Join us for the next block on Menopause Goals!
Come along and meet like-minded women who understand the challenges that all stages of menopause bring!
Contact Jenni for more info 07831 721086, jenniferpullen@spartanscf.com
Online regisration: https://app.upshot.org.uk/survey/b1381be5/9806/af0a13fa/
Panic attacks can be frightening. But there are things you can do during a panic attack that help, like breathing and grounding techniques.
A panic attack can be caused by a traumatic or very stressful life experience.
If you’re having lots of panic attacks, you might be diagnosed with a panic disorder – and there’s help available for this.
Read our guide on panic attacks: https://bit.ly/3YNWmfG
India’s coastal gem reimagines itself beyond beaches and casinos at landmark cultural showcase, drawing dignitaries and Scottish Tourism Leaders
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), in collaboration with a Scotland-based cultural initiative, unveiled its bold new identity as a global leader in regenerative tourism.
Hosted at the elegant elegant Virgin Hotels in Edinburgh on 27th June, the event drew senior Indian delegates, British parliamentarians, cultural leaders, and tourism innovators into a shared dialogue to promote Goa’s evolving identity as a hub for regenerative tourism, wellness, and cultural heritage.
A Prestigious Gathering
The event was spearheaded by Dr. Naval Kumar Verma, Advisor (Medical & Wellness Tourism) to GTDC, who travelled from India alongside Mr. Parvesh Shukla, Director of Worldwide Travel and NRI Head at Rejoice Health Foundation, and Mr. Jigar Bhaglia, Deputy Chair of Selly Oak Conservatives.
The evening was graced by MP Christine Jardine and MP Dr. Scott Arthur, alongside respected voices from Scotland’s tourism, education, and cultural diplomacy sectors. Celebrated author and India advocate Ms. Aline Dobbie also graced the gathering, underscoring the evening’s spirit of Indow-Scottish amity.
Celebrating Culture and Connection
The programme opened with the auspicious lamp lighting ceremony, symbolising unity and enlightment, led jointly by the Indian and Scottish dignitaries.
A captivating Odissi performance by classical dancer Shilpi Dhar set the cultural tone for the evening. The event was seamlessly emceed with warmth by Mrs. Nidhi Walker, a bridge between Indian roots and Scottish identity.
In a keynote that stirred minds and hearts, Dr. Verma presented Goa’s pioneering approach as India’s first state to embrace regenerative tourism — a paradigm that transcends sustainability, focusing on restoring ecosystems, empowering local communities, and preserving and honoring cultural legacies.
“Goa is not just about beaches and casinos,” said Dr. Verma. “It’s a land of Ayurveda, spiritual heritage, waterfalls, wellness festivals, and sacred sites — where tourists can now leave a positive impact through mindful travel.”
Speeches from Dr. Scott Arthur, MP Christine Jardine, Ms. Aline Dobbie, and Ms. Preena Verma echoed these themes emphasizing the potential for India and Scotland to build equitable, eco-conscious partnerships in tourism and culture.
A Colourful Cultural Showcase
The showcase culminated in an exuberant cultural segment that brought Goa’s vibrant spirit to life. Youthful performers Aarya, Tiara, Aadhya, and Anoushka enchanted the audience with traditional Goan dance, culminating in a breathtaking Kathak recital by Himadri, whose elegant footwork drew heavy applause.
Curated short films transported attendees to Goa’s diverse landscapes — from spice plantations to colonial-era churches, serene temples to Sufi shrines — painting a cinematic portrait of a state where spirituality, biodiversity, and community coalesce.
The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, affirming a shared vision between India and the UK: one where tourism becomes a transformative force for cultural diplomacy and planetary stewardship.
About Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC)
GTDC is the official body under the Government of Goa responsible for the promotion and development of tourism in the state. GTDC is committed to positioning Goa as a holistic destination that champions regenerative tourism, wellness, and heritage.
Additional empty homes officers are being recruited to bring more privately owned houses back into use.
The new posts are being supported as part of a £2 million investment through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership in 2025-26 which will see staff take a more proactive and targeted approach to tackling local housing issues.
Funding will also help to train and induct new staff, grow services and ensure empty homes are utilised, including by increasing support for local authorities to make compulsory purchase orders.
Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Bringing homes back into use is a vital part of our plan to tackle the housing emergency. When too many families are struggling to find somewhere to live, it is unacceptable to me that that houses should lie empty.
“It’s important to help councils step up measures to turn privately-owned empty properties into much-needed homes and it’s encouraging that local authorities have already come forward to make use of this support.
“As the First Minister has set out, this government is determined to eradicate child poverty – and tackling the housing emergency by making sure families have access to a home is a crucial part of that.”
Scottish Empty Homes Partnership National Manager Tahmina Nizam said: “Every home matters as we work together to end Scotland’s housing emergency.
“In councils across the country Empty Homes Officers are delivering results, with over 11,000 homes having brought back into use since 2010. The additional posts supported by this funding will expand on that vital work.
“New Empty Homes Officers are already in post at City of Edinburgh Council, while recruitment is underway in several other local authorities.
“Homes weren’t built to sit empty; every empty home has the potential to transform a family or individuals’ life but collectively they have an enormous role to play in reducing housing need and tackling the housing emergency.
“We look forward to welcoming more new Empty Homes Officers as they come into post and supporting their efforts to bring more homes back into use.”
East Lothian Council must make significant progress in changing how it delivers public services as it addresses significant demographic challenges, with rapidly expanding younger and older populations.
In its latest report, the Accounts Commission recognises many of the council’s services have improved, or at least maintained levels of performance, in the face of financial pressures. But this has come at an unsustainable cost. The council can no longer rely on using money saved in reserves to support the delivery of services. It needs to be clearer about how it will balance its budget in a sustainable way.
Given financial constraints and increasing demand, the council now focuses on a smaller number of key priorities. The council’s commitment to engaging with residents and communities is encouraging. But it must be clear about the services deprioritised and the impacts, as it looks to bridge a £46 million budget gap in the four years from 2026/27.
The council must make significant changes in how it delivers services. It benefits from having plans for change in place, but now needs to invest further and set clear actions and targets to drive digital transformation and save money through efficiency. Continuing to develop opportunities to collaborate and share services in the face of recruitment and retention challenges is critical.
Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission said: ‘Unlike most councils in Scotland, East Lothian has numbers of both rapidly expanding younger and older populations.
“This presents real opportunities as well as significant challenges and strains on staff, money and resource.
“The council must continue to hold ongoing conversations with staff and communities to shape and agree the changes it needs to make to services.
‘It’s reassuring the council’s latest financial plans limit the use of reserves.
“Now we need to see progress on the council’s programme to change how it delivers services and improves efficiency.
“This must happen, to ensure the council’s future financial security.”
Due to a combination of staff/volunteer holidays and illness, the Iona Café will be closed from Monday 7th July to Sunday 20th July.
We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding.
We look forward to welcoming you back when we reopen on Monday 21st July!
People carrying out unpaid work as part of a community sentence have been helping to develop an NHS community garden in Morningside.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s justice services have teamed up with the Cyrenians charity so that people carrying out a community payback order (CPO) can learn how to care for the garden.
Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh’s Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “We have been exploring innovative ways to support those who have committed offences to repay the community for their crimes while at the same time, giving participants the opportunity to learn valuable skills and work as part of a team.
“Through joining forces with the Scottish charity Cyrenians we’ve been able to support the environment through the development of a community garden project offering placements to people completing unpaid work as part of a CPO.”
Cyrenians delivers the project in a supportive environment, delivering learning, while providing help to those on the project to access additional supports they may need to be reintegrated into their community and become contributing members of society.
The project has proved to be a great success with participants saying how working in the garden had improved their mental health and led to a renewed appreciation of the outdoors. Many have enjoyed contributing to a wider project team while being supported by Cyrenians through a low point in their lives to move on from their crime to a more positive space and a crime-free life.
A supervised team of people work together on the garden woodland and orchard, including landscaping, planting, pruning and composting. Participants learn how to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers and develop skills in making garden furniture.
Hannah Macrae, Community Gardens Service Manager at Cyrenians, said: “We have loved working in partnership with community justice services, to offer placements to people completing a community payback order.
“Our community gardens provide a lot of solace to people and we are very grateful to those who have come on placement for all their efforts to maintain and improve this special space. Many of the people who come really enjoy the time working in the garden and we hope that they take away a new set of skills and a sense of pride in what they have achieved.”
A number of areas across Edinburgh have been transformed by people carrying out a CPO and previous projects have included fencing and decking work at Dr Neil’s Garden in Duddingston and supporting garden maintenance at Inverleith Park.
More than 11.6 million hours of unpaid work have been completed across Scotland since CPOs were introduced in 2010 – with around 1.4 million hours recorded benefiting communities for the reporting year 2023-24. There were 15,086 CPOs imposed by the courts – a three per cent increase on the previous year.
There are various projects highlighted in the new annual CPO report 2023-24 by Community Justice Scotland. It shows that the number of CPOs imposed has increased and how people have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.
Catherine Dyer, chair of the board of Community Justice Scotland, said: “Community payback orders allow people to repay locally for the harm they’ve caused and access support to services, such as addiction counselling, to tackle the behaviour which led to their offending.
“The increase in the number of CPOs imposed by courts shows the confidence of Sheriffs in community-based sentences which can help reduce the risk of reoffending compared to short-term imprisonment.
“Unpaid work has transformed areas across the country, making a meaningful impact on communities such as improving school playgrounds, painting and gardening for local organisations as well as helping individuals who need work done.”
The charity Crimestoppers Scotland has launched a new campaign appealing for information about the dangerous and illegal use of off-road motorbikes and other mechanically propelled bikes across Scotland.
There has been rising concerns and reports from communities across Scotland over the illegal use of off-road bikes and other mechanically propelled bikes including mopeds, e-bikes and e-scooters.
Complaints often centre around off-road bikes becoming a threat to the public as the bikes are ridden recklessly in residential areas, town centres, on pavements and in green spaces – with no concern from the riders for their own safety or that of the public.
Crimestoppers spoke to people in Scotland who has been directly affected by dangerous and illegal use of off-road bikes:
Angela Parker, National Manager, Crimestoppers Scotland, said: “We heard from many people who felt scared and threatened by the increased use of illegal off-road bikes. This illegal activity also damages the environment and heritage, taking years to recovers and costing thousands to repair.
“Our campaign aims to support communities in reporting anonymously to our charity and providing information on where people can safely and legally enjoy riding their bike.”
Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown, said: “I’m pleased to support this important campaign.
“Using off-road vehicles illegally is dangerous, anti-social and can cause huge disruption to residents in local communities as well as causing damage to parks, playing fields and the natural environment.
Crimestoppers enables individuals to report crime anonymously and these reports help the police to tackle this crime. Together, we can make a real difference.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “These bikes are causing untold damage and misery in our community, damaging public and private property and leaving residents feeling scared and intimidated, which is simply unacceptable.
“Areas like Grieve Road have been particularly affected by the rise in off-road bikes and the course at Whinhill Golf Club, which the council owns, has also been damaged so there is a cost to the taxpayers to repair the fairways and greens, not to mention the inconvenience caused for golfers and staff.
“As with most things, the authorities need the help of the public to tackle this problem by reporting illegal and anti-social activity and Crimestoppers is a way in which people can do that and do it completely anonymously.”
Useful information includes:
If you own or ride an off-road bike or other mechanically propelled bike, (that includes e-bikes and e-scooters), you must ensure that you comply with UK law. Our campaign webpage gives useful information on all manner of bikes.
To pass on information about the illegal use of off-road bikes completely anonymously, visit the Crimestoppers website (Crimestoppers-uk.org). You can fill in a safe and secure form or you can call the 24/7 UK-based Contact Centre on 0800 555 111. Young people can also report crime via the charity’s youth service website Fearless.org.
Please note: With Crimestoppers-uk.org and Fearless.org, computer IP addresses are never traced and no-one will ever know you contacted them.
For telephone calls to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111, there is no caller line display, no 1471 facility and calls have never been traced.
Are you a local resident of Muirhouse, Pilton, Drylaw or Granton? Fancy trying something creative and hands-on this summer?
Join jeweller and community artist Lisa Arnott (SilverHub Jewellery School and StudiosFlourish Jewellery Project) for 4 weeks of FREE jewellery-making workshops at North Edinburgh Arts!
You’ll learn how to make beautiful, wearable pieces — from bangles and rings to earrings and pendants — using professional tools and techniques.
We’re running two weekly groups throughout July:
For local adults (age 21+)
Wednesdays: 9, 16, 23 & 30 July
10am – 1pm
For young adults (ages 16-21)
Thursdays: 10, 17, 24 & 31 July
10am – 1pm
Friday 1 August – Celebration & Exhibition of work created
North Edinburgh Arts, Macmillan Hub, 12c Macmillan Square, EH4 4AB
Free to attend, but places are limited – all materials provided!
To sign up: Email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk
Call 0131 315 2151
Or drop by the NEA Welcome Desk (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
The issue of people who are well enough to leave being stranded in hospital wards and occupying increasingly scarce inpatient beds must be addressed if Emergency Care in Scotland is to improve.
That’s the response of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland as new data reveals that May 2025 was the second worst May on record for so called ‘delayed discharges’.
Published today (1 July 2025) the figures from Public Health Scotland, which detail A&E performance, show a daily average of 1,852 beds were occupied by people who were considered to no longer need inpatient care – the second highest for any May since guideline changes in 2016.
And when compared to the previous month (April 2025) – it’s an improvement of just two beds.
If patients cannot be discharged, this affects the flow of people through the hospital – and people end up stranded in A&E, often waiting extreme hours on a trolley in a corridor, for a ward bed to become available.
Covering May 2025, the figures reveal that:
The figures come just a week after Public Health Scotland released data revealing there were 720,119 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed during the year 2024/5 – the highest annual figure reported since guidelines changed in 2016.
Of the total number of delayed discharge bed days, 73% were due to health and social care and patient and family related reasons (522,599).
Vice President of RCEM Scotland, Dr Fiona Hunter, said: “Yet again, the evidence to address delayed discharges continues to mount.
“As I’ve said before, and I will say it again, the situation at our hospitals’ ‘backdoor’, where we unable to discharge people, is deeply concerning and distressing for both patients and the workforce.
“Patients when they are well enough to leave want to do just that – leave, to continue their recovery. But often they can’t because of a lack of social care.
“Meanwhile in A&E, seriously unwell people are left waiting for that elusive ward bed to become available, watching the clock tick by and counting the hours they have spent on a trolley in a corridor.
“This is the reality for thousands of patients every month, while Emergency Medicine clinicians try their best to treat patients in areas that weren’t designed to deliver care in. And it’s not just an issue confined to the winter months – it’s year-round.
“So it is hard to celebrate slight improvements in extreme waiting times when every day my colleagues are struggling to admit vulnerable patients that need further care.
“Until available inpatient bed numbers increase the crisis in our EDs will continue.”
Graphic visualisations of the data compiled by RCEM can be found here.
