The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 19 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

From Glasgow to Gujarat: Scottish teachers head to India to forge international links ahead of 2030 Commonwealth Games

A group of teachers from Glasgow will travel to Gujarat, India next week as part of a British Council initiative exploring education, culture and the role sport can play in learning, well-being and inclusion.

The Glasgow-Gujarat Teacher Mobility Programme is designed to extend learning beyond the classroom and strengthen international connections across the Commonwealth. The programme was inspired by this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and looks ahead to the Games taking place in Gujarat in 2030.

The teachers from Glasgow include:Ruth Cockburn from Highpark Primary School; Shaun Donnelly from Haghill Park Primary School; Nadine Fitchie from Cranhill Primary School; Carol Fawkes form Carmyle Primary School; Lewis Pollock from Pollokshields Primary School; James Prentice from St Patrick’s Primary School; alongside Samir Shah from Education Services Glasgow at Glasgow City Council.

They will take part in school visits, professional exchanges and meetings with senior government, education and sport stakeholders to explore topics such as sports education, inclusive education practices and the use of digital learning resources.

At the heart of the Programme is a commitment to reciprocal learning. Teachers and education leaders from both Glasgow and Gujarat will exchange ideas, experiences and approaches, including how the Commonwealth Games can be used as a catalyst for learning. This will ensure both communities benefit from new perspectives and innovative approaches to education, sport and global citizenship.

The trip forms part of a wider Glasgow 2026 legacy designed to help ‘pass the baton’ from Glasgow to Gujarat and ensure that the benefits of the Games extend far beyond sport.

This follows the British Council’s recent Commonwealth Games Classroom Resource Pack aimed at helping young people feel connected to the Games and its values, their communities and the wider Commonwealth through activities exploring connection, fairness and inclusion.

The enduring impact of this year’s Commonwealth Games will equip the Scottish teachers with a deeper understanding of education and culture in India, enabling them to build lasting professional relationships with their Indian counterparts. This will support future partnerships and collaboration opportunities within their own schools and across Scotland’s wider education sector.

Claire de Braekeleer, Director, British Council Scotland, said of the programme: “The Glasgow-Gujarat Teacher Mobility Programme is a unique opportunity for teachers from Glasgow to share learnings and ideas from the 2026 Commonwealth Games with teachers and educators across the state of Gujarat.

“Sport has the power to do much more than bring people together on the playing field. It can support learning, inclusion, wellbeing and leadership, helping young people develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive in an increasingly inter-connected world.

“At the heart of this programme is a commitment to mutual learning, and we hope the teachers in both Glasgow and Gujarat will gain fresh perspectives and share innovative approaches to benefit their own schools and communities.

“By bringing together schools, teachers and educators from across the Commonwealth, we can help create lasting connections that extend well beyond the classroom and contribute to the wider legacy of the Games.”

One of the participating teachers, Shaun Donnelly, said of the opportunity: “I’m a Principal Teacher, leading on literacy, phonics, and writing across my school and I was absolutely delighted to be chosen by the British Council for this experience.

“I work in a wonderfully diverse community in a historic part of Glasgow and my previous teaching experiences overseas have shaped how I think about curriculum and community. This is a brilliant opportunity to learn from practitioners in Gujarat ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games and to bring that learning back to my pupils in Glasgow.”

Another teacher, Nadine Fitchie, was thrilled to learn of her selection: “I was absolutely delighted and incredibly honoured to be selected for the Commonwealth Games Teacher Mobility Programme.

“Working in a community experiencing high levels of poverty has strengthened my commitment to equity and ensuring every child has access to opportunities that broaden their aspirations.

“It is a unique opportunity to learn from colleagues in India, develop international partnerships and bring innovative ideas back to my school.”

The Glasgow-Gujarat Teacher Mobility Programme is part of the British Council’s wider work building connections, understanding and trust between the UK and countries worldwide through arts and culture, education and the English language.

Doors Open Days: Visit Granton Castle Walled Garden

DOORS OPEN DAY IS THIS WEEKEND!

On 26 and 27 September, 1.30-4 pm the garden will be open as part of Doors Open Days 2026. Join us for a programme of activities celebrating the garden’s rich history, biodiversity and living traditions:

Guided Garden Walk & Talk

Wool Dyeing Demonstration & Exhibition with The Weaving Project

Fungi Demonstration with MycoBee Mushrooms CIC

For more info, see the ‘events’ section on our website. No booking necessary.

Please note that paths can be uneven and wheelchair access is limited.

Cockburn Association – Edinburgh Civic Trust

Doors Open Days

#grantoncastlewalledgarden

Film nights at Royston Wardieburn

WICKED – SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER at 6pm

We are having Family Film nights at the centre, starting on 26th Sept @ 6pm with Wicked being our first movie (see above).

Register for a Free Entry ticket, all children must be accompanied by an adult, bring your own snacks and drinks, or purchase some on the night.

Tickets can be collected free from the Community Centre reception or booked through Eventbrite.

DENISE AULD

Edinburgh arts organisation wins Scots Language Awards after record public vote

The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2026, organised by Hands Up for Trad, have been revealed at a sold-out ceremony at Dundee’s Discovery Point, following a record public vote.

The awards honour the individuals, organisations and communities who actively use Scots – one of the three indigenous languages of Scotland – in their everyday work and life, helping preserve and promote a core pillar of the nation’s heritage and identity.

The eighth edition, expertly hosted by Scots singer and storyteller Lynne Campbell alongside writer and performer Taylor Dyson, saw a 49-strong shortlist from across the worlds of literature, performing arts, education and business vie for 13 awards.

Ten of these awards were decided by members of the public, drawing an unprecedented 7,000 votes – almost double the number received in 2025 and a testament to the nationwide revival of the Scots tongue.

It was a triumphant afternoon for Edinburgh-based arts organisation and venue Scottish Storytelling Centre who took home the Scots in Business award for their continual programming of and support for the Scots leid.

Other winners from across Scotland included Inverurie’s Lucy Beth for Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by National Library of Scotland.

Her recent credits include solo show Ma Name is Isabelle, performed at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as part of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, and a spoken-word poem celebrating the 120th anniversary of His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.

The award for Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust, was presented to Wirds o Banff: A Doric Glossary o the Wild – a year-long collaboration written and illustrated by pupils at Banff Academy in celebration of the natural world around them.

Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government,went to Doric Books’ Awa Doon e Toon written by Julia Lynch with illustrations from Caitlin Moffat. The book tells the amusing tale of a young boy whose attempts to head into town on different modes of transport are repeatedly thwarted by the unpredictable Scots weather.

In the performing arts, actress Olivia Caw was named Scots Performer of the Year, sponsored by TRACS, for her role as Bonnie McKay in the hit one-person play Common Tongue, while Scots Stage Production of the Year went to Through the Shortbread Tin by the National Theatre of Scotland, described as a ‘poetic, poignant and playful exploration of the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves’.

Multi-day residential immersion event, Doric Bootcamp in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire was crowned Scots Community Project o the Year for its achievements in helping people build confidence in speaking, reading and writing in Scots leid.

In secondary education, Antonia Cant from Peterhead Academy was awarded Scots Teacher o The Year, sponsored by Qualifications Scotland, for championing the relevance of the Scots leid in the present day and helping youngsters practice their skills in real-world contexts.

Banff Academy, meanwhile, took home the trophy for Scots Schuil of the Year, having incorporated Scots skills lessons into the curriculum to great effect.

The inaugural Scots Language in the Media award, sponsored by Corrie Campbell Communications, went to Millie Graham whose TikTok account, whatsername1.0, has attracted over 3m followers and rising.

A further highlight of this year’s ceremony, which followed the successful daytime format introduced in 2025, was the unveiling of the judges’ choice awards which saw a trio of Scots ambassadors crowned.

Renowned singer and advocate for traditional music Sheena Wellington received the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, for her significant contribution to the Scots language over the decades.

The judges’ award for Scots Champion, sponsored by the Rubric Foundation, was presented to Dr Clive Young, creator of one of the first websites dedicated to the Scots language and author of Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language.

