Muirhouse Library have a guitar group for ages 10+ on Tuesday afternoons.
No guitar? No problem – you can borrow one from their Musical Instrument Lending library!
Come along to our Guitar group on Tuesday afternoons!
We want YOUUUU for our Christmas celebrations at The Pitt (Pittmas?) We will be having various musical performances and opportunities to play across the festive season, starting from late November.
We are in particular looking for groups and choirs from across North Edinburgh, but if you are from a bit further afield, please get in touch anyway!
Contact granton@thepitt.co.uk with more information about what you’re offering.
Scotland has made significant progress towards its goal of becoming a leading Fair Work Nation, according to the latest research from the Fair Work Convention.
The new report, which benchmarks Scotland’s performance against leading European nations, highlights both achievements and ongoing challenges for Scotland as it approaches its 2025 ambition.
This report is not the final verdict on whether Scotland is a leading Fair Work Nation due to the lag in the publication of economic data. But the findings suggest that Scotland won’t be a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025.
Despite this, the report shows that since 2016, Scotland has made measurable progress on fair work. It has improved on 11 of the 14 indicators, with particularly positive performance in key areas like reducing gender economic inactivity gaps, reducing workplace injuries and tackling low pay.
When comparing Scotland’s performance with other leading European nations, Scotland performs particularly well on permanent employment and is improving on other security dimensions of fair work like underemployment and involuntary part-time work.
Challenges remain, particularly on unemployment for young people where Scotland’s performance is dropping, on the disability employment gap where more progress is needed to meet the Scottish Government’s target and on collective bargaining where Scotland lags significantly behind the leading nations.
Beyond the data, the report recognises the significant work undertaken by the Scottish Government and the Fair Work Convention to create the concept of Fair Work and to embed it firmly within economic policy.
The Government’s Fair Work First approach means that fair work conditionality has been applied to more than £6 billion of public funding. The Convention’s sectoral inquiries have provided a clear way forward on deeply ingrained fair work issues in sectors like hospitality, construction and social care.
Looking ahead, the report calls for a renewed commitment and a range of further action, particularly on collective bargaining as a key measure and a route to improving all dimensions of fair work.
Fair Work Convention Co-Chairs Professor Patricia Findlay and Chris Westcott said: “Becoming a world leading Fair Work Nation was always a stretching and aspirational target, deliberately chosen to challenge ourselves as a nation. There are many obstacles to its delivery. But by aiming high, fair work is now embedded firmly in policy and in much practice in Scotland.
“We remain ambitious and committed to supporting the delivery of fair work. Transformative progress that benefits workers, businesses and our economy is achievable. New legislation on worker rights from Westminster will help underpin aspects of fair work, allowing us to re-focus Scotland’s aspirations for leading fair work practice.”
Read the full Measuring Scotland’s Performance as a Leading Fair Work Nation report here
Swiss watchmaker OMEGA has announced the opening of its first standalone boutique in Edinburgh, located at the prestigious Multrees Walk.
Spanning 2,000 square feet across two stylish floors, the new boutique will offer an elevated customer experience, complete with a dedicated lounge and bar area, creating a welcoming environment for customers to discover the world of OMEGA.
The new boutique will showcase OMEGA’s renowned watch collections, including the Constellation, Seamaster, Speedmaster, and De Ville families.
Visitors will also be able to explore OMEGA’s range of matching accessories and fine jewellery, making the store the perfect destination for watch enthusiasts.
Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGA said: “OMEGA’s new location in the heart of Edinburgh aligns perfectly with the Scottish spirit, balancing forward-thinking innovation with a deep respect for heritage and traditions”.
Adam Stone, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at Nuveen said: “We are delighted to welcome OMEGA to Multrees Walk.
“Their arrival further strengthens our reputation as Scotland’s leading luxury shopping destination.
“As we continue to grow and expand the retail offering in Edinburgh, we are excited to be welcoming world-class brands and luxury retailers on board.”
The arrival of OMEGA marks another milestone for Multrees Walk, which continues to attract leading global brands, with further retailer announcements expected later this year.
The Scottish FA has commissioned a review of Youth Development, and specifically the player development pathway, in advance of the publication of a new 10-year strategic plan.
Following the publication of the Transition Report, which looked at innovative ways of maximising game time for young Scottish talent, this latest review provides a detailed look at the fundamental structures within the player development pathway and provides recommendations to better cultivate future talent.
The review was carried out by Chief Football Officer Andy Gould and Chris Docherty, Head of Men’s Elite Strategy. It compares the existing structures within Scottish football to the most successful development strategies in world football and sport.
The key findings are incorporated within three distinct age groups – 0-5, 5-12 and 12-16 – and include:
Andy Gould, Scottish FA Chief Football Officer: “The Review of Youth Development in Scottish Football looks into global best practice in the development of young talent and examines how we can improve the pathway for our most talented players.
“While this naturally looks at trends within football it also looks at the commonalities between elite talent in other sports, as well as professions such as music and the arts.
“This has been undertaken in the context of how the Scottish football player development pathway has evolved since the launch of the performance strategy more than a decade ago: which initiatives need to be refreshed and updated, and which need to be revisited entirely.
“It’s no secret Scottish football has finite financial resource, so the recommendations have been made on the principle of maximising that resource to deliver the best results for talented young players – in the words of Arsene Wenger ‘to give every talent a chance’.
“The decision to phase-out our Performance Schools is not one that we have taken lightly. Based on our evidence from the review, the national association’s focus should be on the more impressionable age of birth to 12 years old, rather than potentially duplicating or conflicting with clubs’ own development plans.
“Similarly, a country of our size cannot credibly fund 27 academies while we have a well-known and long-standing challenge in seeing academy players graduate to first-team football.
“At present the criteria-based system is not producing top-class players and has become, anecdotally, a tick-box exercise to unlock funding.
“There are various models that exist, and we need to provide a better system for Scottish football, one that helps players maximise and – crucially – realise their potential, but also provides a flexibility of academy structure that clubs can choose based on their resources.
“This review is a commitment to harnessing investment in the right areas – as proven in the case studies we have highlighted. It is also to highlight the importance of looking beyond formal, organised, structured football and looking at a holistic approach in the early years, with emphasis on mastery of the ball and love of the game: founded on a freedom of expression and increasing free-to-play environments.”
The next step is to work with all stakeholders to agree on a new model for Club Academy Scotland, including alternative games programmes, via the Scottish FA Professional Game Board.
Age 0-5:
Age 5-12:
Age 12-16:
‘Fundamental issues’ must be addressed in a Bill which seeks to introduce a recall process to the Scottish Parliament. This is the outcome of a report issued by Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.
The report follows the Committee’s consideration of the Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill. The Bill, introduced by Graham Simpson MSP, would introduce a process by which an MSP could lose their seat in the Parliament through a recall petition.
Whilst the Committee recommends the Scottish Parliament agrees the general principles of the Bill, the report sets out a number of areas for reconsideration to ensure the process works within the Scottish Parliament’s electoral system.
These include consideration of the complexity and costs associated with the recall of regional MSPs, and some of the practical arrangements of holding recall petitions to ensure all those eligible to sign can do so.
The Bill also proposes new grounds for the automatic removal of MSPs, either on criminal offence grounds or when a Member has not attended the Parliament in person for 180 days without a reasonable explanation.
The Committee is not persuaded that MSPs should be removed for not physically attending the Parliament and invites Mr Simpson to reconsider this element of the Bill.
Speaking as the report published, Committee Convener Martin Whitfield MSP said: “We have heard that at its heart, this Bill has the integrity of the democratic process and the aim of improving accountability.
“Whilst this is clearly to be welcomed, there are some fundamental changes which need to be made for the Bill to achieve this aim.
“The recall process suggested within the Bill builds on the now well-established process at Westminster. But as we heard time and again, the two electoral systems are not the same and it is clear to us that there needs to be further thought given to how regional recall will work.”
The Convener continued: “The proposals within the Bill in relation to removal of MSPs fail to take into account the fact that we operate as a hybrid Parliament.
“With this in mind, we are simply not persuaded that requiring physical attendance is the correct basis for removal of MSPs and this must be rectified during any further consideration of the Bill.”
TUESDAY 11th NOVEMBER from 6.30 – 7.30pm
Discover the power of poetry as a tool for remembrance, on Tuesday 11th November from 6.30pm-7.30pm.
This guided session offers a gentle and welcoming space to reflect on loved ones through poems about memory, love, and loss. You are invited to join us in writing, sharing your own poems, or simply listening to others.
No poetry experience is needed; all are welcome to participate in this shared experience.
Light refreshments will be provided.
This session will be facilitated by our dramatherapist, Sally McRae.
Booking required – please email arts@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 1 – 4pm
Drylaw Festive Fayre – Only 3 Weeks Away!
The countdown is on! Join us for our Festive Fayre – a warm, cheerful day full of seasonal treats, handmade gifts, and community spirit.
