Pop along to Telford Road McDonalds on the 2nd November for a charity fun day. There will be face painting, arts and crafts and you can even have a chance of winning a jar of sweets if you guess how many’s in it correctly! 
This is to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
This event is completely free however there is still a chance to donate
This event will run from 12 – 3pm, hopefully see some of you there! 
Assembly Roxy’s year-round programme continues this November with a line-up of theatre, music, and live events celebrating creativity, Scottish traditions old and new, and looking to a better future for all.
With highlights including immersive theatre piece Maiden Mother Whore from Theiya Arts Dance Collective, Jeremy Corbyn at Lighthouse Books’ Radical Book Fair, and the Scottish Dementia Arts Festival 2024, there’s plenty coming up at Assembly’s year-round venue.
Theiya Arts Dance Collective joining Assembly Roxy on the 01 Nov with a thought-provoking performance experience, in Maiden Mother Whore.
A 90-minute show, Maiden Mother Whore invites audiences to interact with five installations throughout the Roxy, exploring complex relationships between women, social structures, health and social policies, and institutions.
Assembly Roxy regulars Edinburgh Ceilidh Club with Teannaich bring the finest in Scottish Ceilidh dancing back to Assembly Roxy Central on Fri 08 Nov. All the dances are taught and called by the band – so bring along regulars and newbies alike to celebrate the Scottish tradition.
Scottish Dementia Arts Festival 2024 boasts a jam-packed line-up of events including live performance, creative workshops, film screenings, open-mics and more. The four-day festival runs from 11 – 14 Nov and celebrates the creativity of people living with dementia, and highlights include relaxed Scottish panto McScrooge by Alan Mountford and Citadel Arts Group and creative consultants living with dementia, Dementia the Musical Soundtrack Gig with Sophie Bancroft and Friends, and Meeting Centres Scotland film launch, as well as a host of ceilidhs, open mics, discos and more!
Lighthouse Books return with their annual Radical Book Fair from Thurs 21 – Sun 24 Nov with a line-up of workshops, cabarets, panels and talks exploring community organising, creativity and international solidarity. This year’s theme ‘From Where We Standcelebrates histories of resistance, protest and change-making.
Highlights include We Are It: Community Power in Our Time with a panel including Jeremy Corbyn, Kate Pickett and Oliver Escobar, and Young Radical Worlds exploring radical writing for young people with Faridah Abike-Iyimide and Margaret McDonald.
The full programme of events can be found at www.lighthousebookshop.com.
Closing out the month, Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul bring their duo gig Amy and Alasdair to the Snug Bar, passing on traditional Scots songs and ballads. With history in Edinburgh and beyond,
Amy and Alaisdair share their simple and striking approach in a stripped back show sharing glimpses into the darkest and lightest moments of life. Amy and Alasdair is showing for one night only on 29 Nov.
Tickets and information on all the events above are available now from www.assemblyroxy.com
Today we launch our report ‘Paid Yesterday, Broke Today’.
New research in partnership with @UniStrathclyde investigates the link between employment and financial instability and suicide in Scotland.
Read here:
Following reports of the UK Gov’s #Budget24 plans for increases to employer National Insurance contributions, SCVO wrote a joint letter with @NCVO @NICVA & @WCVAcymru to @RachelReevesMP about the potential impact this could have on the voluntary sector:
SCVO, NCVO, NICVA, and WcVA letter to Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer: Autumn Budget 2024 – employers’ National Insurance contributions
Dear Chancellor
We are writing to you on behalf of charities and community organisations across the UK, in relation to recent reports of plans to increases to employer National Insurance contributions and the potential impact this could have on the voluntary sector.
If reports in the media are correct, National Insurance contributions are to be increased in the private sector. Public sector employers will be reimbursed for any such increase, to protect public services. But there has been no mention of the voluntary sector. This comes as a disappointment, given that our sector provides essential public services to people and communities up and down the country, delivering significant savings to the public purse.
With costs climbing, funding falling, and demand for services increasing, our sector already faces a crisis. The additional costs placed on the sector by increasing employers’ National Insurance contributions will only compound this.
As you navigate the significant financial challenges the country faces, we are confident that it would not be your intention to place them at the door of charities and community organisations. We are not asking for special treatment, just parity with the public sector.
In the spirit of partnership – as outlined in the UK Government’s Covenant document which published last week – we are assuming this is an oversight or over-simplification by the media and we are therefore calling on you to urgently clarify this matter, confirming that no additional financial burden will be placed on our sector.
We look forward to receiving a response as a matter of urgency.
Yours sincerely
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, SCVO
Celine McStravick, Chief Executive, NICVA
Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, WCVA
Sarah Elliott, NCVO
One of the most significant hoards ever found in Scotland has been saved for the nation, having been acquired by National Museums Scotland.
The Bronze Age Peebles Hoard was discovered in the Scottish Borders by a metal detectorist in 2020. It has since been painstakingly excavated, analysed and catalogued, revealing dozens of rare objects for the first time.
Efforts are now underway to secure funding for the continued research and conservation of the hoard and to uncover the secrets of this one-of-a-kind discovery.
Dating to 1000–800 BCE, the Peebles Hoard comprises over 500 unusual bronze and organic pieces and components that had lain undisturbed for 3000 years. It was allocated to National Museums Scotland under the Treasure Trove process, with an ex-gratia payment made to the detectorist who discovered it.
The hoard represents a complex set of material, some of which has no archaeological parallel anywhere in western Europe. This includes many unique artefacts, the use of which is yet to be discovered and could transform our understanding of life in Bronze Age Scotland.
Larger and more recognisable objects within the hoard highlight Bronze Age Scotland’s position as part of an international network of communities across the North Sea. Two rattle pendants, the first ever found in Scotland, are more commonly found in Denmark, northern Germany and northern Poland.
These remarkable objects are created from interlinked bronze rings and pendant plates that would have hung from a horse or wooden vehicle and rattled as they moved.
Other exceptional survivals include a sword still in its wooden scabbard, as well as an array of small bronze buttons looped onto cords. The hoard also contains rare survivals of minute bronze pins, studs and bosses embedded in wood or leather.
The remains of complex decorative straps, the purpose of which remains to be investigated, are preserved still mostly articulated after more than three millennia in the ground. This preservation offers a level of detail and insight not usually glimpsed for the Bronze Age.
The hoard was found by metal-detectorist Mariusz Stępień in 2020, after he initially identified unusual bronze objects and reported the find to the Treasure Trove Unit.
This allowed experts from National Museums Scotland and the Treasure Trove Unit to coordinate a complex retrieval process that involved removing the hoard from the ground in a single block and continue excavation and analysis of the find under laboratory conditions.
The entire block of earth and Bronze Age material was CT scanned by µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, University of Southampton, a partner institution of the National Research Facility for Lab-based X-ray Computed Tomography (NXCT).
This captured crucial details of the internal structure and relationships between materials in their original context. CT scanning also revealed that some of these objects were produced using ‘lost-wax casting’, a rare technique in Bronze Age Britain.
This represents some of the earliest evidence of its use in Scotland. A meticulous excavation by archaeologists and conservators followed at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh, finally unearthing the fragile components of the hoard after more than 3,000 years hidden underground.
Dr Matthew Knight, Senior Curator of Prehistory at National Museums Scotland, said: “The Peebles Hoard is exceptional, an utterly unique discovery that rewrites our understanding of both Bronze Age communities in Scotland and our prehistoric international connections.
“Thanks to the diligence of the finder, expertise of colleagues at the Treasure Trove Unit and National Museums Scotland, and the generosity of the team at the µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, University of Southampton, we have made significant progress.
“However, more funding is critical to continue our conservation and research, to preserve the hoard for future generations and uncover the stories of Scotland’s ancient past.”
Professor Ian Sinclair, founder of the µ-VIS X-ray Imaging Centre, commented: “We are pleased and excited to have worked as part of this multidisciplinary project.
“CT scanning the hoard was certainly a big challenge due to the scale of the hoard block, but we relished the opportunity to bring our engineering skills to successfully support this research on such an exceptional historical find.”
The many unique survivals in the Peebles Hoard, most notably fragments of fragile organic material, require essential conservation to prevent further deterioration and to carry out critical research.
To this end, National Museums Scotland is launching a fundraising campaign to support the urgent costs of conserving the hoard and unlocking its enormous research potential.
THE ASICS Running Moves Your Mind City Tour is coming to Edinburgh on Saturday 9th November.
ASICS is bringing the Running Moves Your Mind City Tour to a number of locations across the UK, offering consumers a unique experience that combines music with exercise and allows people to move their mind with ASICS.
Taking place in Castle Street, Edinburgh, consumers will be able to get involved in an immersive silent disco product trial experience, gait analysis and product consultation.
Full details of the event can be found below:
ASICS Running Moves Your Mind City Tour event details:
When is ASICS Running Moves Your Mind City Tour?
Saturday 9TH November, 9am – 4.30pm
Who can attend?
ASICS Running Moves Your Mind is a free-to-attend event for anyone, however spaces are limited so please sign up HERE.
What is ASICS Running Moves Your Mind City Tour?:
ASICS are bringing the Running Moves Your Mind City Tour to several locations across the UK, offering consumers a unique experience that combines music with exercise and allows people to experience ASICS superior comfort and move their minds.
What can consumers expect from the ASICS Running Moves Your Mind City Tour?:
Consumers can participate in a guided Silent Disco run around the city, soundtracked by a dedicated uplifting soundtrack.
In addition, consumers will be able to participate in a product discovery session with ASICS brand ambassadors and a free 10-minute gait analysis session.
How to find out more details about Running Moves Your Mind City Tour:
To find out more about Running Moves Your Mind City Tour in Edinburgh, visit:
The UK’s number one food media brand, Good Food, has announced the results of its Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards, judging the best festive foods from 13 supermarkets across 21 categories, from smoked salmon to Christmas cake, pigs in blankets and mulled wine.
To arrive at the winners list, over 185 products were blind-tasted by Good Food’s expert panel, overseen by an independent adjudicator. All packaging was removed and food prepared and cooked following pack instructions and presented by an independent home economist. The judges submitted comments and a score out of 10 for each product in the category via anonymous online judging forms.
The full results are in the iconic Good Food Christmas issue which is on sale now with a “Make Christmas memories” message, packed with over 90 thoroughly tested recipes for memorable celebrating, entertaining and gift-giving, plus features on reducing food waste and tips for using up leftovers.
Of the thirteen supermarkets, M&S won the most, scooping seven wins out of the 21 categories, including Best cranberry sauce and Best classic mince pies.
Waitrose was awarded five wins including: Best turkey crown, Best Christmas cake and Best Christmas pudding. Asda and Aldi tied for third place with three wins each, while Morrisons won the coveted Best pigs in blankets category and Co-op Best showstopper dessert.
Lily Barclay, Content Director, Good Food, says: “Good Food celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, which means 35 years of Christmas memories.
“Our iconic Christmas issue will help create more memories with reinventions of retro classics and ideas for meaningful home-baked Christmas gifts.
“The Good Food team of experts started testing in August for the mammoth Good Food Christmas Supermarket Taste Awards, creating the ultimate guide to festive food buys.
“This Christmas the supermarkets have outdone themselves with the range and quality on offer, and our selection of winners will help save time in the kitchen, so you can focus on celebrating the festive season with family and friends..”
The results of the Good Food Christmas Taste Awards 2024, with judges’ comments:
Best smoked salmon
Winner: Booths Strong Oak Smoked Scottish Salmon, 200g (£8.00)
Judges’ comments: “This has nice thick slices with a classic, crowd-pleasing smoked flavour that would work well in sandwiches.”
Best hot canapé
Winner: M&S Collection Barber’s Extra Mature Cheddar & Ham Hock Scone, 290g (£7.50)
Judges’ comments: “The scone has a great flavour and a lovely, crispy texture. The ham works beautifully with the creamy roux and buttery, cheesy notes – it’s easy to eat and perfect for nibbles with drinks.”
Mains
Best turkey crown
Winner: Waitrose Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown, 2.5kg (£60)
Judges’ comments: “This juicy turkey has excellent flavour, complemented by the herby chestnut stuffing and a lovely saltiness from the bacon.”
Best alternative Christmas main
Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Wagyu Wing Rib, 1.8-2.8kg (£24.99 per kg)
Judges’ comments: “This impressive-looking joint would make a fantastic showstopper. The meat has a good texture, and the outside sears well.”
Best gammon
Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Sugar Baked Crackling Gammon Joint, £18.99
Judges’ comments: “A clear winner for the judges – this centrepiece gammon is complete with crunchy crackling and juicy, tender meat.”
Best pigs in blankets
Winner: Morrisons The Best pigs in blankets, 210g (£3.25)
Judges’ comments: “Caramelised onions give these a touch of sweetness, with pleasing crispy bacon and good texture to the sausage-meat.”
Best cranberry sauce
Winner: M&S Cranberry Sauce (fresh), 400g (£3.25)
Judges’ comments: “This cranberry sauce has a nice sweetness, a distinct cranberry flavour and a pleasing tartness. It’s perfect for making sandwiches with your Christmas leftovers.”
Best vegetarian main
Joint winner: Waitrose Ultimate Plant-based Festive Wellingtons, pack of two (£7.50)
Judges’ comments: “This vegetarian mushroom wellington has a flavourful umami kick, crispy pastry, lovely mushroom and thyme notes, and warming gravy.”
Joint winner: M&S Collection Handcrafted Honey Glazed Vegetable & Barber’s Cheddar Galette, 400g (£12.50)
Judges’ comments: “This hearty galette impressed the judges: it is incredibly flavoursome, enjoyably cheesy and has plenty of veg.”
Best vegan main
Joint winner: Tesco Finest Roasted Vegetable & Cranberry Star, 340g (£6)
Judges’ comments: “This attractive centrepiece features beautifully nutty and umami flavours with notes of thyme, marjoram and sweet onion. It has buttery, flaky pastry and festive star shapes.”
Joint winner: Aldi Plant Menu Vegan No Turkey Crown, 490g (£4.99)
This no-turkey crown does a great job of replicating the texture of meat quite well. It would go down extremely well with roast potatoes and a generous helping of gravy.
Festive desserts
Best Christmas cake
Winner: Waitrose No.1 Hand-Decorated Matured Rich Fruit Cake, 1.5kg (£18.50)
Judges’ comments: “This Christmas cake has a generous amount of marzipan, a slightly crumbly texture – which guests might take as homemade – and a pretty, impressive appearance with good, solid icing.”
Best alternative Christmas cake
Winner: Asda Ginger and Caramel Snow Cake, serves 16 (£12)
Judges’ comments: “The gingerbread and caramel cake captures the festive spirit beautifully. Its appearance is charming, both as a whole and when sliced, making it an attractive addition to any holiday spread. The cake boasts a strong gingerbread flavour that is nicely balanced, and the sponge is wonderfully soft and spongey.”
Best Christmas pudding
Winner: Waitrose No.1 Jewelled Cointreau & Cranberry Christmas Pudding, 800g (£15)
Judges’ comments: “This Christmas pudding has a rich flavour, a pretty fluted shape, lots of cherries and whole almonds, and a nice spiced citrussy note.”
Best showstopper dessert
Winner: Co-op Irresistible Spiced Gingerbread Crown, 600g (£8)
Judges’ comments: “This golden sponge crown boasts a lovely gingerbread flavour with warming ginger and cinnamon notes, complemented by a rich caramel sauce and toffee drizzle. It looks impressive, is easy to serve, and has a homemade, festive taste.”
Best trifle
Winner: M&S Sticky Toffee Trifle, 1kg (£15)
Judges’ comments: “This trifle features a delightful blend of caramel, gingerbread and butterscotch flavours, beautifully paired with whipped cream and luscious custard. The layers are clear and well-textured, with attractive toppings.”
Best free-from dessert
Winner: M&S Chocolate & Orange, Fruit & Nut Brownie, 630g (£12.50)
Judges’ comments: “This gluten-free brownie tastes like it is made from quality chocolate, and the hint of orange isn’t overbearing.”
Festive bakes
Best classic mince pies
Winner: M&S Collection Mince Pies, pack of six (£4)
Judges’ comments: “These classic mince pies have a beautiful, unique design with a well-patterned top, buttery pastry with a good mouthfeel, and a nicely spiced filling with discernible fruit.”
Best flavoured mince pies
Winner: Morrisons The Best Cherry Bakewell Mince Pies, pack of four (£2.75)
Judges’ comments: “These Bakewell-flavoured mince pies feature a pretty flaked almond topping and a well-balanced frangipane that’s not too sweet. The mincemeat is moist and fruity, creating a pleasant hybrid of a classic mince pie with a nutty, crumbly twist.”
Best gluten-free mince pies
Winner: Waitrose Mince Pies, pack of four (£2.90)
Judges’ comments: “These gluten-free mince pies have a nice texture that holds together well without crumbling too much.”
Best vegan mince pie
Winner: Asda Free From 4 Mince Pies 220g (£2)
Judges’ comments: “These vegan mince pies have a beautiful, uniform appearance with a simple star decoration and feature a lovely, juicy filling. The pastry is crisp with a good crumbly texture and a nice sugary top, making them a delightful treat.”
Best biscuit tin
Winner: M&S Collection Shortbread Tin, 400g (£10)
Judges’ comments: “These Christmas shortbreads are melt-in-the-mouth buttery, with a good salty hit and a rich, milky chocolate coating. Their soft, crumbly texture makes them a true winner.”
Best mulled wine
Winner: Asda Extra Special Mulled Wine, 75cl (£5)
Judges’ comments: “This mulled wine offers a delightful boozy flavour with a rich ‘mulled’ quality, making it a standout choice for a sweet, spiced experience.
All prices correct at time of publishing.
The Christmas issue of Good Food is out now, get your copy in store or order direct from www.MagsDirect.co.uk
The Scottish Government has told councils to partner with a religious charity whose boss recommends carrying out exorcisms on sex workers who are “possessed by demons”, according to documents seen by National Ugly Mugs, the UK’s national sex worker safety charity.
Local authorities have complained to ministers about government proposals to involve Azalea, an English charity whose boss believes yoga is an “occult practice” and sex work leads to a “lesbian lifestyle”, as a key partner in a new national network of sex work support hubs.
Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown announced the creation of the network of regional “commercial sexual exploitation hubs” in February, which the Government said would “support women to safely exit from prostitution and challenge men’s demand for prostitution”.
However, documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that Glasgow City Council, chosen by ministers to pilot the proposals, has refused to take part, citing “dangerous” plans to involve Azalea, and complaining that ministers have given “no detail or structure in relation to governance, accountability, outcomes, milestones, monitoring, evaluation, funding or timescales” for the strategy.
The National Violence Against Women Network, which represents staff at local agencies across the country, also wrote to ministers to warn of a “significant implementation gap” in the proposals, with local officials complaining of a lack of Government consultation and an “unrealistic and unworkable” timetable.
In a presentation to councils across the country, in June, Scottish Government officials proposed piloting support services offered by Azalea, a Christian charity based in Luton, as part of an approach to persuade men not to purchase sexual services.
Officials wrote that the project would be “similar to approaches within the Nordic Model”, a controversial legal approach under which the purchase of sex is outlawed, which is opposed by sex workers, as well as international NGOs such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch.
Azalea’s co-founder and CEO, Ruth Robb, has co-authored two guidebooks for Christian organisations undertaking outreach to sex workers, in which she writes that “most prostitutes have had some exposure to the occult” and sets out a checklist to establish whether a sex worker has fallen prey to “demonic possession”.
She says “signs of a demonic attack” include “flailing limbs” or a “sudden change of voice”, and provides a guide to carrying out “deliverance prayers” to ensure the “demon is expelled”.
