Are you ready for winter driving? Please make sure you have the essentials to keep you safe now that the weather has turned.
Police Scotland will help ensure your vehicle is ready for winter – come and say hi at one of our check sites this week.
Although fun for many, Bonfire Night can cause stress and anxiety for some.
It is illegal to set off fireworks before 6pm and after 11pm* (*extends to midnight on 5th November and 1am on Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali).
Find more advice on fireworks safety here 
bit.ly/sfrs23
Salvesen Mindroom Centre has confirmed that they have been awarded a £116,000 grant from the Scottish Government partner, The Promise.
This transformative funding, effective from October 2023 for 18 months, will revolutionise their transition service, amplifying its impact in Scotland and supporting neurodivergent care-experienced young people.
The core focus of this initiative is to provide individualised in-school support, guiding young people through their transition into adulthood, and nurturing the realisation of their full potential. This grant marks a pivotal moment in Mindroom’s planned expansion of the much-needed service.
Commenting on the grant award, Kelly McFadden, Project Manager of The Promise Partnership, said, “We are delighted to be able to support Salvesen Mindroom Centre with this funding.
“It represents a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for neurodivergent care-experienced young people across Scotland.”
Salvesen Mindroom Centre’s CEO, Alan Thornburrow, added: “This grant is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team. We are immensely proud to embark on this journey, empowering young individuals to shape their own futures.”
Salvesen Mindroom Centre will be working closely with school students, offering personalised one-on-one guidance, using Mindroom’s distinctive “Future Me” resource.
This tool focuses on identifying strengths, aspirations, and dreams of the young person, while also addressing any necessary support they may require to turn these aspirations into reality.
The charity’s approach is rooted in its profound expertise in working with individuals who may have diverse communication needs, ensuring that every person has a voice in shaping their own future and achieving their full potential.
Alan Thornburrow continues: “Neurodivergent young people who are care-experienced, are all too often overlooked and it’s our unwavering commitment to ensure they are equipped with the same opportunities as their peers.
“We are dedicated to providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to thrive and this funding will go a long way to supporting that.”
To extend their reach and impact, the charity is excited to announce plans to recruit and train a dedicated cohort of volunteers. This expansion represents a clear intention to build on their existing successful transition work within schools.
For more information on Salvesen Mindroom Centre go to:
MORRISONS LAUNCHES WICKEDLY HOT WING ROULETTE FOR HALLOWEEN
Morrisons is turning up the heat this Halloween with the release of their sizzling sensation – the limited-edition, Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette – perfect for anyone looking to spice up their Halloween party.
Inviting all spice lovers who dare to spin the wheel of flavour, each pack of Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette contains 10 chicken wings, split between two flavour coatings – but which is which?!
First up is ‘Hot as Hell’, with a 4-chilli rating – these wings aren’t for the faint-hearted and are eye-wateringly hot according to the Scoville Heat Scale which measures the pungency of peppers and chillies. Next is described as ‘Hot and Spicy’, with a tingling 3-chilli rating that provides a perfect blend of heat and flavour.
Nicole Olive, Buyer of Poultry & Turkey at Morrisons, said: “We know our customers love our extra spicy creations and the new Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette will not disappoint – they pack a punch!
“Perfect for Halloween parties, these chicken wings are a great way to bring together friends for a bit of fiery fun!”
The Wickedly Hot Wing Roulette costs £4.45 and is available in Morrisons stores and online now.
Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don has announced the six successful locations that will become home to Scotland’s first Bairns’ Hoose test sites.
Supported by £6 million Scottish Government funding, multi-agency partnerships in Fife, North Strathclyde, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Tayside and the Outer Hebrides will set up pathfinders to provide coordinated comprehensive support for children and young people in the justice system.
Services including child protection, recovery, healthcare, therapeutic support and justice will be available which will provide a blueprint for a full pilot in 2025.
Minister for Keeping the Promise Natalie Don said: “Establishing this network is a major step forward in our aim to transform the care and justice systems for children and young people, many of whom will have been through serious trauma.
“The creation of these pathfinders will also help us to collectively uphold the rights of children and their families to compassionate and effective support in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
“This is a key action in Keeping the Promise and I’m pleased to have marked Care Experienced Week by meeting representatives of this vital project to hear about their vision for the future as one of the first Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder Partnerships.”
Speaking on behalf of the Fife Partnership, Child Protection Committee, Independent Chair Dougie Dunlop said: “All agencies involved in the Children’s Services partnership in Fife are delighted that we have been chosen as a Pathfinder site for the development of a Bairns’ Hoose facility.
“This provides Fife with an opportunity to build on the strengths of our existing partnership arrangements to further develop our approach to supporting children and their families where they may have suffered harm.
“It will bring all key services together within one child centred facility that will make it easier for children and their families to get the support they need in what can be very difficult circumstances.
“It will be a very important addition to our range of responses and will be a significant benefit to the children involved.”
Barnahus founder and Member of the United Nation’s Committee on the Rights of the Child Bragi Guðbrandsson said: “I am delighted that Barnahus is being implemented in Scotland through the Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder programme led by Scottish Government and working with partners across a range of sectors.
“This important milestone shows that Barnahus can be adapted to different contexts, cultural traditions, and legislative structures, but its core concept remains the same – to support children who have experienced trauma, in the best possible way, through multiagency responses.
“A significant financial contribution from the Scottish Government will help to build on the positive collaborative working between social work, police, health, third sector and other partners to ensure successful implementation and capturing learning to support a wider national rollout. I look forward to following the progress of Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinders closely.”
Further information on Bairns’ Hoose.
Senior Jewish and Muslim faith leaders issue joint statement with FM
First Minister Humza Yousaf has joined faith leaders in Scotland to express a steadfast commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia.
In a joint statement, the First Minister and senior religious representatives of Scotland’s Jewish and Muslim communities have pledged to continue working together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland.
A copy of the joint statement from the First Minister and faith leaders is below:
We express today our mutual respect and understanding, recognising our common humanity, and with love and compassion, knowing that our hearts are full of pain. We also acknowledge the suffering caused to innocent life as a result of recent events and wholeheartedly pray for the full recovery of the many injured and for those who have lost loved ones.
In times of crisis, it is important for our faith communities, and all communities in Scotland, to reaffirm our relationships and maintain our continuing dialogue. We are steadfast in our commitment against all forms of hate crime, bigotry and xenophobia and we are proud of the strong inter-faith tradition in Scotland.
We stand together in solidarity to reassure our communities of that continuing commitment. We will continue to work together to foster community cohesion and goodwill across Scotland, so that everyone can live in safety. We are proud of our close and strong working relationships, built up over many years, and which allows us the ability to work with confidence and trust.
Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland
Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Senior Rabbi of Scotland
Chief Imam Dr. Sayed Razawi
Shaykh Hassan Rabbani, Chair of the Scottish Muslim Forum
Rabbi Eliran Shabo, Jewish Chaplain of Scotland Universities
And a statement from the UK Inter Faith Network:
Young people are being urged to find out if they are eligible for Job Start Payment as part of a new campaign. The Scottish Government has introduced changes to Job Start Payment, simplifying the process for young people to apply.
Changes to the qualifying criteria mean that income received from completing trial shifts will now not rule out applicants from getting Job Start Payment.
Further changes made by Social Security Scotland, who administer the payment, include extending the deadline to apply to six months after the young person’s job offer rather than the previous three months, and supplying simplified supporting information for proof of job. These changes are designed to make the application process clearer and simpler.
The one-off payment helps young people and care leavers with the costs of starting a new job. Eligible people receive a one-off payment of £294.70 or £471.50 if they are a main carer of any children.
The nationwide digital marketing campaign, which launched on 23 October, aims to raise awareness of the financial support available to young people and care leavers when offered a job after a period of unemployment.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Since launching in August 2020, Job Start Payment has made a real difference to young people across Scotland by supporting them to take up employment opportunities.
“The pressures of starting a new job can be overwhelming and we don’t want the extra costs to be what stops young people.
“It is now simpler for eligible clients to apply for Job Start Payment due to the recent guidance changes. I encourage young people and carers who have recently started work, or employers taking on young people in a new job, to find out more and check if they are eligible.
“The ongoing cost of living crisis means that people are facing difficult financial decisions day in and day out.
“We are committed to making sure that people are getting all of the money that they are entitled to and that the people who are eligible know how to apply.”
NEW SCORSESE MOVIE’S NORTH LEITH LINK
Citadel Arts Group were surprised to discover a connection between Lily Gladstone, star of Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon and one of the main characters in their forthcoming show, The Ghosts of North Leith.
Lily Gladstone comes from Montana, of Blackfeet Indian stock. But on her mother’s side she is descended from the great-great grandfather of a first cousin of the 19th century UK Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. And – wait for it – Gladstone’s grandmother is Nellie Gladstones (the family later dropped the final ‘s’) who features in Citadel Arts Group’s The Ghosts of North Leith.
Nellie was a feisty businesswoman who, in Hilary Spiers’ section of the play, reprimands her son John for using slave labour on his plantations.
The fruits of this labour fetch up in Leith. Hilary Spiers writes, ‘The Sugar Boycott was a way for middle class women to show their abhorrence of the slave trade by refusing to buy slave-produced sugar. Little is known of Nellie’s life which allowed me to give free rein to my imagination. My play portrays her as something of a radical and an early feminist at odds with her family who derive much of their wealth from slavery.’
When slavery was abolished in 1833, Nellie’s son John Gladstone received the largest payment from the Slave Compensation Commission amounting to over £10m in modern currency. This money no doubt paid for the fine family gravestone in Coburg Street cemetery.
Slavery is a central issue in The Ghosts of North Leith. The play is based on the stories behind seven of the graves in Coburg Street Burial Ground. One tantalising stone commemorates a Jacob Stoney who died in Leith in 1820 but was born in Jamaica on the family plantation.
His fine stone was raised by his sister Mary who was still living in Jamaica. Citadel’s writers have woven a story around these bare facts using detailed historical research and some inspired guesswork.
Some are the graves are of well-known characters like Lady Anne Mackintosh who raised troops in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1756. Having enjoyed the Outlander books, playwright Rhona McAdam was attracted to this real-life Jacobite heroine. ‘I wondered how Lady Anne ended up in North Leith Burial Ground instead of the family estate in the Highlands.’ It appears Leith was a hotbed of Jacobite sympathy.
The figure who links all the stories is Robert Nicoll. Hailed as the second Robert Burns, Nicoll became a radical activist and newspaperman until his early death in 1837, aged only 33.
Nicoll is the conscience of the play, pointing out the hypocrisies and double think of the other characters, all stuck in the limbo of North Leith, regretting their unfulfilled lives. The play uses pathos, humour, music to add another chapter to the rich history of the port of Leith which Citadel has been celebrating for almost thirty years.
The cast is led by Mark Kydd, a Citadel regular. He writes: ‘As an adopted Leither, I’ve always been fascinated by its concealed history … vintage maps showing different street names and open fields in what are now built-up areas.
Citadel has a fine tradition of examining Leith’s past through its work, but here the writers have literally gone underground, exploring the lives of people buried in Coburg Street Cemetery though a combination of painstaking research and imaginative speculation.
One character in the play wryly observes: “They said the deid are quite forgotten after three generations”. We hope that this production goes some way towards redressing the balance by helping to celebrate these otherwise forgotten lives.
The script was given a trial performed reading at Leith Festival in June.
Director Liz Hare said: ’Thanks to the enthusiastic feedback of the Leith people and their supportive comments, we have developed and improved the script for three evening performances.
“Now we exploit light and darkness to create a truly disturbing atmosphere for our North Leith ghosts!”
The venue of the show is North Leith Parish Church, soon due to be released for sale by the Church of Scotland. This will be the audience’s last chance to see a live performance in this beautiful Georgian building, intended as the hub of Leith’s New Town.
Venue: North Leith Parish Church, 51 Madeira Street EH6 4AU
Dates: 14, 14, and 16 November at 7.30pm
Tickets £10/£9 from jamesellison@blueyonder.co.uk/07770 623 924
Writers: Carolyn and Brian Lincoln, John Lamb, Hilary Spiers, Elaine Campbell and Rhona McAdam.
Cast Mark Kydd, Deborah Whyte, Chelsea Grace, Fraser Allan Hogg and Grant MacIver.
Director: Liz Hare
Sound: Roddy Simpson
Costumes: Susan Chaney
SM: Maggie Brown
Technical Assistance: Stewart Emm.
As over 1,900 students and 6,600 guests make their way to the Usher Hall in Edinburgh to attend their graduation ceremony, Edinburgh Napier will once again be taking over one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs, Shakespeare’s on Lothian Road. Rebranding as The Napier Graduate in honour of the university’s class of ’23, this time graduates will also be able to celebrate with a pint of Edinburgh Napier’s very own ale, ‘Must Be Napier’, to toast their success.
The beer name, ‘Must Be Napier’ references Edinburgh Napier University’s current brand campaign that is shining a spotlight on the achievements and major contributions to society of the University’s students, staff, and alumni.
Following the success of the summer takeover of the iconic pub, for three days only from Tuesday 24 October to Thursday 26 October, Shakespeare’s will once again be known as The Napier Graduate. The pub has been decked out in red Napier livery, changing everything from the outdoor signs to the beermats, making it the perfect spot for graduates to celebrate with family and friends.
For those celebrating with a drink, when at the bar graduates and patrons alike will spot Napier along the selection of beer taps, with the university having its very own ale, ‘Must Be Napier’ alongside the usual selection of drinks.
Over the three days, Edinburgh Napier University will be celebrating with five ceremonies, honoring the graduates of all five of the University’s Schools. Those walking down Lothian Road won’t be able to miss the celebrations, with the original Shakespeare’s signage completely replaced with Napier’s distinctive red branding.
Earlier this year, Edinburgh Napier took over Shakespeare’s for the first time to highlight the University’s pride in their graduates and offering congratulations on their success.
Izzy Polson, General Manager of Shakespeare’s said: “Following the takeover earlier this year we saw a record number of people visit for a celebratory drink. We are thrilled to be able to help with the celebrations and delighted to be rebranded as The Napier Graduate once again, to help make it a memorable graduation!
“We loved seeing people’s surprise at the new look Shakespeare’s over graduation week and hope we can bring the same amount of joy this time round.”
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice Chancellor at Edinburgh Napier University, said: “We always want to celebrate and recognise the achievements of our students, so once again we are dedicating a special place for them to celebrate with family and friends.
“This time, as our graduates embark on their next chapter after university, graduates and their guests who choose to can have a pint of ‘Must Be Napier’, or any of the other refreshments on offer, to toast all their incredible accomplishments.”
The Napier Graduate is open from Tuesday 24 October to Thursday 26 October 2023 at 65 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2DJ.
Family mediation experts offer advice on choosing a relationship counsellor
As the cost of living crisis puts pressure on relationships, experts encourage people to reach out for help before relationships break down completely.
Relationships Scotland, the largest provider of relationship support in the country, is offering advice to anyone looking to embark on counselling. The leading family mediation experts say there are five key questions to ask before choosing a relationships counsellor.
Stuart Valentine, Chief Executive of Relationships Scotland said: “Making the decision to seek help to deal with relationship issues is not easy, it can be a daunting process admitting you need help, let alone navigating the many different options available.
“Relationships Scotland strives to offer couples and individuals a safe space to discuss their concerns and our five step guide aims to make taking the first step as easy as possible.”
Relationships Scotland says anyone thinking about counselling should ask the following five questions:
Are they trained to work with relationships?
Before you begin counselling it is important to establish the level of your counsellor’s training and their experience. In recent years it is usual for a counsellor to do either a one-year full time or a two-year part-time course. It is also important to find out what areas of relationships the counsellor can work with. It is especially important to check that the counsellor is qualified to work with couples, if you hope to go to counselling with your partner.
Is there someone checking that they are working to the right standards?
Relationships Scotland counsellors are required to undertake a minimum number of hours of casework per year. They are also required to participate in clinical supervision with a supervisor who is experienced in couple work. This helps ensure that all of counsellors are properly trained and supported in their work.
What will they do with the information I give them?
Your counsellor will discuss confidentiality with you and where there might limits on this confidentiality, such as when someone might be at risk. This is to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
Where will I see the counsellor?
Relationships Scotland has over 200 counsellors covering the whole of mainland and island
Scotland. Face-to-face and online appointments are available and there will be a service covering your area.
Will there be a charge?
All Relationships Scotland affiliated local services that provide relationship counselling receive some funding from the Scottish Government. This does not cover all the costs, however, and so some services may ask for a donation or may make a charge, depending on income.
If you are on low income, please let the service know and they work with you to make sure you receive the support you need.
Stuart Valentine added: “Relationships Scotland understands the importance of positive and resilient relationships and the damage which relationship breakdown can cause if not handled properly, especially for children.
“We want to make counselling as accessible and as helpful as possible for anyone needing this type of support.”
