Our Halloween Fest is drawing ever closer. We’ll be at Granton Community Gardeners on Monday the 31st from 3-6pm and boy oh boy do we have a treat (or trick) in store for you!!!
Pop down for a cup of seasonal soup, get your face painted, and join in with some of our spooky activities.
All are welcome, so get yourself down to Granton Community Garden and have the fright of your life! 
Elderly, disabled and other vulnerable people will get better support to stay safe online and avoid being misled by disinformation thanks to a funding boost from the government to mark UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
More than £1 million has been granted to 17 UK organisations to pilot new ways of boosting media literacy skills for people at risk of experiencing online abuse and being deceived into believing false information, such as vaccine disinformation, deepfake videos or propaganda created by hostile states.
Research shows some people struggle to engage and benefit from the range of media literacy education on offer, due to limited experience or overconfidence in using the internet, as well as a lack of awareness of how to access resources and their unavailability outside of schools and colleges.
The Media Literacy Taskforce Fund is one of two funding schemes created to target ‘hard-to-reach’ and vulnerable groups by investing in community-led projects to ensure everyone has the opportunity to improve their media literacy skills and protect themselves from online disinformation.
Social enterprise Freshrb will work with young people to develop their own podcasts exploring online dis- and misinformation to be aired on local radio. Another project run by charity Internet Matters will provide media literacy training for dozens of care workers and leavers in the Greater Manchester area.
Elderly people from diverse backgrounds in Leeds will have access to digital media skills training online and in community centres as part of the Leeds Older People’s Forum. Parent Zone is working with eight local councils including Calderdale, Luton and Middlesborough to deliver media literacy resources tailored to parents and carers of teenagers.
A separate scheme, the Media Literacy Programme Fund, will deliver training courses, online learning, tech solutions and mentoring schemes to vulnerable internet users.
Digital Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “With the rise of online disinformation, teaching people to identify fact from fiction has never been more important to public safety.
“As well as bringing forward new laws to tackle the root causes of these problems, we are funding organisations to give people the skills to stay safe online so everyone can benefit from all the internet has to offer.”
Winning projects in the Media Literacy Programme Fund to receive grants today include:
All the schemes are part of the government’s plans to deliver the Online Media Literacy Strategy, a national action plan to empower people to stay safe online by giving them the skills they need to think critically about what they see and read on the internet.
Launched in July 2021, the three-year strategy supports media literacy organisations to deliver education and initiatives in a more wide-reaching and effective way. The year two plan, published in April, is backed by more than £2 million in targeted funding, including today’s announcement.
This is in addition to the £250,000 grant funding delivered to five organisations working with schools to adapt media literacy resources for teachers working with disabled students in our year one action plan.
The announcement coincides with the UNESCO Global Media and Information Literacy Week, a global initiative celebrating the progress countries have made toward making media literacy education more accessible to its citizens by implementing national media and information literacy policies.
The grant funding complements the measures in the groundbreaking Online Safety Bill, which supports a safer online environment by requiring tech firms to protect children from harmful content and tackle criminal activity on their platforms.
A programme of special events is underway across the UK, all of which use film to connect us in these ever-changing times.
The Changing Times: Curious screen heritage programme, which began in earnest at Thurrock Film Festival, uses archive film to find new ways to celebrate the human desire to learn more about the people and things around us, bringing heritage cinema to new audiences in many different ways. The programme from the BFI Film Audience Network is made possible thanks to National Lottery funding.
Later in the autumn, The Box, in partnership with Plymouth Arts Cinema and Compass Presents, will show a selection of films as part of Changing Times: Curious, which allow audience members to expand their connection with the work in the galleries.
CURIOUS About British Art Show 9 will feature screenings that highlight the ways in which encounters between British and other cultures have enriched our society throughout history.
This follows the events in Thurrock by the Anglo Asiatic Arts and Heritage Alliance (AAAHA), which honoured several socio-historic milestones, namely the 75th anniversary of the Independence of India and Pakistan, the 50th year since the expulsion of South Asians and Sikhs from Uganda, and the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong.
