Day: October 7, 2025

‘Please don’t miss out’ – breast screening could save your life

Last year, only 26.5% of those with learning disabilities in GGC who were eligible for cervical cancer screening attended their appointment – 1

October kickstarts Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a good opportunity to remind women of the importance of attending their breast screening appointment.

“One in eight women in Scotland will be diagnosed with breast cancer. But when it’s found early, the chances of successful treatment are much higher.

“In fact, women are five times more likely to survive. Breast screening alone saves around 130 lives every year in Scotland,” said Heather Jarvie, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Public Health Programme Manager.

“Breast screening helps us detect cancers that are too small to see or feel. That’s why we encourage every woman who receives an invitation to attend. It could be lifesaving.”

Who is eligible for breast screening?

Women aged between 50 and 70 will be invited for breast screening every three years. Those eligible will be invited by NHSGGC via letter, email or post, depending on what they selected as their communication preference with their GP.

Anyone over the age of 70 can make an appointment for breast screening directly via the breast screening service.

Breast screening is also offered to non-binary people whose birth certificate originally said female, who haven’t had breast removal surgery, trans women who are taking hormones, and trans men who haven’t had breast removal surgery.

Don’t miss out

NHSGGC is also taking this opportunity to encourage women who may have missed their appointment, or who cannot make their appointment, to please contact their local breast screening service to rearrange another suitable date. Heather explained:

“We understand that life happens and at times appointments may be missed or dates and times simply don’t work due to conflicting events. Please don’t miss out because of this. Anyone who has missed their breast screening appointment should get in touch.”

West of Scotland Breast Screening Service contact number: 0141 800 8800.

Heather also provided reassurance to anyone who may have nerves about attending. She said: “We also understand that for some attending a screening can feel daunting, but we’re here to support you every step of the way.

“Our team is friendly, professional, and ready to make your experience as easy and reassuring as possible. We suggest that women watch the ‘what to expect’ video ahead of time to set their mind at ease.”

What happens at a screening appointment?

Eligible women living in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, will either be invited to the NHSGGC breast screening centre in Nelson Mandela Place, Glasgow City Centre or to one of NHSGGC’s breast screening mobile units that visit localities throughout the year.

This mobile unit, often called the screening bus, is a welcoming, private, and fully accessible space, designed to make visits as comfortable and supportive as possible.

Each appointment involves a mammogram, four quick X-rays, two of each breast, carried out by a specially trained female mammographer. The process only takes a few minutes, and there’s time beforehand to ask questions or share any concerns.

If you have or care for someone with additional support needs

Heather also explained the reasonable adjustments that can be made to appointments: “We have options available for people who have additional support needs.

“They or their carers can call our breast clinics and request extra support, whether that’s a longer appointment or bringing someone with them. We have easy read booklets too for people with learning disabilities to look through ahead of time so as they can understand what to expect.

“Please remember to contact the breast screening service before your appointment to discuss any support needs you may have”

What all women should do at home

Women are also urged that if they notice any unusual changes in their breasts, they should not wait for their screening. They should speak to their GP right away, even if they’ve recently had a mammogram.

Signs and symptoms to look out for include:

  • A lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
  • Changes in the skin of your breast (dimpling, redness)
  • A change in size or shape of one or both breasts
  • Nipple discharge (not related to pregnancy or breastfeeding)
  • A change in the appearance of your nipple (inversion, rash)
  • Persistent pain in your breast or armpit

For more information visit:
Breast cancer | Get Checked Early
Breast screening in Scotland | NHS inform

NHS 24: Student Health Support

🧠💬 Feeling overwhelmed? Starting college or uni can be both exciting and stressful. Remember you don’t have to face any worries alone – help is available.

Here’s what you need to know:

🏫 On Campus Support – Many unis or colleges offer in-house mental health services. Search the ‘Think Positive Hub’ to see what’s available near you.

🌐 NHS inform – Explore guides and resources:

Mental health guides to help issues such as anxiety, phobias, and sleep problems.

Tips on boosting your mental wellbeing

Info on where to find the right support

Free mental health apps to help with sleep, stress, and anxiety.

