November 2025 – Page 2 – The NEN

All Together: Home Nations bid to host FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035

Scotland’s National Stadium, Hampden Park, and Easter Road Stadium – home of Hibernian Football Club – have been included as proposed venues in the UK’s formal bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2035.

The application, under the banner of ‘All Together’, reflects the partnership of the four countries involved in the proposal.

The bid includes 22 proposed stadiums – 16 in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland – across 16 host cities. With 63 million people living within two hours of a proposed venue, it would be the most accessible tournament ever.

A joint statement from the four respective CEOs – including the Scottish FA’s Ian Maxwell – said: “Hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup would be a huge privilege for our four home nations. If we are successful, the 2035 tournament will be the biggest single-sport event held on UK soil, with 4.5 million tickets available for fans.

“We are proud of the growth that we’ve driven in recent years across the women’s and girls’ game but there is still so much more growth to come, and this event will play a key role in helping us deliver that.

“Working together with FIFA, a Women’s World Cup in the UK has the power to turbo-charge the women’s and girls’ game both in the UK and globally. Our bid also demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, in the run-up to 2035, and the years afterwards.

“Together, we want to welcome the world to the UK to celebrate and enjoy an unforgettable tournament.”

The 22 proposed stadiums offer a blend of heritage, cutting-edge innovation and elite operational excellence that will be ready to deliver exceptional FIFA-compliant facilities. The 16 host cities provide a network of extensive infrastructure, ample accommodation, efficient transportation and culture.

The tournament would involve 104 matches contested by 48 teams over 39 days, with 48 team base camp training sites, 82 venue-specific training sites and 32 FIFA Fan Festival Sites proposed.

Passionate fans, strong media reach and innovative digital engagement not only ensure that this would be a successful tournament, but also provide a transformational commercial opportunity for global growth and reinvestment in the women’s game for the benefit of the wider FIFA family.

The four nations are committed to leaving a lasting legacy that will be delivered via three key pillars:

Participation: Increase access locally and worldwide, focusing on under-represented communities.
Leadership: Empower women in leadership; double female officials by 2035; and deliver global mentoring and education programmes.
Commercial growth: Transform the game’s commercial potential; attract new fans and partners; and reinvest revenues into grassroots and elite pathways.

Warning as children’s eScooter and eBike incidents spike

The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), Glasgow and Police Scotland have joined forces to warn parents about the dangers of eScooters and eBikes for children, as injuries rise sharply.

Over the past 12 months, the number of children attending Accident & Emergency in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde due to eScooter or eBike incidents has increased by more than 600%.

Between May and October 2025 alone, over 30 children required emergency care at the RHC – some admitted to intensive care. Injuries included major head trauma, broken femurs, chest injuries, and severe lacerations.

Children affected ranged in age from seven to 15 years old. This compares to just four cases during the same period in 2024.

Police Scotland officers visited the RHC to stand alongside the hospital’s Major Trauma Coordinators in urging parents to think twice before buying these vehicles as Christmas gifts for their children.

Mark Lilley, Major Trauma Coordinator at the RHC, said: “The rise in injuries this year is alarming. We know eScooters are popular and may feature on many Christmas wish lists, but the risks are significant.

“A fall at speed can cause life-changing head or brain injuries. We’ve seen the trauma these accidents bring to families, and we strongly urge parents to reconsider before buying one for their child.”

Privately owned eScooters cannot be used legally on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or other public spaces in Scotland. They are classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) and would require DVLA registration, insurance, a driving licence, and compliance with strict regulations – requirements most eScooters do not meet.

Sergeant Paul Mellis from Road Policing said: “We’re grateful to the Royal Hospital for Children for helping us share this vital message as we head into the festive period.

“We have seen a rise in the number of e-bikes and e-scooters being used illegally on roads across Scotland, including in Glasgow, and with that has come serious injuries to children from either falling off or being involved in a crash with another vehicle.

“These vehicles are not permitted on public roads, pavements or other spaces and anyone found riding a non-compliant e-bike or e-scooter on a public road will likely have it seized by officers.

“I’d urge parents and carers to consider the dangers e-scooters and e-bikes present before purchasing one for a child this Christmas.”

The Royal Hospital for Children and Police Scotland’s messages to parents this Christmas are:

Think twice before buying eScooters or eBikes for children.
eScooters are illegal to use in public spaces in Scotland. It is illegal for under 14s to ride on eBikes in Scotland.
The risk of serious injury is real and rising.

For more information on the eScooter or eBike guidance please visit Riding an electric bike: the rules – GOV.UK

Research reveals only one in four Edinburgh residents celebrate Saint Andrew’s Day

A national survey has revealed that just 25% of people in Edinburgh celebrate St Andrew’s Day, and at a national level almost four in ten (39%) Scots are unable to identify the date of St Andrew’s Day, highlighting a surprising gap in awareness surrounding the country’s patron saint.

The research by ScotPulse which was commissioned by Aldi Scotland, found that while most Scots recognise St Andrew’s Day as the country’s national day, many are unsure of the date, and even fewer mark the occasion.

