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

New research aims to build evidence base for braille food labelling

Blind and partially sighted people across the UK are being invited to share their experiences of accessing food packaging as part of a new survey designed to strengthen the case for mandatory braille food labelling.

The survey, launched by Sight Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and partners, will gather evidence on the challenges people face when identifying, storing and using food products. The findings will help inform Food Standards Scotland’s Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment while also supporting discussions with UK Government departments, including DEFRA, on future policy change.

The campaign comes amid growing calls for greater accessibility in food labelling. Research conducted by Disability Equality Scotland in 2023 found that three-quarters of blind and partially sighted people find food labels inaccessible. While technology plays an important role in helping people access information, campaigners stress that braille is not a replacement for technology, nor does it compete with it.

Veronica Whymant, 43, from St Andrews, has lived with visual impairment all her life after being born prematurely, says everyone should be able to make informed decisions about the food they buy and eat without being held back by inaccessible information.

She explains: “My vision gradually deteriorated through my teens, and I was registered blind in my early twenties. Since then, maintaining my independence has relied on determination, organisation and finding ways to adapt to a world that is largely designed for people who can see.

“Braille labelling on food packaging would be revolutionary. It would give me more independence, less anxiety when shopping and greater confidence when preparing meals. Most importantly, it would allow me to make decisions for myself. That is something many people take for granted, but for people with visual impairment it can be life changing.

“This isn’t about convenience, it’s about dignity, equality and choice. No one should be denied the ability to confidently and independently make decisions about the food they buy and eat simply because information isn’t accessible. Every day, people like me are forced to rely on others to identify basic food items, check ingredients or confirm expiry dates.

“At home I’m an extremely organised person and I carefully catalogue everything in my cupboards and freezer, so I know where everything is. That helps me avoid mistakes, but it also shows how much extra effort visually impaired people have to put into everyday tasks. Having clear braille labels would provide reassurance and confidence and remove so much uncertainty from daily life.”

Veronica adds: “People often assume technology has solved every problem for someone who is blind or partially sighted, but it can be expensive and depends on devices, software and internet access. Braille allows you to access information directly, privately and independently, whether it’s on medicine, food packaging, public signs or museum displays.”

Lucy Mulvagh, Chief Executive Officer at Disability Equality Scotland, comments: “We are launching this survey because evidence matters, and right now there is a real gap in what we know. The survey is open to all blind and partially sighted people, whether or not they use braille.

“We know that many blind and partially sighted people find food labels inaccessible, but we still need to understand the impact this has on everyday life. What happens when someone cannot identify food in their own kitchen? How do people currently cope? What are the costs in terms of safety, time and independence?

“To make the case for change, we need to show that this is not just a Scottish issue, but one that affects people across Britain and the wider UK. By collecting experiences from across the UK, this survey will provide the evidence needed to support policy change and make food safer and more accessible for blind and partially sighted people.”

To survey is available at: https://bit.ly/3T1ZQwHTo. The survey is open until 31 October:

For more information, please visit sightscotland.org.uk.

Charities tackling hardship continue supporting Edinburgh

Female University Or College Student Having Individual Meeting With Tutor Or Counsellor

Charities continue to play an important role in supporting communities and creating opportunities for people in Edinburgh, according to new analysis of data from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) by specialist insurer Ansvar Insurance.

The analysis found that Edinburgh is home to 200 registered charities focused on the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of citizenship or community development and the advancement of education.

Nine new charities working across these areas were registered in Edinburgh over the past 12 months.

The findings highlight the continued commitment of local people to supporting their community.

Adam Tier, Head of Underwriting at Ansvar, commented: “The fact that nine new charities have been established to tackle poverty and create opportunities demonstrates the commitment of local people to supporting those facing challenges.

“Charities are often founded because individuals recognise there is a gap in support and want to make a positive difference. Whether through employment support, skills development, community initiatives or direct assistance for those experiencing financial hardship, these organisations help people build better futures.”