📞 Need to talk? Reach out to Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or webchat. Experienced advisors are available to listen and offer information and advice.

Open weekdays 6pm–2am & weekends 6pm Fri–6am Mon

🚨 Urgent help?

Contact your GP to access urgent mental health support. If the GP is closed, NHS 24’s Mental Health Hub is available on 111. Specially trained advisers are ready to help and connect you with the right support.

Need more info? Check out our student health tips at #NHSinform.

24-hour fundraising walk for mental health support service

A duo will undertake a mammoth 24-hour fundraising walk for Change Mental Health’s Stafford Centre service in Edinburgh.

Starting at the service on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street, Joe Sangster and Callum O’Brien will walk an entire day around the Forth estuary, all the way to Kincardine Bridge, to Rosyth, over the Forth Road Bridge then back to Stafford Centre.

Commencing at 12 noon tomorrow (8th October), the pair hope to return to Stafford Centre at the exact same time on 9th October. They are labelling the event as ‘Walk and Talk’, a nod to the fact that 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health.

Both Joe and Callum hope to raise at least £800, which will pay for some vital upgrades and improvements to Stafford Centre’s café kitchen. The café is an important asset to the centre, tackling social isolation and loneliness, and ensuring people have a space to make connections with access to a hot meal.

Joe Sangster said: “This is going to be a difficult walk, especially through the night with chilly temperatures, but this is ultimately to help the people we support.

“Fundraised income might just be for new refrigerators and appliances, but they keep the service going. It ensures people can have that hot meal in a safe space where they can break down isolation and converse with people facing similar challenges.

“This money is hugely appreciated.”

The two work for Change Mental Health in Stafford Centre, a free drop-in community resource creating a safe environment to help people build supportive networks, while helping people with their mental health.

Through a range of services, Stafford Centre aims to reduce isolation, promote belonging and build resilience, to build skills and confidence while helping people to find their community. As well as the centre’s drop-in, it can support with welfare rights, counselling and outreach – as well as supporting veterans and men experiencing trauma.

Michele Mason, Head of Edinburgh & Lothian Services, said: “The staff team and people we support are with Joe and Callum every step of the way.

“This is an admirable challenge and feat, and it means we can make improvements to Stafford Centre through the money they have raised.

“It’s fundraising challenges and donations like this that help us improve the service, so people can access transformational support in their community.”

Scots school pupils can be heroes for hungry children around the world with Pocket Money for Porridge

Just a 10p donation can feed a hungry child with Mary’s Meals charity initiative, backed by Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod

School children in Scotland can be heroes for hungry children in some of the world’s poorest communities by donating their pocket money for porridge.

Mary’s Meals’ Pocket Money for Porridge campaign, run in partnership with Inner Wheel, is calling on teachers to set up a collection where pupils can each donate 10p to the charity. The charity’s low-cost approach means they can serve a school meal to a hungry child for just 10p.

Mary’s Meals feeds three million children with a nutritious meal every school day in 16 countries. The promise of a daily meal encourages children from the world’s poorest communities into the classroom where they will gain an education that could be their ladder out of poverty.

In some of the countries where Mary’s Meals works – Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – the school meal served is a vitamin-enriched porridge, which helps children to learn and grow. Schools are being encouraged to run a Pocket Money for Porridge collection in conjunction with World Porridge Day on 10 October.

The initiative is being backed by social media sensation and bestselling cookbook author Coinneach MacLeod, the Hebridean Baker.

Coinneach, cookbook author, TV star and a judge in this year’s Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, says: “It’s incredible that something as humble as my favourite breakfast – porridge oats, can do so much good.

“Filling a hungry child’s tummy and opening the door to learning, that’s the wonderful work of Mary’s Meals. 

“I’d love for kids in classrooms in Scotland to support Mary’s Meals this World Porridge Day and throughout October by bringing 10p to class, which can stop a child going hungry.”

For Ivy, a pupil at Nansato Primary School in Malawi, her daily cup of porridge makes a real difference to her performance in school. She says: “Porridge gives me enough energy to learn better.

“After eating porridge, I actively take part in class and the porridge keeps me healthy. If there was no porridge at school, it could have been difficult for me to understand what the teachers teach due to hunger.”

Sally Davidson, Supporter Engagement Officer at Mary’s Meals, says: “Just 10p can change the world! We can serve a school meal to a hungry child for that tiny amount, and we want pupils here to help this October.

“World Porridge Day is coming up on October 10 and there’s never been a better time to make the power of porridge go even further!”

Teachers can download a Pocket Money for Porridge fundraising pack, packed full of ways their class can get involved, from:

 marysmeals.org.uk/campaigns/pocket-money-for-porridge

Ofcom: Royals and reality dominate Britain’s most complained about show

Aura Print has found that over the past five years, Good Morning Britain has racked up nearly 92,000 Ofcom complaints, making it the most complained-about show in the UK.

Reality favourites like Love Island and outspoken presenters such as Julia Hartley-Brewer and Dan Wootton aren’t far behind, whilst royal-related shows such as Harry and Meghan’s Oprah appearance and the King’s Coronation sparked nearly 15,000 complaints in total.

Key findings:

  • Piers Morgan comments on Meghan Markle had the most complaints for a single broadcast: 57,973
  • Piers Morgan, Julia Hartley-Brewer and Dan Wootton are amongst the most complained about TV presenters in the UK
  • MAFS UK generated under 2,000 complaints, showing Love Island especially riles viewers
  • Royal coverage triggers complaints: King Charles Coronation (8,000 complaints) Oprah with Meghan & Harry (6,500)
  • Emmerdale takes the lead as the British soap with the most complains 
  • ITV is the station with the most complaints with over 210,000, followed by TalkTV with over 20,000 and GBNews with over 17,000

So, which TV shows are the most complained about of the past 5 years? 

RankProgrammeServiceNumber of complaints (2021-2025)
1Good Morning BritainITV191,890
2Love IslandITV266,252
3Julia Hartley-BrewerTalkTV18,525
4Dan Wootton TonightGB News9,207
5King Charles III: The CoronationITV18,389
6This MorningITV7,387
7Celebrities: What’s Happened to Your Face?Channel 57,082
8Oprah with Meghan and HarryITV6,456
9I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!ITV16,203
10Jeremy VineChannel 54,982
11Big BrotherITV1 / ITV24,678
12LorraineITV4,675
13Breakfast with Kay BurleySky News3,467
14EmmerdaleITV12,405
15Vanessa51,986
16Loose WomenITV1,799
17Married at First Sight UKE41,748
18Coronation StreetITV1,348
19Lee Anderson’s Real WorldGB News1,668
20Friday Night LiveChannel 41,630
21HeadlinersGB News1,498
22Ant PayneCapital FM1,430
23Naked EducationChannel 41,413
24The Brit AwardsITV11,157
25Today with Samantha WashingtonSky News1,270

Please find the full data set of all Ofcom complaints 2021-2025, here.

Good Morning Britain has racked up nearly 92,000 Ofcom complaints, making it the most complained-about show in the UK.

2021 and 2024 stand out as the years with the highest number of complaints. The single most complained-about episode was on 8 March 2021, with 57,973 complaints, coinciding with the infamous Piers Morgan episode discussing Meghan Markle’s mental health. 

Aura Print’s research found that Good Morning Britain sees occasional explosive spikes linked to high-profile controversies, but day-to-day episodes generate around 50–300 complaints each.

Reality favourites like Love Island follow with over 66,000 complaints, proving that when drama hits the screen, Brits love to dial in. Key moments such as explosive rows, Casa Amor, movie nights, and provocative content generate the bulk of complaints for this show.

In comparison, Married at First Sight UK has generated less than 2k complaints in its run, showing that Love Island especially riles up Brits.

Second to Piers Morgan, Julia Hartley-Brewer is one of the most complained-about presenters, racking up 18,500 complaints, more than double the 9,207 complaints against GB News’ Dan Wootton. 

Some shows have sent viewers dialing like never before, particularly when the royals are involved. Coverage of King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023 triggered more than 8,000 complaints, while Oprah with Meghan and Harry received almost 6.5k complaints.

