THURSDAY 23 APRIL at 7pm
Tune in to Facebook tomorrow night at 7pm for a Bedtime Story read by one of our librarians Faye.
She will be reading the beautiful, sensitive story of ‘Astrid and the Sky Calf’ written by Rosie Faragher.
If you miss it, don’t worry it will be staying up on Facebook for some time.
Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Christian Climate Action and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a noisy Earth Day protest outside BlackRock offices in Edinburgh yesterday.
BlackRock is the world’s largest investment asset manager using the immense power of its algorithms and wealth to fund three crimes against life and humanity: AI, fossil fuels, war and genocide. The protest demanded that BlackRock stops using its power to crush humanity, and stops funding death by algorithm.
The protest included drummers from the Rhythms of Resistance network and Discobedience dancers.
Three corpses dressed in shrouds labelled with the words: BlackRock Funds Climate Violence, War and Genocide, AI Terror. Protest in Harmony, a radical activist singing group, sung songs of protest and an original work of art was created for the protest.
Activists held a giant banner saying BlackRock CRUSHING EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE and some held placards drawing attention to the fact that BlackRock’s wealth and algorithms fund climate violence, genocide and Big Tech. Larry Finkenstein, the alter ego of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, also made an appearance.
Alex Cochrane, website manager, from XR Scotland said: “We are protesting on Earth Day because BlackRock is funding climate breakdown with its investments into fossil fuel companies and major polluters.
“They are a company prepared to lie, greenwash and crush us all under the weight of climate catastrophe just so their shares can get some returns.
“They have captured finance and become too big to fail – we will all suffer from this, including the staff of BlackRock. Climate breakdown will destroy our way of life and their way of business.”
A spokesman from Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “BlackRock uses its financial might directly against the Palestinian people.
“As the UN special report on ‘the economy of genocide’ by Albanese details, BlackRock’s vast investments in Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and others add up to a ‘joint criminal enterprise’ where there is a direct line between BlackRock’s profits and genocide.”
Levi Clark, support worker, from XR Scotland said: “Young families in Scotland like mine are struggling as BlackRock’s AI investment platform Aladdin, the algorithmic engine of the global financial system, drives historically unprecedented inequality.
“There have never been more billionaires, yet ordinary people everywhere are facing hardship. BlackRock funds Palantir which is using AI technology to devastate human rights. We need to wrestle back control of this technology’s future for the benefit of all humanity.”
PICTURES: Mike Spring and Nathaniel Wyvern
TRACY GILBERT URGES POLICE TO LAUNCH CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
On Tuesday, 21 April 2026, Tracy Gilbert MP, the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith, accused websites advertising prostitution of facilitating industrial-scale sex-trafficking in Scotland and revealed she has written to Police Scotland urging them to launch a criminal investigation into the websites, which continue to openly operate in Scotland.
Websites advertising prostitution are commercial online platforms dedicated solely or partly to advertising individuals for prostitution. A report in February by the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner identified nearly 63,000 listings of women across 12 websites advertising prostitution in the UK at a single point in time. In just one month, the same websites received almost 41.7 million visits.
Frequently referred to as ‘pimping websites’, the UK Government has acknowledged through a written parliamentary question that “adult service websites are now the most significant enabler of trafficking for sexual exploitation”.
Leading a debate in the UK Parliament on sex trafficking in Scotland, Tracy Gilbert MP argued that it is not just third-party criminals using these websites who should be the focus of police attention. Instead, it should be the website operators themselves facing investigation for sex trafficking.
In her speech, the Edinburgh North and Leith MP revealed that she had written to the Chief Constable at Police Scotland, urging a criminal investigation into pimping websites.
She stated that websites advertising prostitution knowingly aid prostitution and facilitate the travel of individuals for prostitution – by listing and categorising prostitution adverts according to whether the advertised individual will do so-called ‘outcalls’ – which is where a person travels to the sex buyer for the purpose of prostitution.
These actions, Tracy Gilbert MP stated, mean that the websites themselves constitute human trafficking operations under the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015.
Following the debate, Tracy Gilbert MP said: “It is a national scandal that the individuals operating Adultwork and Vivastreet have not only been allowed to operate for years with total impunity, but that they have been publicly presented by Government and the National Crime Agency as partners in tackling sex trafficking.
“Pimping websites openly and explicitly facilitate the transportation or transfer of individuals for prostitution. The operators of these platforms publish prostitution adverts in a standardised format – which includes specifying whether the individual being advertised will do ‘out-calls’. …Facilitating the transportation of individuals for prostitution is built into the architecture of Adultwork and Vivastreet.
“I believe the seriousness and scale of these activities warrant an immediate criminal investigation.”
Dear Editor,
For years, the Scottish independence movement has been shackled by a fundamental misunderstanding of Holyrood’s Additional Member System.
The persistent rallying cry of “SNP 1, SNP 2” has not only failed to maximise our representation, but it has actively handed parliamentary power to unionist MSPs. The electoral facts prove that millions of pro-independence votes are being routinely wasted.
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP dominated the constituency ballot, winning 59 seats. However, the regional list system mathematically penalises parties that win heavily in the constituencies.
Consequently, the SNP’s 953,587 regional list votes yielded a mere 4 list seats.
The D’Hondt formula rendered nearly a million peach ballot votes virtually worthless, allowing the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour to use their regional votes to sweep 24 and 21 list seats, respectively.
In 2021, this electoral tragedy repeated itself. Pro-independence voters dutifully followed the dual-vote strategy, helping the SNP win a record 62 constituency seats.
Yet, despite securing over a million votes on the regional list, the SNP returned just 2 regional MSPs. Over a million independence votes were essentially torched. This inefficiency directly enabled unionist parties to comfortably fill the regional lists, artificially inflating their influence in parliament.
I argue that some still argue for an “Indy 1, Indy 2” approach, assuming that backing the same dominant independence party on the peach ballot paper will secure victory. It fundamentally does not work for the Scottish Independence movement. Continuing to pile list votes onto a party that has already swept the constituencies is mathematically self-defeating.
To break this deadlock and secure a genuine pro-independence supermajority, our strategy must evolve. We must stop throwing our regional votes into the D’Hondt trap. The formula for success is clear: it has to be Indy 1 on the constituency ballot, and Alliance to Liberate Scotland 2 on the regional vote on the peach ballot paper.
Only by splitting our votes strategically can we capture the regional lists, lock unionist MSPs out of Holyrood, and finally deliver the parliament Scotland needs to secure its independence.
Yours for Scotland,
Dhruva Kumar
Glasgow Region List Candidate
Alliance to Liberate Scotland
Former MP Candidate, Glasgow, ALBA Party
Join us at Leith Community Croft for a playful gathering rooted in nature, foraging, and connection.
This is a guided, small-group experience designed to help you step out of the noise of daily life and into something a little softer, a little lighter — where curiosity, play, and presence lead the way.
Dates:
• Saturday, 2 May, 1-3pm
• Saturday, 16 May, 1-3pm
• Saturday, 30 May, 1-3pm
What to expect:
• A warm, informal welcome to the space
• Playful time outdoors (slow wandering, noticing, playful exploration of the land)
• Seasonal, nature-based practices (simple, accessible, and lightly guided)
• Building knowledge of seasonal plants and easy preparations
This isn’t a workshop in the traditional sense — there’s nothing to get right. It’s an invitation to slow down, follow your curiosity, and engage with the croft in a way that feels natural, relaxed, and a little bit playful.
Who it’s for:
• Anyone feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or in need of a reset
• People curious about nature-based practices (no experience needed)
• Those who want a playful, supportive space with a touch of lightness and joy
Please wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing — we’ll be outdoors for the duration of the session.
Spaces are limited to keep the group small and personal.
Book your place using the link in our bio!
Young people in Scotland are coming together to “grill” political parties in a special election hustings on their climate commitments amid huge fears about the climate crisis.
The youth-led event in Edinburgh TONIGHT – Wednesday 22 April – will be livestreamed nationwide with questions limited to people under 30 years old.
The organisers, the Scottish Youth Climate Coalition, say the climate and nature hustings in Edinburgh will be “an opportunity for young people to hear from potential MSPs about how they plan to handle our future.”
Young people are significantly less likely to vote than older people with IPSOS estimating just 37% of 18-24 years old voted in the 2024 UK general election, falling from 47% the 2019 General Election.
Research shows young people are the most worried about the future, with over two thirds of people aged 16-24 reporting that they feel worried about the future due to climate change. A similar number of yooung people say they feel their voices are not listened to by decision makers when it comes to climate.
The Scottish Youth Climate Coalition (SYCC) is made up of six of the largest youth climate organisations in Scotland – collectively representing thousands of young people aged 16-30.
The Coalition consists of Young Friends of the Earth Scotland, 2050 Climate Group, Teach the Future Scotland, Young Sea Changers Scotland, Green New Deal Rising, and People and Planet Edinburgh, with support from many smaller youth groups across the country.
The hustings will take place in Augustine United Church in Edinburgh tonight (Wednesday 22 April from 7 – 9pm).
Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Youth Engagement Intern Kyle Downie said: “This is an opportunity for young people to grill those who wish to sit in the next Scottish Parliament about how they plan to handle our future.
“If politicians want our votes, they must be willing to show how they plan on meeting the many challenges facing young people in Scotland. From worsening climate impacts, to improving bus services, to protecting Scotland’s natural environment and seas, there are many questions we need answers to.
“It’s great to be able to bring the youth movement back together like this. As with any campaign, we’re stronger when we work together. And it’s important that this husting is youth-led, after all it’s our future these politicians are messing with!”
Charlotte Wilson organiser from the youth-led campaign for climate education, Teach the Future, said: “With 16 year olds able to vote in this election, we’re taking part to press candidates about their commitments to sustainable development, education, outdoor learning, global citizenship, and social welfare – collectively known as Learning for Sustainability – and pathways to green careers.”
POLICE in Edinburgh are asking for the public’s help in tracing a missing teenager. Adeddamola Adebayo, known as Damola, was last seen on Monday, 6 April, 2026, in the Granton area.
He was reported missing to police yesterday, Tuesday, 21 April, 2026.
The 17-year-old has links across the city, including the Wester Hailes area and Ferry Road.
Adeddamola is described as black, of slim build, around 6ft 4ins tall with short black hair. His current clothing is not known, and he speaks with a London accent.
Sergeant Andy Wylie said: “We are conducting a number of enquiries across the city to make sure that Adeddamola is safe.
“We’re eager to hear from anyone who may have seen, or spoken to him, since the beginning of April, to get in contact.
“If Adeddamola himself sees this appeal – please get in touch with police.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 1091 of 21 April 2026.
The bosses of a corrupt payroll company that stole millions of pounds of VAT have been jailed for more than 22 years.
West Lothian-based Linear Services handled payroll for 27 employment agencies but didn’t hand over VAT they owed to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) during a two-year fraud.
Graeme Cullen, Leslie Thompson, Graham Newall and Martin Lang ran the firm that charged VAT on invoices totalling £8.8 million between 2015 and 2017. The court heard the gang lived extravagant lifestyles with huge amounts of money spent on expensive homes, holidays, diamonds and even gold bullion.
Thompson is already serving a six-year sentence for his role in an elaborate multi-million-pound tax fraud that led to convictions for a network of 20 corrupt company directors.
The 63-year-old, from Bathgate, West Lothian, was jailed in October, while his wife Beverley was handed a two-year suspended sentence for her role in the elaborate scam.
The gang were caught following a lengthy investigation by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, who worked alongside partners from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division.
Lang, 68, pleaded guilty on 30 January. Cullen, 54, Thompson, 63, and Newall, 49, were sentenced on 21 April after an eight-week trial at Glasgow High Court.
HMRC urges all businesses to carry out meaningful due diligence on any supply of services and anyone with any information about any type of tax fraud can report it to HMRC on GOV.UK.
The Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) extends its sincere thanks to its Board Members, staff, partners, and guests who attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10 April 2026.
The meeting was chaired by Foysol Choudhury MBE (Former member of the Scottish Parliament), whose continued leadership, guidance, and vision remain instrumental to the organisation’s progress and impact.
The AGM commenced with a moving tribute to Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, KT, recognising his extraordinary contributions and enduring legacy. As an honorary member and one of ELREC’s founding figures in the 1970s, Sir Geoff’s influence has been deeply woven into the organisation’s history. Attendees observed a minute’s silence in his memory.
The event featured a series of insightful presentations from guest speakers. David Clark of Police Scotland provided important updates on policing efforts and highlighted ongoing work to address hate crime. Researchers Lucien Staddon Foster and Sholen Macpherson presented findings from their collaborative research with ELREC, focusing on the experiences of Black and racially minoritised communities in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Further details from these presentations are available below:
* Police Scotland Updates:
* Research Report:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t88a3UIf5eubblvp0Eu-nvfjl-qo2cxJ/view?usp=sharing
ELREC was also pleased to welcome Councillors Cammy Day, Katrina Faccenda, and Tim Pogson, providing an opportunity to share the organisation’s ongoing work and strengthen engagement with local leadership.
Over the past year, ELREC has delivered a wide range of projects and initiatives aimed at promoting equality and diversity. These include women’s wellbeing programmes, energy advice services, environmental projects, community workshops, creative initiatives, and cycling programmes, among others.
Despite facing capacity challenges, ELREC remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering communities, building skills, and breaking down barriers. Through continued collaboration and partnership, the organisation is dedicated to fostering inclusion and creating equal opportunities for all.
The AGM concluded with a vote of thanks from Chair Foysol Choudhury MBE and Company Secretary Rajnish Singh.
To read the full 2024–2025 Annual Report, please visit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hIvK0QxJpC_8z5CPspgIkr5YyIAqqw6/view?usp=sharing
EMPTY Kitchens Full Hearts wonderful Engagement Manager Leila is taking on this abseil challenge 
If you visit EKFH, you’ll see Leila hard at work with our Engagement volunteers, making more than 60 wellbeing calls every week!
Leila speaks to our service users regularly – checking in to see how they are doing, and what more we can do to support them. This could be linking a family to a local clothing bank, putting a person in touch with an benefits check service, or issuing a foodbank voucher for household essentials.
Now, Leila is taking on the Port of Leith Distillery Abseil Challenge – 131ft for EKFH 
To support Leila’s abseil, please donate here:
