This November, Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will host free festive-inspired events, giving people of all ages the chance to create garden-inspired gift ideas and Christmas decorations through fun, hands-on activities.
The month kicks off with Dobbies’ popular Grow How workshop series, which begins on Saturday 2 November, and continues every Wednesday throughout the month at 10:30am and 3:30pm.
The workshops will focus on gardening gift ideas, just in time for the festive season. Attendees will learn how to forage from their gardens or outdoor spaces to create thoughtful, sustainable gifts for loved ones.
The sessions will include demonstrations from Dobbies’ colleagues on how to create DIY natural decorations, such as wreaths and centrepieces using foraged materials, as well as instructions on crafting homemade Christmas gifts, like potpourri.
For younger attendees between the ages of 3-10, the Little Seedlings Club workshop will take place on Sunday 3 November at different times throughout the morning.
This session will centre on the four seasons and the garden-inspired gifts that can be created throughout the year. Children will learn the science behind the change in seasons, share stories about Christmas and exchanging gifts, and enjoy fun games and activities. As part of the workshop, they will also decorate a pot and plant a festive bulb to gift to someone special, encouraging them to share the joy of giving.
Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager said: “Our free November workshops in our Edinburgh store provides a fantastic opportunity to get creative and make something personal for your loved ones this Christmas, using materials from your own garden.
“The Little Seedlings Club is especially magical for children, as they get to learn about nature and make gifts that are truly meaningful. It’s a great way for families to spend time together and kick off the holiday season.”
Both events are free to attend, but spaces are limited.
GREYFRIARS CHARTERIS CENTRE. THE PLEASANCE on 24th NOVEMBER
The RHCYP’s Memorial Service in Greyfriars Charteris Centre, 138/140 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9RR, offers space for personal or shared reflection for those who’ve experienced the death of a child.
People of all ages, all beliefs or none, are most welcome:
Latest data sees notable increase in victims between 2022 and 2023, with jump from 13 to 32 casualties
Highest rise in firework-related injuries since 2010
Attending an organised display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks – RoSPA
There has been a 146 per cent rise from 13 casualties in 2022 to 32 casualties from firework-related incidents in 2023, according to Home Office data.
Last year, figures were at the highest they’ve been since 2010 when fireworks injured 45 people.
As a result, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging everyone to do one essential thing this year to ensure a safe celebration: attend an organised display.
Phil Le Shirley, Product Safety Advisor, said:“The number one thing you can do to reduce the risk of injury from fireworks is to attend events managed by professionals and held in controlled environments.
“Each year, injuries occur due to improper handling and unsafe use of fireworks in home gardens. Organised events offer the thrill of fireworks while minimising the risks to you, your family, and your neighbours.”
But if you’re having Fireworks at home: follow the Firework Code
By following the Firework Code, you can protect yourself, your family, and others while still enjoying the magic of Bonfire Night. Every year, thousands of people suffer injuries related to fireworks, with some incidents leading to life-altering injuries or even fatalities. Many of these accidents are preventable with the right precautions.
The Firework Code: Your Safety Checklist
Buy fireworks from licensed sellers: · Buy fireworks from licensed sellers: Only purchase fireworks that have a UKCA or CE Mark
Follow instructions carefully: Read and follow the instructions on each firework, and ensure you know how to use them before lighting.
Keep fireworks in a closed box: Store them safely and only take them out one at a time.
Light fireworks at arm’s length: Use a taper or long lighter, and never go back to a firework once it’s lit.
Stand well back: Always maintain a safe distance once fireworks are lit.
Supervise children: Never allow children to handle fireworks, including sparklers.
Never put fireworks in your pocket: This can lead to accidental ignition and severe injury.
Dispose of used fireworks properly: Douse fireworks with water after they’ve gone off and dispose of them safely.
Keep pets indoors: Fireworks can cause distress to animals, so make sure pets are kept inside during displays.
Additional Firework Safety Tips
In addition to following the Firework Code, RoSPA offers these further recommendations for a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night:
Be mindful of bonfires: Keep a safe distance and never throw fireworks, aerosols, or anything else into the bonfire.
Wear protective clothing: When handling fireworks, ensure you’re wearing suitable clothing, such as long sleeves and gloves, particularly when using sparklers.
To celebrate Autumn’s festivities safely, you can learn more about RoSPA’s guidance, as well as the firework code here.
Scotland’s capital city is gearing up to host what has become a firm fixture in its calendar.
Supporting the Scottish Poppy Appeal and the work of Poppyscotland, Edinburgh Poppy Day will return on Thursday, October 31, live from St Andrew’s Square and other city centre locations throughout the day.
Working in partnership with Poppyscotland to provide the day’s concert and roadshow will be Forces Radio BFBS Scotland.
There will be music from The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in the Square, as well as entertainment from The Bands of HM Royal Marines Scotland, Edinburgh Military Wives Choir, Rosyth Military Wives Choir, Alan Brydon Music, Royal Marine veteran Richard Kerr and George Heriot’s School Pipe Band from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Scores of volunteers will also be out on the day to collect the vital funds the charity needs to continue supporting the Armed Forces community in Scotland.
Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, Gordon Michie, said: “We can’t wait to get back out onto the streets of our capital to mark the hugely popular Edinburgh Poppy Day.
“It really is a day where people come together and enjoy all that Poppyscotland has to offer in the build up to our national day of remembrance.”
Gordon added: “It’s not too late for more people to volunteer their time. Even if it is just an hour or two, more volunteers mean more vital funds raised for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces community. Just come along to St Andrew Square and we’ll make sure you have a great day.”
Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising enables them to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health and mobility.
First Minister and Scottish Chambers of Commerce issue joint call for investment to support growth
A joint call for investment has been issued to the Chancellor on the eve of the UK Budget from Scottish Government and Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
Speaking to business leaders at a reception with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce yesterday (Tuesday 29 October), First Minister John Swinney said: “My Government is committed to growing the economy to generate the wealth to invest in our public services and eradicate child poverty.
“We want to use that investment to create a partnership between government and business that will make the most of Scotland’s many economic opportunities.
“It takes political willpower to adapt and evolve our economies and grow thriving societies in all four nations – something the Chancellor can signal by including steps to advance the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the UK Budget, which would provide new opportunities for workers in the oil and gas sector in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.
“The Office for Budget Responsibility highlighted recently the potential for public investment to deliver permanent improvements in the economy. It is welcome that my calls for the Chancellor to amend her fiscal rules have been heard, with indications last week that there will be scope for greater investment.
“The Chancellor has the chance to choose to deliver a UK Budget that invests in our public services and supports the entrepreneurial spirit displayed in Scotland’s business sector.
“With these new rules in place the Chancellor must use the fiscal headroom they create to deliver a Budget that immediately and significantly enhances Scotland’s resource and capital funding, enabling us to invest more in our public services and take forward the vital infrastructure projects that support economic growth, net zero, and action to tackle child poverty.”
Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Dr Liz Cameron CBE said: “Our budget focus is on growth, investment and competitiveness. That means investing in skills, technology and infrastructure, and equipping the workforce for tomorrow’s challenges.
“The Chancellor’s actions and the message they send will directly impact business confidence and investment at a time when we need to create positive momentum. We hope that our calls to support business have been listened to and not ignored.”
Edinburgh’s Christmas welcomes LNER to present the LNER Big Wheel as part of a new three-year partnership
Located in East Princes Street Gardens, the LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the city, lighting up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 to Saturday 4 Jan 2025
A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers in the wheel’s 36 weather-proof pods with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre
EH postcode residents can enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel
Edinburgh’s Christmas is delighted to announce that the LNER Big Wheel will be coming to East Princes Street Gardens this festive season as part of a new, three-year partnership with the train operator.
The LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the spectacular city with incredible views of its historic Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, as well as sparkling evening views of Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions.
Open from 10am – 10pm, the LNER Big Wheel will light up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 – Saturday 4 Jan 2025.
With 36 enclosed weather-proof pods, families can enjoy a ride on the attraction whatever the weather. A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre.
LNER, which connects millions of customers to the Scottish capital with ease every year, will sponsor the Big Wheel at Edinburgh’s Christmas for the next three years.
Today, construction work to raise the LNER Big Wheel has begun. The wheel is set to be a focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and a welcome sight to visitors arriving by train into Waverley Station.
The Big Wheel welcomed more than 210,000 visitors last year to enjoy stunning winter views of the capital and the sparkling evening illuminations.
EH postcode residents can also enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel with details available via edinburgh-christmas.com
David Flesher, LNER’s Commercial Director, said: “We are thrilled that LNER will play such a key part in celebrating Christmas in Edinburgh this year.
“As the main train operator on the East Coast Main Line, we connect millions of customers each year with this historic city, and we can’t wait to provide thousands of people with the opportunity to see the sights of Edinburgh in this unique way.”
“Our Christmas tickets are on sale now giving customers the opportunity to plan the perfect trip away and to get into the festive spirit in Scotland.”
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “We are delighted to be working with LNER to light up Edinburgh’s Christmas this year.
“The Big Wheel is a major focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities and will give thousands of people the chance to enjoy a unique view of the city’s many iconic and historic landmarks and attractions, all lit up for the festive season.
“We look forward to welcoming people from near and far to take a spin very soon.”
The recent announcement by the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) regarding the disinvestment from up to 64 community organisations as part of its recovery plan for 2025/26 has ignited significant outrage among Third Sector, including members of the Edinburgh Community Health Forum (ECHF).
This drastic cut threatens the very fabric of our community support systems and undermines our collective commitment to health and wellbeing in Edinburgh, said ECHF’s Strategic Development Manager, Stephanie-Anne Harris.
Stephanie-Anne vehemently criticised the decision, stating: “This disinvestment will lead to the closure of numerous charities and an increased reliance on statutory services, including the NHS and Council.
“Furthermore, it contradicts the Scottish Government’s and Public Health Scotland’s advocacy for prevention and early intervention strategies.
“Evidence overwhelmingly supports that investing in prevention is one of the most cost-effective methods to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
“This short-term approach to achieving savings is fundamentally misguided.”
Historically, core funding for the Third Sector was managed by the Council before being transferred to the IJB.
The current proposed cuts pose a severe threat to organisations that provide essential services to some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable residents.
Catriona Windle, Chair of ECHF and CEO of Health All Round, a charity dedicated to supporting residents in Gorgie Dalry, Saughton, Stenhouse, and surrounding areas, added: “We call for an immediate halt to cuts scheduled for 2025 and urge the IJB to engage in meaningful discussions with the sector about sustainable funding solutions.
“While we recognise the need for budgetary considerations, we cannot afford to compromise on the vital support that Third Sector organisations provide. We propose delaying cuts until September 2025 to allow for a proper conversation about the future.
“The IJB must recognise that resourcing for the Third Sector is not non-essential; it is crucial for the wellbeing of our communities.
“We implore Council leaders and the IJB to consider resuming full responsibility for funding these vital services or to engage the Third Sector in developing a strategic funding model that ensures ongoing investment in our collective health.”
EDINBURGH Integration Joint Board meets on Friday 1 November at 10am in the Dean of Guilds Room at the City Chambers.
See belowfor meeting papers – including details of the cuts being recommended:
Chancellor announces pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, as National Living Wage rises by 6.7%
Pay boost worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.
18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour – the largest increase on record – and marks first step towards a single adult rate.
Over 3 million workers will receive a pay boost after the Chancellor confirmed the National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025.
The 6.7% increase – which is worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – is a significant step towards delivering the manifesto commitment to make sure the minimum wage is a genuine living wage.
The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour – the largest increase in the rate on record. This £1.40 increase will mean full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 next year. This marks the first step towards aligning the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage to create a single adult wage rate, which would take place over time.
The move comes ahead of today’s Budget which will ‘fix the foundations’ to deliver change by fixing the NHS and rebuilding Britain, while ensuring working people don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.
It builds on the commitment to be a pro-business, pro-worker, pro-growth Government – delivering a key plank of the Plan to Make Work Pay, which is already set to boost the pockets of the lowest-paid workers by up to £600 a year through the Employment Rights Bill.
The plan will boost productivity, creating a workforce that is fit and ready to help us deliver our first mission to kickstart economic growth – with good jobs and growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:“This Government promised a genuine living wage for working people.
“This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.”
Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said: “Good work and fair wages are in the interest of British business as much as British workers.
“This government is changing people’s lives for the better because we know that investing in the workforce leads to better productivity, better resilience and ultimately a stronger economy primed for growth.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: ““A proper day’s work deserves a proper day’s pay.
“Our changes will see a pay boost that will help millions of lower earners to cover the essentials as well as providing the biggest increase for 18–20-year-olds on record.”
The minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also boosted next year, with an 18-year-old apprentice in an industry like construction seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18.0%, a pay bump from £6.40 to £7.55 an hour.
These increases will mean 3.5 million workers will receive a pay rise this year in total. They confirm the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations, whose advisory remit was overhauled by ministers in July to consider the cost of living.
Ethics Director at Lush Cosmetics, Hilary Jones said: ““Lush staff making and selling our products are crucial to our success, so we commit to the Living Wage Foundation’s independently calculated real living wage rates each year to feel confident our rates of pay are fair and that our staff can afford what they need to thrive, not just survive.
“In these tough times where the cost of living continues to rise, it is great to see the Government increase minimum wage closer to these calculations to support the hardest working and most vulnerable workers across the UK.”
Chair of the Low Pay Commission, Baroness Philippa Stroud said:“The Government have been clear about their ambitions for the National Minimum Wage and its importance in supporting workers’ living standards.
“At the same time, employers have had to deal with the adult rate rising over 20 per cent in two years, and the challenges that has created alongside other pressures to their cost base.
“It is our job to balance these considerations, ensuring the NLW provides a fair wage for the lowest-paid workers while taking account of economic factors. These rates secure a real-terms pay increase for the lowest-paid workers. Young workers will see substantial increases in their pay floor, making up some of the ground lost against the adult rate over time.”
Good news for low paid workers, then. but some businesses – small businesses remain the bedrock of the UK economy – point out that it’s not the government that will be paying the pay rises, it’s them.
Coming on top of the likely increase in employers National Insurance contributions likely to be announced today they say that these additional costs could force some small businesses, working on small profit margins, to close.
As part of its approach to the Commission’s 2023-24 scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s progress in reducing child poverty, the Poverty and Inequality Commission wanted to hear from parents and carers who were a member of the Scottish Government’s ‘priority family types’. These are households types who are at greater risk of poverty.
The Commission worked with eight organisations to organise workshop discussions (and in one case a survey) to gather parent and carer participant views on:
What policies to reduce child poverty they were aware of
How well they felt policies were working
What else they felt was needed to reduce child poverty
This report summarises the views of participants on the three topics above, expanding on the material the Commission published earlier in 2024 as part of its 2023-24 child poverty scrutiny.
The Commission is very grateful to all the participants in our workshops who took time to discuss these issues, and the organisations who we worked with to arrange them.
