STARTS TUESDAY 3rd JUNE from 6 – 7pm
There’s a new book group starting at Drumbrae Library, just for teens!!
Suitable for those in S1-3, it’s going to be a fun, relaxed and informal book club for teens who love books!
Meet like-minded friends, chat about the books you enjoy, do some book related activities, recommend books to others, and have fun!
Starting Tuesday 3rd June at 6pm.
Message us with any questions!
SAVE THE DATE
Last meeting of the school year – Wed 11 June.
Agenda and details to follow.
Bursaries available to support postgraduate social work students in the 2025-26 academic year will increase by almost 50% on average.
From 1 June students commencing courses in the academic year beginning August 2025 will be able to apply for £11,000 to support them through each year of their studies – split between £6,000 towards living costs and £5,000 for course fees.
The average bursary previously available to postgraduate social work students was valued at £7,415.
The scheme, funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), will provide support to up to 250 students in the coming academic year. Additional allowances for students who are carers or who have disabilities will continue to be available for those eligible.
Students can apply for the support from 1 June through the SSSC website.
Minister for The Promise Natalie Don-Innes said: “Social workers play a vital role in supporting people and their families within their communities.
“We are determined to support more people to acquire the skills and knowledge to enter social work, and these increased bursaries will help to remove financial barriers for many postgraduate students amidst the wider cost of living crisis.
“This increased bursary is in addition to wider support, including grants to support social work students undertaking mandatory assessed practice learning placements and loans for tuition and cost-of-living support for those not eligible for the SSSC bursary.”
Alison Bavidge, National Director of the Scottish Association for Social Work, said: “This is excellent news for postgraduate social work students. It is a significant piece of the jigsaw Scotland needs to put in place to deliver the social workers of the future. It should help to make social work a more attractive career and enable a wider range of applicants.
“While this improvement to the postgraduate bursary is very welcome, we hope the Scottish Government will build on this progress and further enhance support to ensure social work is an accessible profession.”
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
250 bursaries of £11,000 will be available to postgraduate social work students with a household income of less than £34,000.
Yesterday (Tuesday 20 May) pupils met at the Scottish Parliament for a special space-themed walk for Living Streets’ Walk to School Week. Pupils from Royal Mile Primary School in Edinburgh dressed as astronauts for Living Streets’ Walk to School Week (19-23 May).
Joined by representatives from City of Edinburgh Council they embarked on a space-themed walk to Dynamic Earth and Planetarium, enjoying discovering facts about the solar system and how walking and wheeling to school can help protect our planet. Pupils also enjoyed a visit to Dynamic Earth and Planetarium, the only science centre and planetarium in Edinburgh.
During Walk to School Week, pupils across Scotland are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot, or wheel to school each day during the week, to feel the benefits of getting active before the school day.
This year’s Walk to School Week theme, The Great Space Walk, has inspired thousands of children to travel actively to school each day of the week, with over 250,000 pupils already signed up for the challenge.
Chris Thompson, Programme Manager, Living Streets Scotland said: “Walk to School Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary steps pupils across Scotland are taking to make their journey to school more active, which is better for individuals, communities and the planet.
“By choosing to walk, they’re showing how small actions lead to big impacts, such as easing congestion, improving air quality, and creating cleaner, healthier streets. We hope this week inspires others to walk and wheel to school and discover how easy it can be to make their daily commute truly ‘out of this world’.”
Mrs Black, Head Teacher at Royal Mile Primary School said: “It is wonderful to see how much our children enjoy participating in the WOW challenge, and having their hard work acknowledged in this way is incredibly rewarding.
“We are extremely proud of our pupils for their enthusiasm to walk and wheel to school in all weathers. We’ve also seen a real difference in the number of cars outside the school gates, making the roads safer for pupils and the wider community.”
Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Walking, wheeling and cycling to school has such a positive impact on young people. It helps build independence, improves road awareness, and helps pupils start the day feeling energised and ready to learn.
“From ambitious active travel projects like the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) and Roseburn to Union Canal along with traffic calming and road safety measures – we’re committed to making people feel more comfortable walking, wheeling, and cycling, whilst creating more liveable and inclusive streets and neighbourhoods.
“Congratulations to the pupils and staff at Royal Mile Primary School for their outstanding commitment to travelling to school in safer, healthier, and more sustainable ways.”
Living Streets Scotland currently delivers WOW – the walk to school challenge in more than 200 primary schools across the country.
The pupil-led initiative encourages students to log their active journeys to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. Pupils who walk, cycle, scoot, or wheel to school once a week for a month are rewarded with a special collectible badge.
You can find out more about Living Streets, Walk to School Week and WOW – the walk to school challenge at Home | Living Streets.
1600+ young people. 50 schools. 1 incredible week of music-making in Edinburgh
From 12–15 May, we were thrilled to bring our Strings Day Residency to the City of Edinburgh, reaching over 1600 children and young people across 50 schools!
We kicked off the week with live workshops in 9 primary schools – bringing music directly into classrooms and inspiring over 1200 learners. Then, in partnership with the amazing team at the City of Edinburgh Council Instrumental Music Service, we welcomed over 400 string players (including 122 cellists!) to an unforgettable Play Day for P5–P7 and S1 students.
With support from 25 local instructors, our incredible Foundation tutors, and a brilliant team of student ambassadors, young musicians explored two vibrant pieces – Bubble Pop and Enchanted Carousel written by the brilliant Joelle Broad– and ended the day with a joyful performance for their families. 
We’re beyond proud to have shared this experience with so many budding musicians – and deeply grateful to our partners in Edinburgh for making it all possible.
Micaela Karina
Supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Edinburgh Local Mòd takes place this Saturday 24 May in James Gillespie’s High School Darroch Annexe.
Many of our talented young people from our schools will be performing.
First competition starts 9.30am. Everyone is welcome!
Bidh Mòd Ionadail Dhùn Èideann a’ gabhail àite Disathairne seo tighinn, 24 Cèitean, ann an Ath-Thaigh Darroch, Àrd-sgoil Sheumais Ghilleasbuig. Bidh mòran de na sgoilearan òga tàlantach againn a’ gabhail pàirt. Toisichidh a’ chiad cho-fharpais aig 9.30m. Fàilte oirbh uile!
THURSDAY 5th JUNE 1 – 3pm
New laws to modernise and improve the way legal services are regulated in Scotland has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.
The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will improve how legal services are regulated and introduce a more flexible and consumer-focused system that provides clearer and swifter redress for complaints through greater transparency and accountability.
The Bill benefits the legal profession by simplifying regulatory structures and promoting innovation and competition, intended to increase access to justice. Also, by removing restrictions on third sector bodies, it aims to help charities better support the most vulnerable in society.
The legislation ensures regulation remains independent and fair by empowering The Lord President to better oversee and improve the functions of legal services within Scotland, upholding the high standards of Scotland’s legal community.
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “Scotland’s legal sector plays an integral role in maintaining the rule of law and upholding justice. From individuals seeking advice in family law matters to businesses navigating complex commercial disputes, there will always be a need and demand for accessible, efficient and accountable legal services.
“The Bill is about improving the everyday experience of people who need legal help and ensuring that legal services are delivered in a way that is fair, equitable and accessible for all and making it better equipped to serve the people of Scotland in an ever-evolving legal landscape.
“The journey of this Bill has been a rigorous and collaborative process, involving extensive consultation, including with the legal sector and consumers, to ensure it reflects the interests of all those who interact with the legal system.”
Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill | Scottish Parliament Website
The post-war era was a period of seismic shifts – political and social, scientific and cultural. Emerging from the events of the Second World War, communities lived with the legacies of conflict while looking ahead to the future.
