North Edinburgh News – Page 3 – The NEN

Refugee Voices preserved as Trojan Women Project expands living oral archive to Scotland

Refugee and asylum-seeker stories are being preserved for future generations as the Trojan Women Project expands its living oral archive into Scotland, following a series of sold-out performances in Stirling.

Founded in 2013 by award-winning foreign correspondent and filmmaker Charlotte Eagar and award-winning filmmaker William Stirling, the project combines oral history, theatre and storytelling to give people who have fled war, persecution and political oppression the opportunity to tell their own stories.

The project’s latest expansion has seen refugees and asylum seekers from Ukrainian, Afghan, Sudanese, Syrian and other backgrounds come together with local people in Stirling. Weekly workshops combining drama, storytelling and oral history culminated in sold-out performances at Macrobert Arts Centre on 24 and 25 September.

Alongside the performances, participants are creating a permanent oral-history archive intended to be housed at the University of Stirling, preserving first-hand accounts of displacement as part of Scotland’s historical record.

Its podcast, ‘Why Am I In Your Country?’, forms the public-facing part of the growing archive. Hosted by Eagar, Stirling and Luna Laurenti, it takes listeners beyond the statistics and headlines to hear directly from refugees and asylum seekers about the lives they left behind, the events that forced them to flee and what happened when they arrived in Britain.

The stories collected through the project illustrate the personal histories behind migration, from Iranian photographer Mina – who describes surveillance and restrictions on women in Iran, the aftermath of the death of Mahsa Amini in state custody in 2022, and the experiences that eventually led her to flee the country – to Afghan artist and former Afghan Businesswoman of the Year Samira Kitman, who describes escaping Afghanistan after receiving death threats and her efforts to preserve the work of Afghan artists.

Charlotte Eagar, co-founder of the Trojan Women Project, said: “Refugees are often talked about in terms of numbers, crises and headlines, but behind every statistic is a human life, a family, a history and a story that deserves to be heard.

“We created the Trojan Women Project because we believe those stories should not disappear when the news moves on.

“By recording people’s experiences in their own words and preserving them as an oral archive, we are creating a lasting record of what displacement actually means, not just for those living through it today, but for generations to come.”

William Stirling, co-founder of the Trojan Women Project, continued: “Drama is an ‘archive of human emotion’, capturing not only what happened to people, but their memories, voices and lived experiences.

“Theatre gives people a different way to tell their stories. When someone stands on stage and speaks about what they have lived through, it becomes something shared between the person telling the story, the people listening and the community around them. That is why we see the archive and the theatre as inseparable: one preserves the voice, while the other allows that voice to be heard”

With 16 episodes currently available, ‘Why Am I In Your Country?’ continues to grow alongside the archive, which brings together recorded testimony, podcast interviews, performance and the memories generated through the project’s workshops.

For Eagar and Stirling, the archive is about preserving more than facts and dates. Drawing on Euripides’ 2,400-year-old tragedy ‘The Trojan Women’, which centres on civilians displaced by war, the project uses theatre as a way for contemporary refugees to explore and share their own experiences.

The Scottish project builds on more than a decade of work by the Trojan Women Project. In Hounslow, approximately 120 refugees and asylum seekers took part in 40 workshops over 11 months, culminating in a 2025 production featuring participants from communities including Syria, Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran.

The oral-history material is intended to be housed at Gunnersbury Park Museum.

For more information about Trojan Women Project, please visit the official website.

To listen to the podcast, please visit: Why Am I In Your Country? on Apple Podcasts

COSLA: Putting communities at the heart of public service reform

COSLA: The European Charter of Local Self-Government can shape the future of Scotland’s public services:

Ukrainian teenager rebuilds his life in Scotland

Dmytro pursues dream of becoming an aircraft engineer

From finding his feet in a new country to pursuing his dream of becoming an aircraft engineer, 14-year-old Dmytro Miskov is looking to the future with support from Scottish charity Mission of Innocents.

When Dmytro Miskov arrived in Scotland with his mum in 2023, he faced the challenge of adjusting to a new country, a new language and an unfamiliar life.

Now living in North Lanarkshire, he has made new friends, grown in confidence and is pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an aircraft engineer, with help from Mission of Innocents.

The charity, which supports children and families affected by war, conflict and displacement, has been part of Dmytro’s journey since his early days in Scotland, helping him build confidence, develop his interests and look positively towards his future.

Dmytro’s fascination with engineering began when he was just five years old. He loved building things so much that he asked his mum to enrol him in a Lego course, and that childhood interest has since developed into an ambition to work with aircraft.

After meeting Dmytro at the opening of Mission of Innocents’ arts centre in Edinburgh, an STV News reporter worked with the charity to arrange a special visit to Loganair at Glasgow Airport, bringing him one step closer to his dream of becoming an aircraft engineer.

During the visit, Dmytro explored the airline’s hangar, met engineers and learned about the qualifications and training needed to enter the profession. He also got hands-on experience, including removing a tyre from an aircraft wheel.

Dmytro said: “I really enjoyed the visit to the Loganair hangar and main office. I had the opportunity to ask the engineers lots of questions that will help me in the future, such as what qualifications they needed for the job and where they studied after school.

“Throughout the whole trip I was so happy and excited to see what was next. I felt like I was in the place where I want to work in the future, and after the trip I decided that I will definitely become an aircraft engineer and do my best to get this job.”

Lyn MacDonald, director of marketing, communications and product at Loganair, said: “Dmytro has come a long way since arriving in Scotland in 2023, and his enthusiasm stood out to our engineers from the moment he walked into our Glasgow hangar.

“Our colleagues showed him the work that keeps our fleet flying to communities across Scotland, and he got hands-on from the very first minute.

“Aviation needs young talent with Dmytro’s drive, and we hope this visit is the first step towards a career that one day brings him back to a hangar like ours.”

Dmytro’s journey reflects the wider work of Mission of Innocents, which has supported children and families affected by war and displacement since 2023.

Through creative programmes including art, music, dance and storytelling, the charity helps young people rebuild their confidence, form friendships and maintain their cultural identity, while creating opportunities for them to explore their interests and look positively towards the future.

Joyce Landry, Founder and CEO of Mission of Innocents, said: “Dmytro stood out from the very beginning. I remember him, aged eight, walking onto a makeshift stage on the vessel and reciting Ukrainian poetry from memory with a poise beyond his years.

“To see how much his confidence has grown since then, now speaking English and pursuing his passion for aviation, is incredibly special. His journey from those first uncertain days in Scotland to where he is today is exactly what Mission of Innocents is about – helping young people rebuild their confidence, discover what they’re passionate about and look forward to their future.”

For Dmytro, the experience has strengthened his determination to become an aircraft engineer, and he is now focused on his studies and the steps needed to turn his ambition into a career.

£10 million investment to grow skills in defence sector

Two new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges

Innovation Minister Alyn Smith has confirmed £10 million investment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) for Scotland.

Plans are underway to allocate sites in the east and west of the country to support the development of skills for well-paid careers in areas such as defence engineering, advanced manufacturing and maritime technology.

Along with Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn, Mr Smith has today written to Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard and Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander, to confirm the Scottish Government will match UK Government funding needed to underpin future industrial growth and competitiveness.

Mr Smith said: “Scotland is well placed to seize the opportunities arising out of the defence industry – with a highly skilled workforce, world-class colleges and universities and internationally recognised manufacturing.

“DTECs will allow workers to upskill and connect the next generation to opportunities in sectors where demand for a highly-skilled workforce is rising rapidly.

“I am pleased to confirm we will partner with the UK Government to develop plans for DTECs in Scotland and build on the £3.7 billion to Scotland’s economy provided by the defence sector.

“Our Programme for Government committed to establishing a responsible defence industrial growth programme to maximise the economic opportunities arising from increased defence spending. We will work with partners to ensure our workers are equipped with the right skills for emerging jobs in this vital sector.”

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “In March we announced a £10 million commitment to develop two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in Scotland.

“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has now agreed to match fund these colleges to give our young people the skills they need to secure high-skilled, well-paid careers in Scotland’s defence sector in the years to come.

“Scotland is a defence industrial powerhouse and is already benefiting from increased UK Government investment as we deliver a defence dividend for Scotland, creating new skilled jobs, new training places and new opportunities for communities while keeping us and our allies secure.

“It is crucial that we continue to develop the skilled workforce needed to support this growing sector.”

CWP Energy supports Scotland Women in Search and Rescue Event

CWP Energy is proud to have supported the Scotland Women in Search and Rescue (SAR) event through a £1,500 grant towards event T-shirts, helping bring together women volunteers and professionals from across Scotland’s lifesaving community.

Forty-seven women attended the event, representing 25 different lifeboat stations across Scotland, including both RNLI and independent lifeboat stations, as well as RNLI Lifeguards.

The two-day event provided a valuable opportunity to share experiences, develop skills, build networks and celebrate the growing role of women within the search and rescue sector. The event was hosted by the lifeboat stations at Dunbar, Eyemouth and St Abbs and featured both practical activities afloat and learning opportunities ashore.

The Scotland Women in SAR initiative was created to bring women from across the search and rescue community together, offering opportunities for skills development, collaboration and discussions that help shape the future of women in lifesaving services.

Supporting Communities Beyond Energy

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting local communities, CWP Energy was delighted to contribute funding towards branded event T-shirts, helping create a sense of unity and recognition amongst participants attending from across the country.

Diane Wood, Director of ESG at CWP Energy, said: “At CWP Energy, we are committed to supporting organisations that make a real difference within our communities.

“The Scotland Women in SAR event provided an incredible opportunity for women from across Scotland’s search and rescue network to come together, share knowledge and build lasting connections.

“We are proud to have supported the event and to recognise the dedication of the volunteers and professionals who give their time to help keep people safe.”

The event brought together a diverse group of women involved in maritime and coastal rescue operations, creating a platform for learning, mentorship and collaboration across multiple organisations.

Ian Wilson, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dunbar Lifeboat Station, said: “The Scotland Women in SAR event was a fantastic success and demonstrated the strength, expertise and commitment of women serving in search and rescue roles across Scotland.

“Bringing together representatives from 25 stations created valuable opportunities to learn from one another, share experiences and strengthen the networks that support lifesaving operations.

“We are extremely grateful to CWP Energy for their funding towards the event T-shirts, which helped create a strong sense of team spirit and identity throughout the weekend.”

The event highlighted the vital contribution women make within search and rescue services and reinforced the importance of creating opportunities for collaboration and development across the sector.

Fund to Leave scheme investment doubled to £4 million

Support for women experiencing domestic abuse

An initiative supporting women and children to escape abusive relationships will see its funding doubled from £2 million to £4 million for the current year.

The Fund to Leave scheme has supported 1,519 women and 2,094 children to leave unsafe situations since its launch in February 2026 – an additional £2 million will be made available in 2026-27, taking total investment up to £4 million, to ensure that there is no cap on support and to help more women and children leave abusive relationships safely and rebuild their lives.

The initiative provides immediate financial support for essentials for women leaving an abusive partner – removing the financial barriers that can trap women in harmful relationships by giving them the means to act quickly and safely.

The Scottish Government has also pledged further support for survivors of domestic abuse to ensure they are not unfairly burdened by Council Tax debt resulting from an abusive relationship. The Scottish Government will consult on creating a statutory exception to joint and several liability rules to protect victims of domestic abuse. Further details will be announced in Parliament next month with a public consultation expected in 2027.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “There is absolutely no place for domestic abuse in modern Scotland – it is one of the most harmful and pervasive forms of violence against women and girls.

“We are determined to break down financial barriers that will often stand in the way of leaving an abusive partner. Our Fund to Leave scheme provides immediate financial help for women so they can begin to safely rebuild their lives and protect their children from harm.

“Since its formation last year, the initiative has already helped more than 1,500 women rebuild their lives – I am pleased to provide further support for this initiative to remove the cap and help more women benefit from its significant impact.

“Nobody should have to face additional harm as a result of domestic abuse. We recognise that joint and several liability for council tax can create very difficult circumstances for those experiencing or who have experienced abuse.

“We will take forward work with local councils to ensure solutions are in place to protect victims of abuse from unfair council tax debt – I will provide further detail to Parliament on these measures next month.”

Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: Information for Families

The need for school uniform support doesn’t just happen at the start of the term—growth spurts, changes in circumstances, or unexpected hardships can happen at any time of the year.

We want every family in Edinburgh to know that support is available, whether you need emergency help or a discreet option right inside your school.

Are you a family needing support?

Please see the information page for families on our website: https://edinburghuniform.org/information-for-families/

Are you a school or support professional?

Head to the following link to find out more about how our referral system works or how your school can partner with us: https://edinburghuniform.org/packs/

Young heroes and SAS staff recognised at national Brave@Heart Awards

Three youngsters and two Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) emergency responders have been recognised at this year’s Brave@Heart Awards.

The awards celebrate acts of courage by members of the public, blue-light services and voluntary rescue organisations across Scotland.

Christopher Chopping, 10, Joshua Miller, five (above) , Jordan Kerr, 15, and SAS staff Harriet Barr and Ailsa McAleer received their awards at a ceremony at Bute House on Tuesday, 6 October, attended by the First Minister and SAS Chief Executive Michael Dickson.

Christopher, from Penicuik, saved his father Lee’s life by calling 999 after he suffered a medical emergency caused by an underlying heart condition. Lee said his son’s quick thinking ensured help arrived in time.

Joshua, from Ayr, called 999 when his mum suffered an asthma attack, calmly providing the family’s address and updates on her condition to the call handler. His mum said his actions prevented the situation from becoming far more serious.

Jordan, an Army Cadet of Drumchapel, used CPR skills learned through the cadet programme to help save the life of a young boy who collapsed at a train station.

The 15-year-old restored the boy’s pulse before the ambulance arrived and has since launched a campaign to install a public defibrillator at the station.

Harriet, a Technician, and Ailsa, a Paramedic, from Fort William Station, rescued an elderly woman from an icy stream while off duty.

Despite challenging conditions, they pulled her to safety, called for help and supported the responding crew throughout the incident.

SAS Chief Executive Michael Dickson said: “The actions of all our Brave@Heart recipients are truly commendable.

“Whether performing CPR on a member of the public, calling 999 for a parent, or retrieving a walker from a river, their quick thinking and selfless actions undoubtedly prevented far more serious outcomes.

“Each recipient has demonstrated exceptional courage and is thoroughly deserving of this accolade.”

Counterfeit weight loss pens worth £2 million seized by MHRA and West Midlands Police

Fake weight loss medicines worth approximately £2 million were seized on Wednesday night in a raid executed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and West Midlands Police

On October 14, over 12,000 fake retatrutide and tirzepatide pens were seized along with packaging for around 30,000 more products. The raid took place at an industrial unit in Birmingham.

Tim Duffield, Head Intelligence at the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit said: “We are tackling the organised criminal gangs whose illegal trade in unauthorised medicines puts people at risk of serious harm.

“Our officers seized around £2 million worth of fake weight loss medicines from a filthy warehouse on an industrial estate. These products have not been assessed for safety, quality or effectiveness, and there is no guarantee of what they contain or whether they have been contaminated with harmful substances.

“Retatrutide has not been authorised for use in the UK. Products being sold as retatrutide outside legitimate clinical trials are being supplied illegally and could pose serious risks to public health.

“We urge people to avoid buying weight-loss medicines from unregulated sources. Anyone considering GLP-1 treatment should speak to a healthcare professional and only obtain medicines from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription.”

October’s raid is the latest in a series of MHRA operations that has removed tens of thousands of doses of unauthorised GLP-1 weight loss medicines from circulation:

In May 2026, two people were arrested following a raid on a country estate believed to have been used to manufacture, assemble and distribute unlicensed weight-loss medicines. Around 12,000 doses were recovered, together with packaging materials and suspected pharmaceutical substances
In February 2026, around 2,000 doses of unauthorised weight-loss medicines awaiting dispatch were seized, alongside manufacturing equipment, suspected pharmaceutical ingredients, packaging and commercial vehicles.
In October 2025, the MHRA dismantled the first illicit weight-loss medicine production facility discovered in the UK, seizing 5,000 unauthorised retatrutide and tirzepatide pens, thousands of empty pens and raw chemical ingredients. Together, the finished products and ingredients represented the potential for tens of thousands of doses.

The MHRA #FakeMeds website offers helpful guidance and advice for staying safe when buying medicines online.

Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from a medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

From dissection room to gallery wall Ken Currie and Professor Dame Sue Black lift the lid on the making of haunting portrait in new film

Portrait Stories free to watch on YouTube now

Unknown Man on display at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

Free to visit

First in a new series of YouTube films by National Galleries of Scotland, artist Ken Currie and forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black reunite to reflect on the story behind the haunting portrait Unknown Man.

From Currie witnessing his first dissection with Black and making life masks together, to the matter of who the real subject of the portrait actually is, the film lifts the lid on the relationship between sitter and artist.

Portrait Stories brings together remarkable sitters and artists for an in-depth conversation about the creative process. The first film starring Ken Currie and Professor Dame Sue Black, is available to watch now on YouTube for free.

Having met for the first time during a live broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on a show called Art and Anatomy, Black invited Currie to come see his first dissection to understand how she worked.

Out of the experience emerged the nearly 3 metre painting, Unknown Man, on display at the National Galleries Scotland: Portrait in Edinburgh for free.

Recalling her first encounter with the portrait Black said: “I didn’t know how I was going to react, but I did tear up, there was no doubting that. I looked at it and I thought oh my word, this is incredible.”

In the early 1990s, Scottish artist, Ken Currie was much affected by political and humanitarian events in Eastern Europe, and he began to depict decaying and damaged bodies as a response to what he felt was the sickness of contemporary society.

Although still as socially aware as his earlier work, his style became less linear over time. From the mid-1990s, Currie’s paintings became simpler. He focused on individuals instead of crowds and painted in haunting, luminous colours.

Despite painting bodies in this way and with great accuracy, in the film Currie shares how he had never seen a dissection.

He said: “I think that like many Sue assumed because I went to art school I had seen a dissection because it was very much part of the old training. But I hadn’t.”

Attending his first ever dissection after being invited by Black live on air, Currie remembers: “I watched Sue there, standing over the body and of course I had never seen anything like that in my life before. It was really fascinating and then of course this germ of idea began to grow in my head [for the portrait]. Just Sue and the body”.

In 1999, Professor Black made her first tour to Kosovo, in order to identify the human remains of war crimes committed during the Balkan Wars, which deeply impacted her. So, for Black the portrait was an opportunity to give more of a story to the people whose bodies have been donated to science.

She said: “The people underneath these sheets are so important because these are people who in life choose to donate their body. They do it because they believe they want to pay something back.

“We talk about them being our silent teachers, because these cadavers will teach our students more than any living teacher could ever.”

From this came the name of the portrait Unknown Man challenging the viewer to look beyond the woman standing prominently in the portrait and think about the person who lies under the sheet. Black also hoped that in seeing the painting in the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh, it might inspire more young women to go into a field which is traditionally dominated by men.

As Black was unable to do multiple portrait sittings Currie made a life mask as a record of her appearance. A life mask is created by placing a mould over a person’s face to capture their features and requires that the subject doesn’t move while the moulding sets.

It allowed the Currie to create an accurate representation of how Black’s face may look in different lights. Currie was keen that that the portrait portrayed what Black may look like after a long and tiresome 12-hour shift.

In the Portrait Stories film, Black recounts how she has never done anything like this and the process required trust in the artist, which she gave completely.

She said: “I have to say the process for me was one I never expected. It was an honour, it was a privilege, but please don’t ask me it do it again.

“I genuinely feel I have made a really dear friend in Ken. He treated me with great respect and he has a huge level of artistic talent. It is my honour to have been a sitter on something he created”.

Watch Ken Currie and Professor Sue Black chat more about the story behind this fascinating portrait on the National Galleries of Scotland YouTube.

The Portrait Stories series will continue with Scottish writer Ian Rankin and photographer Hamish Campbell, available on YouTube later in 2026.