Robb, writing alongside her co-author, fellow evangelical Marion Carson, says that “there is certainly demonic activity going on” among sex workers.
She writes:
· Examples of “occult practices” experienced by sex workers can include an “addiction to blood and human flesh”, yoga, and the fantasy game Dungeons and Dragons. She says: “There is no doubt that occultic involvement opens the way to demonic activity in a person’s life”.
· When working with sex workers, it may become “clear that there is a demonic spirit in control of this person’s life. Such demonic possession may have been caused by deliberate invitation on the part of the individual, e.g. by subscribing to a satanic group or beliefs. Alternatively, it could be caused by others who have cursed the person or by mediums who have instructed the demon to go into a person.”
· There is a “high degree of lesbian promiscuity” within sex workers, with “strong loyalty” between women leading them into a “lesbian lifestyle” or “homosexual tendencies”. She writes: “Those involved in lesbian relationships may well feel a sense of frustration. They have a natural desire to be protected and provided for by a man”.
· Staff should see data confidentiality rules as “guidance” rather than as “strait-jackets”, and should not let them become “replacements for the unique guidance of the Holy Spirit”. She writes that staff thinking of breaching a sex worker’s confidentiality should consider whether doing so would be a means of “bringing glory to God”, telling them: “Don’t allow rules to stifle the Spirit”.
· Trans sex workers, “commonly known as ‘trannies’… can be easily identified as they tend to exaggerate their feminine qualities, for example, they may adopt a swaggering walk and feminine hand movements”. She warns that they “tend to be very violent towards one another because of the high level of frustration which they feel towards themselves and their lives”.
Nordic Model campaigners have praised Azalea’s work, with the Westminster All-Party Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation inviting Robb to contribute to reports and speak at events.
Its Holyrood counterpart, the Cross-Party Group on Commercial Sexual Exploitation, which campaigns for the Nordic Model in Scotland, counts representatives from the Evangelical Alliance amongst its membership.
Ash Regan, the Alba MSP who is seeking to pass a new law to implement the Nordic Model in Scotland, previously worked for Tearfund, a religious charity that has published policy documents claiming that demons “are real and affect the world we live in”.
Dr Raven Bowen, chief executive of National Ugly Mugs, said: “The fact that the Scottish Government is telling councils to procure the services of an organisation that believes in hocus-pocus nonsense such as sex workers being ‘possessed by demons’ instead of women and individuals in need of material support and resources, tells you everything you need to know about how the SNP’s sex work policy is informed.
“While evidence-informed and progressive organisations such Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and UN Aids advocate for sex worker rights and the decriminalisation of sex work, the SNP has instead chosen to side with religious crackpots and the regressive right in moving towards the de facto criminalisation of sex workers.
“Polling data shows the Scottish people are overwhelmingly opposed to the SNP’s approach to sex work, and instead want the Government to focus on supporting sex worker safety and wellbeing.
“Making their lives more dangerous by criminalising their sources of revenue while denying agency and offering no income replacement will push sex workers further into poverty, destitution and despair”.
Are you having a clear out before Christmas and looking for an opportunity to earn a little extra cash?
Local charity, LifeCare will be hosting its first community jumble sale on Sunday 10th of November at our thriving community hub on Cheyne Street in Stockbridge – and we’ve still a few spaces left!
Tables cost just £20 each, call 0131 343 0940 or email enquiries@lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk to book before they all sell out …
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre are looking to recruit two freelancers for a pilot project. Drylaw Good Apples, based in two Drylaw community orchards.
We are looking for a Community Orchard Gardener (£20 an hour) and an Outdoor Youth Worker (£18 an hour). Both are both approximately 4 hours a week for approximately 3 months depending how the sessions operate in practice. Both posts require 2 x hours contact time with locals and 2 x hours prep/ materials ordering/ tidy up per week.
See attached document (below) which contains the Job Descriptions, the Person Specification and a little more detail about the project.
Initially, we are simply looking for people to express a note of interest by writing to me to state what they like about the project and what they can bring to it.
Deadline for this is 31st October 2024. We hope this project will appeal to you.