In recognition of emerging talent in the language, Young Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Education Scotland, was awarded to budding talent Innes Ingram for his impressive tale End o’ the aul ways.

Attendees also welcomed news of an inaugural Scots Language Week, which will be hosted from 6 – 11 September 2027. Modelled on the success of World Gaelic Week, the nationwide language initiative supported by the Rubric Foundation, will celebrate the importance, prevalence and uniqueness of the Scots leid.

Adding to the atmosphere throughout, attendees were treated to live performances by Scots singers Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardinar.

Yvonne Tait and Hugh Macmillan – both recipients of the Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid initiative, supported by Creative Scotland and Rubric Foundation – also shared rousing recitals from their funded work.

The celebrations continued into the evening with a Blether at Elfie Picket Theatre and ceilidh at the Dundee Fringe.

Simon Thoumire of Scots Language Award organisers Hands Up Trad, said: “The sheer variety o work and activities celebratit at these awards is as inspirin as it is impressive.

“Fae literature and the performin airts, tae education and business, the Scots leid is woven through sae mony pairts o everyday life, which is jist braw tae see.

“Oor congratulations gang tae aw oor worthy nominees and winners, alang wi oor heartfelt gratitude. It’s thanks tae dedication like theirs that oor mither tongue remains truly thriving and relevant in Scotland the day.”

The Scots Language Awards are one of several flagship national events and community outreach activities that Hands Up Trad are involved in to help celebrate, promote and increase the profile of Scottish traditional culture.

Visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.

Scottish ambulance workers demand new training route for ‘left behind’ colleagues

Frontline health workers across Scotland locked out of paramedic positions unless they leave paid work to go to university
Over 700 Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) staff support new campaign to create a training route from technician to paramedic positions
Hard-working ambulance workers with families, mortgages and caring responsibilities being forced to choose between their NHS careers and university study
Campaign warns experienced NHS staff are being left behind despite already having years of frontline clinical experience
New pathway could help tackle paramedic recruitment challenges in remote and rural communities
Campaign to stage major actions at ambulance stations all over Scotland in order to secure negotiations with Health Secretary Angela Constance
Backed by all major unions (GMB, Unite and UNISON) who represent thousands of ambulance workers

More than 700 Scottish Ambulance Service staff are backing a campaign to give experienced Ambulance Technicians a route into paramedic roles without having to leave their jobs to study full-time.

Technicians are skilled frontline NHS workers who already work alongside paramedics, responding to emergencies and caring for patients across Scotland. But since 2021, new paramedics have been required to complete a university degree, leaving experienced technicians with few options to progress.

For workers with children, mortgages, caring responsibilities and other financial commitments, giving up a paid NHS job to become a full-time student simply isn’t realistic. As a result, experienced staff are being left behind despite years of frontline clinical experience.

The campaign is calling for a Technician-to-Paramedic pathway that recognises technicians’ existing education, skills and clinical experience, while maintaining the same academic, clinical and professional standards required of all paramedics.

This is not about lowering standards. It is about making sure experienced NHS staff do not have to start again from scratch when they have already demonstrated the knowledge and skills required.

A new pathway could also help strengthen paramedic recruitment in remote and rural communities by allowing experienced technicians who already live and work there to progress their careers while continuing to serve their local communities.

Adam Clearly, Ambulance Technician, Paisley: “After the first lockdown, I found myself in admiration for the NHS and wanted to contribute as much as I could. I took great pride in my work as a dispatcher. I wanted to help patients on the front line and challenge myself”

“Because technicians across the country are truly the backbone of SAS, and there is no replacement for the experience, knowledge and compassion that technicians gain. Having time as a technician prior to completion your paramedic degree would ensure staff are well prepared for the realities of the ambulance service, and that candidates for the paramedic ticket have proved in practice they are capable of the step up.”

“I am currently unable to progress my career, and at times this has made me consider leaving the service. I feel somewhat trapped. Progression is limited, and will always favour those that are paramedics, despite having much less experience and regardless of their skills or knowledge.

“This campaign would give me a pathway to success and give technicians across the country a new sense of purpose, a chance to prove their worth, which is slowly fading from SAS.”

Frances Malley, Technician, Ellon: “I joined SAS in 2022 as a technician after working in a community based job. I left that role because Covid required me to work from home which I found very challenging. My 2 children had left for university so I had the opportunity to go for a job I had always wanted to do.”

“Historically, Technician wasn’t simply a job you entered and stayed in indefinitely, it was described by SAS as the first stage towards becoming a registered paramedic. During the interview process I was told that I would be expected to progress from Technician to paramedic but the option has been taken away.

“The tech to paramedic pathway would mean that we would get that opportunity without having to spend 3 years at university. If I went to university it would have financial implications, plus the difficulties of juggling work and placements.

“A new pathway would give rural technicians like myself, an equal opportunity to progress and service our communities.”

PETITION: https://www.change.org/p/create-a-fair-route-for-ambulance-technicians-to-become-paramedics

Abacus at The Scholar recognised among world’s top 10% restaurants

Abacus at The Scholar is celebrating being named among the top 10% of restaurants worldwide in the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2026 – with 10% off dining throughout September.

In Edinburgh’s Southside, Abacus is a relaxed, sociable restaurant bringing together hotel guests, locals and visitors throughout the day. Its menu offers something for every occasion, from long lunches and coffee catch-ups to dinner and drinks with friends.

The menu includes Scottish hot-smoked salmon rillette and locally sourced dry-aged steak to heritage roast carrots with burrata and dukkha, complemented by a selection of cocktails, European wines and low- and no-alcohol serves.

Following a refreshment in 2025, Abacus combines calm, natural interiors with splashes of colour and artwork inspired by the vibrancy of the menu. Booth seating and relaxed dining spaces create a setting that works throughout the day, while a private dining space for up to 10 guests also offers a more intimate setting.

Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager at University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, said: “To be recognised in the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice top 10% of restaurants in the world is a huge achievement for the whole Abacus team.

“It’s particularly special because the recognition comes from the people who have visited us and taken the time to share their experiences. We have worked hard to create a restaurant that feels welcoming and relaxed where people enjoy delicious food and want to spend time together.

“Offering 10% off throughout September is our way of saying thank you, and hopefully giving even more people a reason to join us around the table.”

Guests can quote “Tripadvisor” when dining at Abacus until 30th September 2026 to enjoy 10% off their meal.*

Abacus at The Scholar Hotel is open seven days a week, serving breakfast and an all-day menu from 12 noon until 9.30pm.

400 students set to kick off university surf season at Lost Shore

Around 400 students will take to the waves at Lost Shore Surf Resort on Wednesday 23 September, bringing university surf clubs from across Scotland together for one of the biggest gatherings of student surfers in the country.

The Student Supertaster will kick off the new year of Lost Shore’s Uni Surf Club Programme, which attracted more than 500 student members during the last academic year and gives students of all abilities a consistent place to surf, progress and spend time with their club throughout the university year.

The event will bring students together for a day of surfing, music and activities, with sessions available for everyone from complete beginners taking to a board for the first time to experienced surfers looking to progress.

Three-time Great Britain surfing champion Stanley Norman will also join students in the water, giving students the chance to surf alongside him and pick up tips from one of the country’s top professional surfers.

Ten universities will come together for the September event, including Edinburgh Napier, Stirling, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, St Andrews, Aberdeen, the University of the Highlands and Islands and Heriot-Watt.

Further activity with Newcastle University and Glasgow Caledonian University means Lost Shore’s university programme will engage students from 12 universities across Scotland and the North of England this year.

As well as regular university surf sessions throughout the academic year, Lost Shore is developing plans for a university competition event in November, creating a pathway for students to progress their surfing and experience the competitive side of the sport.

Lee Wood, Managing Director at Lost Shore Surf Resort, said: “There’s something really special about university surf clubs. I was President of the University of Edinburgh Surf Club, so I know how much they’re about more than simply getting in the water. They’re a place to meet people, make friends and be part of a community.

“That’s why I’m so excited to see around 400 students from 10 different universities coming together at Lost Shore. It’s going to create an incredible atmosphere and will be a brilliant way to start the university surf season.

