Visitors with additional support needs can enjoy the wonder of Scotland’s sensational illuminated trail Wondrous Woods during a dedicated inclusive evening next month.
The magical event at Gosford House in East Lothian on November 15 is being sponsored by Edinburgh investment managers Walter Scott & Partners through the company’s Giving Group.
The spectacle, at the magnificent country estate near Longniddry, has been specially adapted to be suitable for those with additional support needs (ASN) including autism and other sensory processing disorders.
The dedicated event will provide a relaxed evening with lighting and effects that can be enjoyed by those who experience sensory overload. It also features the delightful Wondrous Woods mascot Woody the Owl.
Designed and produced by the team at GC Live and delivered by technical partners, 21CC Group, the glorious lighting journey takes visitors through the winding mystical pathways of Wondrous Woods, starting at Gosford’s enchanting Lily Pond and Ice House.
Guests then follow the 1.5km route of fabulous lighting trails which meander through ancient private woodlands and unseen gardens, past the Boat House and through the natural beauty of the landscape.
All along the way are wonderful subdued sound and lighting installations, culminating in the stunning sight of Gosford House illuminated in all its glory. Visitors can then relax and join Woody in the Hay Field at Woody’s Nest for food and a browse in the Woody Shop.
Geoff Crow, Director of 21CC Group said: “We are thrilled to be taking this magical lighting event to Gosford House and very appreciative of the support from Walter Scott & Partners for this special night.
“The trail is breathtaking so we’re really excited about welcoming all our visitors back to Wondrous Woods and delighted to be able to provide another really special occasion for anyone with additional support needs.”
Dennis Wyles, Client Investment Manager at Walter Scott Giving Group, says:“As we’re based in Edinburgh we love to give something back to the community and like to focus on projects that can really make an impact.
“Wondrous Woods is a truly magical event and to be able to help visitors, who may not ordinarily have been able to attend something as awe-inspiring as this, is really meaningful.”
Wondrous Woods runs over Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions from October 27 to November 19, including a special run during the last week, where sessions are extended to run from Thursday to Sunday.
The ASN evening will be held on Wednesday the 15th of November.
UPDATE: A 32-year-old will be subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal following attempted robberies in Edinburgh.
The incidents happened on Tuesday, 10 October, 2023, at St Mary’s Street, Market Street, Jeffrey Street and the High Street.
The man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “We would like to thank the public for their assistance with our enquiries.”
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to contact them following a series of attempted robberies in the city centre.Four crimes have been reported but officers believe a further two incidents, one in Market Street and one in the Royal Mile, were not reported to police.
The reported incidents occurred between 6pm and 7pm on Tuesday, 10 October, 2023, at St Mary’s Street, Market Street, Jeffrey Street and the High Street. They all involved a man threatening members of the public and attempting to obtain money from them.
The man is described as white, around 5 ft. 8 – 5ft. 10 inches in height, with a medium build and brown, unkempt hair. He has dark facial hair with a beard and moustache.
He was wearing a dark jacket, grey-coloured jogging trousers and dark shoes. The man spoke with a local accent.
Detective Sergeant Steven Dick said: “We believe other people were approached by this man near to the train station at Market Street and the Royal Mile at the junction with Jeffrey Street and I would ask them to contact us to report the circumstances.
“We are in the process of checking CCTV footage from the relevant areas but if anyone has any information about this man, please get in touch with us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3049 of 10 October 2023. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
Scottish Young Musicians, Scotland’s leading festival of music competitions, is returning for 2024 to give young people across the country the chance to compete for the titles of Solo Performer of the Year, Ensemble of the Year and Brass Ensemble of the Year.
Participation in this career-enhancing competition has been offered to every Local Authority in the country as well as independent schools, in the hope that more young people than ever before will take up the opportunity to perform and take part.
In only 2 years, Scottish Young Musicians has become the largest and most important national music competition in Scottish schools, with 30 local authorities participating in the 2023 competition in May, representing around 99% of the school population.
The competitions give young people a life-changing and unforgettable experience, as well as the confidence to continue to compete at the highest level and to do so across all socio-economic backgrounds, providing an opportunity which would otherwise not have existed.
Scottish Young Musicians 2023.