As a specialist insurer working with charities and not-for-profit organisations, Ansvar regularly analyses sector trends to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing organisations that support communities across the UK.

While charities continue to face pressures including securing sustainable funding, attracting and retaining volunteers and managing increasing operational responsibilities, the findings also reveal an encouraging picture of people continuing to invest their time, energy and expertise in helping others.

Adam Tier added: “It’s encouraging to see people stepping forward to establish charities that help their local communities thrive. These figures highlight the positive impact local people can have when they support each other.

“While establishing a charity is only the first step, putting strong governance, volunteer management and risk management practices in place from the outset can help organisations build resilience and maximise their long-term impact.

“Community organisations play an essential role in helping people and places prosper, and it’s important they have the support they need to continue making a difference.”

Five Edinburgh businesses crowned winners at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026

Five food and drink businesses from Edinburgh have been crowned winners at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026, securing six of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, including the coveted Product of the Year category.

The winners proudly representing the capital are:

Edgefield Craft Butchers, Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle (Scotch Brand Product of the Year, and Product of the Year)
Woven Whisky Makers, Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky (Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits)
east PIZZAS, Topped Spicy Pizza (Grocery Product of the Year)
Bon Accord Soft Drinks, Rhubarb Soda (Healthy or Free From Product of the Year)
Howies Restaurants (Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year))

Product of the Year is awarded to the category winner who scored the highest marks among the esteemed panel of judges made up of experts from retail, foodservice and hospitality.

This year’s winner, Edgefield Craft Butchers’ Prime Rib, was praised by judges for its depth of flavour, juicy, melt in the mouth texture, and exceptional quality.

Edgefield Craft Butchers was founded in 2024 by fourth-generation butcher, Simon Gilmour, and supplies Scotland’s leading chefs and restaurants with premium meat.

The awards recognise excellence across Scotland’s food and drink sector, with the Northeast winners demonstrating innovation, business excellence, growth and product quality on a national stage.

The Edinburgh winners were announced alongside businesses from across Scotland at the award ceremony in Glasgow, highlighting the breadth and diversity of the country’s food and drink sector. Other winners included Benbecula-based Salar Smokehouse whose Flaky Smoked Salmon won in both the Artisan and Fish & Seafood Product of the Year categories.

Alongside the tasted product categories, Aberdeen-based Vanilla Labs won Business Innovation of the Year for redefining how vanilla is grown, cured and delivered. Glasgow’s Dear Green coffee roasters was named Sustainable Business of the Year, and Growth Business of the Year was won by Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Farms.

The Excellence Awards recognise the highest quality of produce, as well as leading suppliers, individuals and companies.

Individuals were celebrated too. Jaynie Kean from Jackton Distillery won the Young Talent of the Year award, with the judges describing the RAER Scotch Whisky Managing Director as an aspirational role model for young people entering the industry.

The winners were revealed by Matt Tebbutt, Saturday Kitchen presenter and MasterChef: The Professionals judge.

Simon Gilmour, Founder and CEO of Edgefield Craft Butchers, winner of the Scotch Brand category and overall Product of the Year, said: “It’s an honour to win both Scotch Brand Product of the Year and the overall Product of the Year.

“We are quite a new company, so to be in the position to win an award like this is just such a ‘pinch me’ moment. The team have worked very hard to get us here, so this award really belongs to them.

“Some of the best food and drink companies in the world are here in Scotland, and we’re very lucky to have the larder we do. For us here at Edgefield to be on that radar now is pretty special.

“Our Dry Aged Prime Rib has been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland, so it’s Scotch through and through.”

Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Seeing winners from every corner of the country reflects the strength of our sector. From the northern isles to the borders, from Aberdeen to the Hebrides, the quality and variety of what our producers make is remarkable.

“The Excellence Awards are the gold-standard that every food and drink brand in Scotland aspires to, and our winners thoroughly deserve to be celebrated for their achievements.

“Congratulations to all our winners, and to those who were shortlisted. We look forward to seeing them all continue to innovate, prioritise quality, and shine a light on our incredible food and drink sector.”

