Month: June 2025

Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store

  • FREE Little Seedlings Holiday Club
  • Kids Eat for £1
  • Soft play, bookings start from £2 for members and £2.50 for non-members
  • Great deals on outdoor toys

This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.

Little Seedlings Holiday Club is back by popular demand to entertain children over the school break with a sensory workshop, and families can enjoy low prices on the soft play experience and Kids Eat for £1.

Families can also get 20% off all outdoor toys and play equipment on top of existing promotions for a limited time at the Edinburgh store, giving the kids plenty to keep busy with right through summer. From hippo sandpits, flower pools and toddler swings, to slides, activity towers and trampolines, there is something for all ages. Deals include

  • Plum 10ft fun springsafe trampoline, now £95.99 (was £149.99)
  • Set of 2 flower pool, now £7.99 (was £19.99)
  • Hedstrom folding toddler swing, now £35.99 (was £54.99)
  • Hedstrom wavy pool, now £71.99 (was £99.99)

Little Seedlings Holiday Club

Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Holiday Club returns to the Edinburgh store this summer with an exciting workshop, Summer Scents. This session takes place on various days across July and August, and is perfect for children aged 4-10 years old. 

Attendees will become scent explorers and learn all about the sweet smells of summer in gardens, homes and parks. Children will discover how and why flowers have scents, the happy herbs with the most fragrance, and the long history of perfume making, before getting the chance to mix their own petal perfume to take home. 

It’s a hands-on workshop that celebrates beautiful summer scents and is perfect for keeping the little ones busy over the school holidays. 

Dates vary, visit www.dobbies.com/events for more information. 

Kids Eat for £1

Dobbies offers Kids Eat For £1, allowing children under the age of 16 to enjoy their food for less with every traditional adult breakfast and main course meal at lunch. Children can pick from the kids’ breakfasts, lunch menu or pick ‘n’ mix meal, including a drink.  

Restaurants are open Monday-Sunday from 9am, location times may vary and customers are advised to visit dobbies.com to check the restaurant opening hours for the Edinburgh store.

Soft play 

Families are invited to come and join in the fun at Dobbies’ Little Seedlings soft play at the Edinburgh store, where children of all ages, from babies and toddlers to young kids, can let off some steam and play in a safe environment. 

The soft play area is in Dobbies’ restaurant, where families can enjoy tasty meals and snacks, plus kids eat for £1 with every adult main meal.

Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, but there may be walk-in spaces available on the day, prices and age ranges vary for each store, starting at £2 for members and at £2.50 for non-members. 

For more information on the Little Seedlings Holiday Club at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and activities for families this summer, visit www.dobbies.com/events.

Scottish Parliament seeks views on what should be included in the forthcoming Climate Change Plan

What should be included in Scotland’s Climate Change Plan? Members of the public, experts and stakeholders are being asked just that, as the Scottish Parliament launches a call for views to support its scrutiny of the Plan.

The draft CCP, which is expected to be published later this year, will set out how the Scottish Government intends to meet emission reduction targets across all portfolio areas and sectors of the economy. It must also set out the costs and benefits of policies, whilst taking into consideration the principles of a Just Transition – that the switch to net zero should reduce not increase social injustice.

This CCP will cover the period 2026-2040, as Scotland looks to be “net zero” in carbon emissions by 2045. In doing so, it will seek to meet reduction targets for this period, based, on advice from the independent Climate Change Committee.

Questions included in the call for views cover a wide range of sectors including electricity and energy; buildings; transport; industry; waste and circular economy; agriculture and land use; and negative emissions technologies, but participants are free to answer only those they are most interested in.

The Parliament is also seeking views on other aspects of the draft Plan, including how the proposed policies should be funded and how to overcome challenges in delivering them.

The findings will be shared across Parliament to support parliamentary committees scrutinising the draft CCP later in the year.

Launching the call for views, Convener of the Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee, Edward Mountain MSP, said; “The last time the Scottish Parliament considered a full Climate Change Plan was in 2018.

“Since then, the pandemic made changes, some of them long-lasting, to how we work and live our lives. There have been new technological developments, bringing both challenges and opportunities for climate change policy. And global uncertainty has raised new questions about our energy security.

“In Scotland, some progress towards net zero has been made, but not enough. The Climate Change Committee’s warning last year that delays and slippages had put Scotland off-target in reaching net zero were a wake-up call for the Scottish Government to find credible policies that will deliver positive change in areas like agriculture, public transport and car use and domestic heating.

“Now, the Scottish Parliament can play its part by ensuring there is a robust, workable and costed delivery plan for net zero. But expert and public buy-in and participation must be at the heart of a credible plan.

“What do you think should be included in the Plan and what else do you think is needed to deliver a just transition to net zero by 2045?

