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Scotland’s leading Armed Forces charity, Poppyscotland, has put out a call for volunteers to step forward and make a difference across Edinburgh.
Every year, Poppyscotland runs the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, which provides the nation with the national symbol of Remembrance, the four-petalled Scottish Poppy.
Hundreds of volunteers step up annually to help organise the Scottish Poppy Appeal in their local area, volunteering their time to help distribute poppies and collecting tins, and arrange collections at supermarkets, shopping centres and other key locations.
This year, volunteers are needed in the capital to help organise the Appeal, with dedicated support from the Poppyscotland team. The charity is seeking members of the community, a community group, school, local business, or anyone who wishes to make a difference to Scotland’s Armed Forces community in the city.
The money raised during the Scottish Poppy Appeal goes directly to Poppyscotland’s Welfare services, supporting veterans, those still Serving and their families at times of need. This could include, for example, providing an emergency grant to stop a veteran losing their home, funding housing adaptations so that a disabled veteran can continue to live with their family, and much more.
Current Poppyscotland volunteer, Eilidh, said: “It has been really interesting getting to meet people who have Served or have had family Serving. They provide the most incredible stories. People just want to talk to you when they see you volunteer with Poppyscotland, so it never gets boring.
“Poppyscotland are amazing and have supported me with every step. Any time I have a slight worry or confusion, they’re there to help me out and they are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. I’ve loved everything about my experience to date.”
Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, Gordon Michie, said: “Every year, we are so grateful for the generous support of the public. But our volunteers are the strength behind the Scottish Poppy Appeal. Their tireless dedication and professionalism means that the national symbol of Remembrance can be found across the nation.
“We have a dedicated team that look after our volunteers. This makes volunteering for Poppyscotland easy and stress free. But we need you to step forward so that we can continue to change lives for the better.”
To find out more about volunteering for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, contact Poppyscotland’s Volunteering team on 0131 550 1597, email volunteer@poppyscotland.org.uk or visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk/volunteer
Humanitarian aid efforts in the Middle East will receive funding of £250,000 in response to a Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal.
DEC, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and Mercy Corps will use the funding to support humanitarian activities as the situation in the region continues to deteriorate.
£200,000 will contribute to a fund shared between DEC’s 15 member organisations helping to provide food, water, medical assistance and shelter to displaced people in the region. SCIAF and Mercy Corps will each receive £25,000 to support aid activities.
First Minister John Swinney said: “Thousands of innocent people have been killed in the crisis in the Middle East, with millions more displaced and left without certainty about how to access to shelter, food, clean water and medical care.
“The humanitarian crisis in the Middle East continues to deepen and spread, and an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of conflict is needed to prevent more innocent lives being lost and bring an end to the unimaginable suffering this conflict has caused.
“Urgent humanitarian aid must be provided to all those who need it, and this contribution from the Scottish Government will assist the Disasters Emergency Committee, SCIAF and Mercy Corps in ensuring it reaches as many people as possible. Members of the public can also pledge support and make donations to the DEC Appeal in a variety of ways and I would urge everyone to consider donating if they are in a position to do so.”
The DEC appeal for the Middle East launched today (17 October 2024).
Details are available on the DEC website for how to donate to the Appeal.
Dear Editor
As a coalition of organisations that support vulnerable children and young people, we are deeply concerned in relation to proposed budget cuts to City of Edinburgh Council’s inclusion services.
There has been a massive increase in the number of pupils in Scotland’s schools identified with additional support needs (ASN), such as autism, dyslexia and mental health problems. In Edinburgh, this has seen the number of pupils with ASN almost treble in number between 2013 and 2023.
It has been estimated that over 40 per cent of primary school and over half of secondary school pupils in the capital now have an ASN.
Unfortunately, the necessary resourcing required for this group has not increased. For example, the number of ASN teachers in Edinburgh’s schools has declined by four over the period 2013 to 2023, from 170 to 166, despite the massive increase in the number of pupils with ASN.
Any further axing in staff, who are already overstretched and under-resourced, in supporting these pupils will prove absolutely devastating.
This will impact not only them, but also fellow pupils who will face reduced teaching time given the need to support those with ASN, as well as putting even more pressure on teachers and support staff.
We would urge City of Edinburgh Council to reconsider its approach, as this sticking plaster solution of budget cuts will simply lead to reduced life chances for these individuals, with the resultant impact on society and the economy.
Yours faithfully
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:
Kenny Graham, Falkland House School
Lynn Bell, LOVE Learning
Stephen McGhee, Spark of Genius
Niall Kelly, Young Foundations
42 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh EH2 4HQ
Tel: 0131 603 8996
Spanning the gallery’s entire ground floor, Everlyn Nicodemus opens on 19 October 2024 until 25 May 2025, and is free for everyone to enjoy.
Experience Everlyn’s joyful, defiant and searingly honest artworks, with over 80 drawings, collages, paintings and textiles from over 40 years of her career, from 1980 through to the present day.
Following a 25-year break from the medium of painting, Everlyn Nicodemus will unveil a series of new artworks created especially for the exhibition.
To mark the opening of the exhibition, the National Galleries of Scotland has announced the acquisition of two powerful works by Everlyn Nicodemus. The Wedding 45 (1991) is from Everlyn’s largest body of work – an intricate and symbolic group of over 80 paintings produced in the 1990s.
The series was created during her recovery from a mental health breakdown, which the artist now understands to be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder, diagnosed some years later. The Wedding 45represents a resilient return to life, in all its beauty, difficulty and complexity. The faceless female body has returned to a position of strength and empowerment, with an equal relationship to the world around her.
A second work, Eva(1981) has also been gifted to Scotland’s national collection by Everlyn Nicodemus and Richard Saltoun Gallery, ensuring the artist’s legacy will continue long after the exhibition has finished.
Painted when Everlyn was living in Stockholm, Evadepicts the Old Testament figure of Eve (Eva in Swedish), pregnant and standing on a large red apple, with a bite taken out of it.
Her pregnancy and the apple both indicate that this work depicts her after Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden for consuming the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge.
The painting’s themes of pregnancy and birth, the Biblical focus on sin, and Eve’s victimisation are linked to the artist’s memories, from growing up in Tanzania, of the stigma that surrounded pregnancy outside of marriage.
As in many cultures, she recalls that young women were blamed for their unwanted early pregnancies, even when the result of rape. Eva is a painting that proudly declares the artist’s unwavering support for global reproductive rights.
Championing a belief that creativity is a form of healing, Everlyn’s work engages with themes including the global oppression of women, the enduring impact of racism and the artist’s own personal trauma and recovery.
Visitors to Everlyn Nicodemus will marvel at her bold and courageous use of colour, form, light and shade, inviting them to explore and question their understanding of identity, belonging and faith.
This stirring exhibition was made possible because Everlyn was the recipient of the prestigious Freelands Award in 2022. Presented by Freelands Foundation, the annual prize is gifted in support of women artists underrepresented in their field.
An artist, writer and curator, Everlyn Nicodemus was born in Marangu, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in 1954. Living and working across Europe since the mid-1970s, Everlyn has made Edinburgh her home for the last fifteen years.
Throughout her career, she has taken an active involvement in community life, using her gift of expression to highlight the shared oppression of women. Her pioneering scholarship on African modern art and trauma studies has also informed her practice.
Since the 1980s, Everlyn has made paintings, collages and works on paper that explore violence against women, personal trauma and the isolation and dehumanisation of living within structural racism.
Everlyn Nicodemus will chart her career from those early days, with works including her very first painting, After the Birth (1980). At over two metres in length, this oil on bark cloth painting shows a large-scale image of a mother and child, brought to life through swirling black and white lines against a rich terracotta background.
The mother figure is seen protectively placed over the child; however, her face is covered by her hands, her body hunched in a state of recovery. This scene evokes deep emotions such as uncertainty and isolation; the often-unspoken elements of motherhood. Even in her earliest work, Everlyn’s skill as a visual storyteller is clear, compassionately highlighting women’s shared experiences and struggles.
From her earliest work to the newest, the exciting debut of Everlyn’s new series Lazarus Jacaranda (2022–24) will form a key element of this exhibition, signifying an end to the artist’s 25-year hiatus from painting.
While not directly referencing the biblical character in the series’ title, the paintings consider themes of cyclical life and Everlyn’s belief that ‘art is resurrection’. Female figures, both archetypes and named individuals, are shown in relaxed and restful poses, their feet supported by flowers and petals that spring powerfully to life.
These paintings have much in common with Everlyn’s earlier artworks, from the colour palette and confident celebration of the female body seen in Silent Strength (1989–90), to the botanical elements present in The Wedding (1990–94). This marks a resurrection of Everlyn’s own work from the past, influencing her present practice.
This long overdue retrospective focussing on the life and work of Everlyn Nicodemus is a celebration of the compassion, creativity and care which she has led with throughout her 40 years as an artist. Everlyn Nicodemus is waiting to be discovered by new audiences at Modern One this winter.
Everlyn Nicodemus said: “This exhibition feels like the most important moment in my career, spanning over 40 years of my work. It’s especially meaningful to me that it’s happening here in Edinburgh, a place that truly feels like my home. Having lived as a nomad all my life, this is the first place where I’ve been able to live and create in one space that is both my home and my studio.
“It’s a rare and unique experience for any artist, and especially for a Black African woman artist, to witness a retrospective of their own, and of this scale, so I feel incredibly lucky. This exhibition is a journey through my whole artistic life, and I hope it resonates deeply with those who experience it.”
Anne Lyden, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: “It is a great privilege to host the first ever retrospective of visionary artist Everlyn Nicodemus at Modern One this year.
“Everlyn’s exceptional artwork harnesses her incredible ability to communicate the most complex subjects with unwavering compassion. Her work serves to empower and inspire, but also sensitively demonstrates the therapeutic and healing powers of creativity.
“This exhibition also marks Everlyn’s return to painting after a 25-year break with the unveiling of a new series of work which we are excited to share with our audiences for the first time. We are thrilled to bring this exhibition to the people of Scotland and celebrate Everlyn’s remarkable career in the city she calls home.”
Stephanie Straine, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland said:“We’re so excited that Everlyn’s exhibition has opened here in Edinburgh, allowing visitors to encounter Everlyn’s astonishing creative practice of many decades.
“I feel truly honoured to have had the opportunity to work closely with the artist over the past three years to develop her exhibition and its accompanying publication.
“It’s been a privilege to be a part of this incredibly rewarding collaborative process that has time and again emphasised Everlyn’s rigorous scholarship, commitment to and celebration of art making, and deeply empathetic perspective on the complexities of our shared humanity.”
Visitors to Everlyn Nicodemus can enjoy a free audio tour as part of their experience. Led by Everlyn herself, listeners will be guided around the exhibition as she highlights selected works and delves deeper into her inspirations, experiences and creative process.
Everlyn Nicodemus is accompanied by a generously illustrated catalogue, featuring a new interview with the artist by Perrin Lathrop (Assistant Curator of African Art at Princeton University Art Museum).
The book also includes essays from Professor Eddie Chambers (David Bruton, Jr. Centennial Professorship in Art History at the University of Texas at Austin), Catherine de Zegher (curator, modern and contemporary art historian), and Stephanie Straine (curator of the exhibition at the National Galleries of Scotland).
Everlyn Nicodemus is yours to discover for free at National Galleries Scotland: Modern One from Saturday 19 October 2024. Find out more Everlyn Nicodemus | National Galleries of Scotland. An adaptation of the exhibition will be presented at WIELS, Brussels in autumn 2025.
LOCAL businesses from in and around Edinburgh have been put in the spotlight by Cala Homes, (East) as it unveils its first showhome, as well as a Community Pledge programme, at a brand new development in Edinburgh.
The award-winning Scottish homebuilder recently launched the St Crispin’s Court development, which will feature 23 three-bedroom & study townhouses and 14 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, each of which has been carefully curated to offer the best in modern city living.
Situated in the Blackford area of the capital, the development’s contemporary townhouse showhome allows local retailers and creatives to promote their goods and showcase the very best that businesses in the area have to offer.
The showhome features items from several local businesses, including Acanthus Interiors; EveryoneDesigns; Nordic Living by Biehl; The Bay Tree Company, Halibut; Curiouser & Curiouser; Rosie Brown Jewellery; Swish; Snapdragon, Biscuit; and Adiamo and Deli.
Elaine Doyle, Sales and Marketing Director at Cala Homes (East) said: “We are delighted to see our Showhome of Support initiative being brought to life at St Crispin’s Court and to support and showcase some of the talented businesses and creatives that make Edinburgh such a vibrant community.
“By collaborating with local retailers and creatives, we’re not only helping potential homebuyers envision life in this stunning setting but also shining a spotlight on the talent and craftsmanship that defines the area.”
The Showhome of Support initiative is part of Cala’s St Crispin’s Court Community Pledge programme. The pledge features a bespoke package of activities designed to address the needs of the local area in a meaningful and measurable way.
Elaine continued: “We are proud to launch our St Crispin’s Community Pledge, which we are believe will have a lasting, positive impact on the surrounding area.”
Prices at St Crispin’s Court start from £769,995 for a three-bedroom townhouse. Apartments launched this summer, with prices from £325,000. Cala’s on-site sales office is now open by appointment.
To learn more, and to register your interest, visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/homes-for-sale/scotland/edinburgh/st-crispin-s-court/
For more information about Cala’s commitment to supporting communities, visit:
Detectives are renewing an appeal for information after two assaults on the Union Canal tow path in Edinburgh.
Both incidents happened on Sunday, 13 October.
The first happened near to Harrison Park around 7pm when a 31-year-old man was assaulted while cycling on the tow path. He was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.
The second happened near to Watson’s Rowing Club where a 50-year-old man walking on the path was assaulted. He was uninjured and did not require hospital treatment.
Officers are also investigating an incident around 5.40pm on the path near to Meggetland Bridge where a man acted in a threatening manner towards a woman walking in the area.
All three incident are being treated as linked.
Officers are working to identify a man described as being between 20 and 30-years-old, around 6ft tall, lean build, pale complexion, gaunt face, clean shaven, short dark hair with dark eyebrows.
He was wearing a dark blue hoodie and white trainers.
Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “We believe all three of these incidents are linked and would urge anyone with information to get in touch.
“We believe there were other people using the path around the time of these incidents and would urge anyone who witnessed anything to let us know. We’d also be keen to speak to anyone who have photographs or video footage from the area around these times.
“We would urge people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us. We have dedicated officers patrolling both the general area and the tow path specifically who you can speak to.
“Information can also be passed by calling 101, quoting incident number 2814 of Sunday, 13 October, 2024.
“Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”
AROUND 700 cyclists on a gruelling charity challenge made a much-needed stop in Edinburgh – where they got through an impressive 54,000 litres of water.
Drinking water specialist Water Direct supported the leg-sapping Ride Across Britan by meeting its own major challenge – ensuring cyclists had access to essential water services at every stop.
The nine-day Ride Across Britain is one of the toughest cycling challenges in the fundraising calendar, seeing participants pedal the 980 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats – known as the “end to end” – every September.
Now alternative water supply expert Water Direct has revealed the logistical efforts involved in keeping the parched and exhausted cyclists with enough water for all their needs. The Colchester-based firm supplied essential water to 10 welfare stations along the route – transporting more than 540,000 litres of water the length of the UK.
The sixth stop on the epic trek was at Hopetoun House Estate, South Queensferry, where the water used by the cyclists would have filled the average 9m x 4m swimming pool or supplied the full daily water needs for 155 homes. In fact, it serviced eight shower trailers, five drinking water stations, five toilet trailers, and eight standpipes. It also served as one of three laundry sites along the route.
The cyclists had two pit stops each day to which the alternative water supply company provided two 2,000 litre towable water bowsers, keeping up with the riders along their route and keeping them hydrated.
David Sommerville from Threshold Sports, the organisers of Ride Across Britain, praised Water Direct’s involvement, led by Transport Manager, Kieran Gerred, and added: “They delivered a slick and professional service.
“Working to strict timeframes and in tough conditions, they always get the job done to a high standard and are always forward thinking and problem solving. Nothing is too much for the Water Direct team, it’s great working with them and I thank them for all their hard work over the two weeks.”
Adam Johnson, CEO of Water Direct, praised the huge effort of the dedicated cyclists who gave their all during the gruelling cycling marathon. He added: “We take our hats off to every single person who completed the ride. It is an incredibly difficult endeavour to take on and it benefits some brilliant causes.
“We understand exactly how big a challenge it is because we took on a huge logistical trial of our own in supplying all the water for the stops along the way.
“Not only did we transport 540,000 litres of water – enough to fill 30 swimming pools – but we also provided all the piping and infrastructure to ensure the riders had access to showers, toilets, catering and even laundry along the way.
“Everyone at Water Direct is proud to have been part of the Ride Across Britain and to have been an essential part of the backstage team that helped keep the riders going.”
Water Direct is the UK’s leading specialist in alternative water supply (AWS), and provides high quality drinking water – via tankers, bowsers and bottles – to where it is most needed. It has delivered drinking water to a huge range of organisations including hospitals, music festivals, supermarkets and steelworks.
The Ride Across Britian partnership saw the Colchester based firm, deliver supplies to all 10 stops along the route, including Okehampton in Devon, Bath in Somerset, Ludlow in Shropshire, Haydock in Merseyside, Carlisle in Cumbria, Edinburgh in Lothian, Strathdon in Aberdeenshire, Bonar Bridge in Sutherland and John O’Groats in Caithness.
At each site the Water Direct team delivered plentiful quantities of the highest quality drinking water – meeting the strictest regulatory and health protection standards – while also providing pumps and associated pipework for dedicated drinking water stations, showers and toilet trailers.
In Bath, Haydock and Edinburgh they also provided water for specially set up laundry facilities. While Water Direct only works with drinking water, the firm also coordinated with other specialists for removal of wastewater.
This year’s Ride Across Britain ran from September 7-15 and the 980-mile route, which climbs 55,000ft, is known for including some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes, including Cheddar Gorge, Shap Fell, the Cairnwell Pass and the Lecht.
Many participants choose to commit to raising at least £2400 for charity and the event has raised £1.2 million so far for hundreds of charities, with the total still rising.
Water Direct operates a fleet of 37 specialist tankers and delivered more than 150.5m litres of water last year. It also stores more than 4m litres of bottled water in a network of readily accessible depots across the UK.
As well as working with businesses and events, the company has made its name helping the UK’s main water utilities – including Yorkshire Water and Southern Water – to supply customers with alternative supplies during emergencies or planned shutdowns on their networks.
For more information about Water Direct, visit: https://www.water-direct.co.uk/
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has produced safety tips for this fireworks season on how to use fireworks responsibly and considerately to help protect both people and animals:
You must only buy from licensed sellers
Make sure you buy fireworks from licensed or registered in-store and online retailers. Do not buy fireworks from unknown retailers on social media sites. Remember it is illegal for under 18s to buy fireworks.
Choose traditional dates and keep to the curfew
People are more likely to plan to protect pets and other animals if fireworks are let off on traditional dates. The firework curfew is midnight on Fireworks Night, 1am on Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year, and 11pm the rest of the year. Firework timings may differ in Scotland. Search ‘fireworks’ on gov.scot for more advice.
Follow the instructions carefully
Before letting off fireworks, read all the safety instructions on the box, so you know important things like how far away people need to stand. If you do not understand the instructions and warnings, do not use the firework. Once any debris has cooled down, tidy it up and soak it in water overnight. Then put it in a rubbish bag and in the bin.
Check what fireworks you can use at home
Category F1, F2 and F3 fireworks are on sale to the public depending on the safety distance required. Check the labelling to ensure you have enough space to safely use a firework before you buy it.
Always follow the Firework Code. Search ‘fireworks’ on GOV.UK for more advice.
Think of local animals before setting off fireworks
If you plan to let off any fireworks, let your neighbours know in advance so they can plan for pets that might be affected.
If you live close to horses, let their owners know well in advance that you are letting fireworks off. Site your fireworks well away from them and aim them in the opposite direction. It is important to be considerate to horse owners as they cannot easily move horses away from fireworks.
Notify nearby farms and stables if you are planning to use fireworks. Do not let off fireworks if they will disturb wildlife habitats, or roosting bats and birds.
Keep your pet safe
On nights where fireworks are being let off, keep dogs and cats inside with somewhere to hide and give small outdoor pets extra bedding and nesting material to burrow in.
The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge has visited Barchester’s Strachan House Care Home in Edinburgh to launch ‘The Big Lunch’ for Children and Carers during the Mid-term break.
Robert joined staff and residents of the home for the week-long ‘Big Lunch’. Strachan House has invited all local schools and nurseries to join residents all this week for a FREE lunch.
Freshly made sandwiches, quiches and fruit with refreshments. Lord Provost said ‘what a wonderful initiative for the local community’.
General Manager at Strachan House, Fran Fisher, said: “It was lovely to have Robert here for the day. The residents were delighted that he was able to visit us and join in on the day.
“We all had a wonderful day, we hope that Robert will come to see us again soon!”
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals.
Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for residents, from respite care to long-term stays.
