TODAY’s community lunch … is our annual BBQ!
We are excited to share a delicious BBQ with you. Friday’s BBQ will include meat and vegetarian options, and Halal sausages, along with homemade salads and desserts.
In true Scottish fashion, we’ll be enjoying our BBQ rain or shine – with an indoor option should the rain arrive!
Please check the boards or ask our volunteers about allergens. And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out!
Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
Four men have been arrested and charged in connection with culpable and reckless conduct following a police operation yesterday – Thursday, 18 June.
It follows an investigation into an incident on Tuesday, 26 May, 2026, when a lorry crashed into a house on Brand Drive in Edinburgh. No-one was injured in the incident.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, officers from various departments and policing divisions executed warrants across East Ayrshire.
Six properties were searched by police in the Kilmarnock and Darvel areas resulting in the arrests and seizure of items in connection with the incident.
The men, aged 24, 31, 39 and 41 are due to appear before Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Friday, 19 June, 2026.
Detective Inspector Gavin Howat said: “Criminality affects the lives of local people on a daily basis. Operations such as these disrupt criminal activity as well as addressing the concerns raised by local people.
” I would like to reassure everyone that we will continue with our proactive, preventative approach to tackle crime and its associated impact.”
First Minister John Swinney will today call for a new collective approach to reduce deaths and harms from drugs and alcohol, as he addresses a summit on drugs deaths in Edinburgh.
It comes as a new Alcohol and Drugs Fund, which will provide £36.9 million to frontline services and organisations working with people affected by alcohol and drugs, is launched.
The summit, organised by Public Health Scotland, will bring together health board chief executives, local authority leaders, justice representatives and third-sector partners alongside people with experience of drug and alcohol use, including representatives from family organisations and recovery groups.
Speaking ahead of the event, the First Minister said: “This new fund will provide more than £36 million over the next three years, supporting prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.
“It will reach organisations of all sizes – from grassroots groups to larger partnerships – with particular emphasis on improving support for children, young people, and families. I have heard from the third sector about the need for stability and longer-term support – this multi-year funding recognises that.
“We have increased residential rehab capacity, with funded placements now close to our 1,000 target, set new treatment standards, opened The Thistle – the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility – and improved surveillance of the most potent and dangerous drugs entering circulation.
“But it is clear we now require a different collective approach and we need to go further. I am determined we make the change and new ways of working needed – and I am focused on confronting the need for reform of how our public services deliver.
“I am clear there should be a ‘no wrong door’ approach. If someone needs help, our system should be easy and quick to navigate – wrapping around the person rather than making people fit into the system.”
The fund is open to third-sector organisations and public bodies working directly with people who use alcohol and drugs, people in recovery, and their children and families.
It supports delivery of the Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan 2026–35, a joint Scottish Government and COSLA initiative backed by more than £160 million in 2026–27, which sets out a 10-year approach to reducing deaths and harms caused by alcohol and drugs.
Corra Foundation Chief Executive Carolyn Sawers said: “It is a privilege for Corra to deliver this fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. High-quality support for people affected by drugs and alcohol is vital to collective efforts to reducing harms, realising rights and supporting recovery.
“Corra looks forward to working closely alongside people with lived and living experience of drugs and alcohol as we deliver this fund.”
Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035
Thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and did a litter pick as part of #SpringCleanScotland 2026.
The results are in:
– Scotland’s largest mass litter pick event
– 34,702 people involved
– 3,340 litter picks recorded
– 46,877 bags of litter removed from polluting our country
Barry Fisher, our Chief Executive, said: “I’d like to extend our gratitude to every person who has made an effort to clean up their part of Scotland – we all have a part to play and your activity is truly appreciated by us all.”
Check out the impact report and see if you can spot your litter pick photos:
A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to more than six years for attempted murder and other offences at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Lewis Burns pleaded guilty in May this year to assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and attempted murder.
It follows an investigation into an incident which occurred on Tuesday, 3 February, 2026, when police were called to a report of a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle on Lochend Drive.
Detective Inspector Gavin Howat said: “Burns deliberately drove at his victim not once but twice. He used his car as a weapon that day and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.
“I hope today’s outcome affords the victim a degree of justice as they continue to move forward with their life.”
Burns was also banned from driving for more than eight years.
Shoppers and families could soon have even more reasons to visit Fort Kinnaird, as plans have been submitted for more than 42,500 sq ft of new retail and leisure space, creating more than 60 jobs for the local area.
If approved, the centre would welcome a new food store of c.19,750 sq ft on the ground floor, alongside c.22,785 sq ftof leisure space on the first floor, supporting the continued growth of the destination’s leisure quarter and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
The new building would be located alongside Fort Kinnaird’s established leisure and food offering, including ODEON cinema, Wagamama and Nando’s.
The announcement follows last year’s refurbishment of the Eastern Terrace, which saw more than 20,000 sq ft of retail space upgraded and welcomed new stores including Lush, Rituals and Clintons.
It builds on Fort Kinnaird’s position as one of the UK’s largest retail parks, extending across more than 560,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space in total.
Liam Smith, Centre Director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “This is a really exciting time for us. We have no doubt the new development, if approved, will prove exceptionally popular with our visitors. It will offer convenience for everyday shopping but also more choice when spending quality time with family and friends.
“Beyond that, we’re really proud this project will create over 60 new jobs in the local area. The development is about strengthening Fort Kinnaird as a destination for the whole community.”
Designed with sustainability in mind, the new building would incorporate Air Source Heat Pumps and solar photovoltaic systems to help reduce energy consumption and support lower-carbon operations.
Subject to planning approval, consent is expected in November 2026, with works anticipated to begin in January 2027 and completion targeted for January 2028.
Fort Kinnaird is co-owned by retail landlord, British Land, which recently also submitted a 60,000 sq ft retail and leisure expansion at Glasgow Fort, reflecting its confidence in investing in destinations that bring together shopping, dining and entertainment.
For further details or to plan your visit to Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
More than one-quarter (26%) of workers feel their managers and employee representatives are ineffective at working together to prevent and resolve conflict, according to a new Acas survey.
The survey, carried out by YouGov, also found that nearly one in three (31%) workers do not have any employee representatives who could help prevent conflict.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 gives new access rights to trade unions which makes effective employer and trade union relationships critical.
The government has consulted on a Code of Practice on the new independent right of trade unions to access workplaces that is expected to come into force in October 2026. It will provide guidance on how access is requested, agreed and implemented.
Acas is calling on government, trade unions and employers to work together positively to achieve access and prevent conflict.
Kevin Rowan, Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, said: “We know there is a conflict management skills gap in Britain, and our survey shows too many cases where employee representatives and managers are not effective enough at working with each other, leading to conflict and disruption.
“Effective relationships between employee representatives and managers can help build trust, prevent disputes and contribute to productive organisations.
“I’m pleased the new draft Code recognises the valuable work that Acas collective conciliators do to build positive relationships between trade unions and employers. There is need for a balance on both sides on the right for trade union access outlined in the Code.”
Acas’s response to the Government’s consultation makes several recommendations, including how the Code should:
Acas offers training, advice and a free service for managers and representatives to help prevent, manage and resolve conflict at work.
Acas collective conciliation involves working directly with employers and groups of workers or their representatives to settle a dispute. It gives both parties the chance to come to an agreement without taking legal or industrial action.
In 2024-25, Acas handled 522 collective conciliations and helped to resolve 93% of cases.
Two men have been jailed for attempted murder following a wilful fire-raising incident on 4 April, 2025, in Hay Drive.
Kurtis Young, 42, was sentenced to 11 years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow and 19-year-old Richard Ordish was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, 16 June, 2026.
Both men pled guilty to wilful fire-raising, causing danger to life and attempted murder, in connection with serious organised crime.
The investigation was part of enquiries into violent incidents in the East and West of Scotland under Operation Portaledge.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “This was a reckless and dangerous act and Kurtis Young and Richard Ordish will now face the consequences of their actions.
“Today’s sentence sends a message that there is no place for this type of behaviour in our communities.”
REMINDER – GRANTON WATERFRONT DROP-IN, MON 22 JUNE
Come along for an update on Phase 1 construction works from the Council’s Granton Waterfront team and developer Cruden.
The team will be on hand to answer your questions!
Monday 22 June 2026, 4.00pm – 7.00pm
Granton Station
The ‘savings’ announced yesterday will deliver around £160m of the £500m target of savings over the next three years
The BBC has confirmed the first phase of its proposals to make £500m of savings over the next three years.
Staff were informed today that 550 roles would be closed across the News, Nations and Content divisions by the start of 2027/28. These divisions would also be making a reduction in commissioning spend of around £80m by the end of 2027/28.
The savings announced today will deliver around £160m of the £500m target, which will see an overall reduction to headcount of around 1,800 to 2000 and a cost reduction of 10%, over the next three years.
Further savings across all divisions will be set out in the coming months. This includes corporate divisions, where around 700 roles are expected to close.
Proposals announced today:
BBC Content
Nations
A total of £33m of savings by the end of 27/28, with the expected closure of around 250 posts in this first phase expected to be broken down as follows:
News
Staff have been told voluntary redundancy will be available, but compulsory redundancies are also possible.
Programme closures will be guided by three main principles:
Further announcements will be made in due course.
The NUJ has warned that further brutal BBC cuts will be “devastating” for workers and audiences, urging management and the government to prioritise investing in the broadcaster.
The NUJ had previously sounded alarm after the BBC announced plans to cut between 1,800-2,000 jobs as part of a 10% reduction to its total costs by the end of 2028-29.
Matt Brittin, BBC director general, yesterday (17 June) announced that the first wave of cuts could lead to a reduction of 550 roles across the BBC’s news, nations, and content teams.
Subsequent communications from BBC management have confirmed that BBC News would lose around 200 roles while BBC Nations would lose around 250 roles – including around 90 roles in BBC Local – “with further reductions to come”.
Many divisions have already started offering voluntary redundancy, with Brittin stating that the BBC will “work hard to avoid” compulsory redundancies.
In addition to cuts to jobs, the BBC plans to close programmes – including Radio 4’s The World Tonight and the Midnight News and the World Service’s The Conversation and The Fifth Floor. On BBC One, the Sunday morning edition of BBC Breakfast will end this September.
The director general has also announced an £80 million reduction in commissioning across news, nations and content for 2027/28, alongside a review of the broadcaster’s TV and radio stations.
The BBC said it plans to “prioritise digital content” and “making greater use of mobile technology” instead of using crews to film stories.
The NUJ has called for the BBC to change course and for the UK government to provide urgent intervention to stop the constant cycle of cuts to jobs and programming.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: “Largescale cuts to the BBC would be devastating – not only for dedicated workers at the broadcaster whose jobs are at risk – but also audiences and communities across the UK.
“The need for accurate, independent, locally relevant and universally accessible journalism is greater than ever with increasing media monopolisation, mis- and disinformation, and AI fake news rife on social media.
“This is not the time for the BBC to retreat from its public service commitments and its core mission to inform, educate, and entertain. The BBC cannot provide quality journalism without the talented and experienced workers who make it possible.
“Our members are already being asked to produce more with fewer resources, leaving workers across newsrooms at risk of burnout. Previous rounds of cuts have resulted in unmanageable workloads, low morale, loss of staff, and fewer opportunities for freelances or career progression.
“This constant cycle of cuts and cost-saving must end. With Charter Renewal underway, the BBC and government should instead be focussing on securing positive reforms that guarantee a bright future for our public broadcaster.
“Our ‘Back The BBC’ campaign sets out members’ priorities for Charter Renewal: increased funding, worker representation on the BBC board, and truly independent governance.
“However, Charter Renewal won’t come soon enough to stop these cuts, which is why we are calling on the government to urgently intervene.
“The NUJ will be supporting members collectively and individually though these difficult times. We strongly encourage BBC workers to stand with us and get involved in the union. Working together gives us a stronger collective voice and helps us fight to protect jobs and programming.”