Contemporary artists responded to these changing times, addressing both traditional and modern themes in their work as they pushed the boundaries of creativity. By the end of the century, the artistic landscape was entirely transformed.
Scheduled to complement John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture, this survey exhibition examines the wider context of post-war Scottish art. Charting the years between the late 1940s and late 1990s, it showcases evolving approaches to figurative and landscape subjects, the growth of abstraction and pop art, and the development of new media. Out of Chaos presents a range of artworks from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection, featuring key pieces by William Johnstone, Joan Eardley, Eduardo Paolozzi, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Elizabeth Blackadder and Maud Sulter.
ADULT CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
Saturday 28 June, 10.30am – 3.30pm – Joyful Still Lives inspired by Elizabeth Blackadder
Saturday 27 September, 10.30am – 3.30pm – Expressive Landscape Paintings inspired by the work of Joan Eardley
DESCRIBED TOURS AND BSL TOURS
Friday 4 July, 2pm – 3pm – BSL signed Tour of Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000
Friday 19 September, 2pm – 3pm – Described Tour for Blind and Partially Sighted Visitors of Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000
LECTURES AND TALKS
Friday 26 September, 2pm – 3pm – Post War Edinburgh
TAKING THE FEAR OUT OF FIRST AID CAMPAIGN
New data has revealed that those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians are the least likely in Scotland to help in a first-aid emergency.
The insights from a YouGov survey commission by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, revealed that one in ten (11%) people admitted to being in a situation where they could have given first aid, but chose not to.
This is higher than any other region in Scotland and four percentage points above the national average of 7%. And while this national figure appears low, the reality when it comes to saving lives is starkly different.
With 3,200 people in Scotland experiencing an out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA) every year, and a survival rate of less than 1 in 10, the 7% who chose not to step in equates to 224 lives potentially being lost.
Despite 88% of those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians recognising the importance of being first aid trained and half (49%) stating they would step in to help an emergency, 38% would hesitate first. A further third (29%) said their reaction wouldn’t change if the person was known to them – higher than anywhere else in Scotland.
The figures, taken from more than 1,000 respondents across the country highlighted that a fear of doing something wrong topped the list of concerns for the region (62%), with worries around making things worse following closely (61%). These anxieties echoed across the country, presenting as the main two concerns in every region.
In response, St Andrew’s First Aid, has launched a national campaign – ‘Taking the fear out of first aid’, in a bid to bring widespread visibility to the issue and encourage more people to recognise that their fears can easily be overcome.
Stuart Callison, Chief Executive at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “This research highlights not only the importance of being first aid trained, but also how critical it is for it to be put into practice when needed.
“While the research gives us some reassurance by highlighting those in Edinburgh and the Lothians are aware of the importance of first-aid training, it’s worrying to see how many are fearful of providing help in an emergency. The heartbreaking reality is that more lives could be saved through bystander intervention.
“That’s why we’re launching our campaign today to dispel some of the most common myths around first aid, to overcome these fears and help save more lives. As well as providing first aid training to as many Scots as possible, we want to be sure that those who have been trained keep their skills up to date and have the confidence to step up when needed.
“Doing something is always better than doing nothing and allowing our fears to stand in the way of taking action can be the difference between life and death for a casualty.”
Through the campaign, the charity is striving to tackle the challenges often faced in real-life situations, which for many is a fear of the unknown.
Yesterday’s launch saw popular content creator, Mark Thorburn, grab the attention of the public on Glasgow’s bustling Buchanan Street. Passers-by were invited to take part in a challenge, which saw them asked to reach their hand into a ‘mystery box’ – and their reactions monitored.
While some simply refused, those who accepted the challenge did so with trepidation, soon to be relieved upon learning the box was actually empty.
The stunt’s aim was to highlight that providing first aid isn’t as scary as people may think, nor should emotions and initial responses of anxiety or fear stand in the way of stepping in when it’s most needed.
For further information on First Aid and First Aid training, please visit:
