WE invite all Edinburgh residents to celebrate Languages Week Scotland (2 – 6 February) by joining a variety of activities promoting the languages spoken by New Scots at Edinburgh Libraries.
Muirhouse Library, 2 February, 6 – 7:30pm
Bringing together stories and experiences of Syrian and Sudanese New Scots, Join us for an open session that celebrates spoken and written Arabic through poetry, narration and calligraphy workshop.
Gilmerton Library, 4 February, 1 – 8pm
From lines to letters: Multilingual calligraphy
Celebrate one of the languages spoken by the Afghan community in Edinburgh, the library will offer Pashto alphabet pages for practice. Come along with family and friends to test your calligraphy skills. No booking required.
Oxgangs Library 5 February, 10:00 – 11:30am
From speech to mastery: Reading challenge in Arabic
Whether you are an Arabic or non-Arabic speaker, this fun session will provide a variety of activities that celebrate the language and culture through learning and discovery.
The Health Social Care and Sport Committee is recommending Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill seeks to regulate non-surgical procedures including cosmetic treatments such as fillers, Botox, certain chemical peels and microneedling. In its Stage 1 report, the Committee says patient safety must come first and that it agrees it should be illegal for under-18s to access these treatments.
The Committee is supportive of the two-tiered approach to regulation being proposed by the Scottish Government. This would mean procedures deemed ‘higher risk’ could only be undertaken in permitted premises under supervision from authorised medical practitioners, while lower risk procedures would be subject to a licensing scheme to be introduced via secondary legislation.
The Committee acknowledges concerns expressed by some of those businesses currently providing non-surgical procedures about the Scottish Government’s proposed approach to regulation. To alleviate these concerns, the Committee asks the Scottish Government to provide appropriate support and guidance to help responsible providers to make the transition successfully to the new regulatory framework.
The Committee is concerned over a lack of clarity around requirements for clinical supervision of those procedures covered by the Bill, including minimum qualification requirements for those providing supervision and the scope of their clinical and managerial responsibilities.
On enforcement, the Committee calls for a staged approach which will give responsible operators time and support to meet the requirements of the legislation, while punishing those irresponsible operators who show no interest in complying with the law.
The Committee says the current sanctions set out in the Bill are insufficient and would not deter irresponsible providers from committing repeat offences. It has therefore called on the Scottish Government to introduce stronger penalties for offences committed under the Bill.
The Committee also highlights concerns that Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) may lack the capacity and resources to be able to enforce the Bill effectively. The Committee’s report seeks assurances that, in the short term, the Scottish Government will commit additional funding to enable HIS to enforce the Bill properly from the outset.
The huge variability in the quality of training and qualifications held by or available to those providing non-surgical procedures is highlighted by the Committee. It wants to see the creation of clear and appropriate standards for all practitioners.
The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Convener, Clare Haughey MSP, said:“Our Committee believes patient safety must always come first and that’s why we are supportive of this Bill which will provide much needed regulation of the non-surgical procedures industry.
“We fully back provisions making it illegal for under 18s to access these procedures and believe the Scottish Government should work with the UK Government to improve and standardise training and qualifications so all providers meet a minimum standard.
“Healthcare Improvement Scotland must be given the resources to be able to enforce the law effectively in this area – and penalties for offences must be set at a level that creates a suitable deterrent.
“We acknowledge that there will be many practitioners who are concerned about the impact this new regulatory framework may have on their businesses. That’s why we’re calling on the Scottish Government to provide appropriate support and guidance to help responsible providers make a successful transition and continue operating in compliance with the law.
“Thanks to everyone who gave evidence to our Committee and helped inform our scrutiny of the Bill.”
On the 2nd part of the Bill, the Committee is supportive of updating the processes by which Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCDs) are processed in Scotland.
This would include allowing interested persons to request a review of a MCCD even when it has already been randomly selected for review.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Giants Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Opening 31 Jan Tickets from £13
Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family-friendly exhibition. The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Opening 27 June Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free
Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Live Music Mondays Hawthornden Court, Level 1 2, 9 & 16 Feb 12:45 – 13:30 Free, drop in
Come along to free live music performances, featuring folk, classical, traditional Scottish, and modern fusion styles. In collaboration with Live Music Now Scotland, we are bringing live music into the heart of our museum. With experienced performers and rising stars of live music, each week features a different soloist, duo, or ensemble.
Manipulate Festival: Ocho the Octopus Grand Gallery, Level 1 7 Feb 10:00–13:00 Free, drop-in
Ocho the Octopus, a giant puppet, stops off at the National Museum of Scotland for a morning of pop-up performances and audience interactions. Designed and created by Tim Davies, this incredible illuminated Octopus puppet will begin its journey with pop-up performances in the Grand Gallery before making its way to the Royal Mile. Join us for two walkabout non-verbal performances throughout the morning and take part in our ‘under the sea’ puppetry-inspired craft.
Manipulate Festival: Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour Grand Gallery, Level 1 8 Feb 10:30–16:00 Free, drop-in
Enjoy short pop-up theatre performances in the museum’s Grand Gallery, inspired by visual artist Bruno Gallagher’s travels around Europe. Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour is a new work by Gallagher, told through four short performances. These non-verbal performances will transport you on a journey through imagination. Each performance is a celebration of creativity, combining physical theatre, costume, and dance.
Giants: Half Term Grand Gallery, Level 1 14–22 Feb 10:30–16:00 Free, drop-in
Join us for free family activities to celebrate our new exhibition, Giants. Use geometric shapes to complete our ’Giant’ outline as part of the Giant Geometry Challenge. Younger visitors can get building too, with foam blocks with Big Blocks for Wee People.
Museum Socials Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4 20 Feb & 20 Mar 10:30–12:00 Free, booking required
Our Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
The Amazing Mathemagic Show Hawthornden Court, Level 1 21 Feb 10:30–13:00 and 13:30–16:00 Free, drop-in
Join students and staff from Edinburgh University as they use maths to transform into performers, musicians and astonishing mind readers. Whether you’re a maths enthusiast or number curious, there will be something for all ages at this interactive stall. Discover simple yet mind-boggling tricks that merge maths with magic.
The Sunday Sketch Various Galleries 22 Feb –22 Mar 14:00–16:00 Tickets from £13
Learn how to sketch, taking inspiration from the incredible collections on display in our museum galleries. Join artist Sheena Russell to take a new look at our collections and be guided through a range of drawing activities within the museum’s galleries.
Ceòl aig an Taigh Tasgaidh Music at the Museum Hawthornden Court, Level 1 23 Feb 13:00–13:45 Free, drop-in
Celebrate World Gaelic Week 2026 at the National Museum of Scotland with a free concert. Join guitarist Innes White and singers Ceitlin Lilly and Ellen MacDonald to hear Gaelic songs in Hawthornden Court. You will also have the chance to learn some of the words and join in. All our musicians are members of the band ‘Sian’, known for their creative harmonies and imaginative musical arrangements.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/ceòl-aig-an-taigh-tasgaidh-music-at-the-museum
Magic Carpet: Gaelic Week Special / Seachdain na Gàidhlig Kingdom of the Scots gallery, Level 1 25 Feb 10:30–11:15 Free, booking required
Come along to our Edinburgh Gaelic Week Magic Carpet special. This interactive session, suitable for under 5s and their accompanying adult, features songs, stories, rhymes, and play with no knowledge of Gaelic required. All children must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of two children per adult. We kindly ask that all attendees book a ticket.
Sensory Sundays Learning Centre, Studio 2, Level 4 1 Mar 11:00–12:00 and 14:00–15:00 Free, booking required
Children with additional support needs and disabilities and their families are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions. Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families.
Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun, hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating.
Magic Carpet Meet at Hawthornden Court 6, 13 & 20 Mar 10:30–11:15 and 11:45–12:30 From £4 per session
Our Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Each month we will explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play and handling objects, to help you and your little one discover more about our topic.
Creative Workshop: Block Printing Learning Centre Studios, Level 4, and Early People Gallery, Level -1 21 Mar 11:00–15:30 Tickets from £45
Join artist Georgie Fay to make unique paper and clay designs using woodcut printing techniques.
Explore our Early People gallery and discover the journeys made and the materials used by Scotland’s early people. Back in the Learning Centre, create a woodcut with a design inspired by our collections. You will make your own woodcut template, printing on paper and clay.
Doug Allan: Giants of the Sea Auditorium, Level 3 22 Mar 11:30 Tickets from £12
Following his sold-out talk in April 2024, award-winning wildlife photographer Doug Allan is back at the National Museum of Scotland. This time, to talk about his experiences filming the great giants of the sea.
Featuring his own photographs and clips from well-known TV programmes, Doug will talk about the excitement and challenges he’s faced when working in the world’s oceans.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life Last Tuesday of every month 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Spring Explorers 14–17 Apr 10:30–15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Become a Spring Explorer this April at the National Museum of Rural Life. Join us as we dig into all things soil and explore the wiggly world beneath our feet. Take part in a planting activity to learn how bugs and worms keep soil healthy for plants to grow. Settle in for some lively, soil-inspired storytelling in the theatre, then get messy with some hands-on fun at our Soil Exploration Station.
Tractor Tots 24 Apr & 29 May 2026 Learning Centre £25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3
Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Pilot Training School Concorde hangar 14–18 Feb 11:30–15:00 Free with museum admission
At the National Museum of Flight this half term, master the skills needed by pilots during the Second World War. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to step into the shoes of wartime aviators and test their abilities with a range of interactive activities. Participants can learn to read maps and use compasses for navigation, construct and fly steerable paper aeroplanes, and explore authentic pilot uniforms and flying gear.
Conservation Hangar Talks Until 29 Mar 2026 14:00-15:00 Free and available as an add-on to your general admission ticket. Booking required.
Join a member of our Visitor Experience team for a behind-the-scenes look in our Conservation hangar on a free daily talk at 14:00. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00 Free with museum admission
Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Consultation responses support new hate crime regulations
Women and girls will have greater protection against hate crimes under legislation laid in the Scottish Parliament by Ministers yesterday/today.
The regulations, if agreed by MSPs, will designate ‘sex’ as a protected characteristic under the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021. There are protections in the Act for individuals’ rights in respect to freedom of expression for the new stirring up hatred offences. Hate crime is behaviour that is both criminal and rooted in prejudice and can be verbal, physical, online or face-to-face.
This will make it a specific criminal offence to stir up hatred against women and girls, as well as men and boys, because of their sex. The regulations will also allow courts to treat crimes motivated by hatred of someone’s sex as aggravated offences, which are considered more serious – including when passing sentence following conviction.
A consultation was held on the draft regulations, with 309 out of 365 responses supporting adding the characteristic of sex to both the stirring up of hatred offence and the aggravation. The final regulations now laid for MSPs’ scrutiny are largely unchanged from the draft.
The change will mean that women and girls have the same legal safeguards available under the Act to groups targeted by hate crime because of their age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “These regulations will significantly strengthen legal protections for women and girls from offences motivated by prejudice and hatred because of their sex and they will ensure that Scotland’s justice system can respond appropriately.
“The changes will mean women and girls have the same protections as victims who are targeted because of a specific characteristic, such as age, religion or disability. Men and boys will also be protected, however, we know that women and girls suffer significantly more from threats, abuse and harassment based on their sex, so they are likely to benefit most from those new protections.
“The vast majority of responses received during the consultation on these proposals supported adding the characteristic of sex to both the stirring up of hatred offence and the aggravation.
“The regulations will come into force on 5 April 2027, giving Police Scotland the necessary time to update training and guidance and ensuring they are operationally ready for the change.”
Young people are set to benefit from TV and film industry support for the Government’s Youth Guarantee
Pinewood Studios, Europe’s leading studio complex and home to James Bond and the Carry On films, is supporting the Government’s Youth Guarantee.
Industry leaders including Netflix, Disney and Vue International met Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden at Pinewood Studios to discuss how they can support more young people into creative roles.
More than 4,500 young people attended Pinewood Group’s “Futures Festival” event – Britain’s biggest TV and film careers event.
Young people are set to benefit from TV and film industry support for the Government’s Youth Guarantee.
Pat McFadden co-chaired a roundtable with Pinewood Studios at the largest free film and TV careers event in the UK yesterday, attended by industry leaders including Disney, Vue International and Amazon MGM Studios.
Pinewood’s annual Futures Festival showcased the range of careers available in film and television to young people, and employers and industry professionals spoke to attendees about the routes available into the sector.
The Work and Pensions Secretary heard how industry leaders are already increasing opportunities in the sector for young people and called on the industry to back the Government’s Youth Guarantee, which provides a guaranteed job, work experience or training to all 18-to-21-year olds.
Production spending in the UK is booming having reached £5.6 billion in 2024, a 31 percent increase on the previous year, highlighting emerging work and training opportunities for young people. However, there remains a skills gap in the sector. By supporting young people into work, the sector will help close that gap and ensure the UK maintains its position as a world leading hub for film and television production.
Pinewood Group, incorporating Pinewood and Shepperton Studios in the UK, has been pioneering youth training through its ‘Behind the Screen’ programme. Delivered in collaboration with Jobcentre Plus, the scheme supports people currently out of work by offering paid six‑month placements that provide hands-on experience and a first step into the film and TV industry.
As the latest Youth Guarantee Supporter, Pinewood’s helping to realise the Government’s pledge to ensure all young people have the opportunity to earn or learn.
Another supporter of the Youth Guarantee is All Spring Media, who provide skills bootcamps and training programmes to ensure young creatives have the experience and confidence they need to pursue their chosen career.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “With almost a million young people not in education, employment or training, we need to create pathways of opportunity and help them build careers.
“Today’s festival has shown what’s possible when government and industry work together.
“Apprenticeships benefit everyone – young people gain skills and experience, while employers gain fresh talent and new perspectives. The Behind the Screen programme is a great example of this in action, helping young people break into an industry that can otherwise feel out of reach.
“I’m delighted that Pinewood is backing our Youth Guarantee. I’m calling on other employers across the creative industries to follow their lead and open their doors to the next generation of talent.
The Work and Pensions Secretary met with trainees from the ‘Behind the Screen’ programme to hear about the training they are receiving to start their creative career.
Andrew Smith, Corporate Affairs Director of Pinewood Group said: “Pinewood Group is committed to opening doors and creating accessible pathways into the industry.
“Our well-established ‘Behind the Screen’ programme offers paid, hands‑on placements for those out of work, while our annual Pinewood Futures Festival continues to inspire and engage the next generation of industry talent.”
Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development, British Film Institute, said: “For the next generation to thrive, we must level the playing field across the UK especially for those who may lack the support needed to access work on their doorstep.
“Our UK-wide skills programmes for young people – from sector specific careers advice in schools, our UK-wide Film Academy programme, through to paid work placements on studio productions and onto a range of career progression pathways – are designed to address inequalities and prioritise opening up opportunities to those currently underrepresented in the screen sector’s workforce.
“We look forward to working with DWP and our industry colleagues to enable the screen sector to play a role in supporting the ambitions of the Youth Guarantee.”
Mia, trainee from the ‘Behind the Screen’ programme: “Pinewoods Behind the Screen Programme was a fantastic opportunity to become part of a supportive community and expand my network within film.
“The programme opened doors and formed a great stepping stone into my current role at Imaginarium Studios.”
Pinewood Studios join other high-profile Youth Guarantee partners including the Premier League, EFL in the Community, Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4.
This is the latest step in the Government’s work to boost opportunity to support young people into employment or training.
An £820 million investment in the Youth Guarantee to support almost one million young people will create 350,000 new training and workplaces, 55,000 guaranteed jobs for the long-term unemployed, over 360 youth hubs across Great Britain.
We have also launched a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn which will investigate the barriers preventing young people from accessing work.
This builds on the work of DCMS’ creative careers campaign, which aims to improve access to young people from underrepresented communities outside London in these high growth sectors.
The Government is also seeking to grow the sectors through our Creative Industries Sector Plan, which is providing £380 million of targeted investment to ensure they can continue to grow.
Repair education sits at the very heart of everything we do at Edinburgh Remakery. Because when we learn how to mend, we don’t just fix clothes or devices, we rebuild confidence, save money, reduce waste, and keep valuable skills alive in our communities.
That’s why we are so excited to share that our Textile Repair Cafes are back from 6th February.
A welcoming space where torn seams, broken zips and well-loved garments get a second chance and where people leave not just with repairs, but with new skills and a sense of pride.
We are grateful to The Erith Group for sponsoring our Repair Cafes, making it possible for us to resume our Textile Repair Cafes while keeping our Tech Repair Cafes going.
This support helps us grow repair education at the grassroots, empowering people with practical skills and keeping products in use for longer.
Because a circular economy isn’t built on throwaway culture, but on knowledge, care, and the confidence & skills to repair.
New support for workforce to improve learning opportunities
New support for social work education will be available from February, strengthening learning amongst the workforce and benefitting local social work students.
The Scottish Government is investing up to £600,000 through the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to support the sector in addressing some of the reported challenges surrounding social work education.
The investment aims to strengthen the design and delivery of social work practice education – to ensure learning opportunities match the specific needs of social work students and help increase the number of high-quality learning opportunities across Scotland.
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don-Innessaid:“The Scottish Government greatly values Scotland’s social workers, who do a tremendously valuable and essential job in communities across the country.
“That is why we are investing in the workforce, to enhance the experiences of the current and next generation of social workers and to address some of the reported challenges surrounding education.
“This investment demonstrates the value we place on improved professional learning support structures, recognising that a positive learning experience will both equip future social workers to develop and also support recruitment and retention.”
The funded improvements will be tested via Local Learning Partnerships (LLPs), a new model linking social work employers and education providers. This will allow areas to test curricula and make improvements based on the experiences and feedback.
SSSC Chief Executive Maree Allisonsaid: “We’re pleased to support LLPs, strengthening the partnership working between universities and employers, which is essential to social work education.
“The financial investment in LLPs will help local areas explore new ways of working, building on existing strengths, initially by increasing the number and variety of practice learning opportunities available to students and making them more local to reduce the distance students need to travel.
“The partnerships will make sure that students, social workers in practice, employers, people with lived experience and other partners are involved in developing effective social work training and learning which meets the needs of individuals and their communities.”
A female was arrested on 28th of January in Edinburgh city centre wanted on multiple warrants for theft shoplifting. Working in conjunction with Essential Edinburgh, CCTV and security officers in the city centre, the female was identified in a busy shopping area and arrested.
It was confirmed that she had committed a further two theft by shoplifting offences that morning. After appearing at court, she was remanded awaiting trial for 22 outstanding charges of theft by shoplifting for high value items.
In recent weeks, the Edinburgh #RetailCrimeTaskforce have arrested 29 persons for theft by shoplifting and charged them with over 350 offences.
We will continue to work in partnership with retailers and the public to target those choose to commit retail crime as it is #NotAVictimlessCrime.
If you have any information relating to retail crime or the resale of stolen property, please report this to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at https://orlo.uk/lZlFY
City councillors have made ‘significant progress’ towards a £41.1m capital investment package, over the next three years, for the City Operations and Infrastructure (COI) fund.
These proposals, discussed at a meeting on Thursday, are subject to final full Council approval, which will be debated on February 12.
The report outlines how part of the revenue from the Edinburgh Visitor Levy will be spent under COI across a wide range of projects and workstreams.
These include supporting capital borrowing for the George Street and First New Town project, developing a masterplan for Portobello Promenade, upgrading and replacing bins, accelerating our setted streets programme, alongside improving existing and providing new, more accessible public toilets.
Reports on the remaining Visitor Levy revenue spending will now be debated at executive committees throughout February:
• All Programmes: Finance and Resources Committee
• Destination and Visitor Management: Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee
• Culture, Heritage and Events and specific elements of City Operations and Infrastructure: Culture & Communities Committee.
Commenting on Thursday’s decision, Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “The Visitor Levy is a transformational development for the Capital, with today marking an important milestone in the process.
“Edinburgh is already one of the world’s premier visitor destinations, but this comes with a responsibility to properly manage the impacts tourism has on our residents whilst improving visitor experience.
“From short term measures such as increasing the amount of waste and cleansing patrols, alongside long-term strategic projects such as George Street and First New Town, the opportunities which the Visitor Levy could provide for our city cannot be understated.
“We’ve long debated the many things that we’d like to do as a city. We now have the chance to make these a reality, which is something that we should seize with both hands.”
Further Information on Visitor Levy:
After administration costs, which includes establishing and maintaining a contingency fund, a fixed amount has been assigned to:
Housing and Tourism Mitigation (£5m per annum)
Participatory Budgeting (£2m over three years); and
Reimbursement of 2% of remitted funds to Accommodation Providers, to offset the administrative cost incurred from operating in accordance with the Scheme and collecting visitor data.
The remaining funds are then split into the following investment streams:
