FIREWORK CONTROL ZONES
Is your community being considered for a Firework Control Zone in November?
Streets in Balerno, Calton Hill, Corstorphine, Gracemount, Longstone, Moredun, Niddrie, Seafield and Sighthill have been nominated.
We’d like to hear your views at http://edinburgh.gov.uk/firework-control-zones…
ANNOUNCEMENT!
This year the MoonWalk Scotland is going to be super special as 2025 will be the final time in Edinburgh! We are SO excited to break the news that the MoonWalk will be going on tour to a new city
With just a few more weeks to go, there is still time to enter and stride through beautiful Edinburgh by night, all whilst fundraising for an amazing cause!
Sign up now and get ready for a weekend of fun, inspiration and smiles:
More than £52 billion in spending last year has funded the delivery of vital public services for the people of Scotland.
The Scottish Government’s 2024-25 Provisional Outturn, which compares actual spending with overall funding, included:
The remaining £557 million of available funding – representing 1% of the total Scottish Government budget – has been carried over to support costs in 2025-26, with no loss of spending power to the Scottish Government.
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said yesterday: “The provisional outturn demonstrates once again this Government is prudently and competently managing Scotland’s finances while protecting our priorities and ensuring we can deliver effective public services.
“Managing the financial position for 2024-25 was a challenge once again. The continued impact of inflation, pressure on public sector pay, and wider geopolitical instability meant careful consideration had to be given to balancing the Scottish Budget.
“What’s more, under the UK Spending Review the Scottish Government’s day-to-day spending is set to grow by 0.8% over the next three years, considerably lower than the 1.2% average growth for UK Government departments.
“The impact of these challenges on our financial planning will be set out in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy tomorrow (i.e. Wednesday (today)) in Parliament, but the growing future year pressures mean we must act prudently and responsibly to remain fiscally sustainable.”
2024-25 Provisional Outturn Briefing Note 24 June 2025 – gov.scot
Three people have been charged following a day of action in Edinburgh city centre to address retail crime.
On Wednesday, 18 June, local policing officers joined colleagues from the Retail Crime Taskforce to undertake high-visibility patrols and visit retail premises to deter offences such as shoplifting and identify those involved in criminal activity affecting the area’s shops and businesses.
As a result, 13 stop and searches were conducted and three people are now subject to reports to the Procurator Fiscal.
A 49-year-old man was found in possession of drugs, which have been sent for analysis.
A 40-year-old male was stopped following a shoplifting and was arrested and charged with conditions not to enter the city centre. Stolen property worth £400 was recovered at this time.
A 24-year-old female was also charged with theft following the recovery of £50 worth of stolen goods.
Over 30 premises were visited, and extensive intelligence was also gathered for further inquiry throughout the day of action.
Inspector Gordon Duff said: “Our day of action was supported by key partners at Retailers Against Crime, Essential Edinburgh, BTP, Lothian Busses and the retailers operating within the city centre.
“We want activity like this to send a very clear message that retail crime is being treated as a priority and extensive time and resource is being dedicated to reducing offences and bring those responsible to justice.
“I’m grateful to all of the officers and partners that provided vital assistance, and the public can rest assured further activity will take place as we actively target all of those involved in the various forms of retail crime affecting Edinburgh’s businesses.”
Departing from Rosyth on Friday 27th June, Eclair will be joining the ‘Fairytale Castle & Old Towns of The Baltic Scenic’ tour on Balmoral, the smallest of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ship in the three-strong fleet. The 13-night trip runs until Thursday 10th July.
Three lucky ballot winners have won a session with Eclair in which she will turn their memorable moments into short stories. The guests will then be given the stories to take home, as a memento of the special moments, big and small, that happened on a Fred. Olsen cruise.
All guests on board will also be treated to An Audience with Jenny Eclair on Wednesday 2nd July. Open to everyone, Eclair will be interviewed by the ships cruise director, followed by a Q&A with the audience and book signings. Guests will be able to purchase her book, as well as pre-order, in the ships bookstore.
During the Baltic trip, guests will have plenty of opportunity to make new memories at a range of awe-inspiring locations places and experiences. Guests will be embarking cities within fairytale-esque settings from the majestic castles of Schwerin, Malbork and Rosenborg to the enchanting old towns of Vecrīga and Vanalinn.
