THURSDAY 9th OCTOBER 6 – 8pm at NORTON PARK
Calling all tenants! Join ETF and a member of CEC for our next Federation Meeting to discuss damp and mould in the home.
Thursday 9th of October
6pm – 8pm
Norton Park Conference Centre
Call 0131 475 2509 or email info@edinburghtenants.org.uk if you require transport
Craiglockhart Tennis and Leisure Centre is about to change the game for golfers in Edinburgh. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to sharpen your swing or someone seeking a fun, new experience with friends, the cutting-edge Trackman Golf Simulator officially opens today, Monday, 29th September.
Occupying the space formerly used as a spin studio at the entrance to the tennis centre, this exciting new addition represents a significant investment in leisure innovation by Edinburgh Leisure. The simulator offers a powerful, immersive indoor golf experience – perfect for training, socialising, or simply enjoying the game, rain, or shine.
Costing just £25 per hour, customers can bring their own clubs, or Edinburgh Leisure can provide. Bookings are per session and can accommodate up to four people at each hour-session.
“We’re thrilled to bring this state-of-the-art golf simulator to Craiglockhart,” said Kirsty Stobie, Manager at Craiglockhart Tennis and Leisure Centre.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for golfers of all levels to enjoy the game in a new way, and we’re proud to offer our members something truly special with the discounted launch offer.”
Whether you’re chasing performance or just looking to play for fun, book now via the Edinburgh Leisure app and website:
https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/activities/trackman-golf-simulator/
The UK government has confirmed it will progress work on the next generation of new towns across England, following publication of an independent report that recommends 12 locations as potential new towns.
The government is determined to begin building in at least three new towns in this Parliament and is prepared to progress work on a far larger range of locations if it proves possible.
The government yesterday published an initial response to the report in which it welcomes all 12 recommended locations and its wider recommendations on delivery and implementation. The government response also states that at this stage sites at Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank look most promising.
A New Towns Unit will also be established by the government to progress development on new towns. The Unit will work with all departments and their agencies to ensure new towns are a test bed for innovation and to unblock barriers to delivery.
The New Towns Taskforce, led by Sir Michael Lyons, was commissioned by the government to explore different approaches to large-scale development. In its report, the taskforce has recommended a mixture of large-scale communities including urban extensions, urban regeneration, and standalone greenfield sites should be built.
It says each new town should have at least 10,000 homes with an ambition for a minimum of 40% affordable housing and half of which will be for social rent. The Taskforce has also set out a range of recommendations for delivery, including the importance of accountable delivery bodies who are able to provide long term certainty for communities in new towns.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) will be undertaken to understand the environmental implications of developing new towns. No final decisions on locations will be made until this assessment concludes and preferred locations could change as a result of the process.
The government will be looking for assurance that any location can be effectively and efficiently delivered in partnership with local communities, has a clear economic purpose, and will support economic growth. Different delivery vehicles will also be tested to learn lessons for how future large settlements are delivered and to contribute to a wider transformation of housing supply.
The government will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation in Spring, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns soon after. This will be alongside a full government response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report.
The 12 recommended locations are:
Responding to the government’s New Towns announcement, countryside charity CPRE’s Chief Executive, Roger Mortlock, said: “‘CPRE recognises that well-designed new towns with proper infrastructure have a role to play. Yet with growing pressure on our finite land, all development, including new towns, should follow a brownfield-first approach, led by targets.
“Too many of these sites will needlessly see great swathes of countryside and the Green Belt lost to development while the list of brownfield sites grows.
‘Many rural communities on this list are already faced with a huge hike in housing numbers following the government’s recalculation of the formula, unrelated to local housing need or demand. Faced with a new town, housing targets in these areas should be radically reduced to reflect the huge changes to their communities that a new town will bring.
‘The focus in the Taskforce’s report on urban regeneration, a new approach to housing density and affordable housing is welcome, but the definition of affordable needs rethinking and matching to local incomes if it is to tackle the housing crisis.
‘There is a massive opportunity to rethink how we build new places, faced with the climate and nature crises, that still needs more emphasis. Putting nature at the heart of these communities is not the icing on the cake; it should be the starting point.’
The New Towns Taskforce report and the government’s initial response can be read here.
SCOTLAND’S CLIMATE WEEK 28th SEPTEMBER – 5TH OCTOBER 2025
Workers and communities across the North East of Scotland will benefit from £8.5 million in new funding to support the shift to clean energy careers.
Four projects are receiving funding this year through the Just Transition Fund focus on offshore wind infrastructure and supply chain development, demonstrating the Scottish Government’s commitment to economic development and supporting communities through the energy transition.
The successful projects include:
The investment targets areas that have provided energy security through oil and gas for generations, ensuring these communities remain at the centre of Scotland’s energy future as the country accelerates towards net zero.
The funding marks the beginning of Scotland’s Climate Week, with First Minister John Swinney officially opening Scotland’s largest energy transition skills hub at North East Scotland College in Aberdeen – a new centre of excellence which will train young people for highly skilled roles in the growing renewables sector.
The Hub received £4.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund and represents a collaboration between the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), North East Scotland College, Shell UK, and the Scottish Government.
First Minister John Swinney said: “This new round of funding responds to the immediate priorities of energy businesses in the North East. It focuses on projects that have a clear goal of supporting jobs and maximising economic opportunities in the region.
“The North East has long been a titan of the oil and gas industries and we must move forward together towards a cleaner, more sustainable world. Just Transition funding aims to ensure no one is left behind and that communities continue to play a vital role in the country’s clean energy future.
“I’m also looking forward to opening the ETZ’s Energy Transition Skills Hub, at the start of this year’s Climate Week. Supported by £4.5 million of Scottish Government funding, this centre of excellence will prepare local young people for the highly skilled jobs and opportunities of the future in the renewable energy industry.”
TUESDAYS 9.30 – 11.30am
Parents and Carers, please pop in and see us at The Citadel 9:30am – 11.30am every Tuesday for our Family Drop-In.
Get support and advice from family workers on multiple topics.
£1.5m INVESTMENT IN REDESIGNED AND ACCELERATED DIAGNOSTIC PATHWAY
A new way to diagnose colorectal cancer will help ensure patients get quicker treatment.
Scotland’s Colorectal Optimal Cancer Diagnostic Pathway has been designed by clinical experts at NHS Golden Jubilee’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD).
Supported by £1.5 million on funding from the Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early (DCE) programme, it sets out a new model for NHS Scotland to follow.
Patients will be able to receive multiple tests at one time – where clinically appropriate – reducing visits to hospital, speeding up time to diagnosis and improving the quality and safety of care.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in Scotland, representing 11% of all cancer deaths.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Bowel cancer touches thousands of families in Scotland every year, and we know the difference early diagnosis can make – more treatment options, more time with loved ones, and better outcomes.
“That’s why I am so pleased to see the publication of Scotland’s Colorectal Optimal Cancer Diagnostic Pathway. By speeding up diagnosis and improving the way services are delivered, we can give patients and their families greater peace of mind, faster answers, and the very best chance of recovery.”
One patient who credits early diagnosis with saving his life is Nick Rimmer, 55, from Crieff.
Nick was diagnosed with stage one bowel cancer in 2019 following a routine NHS screening test which arrived just after his 50th birthday. Initially hesitant, he now says taking the test “saved my life and my future.”
Nick said: “I consider myself lucky because it was detected at a stage where I had absolutely no symptoms and no idea. Okay, I had to go through a major operation, but after that I didn’t require chemotherapy. I’ve been healthy for the last five years.
“If you’ve got any unusual, persistent symptoms, go to your GP practice. Please don’t delay. Even if you don’t have symptoms, when that test lands on your doormat – do it. The more people that do the test and find cancer earlier, the easier their life is going to be.”
Dr. Lisa Wilde, Director of Research and External Affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We’re delighted to see the launch of Scotland’s new optimal bowel cancer diagnostic pathway and toolkit.
“Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. The earlier patients are diagnosed with the disease, the greater their chance of survival.
“By supporting earlier diagnosis and reducing waiting times, this work has the potential to improve efficiency across the system and importantly deliver better outcomes for patients.”
THIS MORNING at 10am from PILTON COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT
TODAY for #ChatCafe, we’ve got something a little different planned!
We’ll be joined by Min from @ramblersscotland so it seems only fitting that we take ourselves outdoors for a #Walk.
Meet Nathalie and Min 10am @ PCHP before setting out on foot for a lovely walk and breakfast picnic of #Pancakes and #Chai.
What a beautiful start to a #Monday. If you’re a #Woman and would like to join, please come along.
We hope to see you all!
14 YEAR OLD GIRL MISSING FROM WESTER HAILES
POLICE are appealing for information which could help trace a missing 14-year-old girl from Edinburgh.
Aisika Arnautu who is from the Wester Hailes area of the city, was reported missing on Saturday, 27 September.
Enquiries so far have established that she has been in Aberdeen from around Friday, 19 September and subsequently travelled to Glasgow city centre on Saturday, 27 September.
She may have been travelling using public transport and enquiries are ongoing to establish her exact movements.
Aisika is described as being white, 5ft 4in tall with long brown hair. It isn’t known what she would be wearing but she is thought to wear large hoop style earrings.
Chief Inspector Ran Macdonald said: “We are concerned for Aisika’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have information to come forward.
“She is thought to have travelled extensively in the past few weeks across Scotland so I would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen her or spoken to her to get in touch.
“If you can help, you can call 101 quoting reference 3254 of 27 September, 2025.”
A trip to the world-famous Space Needle, lunch in Pike Place Market and a visit to the Museum of Pop Culture are just three of the experiences enjoyed by Stuart Penny from Dunfermline after he had a once in a lifetime trip to the US.
Stuart, who works at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, took part in the week-long trip with 17 Amazon colleagues from across the UK and Ireland as part of a programme called I Found the Right Place.
I Found the Right Place is open to Amazon employees in the UK and Ireland and asks the simple question – ‘what makes Amazon the right place for you?’. Employees are invited to talk about why they love working at Amazon and the best stories are selected by a judging panel, with the finalists taking delivery of a boarding pass for the trip of a lifetime.
More than 2,000 Amazon employees submitted their story as part of the campaign and Stuart was selected by the judges as one of 18 people who boarded the plane to Seattle.
Stuart and his colleagues had an action-packed week in Seattle, where they toured Amazon’s global headquarters, saw the latest Amazon technology during a fulfilment centre tour and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city’s Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture and more.
“After 35 years with my previous employer, I joined Amazon at 57 seeking a fresh start and it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Now as I turn 61, I’ve found purpose, pride, and community through training, safety roles, and a workplace that values everyone, no matter their background or age. I never want to retire – I’m having way too much fun!”
Stuart Penny is from Dunfermline and works at the Amazon fulfilment centre in the city. He works in the customer returns department, and as an instructor training new employees. After spending most of his childhood in Lusaka, Zambia, where his father worked building schools, he returned to the UK at the age of seven. He said:
“I came back to go to Strathallan, a boarding school in Perth. I owe a lot to the quality of teaching I received there. Now that I’m lucky enough to train people beginning their careers at Amazon, I take much inspiration from my schoolteachers that taught me how to be an eloquent and productive member of society.”
Before joining Amazon in 2020, Stuart worked for 35 years in sales at Andrew Thomson in Dunfermline. Due to the pandemic, the company closed, and Stuart was left without a job. He says:
“I just knew I needed to find a job. I was offered a six-month position by a different company, but I decided to take a risk and turn it down for a role at Amazon instead. People thought I wouldn’t like working here, but they couldn’t have been more wrong! I secured a permanent position after around eight months and decided then to become a trainer.”
Stuart’s career journey and love for his role at Amazon inspired the judges to give him a seat on the plane to Seattle. He explains:
“I can’t describe how much I love training. It’s like I have a fire inside me, and I want to take that and give it to each person I train. My role in sales gave me so many transferable skills that I can now use as a trainer, because I am essentially selling myself, selling the system and selling the process. It brings me a real buzz to see people I’ve trained able to get on with the job at hand – that means I’ve done my job properly.”
Stuart’s love for his job spurred him to submit his story to the I Found the Right Place judges. After a week in Seattle, he looks back on when he got the news he was going on the trip:
“I found out I was going to Seattle on Friday 13th, which I thought was funny. I couldn’t believe I had been chosen to go. When I finally got to tell everyone at work, they were so delighted for me. I was most excited to tell my 94-year-old mother. She was so proud of me and assured me my dad would be ever so proud, too.”
Stuart got to see and experience a lot when he was in Seattle, but what was his highlight of the trip?
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to meet my colleagues from around the UK who joined me on the trip, and everyone at Amazon in Seattle. Every last person on this trip has the spark and belief in ourselves, and a real belief in Amazon. We are all proof that there are so many opportunities with Amazon to learn and grow. I intend to stay with Amazon as a trainer for a very long time.”
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, added: “Stuart is a much-loved member of the team here at Amazon in Dunfermline and we were so pleased when we found out he was off to Seattle. We’re proud to have him represent our team on the trip and I hope he had a brilliant time. I Found the Right Place is one of the many programmes we run here at Amazon to show our appreciation for the colleagues that deliver smiles for our customers every day.”
Amazon employees receive competitive pay and comprehensive benefits. The minimum starting pay for frontline operations employees is between £13.50 and £14.50 p/h, depending on location. For those with 36 months service, this is £13.75 and £14.75p/h, depending on location. This equates to an annual starting salary of between £28,080 and £30,160, depending on location, for full-time frontline employees across the country.
Amazon has invested £550m in increased pay for operations employees across the UK since 2022, representing a 35% increase in the hourly rate in just two years. Additionally, from day one, all employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, subsidized meals and an employee discount. Together, these benefits are worth more than £700 annually, and employees can take advantage of Amazon’s company pension plan.
Amazon employees can also take part in Amazon’s Career Choice programme, which covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for courses in high-demand fields, regardless of whether the participant proceeds to pursue a career at Amazon.
Amazon has been named as a ‘Top Employer UK 2025’ by the Top Employer Institute, for the second year in a row, one of the world’s most prestigious certifications in the field of human resources management. This award recognises Amazon’s commitment to the development and well-being of its employees. In addition to the UK accolade, Amazon has also been certified as one of the Top Employers in Europe for a third consecutive year.
In 2025, Amazon ranked in second place on LinkedIn’s Top Companies list — an annual list that identifies the most sought-after large companies to work for and grow your career in the UK. Using data from LinkedIn’s 900 million members, LinkedIn’s Top Companies list is designed to help professionals identify the best companies to grow their careers.
National Eye Health Week | 22–28 September
Your eyes matter. Whether it’s a minor irritation or a serious condition, knowing where to turn for trusted advice is key.
NHS inform offers clear, reliable guidance on a wide range of eye conditions—from conjunctivitis and diabetic retinopathy to deafblindness and eye cancer.
If you or someone you know is waiting for treatment or support, RNIB Scotland ’s Waiting Well service is also available to provide advice.
Check out the links in our comments and explore symptoms, treatments, and when to seek help!
