POLICE are appealing for help from the public to trace Aleighsha Brechin, 13, who has been reported missing from Prestonpans.
Aleighsha was last seen 08:30am on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025. She is described as being 5ft 4in in height and was wearing a black hooded jumper, black tracksuit bottoms and white Nike trainers when last seen.
Aleighsha may be within East Lothian but also has links to Edinburgh including Fort Kinnaird.
It is out of character for Aleighsha to be out of contact with family or friends and we are asking anyone who may have seen her to contact us.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 0076 4th December 2025
SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LOCAL CHARITIES MAKING AN IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
Scottish Building Society Foundation has awarded £25,000 in the last year to support community groups and charities across the country.
This year the Foundation supported seven community initiatives across Scotland, providing grants of up to £5,000 to help deliver life-changing work in their local area.
Since launching in 2023, the Foundation has awarded £155,000 funding to more than 40 charities, providing support to a wide array of areas including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and the Scottish Borders.
Among those supported this year were Forth Canoe Club in Edinburgh, who received money to fund adaptive hand grips, buoyancy aids and a small trailer to help people with disabilities learn canoeing.
In Clackmannanshire, Ochil Trail Association was awarded a grant to support insurance costs for maintaining popular mountain bike and shared-use trails across Clackmannanshire and Stirling.
Bridgeton Community Learning Campus in Glasgow received funding to make its community centre heating system more efficient for the winter. The Birks Cinema Trust in Perth and Kinross used its grant to strengthen its social inclusion activities within the community.
Works+ in the Scottish Borders upgraded its IT equipment to improve digital literacy and employability among local young people. In central Scotland, Trossachs Tigers Hockey Club in Sterling used funding to launch an indoor hockey programme for children in rural areas.
The Foundation also provided a grant to Duntocher Village Hall to fund essential repairs to the hall’s wooden floor.
Paul Denton, CEO of Scottish Building Society, said:“As a mutual organisation we understand how vital local communities are and we’re here to support them.
“Over the past year, the Scottish Building Society Foundation has made a real difference to communities across the country, from improving facilities and creating opportunities to supporting inclusion and wellbeing.
“It’s inspiring to see how these grants are helping local groups bring people together and make a lasting, positive impact. We’re committed to continuing our support throughout 2026.”
Scottish Building Society Foundation was established by Scottish Building Society to mark the organisation’s 175th anniversary.
Launched in partnership with Foundation Scotland, the Scottish Building Society Foundation aims to establish a best-in-class benchmark supporting community-based organisations and has so far awarded £155,000 in funding to charities since it began.
The Foundation’s sixth round of funding is currently open to applicants, welcoming bids from charities working across a broad range of initiatives from improving community facilities to tackling poverty, supporting older people, funding local events and providing youth education, and opportunities for vulnerable people.
Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to close FetLor today due to the Vandalism, Disrespect and Anti-social behaviour the young people carried out during and after The Boys Club last night.
The attitude towards staff, the building and community was unacceptable.
We take great pride in providing a free, safe and positive space for young people, but this behaviour has made it impossible for us to operate safely.
Our priority is always the wellbeing of everyone who uses the club, and we must take this step to protect our staff, our building and our community.
FREE TO USE PICS. 26/2/2021. Pics of the roof of Edinburgh City Council’s offices, Waverley Court being fitted with Solar panels, as part of Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative’s share issue. Pic shows some of the fitted solar panels on the roof, with Edinburgh city centre, in the background.
Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative (ECSC) are celebrating 10 years of generating clean, community-owned electricity in the city: and they are getting ready for their next major solar project.
ECSC have already generated over 11 million kWh of electricity by installing solar PV panels on schools, leisure centres and community buildings in the city, this is estimated to have saved more than 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted from burning fossil fuels. Their generation last year was enough to power more than 600 homes with electricity.
The solar panels are owned by a community of 600 ordinary people (the majority local) who chose to invest in community shares and receive a fair return each year.
The schools and council buildings which host the solar panels have them installed at no charge, and have benefitted from a cheap rate of electricity – ECSC are estimated to have saved the council over £500,000 in energy costs since launch, helping to redirect funds to essential local services.
Vicki White, Chair of the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate what we’ve achieved together through our solar panel installations over the past 10 years.
“We’re really proud that we’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions, saved the council money and funded some really brilliant community projects across the city. Our project is giving people – and the City of Edinburgh Council – a real and practical way to act on climate change.”
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “These numbers speak for themselves – there’s no doubt the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative has been making a real difference in the Capital over the last ten years, significantly reducing our carbon emissions while saving money in the process, and we’re delighted to be part of this.
“The City of Edinburgh Council has made an ambitious commitment to become net zero by 2030 and initiatives like this are central to our efforts to achieve our goal.”
So far ECSC has installed solar PV panels on 30 sites across the city, including City of Edinburgh Council offices at Waverley Court and 18 schools.
ECSC has another share offer due to launch very soon, when the co-operative will be opening up to new members to help fund a further set of solar installations across the city.
If you would like to be notified when their share offer launches, head to their homepage and click ‘Upcoming share offer: learn more’: www.edinburghsolar.coop/
If the winter gloom is getting you down, Heriot-Watt has two events guaranteed to raise your spirits with some festive cheer.
Our ever-popular Christmas Carol Celebration is taking place at the Edinburgh campus on Friday, December 12th. Come to the James Watt Centre at 5.30pm for an unforgettable evening of seasonal music and readings.
Members of the University Choir will be accompanied by the University Orchestra. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine (alternatives available) will be provided before the concert starts at 6.30pm.
Matthew Brown, Heriot-Watt’s Director of Music, has promised a memorable evening: “The Christmas Carol Celebration is a highlight of our year, bringing together the community to share in the joy and beauty of the season through music. We can’t wait to welcome you.”
Tickets are free and early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Please secure your place through Eventbrite – and mark your calendar!
If you can’t make the Christmas Carol Celebration, why not come to ‘A Christmas Carol’ on Wednesday December 10th at 7.30pm?
In the beautiful setting of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, the Heriot-Watt Chamber Choir will entertain you with words and music based on the Charles Dickens classic.
Further details and tickets for ‘A Christmas Carol’ are available through
A 20-year-old man has been convicted of the rape of a teenage girl in Edinburgh on Sunday, 25 May, 2025.
Aaron Strachan pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday, 4 December). He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 13 January, 2026.
The incident happened in the early hours of the morning in the York Place area.
Strachan also pled guilty to an assault to severe injury which took place in the South Bridge area of Edinburgh on the same date, as well as an assault to severe injury and endangerment of life which took place in the High Riggs area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 28 May, 2025.
Detective Inspector Gillian Wells, from Edinburgh’s Sex Offender Policing Unit, said: “This was a particularly harrowing attack which was carried out in the busy city centre area and had a profound effect on the young victim.
“The other assaults also demonstrate what a violent individual Strachan is, with no consideration of the consequences of his actions.
“I would like to thank local officers for their excellent work which ensured Strachan was quickly identified and arrested.
“Police Scotland remains committed to tackling sexual crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us.
“We’ll thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout.”
Chief Inspector Trisha Clark, Area Commander for Edinburgh City Centre, said: “We understand that crimes of this nature have a serious impact on the local community.We will continue to work closely with partners to address any such concerns in the area.”
Christmas is already in full swing at Fort Kinnaird, and the festivities are set to get even more magical as a line-up of much-loved characters visit the centre for the first time this December.
From Buddy the Elf discovering Fort Kinnaird for the first time to the mean, green one causing mischief and the much-loved Frozen sisters greeting shoppers, there’s something to help visitors of all ages get into the festive spirit.
Starting today (Friday), visitors can meet the festive favourites in 30-minute intervals between 12pm and 5pm close to the Christmas Markets.
The line-up includes:
Friday 5th December – Buddy the Elf
Friday 12th December – The Mean Green One & Cindy Lou
Friday 19th December – The Frozen Sisters
Open until 28th December, the Winter Village has transformed the centre into a festive hub, shoppers can explore more than 20 artisan market stalls offering handmade gifts, personalised decorations and festive treats – as well as a range of and family-friendly funfair rides.
Visitors can also enjoy two different circus shows each day under the big top. Santa’s Mystical Christmas brings a festive pantomime twist packed with aerial performances, stunts and audience participation, while Freestyle Circus delivers high-energy acrobatics and jaw-dropping stunts, including the famous Globe motorcyclists.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many visitors enjoying the Winter Village this year and it’s brilliant to add even more festive fun with the much-loved characters over the next few weeks. I have no doubt they’ll be popular for the whole family!
“Whether you’re here for Christmas shopping, a bite to eat or simply to take in the atmosphere, Fort Kinnaird is the perfect place to get into the festive spirit and make special memories.”
With more than 70 shops, restaurants and a seven-screen Odeon cinema, Fort Kinnaird offers everything needed for a full festive day out – combining entertainment, food and Christmas shopping all in one place.
For more details and to plan your festive day at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
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Queensberry Bowling Club
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1–3.30pm
0131 315 4466 | 
hello@pepscot.org