New for 2024, Scottish Young Musicians are proud to offer support for a Junior Competition taking place in Primary Schools, with the local authorities taking part focussing on finding the best junior talent in their area, and giving the country’s youngest musicians experience in performing in front of an audience and competing with their peers.
Parents and pupils can find out more through their school music teacher.
Back to find its third ever champion, Solo Performer of the Year is open to all young musicians who go to school in Scotland, whatever age or standard.
Each local authority will select a regional finalist, with all of them hosting local and regional heats across different schools to decide who will represent their area at the National Final. Musicians can enter through their school music teachers and a finalist will also be selected from Scotland’s independent schools.
The National Final will take place at theRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland on Sunday 26 May 2024.
Ensemble of the Year, which is open to instruments of all disciplines, and Brass Ensemble of the Year are online competitions which will see school and local ensembles compete to win a chance to perform in a prime slot at the National Final.
Ensemble of the Year is open to ensembles of 3 to 16 players of any genre or grouping of instruments who play together regularly in a formal group from a school or recognised music organisation.
Brass Ensemble of the Year is open to ensembles of 3 to 12 players who play together regularly in a formal group from a school or recognised music organisation. For both competitions, all members must be school students in Scotland, but there is no minimum age or standard.
One ensemble in each category will be selected to represent each local authority, recognised music organisation, and Scotland’s independent schools, and each local authority and group are encouraged to have their own competitions to select their final entry.
The chosen video entries will then be submitted for judging by a panel of esteemed adjudicators, who will watch the videos together and provide feedback in the form of a voiceover.
The deadline for entries is 31st March 2024.
The winners of the Solo Performer of the Year, the Open Ensemble competition and Brass Ensemble of the Year will all receive a stunning trophy designed by Alexander Stoddart, the King’s Sculptor in Ordinary in Scotland.
The aluminium figure depicts the Maid of Morven, a figure from Ossianic poetry that has inspired composers throughout history. Solo finalists will also have a chance to win amazing career-changing prizes including cash to spend on developing music skills, a hand-crafted trophy, coaching, recording sessions, meet-and-greets with Scotland’s top music institutions and more.
The winning Ensembles of the Year will receive a cash prize to further their musical experiences, and an all-expenses paid trip to play a prime slot at the Solo Performer of the Year National Final.
**Pics free to use**
Emily Barron, 16-year old clarinettist from St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm wins Scottish Young Musicians Solo Performer of the Year 2023.
Last year’s Solo Performer of the Year final, which was adjudicated by judges including Sarah Ayoub of the Ayoub Sisters and Ross Leighton from the band Fatherson, was won by 16-year-old clarinettist Emily Barron from St. Columba’s School in Kilmacolm, who received £1,000 to spend on furthering her musical career, and a package of opportunities provided by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland including a coaching session, participation in a masterclass and a studio recording session.
Scottish Young Muscians, Glasgow, 2022
Ben Dickinson French Horn En Foret – Bozza
East Renfrewshire
The career-enhancing competition also offers prizes from Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Cumnock Tryst and more, and is supported by high-profile figures and organisations from across Scotland’s music industry.
Participants in the 2023 competition reported benefits including new connections with other young people, increased mental wellbeing, increased musical skill and increased confidence. Finalists also said they benefitted from the fact that Scottish Young Musicians is raising the profile of music-making opportunities outside of a school setting and on a more national level.
As part of a focus on bringing the competitions’ benefits to areas of deprivation, Scottish Young Musicians proudly partners with Awards for Young Musicians to provide support ranging from £200 to £2000 to musicians from families of limited financial resources.
Alan Kerr, Chair of Scottish Young Musicians, said: “I am proud to say that Scottish Young Musicians has become an integral part of Scotland’s youth music calendar, providing more opportunities to young people in Scotland than ever before.
“Last year the SYM oversaw competitions in 269 secondary schools, 31 regional finals and a National Final held in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Scottish Young Muscians, Glasgow, 2022
“We’re excited to build on the success of the last two competitions and keep the momentum going for 2024, with the hope that more musicians than ever before will take part in schools and at a regional level, enabling us to have the broadest possible representation of musical skill on stage at the National Final in May 2024.
“SYM is not just about producing great music, it’s about offering the life-skills and benefits that performing music in public can bring to students. We’re also delighted to introduce junior competitions at a local level, and look forward to helping our youngest musicians reach their full potential.”
Edinburgh-based leading sustainable clothing brand, Unfolded, is hosting the first ever Unfolded and Friends pop up event at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh on Sunday (15th October).
The free event is open to all and runs from 11am-4pm at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Hall (entrance from The Royal Mile via Cowgatehead). Alongside Unfolded will be other fantastic sustainable Scottish brands including Seilich Botanicals, Voxblock, Natural Sparkle and Scents of the Wild.
In the past 18 months Unfolded has grown to a community of over 100k+ women across the UK, turned down three Dragons on Dragons Den and attracted wide acclaim for their affordable approach to sustainable fashion from media such as This Morning, Lorraine and Glamour magazine.
The event gives shoppers the chance to preview, try and buy the brand new Unfolded collection, shop the brands first ever discounted sample sale, enjoy a free drink, meet the founders and discover a range of other fabulous Scottish sustainable focused brands.
Hosted within Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s beautifully restored Greyfriars Hall, a Gothic church with vaulted ceilings, it’s the perfect spot to experience a piece of classic Edinburgh while perusing the very best sustainable products Scotland has to offer.
Unfolded is a local business well on its way to achieving a big mission – to change the way people shop and make the fashion industry more sustainable.
Did you know that 30% of new clothes made this year will never be sold – that’s estimated to be a staggering 26 billion items of new clothing that is destined to go straight to landfill?
Unfolded is challenging the industry by creating clothes without the waste and using the savings to create positive impact in the world. They do this by:
Designing clothes in collaboration with Unfolded shoppers to ensure the only clothes created are ones that people actually want to buy
Production doesn’t start till orders start being placed, allowing us to match supply and demand
Clothes are delivered direct from our factories to our customers within 4-6 weeks – removing logistics wastage
Making clothes in this way actually delivers cost savings and these are used to:
Offer sustainable yet affordable clothes
Pay garment workers better wages
Create long term change by funding children in India to learn to read and write (our clothes are manufactured in India).
Since launch eighteen months ago, Unfolded has already supported over 5,000 children in education.
Cally Russell, co-founder of Unfolded explains more:“Unfolded is all about community and creating positive change by working together.
” This is why we decided to host Unfolded and Friends and can’t wait to meet people in person at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh on Sunday. Over the past 18 months our collaborative approach to sustainable fashion has started to change this industry and we look forward to more Edinburgh locals discovering there is another way to shop this weekend”.
Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh said:“Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is a strong supporter of small, Scottish businesses.
“Our very own Curiosity Shop, delivered in partnership with Virgin Startup, features local sustainable brands and is extremely popular with our guests and so we know there will be huge excitement for the Unfolded and Friends market.
“We look forward to welcoming Unfolded into Greyfriars Hall to give guests and locals the chance to browse its incredible collection of sustainable products. In keeping with chic Virgin style, the pieces aren’t just fabulous but good for the planet too.”
After London the popup market tour will be heading to Oxford Street in London and then Manchester before the end of the year.
Find out more about the Unfolded and Friends Pop Up Event here:
Autumn is here and as the October school holidays have started, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to give their childcare budget a treat this Halloween by opening a Tax-Free Childcare account.
Parents can use Tax-Free Childcare to help with childcare costs for school holiday clubs, breakfast or after school clubs, childminders or nurseries. It provides working families with up to £2,000 a year per child off their childcare bills for children up to the age of 11, or £4,000 a year up to the age of 16 if their child has a disability.
For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare account, families automatically receive a top up from the UK Government of £2. Using the tax-free top up, families can save up to £500 every 3 months for each child or £1,000 if their child is disabled.
Opening a Tax-Free Childcare account is quick and easy and can be done at any time of the year. Families who have not yet signed up should check their eligibility and apply online today.
It takes around 20 minutes to open an account and money can be deposited at any time. The money can be used straight away or left in the account and used whenever it is needed. Any unused money can be withdrawn at any time.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Families need plenty of childcare options when the weather turns cold and wet and days get shorter.
“We would urge parents to ensure they’re taking advantage of all opportunities available – whether it’s sending their child to wraparound school club or a holiday club during the half term break. Tax-Free Childcare provides financial help that fits your family – to support your childcare needs and save you money. Search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’ on GOV.UK to get started.”
It takes around 20 minutes to open an account and money can be deposited at any time. The money can be used straight away or left in the account and used whenever it is needed. Any unused money can be withdrawn at any time.
Road policing officers are appealing for information following a crash involving four cars on the A71, near to Calder Junction in Edinburgh.
The incident happened around 7.30am on Tuesday, 10 October, 2023.
Emergency services attended and the 53-year-old male driver of an orange Ford Ranger was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The road was closed for collision investigation and reopened at 10.40am.
Sergeant Paul Ewing, of the East Road Policing Unit, said: “Our investigation to establish the full circumstances of this collision is ongoing and I would urge anyone who can help to come forward.
“We would like to speak to anyone who may have dashcam footage or who saw the orange vehicle on the road prior to the crash.
“Anyone who can help is asked to call 101, quoting reference 0555 of 10 October.”
Eight projects supporting people with neurological conditions are receiving a total of almost £440,000 to enable them to enhance and expand the services they provide.
NHS Lothian is one of the recipients. They have been awarded £58,763 to fund a Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) clinical network for NHS Lothian.
The project will establish an FND network which will: create an integrated clinical network for people with FND; provide education, training and support to health professionals involved in FND; and to provide a relapse service for people with to ensure a consistent point of contact for patients.
The Scottish Government funding is the fourth round of awards made as part of a five-year action plan to improve support for people living with neurological conditions.
A joint initiative by the Care Inspectorate and NHS Ayrshire & Arran is one of the successful bids – £35,000 will be used to develop a national care network for care at home staff who would use it to share their experiences of looking after people with different neurological conditions and how best to meet their needs.
Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said: “One million people in Scotland live with a neurological condition which is why we are committed to the neurological action plan as it supports various organisations to help these people to live well and on their own terms regardless of where they stay.
“The Framework contains £4.5 million investment over five years, and this latest allocation of funding will benefit a wide range of projects helping those living with a number of conditions including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, and Functional Neurological Disorder.
“All of these innovative projects seek to ensure seamless access to high-quality and co-ordinated health, social care and third sector support in the right place at the right time.”
Care Inspectorate Allied Health Professional Consultant Heather Edwards said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding to establish a neurological care network for people experiencing care at home.
“This collaboration in Ayrshire and Arran will provide a co-ordinated approach to enable opportunities for shared discussions and learning for staff across health and social care and importantly with people and their families”
UPDATE: Around 2.55pm on Wednesday, 11 October, 2023, the body of a man was discovered next to an industrial estate in Newhailes Road, Musselburgh.
Formal identification is still to take place, however the next of kin of missing man Martin Sinnett, 70, has been informed.
Police officers were in Musselburgh yesterday to stop and speak to motorists two weeks on from when missing man Martin Sinnett, 70, was last seen.
The last confirmed sighting of Martin was around 9.20am on Tuesday, 26 September, in Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, where he was seen walking south away from the Shell petrol station at the junction with Edinburgh Road.
Shortly before this sighting, he was seen around 8.45am on North High Street.
Martin is believed to have walked to the Musselburgh area from Edinburgh, having been sighted outside a motorbike training centre in Seafield Road around 6.45am.
Inspector Colin Fordyce said yesterday: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for Martin’s welfare, particularly given his age and the length of time he has now been missing.
“Officers will be stopping motorists this morning, exactly two weeks on from when Martin was last seen, in a bid to glean any information which could lead to tracing him.
“We are looking to speak to people who take this route through Musselburgh regularly and asking them to cast their minds back to the morning of Tuesday, 26 September, to consider whether they may have seen Martin in the area or have dash-cam footage.
“We would also urge people to continue to check any outbuildings and garden sheds in case Martin has sought shelter somewhere.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0708 of 26 September.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives with reading and writing, has opened nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award 2024, run in association with Walker Books.
Now in its fifth year, the award seeks to honour those who make a real difference to the lives of the young children, families and communities they work with.
People across Scotland can nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work for the award. The winner will be celebrated with a short film made about their work, a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500.
Bookbug, delivered by Scottish Book Trust, is the biggest nationwide universal book gifting programme in the world, through which every child in Scotland receives four free book bags between their birth and first year of school.
Around 375 Bookbug Sessions take place each week in libraries and community spaces across Scotland, and Bookbug for the Home practitioners support families on a one-to-one basis.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: ‘Bookbug reaches children all over Scotland, providing vital access to books. Without the work of Bookbug practitioners, many families would not discover the fun and lifechanging benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes.
“It is fantastic to be able to recognise this important work through the Bookbug Hero Award, for the fifth time. Our thanks to Walker Books for their continued support in recognising these heroes.”
The team at Walker Books added: ‘We really appreciate all that Bookbug and the heroes who run the programmes do for communities, and we are really pleased that we can continue to show our appreciation and support of that work by sponsoring the award.
“We love that it shines a light on those practitioners who champion reading, and work tirelessly to change lives through stories and can’t wait to hear more about the next winner!’
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps will today announce a new package of support for Ukraine and the signing of further air defence contracts, procured through the International Fund for Ukraine.
A new package of military support for Ukraine, worth more than £100m, will be announced by the Defence Secretary today. It will help its armed forces clear minefields, maintain its vehicles, and shore up defensive fortifications to protect critical national infrastructure.
The support package, which will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), will be jointly announced today by the Defence Secretary and his counterparts from the IFU partner nations at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
It comes as the final contract from the previously announced IFU package of air defence capability was signed, which will see more than £70m of capabilities provided to Ukraine – including the MSI-DS Terrahawk Paladin, a platform which can track and destroy drones and protect critical national infrastructure.
The UK and Denmark launched the IFU in 2022 and the UK engages closely with Ukraine to procure capability that best meets the needs of its armed forces. Since then, five other nations have contributed to the IFU, demonstrating the unity and resolve of allies and partners in supporting Ukraine.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “During my recent visit to Kyiv, I assured President Zelenskyy that the UK’s support for Ukraine and their most urgent needs is unwavering.
“Today I am proud to announce that the UK, alongside our allies, is delivering on that promise with new contracts to provide Ukraine with critical air defence systems to protect civilians from Putin’s barbaric bombing campaign, and more than £100 million of new equipment pledged to give Ukrainian soldiers what they need to breach Russia’s deadly minefields.”
Today, the Defence Secretary attends his first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, where ministers from member countries and Ukraine will discuss the ongoing international response to Putin’s illegal invasion.
It provides an opportunity for the Defence Secretary to raise the UK’s concerns regarding the crisis in Israel and Gaza, the developing situation regarding reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia, as well as the UK’s recent deployment to Kosovo in support of NATO’s peacekeeping mission.
The announcement comes after the Prime Minister met President Zelenskyy at the European Political Community in Grenada last week. The Ukrainian President has said that air defence is Ukraine’s most critical capability need, and the Terrahawk Paladin will help deliver what Ukraine needs to protect its citizens from Putin’s indiscriminate campaign of missile strikes against civilian targets.
This latest package will also provide crucial equipment to help Ukrainian soldiers cross minefields, bridging capabilities to assist with river and trench crossings, and heavy duty plant vehicles to destroy Russian non-explosive obstacles and help build defensive positions to protect Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, said: This new package of support is the latest in an unprecedented and sustained effort by 50 nations to give Ukraine the tools it needs to counter Russia’s aggression and recover what it has lost.
“This winter, Russia will seek to undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people and divide the international community, but in both cases Putin underestimates the strength and resilience of his opposition. If we stick together, and stay the course, then Russia will continue to lose, Ukraine will prevail and the rules that matter to global security will endure.”
Ukraine is now the most mined country on earth, which has provided the biggest obstacle in the path of Ukraine’s counter-offensive this year and mine clearing capabilities will be essential to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in pushing forward.
Equipment from both the air defence package and mobility support package will arrive in the coming months, joining other IFU-funded equipment already in Ukraine, including around 100 uncrewed aerial systems.
The IFU uses financial contributions from international partners to procure priority military assistance for Ukraine. This will ensure the continued supply of military support – lethal and non-lethal – to Ukraine through 2023 and beyond.
To date, £785m has been raised through the IFU following contributions from the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania.
The IFU has recently expanded to include Lithuania on its Executive Panel, which is now formed by the UK and six other nations which provide oversight and assurance of the Fund, including the endorsement of capability packages.
