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!
LifeCare invites locals to get together with a packed programme this winter
LifeCare Edinburgh is inviting local people to stay connected with a full programme of free and welcoming community activities at its thriving Community Hub in the heart of Stockbridge.
January can feel long and isolating, but LifeCare’s hub offers a warm, friendly space for people of all ages to come together. From relaxed social groups to creative and wellbeing activities, the charity’s timetable is designed to lift spirits and build connections during the winter months.
The popular Chatty Café runs every Monday from 11am–1pm, offering a relaxed space for anyone who fancies a blether and a cuppa. Tables are set aside specifically for people who want to meet others and enjoy friendly conversation. Join us next Mon 19th to help celebrate our Chatty Café’s 2nd birthday complete with a piece of cake!
Families are welcome at the Pop-Up Play Area for Under 5s, available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9am–2pm, allowing parents and carers to relax in the café while children enjoy safe, fun play.
Creative types can join Craft in the Café on Tuesdays from 12.30–2.30pm. These informal sessions welcome knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities, with no need to book.
Wednesday afternoons from 1.45–3pm offer a Games Afternoon, with board games and puzzles including Scrabble, chess, dominoes and cards. The Community Natters discussion group will also be returning soon, with details to be announced.
At weekends, LifeCare’s Saturday Social runs from 12.30–3.30pm offering games, conversation and a hot lunch and drinks.
All these activities are provided for free thanks to our volunteers and funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.
LifeCare also provides a range of free, accessible health and wellbeing activities for unpaid carers, supported by the Short Breaks Fund. Carers are welcome to bring along the person they care for.
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.”
From everyone at LifeCare Edinburgh, thank you to all who donated, attended an event, volunteered, visited our café or liked or shared our social posts this year – we couldn’t have delivered our vital support for over 1,000 local older people and their unpaid carers without you.
On behalf of us all, have a lovely Christmas and we can’t wait to welcome you again in 2026!
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.”
POLICE are appealing for information following three sexual assaults in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh last Friday (12 December).
Around 5.20pm on Fettes Row, a woman was approached from behind by a man who sexually assaulted her and made sexual comments.
Around 5.30pm on Inverleith Row, a woman was walking her dog when a man approached her from behind and sexually assaulted her. He then walked down Inverleith Row towards Dundas Street.
A short time later, a woman was walking past Stockbridge church on Saxe Coburg Street when a man approached her, sexually assaulted her and exposed himself.
Officers believe the same man to have been involved in these incidents. He is described as being of Asian appearance, aged between 25 and mid-30s, of slim build, around 5ft 8in, with light facial hair.
He was wearing a khaki or brown coloured coat and carried a backpack.
Detective Inspector Dougal Begg said: “I understand incidents like these cause concern in the local community, but we are carrying out extensive enquiries and doing everything we can to trace the man responsible.
“I would ask anyone who was in those areas on Friday evening and who may have witnessed something to get in touch. If you remember seeing a man matching the description, contact us.”
Chief Inspector Ran MacDonald, Local Area Commander, said: “I want to reassure that there will be an increased visible police presence in the local area as officers carry out enquiries. Anyone with any concerns should approach officers without hesitation, as they are there to help.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident 2889 of 12 December.
Join us at LifeCare’s free Christmas Fair on Sat 6 Dec, 11 AM–3 PM at The LifeCare Hub, 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB!
Enjoy festive stalls, treats, gifts, and community cheer. Perfect for all ages — come along, support local, give to a good cause and celebrate the season together
Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland and ScottishPower Foundation for making our free support possible.
Adaptive fashion is clothing designed to be on trend while including features that make dressing easier and more comfortable, including for people with disabilities.
Edinburgh College curriculum team manager, Kim Gunn, said: “We have seen some amazing transformations.“This project showcases exactly what can be done with imagination, creativity and flair.
“I’m proud of the students, of their focus on sustainability and their enthusiasm. It’s been great to collaborate with Cancer Research UK. So many families are touched by cancer so it’s a charity close to all our hearts.”
HND student Calder Ferguson, 35, designed a two-piece skirt and top by combining a dark windbreaker, a pair of blue leggings and a high-vis vest.
His focus was on creating an eye-catching outfit that would make dressing easier for someone with limited mobility. He was inspired by a student he met while on work placement in Brazil.
Calder said: “The client has low finger dexterity so magnet closures and an elasticated waistband were chosen to avoid fiddly fastenings.
“I’ve really enjoyed working on the project and it’s great to see the outfits on show in the shop. I lost my uncle to brain cancer and I know so many families are affected by the disease. It’s good to be able to give something back.”
Freyja Lavender, 19, from Portobello, created a maternity outfit by repurposing a trench coat, a pair of men’s trousers and summer hiking shoes.
Freyja said: “The outfit is designed to make the wearer feel confident, sleek and comfortable all the way through their journey with pregnancy and I hope they’d be able to wear it after the baby was born too.
“Sustainability is important. There are so many clothes already out there in the world. It’s much better for the environment to repurpose clothes rather than buying new clothes all the time. We have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect the environment.”
Mature student Sandra Cameron of Edinburgh made an adaptive garment, specially designed for people with dementia.
The outfit was in memory of her mum, Lily Bathgate who died from dementia in March 2025. It was created using a handbag, shoes, jacket and trousers.
Sandra said: “Dementia robs people of so much of their personality and dignity. “My mum was a vibrant lady who loved colour.
“The clothing items I was given were dark so the first thing I wanted to do was put colour back in by dyeing them. I used magnetic buttons to make the outfit as accessible as possible.”
In Scotland, around 34,800 people are diagnosed with cancer every year*.
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen cancer survival in the UK double in the last 50 years.
Money raised in the charity’s shops helps scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease – to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
Cancer Research UK shop manager, Suzy King, said: “We’re excited to showcase these designs in our Stockbridge shop.
“The students have shown creativity turning donated items in to something special.”
Last year Cancer Research UK spent more than £38m in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.
For more information about Cancer Research UK’s shops, visit: www.cruk.org/shops or follow @CRUKShops on Instagram.
