliative care is a lead case for what public service reform looks like in practice, with health services, local government, communities and charities working together around shared outcomes rather than organisational boundaries.

“Families should not have to navigate disconnected systems to access support. By working together across health, social care, communities and the voluntary sector, we can improve outcomes for children and help families make the most of their precious time together.”

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP added: “Hearing directly from families who received support from CHAS was an extremely powerful reminder of the vital importance of this service. Families should not need to worry about whether and how they can access the right care and support at such a difficult time.

“Every child in Scotland facing a shortened life should be able to get the absolute best care and support, no matter their postcode.”

‘We read to know we are not alone’: A global reading adventure inviting everyone to get involved

To mark the National Year of Reading, the National Literacy Trust and the British Council are teaming up to set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for ‘The most people reading together online over 12 hours’ on 8 October
The new record will highlight the wellbeing benefits of reading in the run up to World Mental Health Day
A host of National Year of Reading ambassadors including Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Nathanael Lessore, David Larbi, Nadia Shireen, Ben Mercer, Alice Loxton and T.J. Power to take part
People wanting to get involved can sign up now

Children, young people and adults around the world are being invited to pause for 10 minutes and read together to experience the wellbeing benefits of reading for a brand-new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title taking place in the lead up to World Mental Health Day (10 October).

The new record for the ‘most people reading together online over 12 hours’ will be held on 8 October where schools, families and people in workplaces, libraries and community settings will be invited to take part in online events designed for different age groups: 5-8 years, 8-12 years, 12-16 years and 16+.

Each event will feature a special author or guest, alongside ten minutes of dedicated reading time, and the event for adults (suitable for ages 16+) will be hosted by BookTok personalities Coco Omer and Zubs J Malik with contributions from National Year of Reading ambassadors. Registration is now open, so people can sign up and get involved.

This marks a collaboration between The National Literacy Trust and the British Council in the National Year of Reading 2026.

Author, screen writer and National Year of Reading Ambassador Frank Cottrell-Boyce said: “What a treat it is to be part of this record attempt. Stories belong to the whole world – all our stories are shared, and that’s a wonderful thing.

“Some of the most important reading experiences of my life have been when someone else was reading to me – my dad, a teacher and, more recently, my own children.

“I’m honoured to be able to join in taking ten minutes to slow down, share a story and remind ourselves just how brilliant reading together can be.”

The new record attempt coincides with the National Literacy Trust’s annual #Take10toRead campaign which aims to make reading an accessible part of everyday life, while highlighting the opportunities reading can provide for relaxation, reflection, creativity, connection and exploring different perspectives.

The partnership with the British Council offers the opportunity to reach up to 700 million people across 150 countries around the world through its culture and educational networks, making the record attempt truly global.

David Hayman, Director of The National Year of Reading 2026, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the British Council on this exciting GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt during the National Year of Reading to take the National Literacy Trust’s Take 10 to Read campaign global.

“Take 10 to Read highlights the wellbeing benefits of reading and encourages people of all ages to take just 10 minutes to read in the run-up to and around World Mental Health Day.

“Together, we’ll create a shared reading moment that transcends borders and demonstrate the power of reading to bring people together, support wellbeing and inspire a lifelong love of reading. In the National Year of Reading, the message is simple: whatever you’re into, take 10 to read into it.”

Fiona Iglesias, Head of Schools at the British Council, said: The British Council is proud to be partnering with the National Literacy Trust as part of the National Year of Reading on this brand-new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title.

“By bringing together young people, educators, libraries and communities in a shared reading experience, we are celebrating the power of stories to unite people across borders.

“Reading has the power to inspire imagination, spark curiosity, broaden horizons and build understanding across countries and cultures.

“As an organisation committed to supporting peace and prosperity through cultural relations and educational opportunities, we are delighted to play a part in an initiative that brings people together through a shared love of reading and celebrates its ability to connect communities around the world.”