We’re getting the library ready for Halloween!
We have found lots of spooky books for you to borrow, but our two wee ghosts are quite lonely on the display board!
Will you help us create some ghostly or magical friends for them?
Come along for our craft sessions this weekend!
-Friday 3:30pm
-Saturday 11am
Trade unions launch public sector improvement campaign against Scottish Government cuts and closures
Scotland’s largest trade union body has launched their campaign on the future of Scotland’s public services, as the STUC establishes their ‘Workers’ Inquiry: Public Services for the People of Scotland’ campaign.
The campaign, which will canvass and collate the views of public and private sector workers across Scotland, seeks to develop a set of worker-led demands for public service improvements as an alternative to the Scottish Government’s proposals.
The STUC has warned that the Scottish Government’s reform agenda could see “reckless” changes to the way public services are delivered, including the proposed abolition or restructuring of health boards and local authorities and, according to trade union analysis, the potential loss of up to 20,000 public sector jobs.
The Workers’ Inquiry will form the basis of public service improvements that invests in services, values the workers who deliver them and improves outcomes for communities – without using what trade unions have labelled as “barbarous programme of public sector cuts”.
Developed by the STUC and public sector trade unions, the consultation will close on 30th November, with the findings used to develop trade union demands and recommendations for the Scottish Government throughout the campaign.
The STUC is calling on the Scottish Government to engage meaningfully with the Workers’ Inquiry and to put worker experience and the needs of communities at the heart of its approach to public service reform.
The launch comes on day one of the SNP Conference in Aberdeen.
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “We have been clear that trade unions will not allow 20,000 jobs to be thrown on the scrapheap in a barbarous programme of public sector cuts.
“The Workers’ Inquiry is our alternative.
“We are reaching out to workplaces and communities across Scotland to ask the people who deliver our public services every day what needs to change, what works and what doesn’t and what a better future for our public services should look like.
“We want to build a worker-led vision for public service improvements – one that values, not cuts, the people who deliver our services, strengthens provision and builds world-class public services for everyone in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government has said that trade unions must have a meaningful role in shaping its reform agenda. We intend to hold them to that commitment. If ministers are serious about improving public services, they should welcome this consultation and publicly commit to encouraging workers, employers and public sector agencies to take part in the campaign.
“We do not accept that the only way to reform public services is through job losses, cuts and closures. Investment, proper planning and using the experience of Scotland’s public service workers offer a better way forward.
“The clock is ticking. As SNP Conference gets underway in Aberdeen, trade unionists are mobilising across Scotland to show the party of government that investment, not cuts, is the way to build public services we can all be proud of.”
BUT IS MORE ‘REGIONAL EMPOWERMENT’ ENOUGH FOR SCOTS?
In a speech today, the Prime Minister will invite Scotland’s First Minister to work with him on the common good of pushing more power out of both Westminster and Holyrood, unlocking jobs and opportunity in every region.
Delivering his remarks after speaking with young people today in Lanarkshire, Andy Burnham will emphasise the Scottish Government is one of the most centralised devolved administrations in Europe, with Holyrood not giving people who know their areas best enough of a say, despite significant devolution from Westminster over the last 27 years.
Because power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament, the Prime Minister will argue the next stage of devolution should place more decision-making in the hands of Scotland’s regions and cities to drive reindustrialisation.
As part of that offer, he will call on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government through No10 North and the Scotland Office to develop a new model of regional empowerment for Scotland, ensuring communities with their own strengths, identity and ambitions can seize new economic opportunities and unlock their potential.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “During my first week in office, I told the First Minister that I wanted to work with him to spread opportunities to communities across Scotland’s regions and cities.
“Through No10 North, we are rewiring the state and I want to make sure regions in Scotland are fully part of this.
“This is me making an offer to the Scottish Government. With us working together, there is no limit to what we can achieve for the Scottish people.”
The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander said: “Devolution has done a great deal, but power was never supposed to stop at the doors of the Scottish Parliament. People in North Lanarkshire, in Fife or in the Highlands know what their communities need better than any minister, whether they sit in London or Edinburgh.
“The Prime Minister’s offer to the Scottish Government is a genuine one, and the Scotland Office is ready to roll up its sleeves alongside them to make it happen. Two governments, one goal – good jobs and real opportunity in every corner of Scotland”.
Latest poll suggest more Scots would vote for independence if another referendum was called today.
LIFT@MUIRHOUSE MILLENNIUM CENTRE WINS WORKPLACE AWARD
The Forth Awards, presented by Livingston Designer Outlet, celebrated the very best of Edinburgh and the East yesterday at a stellar show which saw local heroes pick up awards alongside Scottish stars Emeli Sandé, Cammy Barnes, Craig Hill and more.
A sold out Usher Hall enjoyed a surprise line-up including a stunning performance from Emeli Sandé, dance sets from iconic voices including Kelly Llorenna, Janice Robinson and Simone Denny, entertainment from ‘Dirty Dancing’ and a rousing set from man of the moment Cammy Barnes.
Forth 1 presenters distributed awards to hometown heroes, nominated by Forth’s audience, across categories including Best Teacher, Best Workplace and the prestigious Forth Local Hero Award.
Station stars including Arlene Stuart, Steven Mill, Garry Spence, Callum Gallacher, Grant Thomson, Lynsey Gibson and more hosted the show as well as a charity auction to fundraise for Forth 1’s Cash for Kids, making a difference for kids across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk.
10 awards were handed out across the star-studded show, recognising hometown heroes across Best Teacher, Best Restaurant, Best Workplace and the all important Forth Local Hero Award.
WINNERS:
The Forth Best Artist Award with Victor Paris – Cammy Barnes
The Forth Contribution to Music Award with The Liquid Room – Janice Robinson
The Forth Icon Award with The Edinburgh Playhouse – Emeli Sandé
The Forth Fringe Award with Watermans – Darrell Martin
The Forth Best Restaurant Award with Saltire Hospitality – Luca’s Kitchen
The Forth Cash for Kids Award with Newtown Décor – Rocco Wood
The Forth Best Teacher Award with Omni Centre – Matthew Crawford, Beath High School
The Forth Best Workplace Award with Fuse – L.I.F.T @ Muirhouse Millennium Centre
The Forth Visitor Attraction – Falkland Palace & Garden
The Forth Local Hero Award with Edinburgh’s Christmas & LNER – Lisa Petrie
The talented ensemble from ‘Dirty Dancing’, currently showing at Edinburgh Playhouse, kicked the afternoon off with an outstanding performance before Darrell Martin was presented with this year’s Forth Fringe Award.
Founder of Just the Tonic Comedy Club, which presents hundreds of shows every year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Darrell has welcomed some of comedy’s top names to his club in Nottingham over the past 30 years including Sean Lock, Jo Brand, Rob Beckett and more.
One of the UK’s most successful songwriters, Emeli Sandé was honoured with this year’s Forth Icon Award, marking a career which has seen her pick up four BRIT Awards, achieve three UK No.1 singles and sell over 6 million albums.
The Scottish star’s upcoming 2027 UK tour celebrates 15 years since the release of her hit debut album ‘Our Version of Events’ and guests at the Forth Awards were treated to her biggest hits including ‘Next To Me’ and ‘Read All About It’.
Picking up her award Emeli Sandé said, “This is awesome, Scotland is where my whole journey began so thank you for this recognition.”
Dunfermline restaurant Luca’s Kitchen picked up the Forth Best Restaurant Award for their family-friendly authentic Italian fayre, whilst L.I.F.T at Muirhouse Millennium Centre won the Best Workplace Award.
Community project based in Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Low Income Families Together (LIFT) works with individuals and families to develop new skills to improve their lives – from tackling child poverty, budgeting skills, confidence building and employability skills, the team go above and beyond for their community.
Man of the moment and local lad Cammy Barnes took home the Forth Best Artist Award after storming onto the UK’s music scene blending contemporary country songwriting with traditional Scottish music.
Hailing from Fife, Cammy shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, supported Amy Macdonald on tour and is now set to play two huge dates at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro in 2027. The singer songwriter treated the audience to a rousing set including a song dedicated to his hometown ‘Beauty In These Streets’, ‘Whiskey Roll’ and a special cover of ‘Tennessee Whiskey’.
Picking up his award, Cammy said: “I can’t believe I’ve just won that award! A massive thank you to all the team at Forth 1 and Clyde 1 for backing me and playing my music on the radio – it has singlehandedly changed my life.
“When I started this journey I just wanted to make my wee girl proud – and now we just sold out The Hydro! Things like this don’t happen to be, so I’m buzzing.”
Matthew Crawford, a guidance teacher at Beath High School in Cowdenbeath won the Best Teacher Award for his commitment to his pupils and their parents and the Best Visitor Attraction went to Falkland Palace & Garden in Fife, recognising its staff and volunteers in a year of ongoing building works.
One of the afternoon’s most heartwarming moments came when Rocco Wood was presented with the Forth Cash for Kids Award. Born at just 28 weeks, three months premature, Rocco was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and has overcome significant challenges in his 17 years.
Cash for Kids has been able to support Rocco and his family for many years, mostly recently funding an eye-gaze communication device which has given Rocco a new way to express himself, communicate and display his cheeky sense of humour.
American singer songwriter Janice Robinson collected the Forth Contribution to Music Award, honouring a vocalist career spanning over 30 years, beginning with her global hit ‘Dreamer’ as part of ‘Livin’ Joy’. Janice went on to support the iconic Tina Turner on tour and released hit dance tracks include ‘Earthbeat’ and ‘There Must Be Love’, which she performed at this afternoon’s ceremony.
Janice said: “It feels amazing to be recognised after decades of a song that has lived in the hearts of so many people in the UK.
“Looking into the audience and realising that most of these people were really young when ‘Dreamer’ came out – I’m so blessed to have done something that brings people such joy.”
For the final award of the day, local Edinburgh woman Lisa Petrie was honoured with the Forth Local Hero Award for her extraordinary campaign for stricter retail security on knives, and the roll out of life-saving bleed kits across the local community.
After losing her son John in 2025, Lisa has campaigned tirelessly – meeting the First Minister, the King and MSPs to introduce accessible bleed kits across Edinburgh.
Lisa has assembled and distributed over 100 emergency medical bleed control kits to pubs, community centres and shops across Edinburgh and Midlothian, aimed at saving lives in all kinds of medical emergencies.
On stage, Lisa said, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Pauline and the team at L.I.F.T. – I would have turned my face to the wall and cried, but I’ve had support and an army behind me after losing John.
“It’s been hard, but knowing that there’s other families out there and we can support each other, that’s what I want. These aren’t stats, these are kids, they’re human beings. I need change and I know that we will save lives and make change for John. These awards have given me more strength to keep going.”
The 2026 Forth Awards had the Usher Hall audience on their feet with dance performances from Canadian dance and house star Simone Denny before UK trance-popstar Kelly Llorenna brought the day to a rousing end with ‘Set You Free’.
Recognising everything from small acts of kindness from teachers and care workers, to achievements in the world of entertainment, The Forth Awards were once again a celebration of inspiring stories from Forth 1’s local heroes and performances to remember.
David Robertson, Director Of Content for the Hits Radio Brand (including Forth 1), Scotland and Northern Ireland said: “In our 21st year of the Forth Awards, we continue to be inspired by the local listeners striving to make a difference and delivering, at times, life-changing work in their local communities.
“Whether it’s a teacher supporting kids in school, or individuals like Lisa Petrie campaigning on a national level, it’s Forth 1’s honour to shine a spotlight on them and say thank you.
“We send our huge congratulations to all of today’s worthy winners, and a special thanks to our outstanding performers for entertaining our sold out crowd.”