Jenny Eclair is the second of three Moments Crew joining Fred. Olsen cruises throughout the summer.
Comedian-turned-artist Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) joined the ‘Scenic Falls & Fjords of Norway’ tour on Borealis for the eight-night trip on Thursday 5th June.
Celebrity photographer Scarlet Page will then embark Bolette for its 13 night ‘Volcanic Vistas of the Azores and Madeira’ cruise, departing from Liverpool on 25th July.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines recruited the famous crew of documentarians following research that revealed 82 per cent of people say their life’s top memories are made while travelling.
Sonia Holman, Marketing Director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, comments: “We know that some of life’s best memories are made on the high seas, so what better way to ensure they are caught than by assembling the first-ever crew dedicated to recording these unique moments in unique ways.
“We’re delighted to welcome Jim, Jenny and Scarlet onboard and look forward to seeing, reading and viewing the big and small guest moments they observe.”
Jenny Eclair, Fred. Olsen’s writer-on-board, comments: “There is a rich literary history of travel writing, but my intention is to get the everyday holiday maker interested in keeping their own journals, even if it is just a record of what you had for dinner.
“In years to come, photos will take you back to places you loved, but it is often words on a page that will remind you of how those places felt.”
MUIRHOUSE HOUSING Association is celebrating a magnificent triumph in a prestigious set of national awards.
The Association excelled in the Tenant Participation Service (TPAS) Scotland National Good Practice Awards scoring a win in the keenly-contested category for Community Involvement – tenant/community group.
It was a powerful endorsement of Muirhouse’s commitment to placing its community at the heart of everything it does as a housing provider.
The National Good Practice Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in tenant participation by individual tenants, tenant groups and social landlords.
The category won by Muirhouse “recognises and celebrates the achievements of a tenant or community-led group or project that has supported other individuals or groups within their community and made a positive impact.”
Muirhouse’s triumph centred on its innovative and inclusive “Come Dine With Us” initiative – a recurring event offering a free meal and companionship to local residents aimed at tackling isolation and loneliness
Launched in 2022, it instantly resonated with the community and attracts between 15 and 30 people to the weekly get-together in winter with it running fortnightly in the summer.
It has chalked up some impressive outcomes with evaluation showing an increase in the age groups attending ranging from 26-85 plus an impressive 140% increase in how satisfied those attending are with their lives. An increase of 83% was recorded from those attending who felt the things they do in life are “worthwhile”.
Muirhouse Chief Executive Susan Bell, added: “Ensuring we do our bit to tackle loneliness and isolation in our community – especially among those who are single – remains an important part of our work.
“In the face of the cost-of-living challenges, we as a housing association are ideally placed to make a difference and Come Dine With Us tackles this very issue. We remain very grateful for the funding received which helps to support this important initiative.”
“This project provides the opportunity to inspire and empower individuals to foster better health, connect with others in the community and feel valued.
“We are thrilled to receive this award, which recognises the dedication and teamwork behind our efforts to support the community.”
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES – PARENTING COURSES
Would you like to encourage more positive behaviour and strengthen the relationship you have with your child?
Are you looking to support your child to become more independent and confident?
Do you sometimes find it difficult to set boundaries with your teenager?
Is it tricky sometimes for everyone to stay calm?
Why not try one of our free Parenting Courses?
Visit the Parenting courses and Support page on the Support for Families webpages:
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/support…/parenting-support
Check out the other Support for Families webpages for lots of other supports and activities provided by different organisations throughout the year:
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/supportforfamilies
For supporting children and young people with Mental Health and wellbeing, visit the Wellbeing webpages.
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/wellbeing
If you need any help finding support for you or your child, please email:
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
28 June–30 November 2025
Tickets for Monkeys: Our Primate Family are available to book at nms.ac.uk/Monkeys
The biggest exhibition of primate behaviour ever staged returns to the National Museum of Scotland this weekend. From huge gorillas to tiny mouse lemurs, Monkeys: Our Primate Family (28 Jun – 30 Nov 2025) explores the remarkable lives of our closest relatives.
Ahead of the opening on Saturday 28 June, experts at the National Museum of Scotland have been adding the finishing touches to more than 60 spectacular monkey, ape, lemur and loris specimens featured in the exhibition.
