Introducing The Garden Kitchen, a new Gardening & Wellbeing Group at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
The Garden Kitchen is a weekly group where adults from Drylaw and Telford can come together, spend time outdoors, grow food, learn new skills and enjoy good food and company.
Every Thursday, 10am–2pm, sessions will include:
• Gardening and food growing • Cooking and sharing a communal meal • Learning practical skills • Peer support and conversation • Opportunities to gain new qualifications and experience
The group is a welcoming space for anyone experiencing loneliness, poor mental wellbeing or social isolation, and is all about building confidence, making connections and feeling part of the community.
There will also be opportunities to work towards a Food Hygiene Level 2 qualification and develop skills that could lead to volunteering or employment.
Latest figures show 37,145 families in Scotland saved up to £2,000 a year with Tax-Free Childcare.
Working parents encouraged to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare today to save on the cost of childcare this Hallowe’en.
More than £55 million of government cash added to Tax-Free Childcare accounts in June.
More than 37,000 families in Scotland cast a savings spell and cut their childcare costs with Tax-Free Childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals, as it encourages others to sign up ahead of the spooky school holidays.
Tax-Free Childcare helps working families with their childcare costs by saving up to £2,000 per year for each of their children up to the age of 11 or £4,000 per year up to aged 16 if the child is disabled.
Latest figures show 37,145 families in Scotland received a share of £55.7 million in government top-ups in June with each family getting an average of £93 added to their Tax-Free Childcare savings pot. For every £8 parents deposit in their child’s account, the government tops it up by £2.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Paying for childcare while you work doesn’t have to be a nightmare for your bank balance this Hallowe’en. Tax-Free Childcare can make a real difference. Go to GOV.UK to find out more today.”
Signing up to Tax-Free Childcare today means families can save on whatever Hallowe’en half term childcare plans they need as well as those for the year ahead.
Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months towards their childcare costs. Savings can be used to pay for whatever approved childcare suits your family’s needs – nursery for younger children, before and after school clubs or activity clubs during the school holidays.
Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it’s needed. Any unused money can be withdrawn from the account at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday
the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
Blended, a walking art exhibition at Granton:Hub / Madelvic House
October 23rd – 25th 2026
Opening Event:
Community Walk 5pm (Madelvic House and the Riddle of the Sphinx, United Wire, ‘To The Beach’ (sculpture by Vincent Butler made by Powderhall Bronze), Caroline House, Granton Gasworks, Granton Station and back)
Exhibition Opening with refreshments – 6pm at Granton:Hub
Saturday and Sunday opening: 10am – 5pm
The winner of the international Marŝarto Award for Walking Art in 2024,
Tamsin Grainger, will be exhibiting current solo and collaborative mixed-media art work on Friday. All made during or after walking together and with others.
The works include:
textiles – ‘Walking the Granton Burn’ which has been selected for the SAU exhibition at the RSA in 2027, and more
‘Repair’ – a fence made from wire donated by United Wire, the factory opposite the venue, with deckchairs which have new knitted covers
‘A Street Blanket for Homeless Children’ – a collage of knotted and stitched doormat, manhole covers, and Granton graffiti
Plus, short films and works on paper
Pop-up shop with zines and new Granton postcards set
Venue address: 37 Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1HS
Back by popular demand our free Menopause Goals programme!
Starting this Thursday (22nd October) 6pm at Spartans Community Foundation.
Our warm and welcoming professional team will be empowering women with knowledge, coping strategies, and peer support to manage physical and emotional menopause symptoms.
The Space Between Us is an exhibition of poems and images by sisters Rachel Barr and Bridget Grant.
Together, they explore the impact of a glioblastoma brain tumour diagnosis.
It is a tender, honest and deeply moving body of work, and North Edinburgh Arts is proud to support it.
The exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to spend time with the sisters’ work and gain a personal perspective on the experience of a glioblastoma diagnosis.
Award-winning Scottish fashion designer Judy R. Clark saw her work worn by Claudia Winkleman for a second time on The Celebrity Traitors on Thursday (15 October), with a bespoke adaptation of the Cream Victorian Lace Shirt from her Lace Noir Collection appearing at the round table.
The appearance follows the sell-out response to Winkleman’s first Judy R. Clark look, with two pieces from the Edinburgh designer’s Ebony collection selling out within hours of appearing on the programme last week (Friday 9 October).
The Cream Victorian Lace Shirt is designed and handmade in Scotland using Madras lace woven on 19th-century looms in Ayrshire by MYB Textiles, Scotland’s only lace mill and the only producer in the world manufacturing patterned lace on original Nottingham lace looms.
The shirt features a high ruffled collar, full gathered sleeves and ruffled cuffs.
The Cream Victorian Lace Shirt is available to order now for £450 and is made to order, with shipping in three to four weeks. Clark recommends ordering one size up due to the delicate nature of the lace.
Judy R. Clark said: “Seeing Claudia in the lace shirt at the round table is a moment I’ll never forget.
T”he response to her first look in pieces from my Ebony collection was amazing, and it means so much to now see this lace, woven here in Scotland by MYB Textiles, on screen too.
“It’s incredibly special to see Scottish craftsmanship reaching such a huge audience.”
Based in Edinburgh, Judy R Clark is known for hand-tailored womenswear using Harris Tweed, Scottish lace and antique fabrics. Named by British Vogue as a designer “to watch”, her work has previously been worn by Annie Lennox, Emeli Sandé, Freya Ridings, KT Tunstall and Courtney Love.
Her accolades include Designer of the Year at the Scottish Style Awards and the JOLOMO & PSYBT Award.
Community projects and services working to tackle poverty and inequality in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities across Scotland will share in more than £30 million over the next three years, First Minister John Swinney has announced.
The new Scotland Together Fund will support grassroots organisations to address pressing issues facing communities affected by poverty, disadvantage, and racism from 2027/28.
By improving living standards for the people they support, the projects backed by funding will help communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more resilient.
The First Minister said: “Scotland is stronger for its diversity, and we want to ensure that common ground and shared values between diverse communities are promoted and strengthened.
“We know that poverty and disadvantage can fuel the conditions that lead to tensions within communities, and that is something we all need to do our part to tackle.
“This Scotland Together Fund over is being designed to provide multi-year support a wide range of grassroots projects in communities across Scotland to help to improve people’s quality of life and ensure they have access to support with a range of issues.
“By making people’s lives better, it will help tackle tensions between communities and create a more inclusive and resilient society, building bridges between different groups.”
First Minister announces series of interventions to tackle violence against women and girls
A new Respect Fund for Scotland will see school pupils supported to reject misogyny and promote respect as part of a package of Scottish Government action to tackle violence against women and girls.
Up to an additional £1 million will be invested from 2027/28 to ensure high school pupils can access third sector programmes teaching young people how to reject misogyny, whilst primary school pupils will receive age-appropriate learning on respect.
The funding will be bolstered by the rollout of a Scottish Government backed campaign with leading sporting organisations and prominent sportsmen for a new phase of the Don’t Be That Guy campaign.
Initially run by Police Scotland in 2021, the advertising campaign rose to international prominence for encouraging men to challenge attitudes and behaviours that contribute to violence against women and girls.
Scottish Rugby, the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Tennis are amongst the leading national organisations backing the refreshed campaign, along with leading sports personalities including Scotland rugby players Jamie Dobie and Grant Gilchrist, and tennis player Connor Thomson.
The move forms part of a package of action led by the First Minister to tackle misogyny in Scotland, including a commitment to introduce a Misogyny Bill before the 2027 summer recess.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Violence against women and girls is completely deplorable and has no place in the Scotland we are building. I am determined we do all we can to tackle it and ensure men change their behaviours.
“People of all ages need to feel able to talk openly to their male friends and colleagues about behaviour that is misogynistic and damaging to women, and contributes to a culture that targets, minimises and harms women and girls.
“This funding will help empower pupils to challenge the attitudes that help perpetuate harmful behaviour, backed by the refreshed Don’t Be That Guy campaign – which will use the reach and influence of some of Scotland’s most well-known sporting personalities, to give prominence to this important national conversation.
“I want Scotland to be a place where women and girls live free from violence, coercive control, abuse and exploitation, which is why over the coming year this government will also bring forward a Misogyny Bill to give women and girls specific legal protection from harassment.”
Sporting organisations working with the Scottish Government to support positive action to promote positive masculinity and respect:
Back by popular demand 
Just come along next Thursday at 6pm, or contact Jenni on 07831 721086 or email 
North Edinburgh Arts
Exhibition Opening Dates: 16th to 29th October
Free entry
