JUNIOR CREATIVE WRITING GROUP – TUESDAY 5th MAY 6 – 7pm
Do you love using your imagination to create stories?!
Join us at our Junior Creative Writing group this Tuesday, 5th May at 6pm 
This week we’ll be working as a group to write our very own picture book!
This year’s May Day celebrations have an added historical resonance for trade unionists (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK). Monday 4 May marks the centenary of the start of the General Strike – a momentous event in British industrial and political history.
But what is its real legacy? How did it shape trade unions in the decades after? And a century on, what are its lessons for today’s movement?
I’ve just had the pleasure of addressing a fascinating event run by the Institute of Historical Research alongside US academic Jonathan Schneer, author of a brilliant new book on the General Strike: Nine Days in May. It was a great opportunity to take a step back from my day-to-day work and think about the immense historical forces that have shaped the modern trade union movement.
I have two personal connections to the events of 1926. Firstly, as the current General Secretary of the TUC – an organisation of which I am immensely proud – I have a keen sense of our heritage. No organisation can claim to be infallible and the TUC is no exception, but for nearly 160 years we have advanced the cause of labour and bent the arc of history towards social and economic justice. And I am ambitious that we continue to do so in the future.
Secondly, I have a strong affinity with one of the key players in the General Strike, the acting TUC General Secretary Walter Citrine. He grew up just a couple of miles from where I was born and still live in Birkenhead.
And while not a household name, I believe he was one of the most consequential figures in the modern trade union movement, shaping the TUC as we know it today, playing a key role in the effort to defeat fascism, and building international trade unionism.
While the General Strike ended in defeat for the trade union movement, it remains one of the greatest acts of solidarity in British history. Three million workers answered the TUC General Council’s call to stop work, with two thirds selflessly walking out in support of miners whose jobs, terms and conditions were being slashed. This unprecedented working-class mobilisation shook the establishment to its core.
Some have argued the defeat was rooted in the TUC’s failure to properly prepare for the strike and prosecute it with a view to bringing down the government. But I think it is fair to posit that the leadership of the TUC, our unions and – more importantly – the three million workers who answered the call to action were motivated by a desire to bring ministers and mine owners back to the negotiating table.
Their goal was to win a fair deal for the miners, not overthrow the government or usurp parliamentary democracy. The General Strike was a moment of solidarity, not revolution.
Of course, this distinction mattered not one bit to prime minister Stanley Baldwin. His government’s aim was simple: outright victory. And that’s why ministers deployed every instrument of state power at their disposal to crush the strikers – not just the civil service, local authorities, police and volunteer strike breakers, but the armed forces too.
Despite this, the TUC ran an incredible operation from our offices in Eccleston Square, bringing the UK economy to a virtual standstill. But as Jonathan Schneer’s new book makes clear, the government executed its response with the same ruthlessness as Margaret Thatcher did during the miners’ strike of 1984-85. In both instances, the question was not so much “who runs Britain?”, but “who is Britain run for”. And in both instances, the answer was clear: not its workers.
For all the General Strike was a devastating setback for unions, this retrenchment proved temporary. From a low of less than 3.7 million in 1929, our membership grew steadily for the next half century, reaching a peak of nearly 13 million in 1979. This owed much to the reshaping of the TUC by Citrine, learning the lessons from 1926, as well as our role in the war and the fight against fascism. And it was proof of our resilience in the face of periodic political hostility. It was growth fuelled by the very same solidarity that drove the 1926 strike.
For me, the events of 1926 pose some fundamental questions about the TUC itself. We have always been more than the General Secretary, the staff of the organisation and our physical premises. Instead, we are the collective embodiment of our 47 affiliates and 5.3 million members, a vibrant federation of sovereign unions. And for us to be truly effective, each union has a responsibility to its own members, but also to the wider movement. Solidarity will always be a two-way street: something we should expect to give as well as receive.
And that matters just as much in 2026 as it did a century ago. Unlike our forebears, we currently enjoy a much more positive political climate.
Labour’s Employment Rights Act is not just the biggest upgrade to our rights in a generation – it’s also a huge opportunity for us to rebuild our movement.
Let’s seize it.
Come join us at Drylaw Park today (Monday) for fun, games and more!
We will be there 12 – 3pm 
A Stirling family is sharing their experience of childhood hearing loss to highlight the early signs of deafness and show how vital it is for deaf children to receive the right support, at the right time.
Keiran and Mya Meiklejohn, who live with their three children, are supporting the National Deaf Children’s Society’s campaign throughout Deaf Awareness Week (4–10 May), which focuses on helping families and professionals recognise the signs of deafness early and access vital support.
Keiran has moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing loss himself, but says his experience growing up, when his deafness was identified late and support was limited, has been very different from that of his children.
“Looking back, I realise there were huge gaps in what I experienced as a child,” says Keiran. “I was there, but I wasn’t really hearing or taking part. We didn’t want that for our children.”
Two of the couple’s children are deaf. Their son Finlay, aged nine, has mild hearing loss in one ear, and their daughter Hollie, aged six, has mild to moderate bilateral hearing loss across the speech range. Both passed their newborn hearing screening, but their hearing loss was identified later through follow-up screening carried out by NHS Forth Valley.
Because of Keiran’s own hearing loss, the family was more aware of what to look out for, but the process was still daunting.
“As a parent, you’re always asking yourself whether something is just a phase or something you should act on,” says Keiran. “Having clear information about the signs of deafness made all the difference in helping us feel confident taking the next steps.”
Finlay’s hearing loss is monitored with support at school, including small adjustments when needed. Hollie hearing loss was supported early with hearing technology, and she received hearing aids around the time she started nursery.
“I find the word ‘mild’ misleading,” Keiran says. “It can sound like it doesn’t really matter but the impact can be huge without the right support. Getting help early has changed everything for Hollie.”
Hollie now wears her hearing aids confidently, choosing the colour of her ear moulds herself and proudly explains to classmates why she wears them. She is supported by a Teacher of the Deaf, who provide deaf children and their families with specialist support, as well as speech and language therapy, and her parents say she is thriving both socially and academically.
The family believe early support and positive representation have been key.
“Hearing loss is just part of our everyday life,” says Keiran. “We talk openly, we adapt how we communicate, and our children advocate for themselves. That confidence comes from being supported early and understood.”
Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event celebrating British deaf culture, community and history, while raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss. This year the National Deaf Children’s Society is empowering families and professionals with clear, accessible information and practical guidance.
The charity says the family’s experience highlights why early awareness is so important. Deafness can affect children in different ways, and the signs aren’t always obvious or consistent. Some children may struggle in noisy environments, miss speech, rely on watching others closely, or become tired or withdrawn – signs that can easily be misunderstood or overlooked.
During Deaf Awareness Week, the charity is sharing practical guidance, real family experiences and expert advice to help reduce anxiety for families who may be noticing changes and waiting for answers.
As part of the campaign, the charity is also releasing a five‑part video series by Sarah Adedeji, a deaf audiologist and content creator. The videos explain how to spot early signs of deafness, what happens at audiology appointments, and how families can feel more confident while waiting for support.
Michael Heggie, head of policy and influencing in Scotland at the National Deaf Children’s Society, said: “Across Scotland, families often tell us they noticed small changes in their children but weren’t sure what they were seeing or whether it was something to act on. Hearing loss isn’t always obvious, and labels like ‘mild’ can give a false sense of reassurance.
“Deaf Awareness Week is about making those early signs easier to recognise and letting families know they’re not on their own. With clear information, the right support and early identification, deaf children can grow up confident, resilient and able to communicate fully.”
Families across Scotland are encouraged to take part in Deaf Awareness Week by ordering free deaf awareness resources, sharing information with nurseries and schools, and getting involved in local community events aimed at reducing isolation and building understanding.
For more information about Deaf Awareness Week, the early signs of deafness, or free advice and support, visit the National Deaf Children’s Society website. or contact the charity’s free Helpline.
We have a delicious menu planned for Monday’s Community Lunch!
Come along 11:30am – 12:30pm for some tasty spaghetti bolognese (made with fresh tomatoes and basil saved by Tummies Not Trash) and apple pie for dessert.
Our Community Lunch is free for everyone, and you can sit in or take away.
We also have our breakfast cafe running until 10:30am with hot breakfast rolls and hot drinks too!
BBC Scotland has commissioned four new short form comedy series, adding to its portfolio of established and successful digital-first scripted content, which includes award-winning dramas such as Float and Dog Days and its digital comedy strand Short Stuff.
These commissions form part of BBC Scotland’s digital strategy which is designed to deliver distinctive Scottish content on platforms where audiences are increasingly choosing to watch.
By commissioning formats that are accessible and shareable, BBC Scotland continues to evolve how it reaches younger and more diverse audiences.
Earlier this year, the BBC announced its partnership with YouTube as part of the BBC’s value for all strategy, ensuring more BBC content is accessible to all audiences where they are.
Louise Thornton, BBC Scotland’s head of commissioning said: “These projects reflect our ambition to create bold, original Scottish content that works brilliantly on BBC iPlayer and beyond.
“They speak directly to how audiences are watching today.”
Gavin Smith, commissioning editor, scripted added: “We have been working for many years in the scripted digital-first short form space and our strategy has produced award winning content.
“We’re delighted to have brought Deb Charles into the team as assistant commissioner, scripted to build on this success and we look forward to having further content announcements in the coming months.”
In the run up to the Holyrood election, Marc Jennings’ Genuine Question – Why Vote? follows stand up comedian and podcast host Marc Jennings as he attempts to understand Scottish politics from the perspective of the “everyman”.
Marc takes a peak behind the curtain of the campaign trail hearing contrasting views from people wearing very different shades of rosette.
Contributors include Angela Constance (SNP), Mags Hall (Scottish Greens), Sanne Dijkstra Downie (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Thomas Kerr (Reform UK), Paul Sweeney (Scottish Labour) and Meghan Gallacher (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party).
To help cut through the noise, Marc also turns to expert analysis from political commentator and academic Professor Sir John Curtice.
Covering major issues, manifesto promises, competing claims, crucial context and occasional daft tangents, the series balances factual insight with satirical instinct — one man doing his best to understand why these people want your vote.
Commenting, Marc Jennings says: “As a stand-up comedian with a podcast, it was only a matter of time before I stuck my nose into politics.
In an age where many are feeling scunnered with politics the Holyrood election gives us a chance to see whether there actually is anyone worth voting for.”
Marc Jennings’ Genuine Question – Why Vote? is a 6×10 series produced by The Comedy Unit (a Banijay UK company) for BBC Scotland. It will be available to watch on the BBC Scotland YouTube channel from Friday 1 May and on BBC iPlayer from Saturday 2 May.
The Chief Grills sees Chief Commissioner Cameron Miekelson – better known as The Chief – invite a series of high profile “persons of interest” into the interrogation room.
Guests include musician Callum Beattie, Scotland international footballer Ryan Christie, interior designer Banjo Beale, influencer agency directors Amy Moore and Kirsten Cameron, stand up comic Connor Burns, and author and podcaster Sophie Gravia.
Under police interview conditions, and “for the benefit of the tape”, The Chief conducts in depth conversations about life, legacy and the law.
Conversations lead to surprising revelations and unexpected collaborations, from The Chief’s tips for winning the World Cup to his ideas for re engineering stadium anthems with a more “pro police” message. Once the Chief is satisfied no further action is required, guests are free to go.
With his trademark authority and curiosity, The People’s Chief is determined to understand what makes modern Scotland tick. Believing that those shaping society can help him better understand it, Miekelson quizzes his guests while consulting case files, uncovering “evidence” and revisiting key dates. Interviewees are asked where they were on the day in question, whether they’ve ever found themselves in trouble, and are encouraged to make any necessary admissions.
At the same time, The Chief presents himself as a Renaissance Man, constantly highlighting the many ways he believes he has something in common with his guests. Open to collaboration and advice, he explores how everyone might work together for the good of the police force – and indeed the nation.
Starring Jack Docherty, The Chief Grills is a 6×10 series produced by The Comedy Unit (A Banijay Company) for BBC Scotland. Episodes will publish weekly on BBC Scotland’s YouTube channel from 11 May. It will be available on BBC iPlayer later in the year.
A polished, fast-moving, gag-packed, short form comedy celebrating community, colour and the chaotic beauty of starting over.
Leanne’s world is turned upside down when she inherits her brother’s business. She goes from working as a car mechanic to overseeing beauty treatments. Steep learning curve. Very different tools.
It is a challenge running any business these days. And Leanne wouldn’t describe herself as a nail bar regular. Thankfully the staff are friendly – enthusiastic Shoshanna, experienced May and expert Shug – her brother’s partner.
MyAmi Nails is a 1×10” short form sitcom produced by The Comedy Unit (A Banijay Company) for BBC Scotland. It is written by and stars Karen Dunbar as Leanne, Lawrence Chaney as Shug, Maureen Carr as May and Catriona Faint as Shoshanna.
It is available to watch now on the BBC Scotland YouTube channel and across BBC Scotland social channels in bitesized vertical chunks.
Reality Bunker, written and performed by Harrison MacNeill and Leo MacNeill, (aka Them is Brothers), is a unique parody of reality TV, set in a subterranean bunker somewhere in Scotland. It’s a multiverse of reality shows crashed into one!
The series lampoons every competitive reality show there is – think Traitors in a Scottish Bunker, Love Island in a Scottish Bunker, Squid Game in a Scottish Bunker, Big Brother, The Running Man, Celebrity Shark Swimming, Destination X… Reality Bunker is a mix of each, delivered in bitesize episodes.
There are confessions to camera, ridiculous tasks, betrayals, romances and evictions as well as day-to-day conversations, interactions and developments… all in a post-apocalyptic subterranean bunker.
The series is an all-encompassing melting pot of character and conflict, with endless daftness coming from the mix of contestants from across Scotland, the UK and beyond, all played by Harrison and Leo.