Even fan-favourite entertainment shows aren’t safe. I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Big Brother collectively pulled in over 10,000 complaints, with moments like bug-eating trials and live evictions sending viewers into a frenzy. 

The most complained about episodes of TV in the past 5 years

ProgrammeServiceAir DateNumber of complaints (2021-2025)
Good Morning BritainITV8 + 9 March 202157,973
Love IslandITV26 August 202124763
Julia Hartley-BrewerTalkTV3 January 202415536
Dan Wootton TonightGB News26 September 20238846
Good Morning BritainITV15 August 20248419
Good Morning BritainITV15 August 20248201
Celebrities: What’s Happened to Your Face?Channel 522 April 20217082
Oprah with Meghan and HarryITV8 March 20214,398
Love IslandITV228 July 20214330
King Charles III: The CoronationITV16 May 20234165
King Charles III: The CoronationITV16 May 20234087

Leading the charge is Good Morning Britain, whose 8 March 2021 broadcast racked up a staggering 57,973 complaints, the most for any single episode in recent history.

Ofcom has since reminded broadcasters to provide timely warnings or signposting for sensitive content, especially around topics such as mental health and suicide. Their statement included:

“Mr Morgan’s comments were potentially harmful and offensive to viewers, and we recognise the strong public reaction to them. But we also took full account of freedom of expression. Under our rules, broadcasters can include controversial opinions as part of legitimate debate in the public interest, and the strong challenge to Mr Morgan from other contributors provided important context for viewers.”

Love Island’s 6 August 2021 episode received 24,763 complaints after contestant Faye Winters outburst at her interest Teddy Soares. The outburst sparked widespread viewer complaints around whether the show did enough to step in.

The most complained about TV episode of 2024 was Julia Hartley-Brewer’s TalkTV show on 3 January 2024 provoked 15,536 complaints,

Dan Wootton Tonight racked up 8,846 complaints when Laurence Fox made derogatory remarks about Ava Evans following her appearance on the BBC’s Politics Live, calling her “pathetic and embarrassing” and questioning her appeal to men.

Alzheimer Scotland call on people to sign up to Edinburgh Memory Walk

SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER at LAURISTON CASTLE GARDENS

People across Edinburgh and the east are being encouraged to sign up for a fundraising walk that pays tribute to people with dementia.

Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk 2025 takes place on Sunday, 26 October and will raise vital funds to support dementia care, research and improvements in brain health.

Communities across the area are being invited to join the event in Lauriston Castle Gardens on Cramond Road South, where they can walk in memory of loved ones affected by the illness.

The Edinburgh event is the last of four memory walks taking place across Scotland throughout 2025.

Those looking to take part can sign up at memorywalk.alzscot.org.

Events have also taken place in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Tickets cost just £10 for adults and children can be registered for free. It’s quick and easy to set up a sponsorship page, which can be shared with family, friends and colleagues.

Every penny raised will help people with dementia and their carers, as well as supporting better brain health for everyone in Scotland.

Scotland’s Memory Walk is also about celebrating the lives of people with dementia and walking to remember them.

Among those taking part is Karen Witherspoon from Cleikiminfield, Edinburgh. She will be walking in memory of her mum Margaret Walker who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and passed away in 2024 aged 82.

Karen, 61, a university administration manager, will be joined on the walk by husband John, daughters Lauren, 37, and Amy, 32, and son-in-law Patrick.

She said: “My mum Margaret was such a loving person who was devoted to her family. She was always there for me and my sister Nicola, and when I had my daughters she spent almost every day with them.

“She loved bingo, reading and music, and kept fit by going for walks with my dad William and her best pal Pat.

“She was the best mum.

“We started noticing signs that things weren’t quite right and then in 2021 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It seemed to progress fast, but we did our best to make the most of the time we had with her.

“Alzheimer Scotland have been a great source of advice and support for us, and before mum passed she joined us on our first memory walk to raise money for them – walking around Arthur’s Seat.

“It felt good to be able to give back and this year we’ll be taking part in the memory walk again. Whatever we raise, I hope it helps support the work Alzheimer Scotland are doing so that other families like ours can get the help and support they need.

“It’s a shame mum isn’t here to join in, but we’ll be doing it in her memory. I hope she’s looking down and is proud of us.”

Lauren Heap, Centre Manager for Alzheimer Scotland’s Edinburgh and West Lothian’s Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is proud to support people living with dementia and their families and carers, from our centres here in Edinburgh.

“We are delighted to host this Memory Walk in Edinburgh. It is such a special event and it will be wonderful to walk alongside our supporters again in the local community.

“Scotland’s Memory Walk has always had a wonderful ability to bring people together. Every pound raised helps Alzheimer Scotland continue to develop and deliver vital dementia support. We can’t wait to see Lauriston Castle Gardens filled with a sea of purple t-shirts.”

To find out more and to sign up for Scotland’s Memory Walk, visit: 

memorywalk.alzscot.org 

RHASS and Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral come together to celebrate in a Harvest Thanksgiving service

Picutred: Neil Thompson, RHASS Director and Rev Dr Scott Rennie





RHASS and Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral come together to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of Scotland’s farmers in a Harvest Thanksgiving service

A John Deere tractor and a seed drill took centre stage outside of Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral yesterday (5th October) as the exceptional efforts and hard work of Scotland’s farming community were recognised in a Harvest Thanksgiving service in partnership with RHASS (the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland).

Conducted by Rev Dr Scott Rennie, the service celebrated the tireless efforts of Scotland’s farming community, while acknowledging the ever-changing weather conditions farmers across the country have faced ahead of this year’s harvest.

Displays of seasonal vegetables, including broccoli, pumpkins, potatoes, parsnips and carrots were donated by RHASS Directors for the service from farms across the country to shine a light on the array of local produce grown in Scotland.

RHET (the Royal Highland Education Trust) also supported the Harvest Thanksgiving celebrations by creating a display inside the cathedral.

Their exhibit drew on educational resources used in schools to highlight what’s in season, Scottish crops, images of harvesting through the ages, examples of school growing projects, and a seasonal calendar.

This provided visitors with a chance to reflect on Scotland’s food harvest and the work of farmers, while showcasing RHET’s role in connecting young people with food and farming.

The produce on display during the service has since been donated to Edinburgh charities, Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, the Grassmarket Community Project and the Salvation Army Hostel, to be made into meals for those in the city who are in need.



RHASS Chairman, James Logan, said: “At RHASS, we’re proud to stand side by side Scotland’s rural community all year round and the harvest season provides us with an opportunity to take stock and show our incredible gratitude towards those farmers working day and night to help feed our nation.

“This year has brought more unpredictable weather and following a dry spring harvest experiences can vary widely for each farmer. Everyone involved in farming and rural life plays a vital role in producing our food, and they all deserve recognition and thanks. Sunday’s service provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate these efforts, and we are grateful to all who joined us and shared produce in support of local causes.”

Speaking on the Harvest Thanksgiving service, Katrina Barclay, Executive Officer at RHET, commented: “As an education charity, it’s an honour for RHET to be asked by the team at St Giles to be part of this celebration of harvest and to share some of the learning information we create for teachers all about food and farming in Scotland.”

Catherine Jones, Social Enterprise Director, said: “We are truly thankful for this incredible donation of fresh vegetables again this year.

“Every week, we support more than 230 vulnerable adults who often struggle to access healthy and nutritious meals. Food poverty continues to be a serious issue across our communities, and contributions like this make a real difference to those most affected.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to St Giles’ Cathedral for their ongoing support, and to RHASS and the dedicated farmers whose hard work has made this gift possible.”

Rev Dr Scott Rennie, Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral, said: “In this time when we are more than ever aware of our need of local food production and the vital role that Scottish farmers in bringing the food we need to our tables, we are delighted to partner with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

“There is a particular poignancy to celebrating the Harvest in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, a city filled with tables set for visitors and residents alike.  We are reminded of where our food comes from, and the labour in its production.  For all this, and more, we give thanks to God.

“Bringing farming equipment to the Royal Mile is one way to remind us of all of our dependence on those who work hard to produce our food.”

For further information about the work of RHASS, visit: rhass.org.uk

Palm Fat replacement product for food industry gets funding boost

A team of food researchers who developed an innovative new replacement for palm fat in the bakery industry has received a welcome funding boost from the Scottish Government.  

The move will see the team progress commercial opportunities with new industry partners to provide healthy sustainable solutions for the food industry, and a reduced reliance on the use of palm fat in the bakery industry.   

The researchers at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh developed Palm-Alt, a new ingredient which replaces palm shortening, margarine and butter in a variety of bakery applications. Palm-Alt is considerably lower in saturated fat and carbon emissions when compared with palm, butter or margarine.

Palm shortening is widely used in a vast amount of baked goods such as biscuits, cakes and pastries, but palm cultivation is linked with tropical rainforest destruction. 

The University’s new replacement ingredient could offer significant solutions for the food industry allowing manufacturers to satisfy increasing consumer demand for tasty, lower fat, healthier food products, whilst reducing destruction of the world’s rainforests.    

Due to its composition, high yield and low production costs, the global food industry has become dependent on palm shortening, resulting in its over-cultivation. Its high saturated fat content, which allows it to remain solid at room temperature, has proven crucial to the industrial bakery sector.   

The new ingredient, which is a clean label blend of rapeseed oil, fibres and proteins, can be produced locally and at a global scale. During its initial trial period, the University’s research team demonstrated that when Palm-Alt was used as a replacement in baked goods, products such as cakes, biscuits and bread maintained their texture, flavour and colour.

When news about its initial success and its health and sustainable credentials went viral in 2023, there was a huge surge of interest from food manufacturers across the globe, all keen to know more about this exciting new replacement product and its potential to positively impact the food industry.   

More recently, the QMU team have moved testing out of the University’s labs, with successful trialling of Palm-Alt in industrial manufacturing settings, and with excellent results when tested as an ingredient in partners’ own products. The research team are currently in commercialisation and licensing discussions of PalmAlt with a number of interested UK food manufacturers.   

A new funding boost of £239k from the Scottish Government is now allowing the team to progress the development of an extended range of Palm-Alt to enable further applications. This work is set to include new collaborations with food industry partners ranging from ingredient producers to finished food product manufacturers from across the food industry. 

The innovative new palm substitute has been developed by Dr Julien Lonchamp, Reader in Food Science, and Catriona Liddle, Head of the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation at QMU.  

Catriona explained: “We set out to develop a new ingredient that would not only be better for the environment but also healthier than palm fat and current alternatives.

“Our trials at the University and now in industry settings have demonstrated that Palm-Alt works successfully as a replacement for palm-based shortening in baked goods.

“With up to 25% less fat and 89% less saturated fat, it is healthier, and as it can be produced locally, it could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the impact of food miles and deforestation of global rainforests associated with palm production.”  

Catriona continued: “After seven years of research and development it is exciting to see the level of interest and enthusiasm from the food industry and our current partners. We are delighted that the Scottish Government is recognising the commercial potential of Palm-Alt as an effective replacement ingredient which offers significant health and sustainability benefits.”  

Dr Julien Lonchamp confirmed: “Today, the focus on nutrition and on identifying and developing more sustainable food and food sources has never been higher.

“This Proof of Concept funding from the Scottish Government will allow us to continue our work in commercialising Palm-Alt, seeking out new applications and solutions for the food industry in, for example, the use of Palm-Alt in pastry and confectionery products.

“It will help bridge the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial applications, which is essential in helping bring Palm-Alt to the global marketplace.”  

The research team are currently being supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation service at the University of Edinburgh, who are managing the patent and commercial development of Palm-Alt, including engaging in license discussions with a number of interested UK food manufacturers.   

Queen Margaret University has been carrying out commercial trials at Opportunity North East (ONE) SeedPod, Scotland’s dedicated food and drink innovation hub in Aberdeen.

Gary McDonald, Senior Market Development Manager at ONE, said: “Delighted to see this project come to fruition at ONE SeedPod.

“The team at the Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation have been such a joy to work with on what is such an innovative project for the industry.”   

Jali Film Weekender announces full programme

FILMHOUSE: 30th OCTOBER – 2nd NOVEMBER

 Jali Collective is proud to reveal the full programme for the first ever Jali Film Weekender, taking place at Filmhouse, Edinburgh from 30 October – 2 November 2025, with tickets now on sale.

Following the earlier announcement of the festival’s opening and closing films and its Extended Realities exhibition, the complete line-up now brings together a dynamic mix of award-winning features, Scottish and UK premieres, discussions, workshops and short films under the festival’s inaugural theme, Dreams and Apparitions.

Spanning more than a dozen countries across Africa, the diaspora and beyond, the programme presents stories that move between the intimate and the cosmic, the past and the future. With premieres direct from major festivals including Berlin, Sundance and Locarno, and films representing their countries at the Academy Awards, Jali Film Weekender positions Edinburgh as a new gathering place for Black, African and diasporic cinema.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to opening film Memory of Princess Mumbi and closing film Promised Sky, among the headline feature film titles is the Scottish Premiere of Imran Hamdulay’s The Heart is a Muscle, fresh from its award-winning premiere at Berlinale in February and selection as South Africa’s official Oscar submission. 

Other highlights include a special preview of Sofia Alaoui’s Sundance prize-winning sci-fi thriller Animalia, ahead of its highly anticipated UK and Ireland theatrical release later in the year and the Scottish Premiere of Denise Fernandes’ award-winning  Hanami, which offers a dreamlike coming-of-age story set on the volcanic islands of Cape Verde.

Acknowledging the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, Jali Film Weekender will also present the Scottish Premiere of Berlinale stand-out Khartoum, in partnership with Scottish Documentary Institute, which offers a moving portrait of life amidst revolution and war. The screening will be followed by an in-conversation with Talal Afifi, producer and founder of Sudan Film Factory.

“We are honoured to be partners of the Jali Film Weekender as it launches in Edinburgh’s cultural landscape,” says Flore Cosquer, Director of Scottish Documentary Institute. 

She continues: “The festival’s dedication to building authentic community connections through exceptional cinema resonates deeply with our own values, reflecting our shared belief that communities across Scotland deserve access to storytelling that speaks to the richness of our collective experiences.

“The Jali Collective has poured their passion into this project and created something truly special: a layered, magical programme that goes beyond traditional screenings to foster meaningful conversations.

“This is cinema as community-building at its finest. We are proud to be part of its first chapter, and to get the opportunity to bring to Edinburgh audiences the genre-defying, bold and poetic documentary Khartoum.”

Another documentary work featured in the programme is the Scottish Premiere of Celia Boussebaa‘s Amakki, presented in partnership with maona art, a lyrical meditation on womanhood and motherhood in Ethiopia. The festival also proudly honours cinematic legacy of the late Souleymane Cissé who passed away earlier this year, with a screening of his seminal work Yeelen, now restored in 2K by Les Films Cissé, the production company of Souleymane Cissé. 

Finally, the festival’s short film programme spans multiple continents, with new works from across Africa, the Caribbean, North America and Europe, demonstrating the depth and range of diasporic storytelling today.

The programme includes the European premiere of Jard Lerebours’ LESPRI,  the UK premiere of Justice Rutikara’s Ibuka, Justice, and Scottish premieres of Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume’s Dédé (Ancestor), Barbara Minishi’s Inheritance, Samuel Suffren’s Blue Heart (Coeur Bleu), Tomisin Adepeju’s Journey Mercies and many more.

TALKS, WORKSHOPS & GATHERINGS

The Weekender is as much about conversation and participation as it is about film. A central highlight is a public discussion on how to centre Black, African and diaspora audiences in Scotland. Rooted in Jali Collective values of representation and co-creation, the session will bring together creative practitioners, programmers, and community organisers  to explore challenges and best practices in making Scotland’s cultural landscape more inclusive, and to share approaches such as community-centred outreach, intentional partnerships and co-programming.

Workshops and interactive experiences also offer audiences ways to connect beyond the cinema screen. The festival will host hands-on creative activities and the previously announced Extended Realities (XR) Exhibition, which will runevery day of the festival and is free to attend. 

This includes ARGO, an augmented reality experience designed with children in mind, offering fun and engaging activities for younger audiences, alongside Enkang’ Ang’, an immersive VR journey into Maasai heritage.

Together, these elements ensure that the Weekender is a space for gathering, dialogue and play, welcoming audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

“From films and extended realities to conversations and workshops, our first programme brings together stories that are as urgent as they are visionary” say Jali Collective members Tomiwa Folorunso, Isabel Moura Mendes and Carmen Thompson. 

“We are proud to have curated an intentional programme which we hope will resonate with both Edinburgh’s Black, African and diaspora communities as well as the city’s wider filmgoing community. We cannot wait to share it with our audiences!”.

All events will take place at Filmhouse, Edinburgh, which reopened earlier this year as a renewed hub for independent and international cinema.

Jali Film Weekender 2025 is supported by Screen Scotland and Film Hub Scotland (part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, awarding funding on behalf of Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery), alongside the British Council and The Africa Centre, programme partners Scottish Documentary Institute, maona art, and additional support from Jack Arts, Premiere Scotland.

Jali Film Weekender 2025 artwork and branding by 080 Studio, based in Lagos, Nigeria.

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People across Edinburgh and Lothians invited to help shape the future of Scotland’s historic sites and collections in state care

  • Historic Environment Scotland (HES) launches consultation to guide how Scotland’s historic places, objects and archives are cared for and used
  • Public input will influence long-term decisions on managing Scotland’s heritage, and supporting communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is inviting people across Edinburgh and the Lothians to help shape the future of some of the nation’s most important historic places and collections through a new public consultation.

HES looks after more than 300 historic sites and over 50,000 related objects and archival records, including sites such as Edinburgh and Craigmillar Castles and Linlithgow Palace on behalf of the people of Scotland.

The responses will help inform HES’s Properties and Collections Strategy: Towards Sustainable Stewardship, a long-term plan for how historic places, objects and archives are cared for, used and managed for generations to come.

By sharing their views, people will help HES understand how these historic places and collections matter to communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, and ensure they’re cared for in ways that benefit future generations.

HES’s new strategy comes at a time when Scotland’s historic environment is facing significant challenges, including climate change and rising costs, to a shortage of traditional skills needed to maintain heritage sites.

At the same time, new technologies are opening up exciting ways to connect with wider audiences through digital access and interpretation.

These places have clear potential to do even more for the communities they serve. Visitor expectations are also evolving, with growing interest in sustainable tourism and more inclusive storytelling.

The consultation gives the public a chance to influence how HES responds to current challenges, makes informed decisions about the care of its historic sites and collections, and ensures those decisions reflect the needs of local communities now and in the future.

Participants will be asked for their views on HES’s proposed strategy, including its long-term vision and where the organisation should focus its efforts across its sites and collections.

Dr David Mitchell, Director of Cultural Assets at HES said: “Scotland’s historic environment requires a shared stewardship approach and the Properties in Care and the Collections associated with them represent some of the best Scotland has to offer as part of that asset base.

“We manage these cultural heritage assets on behalf of Scottish Ministers and therefore the people of Scotland through a long state care tradition.

“We have both challenges and opportunities before us and this strategy seeks to set these out and how we will deal with them going forward.

“What we choose to do will have long lasting consequences so it’s important that all views are taken into account.  We know how much these places mean to local communities, to the people of Scotland and those who visit us from overseas.

“They are truly sustainable assets for subsequent generations if we get our approach right – balancing benefits without placing the assets themselves at risk.

“That’s why we’re asking everyone to share their views. These places and objects are an integral part of Scotland’s identity and sense of place – they contribute to our economy and environment, enhance our health and wellbeing and together we have to ensure we get the right balance on what we do and how we do it.

“We’re asking everyone with an interest to take part and help shape the future stewardship approach.”

The consultation is available now on CitizenSpace and will remain open until 23 January 2026.

The final strategy is expected to be published in spring 2026.