Similarly, Re:Score was part of The Freedom Festival 2022, an annual feast of music and performance arts held since 2007 in honour of Hull’s slave trade abolitionist, the MP William Wilberforce. It featured commissions by The Broken Orchestra (UK), providing specially created scores to breathe new life into seemingly forgotten pieces of silent archive footage, featuring a Black May Queen in wartime Britain, and a charity supporting the families of local fisherman in the 1960s.
Journey to the Isles, Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, a new commission from the Hippodrome Silent Film Festival offered a glimpse into the landscapes, folktales and songs that inspired one of Scotland’s great early collectors of traditional arts.
The tour of the piece across Scotland, including at Sea Change Festival by Screen Argyll in Tiree, Dundee Contemporary Arts, and An Tobar and Mull Theatre, concluded at Eden Court in Inverness and featured a performer Q&A, plus a live stream for international audiences.
In collaboration with the East Anglian Film Archive, Reel Connections in Norwich will host an archive package entitled Sounds of Silents: Curious Youth at the Octagon Unitarian Chapel in the city on 27 October.
The event will include live scores by local musicians Broads, featuring Jess Blake, Kitty Perrin and Milly Hirst. A short film version will then be made available for screenings at community venues in partnership with Creative Arts East, later in the year.
This will be followed by I Ken Whaur I’m Gaun (I Know Where I’m Going) by Cinetopia at The French Institute in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town between 27 and 31 October.
The event, which will explore how folk songs have acted as a form of storytelling in Scotland over time, includes archive film screenings, live musical performances using material extracted from the National Library of Scotland’s moving image archive, and a looped audio-visual installation that will be on display throughout.
Having started on October 13 at Berneray in Borve, Uist Film will screen Gaelic documentary Dúthchas (Home) through the UK, accompanied by a minority language archival film programme using materials from across the UK’s film archives.
Dúthchas (Home) is a touching and emotive exploration of what it meant – and still means to people, especially women, to have to leave the island of their birth.
For the finale of Yorkshire Silent Film Festival on 6 November at Morecambe Winter Gardens, No Dots Ltd will present Echoes of the North: Four Chapters in Time, the world premiere of a silent film made from more than 100 fragments of archive film, together with an all-brass live score performance from Brighouse and Rastrick Band.
The event will be complemented by a selection of short films scored by Morecambe and Lancaster-based musicians.
Throughout November, Birds’s Eye View will present Queerious, an archive programme with short films from national archives that’s touring the UK, exploring a multitude of desires on screen in ways all too rarely seen in cinema, including stories of sexual awakenings and re-awakenings, and queer love through a feminist perspective.
Venues include the Exeter Phoenix, Glasgow Film Theatre, Broadway in Nottingham, London’s Rio and Genesis, the Showroom in Sheffield, Chapter in Cardiff, and Depot in Lewes.
Venues in Glasgow, Leeds and Erith this month and next will showcase After Hours, co-curated by Invisible Women and T A P E Collective to explore the significance of nightlife and safe cultural spaces through a queer/feminist lens.
Meanwhile, audiences in Walton, Liverpool can enjoy Walton Wonders under Cinema Nation’s The Spirit of Liverpool banner, a series ofscreenings and community events celebrating unexpected archive discoveries, including a Home Movie Day and a pop-up cinema at the Rice Lane Underpass in collaboration with the North West Film Archive.
A double bill of Welsh Horror films from the 1970s will be shown by Matchbox Cine in collaboration with the National Library of Wales Screen and Sound Archive. Screenings will take place at Weird Weekend, Glasgow on 30 October, and at Abertoir – The International Horror Film Festival of Wales in Aberystwyth, starting on 15 November.
And last but not least, Belfast Film Festival is to host Vox Populi: The Voice of the People, a walk-through installation at the Bank of Ireland building in the city featuring informal street interviews recorded between 1959-1969 from the Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, offering an insight into the area’s social history and highlighting unexpected attitudes of the day which both differ from, and echo, those held today.
