We are delighted to invite everyone to a very special author event!
Writing Well and Failing: in conversation with Ely Percy and Lucy Ribchester on Wednesday 30th September, from 6 – 7.30pm, at Leith Library.
Ely Percy talks about setbacks, perseverance and the perception of literary success – hosted by Lucy Ribchester.
Book your free tickets here: https://writing-well.eventbrite.co.uk
Heriot-Watt University has achieved an Athena Swan Silver Award in recognition of its significant progress in advancing gender equality for staff and students across its global community.
The award acknowledges the University’s sustained commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment, building on more than a decade of work under the Athena Swan Charter. Heriot-Watt has held an institutional Bronze Award since 2013 and has engaged with the Charter since its launch in 2005.
Athena Swan is a globally recognised framework that supports universities and research institutions to advance gender equality and tackle structural barriers. The Silver Award recognises institutions that can demonstrate measurable progress and lasting impact.
Over the past six years, Heriot-Watt has delivered a range of initiatives through its Athena Swan action plan, including increasing the representation of women in senior academic roles, reducing the gender pay gap, strengthening support for staff and students with caring responsibilities, and enhancing governance and accountability for gender equality.
Professor Richard A Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said: “Achieving Athena Swan Silver status is an important milestone for Heriot-Watt.
“It recognises the sustained progress we have made in advancing gender equality and creating an environment where people can succeed and thrive.
“While there is more work to do, this achievement provides a strong platform for the future. Through our Strategy 2035 ambitions, we will continue to champion equality, inclusion and opportunity for all members of our global community.”
Associate Principal (International and Partnerships) and Athena Swan Programme sponsor, Professor Mark Biggs, said: “This Silver Award is a tremendous achievement for Heriot-Watt and reflects the commitment and hard work of colleagues and students across our University community.
“It recognises the significant progress we have made over recent years and our shared ambition to advance equality, diversity and inclusion.”
The University has identified a number of priorities for the next phase of its Athena Swan work, including embedding gender equality across its strategic goals and governance structures, supporting equitable recruitment and career progression, strengthening global engagement with equality, diversity and inclusion, and fostering inclusive learning and working environments.
The institutional Silver Award builds on success across Heriot-Watt’s academic schools. The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences and the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences currently hold Athena Swan Silver Awards, while the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society and the School of Business, Design and Social Sciences hold Bronze Awards.
The recognition highlights Heriot-Watt’s long-term commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive university for staff and students across all its campuses.
Orban Wallace’s superb documentary Our Land, which examines the idea of the public’s right to roam offers a sharp look at the debate on access and ownership over the English countryside in this engrossing documentary.
” Perspectives of activists, landowners, and walkers reclaiming access to the countryside reveal how globally relevant questions of land ownership are bound to histories of colonialism, class, and power.
With energy and clarity, the film captures a pivotal struggle over who nature belongs to and what it means to truly share land.” – Ruth Somalo
Come and join us in this screening of the film released earlier this year.
Tackling questions about land ownership, public access and right to roam, illegal in England, but legal since 2005 in Scotland this film presents first hand experience from both landowners and activists alike.
Reserve your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1996633735250?aff=oddtdtcreator for suggested donations between £5-10.
Tickets also available on the door on the night.
Young people across England are set to benefit from specialised support outside of home and school, as the government launches a major drive to support the training and employment of 1000 new youth workers.
It comes as the government makes the largest investment into youth services in a generation following a drop of local authority spending of 73% between 2010 and 2023, which led to the loss of vital youth worker roles and youth services across England.
The 1000 new youth workers announced today is the first step in rebuilding the youth workforce. The first workers are set to be in position by spring 2027, as part of the government’s plan to support young people ahead of the social media ban for under 16s coming into force.
The youth workers will work with young people aged 11 plus, within community spaces and through outreach to ensure the most vulnerable young people have access to support, including those at highest risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training).
The specialist youth workers will collaborate with multi-agency teams across education and training, health and crime prevention to support young people to engage in a range of activities including sport, arts, mentoring and wider youth services.
This initiative will provide a significant step towards meeting the Government’s ambition for 500,000 more young people to have access to a trusted adult by 2035.
The number of youth facilities is also set to increase thanks to a £450 million programme. The new ‘Youth Matters’ Fund will open for applications soon and will help build, improve and expand spaces for young people to connect, while funding more youth work and enriching in-person activities, such as sports, music and volunteering, ahead of the upcoming social media ban.
Yesterday’s announcement is the latest part of the government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, launched by Lisa Nandy in December 2025 and co-produced with 14,000 young people through a landmark ‘State of the Nation’ survey.
The survey highlighted that many young people have been left without access to safe, supportive environments or a community to belong to, while reliance on online interaction has grown in the absence of face-to-face opportunities.
In response the National Youth Strategy set out how young people will benefit from over £500 million of government investment, with an ambitious delivery plan to rebuild youth services over the next decade.
The move is designed to hand power back to local communities, and allow young people to design services around the skills and opportunities they need to shape their futures.
UPDATE: MEETING CANCELLED
Our monthly meeting on Monday 28 September has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday 26 October, 6.30pm.
Then, our November meeting will include an update from the Granton Waterfront team.
Any questions, please email engagement@grantoncc.scot
EDINBURGH WEST Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine has announced that she will not stand in the next general election.
Ms Jardine told followers on Twitter: “I’ve taken the decision not to stand as Lib Dem candidate in Edinburgh West at the next GE.
“It has been a fantastic decade. I want to thank @EdwardJDavey for all his support over the years. I’m confident our next chapter will be even more successful and I’m sad I won’t be there.”
Blind and partially sighted people across the UK are being invited to share their experiences of accessing food packaging as part of a new survey designed to strengthen the case for mandatory braille food labelling.
The survey, launched by Sight Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and partners, will gather evidence on the challenges people face when identifying, storing and using food products. The findings will help inform Food Standards Scotland’s Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment while also supporting discussions with UK Government departments, including DEFRA, on future policy change.
The campaign comes amid growing calls for greater accessibility in food labelling. Research conducted by Disability Equality Scotland in 2023 found that three-quarters of blind and partially sighted people find food labels inaccessible. While technology plays an important role in helping people access information, campaigners stress that braille is not a replacement for technology, nor does it compete with it.
Veronica Whymant, 43, from St Andrews, has lived with visual impairment all her life after being born prematurely, says everyone should be able to make informed decisions about the food they buy and eat without being held back by inaccessible information.
She explains: “My vision gradually deteriorated through my teens, and I was registered blind in my early twenties. Since then, maintaining my independence has relied on determination, organisation and finding ways to adapt to a world that is largely designed for people who can see.
“Braille labelling on food packaging would be revolutionary. It would give me more independence, less anxiety when shopping and greater confidence when preparing meals. Most importantly, it would allow me to make decisions for myself. That is something many people take for granted, but for people with visual impairment it can be life changing.
“This isn’t about convenience, it’s about dignity, equality and choice. No one should be denied the ability to confidently and independently make decisions about the food they buy and eat simply because information isn’t accessible. Every day, people like me are forced to rely on others to identify basic food items, check ingredients or confirm expiry dates.
“At home I’m an extremely organised person and I carefully catalogue everything in my cupboards and freezer, so I know where everything is. That helps me avoid mistakes, but it also shows how much extra effort visually impaired people have to put into everyday tasks. Having clear braille labels would provide reassurance and confidence and remove so much uncertainty from daily life.”
Veronica adds: “People often assume technology has solved every problem for someone who is blind or partially sighted, but it can be expensive and depends on devices, software and internet access. Braille allows you to access information directly, privately and independently, whether it’s on medicine, food packaging, public signs or museum displays.”
Lucy Mulvagh, Chief Executive Officer at Disability Equality Scotland, comments: “We are launching this survey because evidence matters, and right now there is a real gap in what we know. The survey is open to all blind and partially sighted people, whether or not they use braille.
“We know that many blind and partially sighted people find food labels inaccessible, but we still need to understand the impact this has on everyday life. What happens when someone cannot identify food in their own kitchen? How do people currently cope? What are the costs in terms of safety, time and independence?
“To make the case for change, we need to show that this is not just a Scottish issue, but one that affects people across Britain and the wider UK. By collecting experiences from across the UK, this survey will provide the evidence needed to support policy change and make food safer and more accessible for blind and partially sighted people.”
To survey is available at: https://bit.ly/3T1ZQwHTo. The survey is open until 31 October:
For more information, please visit sightscotland.org.uk.
Charities continue to play an important role in supporting communities and creating opportunities for people in Edinburgh, according to new analysis of data from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) by specialist insurer Ansvar Insurance.
The analysis found that Edinburgh is home to 200 registered charities focused on the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of citizenship or community development and the advancement of education.
Nine new charities working across these areas were registered in Edinburgh over the past 12 months.
The findings highlight the continued commitment of local people to supporting their community.
Adam Tier, Head of Underwriting at Ansvar, commented: “The fact that nine new charities have been established to tackle poverty and create opportunities demonstrates the commitment of local people to supporting those facing challenges.
“Charities are often founded because individuals recognise there is a gap in support and want to make a positive difference. Whether through employment support, skills development, community initiatives or direct assistance for those experiencing financial hardship, these organisations help people build better futures.”
As a specialist insurer working with charities and not-for-profit organisations, Ansvar regularly analyses sector trends to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing organisations that support communities across the UK.
While charities continue to face pressures including securing sustainable funding, attracting and retaining volunteers and managing increasing operational responsibilities, the findings also reveal an encouraging picture of people continuing to invest their time, energy and expertise in helping others.
Adam Tier added: “It’s encouraging to see people stepping forward to establish charities that help their local communities thrive. These figures highlight the positive impact local people can have when they support each other.
“While establishing a charity is only the first step, putting strong governance, volunteer management and risk management practices in place from the outset can help organisations build resilience and maximise their long-term impact.
“Community organisations play an essential role in helping people and places prosper, and it’s important they have the support they need to continue making a difference.”
Five food and drink businesses from Edinburgh have been crowned winners at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2026, securing six of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, including the coveted Product of the Year category.
The winners proudly representing the capital are:
Product of the Year is awarded to the category winner who scored the highest marks among the esteemed panel of judges made up of experts from retail, foodservice and hospitality.
This year’s winner, Edgefield Craft Butchers’ Prime Rib, was praised by judges for its depth of flavour, juicy, melt in the mouth texture, and exceptional quality.
Edgefield Craft Butchers was founded in 2024 by fourth-generation butcher, Simon Gilmour, and supplies Scotland’s leading chefs and restaurants with premium meat.
The awards recognise excellence across Scotland’s food and drink sector, with the Northeast winners demonstrating innovation, business excellence, growth and product quality on a national stage.
The Edinburgh winners were announced alongside businesses from across Scotland at the award ceremony in Glasgow, highlighting the breadth and diversity of the country’s food and drink sector. Other winners included Benbecula-based Salar Smokehouse whose Flaky Smoked Salmon won in both the Artisan and Fish & Seafood Product of the Year categories.
Alongside the tasted product categories, Aberdeen-based Vanilla Labs won Business Innovation of the Year for redefining how vanilla is grown, cured and delivered. Glasgow’s Dear Green coffee roasters was named Sustainable Business of the Year, and Growth Business of the Year was won by Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Farms.
The Excellence Awards recognise the highest quality of produce, as well as leading suppliers, individuals and companies.
Individuals were celebrated too. Jaynie Kean from Jackton Distillery won the Young Talent of the Year award, with the judges describing the RAER Scotch Whisky Managing Director as an aspirational role model for young people entering the industry.
The winners were revealed by Matt Tebbutt, Saturday Kitchen presenter and MasterChef: The Professionals judge.
Simon Gilmour, Founder and CEO of Edgefield Craft Butchers, winner of the Scotch Brand category and overall Product of the Year, said: “It’s an honour to win both Scotch Brand Product of the Year and the overall Product of the Year.
“We are quite a new company, so to be in the position to win an award like this is just such a ‘pinch me’ moment. The team have worked very hard to get us here, so this award really belongs to them.
“Some of the best food and drink companies in the world are here in Scotland, and we’re very lucky to have the larder we do. For us here at Edgefield to be on that radar now is pretty special.
“Our Dry Aged Prime Rib has been born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland, so it’s Scotch through and through.”
Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Seeing winners from every corner of the country reflects the strength of our sector. From the northern isles to the borders, from Aberdeen to the Hebrides, the quality and variety of what our producers make is remarkable.
“The Excellence Awards are the gold-standard that every food and drink brand in Scotland aspires to, and our winners thoroughly deserve to be celebrated for their achievements.
“Congratulations to all our winners, and to those who were shortlisted. We look forward to seeing them all continue to innovate, prioritise quality, and shine a light on our incredible food and drink sector.”
For over two decades, The Excellence Awards have brought together Scotland’s finest producers with key decision makers and influencers from across the industry. Underpinned by people, passion and perseverance, the awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the industry’s achievements of the past year while looking ahead and supporting the next wave of innovation and creativity.
See the full list of winners here:
https://foodanddrink.scot/events-and-membership/the-excellence-awards/2026-winners
The full list of winners
| Category | Company | Product / Person |
| Distilling Product of the Year (Dark Spirits) | Woven Whisky Makers | Woven WXC Coffee Infused Whisky |
| Distilling Product of the Year (White Spirits) | Orkney Gin Company | Aatta Gin |
| Beer & Cider Product of the Year | Six Degrees North | Raspberry Beer |
| Dairy Product of the Year | Giacopazzi’s Wholesale Ice Cream | Ricotta, Pistachio & Sour Cherry Gelato |
| Meat Product of the Year | Brownings the Bakers | Kilmarnock Pie |
| Grocery Product of the Year | east PIZZAS | Topped Spicy Pizza |
| Artisan Product of the Year | Salar Smokehouse | Flaky Smoked Salmon |
| Healthy or Free From Product of the Year | Bon Accord Soft Drinks | Rhubarb Soda |
| Bakery Product of the Year | S. Collins & Son | Sausage Roll |
| Fish & Seafood Product of the Year | Salar Smokehouse | Flaky Smoked Salmon |
| Scotch Brand Product of the Year | Edgefield Craft Butchers | Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle |
| Best for Scottish (Independent Business of the Year) | Howies Restaurants | |
| Food & Drink Campaign of the Year | Mackie’s of Scotland | Full Cream Ahead Campaign |
| Young Talent of the Year | Jackton Distillery | Jaynie Kean |
| Business Innovation of the Year | Vanilla Labs | |
| Sustainable Business of the Year | Dear Green | |
| Employer of the Year | Bidfood Scotland | |
| Food Tourism Business of the Year | Rae’s | |
| Growth Business of the Year | Duncan Farms | |
| Best for Scottish (Multiple Business of the Year) | Brakes Scotland, a Sysco company | |
| Product of the Year | Edgefield Craft Butchers | Dry Aged Prime Rib from Native Scotch Cattle |
Foysol Choudhury MBE, former member of the Scottish Parliament, has called for urgent action to tackle racism and hate crime following the alleged racially motivated assault of Bangladeshi man Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow:
I am extremely concerned and deeply saddened by the alleged racist assault on Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow on 16 September.
I have spoken personally with Iftekhar and his wife. He has sustained injuries to his head and face, he has been left traumatised by the event, and now is too frightened to leave his home.
Nobody should have to feel unsafe travelling to work or walking through our streets because of the colour of their skin or their ethnic background.
I am attaching the joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network, representing organisations from across Scotland. The statement calls for justice and accountability and urges Police Scotland to conduct a full, thorough and timely investigation.
According to the statement, Iftekhar was approached in Glasgow city centre, near the bus station, before being attacked in broad daylight. It states that racist language was used during the alleged assault and that his calls for help went unanswered.
This is extremely serious, and I am deeply worried that things are going from bad to worse.
As a former MSP, I am particularly concerned about the wider spread of racism and racial hostility in our communities. Political rhetoric matters. When politicians use divisive issues or language for political advantage, we need to consider the impact this can have on minority communities and the atmosphere in which people live.
I am not suggesting that political statements directly cause individual crimes. Those responsible for criminal acts must be held individually responsible. However, we must also recognise that public discourse can influence how communities feel about one another.
We cannot allow racism to become normalised.
I raised these issues repeatedly in Parliament
During my five years in the Scottish Parliament, I repeatedly raised racism, Islamophobia, anti-racist education and the need for stronger action.
In October 2023, I asked the Scottish Government how it intended to implement Scotland’s anti-racist curriculum principles. (Scottish Parliament)
In June 2025, I raised the issue of racism and racist bullying in schools, including concerns about whether anti-racist policies and toolkits were actually being implemented and whether racist incidents were properly recorded and followed up. (Scottish Parliament)
In March 2025, I questioned the First Minister about the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents and asked about progress in implementing recommendations from work on Islamophobia in Scotland. The First Minister acknowledged that the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents was a serious concern. (Scottish Parliament)
I also raised the importance of education about racism and colonialism, including the role museums can play in helping young people understand these issues. (Scottish Parliament)
I have consistently argued that education must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, I do not believe anti-racist education has always been taken as seriously as it should have been.
What needs to happen now?
We need action, not simply statements.
There must be a thorough investigation into what happened to Iftekhar. Victims of racist attacks must receive appropriate support, and racist incidents must be properly recorded and followed up.
We also need to ask whether enough is being done to prevent racism before it becomes violence.
Are schools receiving the resources and support needed to tackle racism effectively?
Are racist incidents being properly recorded and acted upon?
Are politicians and public figures doing enough to challenge racism rather than allowing division to grow?
And are we doing enough to educate young people about racism, prejudice and the contribution of Scotland’s diverse communities?
The Bangladeshi community is an important part of Scotland. During my time in Parliament, I established and convened the Cross-Party Group on Bangladesh to strengthen Scotland-Bangladesh relations and provide a forum for Scotland’s Bangladeshi community. (Scottish Parliament)
I have always believed that Scotland should be a country where everyone can live, work and raise their families without fear because of their race, ethnicity or faith.
Racism is not somebody else’s problem. It is a problem for all of us.
I stand with Iftekhar, his family and the Scottish Bangladeshi community in calling for justice, accountability and urgent action.
Something has to be done now. We cannot wait for another victim.
Joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network:
