Don’t miss our upcoming performance of J.S. Bach’s famous Magnificat!
Free-entry! No need to book to hear this beautiful choral music!
This liturgical performance will be interspersed with short readings for Advent.
Nominations opened on Friday (6 December) for candidates to stand in the forthcoming Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election.
The by-election is being held following the resignations of Councillor Marco Biagi (SNP) and Councillor Louise Spence (Lib Dems) last month.
On Thursday 23 January 2025, Colinton/Fairmilehead residents will go to the polls to elect two new councillors to represent the ward which also includes Bonaly, Dreghorn, Oxgangs and Swanston.
The current electorate is 19,907 and turnout at the most recent by-election was 37.4%.
A Formal Notice of Election was also published today explaining how to stand as a candidate, who is eligible to vote and how to make sure you are on the Electoral Register.
Voters have a range of options for casting their ballot – in person, by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy vote.
In order to stand as a candidate, individuals must submit nomination papers, which are available on the Council website, by 4pm on Tuesday 17 December.
Returning Officer for the City of Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence said: “The Notice of Election signifies the official start of the election period for the Colinton / Fairmilehead ward.
“I would urge all residents in the ward to make sure they are registered and have their details or preference of how they would like to vote up to date in plenty of time.
“Anyone unsure about how to register, where to vote or how to vote by post can find more information on the Council website.”
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 23 January 2025. Details of these will be announced in due course.
The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system where voters can rank candidates in order of preference rather than using a single cross. Voters can give a rank to as many or as few candidates as they like.
People aged 16 and over and all those legally resident – including foreign citizens – can register to vote in this election. Find out more about elections in Edinburgh and how to register to vote on the Council website.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 7 January 2025, to apply for a postal vote the deadline is Wednesday 8 January 2025, and for a proxy vote the deadline is Wednesday 15 January 2025.
Making working people better off must be the aim of our economic reset with the EU, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will tell a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels today.
Reeves becomes the first UK Chancellor to attend a meeting of EU finance ministers since the UK left the EU – a clear signal of the UK Government’s commitment to reset the relationship with the EU and realise the economic potential of our shared future.
In her speech, the Chancellor will set out that part of the government’s mission to drive economic growth and make working people better off, a central part of our Plan for Change, will be achieved through a closer relationship with the European Union.
She will talk to three key areas of the UK-EU relationship: tackling shared challenges, including the war in Ukraine; championing free trade as a driver of economic competitiveness; and strengthening bilateral economic partnerships.
She will go on to say that by taking these on together, we can have a meaningful impact on putting more money in people’s pockets through lower prices and better jobs through increased investment.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will say: “This is the first time a British Chancellor has addressed the Eurogroup since Brexit. And there could be no more important moment to do so, than now.
“It is a signal of the new UK Government’s commitment to resetting our country’s relationship with the European Union; and the importance I place in realising the economic potential of our shared future.”
She will add: “I know that the last few years have been fractious. Division and chaos defined the last government’s approach to Europe. It will not define ours.
“We want a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and pragmatism. A mature, business-like relationship where we can put behind us the low ambitions of the past and move forward, focused instead on all that we have in common.
“And all that we might achieve together to keep our countries safe, secure and prosperous.”
On strengthening economic ties, she will say: “I believe that a closer economic relationship between the UK and the EU is not a zero-sum game. It’s about improving both our growth prospects.
“The reset in relations is about doing what is the best interests of our shared economies and those that depend on it.
“That means breaking down barriers to trade, creating opportunities to invest and helping our businesses sell in each other’s markets.
“That’s why I’m here today; that’s what our reset seeks to achieve.”
Ms. Reeves will also underscore the importance of the UK and EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine over 1,000 days since Russia’s invasion, delivered most recently through a G7 loan of $50bn backed by the extraordinary profits on immobilized Russian sovereign assets. She will say that Ukraine’s national security ensures the UK and Europe’s national security too.
While in Brussels, the Chancellor will also attend a series of bilateral meetings with European counterparts. International economic partnerships are a crucial part of the government’s number one mission to grow the economy and make every part of the UK better off.
There will no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement. But, following their meeting on 2 October, the Prime Minister and President of the European Commission Ursula von de Leyen agreed to strengthen the UK-EU relationship and put it on a more solid, stable footing.
The EU reset feeds directly into the government’s Plan for Change to be achieved via its five missions – one of which is growth. The reset will help contribute to the government’s ambitions to grow the economy, invest to create an NHS fit for the future and tackle irregular migration.
The UK and the EU share the world’s second largest trading relationship, facilitating over £660 billion (€750 billion) in trade each year. The UK and EU countries together also comprise 24 of NATO’s 32 allies, united in a commitment to collective security.
The government will publish a Trade Strategy in 2025, renewing the government’s commitment to free and open trade.
It will support the government’s Industrial Strategy and Net Zero ambitions and enhance economic security. As part of this, the government will work with the EU to identify areas where the government can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit, including the economy, energy, security and resilience.
Global partnerships are crucial to the UK government, with direct benefit to the domestic economy – the International Investment Summit held in October secured a record breaking £63 billion of investment and nearly 38,000 jobs are set to be created across the UK as a result.
Today’s Eurogroup attendance comes after Reeves’ speech at Mansion House in November, where she set out that advocating free and open trade especially with economically important partners was in the UK’s national interest. Reeves’ visit to Brussels comes ahead of her next international visit, which will be to Beijing in the new year.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “If our economy is to grow then we must export more. That’s why we urgently need a better trading relationship with our closest and biggest market, the European Union. The current arrangement isn’t working for our members.
“Right now, UK firms wanting to trade with Europe are struggling under huge regulatory and paperwork burdens.
“Businesses will be encouraged to hear the Chancellor talking about a reset in our relationship with the EU which genuinely breaks down barriers to trade.
“A better deal can’t come soon enough for UK exporters. It’s vital that talks move at pace in the coming months to make life easier for businesses to thrive.”
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NEW BREAKFAST CLUB FUND
Thousands of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit from free breakfasts, thanks to £3 million from the Scottish Government.
Announced in the draft Budget for 2025-26, Bright Start Breakfasts will help more primary school children get a healthy start to the day. The initiative will also provide families with childcare, supporting more parents to get to work in the morning.
This investment will build on the current breakfast provision in place, with nearly half of Scotland’s schools already providing access to food before the start of the school day.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth visited Clackmannan Primary School, where local children are already attending a breakfast club.
Ms Gilruth said: “Breakfast clubs are a crucial part of the Scottish Government’s key mission to eradicate child poverty.
“We know how important a healthy breakfast can be for children, particularly those who are most at risk of poverty, and these clubs will help set children up for the day so they can achieve their learning potential.
“Bright Start Breakfasts will build upon the support that we are already providing families in the latest Budget, including lifting the two-child cap, expanding free school meals, the school clothing grant and education maintenance allowance – ultimately giving families across Scotland vital help through the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.”
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Reducing stress levels this festive season
Feeling stressed at this time of the year? When you feel stressed, your body releases adrenaline which causes your breathing, heart rate and blood pressure to increase. These reactions give you the ‘fight or flight’ response, which helps you to deal with the situation.
When we feel stressed it can be easy to adopt unhealthy lifestyle habits such as eating unhealthy foods and not being physically active, which can increase your risk of heart disease. The key is to recognise when you are beginning to feel stressed and put things in place to reduce it. Exercise, socialising, sleeping, meditation and trying mindful activities can help to manage your stress levels.
In this healthy tip, we look at ways to reduce your stress levels.
Exercise regularly
Physical activity reduces the levels of stress hormones in the body.
Exercising regularly and aiming to meet the physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week will help to lower your risk of heart disease as well as help to relieve stress, tension and anxiety.
Next time you are feeling stress, why not try walking or running in nature, meditation or a yoga class?
Spend time with friends and family
Spending time with friends and loved ones can significantly reduce stress by providing emotional support and connection. Socialising releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin, which counteract stress hormones.
You may find it beneficial to talk through your situation with those that you trust or simply use the conversations to distract your mind.
Find a new hobby
Engaging in hobbies can be a good way to destress by providing a creative and enjoyable experience.
Activities like cooking, knitting, drawing, gardening or taking part in sports or physical activities can help you to relax and refrain from dwelling on negative thoughts or worries.
Finding enjoyment in hobbies releases dopamine, which improves mood and fosters a sense of accomplishment. Try different hobbies until you find one that you enjoy and leaves you feeling happy.
Campaigners in Sandbank, Argyll, are celebrating after being awarded a grant to fund a community buy-out of their local pub, the Oakbank Hotel.
The total amount of £147,411 awarded to the Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank (OCIS) group by the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) will finance the purchase of the pub with an additional fundraising campaign through a share scheme to cover the costs of renovation work.
The 150-year-old landmark, located at a gateway to the southern Highlands on the banks of Holy Loch, has been closed for almost two years.
Sue McKillop of OCIS commented: “This has been a challenging 18-month long odyssey. We are all delighted by the outcome and very grateful to SLF for the award and to current owner Greg Devine for his support and patience throughout.
“The SLF award will fund 95% of the asking price as well as provide money for a part-time development worker for a year and essential repair and conveyancing fees. In this current financial climate we are very fortunate to have been successful in being awarded this amount.
“We have had our knockbacks since getting together to try to save the venue and it’s great news for the community of Sandbank that we have our pub back.
“Now the hard work starts! We will be launching a share scheme very shortly. The money that is raised from the sale of shares will be used for the 5% shortfall in the asking price and will allow us to carry out the essential work needed before we open in 2025 as Oakbank Community Inn Sandbank.
“With the land opposite the pub recently purchased by Scenic Sandbank to create a community garden, we will have the ability to reduce ‘food miles’ into food metres through the supply of locally grown produce.
“We have lost so many fantastic venues in this area in recent years. Hopefully our success will encourage and inspire other communities to pull together and save their local hostelries and other assets.
“The Oakbank Inn is more than a pub, it’s a community hub,” added Sue.
The SLF is a funding programme delivered by the National Lottery Community Fund that supports urban and rural communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
For more details visit www.oakbank.pub.
A short video about the OCIS bid can be viewed here.
The Pitt officially reopened its doors on the Granton Promenade, welcoming over 2,000 visitors in its first weekend.
Edinburgh’s newest community, enterprise and social hub, The Pitt is more than twice the size of its previous location on Pitt Street.
Featuring a permanent global street food market, retail units, a large and heated indoor seating plaza, family and community spaces, two permanent saunas from Soul Water Sauna and a 700 capacity events space all from a spectacular location on the Firth of Forth.
Hal Prescott, Chief Executive of the Granton Project which owns and operates The Pitt said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be open, and despite the storm attempting to throw a spanner in the works we’ve had thousands of people through the doors with initial feedback being fantastic.
“But this is very much the beginning of the journey for us, The Pitt isn’t a static space it will continue evolve with the community we’re part of and the community we build.
“We have so much more to come in the new year, so watch this space.”
Resident foodies will be:
Choola: Nepalese street food with a Scottish twist
Fire Bowl: East Asian style street food
Buffalo Truck: Delicious fried chicken with all the added delights
Social Bite Does dessert: amazing sweet treats and lots of custard
Lazeez: Authentic Lebanese delights (fully halal) and shish
Pulp Friction: Seasonal fresh fruit infused drinks, from mulled sangrias to frozen margaritas
Barney’s and Newbarns: supplying the best locally brewed beers
Serving up Williams and Johnson coffee, savoury and sweets will be Long Shot Coffee.
The Pitt also has two saunas from Soul Water Sauna, a weekly local produce market from Granton Community Garden, community and family areas, a co-working space and one of the best views in Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth.
SWAMPLESQUE (06 Dec – 04 Jan)
After wowing audiences across Australia and smashing box office records at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, everyone’s favourite ogre-inspired burlesque and drag parody is coming to Edinburgh to celebrate Christmas! Swamplesque is the award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away! This ‘outrageously fun’ (The Advertiser, Adelaide) show offers its audience a smorgasbord of performance styles.