For over two decades, The Excellence Awards have brought together Scotland’s finest producers with key decision makers and influencers from across the industry. Underpinned by people, passion and perseverance, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s achievements of the past year while looking ahead and supporting the next wave of innovation and creativity.

See the full list of winners here:

https://foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/the-excellence-awards/2026-winners

The full list of winners

Category	Company	Product / Person
Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits)	Woven Whisky Makers	Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky
Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits)	Orkney Gin Company	Aatta Gin
Beer & Cider Product of the Year	Six Degrees North	Raspberry Beer
Dairy Product of the Year	Giacopazzi’s Wholesale Ice Cream	Ricotta, Pistachio & Sour Cherry Gelato
Meat Product of the Year	Brownings the Bakers	Kilmarnock Pie
Grocery Product of the Year	east PIZZAS	Topped Spicy Pizza
Artisan Product of the Year	Salar Smokehouse	Flaky Smoked Salmon
Healthy or Free From Product of the Year	Bon Accord Soft Drinks	Rhubarb Soda
Bakery Product of the Year	S. Collins & Son	Sausage Roll
Fish & Seafood Product of the Year	Salar Smokehouse	Flaky Smoked Salmon
Scotch Brand Product of the Year	Edgefield Craft Butchers	Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle
Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year)	Howies Restaurants
Food & Drink Campaign of the Year	Mackie’s of Scotland	Full Cream Ahead Campaign
Young Talent of the Year	Jackton Distillery	Jaynie Kean
Business Innovation of the Year	Vanilla Labs
Sustainable Business of the Year	Dear Green
Employer of the Year	Bidfood Scotland
Food Tourism Business of the Year	Rae’s
Growth Business of the Year	Duncan Farms
Best for Scottish (Multiple Business of the Year)	Brakes Scotland, a Sysco company
Product of the Year	Edgefield Craft Butchers	Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle

Former MSP calls for urgent action on racism after alleged Glasgow attack

Foysol Choudhury MBE, former member of the Scottish Parliament, has called for urgent action to tackle racism and hate crime following the alleged racially motivated assault of Bangladeshi man Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow:

I am extremely concerned and deeply saddened by the alleged racist assault on Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow on 16 September.

I have spoken personally with Iftekhar and his wife. He has sustained injuries to his head and face, he has been left traumatised by the event, and now is too frightened to leave his home.

Nobody should have to feel unsafe travelling to work or walking through our streets because of the colour of their skin or their ethnic background.

I am attaching the joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network, representing organisations from across Scotland. The statement calls for justice and accountability and urges Police Scotland to conduct a full, thorough and timely investigation.

According to the statement, Iftekhar was approached in Glasgow city centre, near the bus station, before being attacked in broad daylight. It states that racist language was used during the alleged assault and that his calls for help went unanswered.

This is extremely serious, and I am deeply worried that things are going from bad to worse.

As a former MSP, I am particularly concerned about the wider spread of racism and racial hostility in our communities. Political rhetoric matters. When politicians use divisive issues or language for political advantage, we need to consider the impact this can have on minority communities and the atmosphere in which people live.

I am not suggesting that political statements directly cause individual crimes. Those responsible for criminal acts must be held individually responsible. However, we must also recognise that public discourse can influence how communities feel about one another.

We cannot allow racism to become normalised.

I raised these issues repeatedly in Parliament

During my five years in the Scottish Parliament, I repeatedly raised racism, Islamophobia, anti-racist education and the need for stronger action.

In October 2023, I asked the Scottish Government how it intended to implement Scotland’s anti-racist curriculum principles. (Scottish Parliament)

In June 2025, I raised the issue of racism and racist bullying in schools, including concerns about whether anti-racist policies and toolkits were actually being implemented and whether racist incidents were properly recorded and followed up. (Scottish Parliament)

In March 2025, I questioned the First Minister about the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents and asked about progress in implementing recommendations from work on Islamophobia in Scotland. The First Minister acknowledged that the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents was a serious concern. (Scottish Parliament)

I also raised the importance of education about racism and colonialism, including the role museums can play in helping young people understand these issues. (Scottish Parliament)

I have consistently argued that education must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, I do not believe anti-racist education has always been taken as seriously as it should have been.

