What’s next for cash first in Scotland?
And how can the new Scottish Government make more progress in ending the need for charitable food aid forever?
Join @TrussellScot & @IFAN_UK on 22nd June to discuss the next steps.
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/CashFirst26
Join us for the Newhaven Maritime Festival 2026 — a celebration of the rich maritime history, culture, stories, crafts, and coastal ecology of Newhaven.
The Heart of Newhaven Community
4–6 Main Street, Newhaven, Edinburgh
Saturday 16 May 2026
12 noon – 3pm
Step into the past and explore the people, traditions, and heritage that shaped Newhaven through music, storytelling, art, memories, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Festival Activities & Exhibits
Songs from Newhaven
Traditional songs and music celebrating the harbour and its people.
Seascape Making and Story Telling with Tortoise in a Nutshell
Creative seascape activities and imaginative coastal storytelling.
Married to the Sea – The Fishwives and Women of Newhaven
Stories and history of the remarkable women who supported Newhaven’s fishing community.
Tales from the Harbour – Fishermen, Sailors and the Boats of Newhaven
Hear fascinating stories from the harbour and the lives lived at sea.
The Newhaven Tapestry
Discover the community tapestry celebrating local heritage and identity.
Wave after Wave – Word Chain
A collaborative creative word and poetry activity inspired by the sea.
Traditional Knitting
Explore maritime knitting traditions and techniques.
Newhaven Coastal Echo – Rephotography Then & Now
See Newhaven through time with historical and contemporary photography comparisons.
Talking and Remembering – Reminiscences of Newhaven in Days Gone By
Community memories and conversations about old Newhaven.
Newhaven Heritage
Learn more about the history and development of the area.
Mapping Maritime Heritage with Wessex Archaeology
Interactive exploration of maritime archaeology and local heritage mapping.
Exploring the Ecology of the Firth of Forth with Edinburgh Shoreline
Discover the wildlife, coastline, and ecology of the Firth of Forth.
Bring family and friends and celebrate the heritage, creativity, and community spirit of Newhaven!
Coming soon to the Drill Hall 18 – 23 May 
We’re hosting the Gretna 111th Anniversary Pop-Up Exhibition, commemorating the Gretna train disaster, which killed over 200 men from the 1/7th Royal Scots.
The Gretna Rail Disaster was a devastating blow to both the Battalion and the people of Leith. It was said at the time that there was scarcely a family in the town untouched by the tragedy.
In the hours after the disaster, the nearby city of Carlisle became the main centre for the wounded. Around 180 injured soldiers were taken there, overwhelming local hospitals, Red Cross facilities, and even hotels, which were requisitioned for beds.
On Sunday 23 May 1915, 107 coffins were returned to Edinburgh and placed in the Battalion’s Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street. The following day, 101 were borne in solemn procession to Rosebank Cemetery, Pilrig Street, for burial in a mass grave. Thousands lined the route; shops closed, blinds were drawn, and traffic halted as the city mourned.
The Drill Hall has been chosen for this exhibition due to its history of being the 7th Battalion’s Drill Hall and its association with the people of Leith.
Central to the exhibition will be the Tree of Life which contains the names of all 216 men who were killed in the disaster. This will be supported by display boards featuring the stories of local soldiers and their families.
Monday 18th – Saturday 23th May
10am – 4.30pm
The Out of the Blue Drill Hall
Free entry
https://outoftheblue.pulse.ly/ujcbebvdb2
Image: (c) The Royal Scots
Hi there, we will be hosting World Bee Day on Sunday (17 May) 10am – 3:30pm at Lauriston Castle in the marquee by the croquet lawns.
Please come along and learn more about the wonderful honeybee!
Kenneth Gibson MSP has been elected as the Scottish Parliament’s seventh Presiding Officer.
Upon election, the new Presiding Officer said: “It is a huge privilege to be elected as the Parliament’s Presiding Officer, and I want to thank MSPs for placing their trust in me.
“As Presiding Officer I will be bold, innovative and imaginative and will work in the interests of all Members.
“It’s clear that Parliament needs to reform and to renew its relationship with the people. Scotland needs a Parliament that is vibrant, relevant and trusted.
“I will play my part in delivering that.”
In his acceptance speech, Kenneth Gibson MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament added: “I’m looking forward to working with every single Member in this Chamber to take this Parliament forward.
“I think there is so much more we can be as a Parliament than we have been in the past and I will certainly do my utmost in taking us forward.”
The election took place following a secret ballot of newly elected Members. Other nominees included Clare Haughey MSP, Liam McArthur MSP and Stuart McMillan MSP.
Kenneth Gibson MSP has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Cunninghame North since 2007, having previously represented the Glasgow electoral region from 1999 to 2003, as a Scottish National Party MSP.
He was Convenor of the Finance and Public Administration Committee in the fourth and sixth sessions of Parliament and was the first MSP to lodge plans for a ban of smoking in public places.
The outgoing Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP, presided over the Presiding Officer election.
Queen Margaret University (QMU) will welcome local residents and the wider public to its annual Community Open Day on Saturday 30 May, inviting people to explore the campus, enjoy its facilities and take part in a fun, family-friendly afternoon.
Running from 12 noon to 3pm, the free event will feature a wide range of activities for all ages, including drumming workshops, bug hunting, den building, Therapets, face painting, and creative sessions celebrating books and music. Attractions such as a bouncy castle and the Cycling Without Age group from Musselburgh will add to a lively programme designed to offer something for everyone.
This year, the University is also delighted to host a landscape art competition run by Musselburgh Creates. Artists of all ages are invited to capture the University’s distinctive campus setting.
Taking place across the grounds from 11am – 3pm the competition offers a lovely, creative focal point for the day, with participants encouraged to respond to QMU’s architecture, landscaped gardens and natural surroundings. Anyone who would like to participate in the competition should register at 10am and bring their own materials and equipment (no need to book in advance).
Beyond the activities, the Community Open Day aims to showcase the facilities and services QMU makes available to the local community. While children enjoy the entertainment on offer, adults can explore the University’s range of spaces for hire, including meeting rooms, conference facilities, the Sports and Fitness Centre, and Maggie’s Bar and Café.
In addition to its specialist teaching facilities, QMU offers a wide variety of spaces suitable for community events and meetings. These range from small meeting rooms to an attractive conference suite with break-out spaces overlooking the pond, as well as a large lecture theatre seating up to 250 people. The University is keen for local residents, community groups and organisations to benefit from its flexible learning and social spaces.
Lynn Barclay Commercial Manager at Queen Margaret University, said: “Our gardens, Sports and Fitness Centre and Students’ Union bar are already well used by the community, but we want to ensure more people are aware of the full range of spaces and facilities available to local groups and organisations.
“We can support anything from seminars and conferences to voluntary group meetings, AGMs and corporate dinners. With everything from small classrooms and a piano bar to a conference suite overlooking the pond and large lecture theatres accommodating 150 to 250 people, we have something to suit almost every need.
QMU’s Community Open Day takes place on Saturday 30 May, from 12 noon to 3pm. Booking is not required for this free event.
Organisations involved in delivering activities on the day include: Cycling Without Age Musselburgh; Mansfield School of Music; Therapets East Lothian; Scottish Book Trust; Bouncy Castle Man; Event Buddies Scotland; East Lothian Council Arts Service; Seeds of Disruption SCIO; and Musselburgh Creates.
See more details on the landscape art competition by Musselburgh Creates at landscape event.
The finalists for this year’s Scottish Charity Awards have been revealed.
Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
This year’s shortlist includes 35 individuals and organisations from charities and voluntary groups across the country.
A judging panel will determine the winners under nine distinct categories following a rigorous shortlisting process.
Winners will be announced on 11 June 2026 in a celebratory awards ceremony hosted by broadcaster Sally Magnusson at the Raddison Blu in Glasgow.
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “Across Scotland and beyond, voluntary organisations are making an extraordinary difference, and the breadth and depth of their impact never fail to inspire. Our 2026 finalists epitomise this.
“Our voluntary sector is truly essential to Scottish society – we see the positive impact organisation and individuals make in communities across the country every single day.
“Best of luck to all of our finalists, and I look forward to celebrating with them in June as we highlight the phenomenal work each and every one of them contributes to.”
The full shortlist for 2026 is:
Campaign of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Climate Impact
Employee of the Year
Partnership of the Year
Trustee of the Year
Charity of the Year <£100k
Charity of the Year £100K – £500K
Charity of the Year >£500k
Newly elected MSPs will take part in their first formal meeting at the Scottish Parliament at 9.30am on Thursday 14 May.
All MSPs will start their work in the Parliament by making an oath or affirmation, which must happen before they can take part in any other parliamentary business at Holyrood.
John Swinney MSP, as leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, will be the first to be sworn in, followed by the other party leaders. Other MSPs will be called forward in alphabetical order.
This initial meeting will be chaired by current Presiding Officer, Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP.
In the afternoon MSPs will be asked to elect a new Presiding Officer, who will serve for the rest of the new parliamentary session. It is expected that two Deputy Presiding Officers will be elected later in the afternoon.
Ahead of their first meeting in the Chamber, MSPs will have taken part in the first part of an induction programme in the parliament building. The programme aims to welcome MSPs to their roles and will:
Speaking ahead of the MSPs arriving at the Scottish Parliament, David McGill, the Parliament’s Clerk/Chief Executive, said: “It is great to be able to welcome new MSPs into the Parliament, where our dedicated staff team will be on hand to help them get acquainted with their roles and responsibilities.
“This Parliament’s first formal meeting, on Thursday 14 May, will be particularly significant for those performing their first duties as MSPs, and for those seeking to become Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.
“The first sitting day has an important role in formally introducing MSPs to the public, but the election of the Presiding Officer in particular starts to set the agenda for the session ahead.”
The first sitting day will be able to be view live on the Parliament’s website.
A much-loved Glasgow Indian restaurant, popular with famous faces including Mel Gibson, Orlando Bloom and Sir Billy Connolly is bringing its best-loved dishes to homes across the country for the first time.
This week, Mister Singh’s – which has built a loyal following serving patrons for over 30 years and regularly attracts sports stars and celebrities – is launching two of its top selling signature curries in Scotmid stores nationwide.
The family-run restaurant, led by four generations of Scots with Punjabi heritage, will roll out its iconic Chicken Bhoona and South Indian Garlic Chilli ready meals in Scotmid stores from 6 May.
Until now, curry loving fans have travelled from across Scotland for a taste of Mister Singh’s rich flavours and perfected recipes. Now Scotmid customers can pick them up locally and enjoy them in the comfort of their own homes.
The dishes have been expertly developed alongside Glasgow-based PK Foods, which has more than 25 years’ experience in producing top quality, ethnic foods.
The move into stores across the country follows Mister Singhs India and PK Foods’ success in Scotmid’s Scottish Favourites competition, which helps local producers secure listings across Scotland.
Working in collaboration with Mark Singh – third generation of the Singh family – and the restaurant’s executive chef Manesh Joshi, PK Foods has scaled up the recipes while keeping the bold flavours and authentic cooking style that built their iconic reputation.
Jason Stevenson, Sales Director at PK Foods, said: “We’ve built a strong relationship with Scotmid over many years, and we understand what their customers are looking for.
“These are dishes people already know and love, so the focus was on retaining that restaurant level flavour and quality and converting it into a format that was accessible to everyone, all whilst working hard to stay true to what makes Mister Singh’s so popular.”
Satty Singh, on behalf of Mister Singh’s, added: “We’ve been feeding Glasgow for decades and have welcomed some very familiar faces through our doors, with people travelling from all over to visit us.
“Bringing our curries to Scotmid shelves across the country is a proud moment for our family and a chance to share our heritage with even more communities.”
Scotmid’s Scottish Favourites initiative, delivered in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, champions local producers and helps bring new products to customers.
Steve Addison, Local Sourcing Manager at Scotmid, said: “Scottish Favourites is about championing the best of local producers, and this is a great example of that.
“Mister Singh’s has built a fantastic reputation in Glasgow, and we’re proud to help bring those much-loved flavours to customers across Scotland through our stores.”
Mister Singh’s Chicken Bhoona and South Indian Garlic Chilli (350g) will be available in 120 Scotmid stores from 6 May 2026, priced at £4.95 and will feature on an Any 2 For £8 launch promotion until 26th May.
We have another delicious menu planned for this Monday’s Community Lunch!
Come along 11:30am – 12:30pm for some baked tatties (different toppings available) and a fancy bread and butter pudding for dessert. You’ll have to come along to find out what makes it fancy!
Our Community Lunch is free for everyone, and you can sit in or take away.
We also have our free breakfast cafe running 9 – 10:30am with hot breakfast rolls and hot drinks too.
A big thank you to everyone who came along to the cafe last week – we fed 26 people! Our busiest day yet!!