Friday 28th November
1PM – 4PM
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre
Come along and enjoy:
Stalls with crafts, gifts & goodies
Homemade cakes & refreshments
A visit from Santa (for the young and young-at-heart!)
Tombola prizes and more surprises
Bring your friends, family, and neighbours – it’ll be a great family-friendly, free way to start the Festive season!
Only 3 weeks to go – spread the word!
The new Currie Community High School was officially opened at an official ceremony by Cllr James Dalgleish and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth.
The school in the west of Edinburgh opened its doors to pupils in August 2025 and is one of the first Passivhaus-designed high schools in the country, setting the standard for energy consumption across school estates.
Passivhaus is a rigorous energy standard which reduces the amount of energy needed for heating by up to 90%. It also lowers the total amount of energy used by around 70% and minimises carbon emissions. The new school supports Edinburgh’s aim of net zero emissions by 2030.
The campus has been designed with the needs of learners, as well as the local community in mind. The school includes a four-court sports hall, a gym hall, fitness suite, dance studio, a Passivhaus four lane swimming pool and a 3G pitch.
The main entrance foyer includes the school library alongside informal social and meeting spaces for the community to use. These facilities include a wellness centre, meeting room and café area which has been included with the aim of providing refreshments for community users in the near future.
Aiming to encourage cross curricular and collaborative learning, the school has two large open plan learning plazas that are easily accessed by classrooms on all three floors. Along with classrooms in an Integrated Support Zone, there is a sensory room and nurture room. Breakout and retreat spaces throughout the school offer pupils choice on where they want to work, socialise or take time out.
The new school building has been designed in line with the guiding principles of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Strategy and is one of the projects in the first phase of the Scottish Government’s Learning Estate Investment Programme.
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “This is a school to inspire the next generation in more ways than one, and the campus has not only been designed with learners’ needs at its heart, but with their ideas and input integrated throughout the building.
“This campus also stands to benefit the wider community, which is also central to its ethos. The broad range of facilities on offer reflects this – from the state-of-the-art gym, public spaces and of course the swimming pool that are open to the community, as well as pupils.
“The building itself is designed to be fit for the future and support our net-zero commitment. It is a pleasure to see pupils and school staff already enjoying and taking advantage of the opportunities for collaboration and expression that are central to its design.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government has been proud to partner with the City of Edinburgh Council and support them with over £22 million of funding to support the building of the new Currie Community Campus.
“We know that high quality school buildings play a key role in supporting children and young people to thrive in their education. Since 2007, the proportion of school buildings in “good” or “satisfactory” condition has increased from 62.7% to a record 92% thanks to Scottish Government investment in the school estate.
“Through this funding from the Scottish Government, the local Council has been able to construct a school that is a modern, flexible and sustainable learning environment, which will be a huge asset to the local area for the years to come.”
Jenny Hutchison, Head Teacher at Currie Community High School, said: “The opening of our new school marks not just the unveiling of bricks and mortar, but of new beginnings, a school where curiosity will be nurtured, talents discovered, and futures shaped for generations to come.
“It has been a whirlwind 12 weeks since our pupils first walked through the doors and it is everything we expected and more.
“We have the most incredible school and it’s been amazing seeing it come to life with pupils and staff in the campus. I want to personally thank everyone involved in the project, which has been such a team effort.
“Together, we will make Currie Community High School not just a building, but a beacon of excellence, hope, inclusion, and inspiration.
Phil McDowell, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “Currie Community High School is a special project that showcases our deep sector expertise in delivering complex, high-performance education facilities. It reflects our passion for creating spaces that not only support learning but also lead the way in sustainability and decarbonisation.
“As the first Passivhaus school in Scotland with a swimming pool, it sets a new standard for low-energy design and long-term value.
“We’re proud to have worked in close partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver a futureproofed school that will benefit generations to come—both as a place of learning and as a sustainable community asset.”
Police are appealing for information to help trace a missing boy. Ahmad Bader, 15, was last seen in the Granton Medway area of the city on the morning of Monday, 27 October, 2025.
Ahmad is described as being around 5ft 11in tall, of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes.
When last seen he was wearing black jogging bottoms with white stripes and text, a black hoodie and puffer gilet, black trainers and carrying a black cross body bag.
Ahmad is believed to be in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh and has links throughout the west of Edinburgh area. He uses buses to travel around the city.
Sergeant James Palmer said: “It is out of character for Ahmad to be away from home for this long and as time passes concerns are growing.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and I am appealing for anyone who has seen Ahmed or who has any information on his whereabouts to contact us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 2546 of Thursday, 6 November, 2025.
Read more – https://orlo.uk/QCDtN