“What we can offer is a consistent base for these clubs throughout the year. You don’t have to wait for the right conditions at the coast, and you absolutely don’t need to arrive as a surfer. Whether it’s your first time on a board or you’re an experienced surfer, you can come along with your club, get in the water and be part of it.

“We saw more than 500 students become part of our university surf community last year and we want to build on that. It’s about giving students somewhere they can surf regularly, develop their skills and, importantly, meet people and have a great time together.”

Students attending the launch on 23 September will be able to surf for £35 and sign up for Lost Shore’s Uni Surf Club Programme, giving them access to dedicated university surf sessions and savings of up to 40% throughout the academic year.

The programme caters for all abilities, from beginners through to advanced surfers, with regular university sessions taking place at Lost Shore on Wednesday afternoons.

Students wanting to take part in the Student Supertaster should book using their university email and attend the event on 23 September to access the Uni Surf Club benefits.

More information can be found at lostshore.com/whats-on/student-supertaster

ECCAN: Political Roundtable

Speak to your local politicians!

What issues matter most to you and your community?

Join ECCAN and Hope for the Future for a Political Roundtable, bringing Edinburgh communities and elected representatives together to discuss climate and nature – and the changes you want to see.

We’re pleased to confirm Lorna Slater MSP, Christine Jardine MP and Councillor Chas Booth will be joining us, with more representatives to be announced soon.

Come along to ask questions and raise the climate and nature issues that matter to you and your community.

30th September | 10:30am–2pm

Greyfriars Charteris Centre

Want to prepare beforehand? Join our free online refresher with Hope for the Future to revisit key tools and ideas and get ready for the roundtable.

23rd September | 1–2pm | Online

Both sessions are free. Book via the link in our bio.

Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival announces 2026 programme

Fifth anniversary edition runs from 6 October to 7 November 2026 across Scotland with screenings in Glasgow, Cromarty, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Aberdeen
Rare 35mm screenings, contemporary discoveries, exclusive premieres and anniversary events showcase the breadth of cinema from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus
Special strands Re-membering the Archive and Love Stories: Eastern European and Caucasian Romance explore memory, identity, migration and romance across the region

Tickets on sale now here

Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival has announced its 2026 programme, marking the festival’s fifth anniversary with its most ambitious and geographically expansive edition to date.

Bringing together some of the most exciting, powerful, thoughtful, strange and visionary filmmaking from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the festival will present screenings, special events, filmmaker conversations and premieres across Glasgow, Cromarty, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Aberdeen.

The festival opens on 6 October at Glasgow Film Theatre with a new edition of Samizdat’s much-loved animation programme, Politics of the Imagination: Animations of the Eastern Bloc (1958–1992).

Featuring surreal dreamscapes, folk tales, post-apocalyptic visions and allegories of political paranoia, the collection showcases the extraordinary creativity of animators working across the Eastern Bloc during the second half of the twentieth century.

The screening will be preceded by a musical introduction from Ukrainian violinist Masha Zhuravlova and followed by an Opening Night Party at Stereo.

To mark its fifth anniversary, Samizdat has assembled one of its most ambitious and varied programmes to date, combining landmark classics, contemporary discoveries, filmmaker conversations, documentary premieres, experimental cinema and special anniversary events. Highlights include a rare 35mm screening of Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky’s masterpiece Werckmeister Harmonies, alongside Jerzy Kawalerowicz’s acclaimed psychological drama Mother Joan of the Angels.

A major focus of this year’s programme is Re-membering the Archive, a strand exploring personal and collective histories through photographs, home videos, memory and acts of reconstruction.

Featured works include Klára Tasovská’s I’m Not Everything I Want to Be, built from the remarkable photographic archive of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková; Maria Stoianova’s Fragments of Ice, which pieces together the story of Ukraine’s transition from the Soviet Union through decades of family VHS recordings; and Otilia Babara’s Love Is Not an Orange, an intimate portrait of migration and motherhood in post-independence Moldova assembled from home videos sent between mothers working abroad and the children they left behind.

The strand also includes Vlad Petri’s Between Revolutions, a compelling blend of archival footage, political history and fictional correspondence spanning Romania and Iran.

Meanwhile, Samizdat’s recurring genre strand returns under the banner Love Stories: Eastern European and Caucasian Romance, presenting three radically different explorations of love, desire and belonging. Audiences can discover Janusz Morgenstern’s rarely screened Polish classic Goodbye, See You Tomorrow, Levan Akin’s acclaimed Georgian drama And Then We Danced, and Anja Koprivšek’s uplifting documentary Grand Prize, which celebrates love, friendship and chosen family within Croatia’s ballroom community.

Contemporary Ukrainian cinema continues to play a central role within the festival. Alongside Fragments of Ice, audiences can experience the UK premiere of Yulia Appen’s A Home for Rita, a tender portrait of an internally displaced Romani family rebuilding their lives after fleeing Russian occupation, as well as a wide selection of Ukrainian works featured throughout the Short Film Competition and other curated programmes.

The festival also presents works that challenge conventional forms and ways of seeing. Armenian double bill After Dreaming and Kafka brings together two films exploring uncertainty, displacement and estrangement, while Marija Nemčenko’s LAK i offers a poetic reflection on home and belonging, weaving together stories of white storks, rural communities and disappearing ways of life in south-east Lithuania. Similar themes are further explored in The Beauty of the Donkey, in which filmmaker Dea Gjinovci returns to Kosovo with her father more than fifty years after his exile, exploring family history, memory and belonging across generations.

Classic cinema also remains at the heart of the programme. Alongside Werckmeister Harmonies, audiences can discover Heat, the remarkable debut feature by acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Larisa Shepitko.

Set in the Kazakh steppe during the Soviet Virgin Lands Campaign, the film follows a young graduate whose idealism collides with entrenched hierarchies, revealing the early brilliance of one of Eastern European cinema’s most celebrated directors.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting emerging filmmakers, Samizdat’s Short Film Competition returns with fifteen films from across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus competing for the festival’s Audience Award. This year’s selection spans countries from Poland and Ukraine to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, bringing together animation, documentary and fiction works from some of the region’s most exciting contemporary voices.

To celebrate its fifth birthday, the festival has also created its first ever 5th Anniversary Shorts Collection, co-curated by the entire programming team. The programme invites audiences into the films that have shaped the curators’ relationships with the cinema, histories and cultures represented throughout the festival, offering a uniquely personal reflection on five years of Samizdat.

Beyond Glasgow, the festival will travel further across Scotland than ever before. Following its opening week at Glasgow Film Theatre and The Pyramid at Anderston, Samizdat will bring selected screenings to Cromarty, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Aberdeen, extending its reach and bringing distinctive cinema from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus to audiences across the country.

Natalia Guzevataya, Programme Manager and Curator, said: “Following what can already be called a Samizdat tradition, the programme opens with a collection of animations, setting the world of our deepest dreams and nightmares.

“This time, our recurring genre strand focuses on Love Stories, offering three radically different windows into romance across Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, and finds itself in curious dialogue with a spontaneously created documentary strand, Re-membering the Archive.

“Love and memory, both working through tiny, peculiarly particular details, together carry the programme’s political and poetic structure. And, of course, we’re marking the end of an era in Eastern European cinema, the passing of Béla Tarr, with a rare 35mm screening of Werckmeister Harmonies.

“To celebrate our fifth anniversary, we tried something new and, for the first time, co-curated a screening all together – a collection of shorts that speak to what Samizdat means to each of us.”

Dylan Beck, Festival Manager and Curator, said: “Reaching this five-year milestone is a testament to the interest our audiences have shown in cinema from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus – we cannot wait to celebrate this landmark year with a programme that pays tribute to how far we have come.

“We will be joined in person by a few filmmakers in Glasgow – the city where Samizdat started as a small project run by a group of volunteers – before hitting the road to present select screenings in more locations across Scotland than ever before.”

Sambrooke Scott, Head of Audience Development at Screen Scotland, said: “Samizdat is a festival that celebrates and embodies the pioneering and distinctive filmmaking of Eastern Europe and the festival’s growing reputation and reach is testament to their exciting, diverse and eclectic programme which means, on any given day, you can experience animated shorts from the 1970s, contemporary features from the diaspora, and 35mm prints of classic auteurs from Eastern Europe.

“The festival is unique within Scotland and the UK, and its increasing geographic reach underlines the continued interest and appetite for and from the communities reflected within the programme. Screen Scotland is supporting this edition through our Film Festivals and Screening Programme Development Funding, ensuring that the festival continues its mission to explore new work, expand its reach and break new ground.”

Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival takes place in:

Glasgow: 6–11 October 2026 at Glasgow Film Theatre and The Pyramid at Anderston
Cromarty: 13–16 October 2026 at Cromarty Cinema
Edinburgh: 22–25 October 2026 at Filmhouse
Dunfermline: 30 October 2026 at Peacock Cinema, Carnegie Hall
Aberdeen: 7 November 2026 at Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen Art Gallery

Samizdat strives to ensure its programme can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. All festival venues are wheelchair accessible, films are presented with English subtitles, and selected screenings include descriptive subtitles. Detailed accessibility information and the Audience Access Fund are available via the festival website.

As part of its commitment to accessibility, most Samizdat screenings operate on a pay-what-you-can model, with ticket prices beginning at £4. The festival also offers an Audience Access Fund to support attendees facing financial barriers, helping to cover costs such as travel and childcare where needed.

The 2026 edition of Samizdat is supported by Screen Scotland’s Film Festival and Screening Programme Fund and Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI.

Breaking Multiple Sclerosis trial results: Alpha-lipoic acid shows ‘early promise’ to treat progressive MS at milestone moment

First time a multi-arm, multi-stage (MAMS) trial has reported positive results in a neurological condition
Diabetes drug metformin removed from trial, but innovative design means more drugs can be added in 2027
Researcher warns of significant risk of taking unlicensed drugs outside the safety of a clinical trial

Interim results from a world-first multiple sclerosis (MS) trial have found that an existing medication, alpha-lipoic acid (also known as ALA), is showing early promise as a potential treatment to slow progression in MS.

Researchers from the Queen Square MS Centre and Innovative Clinical Trials Unit (InCTU) at University College London (UCL) revealed that the drug could have potential to become the first neuroprotective treatment in MS. But stress people should not attempt to acquire alpha-lipoic acid outside a clinical trial, as further research is needed to fully understand its efficacy – and particularly its safety – in MS.

MS can be debilitating, exhausting, and unpredictable, and symptoms range from chronic fatigue and bladder and bowel problems to mobility difficulties. While there are over a dozen treatments for those living with relapsing MS, tens of thousands with the progressive form* desperately need treatments to stop their MS getting worse. Those drugs that do exist only work on one aspect of the condition – the immune system. They don’t stop the gradual nerve damage that leads to long-term disability. Finding ways to protect nerves from damage is key.

The innovative progressive MS trial, Octopus, uses a multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) design, which means it can test potential new treatments up to three times faster than conventional trials.

Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre: UCLH, Octopus has provided a blueprint for similar trials across neurological conditions, from motor neuron disease and Parkinson’s disease to psychosis. It has been testing two drugs at once – a high dose of alpha-lipoic acid and diabetes drug, metformin – and comparing each one against a placebo.

Alpha-lipoic acid will now continue to the second stage of the trial. Data from both stages will then be combined to provide a definitive phase 3 result. However, metformin did not demonstrate sufficient promise to be taken forward. This will now be removed from the trial, with all participants from that arm leaving the trial and coming off the drug in the coming weeks.

More than 850 people have joined the trial at hospitals across the UK, including Scotland, as well as in Australia¹. Now the team are seeking hundreds more people living with primary or secondary progressive MS to sign up.

Thanks to this positive result, in the coming years Octopus will become the world’s largest ever trial in progressive MS. The trial design means other drugs could be added as soon as early 2027.

Margaret Anderson, 57, lives in North Edinburgh and joined the Octopus trial after it launched in the city. She was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS about 20 years ago and now lives with the secondary progressive form of the condition. Her symptoms include fatigue, spasms, sensory pain, and mobility issues, and she uses crutches to help her walk.

After finding out she would be continuing on the trial, Margaret said: “It makes me feel optimistic for the future knowing there’s research like the Octopus trial happening. There must have been some good signs with the drug they’ve carried on so there’s hope there.

“I heard about the trial from my neurologist, and I wanted to take part because us patients have to do our bit as well. It might not benefit me but if it can benefit people with MS in the future then I’ll do anything I can. You don’t know whether you’re on a drug or a placebo but it’s a chance worth taking.”

When asked what she would say to someone living with MS who was considering registering their interest in Octopus or another research trial, Margaret added: “I’m being very, very well looked after and cared for on this trial. I would tell people not to be afraid of signing up.

“The more of us that can take part in research the better, and the more the researchers will learn. And hopefully, as well as finding new treatments, one day there’ll be a cure for MS.”

Dr Peter Foley is Principal Investigator for Octopus at the Edinburgh trial site, based at the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh. He said: “The team at the Anne Rowling Clinic has been encouraged to hear of the latest developments in the Octopus trial.

“While of course it’s disappointing in some ways that metformin won’t progress to the next stage of the trial, it’s positive that Octopus is already helping to work out what treatments might be helpful.

“Building on these early results, alpha-lipoic acid will continue to be tested as a potential future treatment for progressive MS. We’re happy to be able to support delivering this important trial in Scotland, and are very grateful to all the trial participants who have committed so much time and effort.

“We hope that the success of the innovative Octopus trial design so far is a positive step towards developing effective therapies for people affected by progressive MS.”

Octopus is being led by leading UCL neurologist Professor Jeremy Chataway, whose vision to rethink trials for progressive MS was born over a decade ago. He says: “This is very exciting and proves not only that the Octopus trial design works, but that a new way of protecting nerves could be on the horizon.

“Of course, learning that metformin will be discontinued is disappointing. But finding treatments for progressive MS is extremely difficult, and we’re so pleased to be taking alpha-lipoic acid into the second stage of the trial.

“We’re now looking forward not only to seeing what the final results are, but also to adding in new ‘arms’ to Octopus next year.

“In the meantime, we do need to remind people with MS to not try to source unproven drugs outside the safety of a clinical trial.”

Dr Emma Gray, Director of Research at the MS Society, says: “We are so proud to be funding the first ever MAMs trial for people with progressive MS. It’s been a privilege to be part of the team and to have united the MS research community and worked with people living with MS to make this happen.

“MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable but today’s results are a huge step forward and show treatments to slow or stop MS progression have never been more within our reach. Octopus was made possible entirely by public donations and our Stop MS Appeal.

“We’re continuing to seek funding from our generous supporters for the future delivery of the trial to build a future where no one needs to worry about MS getting worse.”

Professor Max Parmar is Professor of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology and Director of the Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology at UCL. His underpinning work was key to the launch of the STAMPEDE trial for prostate cancer in 2005 – the world’s first MAMS Platform trial for any condition and the inspiration behind Octopus.

He says:”The MAMS platform design has transformed how we test new treatments in prostate cancer through the STAMPEDE trial, dramatically accelerating the evaluation of promising therapies and delivering benefits to patients years, and in some cases decades, sooner than would have been possible with conventional approaches.

“It has fundamentally changed the pace at which we can make progress. It is therefore tremendously encouraging to see these interim results from Octopus, demonstrating for the first time that this innovative approach can be successfully applied in multiple sclerosis. The potential to evaluate treatments more efficiently and accelerate progress for people living with MS is incredibly exciting.

“Reaching this stage is a remarkable achievement and reflects the vision, dedication and collaboration of the entire MS research community, as well as the commitment of the participants who have made the trial possible. I am excited to see how Octopus develops and the impact it could have on the future of MS treatment research.”

Anyone who has primary or secondary progressive MS and is aged between 25 and 70 in the UK can register their interest via the UK MS Register to take part in stage 2 of the Octopus trial.

Please note there is a waiting list for the trial.

Visit www.ukmsregister.org/octopus.