GET CREATIVE THIS HALF-TERM! 
Kids are invited to a fun afternoon of eco-friendly crafting, making cute animals and colourful vases from recycled materials.
Thursday 19th February
1:30–3:30pm
Booking required – limited spaces available!
Call 0131 315 4989 or email rebecca@drylawnc.org.uk
AND DON’T FORGET:
TODAY UNTIL 1pm – share your views!
Families looking for great-value half-term days out will find plenty to enjoy at Dobbies Garden Centres this February. Younger children can experience a fun-filled session at Dobbies’ Soft Play where they can let off some steam, and parents can make the most of Dobbies’ Kids Eat for £1 restaurant offer.
Soft Play
Families are welcome to join the fun at Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Soft Play, where toddlers and young children can burn off energy and play in a safe environment.
The soft play is located in the restaurant, where families can enjoy a hot drinks, snacks, meals, and a famous Dobbies’ scone while the kids play. There’s also the chance to take in the wider garden centre experience as part of the visit, including plants and gardening, toys, pet products, homeware, clothing and gifting.
Pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, but there may be walk-in spaces available on the day. Prices and age ranges vary for each store, starting from £2.50.
For more information and to book, visit Soft Play | Dobbies Garden Centres
Kids Eat for £1 restaurant offer
Dobbies offers Kids Eat for £1, allowing children under the age of 16 to enjoy their food for £1 with every traditional adult breakfast and main course meal at lunch. Children can pick from the kids’ breakfasts, lunch menu or pick ‘n’ mix meal, and this deal also includes a drink.
Kids Eat for £1 is available every day, all year round, with no membership required. Restaurants are open Monday to Sunday from 9am, location times may vary and customers are advised to visit the website to check the restaurant opening hours. *
A £1 supplement applies to kids’ Sunday roasts, and customers are advised to visit dobbies.com to check local opening times and menus.
* 9am for Scottish stores, 10:30am for stores in England and 1pm for the two Northern Ireland stores.
Heriot-Watt University has appointed Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas as its next Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Hewitt-Dundas joins Heriot-Watt from Queen’s University Belfast, where she serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Transnational Education) and Professor of Innovation Management and Policy. She is also an internationally recognised academic in innovation and science policy and currently serves as a non-executive Board member of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Professor Hewitt-Dundas will join the University on 1 September 2026, with Professor Richard A. Williams remaining in post as Principal and Vice-Chancellor until the end of September ensuring a smooth and effective transition.
Bruce Pritchard, Chair of Court at Heriot-Watt University, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Professor Hewitt-Dundas to the Heriot-Watt community. She is joining at an exciting time, as we embark on the realisation of Strategy 2035.
“Nola brings the vision, drive and leadership experience needed to lead Heriot-Watt into this next chapter. Her academic credentials, a strong alignment with our University’s values and a track record of delivering transformational change programmes makes her a perfect fit to lead the organisation in the coming years.
“We look forward to working with Professor Hewitt-Dundas to inspire and engage our staff, students, alumni and partners, and to shape a bold, sustainable and globally connected future for the University. I would also like once again to thank and pay tribute to Professor Richard Williams, who is leaving us at the end of September after a very successful 11 years in the role.”
Commenting on her appointment, Professor Hewitt-Dundas said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the next Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University. Heriot-Watt is a distinctive global university, renowned for its excellence in science, engineering and business, its strong industry connections, and its international reach.
“I look forward to engaging with colleagues across the University’s campuses to support our staff and students, deliver Strategy 2035, and build a sustainable and successful future together.”
Heriot-Watt University is a global institution with campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia, as well as a growing cohort of online learners.
The University is internationally recognised for its industry-focused education, research excellence, and real-world impact across science, engineering, business and the built environment.
Professor Hewitt-Dundas was appointed following a highly competitive international search. She brings extensive experience in senior university leadership, global engagement, governance, innovation and research.
She will be the first woman to serve as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, marking a significant milestone as the University celebrates the 60th anniversary of its Royal Charter.
The UK Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.
Speaking to parents and young people later today [Monday 16 February], the Prime Minister will make clear this government will act at pace to keep kids safe online as they navigate a digital world that did not exist a generation ago, and one that is shaped by powerful platforms, addictive design and fast-moving technologies.
The new measures announced today include crackdown on vile illegal content created by AI. The government will move fast to shut a legal loophole and force all AI chatbot providers to abide by illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act or face the consequences of breaking the law. This will ensure the Act keeps up with rapidly evolving harms.
This follows government action to call out abhorrent non-consensual intimate images being shared on Grok, which subsequently led to the function being removed.
The Prime Minister will also make clear today that his government is taking new legal powers to lay the groundwork for immediate action following its consultation on children’s wellbeing online. The Government is committed to following the evidence, and these powers will mean we can act fast on its findings within months, rather than waiting years for new primary legislation every time technology evolves.
That means being able to act quickly on measures like setting a minimum age limit for social media and restricting features like infinite scrolling that are harmful, in line with the consultation. The law is crystal clear: the distribution of nude images of children is already illegal. But the government will also consult on how best to ensure tech companies can safeguard children from sending or receiving such images in the first place.
The consultation will also confront the full range of risks children face online. This includes examining restrictions on children’s use of AI chatbots, as well as options to age restrict or limit children’s VPN use where it undermines safety protections and changing the age of digital consent.
The government will also strengthen protections for families facing the most devastating circumstances, by ensuring that vital data following a child’s death is preserved before it can be deleted, except in cases where online activity is clearly not relevant to the death.
This marks a clear shift in how the UK approaches child online safety, meaning the UK can continue to be a world leader in keeping children safe online.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As a dad of two teenagers, I know the challenges and the worries that parents face making sure their kids are safe online.
“Technology is moving really fast, and the law has got to keep up. With my government, Britain will be a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.
“The action we took on Grok sent a clear message that no platform gets a free pass.
“Today we are closing loopholes that put children at risk, and laying the groundwork for further action.
“We are acting to protect children’s wellbeing and help parents to navigate the minefield of social media.”
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “I know that parents across the country want us to act urgently to keep their children safe online. That’s why I stood up to Grok and Elon Musk when they flouted British laws and British values.
“We will not wait to take the action families need, so we will tighten the rules on AI chatbots and we are laying the ground so we can act at pace on the results of the consultation on young people and social media.
“We are determined to give children the childhood they deserve and to prepare them for the future at time of rapid technological change.”
The children’s digital wellbeing consultation will launch next month and will be guided by what parents and children say they need now, not in several years’ time.
Ministers are already engaging with parents, young people and civil society groups, and the message has been consistent and clear that parents want support and fast.
To help parents immediately, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign. It offers practical guidance on safety settings, conversation prompts parents can use with their children, and age‑appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and ragebait.
Chris Sherwood, NSPCC CEO, said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s promise to act quickly and decisively to hold tech companies to account and make the online world safer for children. The status quo can’t continue, and without real change the pressure for an under‑16 social media ban will only increase.
“Much of what is being proposed mirrors what we have been pressing for: proper age‑limit enforcement, an end to addictive design, and stronger action from platforms, devices, and AI tools to stop harmful content at the source. Delivered swiftly, these measures would offer far better protection than a blanket ban.
“We also strongly support putting children’s voices at the centre of this debate. They understand both the benefits and risks of being online and – after their insights have been overlooked in discussions so far – their experiences must now help guide the decisions made in the months ahead.
“We need urgent action and an ambitious agenda if the Government is going to take on tech bosses and make a difference for children and young people.”
Andy Burrows, Chief Executive of Molly Rose Foundation, said: “Parents are right to demand urgent action on online safety, and we strongly welcome the Government’s ambition to move quickly and decisively to tackle appalling and preventable harm.
“This announcement should reassure parents that change is on the way. It means that children and families could see much needed safety improvements within months, including action against high-risk AI Chatbots and new measures to prevent girls from being coerced into sending nude photos.
“This a welcome downpayment but the Prime Minister must now go further. Sir Keir Starmer should commit to a new Online Safety Act that strengthens regulation and that makes clear that product safety and children’s wellbeing is the cost of doing business in the UK.”
UPDATE +++ BRIAN HAS BEEN TRACED +++
POLICE are appealing for the assistance of the public to trace 72-year-old Brian Johnstone, who has been reported missing from his home in South Gyle.
Brian was last in contact with his family around 10.45am on Sunday, 15 February, 2026. He is described as white, around 6ft and bald.
Inspector Graham Belfall said: “It is completely out of character for Brian to go missing. His family and police are becoming increasingly concerned for his safety and wellbeing.
“Enquiries and searches are ongoing throughout the Edinburgh area and places he is known to visit, including Cramond. Officers are keen to trace him as soon as possible to ensure he is safe.
“I would urge anyone who has seen Brian, or who has any information regarding his whereabouts to contact 101, quoting incident number 1413 of 15 February.”
UPDATE
Brian Johnstone, who was reported missing from Edinburgh on Sunday, 15 February, 2026, has been traced. Thanks to those who shared our appeal.
Dear Editor
A recent report from the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament on ADHD and autism support highlighted that children and adults are frequently waiting multiple years for assessments of these conditions.
It called on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to develop and implement a national plan that ensures adults and children with autism and ADHD across all health boards in Scotland have clear, consistent pathways to support.
The report further reinforces the need for the Scottish Government to introduce the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill to Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
The LDAN Bill would help tackle long waiting times through new national and local strategies and introduce mandatory training for health and social care staff, as well as teachers and school staff, to ensure people’s needs are identified and met.
The importance of the LDAN Bill in tackling the inequalities faced by individuals and their families cannot be overstated, and it has the potential to make a real difference for them in Scotland across education, healthcare, and employment.
Yours faithfully
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition:
Kenny Graham, Falkland House School
Lynn Bell, LOVE Care
Stephen McGhee, Spark of Genius
Niall Kelly, Young Foundations
Summerhall Arts announce first seven shows of Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 programme – now on sale – including premieres from acclaimed company Wonder Fools, in collaboration with Theatre SAN, and award-winning company YESYESNONO
Clockwise from top left: PUTTANA (Credit: Stefano Pradel), LANDSFRAU (Credit: Cornelius Reitmayr), Tether 인연 (Credit: Kaugain Jang), SAND
Home of boundary-pushing performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, arts charity and year-round cultural hub, Summerhall Arts has announced the first seven shows of its 2026 festival programme on sale NOW.
Following a hugely acclaimed and multi-award-winning inaugural festival programme last year, the first batch of shows in Summerhall Arts 2026 programme spans theatre, dance, circus, music and storytelling from artists and companies hailing from Scotland, Afghanistan, Denmark, England, Italy, and the United States.
Part ceilidh, part storytelling, and an all-round good night out; acclaimed Glasgow-based theatre company Wonder Fools (Òran; Alright Sunshine; The Kelton Hill Fair) premieres Tether 인연 – a bold new collaboration with South Korea’s Theatre SAN. Spanning sixty years and three generations, Tether 인연 weaves together folk songs, love letters and war stories – tracing the invisible threads that bind two nations together in a shared experience of music and memory.
Award-winning company YESYESNONO (We Were Promised Honey!; Nation) returns to Summerhall with a brand new prophetic storytelling show. Written and performed by Sam Ward, the show is a hallucinogenic journey through a world of anomalies – about holes appearing in the ground and about prices that go up and up. Sam urges audiences to continue trying to understand what’s going wrong in a world that refuses to be understood.
Award-winning Danish queer art company HIMHERANDIT (Mass Effect; Champions) returns to Summerhall with a brand new performance celebrating imperfection, queer joy, and the courage to find your tribe. GOOD ENOUGH? is a queer, quirky and boisterous physical theatre performance about reclaiming your story and having the courage to be loud, awkward and unapologetically yourself.
Fringe legend Keith Alessi returns to Edinburgh with his much-loved comedy-musical-storytelling show, Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life, for a fourth festival in a row after back-to-back-to-back sell-out runs. Told with warmth, humour and banjo music, this highly awarded, internationally toured, and inspirational true story is about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of the arts.
Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, Keith has raised over $1.2m dollars as of December 2025 for various charities including cancer charities and arts organisations, and all proceeds from the 2026 run will contribute to Summerhall Arts.
Acclaimed Devon-based company Kook Ensemble brings SAND – a new non-verbal circus theatre show exploring the lives of people living with Dementia.
Set against Devon’s dramatic coast line, SAND combines exceptional acrobatics with meticulously crafted storytelling to create a profoundly moving and resonant theatrical experience.
Fringe debutant Beatrice Festi and TeatroE ETS bring a bold new immersive solo performance with PUTTANA. A work that questions the things society has normalised and the boundaries between body and commodity, PUTTANA sees a single actress give voice to five characters, through a uniquely delivered combination of music and words, to tell an uncomfortable and cruel story.
Afghan theatremaker Mariann Yar brings her solo show, LANDSFRAU, a story of a life shaped by war and distance.
Moving between 9/11 and 2021, Mariann dismantles images of Afghanistan and builds her own counter-archive through songs, dance and memories – exposing a feminist perspective on Afghanistan and its diaspora. LANDSFRAU is about attempting to let go of inherited guilt without taking on more, offering an intimate of diasporic life, marked by both deep fractures and undeniable privilege.
This is the first of three programme announcements ahead of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 7th – 31st August. The remainder of Summerhall Arts’ festival programme will be announced on 31st March and 6th May.
Tickets now on sale: festival.summerhallarts.co.uk
An Edinburgh-born musician will soon be appearing on screens across Scotland, as Robbie Greig takes part in BBC ALBA’s brand-new Gaelic quiz show, Mas Fhìor.
Marking BBC ALBA’s first step into high-energy studio gameshows, Mas Fhior (pronounced “masheer”) is a bold, home-grown Gaelic entertainment format produced in partnership with Glasgow-based BEEZR Studios and Screen Scotland.
Launching on BBC ALBA on Tuesday 17 February 2026, Mas Fhìor is a 12-part, fast-paced studio quiz where pairs of Gaelic-speaking contestants from across the UK must decide what’s true, what’s false and, crucially, who they can trust.
Taking its name from the Gaelic slang phrase meaning “as if”, the show tests confidence, credibility and quick thinking as the pressure builds and the truth becomes harder to spot.
Robbie is one of eight new faces who appear across the series as the show’s Pretenders – known in Gaelic as the Mas Fhìoraich – joining the action remotely from home and playing a key role in testing the instincts and judgement of the competing teams. Armed with convincing delivery and quick reactions, the Mas Fhiorach challenge contestants each episode to weigh up credibility as the game unfolds.
Music sits at the heart of Robbie’s life. A multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and sings, he performs full-time across three folk bands while also working regularly as a session musician and teacher. His career has taken him around the world, and his skill as a fiddle player was recognised with the Niel Gow Scottish Fiddle Award.
Born and brought up in Edinburgh, Robbie followed his passion for traditional music to Benbecula at just 16, studying for an HNC in Traditional Music Performance before going on to achieve a first-class honours degree in Applied Music. He has since settled in Glasgow, where he continues to thrive in Scotland’s busy traditional music scene. While rooted in Gaelic and traditional music, his listening tastes are wide-ranging, spanning African music, jazz and country pop.
Robbie Greig said: “Taking part in Mas Fhìor was a brilliant experience and completely different from anything I do day to day. It was really challenging trying to keep my story straight under pressure.
“It’s a fun and entertaining show and perfect for watching along and guessing who’s telling the truth.”
Recorded at Night Sky Studios in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, the series is hosted by popular BBC ALBA and BBC Radio nan Gàidheal presenter Niall Iain MacDonald, whose quick-witted, fast-talking style keeps the pace high and the pressure firmly on.
Produced by entertainment powerhouse BEEZR Studios and directed by quiz show veteran John Smith, Mas Fhìor adds to BBC ALBA’s ongoing commitment to original entertainment, while supporting the continued growth of Scotland’s screen sector.
Bill MacLeod, Commissioning Editor at BBC ALBA, said: “Mas Fhìor is an unapologetically entertaining quiz format – perfectly tailored for Gaelic viewers but with a universal appeal.
“Viewers will want to lean in and play along – all the while getting to know the quirky personalities of our regular panel of ‘Pretenders’. The new show really underlines our commitment to delivering original, high-production-value entertainment.
“We’re thrilled that the creative team at BEEZR Studios have developed this unique, home-grown format specially for BBC ALBA and we’re especially grateful for the support of Screen Scotland in its development and production.
“With a cast of amazing Gaels from across the country and a quick-witted, fast-talking host in the shape of Niall Iain, Mas Fhìor promises to be another example of world-class TV and original entertainment from Scotland.”
Alasdair MacCuish, Executive Producer at Beezr Studios:“Mas Fhìor was developed with BBC ALBA’s audience firmly in mind – a fast, fun quiz that rewards personality, quick thinking and a love of language as much as general knowledge.
“Working with BBC ALBA and Screen Scotland, Beezr has created an innovative and bold new format, which takes advantage new technology to bring scale and ambition. As a result, Mas Fhìor feels fresh and contemporary whilst being squarely rooted in communities across Scotland.”
Emily Orr from Screen Scotland said: “It’s fantastic to be able to support the team at BEEZR Studios to showcase their abilities across this new format and we can’t waitfor audiences to enjoy Mas Fhìor.”
Mas Fhìor will broadcast on BBC ALBA from Tuesday 17 February 2026, with new episodes airing weekly.
SUPPORTING CHANGE ACROSS HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
We recently launched our Scottish Approach to Change Learning Community. Our community aims to support change across health and social care in Scotland. We plan to help members build knowledge, understanding, and confidence when delivering change.
Head to our website to get involved. Link to find out more:
Forth 1 radio presenter, Amber Zoe, donned yellow to mark the 40th anniversary of Scotland’s leading end of life charity’s flagship fundraiser, the Great Daffodil Appeal.
The Appeal encourages everyone to wear a daffodil pin and donate to Marie Curie throughout the month of March. The fundraiser raises much needed funds so that Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare assistants can provide expert end of life support and care in homes and hospices across the country.
Locals are encouraged to get involved by hosting their own ‘Go Yellow’ fundraiser, whether that’s getting together with friends, family and colleagues to bake a yellow treat, wear yellow, or choose their own yellow activity. To make hosting a fundraiser as easy as possible, Marie Curie will provide everything needed – from step-by-step guides to cake flags, recipes, yellow-themed selfie props and more.
Marie Curie is dependent on public donations. Money raised also funds the charity’s free national support line and webchat – available to anyone with an illness they’re likely to die from and those close to them.
It offers practical and emotional support on everything from managing symptoms and navigating care to financial information, including how to get help with energy bills, and bereavement support.
Amber, whose gran was cared for by Marie Curie, said: “I have witnessed first-hand the exceptional care and support given to my lovely gran when she was cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow.
“Knowing that she was being so well looked after at the end of her life meant the world to us, and when we were with her, we could simply be there as her family, holding her hand and talking to her.
“Being with her on her final journey enabled us to have those precious moments with her, and that is something that we are all so grateful for.
“This year, Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal reaches its 40th anniversary, which is such a milestone. If anyone would like to support this year by going yellow – either having a bake sale, wearing something yellow or choosing your own activity – you’re helping make sure people and their loved ones get the care and support they need at end of life.”
Ashley Thomson, Head of Community Fundraising, Marie Curie Scotland, said: “This year is the 40th anniversary of the Great Daffodil Appeal and we’re hoping to turn the whole of the country yellow to celebrate! We’re looking for people to Go Yellow and help us raise more money than ever for Marie Curie this March,
“To match our famous daffodil, we’d love our fundraisers to host yellow-themed bake sales, get their family and friends to wear yellow, craft yellow-themed items and host yellow-themed quiz nights or paint and sip nights to help raise much needed funds so we can bring vital hospice and end of life care to even more people.
“And if none of these are your thing – why not simply turn your hobby, social or sporting activity into a yellow fundraiser and do your thing this March to raise money for the country’s leading end of life charity.
“By getting involved and going yellow for Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal, locals will be doing something incredible and helping us to deliver services to those people with any illness they are likely to die from and their loved ones.
“The Great Daffodil Appeal only comes around once a year, so why not get in touch and be part of something that makes a real difference.”
As Marie Curie is the official charity partner of Morrisons, another way that people can get involved is by signing up to collect at the Morrisons store or by getting involved in some in-store fundraising activities from 23rd February until 8th March.
To find out more about how you can help give people the expert care they need this March visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk/goyellow