“To help form our thinking, please share your views so that when the draft Plan arrives, we will be in a strong position to start detailed scrutiny.”

Once the draft CCP is laid, the Scottish Parliament will have 120 days to scrutinise it.

The call for views will be open until 19 September 2025.

Read the questions and submit your views on Citizen Space

Putting People First: Anne’s Law and Meaningful Connection

 The Scottish Parliament’s recent passing of the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill – formerly the National Care Service Bill – marks an important milestone in the journey to strengthen the rights of care home residents.

A key provision within the legislation is Anne’s Law, which gives people living in adult care homes the legal right to maintain in-person contact with those who are important to them – even in exceptional circumstances such as an outbreak of infectious disease.

Named in memory of Anne Duke, whose family and others campaigned for residents’ rights to visits during the pandemic, it acknowledges the essential role played by families and friends in providing care, connection and companionship to their loved ones.

It builds on the Health and Social Care Standards and enshrines the right to receive visits in law. You can read more about the Bill here.

Meaningful connection with others is essential to everyone’s emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing, and is a fundamental human right. The prevalence of loneliness, especially among older people, has been described as a public health crisis. But meaningful connection is about more than just visiting. It’s about all those relationships and connections which are vital to people’s identity, quality of life, and sense of belonging. 

The Care Inspectorate, through the Meaningful Connection, Visiting and Anne’s Law Project, will soon publish new good practice guidance to support care homes in promoting meaningful connection as part of everyday care.

The guidance is evidence-based and has been developed in partnership with people experiencing care, their families and friends, care providers, and professionals across the sector. It supports a rights-based, person-centred approach to care.  

The guidance includes real-life examples, reflective prompts, and practical information to support services in ensuring everyone can get the best out of life and experience connection in ways that are meaningful and meet their individual needs  

Look out for the full guidance, coming soon on the Care Inspectorate website. 

Edinburgh alcohol and drug support workers urged to access ASH Scotland’s free e-learning module

ASH Scotland is encouraging alcohol and drug support workers and volunteers in Edinburgh to access a new e-learning module providing vital information which can be used to encourage people who smoke and are being supported to reduce use of alcohol and other drugs to seek assistance to live tobacco-free.

Statistics show that level of smoking for people entering treatment for problematic substance use is substantially higher than the rate of the general adult population and the new learning aid can inform how to best support service users who want to quit smoking.

The health charity’s ‘Smoking and Problematic Substance Use’ module covers a range of topics including details about the linked behaviours between smoking and drinking alcohol or using drugs, the impacts of smoking on psychotropic drugs which may be provided during treatment, raising the issue of smoking and signposting to NHS Scotland’s free specialist Quit Your Way service.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “Our new e-learning module is designed to increase awareness and provide essential opportunities to learn about the negative impacts that tobacco use can have on the lives of people who are being supported to reduce consumption of alcohol and other drugs.

“For example, nicotine can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine and, when a cigarette burns, it releases a dangerous cocktail of more than 5,000 chemicals – 250 which are toxic and around 70 that are known to cause cancer.

“Smoking also reduces the effectiveness of medicated psychotropic drugs, such as benzodiazepines, clozapine and most antidepressants, by up to 50 per cent which means people receiving treatment may need higher doses that could put them at higher risk of experiencing side effects.

“Our e-learning module is a vital resource for alcohol and drug support workers and volunteers to build their knowledge and confidence in starting conversations to empower clients across Edinburgh to make informed choices about giving up smoking to live healthier lives.”

ASH Scotland’s ‘Smoking and problematic substance use’ e-learning module is available for free at www.ashscotlandmoodle.org.uk here.

For quit smoking support, visit QuitYourWay.Scot or call the Quit Your Way Scotland free helpline on 0800 84 84 84.

Will new Bill help Scottish Government keep The Promise?

Proposed changes to the services and support provided to people who are in, or have experience of, the children’s care system are set to be scrutinised in Holyrood.

MSPs from the Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee have launched a call for views on the Scottish Government’s Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill forms part of the Scottish Government’s response to the recommendations made in the Independent Care Review known as “The Promise”.

Proposed changes include an expansion in the right to apply for aftercare, wider access to advocacy services for care-experienced people and the creation of a national register of foster carers.

The Bill also proposes changes designed to avoid people or organisations making excessive profits from the care of children. It would set limits on the profits that can be made from children’s residential care and require fostering services to register as charities.

Changes to the Children’s Hearing System, which the Scottish Government describes as offering legal protections to children who are in need or at risk, are also proposed in the Bill. In a move designed to strengthen accountability, the Bill also sets out that, in future, all Integration Joint Boards will have responsibility for children’s services planning, alongside local authorities and health boards.

The Committee now wants to hear from care-experienced people, parents, carers, foster carers, kinship carers and adoptive parents, and others, to share their views on the proposals.

The call for views is open now and will close to responses on 15 August 2025. The Committee plans to hold evidence sessions with stakeholders in autumn.

Douglas Ross MSP, Convener of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, said: “In 2020 the Independent Care Review set out a series of promises to Scotland’s care experienced children and young people.

“We have kept a constant eye on progress towards meeting those promises and it is clear, from hearing from care experienced young people and those supporting them, that there are many challenges still to overcome.

“The Committee will look closely at this Bill, listen to the views of everyone affected by it, and assess whether it will bring about the changes needed to ensure that all care experienced children and young people can enjoy the childhood they deserve.

“If you are care experienced, or work to support care experienced children and young people, please share your views on the proposals in this Bill.”

Ann Budge announces intention to step down as Hearts chairperson

Ann Budge has advised the Board that she will be stepping down from her role as Chair of the club in December of this year, following the 2025 AGM.  The search for a new Chair is now underway. 

Working with the Foundation of Hearts, and with the backing and commitment of the fans, Ann played a vital role in rescuing the club, enabling it to exit from administration in 2014. Since then, she has spent more than a decade driving Hearts forward and has been a pivotal figure in the club’s resurgence.

Under her leadership, and with the financial backing of fans, sponsors and benefactors –  once again proud to be associated with Hearts – the club has reestablished itself both on and off the pitch.

We have seen the delivery of a number of major infrastructure projects, including the Museum, the Memorial Garden, a new state-of-the-art pitch, and, of course, the magnificent new Main Stand incorporating the Tynecastle Park Hotel.

Investment in infrastructure has not stopped at Tynecastle, with substantial investment in facilities for our players, at all levels, up at Oriam.

Hearts has also reaffirmed its position as a community champion during Ann’s time in charge. With the saving of our charity, Big Hearts, coupled with the creation of our Community and Heritage Department, Hearts sits firmly at the very heart of the community.

Fans and the local community alike have access to community football for all ages, amazing educational opportunities through our Innovation Centre and a whole range of family support services through Big Hearts.

On the football front, Ann has also overseen the redevelopment of our youth academy, including the creation of our own performance school. She has also been totally committed to helping establish the Women’s game here in Scotland, ensuring comparable facilities for both men and women at Oriam.

During her tenure, our fans have had numerous visits to Hampden to support not just our men’s first team but also our women’s team. They have seen multiple third-place finishes in the league and have enjoyed many memorable European adventures, including the men’s first team securing European football for a historic three years in a row.

Reflecting on her decision to step down, Ann said; “This is something I have thought long and hard about. Having discussed this with the Board, I feel now is the right time to confirm that I intend to step down later this year.

“When I first got involved with the Foundation of Hearts in 2013, I could not have envisaged the journey it would take me on. Initially, the aim was to stabilize the Club before even thinking of growth. Now, 12-years later, as I look at where the club stands, I can allow myself to feel a sense of pride at what we have achieved.

“With Tony Bloom’s investment now complete, and the supporters ensconced as custodians of the club, I believe I have done what I set out to achieve.

“The appropriate time for reminiscing and saying goodbye will come after the AGM in December but until then, my full focus will remain on what it has always been, and that is doing my very best for Hearts and our fans.”

Chief Executive Officer Andrew McKinlay said; “It cannot be overstated just how much Ann has done for Heart of Midlothian and on behalf of everyone at the club, I extend both my thanks and my gratitude.

“As we get closer to December’s AGM we will update our supporters on our succession plans, but for now we will continue to enjoy and benefit from working with Ann until the end of her tenure as the club’s Chair.”

Foundation of Hearts Chairman Gerry Mallon said; “Ann will leave a remarkable legacy when she departs the club and we are extremely fortunate to have had 12 years of her knowledge and experience at the helm of Hearts.

“In particular, her participation during the birth of the Foundation of Hearts can never be downplayed, neither can the instrumental role she played in saving the club from the abyss and taking it back up to the top end of Scottish football.

“For that, I will be forever grateful to Ann, as I’m sure Hearts fans everywhere will be too.”

This is NOT our crisis!

ASSC TAKES MESSAGE TO SCOTLAND’S POLITICIANS: STOP SCAPEGOATING SELF-CATERERS

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) has launched a Scotland-wide campaign which strongly criticised the ongoing claims from certain sectors of national and local government that Scotland’s housing emergency has been caused by legitimate owners of self-catering properties.

The campaign, which highlights the issue of elected representatives and officials scapegoating the sector while, at the same time, a far greater number of available properties lie empty across Scotland, launched in Edinburgh this morning, with stops outside Edinburgh City Chambers, as well as Holyrood.

The campaign will continue this week with stops encompassing Glasgow, Helensburgh, Inverness, Perth and Glenrothes, as well as the two previous stops in Edinburgh.

Self-caterers have become an easy target for lazy attempts to scapegoat the sector, rather than deal with the real issues at hand; utilising empty properties and building more affordable housing. The Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers would rather deal in facts, which are: 

  • Self-catering = 0.8% of housing stock, Scotland wide, while empty properties = 3.6%
  • Self-catering contributes £864 million to the Scottish economy 
  • Self-catering supports 29,324 jobs 

It’s time to set the record straight. Let’s talk facts – not fiction.

It is clear that housing needs will not be met by penalising tourism microbusinesses. Instead, they will be met by building homes, tackling second homes, and taking an evidence-led approach.

Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “Hard-pressed self-catering operators will be experiencing more than a little sense of déjà vu as their sector is once again scapegoated for a shortage of homes.

“Recycling the same tired calls for even stricter controls on short-term lets, despite no evidence it will ease housing pressures, is regulatory overkill. They risk hammering a £864m self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism. 

“Our message is clear: you won’t solve a housing crisis by initiating a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses underpinning local economies. Attention must shift to the real causes of the housing crisis and stop scapegoating self-catering.”

Shoreline Session at The Pitt

FRIDAY 4th JULY 5 – 8pm

Aint no party like a Shoreline Session party cause a Shoreline Session Party don’t stop …or something!

Our free entry acoustic shows @thepittmarket keep getting busier and busier, so come down and see what all the fuss is about as @deanjbgray , Coralie, @beau._.amelia of @lowtide.band , and @rorygrieve.music take the stage next Friday 4th July – songs about Murcia and Freedom etc etc not essential.

GY x

#shorelinesessions

#grantonyouth

#thepittmarket

#grantonyouthmixtapeclub

#deangraymusic

#beaujohnston#rorygrievemusic

#coralie

Local stores support school leavers

A huge well done to DAY-TODAY DRYLAW & PREMIER MUIRHOUSE 

They went out of their way to give five local schools some goodies for the primary 7 leavers last week (writes DEAN LOUGHTON).

yesterday morning was such a mad rush trying to get stock for the p7s at five local primary schools, we managed to get round the five schools with our donations and each school was overwhelmed with the donation – and so were the P7s!

As the goodies were being brought in to school there were some P7s  floating around getting their tops signed but luckily enough they never spotted what was on the trolley! 

Scottish business confidence dips in June

  • Business confidence in Scotland fell five points to 47% in June 
  • While firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell 10 points to 47%, their optimism in the economy held steady at 48% 
  • However, a net balance of 55% of Scottish businesses expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 25 points on last month  
  • Overall UK business confidence increased one point in June to 51% 

Business confidence in Scotland fell five points during June to 47%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. 

While Scottish firms’ optimism in the economy held steady month-on-month at 48%, businesses reported lower confidence in their own trading prospects, down 10 points at 47%. Taken together, this gives a headline confidence reading of 47% (vs. 52% in May). 

However, a net balance of 55% of Scottish businesses expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up 25 points on last month. 

Looking ahead to the next six months, Scottish businesses identified their top target areas for growth as evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (53%), investing in their team, for example through training (48%) and entering new markets (41%).  

The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.  

National picture

Overall, UK business confidence increased one point in June to 51%.  

Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects strengthened one point to 57%, while their confidence in the wider economy also rose one point to 45%. 

Wales was the most confident UK nation or region in June (67%), followed by London (64%).  

Sector insights

Business confidence in the manufacturing and retail sectors saw significant gains this month, with 12-point rises in both sectors to 52%. For manufacturing, this demonstrates an 11-month high.  

Construction and services however saw decreases in confidence, with falls by five points and four points respectively.  

Martyn Kendrick, Scotland Director at Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking, said: “Despite lower overall confidence, Scottish businesses are still setting out plans for growth – whether that’s through plans to hire, or steps like launching new products and services.

“We remain ready to support every step of their journeys.” 

Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Commercial Banking, said: “Business confidence has continued its positive momentum, following the significant gains we saw in May. 

“In particular, the sustained rise in hiring intentions suggests that while firms do still face challenges, they may be starting to look beyond short-term staffing needs and preparing for future growth.” 

Paul Kempster, Managing Director for Commercial Banking Coverage, Lloyds Business & Commercial said: “June’s figures for UK businesses shows a sustained picture of growth and opportunity.

“Overall, while there have been some fluctuations, it’s encouraging to see all regions and nations well above the long-term average.   

“As business confidence continues, we are committed to supporting businesses with a range of financial services to help them achieve their growth ambitions.”