STREET ASSIST SAYS SORRY …
Street Assist Edinburgh: An Apology
Day: November 20, 2025
Strachan House welcomes a pair of unusual vistors!
Strachan House care home in Blackhall was full of animal mischief when a group of Miniature ponies came to visit the home recently.
Residents at Strachan House were pleasantly surprised to see their new furry friends roaming around their home as the beautiful Willow and Sparkles from Happy Hoofbeats theraponies Ltd paid a visit.
General Manager Fran Fisher said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today.
“We knew that having the farm here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus.
“We are always looking for new activities for the residents and today we have seen the seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence animals can have on people.”
Resident Bernard Lennon was very excited to see Willow and Sparkles: “As a child I used to love all the animals on the nearby farm. Today was very enjoyable and it was wonderful that the animals were free to roam amongst us.”
It was also great to see the home taking onboard our feedback from our recent meeting where we all requested more animal visits.
Strachan House care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides residential care, nursing care and dementia care for 83 residents from respite care to long term stays.
Man jailed for serious sexual assault in Dalry
A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison following a serious sexual assault in Edinburgh.
Ali Chikane attacked his female victim on Monday, 5 February, 2024 in the Murieston Crescent Lane area of Dalry, leaving her with serious injuries.
He appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 19 November, after being convicted at the same court last month.
Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victim during this investigation after such a traumatic and frightening incident.
“Chikane is a dangerous and violent individual. I am glad he will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.
“We would encourage anyone who has experienced any form of violent or sexual offence, regardless of when it happened, to report it to us. We will investigate thoroughly and have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”
Taylor Wimpey teams up with Scottish Book Trust to bring magic of author visits to school children in Scotland
Homebuilder Taylor Wimpey has made a generous donation to Scottish Book Trust to fund author visits to school children in east Scotland.
For the second year running, Taylor Wimpey has announced during Book Week Scotland that they will fund ten Live Literature sessions for children at Scotland’s schools in the central belt, and five will be for schools in the east.
The Live Literature programme inspires a love of reading and writing and is delivered by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing. These sessions allow for a children’s author to visit a chosen school, bringing the magic of reading into the classroom.
The schools that benefited from Taylor Wimpey’s previous donation in the 2024-2025 Live Literature sessions were:
- Lumphinnans Primary School in Fife, welcoming Natalie Russell, to help engage pupils in reading and writing.
- Forrester High School in Edinburgh, inviting Alastair Chisholm to discuss the role of technology in his novels.
- Dalkeith High School, holding workshops on creating graphic novels.
- Glenlee Primary School in South Lanarkshire, welcoming Shelley Mack to promote the joy of reading.
- Craigbank Primary School in South Lanarkshire, welcoming Vivien French, to encourage pupils to diversify their reading.
- Eastertoun Primary School in West Lothian, holding sessions to support the school’s growing reading culture.
Kirsty McGill, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the Scottish Book Trust for another year and contribute to the celebration of World Book Day 2026.
“By funding 10 author visits in February and March next year, we aim to inspire young readers and support Scottish Book Trust’s mission to bring the magic of books to life.
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to supporting the communities where we build, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on children across our local areas.”
Marc Lambert, CEO Scottish Book Trust, said: “We are grateful to the generosity of Taylor Wimpey who, for the second year, is supporting our Live Literature programme.
“Author visits to schools really inspire children to have a life-long love of reading and writing. There is such a demand for Live Literature sessions from organisations across Scotland that we can’t meet all our requests, so this support is very welcome indeed.
“We look forward to discovering which authors and illustrators will be visiting schools, and the creative and uplifting experiences they will bring to pupils.”
Applications for the Taylor Wimpey funded Live Literature sessions are now open and close on Friday 28 November.
Find out more at Scottish Book Trust.
Exhibition shines light on Scotland’s first Renal Young Adult Service
At the end of October the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh opened a moving and inspiring art exhibition created by young adults living with kidney conditions, marking a milestone moment for NHS Lothian’s pioneering Renal Young Adult Service.
The exhibition, held in OPD4, showcased a vibrant collection of artwork produced by patients aged 16–35 who are supported by the service.
Euan Flannigan (above) is a patient of the service and has taken part in the exhibition by creating a piece of work that represents his personal healthcare journey. He explains: “I decided to take part in this art project because it was not only a cool idea, it was also a great way to show my experience as a transplant patient.
“Being a transplant patient is unpredictable – one day you’re fine, the next you’re not. It’s also surreal in other ways; you might be in a busy street and think, ‘I’m probably the only person here who’s had a transplant.’ That feeling can be strange, but also uplifting and motivational. You’ve survived something extraordinary, and that makes you strong.
“Embrace that feeling and keep living a great life. We’re all special, and ambassadors for transplantation – so share your story and keep moving forward like the wind.”
The exhibition gave participants a creative outlet to explore and express their emotions, experiences, and identities through various artistic mediums.
Sharlene Taylor, Renal Young Adult Support Worker and lead for the service (above), reflected on the exhibition’s impact: “The thought behind the exhibition was, when you make choices in art—such as picking a colour, the composition and layout, it empowers you to make decisions and create your vision.
“This gives individuals a sense of confidence in their ability to express and choose.
“This not only applies to their art but allows them to express in other areas of their lives, particularly around their healthcare. Bringing people together who can relate to each other’s journeys and hearing them chat and learn from one another has been the most powerful thing to watch and listen to.”
The Renal Young Adult Service, launched in May 2023, is the first of its kind in Scotland. While other health boards are exploring similar models, NHS Lothian remains the only provider currently offering dedicated support for young adults with kidney conditions.
Thanks to the support of NHS Lothian Charity, the service was set up and designed to address the unique challenges faced by this age group, many of whom had never met peers with similar experiences prior to joining.
Monthly peer support groups at the Royal Infirmary have become a cornerstone of the service, offering a safe space for connection, discussion, and shared learning. The emergence of art as a common interest among participants led to the development of the exhibition project, which has proven to be both therapeutic and empowering.
“Art helps process emotions, reduces anxiety and stress, builds confidence and encourages mindfulness,” added Sharlene. “It’s been incredible to see how creativity has opened up new ways for these young adults to engage with their health and with each other.”
The exhibition not only celebrates the artistic achievements of the participants but also highlights the importance of holistic, person-centred care in long-term health management.
All the artwork was developed while attending a series of workshops led by a local artist at the Edinburgh Printmakers and curated by NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts for their exhibition space.
Len McCaffer, Tonic Arts Manager at NHS Lothian Charity: “The ‘My Journey’ exhibition showcases the strength, resilience and talent of these incredible young people.
“These artworks tell stories that go beyond treatment – they show the strength and creativity of these individuals who are navigating complex health journeys.
“We’re proud to support initiatives like these that not only enhance patient care but also give people a voice and a platform to share their experiences in a way that inspires others.”
NHS Lothian’s Renal Young Adult Service and exhibition has been funded by NHS Lothian Charity.
To read more about the charity go to: https://nhslothiancharity.org/