NEWHAVEN CONNECTIONS CAFE – CRAIGHALL ROAD
North West Community Police Drop in Clinic – Dates for the coming months.
Community Police Drop-Ins
Month: October 2026
Kibble calls on Edinburgh’s professionals to join conversation on Scotland’s young people
Professionals from across Edinburgh and Lothians children’s services sector are being invited to gather this November to champion better collaboration and explore how to improve outcomes for young people facing adversity, as national children’s charity Kibble brings its annual conference back to Glasgow.
The event will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on 3 November. It will provide a space for the nation’s professionals working across social care, education, health, justice and the wider children’s services sector to share insight, challenge current thinking and explore practical approaches to supporting young people.
This year’s conference will be chaired by Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Nicola Killean, with keynote addresses from author Steven Russell, care-experienced lawyer Ryan McCuaig, Rob Holland, National Director (Scotland and Wales) and UK Strategic Lead for Volunteering at the National Autistic Society, and Dr Clare Allely, Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Salford.
Opening the keynote programme, London-based Steven Russell will draw on more than two decades of experience advocating for children and young people, alongside his own experience of growing up in care.
Steven, Director of The Dual Perspective and author of Drip by Drip, Day by Day: Finding Purpose Through the Pain, will explore the importance of relationships, connection and belonging in helping young people navigate adversity.
His keynote will examine how everyday interactions can have a lasting impact on a young person’s life, and how professionals can create the conditions for trust, safety and positive change.
Ryan McCuaig will bring his own lived experience to the conference, sharing his journey from Easterhouse in Glasgow to a successful legal career after overcoming personal, financial and social challenges. A former Chair of Who Cares? Scotland, Ryan is a dual qualified construction lawyer, social mobility speaker, and university lecturer and tutor with a particular interest in social mobility and improving access and retention of working-class talent in the professions.
Ryan left school without any Highers before going on to graduate with a first-class law degree, qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland, England and Wales. His keynote will explore the importance of resilience and opportunity, while challenging perceptions of what is possible for those who experience adversity early in life.
Rob Holland, National Director (Scotland and Wales) and UK Strategic Lead for Volunteering for the National Autistic Society, will join the speakers to bring a national perspective on autism, drawing on his experience leading the charity’s influencing work to improve support and inclusion across Scotland.
He will explore the changing public discourse, attitudes and the challenges of misinformation, as well as the need for greater collaboration between organisations and professionals to ensure autistic children and young people receive the right support.
His contribution will also build on Kibble’s own work in this area, following its achievement of National Autistic Society accreditation. The accreditation recognised Kibble’s commitment to embedding exemplary autism practice across its services and supporting staff to better understand and respond to the needs of autistic children and young people.
Professor Clare Allely will bring specialist expertise from the child and youth justice sector, exploring the experiences of young people who come into contact with justice systems and the importance of taking a trauma-informed, developmental and collaborative approach to supporting them.
Her keynote will consider how professionals across social care, education, health and justice can work together to better understand the circumstances and needs of young people, helping to ensure that adversity, vulnerability or harmful behaviour does not define their future.
Mark Macmillan, Chief Executive at Kibble, said: “Our annual conference is about bringing the wider sector together to share learning, challenge existing thinking and consider what more we can do collectively for children and young people facing adversity.
“We are particularly pleased to welcome Nicola back for a third year, while also extending a grateful thanks to our keynote speakers, all of whom provide different and valuable perspectives.
“By bringing together people from across care, education, health, justice and other specialist services, we can move beyond working in silos and focus on what really matters – improving outcomes and creating better futures for young people.”
Alongside the keynote sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a programme of workshops and discussions designed to explore the conference theme, Mental Health in Mind, in more practical detail.
Bringing together professionals from across children’s services, the sessions will provide opportunities to share learning, examine different approaches and consider how greater collaboration between specialisms can translate into better support and outcomes for young people.
Nicola Killean, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland and Chair of the Kibble Annual Conference, said: “Children and young people who experience adversity are often supported by multiple services and systems throughout their lives. That’s why individual organisations and specialist services must look beyond themselves and work together more effectively for children.