Screen Heritage Producer Andy Robson was a key decision-maker selecting projects to make up Changing Times: Curious. Speaking on the theme of curiosity, and the forthcoming events, he said: “The last few years have forced us to look at life through a new lens. Through disruption and isolation, we’ve recognised things we may have missed or never considered before.
“Through multiple lockdowns, we gained a new awareness of our communities and neighbourhoods, made discoveries of previously unacknowledged places on our doorsteps, and found satisfaction in personal passions and curiosities.
“However we experienced it, we were asked to question and learn something new, to understand the unfamiliar and seek solutions. Through film’s unique ability to transport us, illuminate ideas and to spark a conversation, we can seek those solutions and understand those experiences together.”
Visit individual venues and organisations to find out more about events and to book. And to find out more about Changing Times: Curious, visit
As part of NHS Lothian’s sustainability programme, they have recently introduced the use of e-Bikes to several services, which will allow nearly 200 staff to access this healthier and more eco-friendly way of getting around.
Last year the Podiatry department in Edinburgh were the first to be part of a trial in NHS Lothian designed to reduce carbon emissions, save money and support staff wellbeing. The eCargo bikes were used as a way of travelling to see and support patients.
Gillian Hawthorne, Team Lead Podiatrist said: “Although this pilot has both financial and environmental benefits, it also has the bonus of supporting our staff’s health and wellbeing by giving them more access to fresh air and exercise while working.
“We hope this project will help to reduce the use of cars for undertaking home visits whilst addressing the ever-increasing traffic congestion in the City of Edinburgh.”
Although the trial started small with just two e-bikes, the health board now has a total of 24 e-bikes over multiple services.
Some of the teams now using the e-bikes include a Rapid Response Team, a Health Visitors team, a Community Mental health team and several others.
We recently spoke to Ciara Feeney, Podiatrist, about her experience using the e-Bikes to visit patients and travel around the city. Watch a short video with Ciara online
Jane Hopton, Sustainability Lead and Programme Director for Facilities in NHS Lothian, said: “This roll out is the next step to our overall sustainability work in Lothian and we hope it will inspire other departments to do the same.
“The more people that make the decision to cycle or walk rather than drive, the more impact this will have on NHS Lothian’s carbon emissions.”
NHS Lothian is committed to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
You can find information at https://org.nhslothian.scot/Sustainability
A mum of three says her determination to set an example for her children has helped her to graduate from Edinburgh Napier University just months after undergoing thyroid removal surgery.
Leann Wilson has been awarded her BSc degree in IT Management for Business at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall yesterday [Thursday 27th October].
The 43-year-old from Stirling initially signed up to the graduate apprentice scheme, allowing her to continue working alongside her studies, so she could change the direction of her career.
After taking several weeks to recover from the procedure, she is now starting work in a new role as IT delivery manager at Sky.
Leann said: “It’s shown my commitment and resilience to complete the degree – despite the challenges which it has thrown up.
“I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and had to have my full thyroid removed in May this year. I needed time to recover and get back on track. It meant I was going through that period of ‘oh god – what if, what if’.
“My approach with everything was one thing at a time, just take baby steps.
“I’m still in a wee bit of shock that I’ve graduated to be honest! I’m giving myself a significant pat on the back. I’ve done it to show my kids not to give up.”
Leann has paid tribute to her three children, aged 19, 15 and 9, for helping her complete her studies, as well as programme leader Jyoti Bhardwaj.
Leann added: “When the opportunity to do this course came up, I grabbed it with both hands. My kids were older, so I had more time to focus on what I want to do.
“I started the degree when I was 39, which is obviously later than many. It was pretty full-on – then obviously the pandemic hit and I had to combine it with home schooling – which was hard going. I think I got through it because I’m so stubborn!
“I previously worked in financial services – and I’m proud to have changed careers just a few years after deciding to make the move.”
One more sleep until our BIG SWAP event, which we are organising in partnership with Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) and NKS – Networking Key Services at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre, Edinburgh this Saturday (29/10).
We have few basic rules, which we would be grateful if you could follow:
A newly established Citizens’ Panel will meet for the first time this weekend (28th – 30th October) in the Scottish Parliament to help shape how Parliament engages with the people of Scotland.
The Citizens’ Panel, comprised of 22 people broadly reflecting the demographic make-up of Scotland, will come together to deliberate how the Scottish Parliament can best work with communities to ensure their needs are reflected in its work.
The Citizens’ Panel will meet for two full weekends at the Scottish Parliament and three shorter evening sessions online.
Earlier this year, the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee launched an inquiry into Public Participation, looking at how people’s voices are heard in the work of the Parliament.
The Citizens’ Panel will assist the inquiry by making recommendations on improving how Holyrood’s work involves, reflects, and meets the needs of the full range of communities it represents, focusing on improving engagement for those currently under-represented.
Throughout the sittings, the Citizen’s Panel will have the opportunity to hear from MSPs and leading academics about democracy and public participation to help facilitate discussion and inform their findings.
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Convener Jackson Carlaw, MSP, said: “Our inquiry into Public Participation is important because we know that the Parliament doesn’t hear enough from some groups and communities.
“We want to make sure that the views and opinions of everyone in Scotland are included in the work of the Parliament, and the Citizens’ Panel will be crucial to helping us understand how we can improve this.
“Ensuring the Scottish Parliament is accessible to a diverse range of people, particularly when developing new laws or policies that affect them, is essential and the Committee will eagerly anticipate the Citizens’ Panel recommendations.”
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge opened yesterday’s meeting of the City Council by apologising on behalf of the city for its past role in sustaining slavery and colonialism.
The civic apology follows ten recommendations and an action plan made by the independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Group which were accepted by the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.
The first recommendation made by the review group was that the Council publicly acknowledges the city’s past role in sustaining slavery and colonialism, and issues an apology to those places and people who suffered.
Statement by the Lord Provost in full:
‘The decision of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on 30 August 2022 provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on the city’s role in the rise of colonialism and the part played by some of our forefathers in slavery and the economic benefits of it.
‘It is impossible to look out from this building across the city and not see how the landscape of the city was shaped by the wealth generated from colonialism and slavery.
‘The effects of colonialism and slavery are deeply embedded in the fabric of our city, in the buildings, in the institutions and even in the way that Edinburgh is laid out.
‘We cannot deny the benefits that the city has accrued over the years from the exploitation of others and in particular the continent and peoples of Africa.
‘Coming to terms with our past and recognising the detriment our ancestors have wrought through colonialism and slavery is very difficult for us all.
‘But try we must to reconcile our past with the generations of today in order that we can move forward, united in our common goals of equality, fraternity and liberty.
‘Through the establishment of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review, led by Professor Geoff Palmer, Edinburgh is aiming to fill the gap in knowledge and understanding about the city’s past.
‘I wish to thank Geoff and his team most sincerely for producing a world leading piece of work on the subject which will help shape policy and engagement in our city for the foreseeable future.
‘It is appropriate to start this process with a formal apology.
‘So as Civic Leader of the city and Convener of the Council, I apologise to all those who suffered profound physical and mental abuse from the City’s past involvement in colonialism and slavery.’
Following the apology, the next action will be the creation of an independent Legacy Commission, supported by the Council.
This group will oversee prioritisation and co-ordination of the remaining actions, liaise with the many stakeholders in addressing this legacy across the city and beyond and provide regular updates on progress.
Starting at 7pm on Halloween Eve, the 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival will brighten thousands of colourful faces in Holyrood Park with its immersive fire-play performance and ancient Celtic storytelling around Summer’s transition into Winter.
Audience registration is through Citizen Ticket, with full details revealed at check out.
● Citizen Ticket event registration link:
https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/beltane-fire-society/samhuinn-fire-festival-2022/
● Visit www.Beltane.org for festival information and updates. High-quality photos are available of past festivals on request.
“The society is excited to be continuing these traditions in Edinburgh, this time on and under Hagg’s Knowe in Holyrood Park,” said 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival Event Coordinator Tom Watton.
“As our events happen alongside an audience in collective celebration of the changing seasons, we welcome as many people as possible to come in fire-safe guises on this coming Samhuinn night.”
Samhuinn involves 200+ volunteers performing in wild costumes with captivating fire-play, acrobatics and drumming.
This year, the finale will be performed on a raised stage, meaning many more people will witness the festival’s key moments including the fierce duel between our Summer King and Winter King, and the unveiling of the Cailleach.
ABOUT BELTANE FIRE SOCIETY
The Beltane Fire Society is a registered Scottish charity run by volunteers, dedicated to keeping the ancient Celtic calendar alive and sharing skills of street theatre, costume-making, folklore, music and immersive performance. The charity relies on donations from their live events, and there is a suggested £5 donation to attend – or whatever you can afford.
The Samhuinn Fire Festival has been held in Edinburgh since 1995. Its Summer counterpart, Beltane, takes place on Calton Hill on the last day of April each year, and has been running since 1988. The festival celebrates one of the four Celtic quarter day festivals and marks the end of Summer and beginning of Winter.
2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival to take place in Holyrood Park
Large fire stages and a dramatic Arthur’s Seat descent ensures that all attending will have a good experience witnessing Summer’s mystical transition into Winter.
News Facts
● Beltane Fire Society hosting our 2022 Samhuinn Fire Festival in Holyrood Park
● Festival takes place at 19:00 on the evening of Monday 31st October 2022.
● Samhuinn is a unique re-imagining of an ancient festival, celebrating the turn of the seasons and its Celtic New Year.
● A procession of fire, drums and costumed volunteers will make way to the heart of Holyrood Park where characters from ancient lore enact the end of summer and the rise of winter.
● Register for festival with Citizen Ticket, suggested donation £5.00.
Related Links
● Citizen Ticket event registration link:
https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/beltane-fire-society/samhuinn-fire-festival-2022/
Multimedia
● BFS Website: https://beltane.org/
● 2022 Samhuinn Digital Festival link:
https://beltane.org/2022/10/03/enjoy-our-digital-2022-samhuinn-festival/ ● Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/dhj9UnDVE
● Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/beltanefiresociety/
● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beltanefiresociety/
● Twitter: https://twitter.com/beltanefs
● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMiXgZlYz4eTkbL2fAeM80Q We welcome the press to attend and photograph the festival. We will hold a short briefing on the day of Samhuinn at 18:00. Please email comms@beltane.org if interested in receiving more details.
PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has revealed it will be opening the doors of its new shop in Edinburgh next week.
Bargain-loving customers will have the opportunity to pick-up an array of pre-loved and new items when they are welcomed into the South Bridge store for the first time on Thursday 3 November.
The charity shop will support PDSA’s vital veterinary work across its 48 Pet Hospitals – including its local centre in the city – which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.
Cluster Shop Manager Fiona Lawrie said the new store will provide cash-conscious customers with the opportunity to purchase high-quality, cut-price products while supporting a vital veterinary service.
She added: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our new shop in South Bridge and supporting the important work carried out by PDSA’s Pet Hospitals which help thousands of poorly pets and support their owners through challenging times.
“We understand that many people are struggling financially due to the rising cost of living and are looking forward to helping those who are feeling the squeeze by offering a wealth of pre-loved and brand-new items at great prices. From clothes and books to homeware and toys, we are certain that shoppers will find some incredible hidden treasures.”
Volunteer roles, which offer a great opportunity for people to boost their CV, gain valuable work experience, and grow in confidence while helping sick and injured pets, are available at the new charity shop.
Fiona said: “We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team at South Bridge in Edinburgh. Volunteering with us is a great way to give something back to the community and make a real difference to the lives of people and pets.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience – we provide full training, and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.
“The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by our retail volunteers is so important. We don’t receive any government funding towards running our vital veterinary services so the generosity of the community who donate items to our shops, and the time dedicated to us by our volunteers, mean we can be there for pets and their owners when they are most in need.”
The new shop will be open from 9.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday.
To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Fiona Lawrie by calling 07557 196831 or email lawrie.fiona@pdsa.org.uk.
Alternatively, visit the following link to apply for a role online:
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/volunteer-south-bridge.
No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.
PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax-payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.
To find out more visit PDSA’s charity shops page.
