A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Well everyone, this is it – the last post of 2024!
It’s been a record year for North Edinburgh News, with more readers visiting the site than at any time in our history. Thanks for dropping by!
I hope you have a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year and that we will all enjoy exciting new adventures in 2025.
Best Wishes,
DAVE PICKERING (Editor)
Your local community pharmacy provides a free stop smoking service.
You can drop in when it suits you to chat to your local pharmacy team. They will explain the nicotine replacement products available to help you quit smoking and advise on the pros and cons of each to help you decide which option is the best for you.
Find your local pharmacy 
www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/pharmacies
Popular Indian restaurant Ronaq is serving up a New Year treat for Edinburgh diners with 50 per cent off all food for the month of January.
The Comely Bank eatery is offering the discount on its extensive a la carte menu to help its customers kick off 2025 in delicious style.
The BYOB restaurant welcomes customers to experience the taste of cooking styles from across south Asia, whether that’s authentic Punjabi home cooking from Lahore in Pakistan, Kashmiri cuisine, flavoursome Indian dishes or Bangladeshi specialities.
Everything from starters and traditional main dishes to exclusive chef’s specials and desserts are available at half price when eating in from 1-31 January – there is also a 20% discount on takeaway collections throughout the month.
“We really value our loyal customer base and wanted to give something back to them with this offer,” said owner Mohammed Shoaib.
“2024 was a difficult year for a lot of folk and with prices continuing to rise across the board, there will be more challenges ahead, particularly at this time of year when money is tight.
“It can be expensive going out for dinner in Edinburgh but we want to help people enjoy themselves with a delicious meal without their pockets being hit too heavily.”
This time of year is a chance for us all to look back and reflect, as well as look forward.
Looking back, I think we can all agree that 2024 has been quite a year.
People voted for change. And we are delivering on that with the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.
Since July’s election we have made huge strides. We have taken the difficult decisions so we could fix the foundations of our economy, dealing with the appalling fiscal and industrial inheritance left by the previous administration.
We have made great progress in laying the foundations for delivering on our missions.
We launched the legislation to deliver Great British Energy, which will place Scotland right at the heart of our green energy revolution. We have put in place a £100 million package to support the workers at the Grangemouth refinery and boost the Falkirk and Grangemouth area.
We have published the biggest upgrade of workers’ rights in a generation. And I was very pleased to be able to support the Dad Shift lobby of Parliament for better paternity rights.
We have put more money in people’s pockets by increasing the minimum wage, uprating benefits and increasing pensions with the triple lock. Our Child Poverty Taskforce is working with partners to tackle the scourge of children living in poverty.
I went to Norway and South East Asia to launch Brand Scotland – our campaign to sell Scotland and Scottish businesses around the world.
We are doing politics differently.
We invited MPs and Peers from all parties to come to Dover House to sign White Ribbon Scotland’s pledge to help stop the scourge of violence against women and girls.
We have reset the relationship with the Scottish Government so that we can work constructively together on the issues that matter to people in Scotland.
I was very proud that, working with the Scottish Government, we were able to bring 19 female Afghan medical students to Scotland. They are an incredibly brave and inspirational group of women. Now settled at Scottish Universities, they will be a huge contribution to our NHS when they finish their studies.
And speaking of that important joint working, I want to make a special mention of our Ukrainian friends who have made new homes in Scotland, many of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting in Edinburgh. I have been inspired by their bravery and resilience – and by their overwhelming desire to return home as soon as they can.
We are determined to make life better for everyone living in Scotland. The Chancellor’s Budget delivered an extra £4.9 billion for the Scottish Government, meaning a record £47.7 billion settlement for them next year, as well as £1.4 billion for local growth projects across Scotland – projects which will help create jobs and improve local communities.
That is all good progress, but of course it is not enough.
The UK Government is driving investment and reform to deliver growth. We are rebuilding Britain in a decade of national renewal.
As we look ahead to next year, I and the Scotland Office are focussed on my four priorities – clean energy, economic growth, tackling poverty and rolling out Brand Scotland around the world.
We will get GB Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, moving. This will drive our green energy revolution and ensure our energy security. We will bring in our new Skills Passport, to ensure our highly skilled oil and gas workers can transition to new green technologies. Project Willow will set out how we can ensure a sustainable future for the Grangemouth site as part of our clean energy future.
I intend to take Brand Scotland to new markets this year, to ensure that we attract inward investment to Scotland and help Scottish businesses export. Not just our fantastic products like whisky and salmon, but energy, financial services, culture, technology and manufacturing.
Our Child Poverty Taskforce – of which I am a member – will publish a comprehensive strategy in the Spring. That will set out how we will work with the Scottish Government and others to make sure that all children and families in Scotland have a decent standard of living and the opportunities they deserve. It will look at how we bring together all different strands of this – including housing, job security, health and education – dealing with the underlying causes of poverty so that children can be lifted out of poverty for good.
I am confident that, by the end of 2025, we will be making real progress in improving living standards and making life better for people in Scotland.
So, as we chomp on our black bun and head towards the Bells, may I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.
This festive season, Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is extending its exclusive offer for EH postcode residents due to overwhelming response!
From December 23rd through January 31st (excluding December 25th and 31st), guests with an EH postcode can enjoy 25% off food, non-alcoholic drinks, and select retail items.
Whether you’re refuelling during the Boxing Day sales, catching up with friends after the New Year, or brightening up a chilly January afternoon, this exclusive discount is available daily from opening until 5pm.
To redeem the offer, visitors need to simply mention the discount and present proof of EH residency, such as a driving license or utility bill.
COSLA has shared two new documents setting out high-level analysis of the Scottish 2025-26 Budget and what it means for Councils and essential local social care services.
Following the Scottish Budget announcement earlier this month, we shared a short briefing setting out high-level analysis on what the Budget means for Scottish Local Government.
Commenting, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, commented: “This Budget is a welcomed step in the right direction for Local Government and provides a small amount of additional uncommitted revenue and capital funding for 2025/26.
“However, due to the unprecedented financial challenges being faced by our councils, this additional funding may not be enough to reverse planned cuts to vital services across our communities.”
Read the ‘What does the 2025-26 Budget Mean for Councils? document here.
Our councils have increased real terms spend on social care by 29% since 2010/11 at the expense of other preventative, non-statutory services. However, rising operational costs, escalating demand for services, and high inflation mean that the need for greater funding is more urgent than ever.
The level of funding provided in the 2025/26 Budget will not resolve the unprecedented challenges being faced in local social care services.
COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, added:
“Without additional funding to increase capacity across all of our social care services, there is a very real risk that key services will not be able to transform to the scale that our communities require and deserve.
“COSLA and Local Authorities are ready and willing to work constructively to support improvement and reform in social care that is aligned to local needs and priorities, but this should be backed by the much-needed investment.”
As the festive season brings warmth to many homes, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is calling for a final wave of support for its Winter Appeal to ensure no pet—or person—feels abandoned during these difficult months.
With record demand for its services this year, the Home aims to raise £134,500 through its Winter Appeal to cover the rising costs of care, including £22,000 for heating over the cold months.
Over the past year, the Home has processed 1,635 surrender requests, a figure nearly matching the entire estimated dog population of Edinburgh’s EH1 postcode. The rise in demand this year has brought extraordinary challenges for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, leaving the home in a position where it has no choice but to turn people away.
Between January and June 2024, the helpline handled an incredible 17,995 calls, exceeding the total of 17,021 calls received in all of 2023.
These calls amounted to 872 hours of support—equivalent to watching all of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films 44 times. From desperate surrender requests to heartfelt pleas for advice on keeping pets during financial struggles, each call highlights the vital role the helpline plays in supporting pet owners through challenging times. More than numbers, the calls represent people in crisis, seeking support and reassurance during some of their darkest days.
Amid these challenges, due to the hard work of the Home, there have been bright moments, too. So far this year, the Home found loving families for 216 cats and dogs and reunited 95 missing pets, proving that even in difficult times, hope and happy endings are possible.
Beyond rehoming animals, the Home provides vital emotional support to pet owners through its helpline. Each call represents a person or family facing tough decisions—seeking guidance, advice, or just a compassionate ear. The team works tirelessly to keep pets in loving homes whenever possible, offering signposting to resources, training tips, and practical advice.
Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “We’ve seen an overwhelming demand for our services this year.
“Each call we take, and each family we support, reminds us why this work is so vital. Our Winter Appeal is about ensuring we can continue being a beacon of hope for pets and their people in the toughest of times.
“Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference.”
Staggering operational costs mean that every penny raised will ensure that the animals of the Home are well cared for this winter and donors can be part of creating more stories like Maple’s—a young dog rescued in desperate need of care who now thrives in her forever home.
Donations of as little as £10 can provide essential vaccinations for a cat, while £150 could keep all the Home’s dogs warm for the day.
Founded in 1883, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been a lifeline for the community for over 140 years, relying entirely on public donations to sustain its vital work.
To support the Winter Appeal, visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal or text WARMHEARTS to 70085 to donate £10.
87 YEAR OLD PEDESTRIAN SERIOUSLY INJURED
POLICE are appealing for information following a serious crash on St John’s Road in the Corstorphine area.
The incident happened around 5.45pm yesterday (Monday, 30 December), between the Drumbrae roundabout and Corstorphine Bank Drive.
It involved a black Ford Fiesta and a pedestrian, an 87-year-old woman.
Emergency services attended and the pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where her condition is described as serious.
The road was closed for crash investigation work and re-opened around 1am this morning (Tuesday, 31 December).
Sergeant Paul Ewing said: “Our enquiries are continuing to establish the full circumstances and we are keen to speak to you if you saw what happened.
“We are also asking anyone driving in the area at the time to check their dash-cam to see if it has captured anything that could assist with our investigation.”
If you can help please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2432 of Monday, 30 December, 2024
BBC ALBA is kicking off its Hogmanay 2024 celebrations with a nostalgic feel, as footage from a bygone era is uncovered in a new hour-long documentary, Faodail : Found Film.
With content spanning over 50 years, the footage recovered by the Faodail | Found Outer Hebrides Film Archive project shows daily life in the Outer Hebrides, from the 1930s through to the 1980s, paying homage to the heritage of the local communities.
The lost films give viewers a glimpse of everyday experiences living on the islands, including crofting, education and domestic life.
In the 1970s, filmmaker Annie MacDonald even managed to capture footage of a flamingo that had landed on Loch Ordais in Bragar.
With films made by Annie, along with more than a dozen other filmmakers, the archive has now managed to preserve a bank of footage to showcase to contemporary audiences, bringing the content to Gàidhealtachd and global screens for years to come.
Andy Mackinnon from the Faodail Film Archive, part of Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre, commented: “Through crowdfunding efforts, we have been fortunate enough to be able to digitise these collections of indigenous 8mm film footage that will now be showcased to BBC ALBA viewers this Hogmanay.
“While most of this footage has never been seen by contemporary audiences before, the film collection donated to the project will no doubt bring back fond memories of the Outer Hebrides for many viewers.
“With some footage now over 90 years old, it is remarkable that these indigenous filmmakers at the time had the foresight to capture day-to-day living in the Outer Hebrides. This vital footage is now helping us in our understanding of the social history of the Outer Hebrides and the preservation of Hebridean culture.”
Faodail : Found Film, produced by UistFilm, is currently available on BBC iPlayer in four 15-minute short episodes. The episodes will premiere as an hour-long documentary on BBC ALBA on Tuesday 31 December at 8.30pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles).
Watch the episodes here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00262l1/faodail-found-shorts-episode-4
Edinburgh-based Founder and Director of Scotland’s leading education innovator not-for-profit, Daydream Believers, Helena Good, has been recognised in the King’s Honours List and will receive an MBE for her services and commitment to championing innovation and entrepreneurship within education for young people following today’s announcement in the Birthday Honours List 2025.
Helena, originally from Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland, has lived in Edinburgh for over thirty years. Starting her career as a graphic designer, working for a variety of creative agencies across Scotland, it was as a graphic design lecturer for Edinburgh College that she found her passion for connecting educators, employees and students to drive change and innovation for those entering the workforce.
In 2019, Helena founded Daydream Believers which places creativity and curiosity at the heart of its work as key drivers for teachers and pupils to work together to unlock potential future skills.
Made up of ‘Dreamers and Doers’, and working with partners including Rockstar Games, LEGO and Skyscanner, Daydream Believers provides a free, ready to use, online resource bank for educators. The team also host interactive workshops with pupils and carry out training sessions for teachers.
Since starting Daydream Believers, Helena and her team have worked with 27 local authorities and 95 schools, reached over 6,000 pupils and over 200 teachers to embed creative learning journeys within their lesson plans.
This not-for-profit business has also launched the first Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Creative Thinking Qualification in Scotland which focuses on solving real-world challenges and saw over 1,000 students sign-up in 2024
Helena Good, Founder and Director of Daydream Believers, said: “Receiving an MBE is an incredible honour and feels truly special not just for me, but also for the entire Daydream team and my own family.
“I’ve always been passionate about education and the role creativity plays in shaping resilient, innovative futures. Working with inspiring partners both in education and business and being part of the Daydream Believers team has been a privilege. Working together we are unlocking potential and empowering both educators and students to think differently.
“This recognition is a reminder of the amazing things we can achieve together, and I’m so excited for the journey ahead as we continue to dream big, collaborate, and make real change happen.”
The Daydream Believers concept and model has already caught the interest of an international audience with Helena having recently been part of setting up the inaugural Creative Thinking Festival in Sydney Australia. The Daydream team has also connected learners and educators across 125 countries.
Daydream’s concept was recognised by the HundrED Global Innovation Awards (October 2022) as being one of the top 100 most impactful and scalable education innovations to watch out for, while The British Interactive Media Association identified it as one of the top ten UK digital experiences that would help to shape the industry and inspire a generation of digital professionals.
Ollie Bray, Strategic Director for Education Scotland, who works with Daydream Believers, said: “We are delighted that Helena has been awarded an MBE for services to education.
“This prestigious honour is a reflection of her unwavering dedication, passion, and hard work, as well as the profound and lasting impact she has made on Scottish education. Helena’s infectious enthusiasm, coupled with her pioneering work in creativity and project-based learning, has transformed approaches in both primary and secondary schools across Scotland.
“This recognition is richly deserved, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Helena on this remarkable achievement.”
Helena’s personal accolades include being inducted into The College Development Network Hall of Fame in June 2021 for the positive impact she had as a lecturer to students and the community.
She was recognised as a TES UK Lecturer of the Year (2020) which made her the first-ever winner from a Scottish College and took home the Creative Edinburgh Leadership award (2019) for inspiring the next generation of creatives through mentoring, teaching and leadership.
Ruth Cochrane, Head of Future Skills at the Glasgow School of Art and a Director of Daydream Believers, said: “I’ve known Helena since 2019 when I was one of the many representatives from across the creative and educational spectrum that she convened around the common goal of changing how creativity is taught in schools.
“Helena was uniquely able to allow us to leave our competing agendas and egos at the door and work together around this shared mission; to dream big and reimagine what education could and should be. Even more impressive than that, she is driving that vision into real change in the form of Daydream Believers.
“Thousands of young people across Scotland have had their school experience changed by Helena’s vision, and I’ve been privileged to witness the transformative effect Daydream Believers has on everyone who engages with it.
“Creative professionals have a meaningful way to contribute to the development of their future workforce, supporting teachers to rediscover their passion for the classroom and most importantly encouraging pupils to reengage with school and love learning.
“It is a total privilege to work with Helena and call her a friend, and I’m so delighted that her achievements are being recognised in this way.”
The King’s Honours List, made up of the ranks of Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE), are awarded for prominent national or regional roles, and to those making distinguished or notable contributions in their own specific areas of activity. Helena will be awarded her MBE in London in 2025, date to be confirmed.