“This conference provides an important opportunity to listen, learn and challenge, while keeping children’s rights, experiences and voices at the heart of the conversation.
“I look forward to welcoming colleagues from across Scotland and beyond for a day of discussion, reflection and practical ideas that can help drive meaningful change for children and young people.”
Kibble Annual Conference 2026 will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, on 3 November 2026.
Tickets and further information are available via the Kibble Annual Conference – Kibble: Specialist services & support for young people facing adversity
Carers Trust: Action needed NOW to support unpaid carers
CARERS Trust’s new research with Public First, ‘Caring in 2035’, shows the stark reality unpaid carers across the country are facing in the coming decades without meaningful reform.
We are calling for action now. This means well-funded local support that reaches carers before crisis point, real financial and wellbeing support, and a care system that recognises carers as essential and equal.
The future of care is something we all have a stake in.
Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive of Carers Trust, said: “Almost all of us will either care for a loved one or be cared for in turn at some point in our lives.
“However, as a society, we’re simply not facing up to that fact. The gap between soaring demand and shrinking supply of care is opening up like a crocodile’s jaws and, unless we act now, it’s unpaid carers, those they care for, and the system itself that will be swallowed whole.
“This grim future is on the horizon, but there is still time to avoid it if we are willing to do the political hard yards now. The Prime Minister’s commitment to fixing our broken social care system is encouraging, but reform needs to focus on more than care home beds, budgets, and the paid workforce. It has to reckon frankly and fairly with the millions of unpaid carers that are holding the system together – at huge personal cost.
“It could be you, your mother, brother, or child who needs care in the future, or who becomes a carer in turn. We cannot go on asking unpaid carers to absorb yet more pressure, and we cannot let the worst-case scenario set out in this research become our reality.
“We need well-funded local support that reaches carers before they hit crisis point, real, comprehensive financial and wellbeing support, and a system that recognises carers as essential and equal, not invisible and expendable.”
Read more about Caring in 2035: https://bit.ly/4rLxP9F
Source: Policy and research consultancy Public First
North Edinburgh Arts: Act Like You Own the Place!
CELEBRATION and AGM
WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER 5 – 7pm
Act Like You Own the Place!
Join us for our Celebration and AGM
Wednesday 21 October, 5pm – 7pm
– Food & refreshments provided by our NEA Community Café
– Take a self-guided tour around the NEA building
– Take part in fun demonstrations and taster sessions
– Find out more about what’s on at NEA
– Meet local organisations and people living in your neighbourhood
– Bring your family and friends along
North Edinburgh Arts is owned by the people of North Edinburgh and is here for the long term; over 800 local people have already joined our membership scheme and are community owners of this incredible building.
Find out more about the events and activities happening at North Edinburgh Arts – have a shot at carpet bowls or riding an electric bike; or try out your crafty skills with the Knit and Natter group.
There’ll also be the chance to meet many of our tenant organisations Curious Seed, Tinderbox Collective, Flourish Jewellery, Cutting Edge Theatre, Project Esperanza, U-Evolve and more.
We want to share more about what Community Ownership means and the difference it makes. We hope you’ll join us!
If you would like to come along, please RSVP by 14 October on our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/act-like-you-own-the…
Talking Munros at Newington Library
TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER at 2pm
Newington Library have an upcoming talk all about Munros.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just curious about Scotland’s famous peaks, join them for this fun and informal event.
Tuesday 20 October at 2pm
Book your free place online via Eventbrite or contact the library:
Charities collaborate to host a Ceilidh
A special charity dinner and ceilidh in Edinburgh this November will bring together two organisations with a shared ambition: giving children, young people and families the support they need to build brighter futures.
The Charity Dinner and Ceilidh in aid of Pregnancy Counselling & Care Scotland (PCCS) and Scran Academy will take place at Greyfriars Charteris Centre,138–140 Pleasance, Edinburgh, on Friday 20th November, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
The evening will combine a Scottish-themed two-course dinner prepared by young people from Scran Academy with live music from The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience, raising funds for two charities whose work complements each other in a uniquely powerful way.
PCCS supports people at the very beginning of the journey providing practical and emotional support during pregnancy, early parenthood and times of loss. Its Baby Bank provides essential items and equipment for babies and children up to the age of two, while its counselling service supports people experiencing challenges around fertility, pregnancy, birth, loss and early parenthood.
Scran Academy picks up the journey as those babies turn into young people, supporting those aged 11–25 who may face barriers to success. Through food and cooking young people develop confidence, practical skills, qualifications and meaningful work experience, helping them engage in education, employment and greater independence.
It is this connection that makes the two charities such a natural partnership.
“Together, PCCS and Scran Academy represent support at two crucial ends of a young person’s journey, from giving babies the best possible start and helping families through the early years, to supporting young people as they develop the confidence, skills and opportunities they need for adult life.” – Lucy Aitchison CEO of PCCS and Will Bain, CEO of Scran Academy.
PCCS has supported individuals and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians for almost 50 years. Its Baby Bank helps families facing financial hardship and other challenges to access essentials for their babies and young children, while its counselling service provides a safe, non-judgemental space at some of life’s most difficult moments.
Scran Academy takes a similarly holistic approach to young people. Its youth-led catering social enterprise uses food as a vehicle for learning, development and opportunity. Young people are involved in preparing food, running catering operations and developing their skills, gaining experience that can help them take their next steps in education, training or employment.
The result is a partnership that tells a bigger story about what communities can do when they invest in people from the earliest stages of life through to adulthood.
The fundraising ceilidh will also put that ethos into practice, with Scran Academy’s young people preparing the evening’s Scottish-themed meal demonstrating first-hand the skills, confidence and opportunities that support from the charity can create.
The event is an opportunity not only to raise vital funds, but also to celebrate community, food, music and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to thrive.
Guests are invited to bring their dancing shoes and enjoy an evening of food, live music and community spirit. The event is BYOB and there will also be a raffle on the night.
Former US President Barack Obama receives Honorary Degree from Queen’s University Belfast
Former US President Barack Obama has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen’s University Belfast, where he praised Northern Ireland’s progress and challenged the next generation to continue building a peaceful and inclusive future.
Accepting the honorary doctorate during a special ceremony at Queen’s University with students, staff and invited guests, President Obama reflected on Northern Ireland’s journey since the Good Friday Agreement and the role young people can play in shaping the future.
President Obama said that while peace had transformed opportunities across Northern Ireland, its benefits must continue to be shared by all.
Recalling a previous visit to Belfast in 2013, President Obama said young people today faced significant challenges but also had reasons to remain hopeful: “The Good Friday Agreement is still a shining example of what can happen when people put aside old wounds and choose peace.
“But as we have seen in many countries, including in my home country the United States, peace and democracy are not inevitable. They have to be chosen, again and again.”
The former President highlighted the importance of education and widening participation initiatives in ensuring that young people from all backgrounds can realise their ambitions following a citation by Emma McAllister, a first-year Law with Politics student from North Belfast.
Emma first engaged with Queen’s aged 15 through R-CITY, a cross-community programme that helps young people from Ardoyne and Shankill together to access leadership and educational opportunities.
Following the citation, President Obama praised efforts to bring together young people from communities across Belfast and help them see higher education as being within reach. “That’s what peace makes possible. And it’s what Queen’s and the supporters in this room are helping to make real,” he said.
In his closing remarks, President Obama encouraged the Queen’s community to continue demonstrating what is possible through inclusion and ambition.
“I want to use this opportunity as an honorary Queen’s graduate to leave you all with a challenge and that is to keep showing the way,” he said.
Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer, congratulated President Obama receiving the University’s highest honour: “We are privileged to welcome President Obama to Queen’s.
“His commitment to peace, dialogue and public service has left a lasting impact around the world, and particularly here in Northern Ireland.”
Reflecting on the event, Emma McAllister, said: “President Obama’s message about opportunity and the power of young people to shape the future has a very personal meaning for me.
