An exhibition and a weekend of printmaking with Eiko
Join us for Gravity, an exhibition exploring Eiko’s personal experiences and life story through materials, printmaking and painting.
With a background in traditional Western art and printmaking, and experience working as a print technician in Japan, Eiko brings together traditional techniques and reflections on contemporary life.
Discover her work, share in the conversation and explore printmaking for yourself throughout the weekend.
Exhibition Opening: Gravity + Gems
Friday 13 November | 18:00–20:00
Celebrate the opening with complimentary drinks and handmade, gem-inspired snacks.
Workshops
Tetra Pak Print Workshop: Seeds
Saturday 14 November | 14:00–16:00
Explore the shapes of seeds and the energy they hold. Join Eiko to create Tetra Pak prints using a pasta maker as a printing press—a playful way to try printmaking and make a thoughtful gift for someone special.
Monotype Print Workshop: Roots
Sunday 15 November | 14:00–16:00
Discover the shapes of roots and their power to draw energy from the earth. Experiment with monotype printing alongside Eiko, using a pasta maker as a printing press to create a unique print to keep or give.
A group of Edinburgh College Professional Cookery students got a taste of life at the top of their profession after sharing the kitchen with some of Scotland’s finest chefs as they prepared lunch for The Chefs’ Forum at Edinburgh’s iconic Scotsman Hotel recently.
Working under the guidance of four expert chefs, the College’s Professional Cookery students played a key role in delivering the four-course menu, joining each chef in the kitchen to prepare their specially curated dish.
The team were also joined by their peers from West Lothian College, who were tasked with supporting the front-of-house operation and serving meals to guests.
First up on the day was James McDonald, Executive Head Chef at The Bothy Glasgow, who opened the lunch with BBQ hispi cabbage, cashew butter and chimichurri.
Edward Fortune, Head Chef at The Murrayfield Hotel, followed with hake poached in mushroom broth, Scottish chanterelles and tarragon.
Host chef Kristofer Currie, Executive Chef at The Scotsman Hotel, served Aussie Wagyu sirloin with braised Aussie Wagyu cheek fondant, beef-fat carrot, carrot-top pistou, carrot granola and Bordelaise sauce.
Finally, dessert came from Can Misirlioglu, Head Pastry Chef at The Grand Café, who presented a contemporary Cranachan éclair.
Nikita Panwar, Level 1 Professional Cookery student from Edinburgh College, was delighted to be involved in the event where she was recognised for her excellent contribution in the kitchen earning her the Kitchen Star Award: “It was an amazing experience to work alongside some of Scotland’s top chefs.
“I gained a lot of valuable new skills, grew in confidence and found out what it’s like to work in a professional kitchen. Receiving the Kitchen Star Award means lot to me and I’m grateful to the College for this amazing opportunity.”
Nikita’s lecturer, Jack Evans, was full of praise for the young chef: “We’re so proud of Nikita. When she first started the course, she was a little bit shy, so seeing her shine and gain this recognition, along with the possibility of her securing a job, was amazing!
“Her story is exactly why we do what we do.”
Jack, who was instrumental in creating the partnership with The Chefs’ Forum, believes it is not just beneficial for the students involved: “Since I started The Chefs’ Forum partnership, it has gone from strength to strength, continuing to grow year on year, and has become an integral part of the curriculum calendar.
“The aim was not only for students to benefit from the opportunity, but also for lecturing staff to get involved. It has been incredibly rewarding to see this happen, and it has generated a real buzz within the team.”
Delighted with the success of the event, Catherine Farinha, Founder of The Chefs’ Forum, said: “What an extraordinary celebration of Scottish hospitality. It was a privilege to bring together such an impressive gathering of chefs, hoteliers, restaurateurs and industry partners in the magnificent surroundings of The Scotsman Hotel.
“Our four chefs delivered a truly exceptional menu, each bringing their own creativity, technical expertise and passion. I would like to thank James McDonald, Edward Fortune, Kristofer Currie and Can Misirlioglu for their tremendous contribution.
“What made the day particularly special was seeing the students from Edinburgh College and West Lothian College working alongside these talented professionals. Chloe and Nikita were true stars of the day, and their achievements are exactly why we continue to champion hospitality education through our events.
“We are deeply grateful to The Scotsman Hotel, our college partners and every supplier who supported this event. Together, we are creating genuine opportunities for the next generation and celebrating the extraordinary talent already working across Scotland’s hospitality industry.”
Plan designed to plug holes in failing social security safety net
Older people must be at the heart of plans to increase take-up
Getting life-changing support to older people is crucial as ongoing cost-of-living pressures increase
National charities Independent Age and Age UK have joined forces to develop a blueprint for a social security entitlement take-up strategy that could increase the number of low-income households receiving the financial support they desperately need.
The two charities launched the report: Raising Take-up: a template strategy to increase the take-up of social security entitlements, to illustrate what a comprehensive strategy could look like. In the face of stagnating take-up rates – Pension Credit for example has remained at between 60% and 65% take-up for more than a decade – both charities have been calling for the UK Government to introduce a strategy to ensure money that has been set aside reaches eligible older people who need it.
The charities hope the new report will inspire the Government to build on their work and develop its own plans to close the gap between the numbers eligible for financial entitlements and those receiving them.
Government data shows that millions of households are missing out on billions of pounds of vital support that can boost incomes by thousands of pounds a year, including Pension Credit (up to £2.4 billion) Attendance Allowance (£5.2 billion), Carer’s Allowance (£2.4 billion) and Housing Benefit (up to £1.3 billion).
This income can mean the difference between living in a cold home and being able to turn on the heating without worrying about spiralling bills, putting food on the table or skipping meals and paying the transport costs to see friends and family to ease isolation.
The report identifies several barriers holding eligible people back from the potentially life-changing income boosts. A lack of awareness of available support, confusion over eligibility, long and complicated applications forms, digital exclusion, stigma and patchy coordination across Government departments all play a part in hindering take-up.
With 13 million people in the UK living in poverty, 1.7 million of whom are of State Pension age, and around a million more older people on low incomes teetering on the brink, the organisations warn that the Government will need to think differently if it is to meet its commitment to increase take-up and tackle poverty among all age groups.
Independent Age Chief Executive Joanna Elson, CBE said: “It is a sign of a failing social security system that the very people it was designed to support don’t receive the financial help they are entitled to.
“Billions of pounds of support is not reaching eligible households to help them cope with spiralling costs – from heating and water to food and rent. People should not have to overcome a maze of complex forms, confusing information or digital barriers to receive the financial support they are entitled to.
“A UK Government take-up strategy would bring together existing efforts, address gaps in support and prove to older people on a low income that there is a clear plan for delivering lasting change. It’s time to fix the holes in the social security safety net that we should all be able to rely on.”
Caroline Abrahams, CBE, Charity Director at Age UK said: “Shameful numbers of older people who are eligible for a range of means-tested and health-related benefits that could transform their lives continue to miss out, and as a society we have arguably accepted this depressing state of affairs as though there is nothing, we can do to change it.
I”n fact, there undoubtedly is, and that’s why Age UK has been delighted to work with our friends at Independent Age on this report, which makes a compelling case for the development of a government take-up strategy. If the political resolve is there such a strategy could make a real difference.”
Steve (69) describes how his life has improved after receiving social security support with help from Independent Age:“I found it difficult to find information about benefits and understand what you’re entitled to. A friend told me about Independent Age and I decided to call their Helpline to see if I qualified for any benefits.
“I got Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit in the end, and I remember feeling so relieved! Getting those benefits has made a big difference to me. My Council Tax bill was a big worry for me. I used to pay around £1,300 a year. Now that I’ve been awarded Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit, I pay £0 for it!
“Before, I was on a very tight budget for food. I could only afford the basics and would only buy the cheapest items at the supermarket. My fridge was very bare. Now, I can eat fresh and healthy food instead of food out of a tin!”
June is in her late 70s and has Parkinson’s disease was helped by her local Age UK. She struggles with the tremor in her hands and has trouble with balance and co-ordination, which make it difficult for her to do essential everyday tasks like preparing food. Her family encouraged her to apply for Attendance Allowance, but she assumed she wasn’t eligible.
She eventually contacted a local Age UK in the East of England who offered a home visit. The advisor conducted a full benefit entitlement check and helped June complete the Attendance Allowance form – she can’t complete it herself as she finds writing difficult and completing forms daunting. Providing this hand-on, in-person support at her home was essential. She was successful in claiming Attendance Allowance, which in turn makes her eligible for Pension Credit. This makes her eligible for full Council Tax Reduction and health costs like glasses.
In total, the value of these benefits is over £200 per week – over £10,000 per year – plus a back payment. She has used the money on various physical therapies, including for her painful back, and feels her wellbeing has improved. Without this support she feels she wouldn’t know what she is entitled to and couldn’t navigate the benefits system.
She said: ‘All of this extra support has improved my state of mind so much and I am just ever so grateful to you.’
Independent Age and Age UK are urging the UK Government to create a targeted and holistic strategy to drive-up take-up rates. The two charities have identified the key features any strategy will need to succeed, including that it covers all social security entitlements, has measurable targets, clear accountability, and robust plans to monitor progress.
The Independent Age/Age UK plan identifies four pillars for action:
Increase awareness and understanding of eligibility, so people know what support they may be entitled to.
Simplify application processes for every entitlement, reducing unnecessary complexity and barriers to claiming.
Streamline and integrate systems, making it easier for people to access multiple entitlements and for public services to work together.
Increase access to advice and support, ensuring people can get practical help to navigate the system and complete applications.
The charities say these actions must be underpinned by a person-centred, system-wide, data-powered and evidence-led approach, ensuring that efforts are shaped around people’s needs, informed by reliable data and focused on what works.
UK Government regional Pension Credit take-up data from 2023/24
Staff from West Granton Housing Cooperative will be running another drop in at the Fresh Start Hub (28-30 Ferry Road Drive, entry through the Pantry) on Wednesday 18th November 2.00-5.00pm
Everyone is welcome to come along and ask them for advice around any of the following and more:
Housing related questions.
What benefit support might I be entitled to?
How do I apply for Social Housing in Edinburgh, and
What housing options are available?
What repairs must my landlord carry out to keep my home safe and livable?
How to report any damp or mould to your landlord & “next steps”
I Am Not My Hair is a joyful dance-theatre work created for Black and Mixed-Race girls aged 8-12 years old.
Drawing on lived experiences, and through vibrant movement, music and storytelling, the piece celebrates Black hair and creates a space where identity and individuality are honoured.
Friday 13 November
Performance at 6.30pm
Doors open at 6pm (NEA Community Café will be open before the performance starts)
Have you experienced cancer, or supported someone who has?
We’d love to hear about your experiences of cancer care and your ideas on how services could be improved. Join us for an informal chat in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Tuesday 24 November 2026
10:00am – 12:00pm
Community Renewal: Pennywell, 31 Pennywell Road, EH4 4PJ
£50 voucher for everyone who attends
Refreshments provided
Transport and childcare costs can be covered
Everyone is welcome
No right or wrong answers – share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) has written to hospitals across Scotland to issue an ‘Amber Alert.’
This is due to a national blood shortage. There is specific pressure on group O blood stock levels and a national shortage of blood donors.
All donors, but particularly O negative and O positive donors, are asked to urgently book and fill appointments across Scotland in the coming days, weeks and months.
Appointments are available for booking until the New Year and can be booked on https://www.scotblood.co.uk or by calling 0345 90 90 999.
Got questions about appointment or eligibility to #GiveBlood?
Attainment in Edinburgh schools is at the highest levels ever recorded within the senior phase
A report highlighting achievements and progress in attainment among learners for academic session 2025-26 was discussed at Education, Children and Families Committee on 3 November.
Pupils in S4-S6 achieved the best attainment on record for the Council for almost all key breadth and depth measures including the number gaining good passes in National 3-5, Higher and Advanced Higher. The number of vocational qualifications passes also improved from 914 in 2023 to 2216 in 2026.
In primary schools, literacy and numeracy has improved on last year.
Despite the positive progress, there is more to be done to close the poverty related attainment gap and guidance and support continues to be offered to schools to make closing the gap a priority.
Commenting on the report, Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convenor said: “This report shows the highest ever recorded attainment for young people in Edinburgh.
“The achievement shines a light on the hard work of our pupils, teachers and school staff. The National and Higher results are fantastic and to have over 2000 people achieve vocational passes is incredible work. These courses help young people make informed choices and also offer a route into work.
“While attainment overall has improved, the gap between the richest and poorest in Edinburgh is still too wide. I am committed to working closely with officers to understand why this is the case and how we can work to close the poverty related attainment gap.”
Got questions about appointment or eligibility to 