Monkeys: Our Primate Family is the first exhibition of its kind, capturing primates acting as they would in the wild. Taxidermy specimens created for the exhibition reveal behaviours rarely seen by humans and demonstrate how primate species have adapted to survive.
Atmospheric lighting and naturalistic displays create a tropical forest experience to explore while encountering some of the rarest and most endangered primate species on earth. Visitors to the exhibition will also learn about ongoing conservation efforts to protect these extraordinary animals and their fragile habitats.
The exhibition first opened at the National Museum of Scotland in 2016 before embarking on an international tour. It returns to Edinburgh for a final time having been seen by over 500,000 visitors in six countries around the world.
Professor Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrate Biology at National Museums Scotland, said: ““We are all primates, but how much do we really know about our extended family?
“Following a successful global tour, this is the last chance to experience this remarkable exhibition. Monkeys: Our Primate Family provides a unique opportunity to see these fascinating animals up close. Visitors will also learn about the threats facing primates and what we can do to protect them.”
Visitors to Monkeys will discover how primates have evolved and adapted, their unique methods of locomotion, and the tools they have developed to obtain food.
A gibbon swings through the trees while a chimpanzee fishes for termites. The exhibition also reveals the fascinating ways they communicate and their complex social systems. A tarsier is shown using ultrasonic communication and a vervet monkey reveals how its different calls warn about each different predator.
The final section of the exhibition looks at conservation as well as some of the threats humans pose to primates today, including the climate emergency, conflict, and the bush meat trade. It includes endangered primates, such as the Sumatran orangutan and the black-and-white ruffed lemur.
Thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, children can visit Monkeys: Our Primate Family (28 Jun – 30 Nov 2025) for free.
For the first time, the National Museum of Scotland is also offering those on Universal Credit and other named UK benefits discounted exhibition entry.
The exhibition is supported by a programme of public events.
RAPE AND ATTEMPTED RAPE UP 15%
16% RISE IN SHOPLIFTING
Recorded crime has more than halved since 1991, according to newly-published official statistics.
The Recorded Crime in Scotland 2024-25 bulletin shows that total crime remains at similar levels to 2023-24, with a small reduction in the headline figure.
Levels of non-sexual crimes of violence have also dipped slightly over the year and continue to be 23% lower than in 2006-07 – with serious assault and attempted murder now at their lowest level since 1977.
There was a 6% decrease in 2024-25 in recorded incidents of damage and reckless behaviour – now at its lowest level since 1976, with vandalism down 73% from 2006-07.
The detection of overall crime by police has increased, with clear-up rates rising to 56%.
The recording of crimes of dishonesty are now at pre-pandemic levels and down 74% from the peak in 1991 – however there was has been a 16% rise in shoplifting.
There was a rise in recorded sexual crimes (up 3%), with rape and attempted rape up by 15%. A quarter of these crimes were reported at least one year after they had occurred.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “These figures show that Scotland continues to be safe place to live with reported crime falling by more than half since 1991. This comes on the back of the flagship Scottish Crime and Justice Survey which also showed people feel safer in their communities.
“Violent crime is down significantly in the past 20 years, with serious assaults and homicide levels at record lows. However, we cannot afford to be complacent and I have been consistently clear that any instance of violence is one too many. That is why we are taking a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, with more than £6 million funding invested over the past three years.
“I am concerned these figures also show a rise in reported sexual crimes. Multiple factors will lie behind this and our action to tackle sexual offending includes increasing confidence in the justice system so more victims come forward, improving support for victims and modernising the law on sexual offences.
“I also recognise the significant harm and disruption caused by retail crime, which is why we have made £3 million available in this year’s Budget for Police Scotland to work with the retail sector to help tackle this issue.
“This year we will invest £4.2 billion across the justice system including a record £1.64 billion for policing – an increase of £70 million on 2024-25.
“As part of the Scottish Government’s broader package to tackle violence, we have increased funding to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit from £1.17 million last year to over £1.2 million this year. Projects supporting young people at risk of being drawn into criminal activities, under the Cashback for Communities programme, will receive up to £26 million over the next three financial years.”
Full statistical publication Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25
It’s almost the Summer Holidays!
We have a jam packed schedule of events lined up for you.
These events will be advertised and available to book where required on a weekly basis.
Here is the first weeks’ program (above).
Booking will open at 10am today (25th June) by following this link for Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/drumbrae-library-edinburgh/
As always children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