Harrison and Leo are experienced writer performers, and have previously written and performed in BBC Scotland Short Stuff sketches ‘Til Breath Do Us Part, Suburban Supervillains and The Crime That Happened.
Reality Bunker is a 10×2’ series produced by North Bridge Media for BBC Scotland. It will be available to watch later this year on BBC Scotland’s YouTube channel and social platforms.
There’s still time to share your views and shape the future of ETL! 
Our ETL members annual survey is still available for the next few days and we would love to hear your views and receive your feedback! 
Your input directly influences how we grow and helps us build and grow our services, accessibility and sustainability commitments. Whether you’re a frequent visitor or an occasional tool borrower, your feedback is invaluable to us! 
PLUS everyone who completes the survey can be entered into a prize draw to win £50!
Our survey can be found at https://form.typeform.com/to/PYdKcbUD
Thank you so much for your responses!
SUNDAY 10th MAY at 1pm LEONARDO MURRAYFIELD HOTEL
Enjoying payday weekend? Put a few of those pounds to the best use by getting one of the last tickets to the Edinburgh Cake Grab next Sunday!
Enjoy an afternoon eating as much cake as you can, meeting amazing new people and even winning prizes. All proceeds go towards our work tackling local loneliness in Edinburgh’s isolated older people – and members of our community are even coming along as our special guest judges!
Tickets available on our website and use the code grab-a-friend to get 20% off you and any friends 
Dear Editor,
Scottish voters will be going to the poll to elect a new parliament on 7 May – but, as someone with sight loss, I know from experience that doing so independently and in secret is far from guaranteed.
Voting is still an overwhelmingly visual process of reviewing a list and marking a cross in a box. Without the right equipment, many blind and partially sighted people are forced to rely on others to mark our ballot in the way we wish, compromising our privacy and dignity. That simply isn’t good enough in a modern democracy.
After a number of years of RNIB Scotland working with election authorities, voters across Scotland who are blind or partially sighted will have the option to use a new card ballot paper overlay at this year’s Scottish Parliament election.
The new overlays are designed to fit the ballot paper for each constituency and region and have embossed and braille numbers with cut-out boxes that align with each box on the ballot paper. The accompanying audio allows voters to listen to an audio recording of the candidate list as many times as is necessary to make their mark confidently in the right box.
We welcome the introduction of this after so many years, with the ballot card and audio having been tried and tested by people with sight loss. This is a unique offering to voters in Scotland and will enable people with sight loss to cast their vote more independently and in secret.
The overlays will be available at every polling station in Scotland. We strongly urge anyone wanting to use the overlay to listen to their audio ballot paper before going to vote on 7 May. These can be accessed by visiting your local council website, ringing their election office, or via the RNIB Scotland elections webpage.
A truly fair election is one where everyone can vote independently and with confidence. On 7 May, blind and partially sighted voters deserve nothing less.
Sincerely,
Anna Tylor
Chair of Trustees at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Applications have opened for Scotland-based artists, creators and cultural innovators to secure Crowdmatch backing from Creative Scotland in partnership with Crowdfunder.
Now in its seventh year, the programme offers eligible Crowdfunder campaigns the chancechance to receive up to 50% of their total funding target to a maximum of £10,000 per project.
The fund offers an invaluable route to a wide range of creative projects, from theatre and visual arts to film, music and community-driven initiatives to access funding in a more adaptable way than other funding routes available.
Jackie Stewart, Creative Industries Officer at Creative Scotland said: “The Crowdmatch Fund has grown beyond our initial expectations and has proven to be a real asset to the funding landscape for creators.
“Not only can they access funding more quickly and flexibly, but they’re building their community and audience while doing so. With a substantial budget available, we’ll be able to deliver a greater impact to Scotland’s creative community and explore how far Crowdmatch can go.”
The accessibility and track record of Crowdfunder UK, the UK’s leading crowdfunding platform, offers a streamlined pathway to National Lottery funds through Creative Scotland.
Simon Deverell, Founder & Co-CEO of Crowdfunder UK said: “We’ve loved working with Creative Scotland on Crowdmatch over the years, and it’s been incredible to see so many bold, brilliant ideas come to life through the programme.
“From music and film to grassroots community projects, the creativity we’ve seen has been nothing short of inspiring. Together, we’ve helped projects raise over £1.7 million to date, showing just how powerful community-backed funding can be.
“We can’t wait to see the next wave of talent, ideas and imagination land on the platform this year.”
Examples of successful projects through Crowdmatch include:
Individual artists, organisations and creative business in the arts, screen and creative industries can apply if they are:
Full details and how to apply can be found on the Creative Scotland Crowdmatch Funding page.