What needs to happen now?

We need action, not simply statements.

There must be a thorough investigation into what happened to Iftekhar. Victims of racist attacks must receive appropriate support, and racist incidents must be properly recorded and followed up.

We also need to ask whether enough is being done to prevent racism before it becomes violence.

Are schools receiving the resources and support needed to tackle racism effectively?

Are racist incidents being properly recorded and acted upon?

Are politicians and public figures doing enough to challenge racism rather than allowing division to grow?

And are we doing enough to educate young people about racism, prejudice and the contribution of Scotland’s diverse communities?

The Bangladeshi community is an important part of Scotland. During my time in Parliament, I established and convened the Cross-Party Group on Bangladesh to strengthen Scotland-Bangladesh relations and provide a forum for Scotland’s Bangladeshi community. (Scottish Parliament)

I have always believed that Scotland should be a country where everyone can live, work and raise their families without fear because of their race, ethnicity or faith.

Racism is not somebody else’s problem. It is a problem for all of us.

I stand with Iftekhar, his family and the Scottish Bangladeshi community in calling for justice, accountability and urgent action.

Something has to be done now. We cannot wait for another victim.

Joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network:

Leith’s Muse Hair named Best Hair Salon in Scotland

A third-generation Leith hair salon that has stood in the same Ferry Road premises since 1960 has been named Best Hair Salon at the 2026 Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards.

Muse Hair, a family-run salon with 66 years of history in the area, took home the title at the 15th annual SHABA awards in Glasgow, beating competition from salons across Scotland.

For Muse, the win is less a sudden arrival than the latest chapter in a story that began more than six decades ago.

Three generations of the same family have worked from the Ferry Road premises, through extraordinary changes in hairdressing, fashion, business and in Leith itself.

Owner Scott Finnigan said: “Winning Best Hair Salon means a huge amount to us. You’re in a room with some of the best people in the industry, from every part of Scotland, so hearing Muse called out was genuinely a bit surreal.

“But what makes it really special is the history behind it. We’re third generation. We’ve been working from the same premises on Ferry Road since 1960.

“Leith has changed beyond recognition. Hairdressing has changed beyond recognition. Somehow, through all of that, we’re still here.”

The Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards bring together leading salons, stylists, colourists, barbers and beauty professionals from across the country.

Muse reached the final alongside 15 other salons, while members of its team were also recognised individually, with Amanda Stanton shortlisted for Best Female Stylist and Best Female Colourist, and Mac Torrance shortlisted for Best Hair Extensionist.

Scott said the award reflected far more than what clients see from the chair. “There’s a version of running a salon that looks quite simple from the outside. You make the place look good, open the doors and cut hair.

“The reality is years of training people, building a culture, maintaining standards, fixing mistakes, adapting, listening, developing young stylists and constantly asking whether you can do things better.

“That part is invisible to most people, but it’s the part that matters.”

Muse has built its reputation around combining serious technical standards with an intentionally relaxed, unpretentious approach.

“We’ve never wanted Muse to feel corporate or overly polished,” Scott said. “We want people to walk in and immediately feel at ease. We take the work seriously, but not ourselves.

“There should be good conversation, good music, a bit of chaos, a lot of laughter — and, at the end of it, really good hair.

“To be recognised at this level while still feeling completely like us is probably the best thing about it.”

For a business with roots stretching back to 1960, the award also comes at a time when independent high-street businesses face unprecedented pressure.

For Muse, however, longevity has never meant standing still.

The salon continues to invest in education, emerging talent and the development of the next generation of hairdressers, while remaining independent and family-run.

Sixty-six years after the first generation opened the doors on Ferry Road, those doors are still open.