Just one in four (26%) Scots say they celebrate St Andrew’s Day, held annually on 30 November, with confusion rife across the nation about what date it actually falls on. Some mistakenly believe it happens on 25 November (11%), 29 November (8%), with an additional 8% also believing it falls on 31 November – a date that doesn’t exist. Others mix it up with Burns Night in January.

The survey also found:

Women are more likely than men to know the correct date (64% vs 57%).
Younger Scots are the least likely to know what date it falls on, with just 43% of 16–34-year-olds answering correctly.

Aldi is a prominent champion of Scottish food and drink, and Scotland’s leading supermarket for locally sourced products. In October, it was named in the NFU Scotland’s ShelfWatch 2025 Mid-Year Report as the most prominent retailer to support Scottish produce, with 41% of its shelf stock now sourced locally.

In honour of its position as the nation’s most trusted supermarket of Scottish goods, the retailer is helping Scots to celebrate St Andrew’s Day this year with a feast including locally produced food and drink, which has all been approved by modern day Andrews.

After surveying hundreds of Andrews, Andys and Drews across Scotland on their favourite festive flavours, Aldi Scotland has revealed the results of its nationwide search for the “Andrew Approved Feast.”

Following a social media vote, it was revealed that the most popular meal selection for St Andrew’s Day is:

Starter: Haggis Bon Bons with 52% of the votes
Main Course: Steak Pie with 66% of the votes
Side: Crispy roast tatties with 44% of the votes
Dessert: Scottish apple crumble with 42% of the votes
Drink: IRN BRU with 53% of the votes

Shoppers can pick up Aldi’s Andrew Approved Feast for less than a tenner, with the total cost coming to just £9.75:

Haggis Bon Bons: Specially Selected Haggis Bon Bons, 240g £2.29
Steak Pie: Frasers Small Top Crust Steak Pie, 400g £2.99
Crispy Roast Tatties: Scottish Baking Potatoes 4 pack, £0.79
Dessert: The Dessert Menu Bramley Apple Pie, 550g £2.99
Drink: Vive Iron Brew 2L £0.69

Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland said: “St Andrews Day is a key moment in Scotland’s cultural calendar and gives Scots the chance to reflect on our history and traditions. We were surprised to see that so many Scots don’t know when St Andrew’s Day is, and that so few actually take the time to celebrate it.

“At Aldi Scotland, we truly believe we have some of the best food and drink in the world, and we are proud to be a champion of local producers.

“St Andrew’s Day on 30 November is the perfect opportunity for everyone to come together, enjoy fantastic local food, raise a glass, and celebrate everything that makes Scotland such a special place.”

Queen Bee: Fort Kinnaird crowns winner of competition to design labels for homegrown honey

Nine-year-old Elodie from Niddrie Mill Primary School has been named the winner of a recent competition launched by Fort Kinnaird to design a label for the honey produced by its resident beehives.

Elodie was one of 115 pupils from the local primary school to take part in the contest, with Fort Kinnaird choosing her hand-drawn design to be printed on the labels.

As part of Fort Kinnaird’s longstanding partnership with Scottish homelessness charity, Cyrenians, the jars of honey featuring Elodie’s design will be donated to food redistribution service, FareShare, helping to give back to the local community. FareShare aims to reduce food waste while also tackling food inequality across the country.

Elodie and the five runners up, Elena, Kamsi, Layah, Lola, and Ella celebrated with a visit from the Cyrenians team and Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, who awarded them with vouchers to enjoy a well-deserved shopping spree at the centre in recognition of their winning designs.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “It’s been great to see the children of Niddrie Mill Primary School get involved in our competition. We were really impressed by the creativity of all the designs, but Elodie’s really stood out to us.

“We’re proud that our beehives are having such a positive impact on our local community, not just in terms of sustainability by promoting biodiversity but also by providing an opportunity for us to support the vital work of Cyrenians through donating to their FareShare service and ensuring the honey is put to good use.”

Judith Hughes, Director of Income Generation, Marketing and Communication at Cyrenians, said: “We’re really pleased to be part of this community initiative with Fort Kinnaird and Niddrie Mill Primary School.

“Our FareShare initiative provides vital support to people across Scotland, and we think that the honey complete with Elodie’s lovely design will bring a smile to those using our service.”

Cheryl Miller, Sustainability Lead at Niddrie Mill Primary School, said: “Our students really enjoyed being involved in Fort Kinnaird’s competition and it’s great to know that their work will have a positive impact on our community, which is so important to us as a school.”

The competition follows pupils from Niddrie Mill visiting the beehives at Fort Kinnaird back in June, during which they learned all about the world of bees – including how they are essential to the local environment, how hives function, and what it takes to care for bees first-hand.

Fort Kinnaird runs the beehives in partnership with Colin Mackie, a local beekeeper who has tended to the beehives since they were established in May 2024.

For more details and to plan your day at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:

https://www.fortkinnaird.com/

Winter Windows are Back!

Brighten up the nights with the magical Winter Windows

Winter Windows are back at Edinburgh’s Christmas! An arts competition for Edinburgh schoolchildren of all ages, it is an annual showcase of their creativity and skills.

With the 2025 brief to design a window that captures their vision of winter or the festive season, using any medium and style they wish, Edinburgh children’s 24 winning designs will be on display in West Princes Street Gardens along the top path from Thursday 27^th November, each turned into a magical lightbox.

Edinburgh’s Christmas Winter Windows competition is in partnership with Arts & Creative Learning, Lifelong Learning, City of Edinburgh Council.

The judging panel consisted of Unique Assembly directors and City of Edinburgh Council representatives. Each of the 24 winners receives free tickets for a fun day out with their friends and family at Edinburgh’s Christmas – along with having their artwork on display throughout the festive season in one of the capital’s busiest locations!

Winter Festivals

Insta | FB | Tiktok @edinburghchristmas

#edinburghchristmas

Two arrested and charged following £1 million drugs recovery

Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a drugs recovery worth over £1 million in West Lothian.

Around 7.15am on Thursday, 27 November, 2025, officers attended a premises in the Redmill area of East Whitburn.

A cannabis cultivation was discovered within containing between 1000 and 1200 plants with an estimated street value of over £1 million.

A 47-year-old man and a 44-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection. They were due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday – Friday, 28 November.

Enquiries into the full circumstances are ongoing.

Detective Sergeant John Irvine said: “This significant recovery underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy. Taking drugs off the street is a priority for Police Scotland.

“Drugs cause misery in our communities, and the public has a vital role in helping us to trace those involved in the supply of illegal substances.

“Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact us via 101 or make a call to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Tomorrow: All welcome at Starbank Park Christmas Gathering

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 10 – 12 NOON

SWAP: Edinburgh launches innovative pilot to prevent homelessness

A new pilot aimed at preventing people from becoming homeless has officially been given the go-ahead in the Capital after the Council and partners were awarded funding from the Scottish Government.

The System Wide Approach to Prevention (SWAP) – ‘Ask and Act’ initiative will be piloted in Wester Hailes, providing earlier interventions and practical support to help people at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes.

The launch follows the recent passing of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 which places new legal duties on public bodies to ask about a person’s housing situation and take action to prevent homelessness before it happens.

Across Scotland, 15 projects are sharing £4 million through the Homelessness Prevention Pilot Fund, administered by Advice Direct Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, to develop and test prevention pilots.

A team will now be created in the Capital which will include public and third-sector partners. They will be trialling new models of working to provide co-ordinated and timely support for individuals and households at risk of homelessness.

The ‘Ask’ and ‘Act’ duties will be embedded in everyday services provided by partners in the Wester Hailes area.

The services working in partnership with the Council to deliver these duties are NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, Prospect Community Housing, Social Security Scotland, Scottish Prison Service and Crisis.

This approach will allow them to identify what people need help earlier, offer support directly, and request further help and support via a single point of contact within the Council’s prevention services.

Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, Tim Pogson said: “This is fantastic news, being awarded just over £600k from a £4 million fund for the whole of Scotland is a tremendous endorsement of our proposal, and I’m grateful to the team who brought it together and partners for agreeing to be part of this.

“It will also help us boost our efforts to tackle the housing emergency facing the city. It’s exciting that work is already under way, and I’m confident we’ll see positive results in the new year.

“Preventing homelessness and supporting tenants before they reach crisis point is essential to ensuring as many people as possible have a secure home.

“Last year alone, our homelessness prevention services helped 2,622 households as part of our Local Housing Strategy, the city’s overarching strategy for housing and homelessness.”

Màiri McAllan, the Housing Secretary, Scottish Government, said: “We are determined to end homelessness – and the best way to do this is to prevent homelessness in the first place.

“This investment in prevention pilots will help us test and scale up innovative approaches to help people stay in their homes.

PEP buses vandalised: Appeal

As some of you are aware, almost all of our much loved PEP buses were vandalised over last weekend, having their fuel tanks drilled and emptied.

This sadly resulted in having to cancel our transport commitments, which we are extremely sorry and sad about. Thank you to those individuals, family members and organisations for understanding the need to cancel, which has resulted in many of your vital services being cancelled or delayed and additional pressures experienced.

We will stay in touch with all of those involved as things move forward.

Our amazing team here at PEP sprung into action to create our action plan to get us back up and running, which hopefully won’t be too much longer. We will also be looking for more secure, long term parking facilities, if you know or anywhere, please share!

This vandalism has of course been reported to the police, but if anyone knows any information about who may have done this please do get in touch.

I don’t think they realise the conquences and impact of their actions, after all we are a Charity delivering vital services to many vulnerable people, not to mention the financial impact this has caused.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to support PEP, offering help in many ways. The local community are amazing and we are proud to serve you.

We appreciate that Christmas is just around the corner and wish we were not asking, however any donations to help us recover from the recent vandalism to our buses would be massively appreciated by ourselves as well as the organisations we work alongside

https://localgiving.org/charity/pep…

#wearestrongertogether

#communityfirst

#helpingpeopletoparticipate