“Through R-CITY, I was encouraged to challenge myself, develop as a leader and believe that a place like Queen’s was within reach.
“Standing here as a Queen’s student and presenting President Obama with an honorary doctorate was a powerful reminder that, as he said, our starting point need not determine how far we can go. His example continues to inspire young people to recognise their own capacity to make a difference.”
Emma, a past pupil of Dominican College Fortwilliam, joined R-CITY at the age of 15 and completed Queen’s-accredited qualifications in Youth Leadership and Community Action before beginning her studies at the University.
President Obama will be speaking in Glasgow tonight.
President Zelenskyy to visit Downing Street today as UK ‘doubles down’ on support for Ukraine
CALL ON INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO FOLLOW SUIT
- Prime Minister to host President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street today to underline the UK’s rock-solid support for Ukraine ‘for as long as it takes‘
- UK will ‘double down’ on support for Ukraine, with the Prime Minister set to tell President Zelenskyy that he has asked Ministers to draw up further sanctions, military support and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks, and will accelerate delivery of critical air defence missiles
- Comes as the Chancellor presses partners at the IMF meetings to step up support for Ukraine and ensure Russia heeds the US’ call for a full energy ceasefire.
President Zelenskyy will arrive in the UK this morning as the UK calls on international partners to step up sanctions on Russia and increase pressure on Putin to respect the United States’ calls for an energy ceasefire.
It comes as the UK doubles down on support for Ukraine, including delivering £45 million of surface-to-air missiles deliveries and standing by plans to fully implement a maritime services ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports – restricting Russia’s access to the UK’s world leading shipping and insurance services.
The UK will accelerate deliveries of British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), which have proven extremely effective against jet-powered drones that are being used to strike far beyond the front lines in Ukraine, including Kyiv and beyond.
The drones are faster and can fly far higher than propeller-driven Shaheds, making them harder to detect and destroy before they hit targets.
The UK has already committed £1.6 billion to deliver more than 5000 LMMs to Ukraine over the next four years and will accelerate £10 million of the £45m package of missiles announced today to meet Ukraine’s most urgent winter requirements.
Ahead of the two leaders meeting today, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the frontlines have the equipment they need to push back Russia.
“My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe.
“It is not just the right thing to do, but it’s the necessary thing to do. Russia’s aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent.”
The Prime Minister has also asked Ministers to draw up further sanctions, military aid, and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Chancellor John Healey will use his meetings at the IMF in Bangkok to urge partners to fully implement an equivalent ban on Russian LNG, following the UK’s lead. This comes after the Foreign Secretary did the same with partners at the Warsaw Security Forum yesterday.
As Russia continues its bombardment of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and energy infrastructure, the Chancellor will argue that this must be met by European resolve and unity – ensuring our unshakeable commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty stands strong.
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said: “Conflict in the Middle East and in Europe is hitting people across the world.
“As the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Putin continues, our commitment to the Ukrainian people is unshakeable.
“I urge partners to back the ban on Russian LNG, like we have done in the UK, to curtail the war chest funding Putin so desperately wants.”
Earth in Common: Volunteers wanted
HELP BUILD NEW CROFTS AT TRINITY & CORSTORPHINE
Our volunteers at Trinity & Corstorphine have made amazing progress on both sites over the summer!
We’re riding the momentum and continuing our weekly volunteering sessions into autumn so come along and join the friendly and wonderful volunteer crew. No matter your experience level, we’ll have a job for you to get stuck in with! 
Look for us at the former bowling pavilion in Victoria Park (Trinity) on Wednesday & Fridays, and at St Margaret’s Park (Corstorphine) on Saturdays!
Hope to see you then! 
Family History to Fiction: Author talk at Corstorphine Library
MONDAY 19 OCTOBER 6.30 – 7.30PM
Next week we are joined by local author, Leona Thomas, as she shares her past works, how she researched family history, and gives tips on the writing process.
Come along for free on Monday 19th October at 6:30pm.