And now, above them, sits one more accolade: Best Hair Salon in Scotland.

Art Offenders: Support Therapets at local Charity Football Match

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH

Friday 2nd October 2026
Gates open: 1:00pm
Kick-off: 1:30pm
Entry: £5 per person

The event is raising money for Therapet, a charity that is particularly important to us.

We have four therapy dogs who regularly support young people at the Alternative School, and we get so much from the time we spend with them. They provide companionship, support and positive experiences for many of us, so this year we wanted to give something back to a service that has given so much to us.

The afternoon will be family-friendly, with lots happening alongside the football:

🧁 Bake sale
🎟️ Raffle
🎉 Tombola
🍦 Ice cream
🐶 Therapy dogs
🎤 Half-time performer – to be announced
⚽ Students vs Staff football match
…and much more!

All money raised will go to Therapet.

What makes this event particularly special is that it has been planned, organised and will be delivered by us — the young people.

For the past six years, as part of our Art sessions and social enterprise work, we have organised a wide range of events, including art exhibitions at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, art pop-up shops, DJ events and previous charity football matches.

Through these events, we have raised approximately £8,000 for a variety of charities and community causes.

With support from our Art Teacher, we take responsibility for the different parts of our projects — from coming up with ideas and planning, to promotion, fundraising, activities and helping to run the events themselves.

This year, we really want to open the event up to our local community and invite the people of North Edinburgh to come along, have some fun and get behind the young people.

For us, this isn’t just about football or fundraising. It’s about young people coming together, developing skills, creating something positive and finding ways to give something back to the community that we are part of.

You can also follow our social enterprise journey and see some of the work we have been doing through our Art Offenders Instagram page:

https://www.instagram.com/theartoffenders

Spread the word and encourage people from across North Edinburgh to come along on 2nd October.

We hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

The Young People of Spartans Alternative School

Fire and Rehire on hold as talks to resume next week

GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL STEPS BACK FROM THE BRINK

Glasgow City Council has agreed to pause the process of dismissing and re-engaging staff following constructive discussions with the Scottish Government and trade unions yesterday.

Workforce convener Cllr Allan Casey said:”I’m pleased that we’ve reached a position following a meeting with the Scottish Government and the three unions where a pause has been agreed, allowing the ACAS package to be put back on the table and creating the space for further intensive negotiations with the joint trade unions.

“Our goal remains clear: to secure collective agreement on a new pay and grading scheme that is free from discrimination and can be put to the workforce in a ballot.

“Both I and the wider Council leadership remain fully committed to working with trade unions and staff to deliver a fairer and more sustainable pay structure for the future.”

In a statement on behalf of UNITE, UNISON and GMB trade unions, an STUC Spokesperson said: We are pleased at the lifting of the threat of fire and rehire and that meaningful negotiations will take place next week.

“We also welcome the Scottish Government’s clear statement that the practice of fire and rehire’ does not align with the principles and expected practice of Fair Work.”

Equal pay talks between GLasgow Council and trade unions broke down on Thursday.

In a statement then, the council said: “Recent intensive talks between Glasgow City Council and the Joint Trade Unions have broken down without agreement.

There is now no agreed way forward between the council and the joint trade unions. This means that in order to lawfully bring our discriminatory pay and grading structure to an end and replace it with a non-discriminatory scheme we will have to dismiss all of our non teaching staff and issue new contracts. Letters will be sent to staff next week and the new contracts will take effect on January 1st.

“In the last week the Council put forward an offer which would have seen a substantial injection of cash to fund additional back pay and take the possibility of dismissals off the table.

The Council offer was dependant on all three TU’s balloting their members to let them determine whether the offer was acceptable – GMB and UNITE agreed to ballot members and avoid dismissal letters being issued but Unison regrettably withdrew their support on Wed Sept 23. They have made it clear that they are not prepared to ballot their members. They provided no substantive reason for this.

Director of Communications and Corporate Governance Colin Edgar said: “The council has gone as far as it can. The new pay and grading scheme removes unequal pay and sees pay rise or stay the same for 90% of staff – the council’s total pay bill will be substantially higher.

“For those staff who are in detriment our Joint Trade Unions negotiated an increase in pay protection from 6 months to 12 months. Additionally, some Trade Unions are devoting energy to local consultations to mitigate the impact on those colleagues in detriment – focussing on providing specific solutions.

“We acknowledge the joint statement made by GMB and Unite unions earlier today. Officials had hoped to have further talks with UNISON this afternoon to understand why they are not willing to consult their members, but they did not attend a scheduled meeting.

“The offer which has been unilaterally rejected by UNISON would have taken dismissals off the table and seen additional cash for those members of staff, and members of all unions, who are due back pay.

“It beggars belief that they would betray their own members in this way.

“If the Joint Trade Unions ballot their members on these enhanced terms and make a collective agreement we will of course withdraw these notices. If they are unable to do that then staff will be reengaged on the terms set out in the recently agreed City Administration Committee report which do not include the enhancements.

“We understand that issue of dismissal notices, regardless of how much we reassure people that we intend to re-engage, will cause significant concern to our staff which is why we have worked so hard to avoid this necessity. We value our staff and we want their service with us to continue. This is purely precautionary, but it could and should have been avoided.”

Call for rethink over Edinburgh College of Arts course cuts

Join the call to save craft and design courses

FOLLOWING the shock announcement that Edinburgh College of Art will be closing the remainder of its undergraduate degrees in craft disciplines, Craft Scotland have released an open letter calling for their reinstatement.

Craft organisations and leaders across the sector have co-signed the letter which you can read in full on our website: https://buff.ly/3jIYlOX

Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume are closing to new admissions in 2027 and will be taught out over the next four years.

“Each year we see work of the highest quality emerge from the ECA degree courses… we know that many of these graduates progress to very successful careers in craft, and make a valuable contribution to the wider cultural sector in Scotland and internationally.

“Collectively, these graduate cohorts are ranked amongst the best in the UK. Makers working in jewellery and textiles have directly helped to establish the reputation of Scottish craft internationally and contribute to cutting edge research in materiality and design.

“International visitors, collectors, curators and academics tell us that Scotland punches above its weight in terms of its contemporary craft culture. This shortsighted decision will have a disproportionate impact on the craft sector as well as significant impact on Scotland’s future creative success.”

– Craft Scotland Director, Irene Kernan

Co-signed by: Applied Arts Scotland, Fife Contemporary, Design Nation, Visual Arts Scotland, Scottish Textiles Showcase, Heritage Crafts, TRACS

With support from: Crafts Council, Goldsmiths’ (Company, Centre, Foundation), QEST, European Craft Alliance, Art Jewellery Forum and more.

Due to the strength of public response to this open letter, we have launched a petition to evidence the support for these highly successful craft and design courses.

We plan to share this petition with Scottish Government and politicians, and university decision makers to help fuel a reversal of this descision.

>>> SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION to help save these vital strands of Scotland’s craft and design education ecosystem.

Image 1: Honor Dodd, ECA Jewellery and Silversmithing graduate / Photography by the artist

THE LETTER IN FULL:

Craft Scotland and the other craft support organisations signing this statement are shocked to hear about the proposed closure of the undergraduate Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume courses at Edinburgh College of Art. This will devastate educational opportunities for future generations of professional makers and designers.

We call on University of Edinburgh Principal, Sir Peter Mathieson, Edinburgh College of Art Principal, Professor Juan Cruz, and Vice-Principal, Professor Sarah Prescott, to reverse these planned closures immediately.

Each year we see work of the highest quality emerge from the ECA degree courses. In our role we monitor the success of makers and we know that many of these graduates progress to very successful careers in craft, and make a valuable contribution to the wider cultural sector in Scotland and internationally.

Collectively, these graduate cohorts are ranked amongst the best in the UK. Makers working in jewellery and textiles have directly helped to establish the reputation of Scottish craft internationally and contribute to cutting edge research in materiality and design.

Edinburgh College of Art Jewellery and Silversmithing alumni have had their masterpieces acquired by some of the world’s most important museum collections and by private collectors.

Alumni from ECA’s Performance Costume course land prestigious roles working across stage and screen, as well as contributing to Scotland’s fashion and textile industries.

Makers working in textiles have built successful careers in industry and design as well as through establishing individual craft businesses. Textiles at ECA ranks consistently high in the Guardian University Guide, maintaining a position within the Top 6 for Textiles for the last 9 years. Number 2 in the UK and Number 1 in Scotland in 2026.

These courses are a unique and irreplaceable part of Edinburgh’s cultural history. A decision to close these courses will have consequences for Scottish culture that are almost impossible to mitigate and would be an enormous loss for the UK’s cultural landscape.

The reputation of craft and making by hand is on the rise. In an increasingly digital world, the value of craft is being recognised even more widely for its educational benefits, cultural impact and employment opportunities.

International visitors, collectors, curators and academics tell us that Scotland punches above its weight in terms of its contemporary craft culture. This shortsighted decision will have a disproportionate impact on the craft sector as well as significant impact on Scotland’s future creative success.

Craft Scotland Director, Irene Kernan

>>> SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION to help save these vital strands of Scotland’s craft and design education ecosystem.

Royal Bank of Scotland hosts free PSA testing with the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative at its Edinburgh HQ

The Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative is bringing its prostate cancer testing programme to Royal Bank of Scotland’s Gogarburn campus in Edinburgh this weekend.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting in men in Scotland*. To help promote early detection, members of the public and employees of the bank are being offered the opportunity to take a free Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests which can help identify potential signs of the disease.

Royal Bank of Scotland offered colleagues the opportunity for testing yesterday (Friday, September 25) and then open its doors to the public on Saturday, September 26 for a day of testing at its Scottish HQ.

Launched in March by Sir Chris Hoy, Kenny Logan, Professor Sir Chris Evans and Sir Tom Hunter, the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative was established to improve the early detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The programme, providing free PSA tests to men aged between 40 and 80, also explores how existing pathways for detecting and treating prostate cancer can be improved.

Since testing began in March, the Initiative has provided free PSA tests to more than 17,000 men across Scotland. Demand for appointments has consistently exceeded expectations, with most testing events becoming fully booked within days of being announced, demonstrating the strong public appetite for accessible prostate cancer testing and greater awareness of men’s health.

Participants provide a simple blood sample to measure PSA levels and, in selected cases, additional samples to support advanced diagnostic research aimed at improving understanding of genetic risk factors and other biomarkers associated with prostate cancer.

Professor Sir Chris Evans, founder and Chief Scientific Officer of EDX Medical, the diagnostics company which is delivering the Initiative, said: “The response to the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative has been extraordinary. Prostate cancer can develop silently, often without symptoms in its early stages which is why early diagnosis is so important.

“I would like to thank Royal Bank of Scotland for hosting these testing sessions at Gogarburn and for their support of the Initiative. By helping us bring free PSA testing to both employees and the wider community, they are playing an important role in raising awareness and helping more men take control of their health.”

Judith Cruickshank, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “Directly or indirectly, prostate cancer is an issue that impacts the lives of so many of our colleagues and customers across the country.

“We are delighted to be working with the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative to offer free PSA testing here at Gogarburn. Royal Bank plays an important role in the lives of the customers and the communities which we serve and this is an opportunity to make it easier for the public to get themselves tested and guard themselves one of the most common form of cancers here in Scotland.

“We are proud to support an Initiative that can make a positive difference to men’s health across Scotland.”

The Initiative is delivered by EDX Medical in conjunction with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust.

Testing takes place at Gogarburn TODAY Saturday 26 September from 0930 – 1700.

Details of other upcoming testing events can be found at: