Persimmon’s donation supports Hutchison Vale’s youth trip to Newcastle and new team kits
Persimmon Homes East Scotland has donated £3,000 to Hutchison Vale Football Club, helping to support one of Edinburgh’s most iconic grassroots football organisations.
The donation, made through Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative, helped fund a recent trip to Newcastle, where the club’s youth teams competed in a football competition, gaining valuable experience and making memories that will last a lifetime. As part of the support, the Persimmon logo will also feature on the 2015 squad’s kit, worn proudly in the club’s traditional yellow and black colours.
Hutchison Vale FC, based at Ford’s Road in Saughton, was originally founded in 1940 to provide footballing opportunities for boys in the Hutchison area and surrounding communities. Now, the club supports 400–500 boys and girls across 20 teams, with players ranging from under 10s to under 20s, along with a thriving Junior Academy for children aged five to eight.
The club has produced more than 30 Scottish international players and countless others who have gone on to play professionally, including Paul Hanlon, Leigh Griffiths, Allan McGregor, Kenny Miller, and John Collins. Other former players include Gregor Townsend, Scotland’s national rugby coach, and rising boxing star Lee McGregor.
Neil Parry, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes East Scotland, said: “Hutchison Vale has a proud tradition of developing young talent while instilling the values of discipline, teamwork and respect.
“We’re delighted to support their trip to Newcastle and help ensure the next generation continues to benefit from all that the club has to offer.”
Tam Smith, Club Leader, said:“We are very grateful for this generous donation. It will make a huge difference in ensuring our boys have a fantastic experience at their tournament in Newcastle.
“With funding becoming tighter each year, this support is invaluable to our voluntary organisation.”
Persimmon Homes East Scotland donates up to £6,000 every quarter to local organisations and charities through its Community Champions programme, supporting groups that make a real difference in their communities.
To find out more or apply for a Community Champions grant, visit:
Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill in Tokyo to champion Scottish produce
Boosting trade and investment between Scotland and Japan are top of the agenda as UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill embarks on a three day visit to Osaka and Tokyo.
The Scotland Office Minister will meet with business leaders and politicians to promote Brand Scotland’s iconic goods and services and encourage Japanese inward investment as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change to boost the economy and put more money in the pockets of working Scots.
While at the Osaka Expo 2025, Minister McNeill will join the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West in meeting leading Japanese life sciences firms for a discussion around opportunities in the UK market following publication of the Life Sciences Sector Plan.
Scotland is one of the largest health and life science clusters in Europe, employing more than 41,000 people across 770 organisations and generating more than £10 billion annually for the Scottish economy.
More broadly the Expo – Japan’s biggest international event of the decade, with more than 150 countries taking part and 28 million visitors expected over its six-month span (running from mid-April to mid-October) – provides an opportunity for the UK to strengthen relationships with like-minded partners across fields from defence and security to sustainability and energy transition.
Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “Brand Scotland is about selling the best of Scotland to the world and encouraging inward investment to create jobs and opportunities for Scots.
“Scottish companies already export £484 million of goods and £475 million of services annually to Japan and there is scope for so much more. The UK-Japan partnership is closer than it has been for decades, with intensified cooperation across the entire breadth of UK economic growth and security interests, including defence, digital, cyber, science and innovation and trade and investment.
“Trade missions such as this help foster even greater collaboration and I look forward to promoting the very best of Scotland in Japan and embedding Scottish produce, such as seafood, in Japanese gastronomy.
“The UK Government is doing everything it can to help Scottish businesses make the most of opportunities overseas as part of our Plan for Change to grow our economy and put more money in people’s pockets.”
Minister Catherine West said: “The UK-Japan relationship is the closest it has been in decades, from trade to security and defence. As the Emperor said, we are friends like no other.
“And there is no better advert for the UK than taking part in Expo 2025. It’s a chance to show our strengths in areas like science and tech and invite Japan and the world to ‘Come Build the Future’.”
At the Expo, both Ministers will also meet with Lord Mendoza, a member of the UK Soft Power Council’s Europe Committee, to discuss how Scotland’s soft power strengths can be fully utilised.
Then in Tokyo, Minister McNeill will attend the Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo where she will meet with Seafood Scotland which is taking a delegation of businesses to the show for a tenth year.
Japan is among the UK’s top export locations for products like mackerel and is a growing market for a range of other British products. Scottish mackerel now accounts for around 20% of all imported mackerel into Japan, up from just 2% in 2019.
The Expo is an important opportunity to help the Scottish seafood sector as it begins to re-establish Scottish salmon in the Japanese market, after many recent years of Norwegian dominance.
Donna Fordyce, CEO, Seafood Scotland said: “We are delighted to have the support of the Scotland Office, the Minister, and Brand Scotland in showcasing the very best of our seafood on the world stage.
“Japan is an important market for Scotland’s premium catch, and this mission provides a valuable platform for our producers to connect with influential buyers, chefs, and media. Together, we are championing the quality, provenance, and sustainability that make Scottish seafood stand out.”
Adam Wing, Head of Trade Marketing (UK, Middle East & Asia), Seafood Scotland said: “Over the past decade, we have worked hard to establish and grow Scottish seafood exports to Japan, building strong relationships with buyers, chefs, and industry partners.
“This year marks our 10th visit to the Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo, and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with the Minister alongside our delegation of seven exceptional Scottish seafood companies.
“We look forward to strengthening these ties and unlocking new opportunities for our world-class mackerel, salmon, and premium shellfish.”
While in Tokyo Minister McNeill will also meet with Sumitomo Electric to discuss progress in the construction of its £350 million subsea cable factory at the port of Nigg in the Scottish Highlands.
The factory – due to be completed in mid-2026 – will contribute significantly towards the UK’s capability to deliver renewable energy to UK consumers. The project is creating around.150 jobs.
And she will meet Eurus Energy to hear about its offshore wind project currently under development in Scotland. The Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm will be located 7.5km off the coast of Dounreay in Caithness. The project’s operational lifespan will be up to 25 years, and it will generate enough green electricity to power up to 70,000 homes.
The Minister will also visit Venture Café, Tokyo, where she will announce the opening of a Venture Cafe in Edinburgh in November.
Venture Cafés are hubs which provide a space for entrepreneurs all over the world to come together and innovate.
Mike Jackson, Head of Venture Café UK, said: We are delighted to welcome Minister McNeill to Venture Café in Tokyo and we are grateful for the support of the Scotland Office as we prepare to open our new cafe in Edinburgh, as part of our Activation Partnership with the Advanced Research + Invention Agency’s (ARIA).
“In a world dominated by digital connections, the real magic still happens when people meet in person, especially when they do so regularly.
“That’s what Venture Café is all about. Edinburgh has always been a hub of innovation and is now powering ahead in areas such as AI by being the future home of the new national supercomputer. We’re here to help innovators of all kinds to come together, collaborate and turn the best ideas into reality.”
And Minister McNeill will provide some remarks at a UK music trade mission reception at the British Residence in Tokyo to promote creative industries in the UK.
The Minister will also meet the current His Majesty’s Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, and New Zealand’s ambassador to Japan, Hamish Cooper, who is being posted as High Commissioner to the UK as his next appointment.
Additional funding package announced for nature projects
More than £6 million of additional funding is being invested in nature enhancing projects through the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF).
Established in 2021, the £65 million NRF has funded nearly 800 projects helping Scotland’s species, woodlands, rivers and seas back on the road to recovery, including planting over 300,000 trees and restoring over 1,800 hectares of urban greenspace in towns and cities.
Evaluation of the NRF shows the scheme unlocked at least £7.1 million in match funding and in-kind contributions for organisations, and described the initiative as ‘instrumental’ in accelerating nature restoration and supporting vulnerable species and habitats.
Recipients include the Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, NatureScot and the Green Action Trust.
The Cairngorms National Park will share £1.2 million between five projects aimed at safeguarding some of the most precious species and habitats there including;
recovering freshwater pearl mussel populations in the rivers Spey, Dee and South Esk
identifying changes to make the River Dee more resilient to flooding
helping boost the capercaillie population, which is on the verge of extinction in Scotland
improving tree stock for aspen and native montane species
Visiting the Anagach Woods in the Cairngorms National Park, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin said: “Protecting Scotland’s natural environment is vital to addressing nature loss, climate change and biodiversity.
“The projects receiving this additional funding will of course benefit local areas and wildlife by restoring the environment and supporting green jobs and skills development but they will also help us in the global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
“I was extremely impressed by the pioneering work that the Cairngorms National Park are doing to restore ecosystems with their innovative wood ant translocation project, which maintains forest health.
This years’ Programme for Government committed to extending the NRF in 2026-27 to enable funding of a further round of multi-year projects.
NatureScot Chair, Professor Colin Galbraith said: “This further investment is recognition of the fantastic work that is being undertaken through the Nature Restoration Fund.
“We are excited to have a further £3.5 million available to invest in projects across the country that are restoring rivers, woodlands and wildlife back to a healthy and thriving state, whilst tackling the effects of climate change.
“By working with people throughout Scotland this vital work is helping to achieve our ambition to be nature positive by 2030 and to have significantly restored and regenerated our nature by 2045.”
Sandy Bremner, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Board said: “With 25 per cent of the UK’s most threatened species living in the National Park, it is one of the most significant places for nature conservation.
“Protecting and enhancing these special habitats and species – alongside tackling climate change – are at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan, and this extra funding will help ensure our conservation work is targeted where it is needed most, boosting our efforts and helping to deliver key actions on the ground.”
NatureScot will receive £3.5 million for distribution to nature projects.
The Green Action Trust will receive £510,000 for onward distribution to a range of nature projects.
Cairngorms National Park will receive £1.2 million.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs will receive £1.025 million.
Hamilton-based shipping container supplier, RFB Containers, has announced its charity partnership with The Yard Scotland.
The Yard Scotland provides adventure play services for disabled children, young people, and their families – creating safe, inclusive spaces where they can have fun, make friends, and feel supported.
As part of the partnership, RFB Containers supplies containers free of charge to The Yard’s multiple locations across Scotland, providing the charity with storage facilities for their outdoor toys and equipment. RFB Containers was involved in the opening of The Yard’s latest site opening in Glasgow, ensuring the charity could store their equipment securely during the site refurbishment.
The partnership also extends beyond equipment storage. RFB Containers is working with the facilities team at The Yard on supplying accommodation units to ensure their staff have appropriate working spaces that are fit for purpose.
Angus Barraclough, Managing Director at RFB Containers said: “We’re really proud of our partnership with The Yard and we recognise the importance of this partnership and the impact it has within the business and wider community.
“It’s more than just donations – it’s about supporting a truly meaningful cause that makes a real difference in the lives of families across Scotland.”
Jenny MacDonald, Deputy CEO, The Yard Scotland, said: ““We are extremely grateful to Angus and everyone at RFB Containers for their generous support of The Yard. Their help with providing secure storage and suitable facilities for our team is invaluable.
This partnership makes a real difference to our families by supporting the vital services we provide to disabled children, young people, and their families across Scotland.”
This October and November, Dobbies Garden Centres is inviting customers along to its enchanting autumn events at the Edinburgh store, helping kick-start the season.
There’s something for everyone, with events for dogs, kids and families:
Pup-kin Patch
The Pup-kin Patch at Dobbies will be a fun outing for dogs where they can dig into treats, toys, and tail wagging fun. With activities from picking their own autumn themed toys, to enjoying a puppuccino from the restaurant, furry friends are bound to have a paw-esome outing. The event will also have a free digital photo opportunity for dogs to pose in front of an autumnal backdrop at the Edinburgh store, for a beautiful pet ‘paw-trait’.
Tickets to the event will also include special offers in the pet department, one free hot drink and puppuccino with the purchase of any cake from the restaurant, and £5 off £25 spend in store. Dobbies’ Pup-kin Patch will be taking place on Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £12.50 per dog. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.
Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats
This Halloween, children and families can get ready to take part in some scarily fun activities and afternoon tea at the Edinburgh store Little Scare-lings event. There will be three tiers of savoury sandwiches and sweet treats for the children and spook-tacular tea and cake offers or afternoon tea add ons for adults.
Little ones will get to take part in slime and magic potion making to embrace their inner witches and wizards, alongside other magical activities and games. Dobbies is encouraging attendees to dress up in their spookiest costume as a prize will be awarded during a costume contest.
The Little Scare-lings – Witches, Wizards and Wicked Treats is taking place on Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25, Sunday 26, Friday 31 October, and Saturday 1 November, tickets are £15 per children and from £7.50 for adults. Dates vary for each store so please check the website when booking.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming customers, from families, dogs and planting enthusiasts, to Dobbies’ Edinburgh store this autumn. She said: “It’s fantastic to have such a variety of events on offer and there really is something for everyone to enjoy, with fun for all ages.
“Our Little Scare-lings event is a firm favourite for families, with plenty of action-packed activities, and the Pup-kin Patch is back by popular demand, this year in more stores after it was such a hit last year. We can’t wait to celebrate autumn and Halloween with our customers this spooky season.”
Tickets to all autumn events at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store are now available to book at www.dobbies.com/events.
From star-studded summer concerts, to immersive art, playing host to one of Europe’s largest fan conventions, plus a whole host of high adrenaline family events, Scotland’s premier outdoor venue, the Royal Highland Centre, is set to stage a series of unmissable events over the coming months.
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, a hobbyist, or just looking for a fun family day out, there is something for everyone:
1.Edinburgh Summer Sessions – Sam Fender (22 August)
The BRIT Award-winning artist will take to the stage as part of his ‘People Watching’ tour, celebrating his highly anticipated third album, with special guest Olivia Dean. Sold out.
Chappell Roan will make her way to the Royal Highland Centre on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th August as part of Edinburgh Summer Sessions, along with guests. Sold out.
Ingliston is one of Scotland’s oldest surviving racing circuits, established in 1965. Suitable for both juniors and experienced drivers alike, enjoy a thrilling driving experience with a range of supercars or give as a present. Various dates, prices from £103.
4. Tabletop Scotland 2025 (5–7 September)
Tabletop Scotland is one of the UK’s largest board, card and roleplaying game festivals. With over 120 exhibitors demoing and selling games, over 200 events throughout the festival, as well as thousands of spaces for you to sit and enjoy the games. A fantastic family friendly event that attracts attendees from far and wide. Day and weekend tickets available. Adult tickets from £15. 10s and under go free.
5. Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show (4–5 October)
Stop dreaming and start building. The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will leave you empowered to create your perfect home.With live seminars, one-to-one advice sessions with industry experts, and thousands of products to explore all under one roof, come with questions and leave with answers. Pre-register for free ticket offer.
6. Comic Con Scotland 2025 (11–12 October)
Comic Con Scotland is one of Europe’s largest pop culture conventions, attracting tens of thousands of fans annually to the Royal Highland Centre, bringing a variety of exciting names from movies, tv, streaming, gaming, anime and sports entertainment.
Meet your heroes, get an item signed, see unique props and set builds, watch the fabulous cosplayers strut their stuff on stage, test your skills in retro and modern gaming areas or browse through the unique gifts in trade and artist areas. Tickets from £29.70.
7. The Scottish Smallholder Festival (8 October)
The Scottish Smallholder Festival is the leading place where smallholders, small producers, growers and everyone interested in a sustainable way of life come to share, learn, show, buy and be inspired.
The event is an opportunity for those who are interested in rural life and farming to get a close-up view of small-scale farming, with an introduction to skills and livestock. Tickets from £8.
7. Fawkes Festival (2 November)
A modern take on Bonfire Night—immersive pyrotechnics, live DJs, street performances, fairground rides and fire pits!
Fawkes Festival is back and even bigger this year. From 2pm, families will be entertained with music, entertainment and thrilling fairground ride. As the evening rolls in, a giant bonfire will take centre stage, creating the perfect build-up to a spectacular fireworks display set to music.
Following a sell-out first year, the festival is expanding into another area of the Centre to bring more space, food, fire and fun to the mix.
Early bird adult tickets £15.00 and children’s tickets £8.00.
8. AgriScot (19 November)
AgriScot is now firmly recognised as one of the UK’s premier agricultural events and is the country’s largest indoor winter display of agri machinery with over 240 trade stands exhibiting a wide variety of products, services and advice covering every aspect of agriculture, including competitions, seminars and technical demos.