Tickets from £21.00
Time 21:00
Age 16+ (Restriction) – Nudity, Strobe Lighting, Scenes of Sexual Nature
JASON BYRNE: NO SHOW (06 Dec – 07 Dec)
There’s no show like a Jason Byrne NO SHOW. NO SHOW is a show with no comedy safety net. By the end of NO SHOW you’ll have experienced a once in a lifetime show or NO SHOW. Jason, along with the audience, will begin NO SHOW with no show whatsoever. Witness Jason use his infamous audience interactions with a sprinkle of props, both on and off the stage, to create NO SHOW! Your ‘full-on, double-up, gasping-for-oxygen hilarious’ (Chortle.co.uk) NO SHOW will never be repeated.
Tickets from £25.50
Time 19:00
Age 14+ (Guideline) – Strong language/swearing, Babies are not allowed in the venue – Children under 2 years
Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon in The Company of Books (15 Dec)
Book lovers can join Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon for a special festive inconversation event on Sunday 15 December at Assembly Hall, for In the Company of Books. The two will be joined by special guests Alan Cumming and Paula Hawkins to explore the joys of reading, and a few glasses of mulled wine.
Tickets from £24.00
Time 16:00
THE BUBBLE SHOW (21 Dec – 22 Dec)
This is no ordinary bubble show; it’s an original, interactive adventure, where the fusion of magic, storytelling, and science converge in a breathtaking display of bubble artistry. And leading the charge is none other than the legendary Highland Joker, actor, storyteller and Guinness World Record Holder, renowned as one of the foremost bubble artists in the world!
Whether you’re a wide-eyed child or a child at heart, prepare to be captivated by the spellbinding wonder of bubbles! So come one, come all, and let your imagination soar as we dive headfirst into the spectacular world of bubbles!
Tickets from £14.00
Time 14:00
Scottish boxer Lee McGregor is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career at the state-of-the-art Meadowbank Sports Centre, ahead of his upcoming bout on the high-profile Tyson Fury – Oleksandr Usyk world title rematch undercard in Saudi Arabia on 21 December.
Just days before his 28th birthday, McGregor sees this opportunity as the culmination of his lifelong boxing journey. He will face Isaac Lowe in what promises to be one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
McGregor has been meticulously preparing at Meadowbank, adapting his training schedule to match the fight’s timing in the Middle East. His camp has included diverse sparring partners from England, Glasgow, France, and Spain, ensuring comprehensive preparation for the crucial match.
The venue holds special significance for McGregor, who previously trained at Meadowbank’s amateur boxing club as a young kid, where he represented Meadowbank Amateur Boxing Club, training in the old gym.
“Being able to train back at Meadowbank with their state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated boxing gym, is incredible,” McGregor said. “It’s where my boxing journey began, and now I’m preparing for a world-class event.”
Josh Anderson, Operations Manager at Meadowbank Sports Centre said: “It’s been a huge privilege to welcome someone of Lee’s calibre to our facilities. We’ve enjoyed meeting him, his team and sparring partners for his final training camp, ahead of what will be the biggest fight of his life.
“We wish him all the best and will be rooting for him.”
The £47m Meadowbank Sports Centre, reopened in July 2022, represents a significant investment in community sports and wellness, offering expanded facilities to support physical activity and athletic development.
The new venue supports accessible participation and has improved indoor facilities including two multi-sport games halls with seating, three fitness studios and a gym with triple the number of exercise stations and a boxing gym, among its facilities.
Fans interested in boxing can explore Hatton Boxing classes through Edinburgh Leisure: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/hatton-boxing
https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/venues/meadowbank-sports-centre
POLICE have released a CCTV image of a man officers believe may be able to assist their enquiries into an assault and robbery in Bingham.
The incident happened around 10.10pm on Monday, 13 May, 2024, near the roundabout between Bingham Medway and Bingham Broadway in the Niddrie area of the city.
The man pictured is described as around 5ft 9ins, aged between 25 and 30, with short curly hair and of slim build.
He was wearing an orange t-shirt, black jogging bottoms and black trainers.
Detective Constable Cameron MacIver said: “I would urge the man pictured or anyone who may recognise him to contact us. If you have any information about this incident, please get in touch as soon as possible.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 4232 of 13 May, 2024. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
