Category: New Town

Photography competition celebrates World Heritage Day

Photography enthusiasts are being encouraged to enter a competition running until October celebrating three decades of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 making this World Heritage Day (Saturday, 18 April) so special as the competition is part of the Site’s 30th birthday celebrations.

This makes this weekend the perfect time to explore the Old and New Towns to capture images of one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world.

The winner of the competition, which is run by Edinburgh World Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Council, will receive a year’s membership to Historic Scotland.

Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.

The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.

The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.

This year’s World Heritage Day celebrations also include the following event:

DID JOHN BAYNE TAKE A SECRET TO HIS GRAVE?

TODAY (Saturday 18 April) as part of the Legacies in Stone project, Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Council (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) aim to lift the lid on a secret centuries in the making: does a broken gravestone in John Bayne’s mausoleum hide a forgotten burial vault?

By repairing a simple flat grave slab, the aim is to unlock the mystery of this unique tomb in Scotland’s most famous kirkyard.

How to join:

Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This year World Heritage Day is so special as there is much to celebrate. The 30th birthday is a significant achievement and milestone to reach as looking after the Site with our partners takes a lot of care and has many challenges. Edinburgh is a living, breathing city and it needs to be well managed to balance the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors.

“This World Heritage Day is a great time to enter our photography competition as it’s a lovely time of year to capture the changing light, sunsets and skylines this part of our stunning capital city is so famous for.

“The beautiful spring flowers appearing in the many gardens and open spaces are also there for us all to enjoy. If you’re interested in photography, why not explore the area this weekend to capture what inspires you most about the Old and New Towns.

“You could combine your visit to find out if John Bayne took a secret to his grave by attending the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard – or if history is more your interest – just attend the event instead.”

George Findlater, Head of Community and Economic Development at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “After thirty years of being a World Heritage Site, Edinburgh continues to inspire admiration from visitors and locals alike.

“We are excited to offer a year’s membership to Historic Scotland as a prize in the photography competition, and World Heritage Day is a terrific opportunity to bring out your camera and capture what makes Edinburgh so unique across the competition categories.”

Douglas Brotherston, Chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Thirty years as a World Heritage Site is quite a wonderful achievement and we are delighted at Edinburgh World Heritage, together with our partners at HES and the City of Edinburgh Council to mark the occasion by holding this photography competition.

“The unique appeal of Edinburgh’s streets and landscapes, skylines and special heritage is so varied, it lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope that we will get many entries from locals and visitors alike who can capture the glorious views of our spectacular city.”

The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:

  1. Medieval Old Town
  2. Neo-classical New Town
  3. Gardens and open spaces
  4. Urban planning/street layout
  5. Topography and skyline
  6. Public and commercial monuments
  7. Conservation
  8. Layering of heritage
  9. Architectural detail
  10. Graveyards
  11. Juxtaposition
  12.  The Living City

Celebrating 30 years of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site

Planning Convener Cllr Joan Griffiths writes about birthday celebrations for Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site ahead of World Heritage Day on Saturday:

It’s three decades since Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns were inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995, recognising the city’s diverse and iconic buildings and landmarks –  thirty years on and we have a lot to celebrate this World Heritage Day,  Saturday 18 April.

The status recognises the Towns (collectively) as one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world and helps us along with our partners, Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage, to make sure its value and beauty is preserved for generations to come.

As partners we’re tasked with preserving the organic medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town including the city’s iconic skyline. The Site offers a rich contrast of styles between the Old Town’s narrow, winding closes and the broad, elegant streets of the New Town. Along with our partners we look after around 4,500 individual buildings and for around 30,000 Edinburgh residents the Site is their home.

UNESCO’s values include working with communities and young people. Celebrating this big birthday is giving us a fantastic opportunity to engage residents and visitors in activities to help them find out more about this historically important and internationally renowned area of our beautiful Capital city.

If you’re a photography enthusiast, we’re running a competition with our partners to help celebrate this milestone. We’re asking you to share an image with us before the end of October that captures what inspires you most about the World Heritage Site and makes Edinburgh so special in your eyes. There are 12 categories to choose from, ranging from the Medieval Old Town to the Living City.

Winning images in each category will become part of a year-long calendar and you will be able to buy one in our Museums and Galleries shops, at Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money to help manage the Site going forward.

For our young residents we’ve asked a class of primary four Granton Primary pupils to work with a freelance artist over the summer term. The children will visit the Museum of Edinburgh and be given a special educational tour of the World Heritage Site.

The artist will carry out a number of sessions with the pupils in their classroom guiding them to paint their impressions of what they found interesting and memorable during their trip around this historic area of our city. When complete the work will be exhibited in the Museum of Edinburgh from 5 October to 10 January for everyone to enjoy.

Why not use this week to find out more about the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site and enter any special images of the area you are proud of into our photography competition. Good luck and happy snapping!

Wild water swimming inspires new art exhibition

  • Work inspired by natural landscape “reflect need to stay connected with nature at a time when technological progress draws us further indoors and deeper online”
  • Praise at preview evening with Dundas Street Gallery showcase running until March 22

Wild water swimming – and the landscape in which it is embraced and enjoyed – has inspired a new exhibition of paintings.

Hymn From a Valley by Ryan McGoverne opened to the public yesterday (Friday March 13) at Dundas Street Gallery in central Edinburgh. It runs until March 22.

Invited guests from Lindsays, the city legal firm sponsoring the exhibition, enjoyed a special preview evening on Thursday.

The collection of oil paintings depict figures immersed in natural bodies of water, many of them locations from throughout the Lothians and Scottish Borders. 

Artist Ryan McGoverne, whose new exhibition, Hymn From A Valley, is sponsored by legal firm Lindsays. It celebrates the people and landscapes of wild water swimming and takes place at Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh until March 22. Picture: Jamie Simpson / Lindsays March 12th 2026

Ryan, who lives in Biggar, said: “The work is inspired by our natural landscape and open water wild swimming – celebrating a life-affirming, temporary disconnection from the modern world.

“The paintings reflect a need to stay connected with nature at a time when technological progress draws us further indoors and deeper online.

“Each work shows a simple nourishment for the soul. They make a positive and quiet statement about action – about embracing life, nature and beauty with courage and curiosity.

“They depict places of accessible tranquility found just behind our roads, towns and cities, capturing the emotional and physical experience of cold open-water immersion.

“I am really grateful to Lindsays for their sponsorship, which has allowed me to share this work, of which I am incredibly proud.”

The exhibition is a celebration of immersing yourself in nature – something Ryan himself has done in order to create the work, which is in the tradition of Impressionist greats including Degas and Manet.

The artist, who completed a Masters in Fine Art through Cardiff University and Kansas State University, began exploring landscapes in detail following the coronavirus pandemic.

He discovered the diverse and accessible beauty of the landscape which surrounds where he lives.

And, looking at how people spend time in it, became intrigued by wild swimming and cold water immersion as its popularity has grown across Scotland – so much so that he too is now also a wild swimmer.

Ryan, who is also a corporate and commercial photographer, said: “I thought I couldn’t do it. But then I got to know people who convinced me otherwise.

“In January last year, I took myself to a reservoir. It was obviously one of the coldest times of the year. It felt amazing.

“The exhibition celebrates that feeling. It’s a call for people to get out there and enjoy the wonderful, accessible landscape that we have.

“Cold water immersion is good for the soul – for your mental and physical health. It can give you huge confidence – such a boost. The work which features in the exhibition celebrates that.”

Guests at Thursday’s preview evening were impressed by what they saw. They included lawyers and clients from sponsors Lindsays.

Ryan has been commissioned by the firm for many years in his “other” role of corporate photographer.

Lindsays Managing Partner Andrew Diamond, left, and artist Ryan McGoverne. Legal firm Lindsays is sponsoring Ryan’s new exhibition, Hymn From A Valley, which celebrates the people and landscapes of wild water swimming. It takes place at Dundas Street Gallery in Edinburgh until March 22. Picture: Jamie Simpson / Lindsays March 12th 2026

Andrew Diamond, Managing Partner at Lindsays, said: “This really is an impressive and memorable collection of work.

“It really gives you a sense of not only the elation that cold water immersion gives, but the confidence that flows from it.

“It is a reminder too of the amazing landscape that we are blessed to have – and how taking time away from our screens to enjoy it can make a positive difference to our lives.

“As a firm, we have worked with Ryan for over a decade. It’s a pleasure for us to be able to support this side of its work.”

Lindsays has a strong track record of supporting the arts. The firm has supported the ArTay programme in Perth in recent years, as well as sponsoring a number of events in Edinburgh, including Van Gogh Alive with SAMH, Art Friends of St Columba’s Hospice and Postcards for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in previous years.

More details about Ryan’s work can be found at www.ryanmcgoverne.co.uk. 

Easter Fayre for Ukraine

SATURDAY 14th MARCH 11am – 2pm

EDINBURGH UKRAINIAN CLUB, ROYAL TERRACE

Come along for a wonderful community event filled with unique stalls, home baking, handmade gifts, and fun activities for everyone!

Enjoy tea, coffee or juice included with your entry, and children under 12 go free.

✨ Stalls include:

• Ukrainian gifts and crafts

• Home baking

• Handmade laser bags

• Bottle stall

• Lucky dip

• Gnome for home stall

📍 Edinburgh Ukrainian Club, 14 Royal Terrace, EH7 5AB

📅 Saturday, March 14

⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

🎟 £2 entry (includes tea/coffee/juice)

Most importantly, this event is held to support Ukraine during this difficult time. Every visit, every purchase, and every show of support helps our community stand strong and united with Ukraine.

Please come, bring your friends and family, and help us make a difference 💙💛

Self-portrait by Scottish painter Jack Vettriano to go on display at National Galleries of Scotland

National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

Portrait of the Artist, Jack Vettriano

1 March 2026 –  2029

Free

Commemorating one year since the passing of celebrated Scottish painter Jack Vettriano, National Galleries of Scotland has announced it is to showcase two works by the artist.

Celebrating the life and prolific career of Vettriano, the artist’s estate will loan two self-portraits Portrait of the Artist and Homage to Fontana? over a six-year period. Portrait of the Artist will go on display on the one-year anniversary of his passing on 1 March 2026, at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait.

Free to visit, the painting will stay on display until early 2029 when it will then be swapped with Homage to Fontana?.

A self-taught painter, Vettriano was loved at home in Scotland and internationally for his evocative and timeless works that continue to captivate and inspire. His career made a huge contribution to the Scottish arts and culture scene and even broke records in the UK and Scotland.

In 2004 his painting The Singing Butler achieved a record price for a Scottish painting sold at auction and went on to become the best-selling art print in the UK. The work even inspired Banksy, whose reimagining of the painting sold in March 2025 for £4.3million. Vettriano is internationally recognised, with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Tim Rice among collectors of his work.

Portrait of the Artist, painted in 1993, is an early self-portrait by Vettriano and was painted a year after The Singing Butler. It depicts the artist taking a break from painting at his Edinburgh flat where he had a studio. A dramatic depiction of light and shade sets the scene for a moment of contemplation. The artist’s paint-splattered clothes emphasise the task at hand.

The cinematic Homage to Fontana? was painted later in 1999. The title and slashes in the painted canvas reference the Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana (1899–1968) whose slashed canvases of the 1950s and 60s blurred the distinction between two and three dimensions to create ‘an infinite dimension’.

Vettriano invites us to follow his act of contemplation in relation to what lies beneath the surface and beyond. The painting returned to Edinburgh in July 2025 after its inclusion in a Vettriano exhibition at the Palazzo Pallavicini in Bologna and is the largest of three versions of this composition.

Born Jack Hoggan, Vettriano grew up in the coastal mining village of Methil in Fife. After leaving school at 15, he followed his father down the mine, working as an apprentice engineer.

He later moved on to white-collar jobs in management services, taking up painting as a hobby in the 1970s when a girlfriend bought him a set of watercolours for his birthday.

From then on, Vettriano spent much of his spare time teaching himself to paint.

He learned by copying Old Masters, Impressionists, Surrealists and a plethora of Scottish artists, taking inspiration from studying the collection at Kirkcaldy Galleries. It was his experience living near Leven Beach which prompted him to make the decision: ‘I’m going to set some paintings on beaches.’  

A figurative painter, Vettriano described his work as ‘more or less autobiographical.’ He worked from photographs of scenes he staged with models in his studio.

His paintings evoke the nostalgia of the 1940s and 50s and were often set, in the artist’s own words, in ‘sombre and sordid interiors’. Vettriano’s dramatic use of light and shade is a distinctive element of his work and heightens the stories of love, sex and betrayal in his paintings. 

In the late 1980s he moved to Edinburgh and took his mother’s last name, Vettriano. The artist’s breakthrough came in 1988 when he submitted two works to the Royal Scottish Academy’s Annual Exhibition, with both works selling within the first day.

Subsequently he was courted by several galleries, with his first solo exhibition in Edinburgh in 1992. Soon, his works began to gather international acclaim, leading to exhibitions in London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.

The first major retrospective of his work was at Kelvingrove Art Gallery in 2013 and featured Homage to Fontanna?.  The exhibition was record-breaking, attracting more than 136,000 visitors over its five-month run.

Imogen Gibbon, Head of Portraiture & Photography & Chief Curator at the National Galleries Scotland, said: ‘‘We’re thrilled to be welcoming visitors to the Portrait gallery to come and see Portrait of the Artist – by Jack Vettriano. It feels particularly significant that we are able to showcase a self-portrait to celebrate Vettriano’s contribution to Scottish culture on the anniversary of his death.

“This portrait and the subsequent work Homage to Fontana? will take their place on loan in The Modern Portrait display amongst the many other contemporary portraits of Scots who have made an impact at home in Scotland and internationally.

“National Galleries of Scotland extend our thanks to the artists estate, who came to us with this idea and supported us to make it happen’.”

Carolyn Osborne,  Director, Jack Vettriano Publishing Limited, said: ‘Jack was known as The People’s Painter and it’s entirely fitting that the public will be able to see one of his paintings in such a beautiful setting within a mile of where it was painted.’

Residents confront planning chief over ‘super hostel’

Threat to Georgian crescent from 544-bed venue highlighted by locals

Passionate local people trying to save a historic New Town street from a 544-bed “super hostel” have met face-to-face with one of Scotland’s most senior planning appeal officials.

Residents and neighbours gathered in solidarity on Atholl Crescent as a Reporter from the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) carried out a formal site visit yesterday (Tuesday 24 February).

The visit follows the hostel developer’s decision to lodge an appeal directly with the Scottish Government, before local councillors had the opportunity to determine the applications.

Philip Flockhart, director of architects Morris and Steedman Associates and spokesman for residents, said: “When nearly 300 people formally object, and when respected heritage bodies speak of irreversible harm, we would hope that the DPEA will listen.

“This is not about resisting change. It is about proportionality, suitability and the protection of a quiet residential community within a World Heritage Site.”

The proposal would see four Category A-listed Georgian townhouses at 14-17 Atholl Crescent converted into a large-scale budget hostel, accommodating up to 544 guests in dormitory-style pods.

The buildings form part of Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed New Town. Residents argue the location – a predominantly residential crescent and mews – is wholly unsuited to such an intensive, high-turnover commercial use.

A property audit compiled by the group shows the immediate area remains overwhelmingly residential, with 88 homes compared to just 16 commercial properties. Many homes sit directly adjacent to, behind and opposite the proposed development.

During the site visit the Reporter, Katherine Chorley, was invited to walk the crescent and Atholl Crescent Lane to view first-hand the proximity of established family homes, gardens and mews properties to the proposed hostel entrance, servicing arrangements and rear access.

Residents say their objections are not rooted in opposition to visitors or tourism, but in the real, immediate and seismic impact the development would have on daily life.

Among the concerns raised are:

  • Loss of residential amenity and the erosion of a quiet environment enjoyed by many retired residents.
  • Increased noise and disturbance from a 24-hour, high-occupancy operation.
  • Security and safety risks associated with transient, large-scale accommodation.
  • Pressure on narrow streets and lanes from servicing, deliveries and guest drop-offs.
  • The impact on neighbouring private gardens and the quiet residential street.

Campaigners say there is a stark inconsistency in planning policy. The council tightened restrictions on short-term lets and Airbnbs in residential properties on the grounds of loss of amenity. Objectors argue that approving a 544-bed hostel beside family homes would represent a significant loss of amenity.

Around 280 formal objections were lodged during the planning process, with the proposal attracting opposition from leading heritage and civic bodies.

The Cockburn Association warned the development would cause “substantial and irreversible harm” to the listed buildings. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland raised serious concerns about compatibility with the architectural character of Category A-listed Georgian townhouses.

The West End Community Council, a statutory consultee, objected to the scheme “in both principle and detail,” citing transport impact, infrastructure intrusions and the effect on neighbours.

Philip Flockhart, a conservation architect, added: “This is one of the capital’s finest Georgian crescents – a residential street that has retained its character for more than 200 years.

“To introduce a 544-bed dormitory-style hostel into four interconnected townhouses would represent an intensity of occupation completely at odds with the scale, layout and spirit of these buildings.”

Previously the properties were used as offices for a renowned law firm. Permission has previously been granted to convert the townhouses into 34 apartments. Residents question why claims of commercial viability are now being used to justify a large-scale transient accommodation model instead of housing.

Campaigners say the decision will set an important precedent – not just for Atholl Crescent, but for residential streets across the New Town and West End – and signal if residential life is to be prioritised over transient tourism.

Prior to the appeal being submitted to DPEA, the applications were expected to be considered by elected councillors on the Development Management Sub-Committee.  A decision from the Reporter is now awaited.

 Edinburgh bar slashes pint price by 25% following landmark legislative move

The Green Room West End uses the Scottish Pubs Code to break free from purchasing contracts and now able to stock a wider range of beers

The Green Room West End, one of Edinburgh’s most beloved bars, has become one of the first bars in Scotland to leverage the newly implemented Scottish Pubs Code.

The new legislation, which gives pub owners the chance to ask to just pay a rent without being tied to supply stock from the pub-owning business, means The Green Room West End can now stock a wider range of beers.

Furthermore, it means the iconic bar is able to slash the price of a pint of lager from £6.90 to just £5.20, a saving of 25% for local patrons.

The Scottish Pubs Code, which recently came into force, is intended to create a fairer operating environment between tenants and landlords, reduce costly disputes and help safeguard the future of Scotland’s tied tenanted pubs and bars.

Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson, co-owner of The Green Room, commented: “The Scottish Pubs Code is a fantastic initiative, but it is currently a hidden gem that many struggling pub and bar owners across Scotland don’t know about.

“Breaking free from the tie of stock we have to supply has been transformative for us. It also allows us to offer fair, competitive prices to our customers while being able to stock a wider selection of drinks.

“Scotland would have a significantly more vibrant pub and bar culture if knowledge of this law were more widespread. We are seeing venues close every week, if more owners knew they had the right to break these restrictive ties, we would see more businesses surviving, more employees kept in jobs, and more taxes paid into the local economy. This isn’t just about cheaper beer, it’s about the survival of the pub.”

To celebrate the milestone, The Green Room West End will host a ‘Freedom Party’ on Wednesday, 11th February, starting at 4:00 PM.

The event is open to the public and will showcase the bar’s expanded range of beers and its new, lower pricing structure with live music from Edinburgh based musician Haftor Medbøe.

The Green Room West End has shown that the new legislation can provide a vital lifeline for tenants who have felt squeezed by the tied model.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has launched a new portal designed to help pub tenants navigate the Guest Beer Agreement facet of the code. Tenants and lessees can find the portal at guestbeer.co.uk

The Green Room West End team is ready to share their tips with other publicans, email info@thegreenroomedinburgh.co.uk 

or visit 

https://www.thegreenroomedinburgh.co.uk/about-3. 

Facts about the Scottish Tied Pub Code can also be found using the following links: MRO Guidance and Know your rights.

Happy 15th Anniversary, NEN blog!

NEN PUBLISHED OUR FIRST BLOG POST ON THIS DAY IN 2011

The very first NEN blog post was published on this day in 2011. The post read:

Hello, and welcome to the brand new NEN blog.

For those of you not already familiar with the newspaper, we are a local community paper serving the North Edinburgh community. We’ve been here for over thirty years.

This blog, along with our new Facebook page and Twitter stream, represents our first foray into the world of social media.  We really want to encourage more participation, more questions and ideas from the North Edinburgh community – both online and offline – and hope that these new tools will help us to do that.

We already have a good website, where you can always find the latest edition of the printed newspaper. The blog won’t be replacing that, but will instead be there to show people the latest news about the area, and also to help us cover the current funding crisis we are facing as an organisation.

Above all, we want to include your input on the blog – be it ideas for stories, comments, pictures and events. So get in touch!

The NEN’s website was sadly deleted when funding ceased but our social media presence continues on both Twitter and Facebook and the blog is still going strong with 10 – 12 posts daily.

2025 was the NEN blog’s busiest ever year with 36,000 visitors. As I write this we’ve published more than 38,000 posts – all of these remain accessible online – and we’re currently on a run of publishing on 2749 consecutive days.

When the NEN office in Crewe Road North closed much of the NEN archive material was lost, but thankfully some of our picture library was salvaged and can now be found at granton:hub (Madelvic House), where the volunteer archive team has also collated all remaining hard copies of the North Edinburgh News newspaper.

Hopefully, between the physical archive and the NEN blog, you can find all you need to know about our community’s rich history – and we’re adding to that history every day!

The Yard CEO Awarded OBE for Services to Children and Families

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer of The Yard, a national Scottish charity, has been honoured by the King in the 2026 New Year’s Honours. The OBE for Services to Children and Families marks Celine’s 20th year leading a dynamic team that strives to improve the lives of families in Scotland.

The Yard offers wraparound family support to more than 3600 disabled children and their families from birth to young adulthood from their inspiring and inclusive indoor and outdoor centres in Edinburgh, Fife Glasgow and Dundee. Children can play, grow and connect, while families feel supported, empowered and included and can access a broad range of family supports at point of need, with no diagnosis required.

The Yard’s work includes tailored family support (including 1:1 support), early years sessions, youth clubs, school play sessions, carer respite services, kinship carer support, outreach inclusive play service for children with medically complex needs and a new disability and neurodiversity place-based hub (EDAN) as well as disability inclusion training for professionals.

Celine is driven by personal passion. She found The Yard after her then five-year-old son was diagnosed with autism and she struggled to find places for him to play.

At the time, The Yard was a small community project offering a few play sessions from a rundown centre in Edinburgh and was on the brink of closure. But what started as a personal search grew into a passionate mission.

In 2005, she joined the Board, then stepped into the role of part-time Chief Executive in 2006.

Like many charities, The Yard grew from humble origins. In the early days, The Yard supported around 50 children with three part-time staff and a turnover of £100,000. Today, it supports over 3600 children and families, employs over 80 staff, and has an annual turnover of £3.2 million.

This year, a new centre opened in Glasgow — the fourth after Edinburgh, Fife, and Dundee — marking another milestone in its remarkable growth and reach. In addition, the Dundee service reopened in the Summer after an ambitious transformation, becoming a fully accessible and welcoming space.

Under Celine’s leadership, The Yard has evolved into a national charity that strives to influence policy, pioneer collaborative, transformative models of support, and promote a better understanding of what underpins meaningful inclusion. 

Celine said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have the contribution of The Yard model recognised in this way. It has been a chance to reflect on my 20-year career in the third sector and, more importantly, an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful team, paid and volunteers, who make The Yard what it is today.

“Our team provides a vital lifeline for thousands of families with a disabled child each year, who are at increased risk of poverty, isolation, and discrimination. Many of our families tell us that they often struggle emotionally and practically, feeling lost and alone when they learn that their child is on a different developmental path.

“This honour is a tribute to the devotion and commitment of my incredible colleagues, trustees and supporters and a celebration of all that our families achieve. As I absorb this wonderful news, I want to reaffirm my commitment to the sector and the growing number of families who benefit from our care and support.

“As we continue to grow The Yard into a nationally recognised Centre of Excellence across Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Fife, I remain fully dedicated to our mission of fostering meaningful inclusion across Scotland.”

Ian Harris, Chair of the Board, said, “We are truly humbled to have Celine’s inspirational and dynamic leadership nationally recognised with an OBE for Services to Children and Families.

“It is also an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of the sector and the success of collaborative working with our many supporters and partners. Everyone wants to believe their job makes the world a better place and at The Yard, we know they do.

“Every day we are proud to witness the dedication of our team and what they achieve under Celine’s steerage and look forward to building new partnerships that further support children and families in Scotland.”

For more information, visit www.theyardscotland.org.uk

Sexual assaults in Stockbridge: Man to appear in court on Monday

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with six sexual assaults in Stockbridge and the New Town.

Police received reports of three incidents on the evening of Friday, 12 December, 2025, in the Fettes Row, Inverleith Row and Saxe Coburg Street areas. Three further incidents were reported thereafter in the Dean Bank Lane and Royal Crescent areas.

Following extensive enquiries, a 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. He is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 22 December.

Detective Inspector Dougal Begg said: “We know these incidents caused concern in the local community and I would like to thank members of the public for their support during our enquiries.”