Not just for those in agriculture. Free entry (register online).
9. Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience (29 November 2025 – 4 January 2026)
Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience makes its highly anticipated Scottish premiere. Using cutting-edge projection technology, over 700 masterpieces by two of history’s most influential artists come alive around you.
From Van Gogh’s The Starry Night and Sunflowers to Monet’s Water Lilies and Impression, Sunrise, their iconic works are freed from their frames and transformed into moving, immersive worlds.
Journey through swirling skies, blooming gardens, and emotional landscapes in this unforgettable fusion of art and technology—an experience that offers a breathtaking new perspective on the masters of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Tickets £23-£46.
The Royal Highland Centre is located next to Edinburgh Airport at Ingliston. Regular Edinburgh Tram services run to and from nearby Ingliston Park & Ride. The venue is also accessible via various Lothian Bus routes.
Mark Currie, Director of Venue at Royal Highland Centre, said:“We’re buzzing about the incredibly diverse line-up we have in place for this second half of the year, from headline concerts with some of the country’s biggest artists, to the magically immersive experience of Beyond Monet & Beyond Van Gogh, to agricultural events like AgriScot, and the Royal Highland Show which has been hosted at the centre for well over a few decades
“As Scotland’s largest hybrid outdoor and indoor venue, we have the scope and capacity to deliver truly unique experiences on a scale that few others can match.
“The venue is ideally placed and connected by Edinburgh Tram and Lothian Bus routes. Tickets are available now for all events and more information can be found on our website.”
‘Innovation in Action’ invites S4–S6 students across Scotland to tackle real-world challenges through creativity, teamwork and bold ideas.
Students are tasked by Scottish Charity, TechFest, with creating a solution that will help improve life for visually impaired people, through everyday tools, game-changing apps or innovative ideas.
Wendy Findlay, National Programme Manager at TechFest, said:“STEM is all about using creativity to solve real-world challenges and this project puts students in the driver’s seat to lead with bold, inclusive, and sustainable ideas that matter.
Leading Scottish charity TechFest, is launching its design competition ‘Innovation in Action’ for S4-S6 students across Scotland to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The project is open for school registration now and invites students to design a practical and sustainable product or app that improves life for visually impaired people.
Teams of 2 to 6 students will plan every detail, conduct market research, investigate materials and the costs of various production methods, before documenting their journey in a 10-page report and in a 3-minute video.
Pupils will be supported with both a guidebook and expert-led pre-recorded masterclasses on entrepreneurship, sustainable manufacturing, finance, visual impairment and market research. They will also be invited to attend live, online ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions where they can directly ask these experts questions.
The selected finalists will deliver a 10-minute online sales pitch to the judges in December 2025.
TechFest is a charity that inspires people of all ages to engage with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Through interactive activities, they show how STEM builds transferable skills and opens doors to diverse careers, proving that STEM is exciting, relevant and essential to everyday life.
The Innovation in Action Competition, supported by the NCR Foundation, helps to develop skills in design, sustainable manufacturing, teamwork and communication; all tailored to meet the needs of diverse audiences, including people with visual impairments.
Participants will explore the challenges of visual impairment, learn to adapt designs, and build core skills in project management and budgeting.
Wendy Findlay, National Programme Manager at TechFest, said:“Too many young people turn away from STEM because they can’t see themselves in it. They think it’s boring, too hard or doesn’t matter. We aim to change that.
“This project shows them that STEM is a way to be creative, to care and to change lives, including their own. It’s about turning ideas into reality and showing every student that their ideas can truly make a difference.”
Yvonne Whitaker, Director at NCR Foundation, said: “At NCR Foundation, we believe every pupil has the potential to use their STEM skills to build something great.
“Innovation in Action is designed to nurture that potential by giving every student the opportunity, support and tools to bring their ideas to life, so no child’s STEM talents go undiscovered.”
This CREST Award aligned programme will run online to ensure accessibility to schools across Scotland, including those in the most rural areas.
Candidates in the winning teams will each receive an Amazon voucher, and the 1st place winners will receive a trophy to keep at their school.
