Menu for Friday 24th October 
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding.
What’s on the menu today:
Leek and potato soup
Lamb casserole with potato and veg
Cauliflower curry with rice (V)
Banana cake with custard
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens.
And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out!
Do come along and enjoy. Thank you!
Police Scotland is dedicating more resource than ever before to tackle crimes involving fireworks over the Bonfire Night period.
Operation Moonbeam 2025 is officially launched today – Friday, 24 October – and will once again see public order officers supporting colleagues from local policing divisions to tackle violence and disorder and protect communities from harm.
In 2024, there was a reduction in the number of serious order incidents across the country and the number of officers injured fell to one, compared with 62 in 2023.
However, the level of violence directed towards police and other emergency services was still of significant concern and additional resource is being provided to support local policing teams dealing with fireworks-related crime.
Operation Moonbeam was first launched in 2018, following serious disorder in various parts of the country which saw one officer in Edinburgh seriously injured when she was struck by a firework.
Overall, fireworks offences have seen a reduction since this time, but an increased targeting of emergency services has prompted a more robust response to tackling these incidents.
In addition to enhanced levels of specialist support, frontline officers in Edinburgh a will be equipped with Body Worn Video, as the national roll-out of this technology continues.
This will improve opportunities to identify those involved in criminal activity during this time, including attacks on police officers and emergency service workers.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “Last year, following Bonfire Night, I reflected on what was a successful policing operation that saw a reduction in serious disorder offences and a dramatic reduction in the number of officers injured.
“As part of this year’s campaign, we will shortly be publishing some compelling stories from members of Police Scotland, Lothian Busses and affected communities highlighting the significant impact being involved in, or subject to attacks with fireworks can have.
“However, we still saw unacceptable levels of violence and disorder in parts of Glasgow and Edinburgh, leaving communities in these areas in a state of fear and alarm. This was wholly unacceptable, and we immediately launched a major criminal investigation to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“Over 60 people have been reported for their involvement in fireworks offences over the Bonfire Night period for 2024. I want to make it clear our pursuit of offenders for any crimes this year will be equally unrelenting. If you chose to create fear in your community, and if you chose to attack those who are deployed to keep people safe, you will face justice.
“We will use all available technology, resources and policing tactics at our disposal to keep our people safe while they, in turn work with other emergency service partners to protect the public from harm.
“Please help us make Bonfire Night 2025 a safe event for everyone looking to enjoy it.”
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown added: “We want everyone to enjoy Bonfire Night and I urge those planning to use fireworks to do so safely and responsibly.
“Misuse of fireworks puts communities and emergency services at risk and will not be tolerated. While Police Scotland reported a reduction in serious disorder on Bonfire Night last year, the Scottish Government will continue to support the police and courts in taking firm action against those who do break the law.
“We have brought in a number of measures to improve firework safety, including a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s and making attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders. We have also provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones in local areas and a number of these will be in place this year.
“My thanks go to all the emergency services who have been working hard to ensure a safe Bonfire Night and who will again be on the front line to keep our communities safe.”
Andrew Laing, Deputy Crown Agent for Local Court at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Those who carry out reckless and dangerous public offending throughout the period of Bonfire Night can expect to be dealt with rigorously by the justice system.
“Those deliberately putting other people in danger may be held in custody by the police, remanded by the courts, and expect to receive a custodial sentence at the conclusion of the court case.
“Anyone seeking to obstruct or attack an emergency worker will be treated with the full force of the law.
“We stand fully behind justice partners in ensuring that the public and members of the emergency services are protected at all times.
“Our message to people who carry out this type of offending is that it carries serious consequences.
“We will always prosecute such matters where there is a sufficiency of evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.”
PILING PRESSURE ON PUTIN?
European leaders are set to arrive in London today for a critical meeting of the ‘Coalition of Willing’ as Ukraine’s allies ramp up pressure on Russia heading into winter.
Leaders will convene this afternoon, both in person and virtually, to discuss how they can pile pressure on Putin as he continues to kill innocent civilians with indiscriminate attacks across Ukraine, including hitting a nursery filled with toddlers and children this week.
The London hosted meeting comes after Putin proved yet again that he is not serious about ending his illegal war, failing to engage with President Trump’s most recent proposals for meaningful peace talks.
Leaders are expected to use the meeting to focus the world’s attention on how they can further strengthen Ukraine’s hand and cripple Russia’s ability to continue to wage war.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The only person involved in this conflict who does not want to stop the war is President Putin, and his depraved strikes on young children in a nursery this week make that crystal clear.
“Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion, to stop the killing and recall his troops, but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace.
“From the battlefield to the global markets, as Putin continues to commit atrocities in Ukraine we must ratchet up the pressure on Russia and build on President Trump’s decisive action.
“After all, Ukraine’s security matters to us all, and what happens on the frontline of Donetsk today is shaping our collective future for years to come.”
In the past fortnight, the international community has stepped up its decisive action to force President Putin back to the negotiating table and secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
That has included the US’ decisive action this week to place a chokehold round Putin’s finance flows and sanction two of the largest Russian oil companies, following the UK action taken last week.
The European Union has also adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia, further targeting the Russian oil trade and cracking down on financial loopholes, and Ukraine’s allies have accelerated work to use the full value of immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets to support Ukraine – a move that would be unprecedented and finance Ukraine’s war efforts for years to come.
The government has been clear that the UK’s national security – the foundation of the Government’s Plan for Change – starts in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, as well as the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, are all expected to attend the meeting in person at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office today.
They will be greeted by children from St Mary’s Ukrainian School, which has welcomed hundreds of displaced Ukrainian children since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
A further 20 leaders are expected to dial into the call.
During the call, the Prime Minister is expected to call on leaders to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position going into the winter. He will urge leaders to act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market, finish the job on Russian sovereign assets to unlock billions of pounds to fund Ukraine’s defences, and step up the gifting of long-range capabilities to ensure Ukraine can build on its success of this week.
Leaders will also discuss how more can be done to protect energy infrastructure, as Russia continues to systematically destroy critical national infrastructure, plunging millions of innocent Ukrainians into the cold and dark.
The Prime Minister will announce that a UK missile building programme has been accelerated to deliver more than 100 extra air defence missiles ahead of schedule to bolster Ukraine’s defences through the depths of winter.
The package forms part of the £1.6bn deal between UK industry and Ukraine in March to provide more than 5,000 lightweight-multirole missiles (LMM) to support Ukraine’s defence, creating 200 jobs and supporting 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast.
The contract tripled the LMM production capacity and as work has progressed quicker than expected the delivery of an extra 140 LMMs will be accelerated to provide to Ukraine in the winter months.
TOMORROW, Saturday 25th October, Child Poverty Action Group – alongside other members of the End Child Poverty Coalition – will be joining charities, community organisations, faith groups, trade unions and many more in a march from Holyrood to the Meadows in Edinburgh (writes CPAG Scotland’s MARIA MARSHALL).
#ScotlandDemandsBetter has been organised to give organisations and individuals in Scotland an opportunity to make their voices heard and demand that politicians make the change needed so that every household in Scotland can thrive.
Signs we are on the right track…
In a lot of ways, we have seen progress to tackle child poverty in the past several years, at least here in Scotland.
The passing of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act in 2017 was a watershed moment. Following the abandoning of child poverty targets by the UK Government in 2015, the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act ( unanimously backed by all of Holyrood’s parties) set targets for child poverty reduction and requirements such as a tackling child poverty delivery plan to be published by the Scottish Government every four years.
The result of this cross-government, cross-party effort in Scotland has been to sharpen the minds of those who hold the power and drive real and tangible progress for families.
Since then, we have seen the introduction and expansion of the Scottish child payment (SCP), first introduced in February 2021 and now worth £27.15 a week for every eligible child under 16.
This has made a real difference for many low income families.
Along with other members of End Child Poverty and the Scotland Demands Better movement we are now calling for immediate and sustained increases in its value so that it reaches £55 per week by the end of the next parliament. Investing further in the Scottish child payment is the most direct and cost-effective tool available to the Scottish government to further reduce child poverty.
SCP is one of a suite of policy interventions in the first two delivery plans including; Best Start Foods and Best Start grant (replacing Healthy Start and Sure Start in the UK), an expanded offer of 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare, increased focus on parental employability support and the expansion of universal free school meals in primary schools (despite subsequent backtracking on promises for universal provision for P6-7 pupils too…)
Of all the interventions taken, it is the increased investment in social security in Scotland that is behind the diverging trend confirmed in the latest child poverty statistics which saw child poverty in Scotland fall by four percentage points, while rising (once again) UK-wide. Steps in the right direction for sure.
We’ve come some way, but not far enough
So on the one hand, we have seen some real success. In December last year, research commissioned by CPAG on the costs of raising a child, found that the gap between costs and incomes for families in Scotland was narrower than the rest of the UK. However, this same research found that Scotland’s lowest-income families are still left with less than half the income they need for a minimum socially acceptable standard of living.
Despite showing that progress had been made, this year’s child poverty statistics also confirmed that over one in five children in Scotland are still growing up in poverty. For those children, for all children, we are demanding better.
We can shout about the progress made, but for families living on the sharp end of the cost of living crisis, this will ring hollow. Summer holidays this year too often brought more stress and anxiety for Scottish parents than opportunities to learn and play. Like Hope, parent and participant in the Changing Realities project, who wrote in July:
“Already it has been a bit stressful. The kids are constantly hungry and “bored” then hungry again. Which means more food shopping. I can’t afford summer clubs/camps (tennis, football, multi sports, water sports etc) as they are coming in at around £40 a day and some of them state you have to bring your own packed lunches … I also am embarrassed to take the kids to a food bank this year. So if my oldest boy is in I’ll get him to watch my youngest and tell them “I’m going shopping.”
Too many families are being denied the security and opportunity to thrive that we all deserve. But looking to the future, there should be reason to feel hope.
Standing at the crossroads
We now have two governments, UK and Scotland, who have made a commitment to tackling child poverty. Campaigners are anxiously awaiting the UK child poverty strategy due to be published this Autumn.
Next year’s elections in Scotland also provide an opportunity for all parties, MSPs and candidates to commit to building on the progress made and delivering a better future for all of Scotland’s children.
In theory, we are at the cusp of a real opportunity for making progress on tackling child poverty. But we can also risk losing our way…
Will we build on the progress made in Scotland to meet the 2030 targets? Will the UK Government pull the levers in their power such as scrapping the two-child limit and benefit cap to move us in the right direction together?
Or will we see a stalling in Scotland, resting on existing progress and unable to keep up with the rising costs squeezing low-income families? Will the UK strategy fail to tackle the true drivers of rising child poverty such as the slashing of social security support in the past 15 years?
Walking with hope
In May last year, parents from the Changing Realities project launched their own campaign ‘Hope Starts Here’ with the aim to change the narrative on the progress we need to see by shifting the focus on the potential that all children have.
One parent, Faith, expressed that: “I hope that my children will be able to have endless possibilities of what and who they want to become in the future when they grow up. There is a big world waiting out there for them.”
Faith’s words encapsulate why members of the End Child Poverty coalition will be marching together to demand better for our children. All children should have endless possibilities of what and who they want to be when they grow up.
Better is possible. There is already ambition across the political spectrum to tackle child poverty. We now need to see the two-child limit and benefit cap scrapped at UK level, and in Scotland we need all parties to set out a clear path that will deliver year on year progress towards the 2030 targets, so that every child in Scotland can have the best possible start in life.
If you’re in Edinburgh on Saturday, please join us.
UPDATE 10:00am
Broughton Street has re-opened following a crash involving two police marked vehicles, reported around 6am on Friday, 24 October, 2025.
Three officers were taken to hospital for assessment, but their injuries are not believed to be serious.
Enquiries are ongoing.
Broughton Street is closed following a crash involving two marked police vehicles.
We received a report at 6am and emergency services are in attendance.
The closures are from East London Street, Albany Street, Forth Street and York Place.
Please avoid the area.
Road policing officers are appealing for information following a crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Edinburgh.
Around 12.55pm on Wednesday, 22 October, a blue Vauxhall Corsa failed to stop for officers on Newington Road. A short pursuit took place before the car struck a pedestrian at the junction of Liberton Road and Gilmerton Road.
The vehicle failed to stop and continued south on Gilmerton Road and was later found abandoned a short distance away on Glenallan Drive.
The pedestrian, a 47-year-old man, was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to serious injuries.
Sergeant Grant Hastie said: “Our enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and trace those responsible.
“I would urge anyone who witnessed the crash, or saw a blue Vauxhall Corsa in the area beforehand or afterwards, to come forward.
“We are also keen to speak to anyone with dash-cam or private CCTV footage that may assist our investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1486 of 22 October, 2025.
In Scotland, uptake of the MMR vaccine is falling.
Getting babies and children vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases that could, otherwise, lead to serious illness.
Find out more: http://nhsinform.scot/mmr
Creepy treats and eerie encounters are making their way to Historic Scotland sites across the country this October, with a range of family-friendly Halloween events.
Edinburgh Castle will transform into Edin-boo! Castle as it opens its gates to Halloween Shenanigans on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, inviting visitors to come and explore some of the darker tales of history, with Living History performers sharing stories of ghosts and dastardly doings.
On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, Craigmillar Castle becomes Craig-thriller Castle, with Halloween Shenanigans.
Visitors can hear from the Master of Owls himself, who will be on hand to delve into the myths and legends surrounding owls. There will even be a chance to meet the winged creatures up close. A magical storyteller will also be on site to share scary stories, songs, riddles and even some magic.
Families can also explore the Mythical Mystery Hunt, discovering some of the magical and mystical creatures of Scottish folklore. This self-guided activity is taking place at sites across the country, including Edinburgh Castle and Craigmillar Castle, until Sunday 2 November and is included in admission.
Kit Reid, Head of Experience at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors across the country for a ghoulishly good time this October.
Halloween is a great way to explore the chills and thrills of the darker parts of these iconic historic sites. From Living History performers sharing eerie stories to a family-friendly Mythical Mystery Hunt, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into the Halloween Spirit.”
Members can also collect their exclusive History Hunt Halloween card at any of these events.
Find out more about The History Hunt at:
historicenvironment.scot/membership/history-hunt.
For further information and to book tickets, visit historicenvironment.scot/whats-on.
Daytime entry is free for Historic Scotland members.
Loganair has marked the fourth anniversary of its partnership with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) by naming one of its aircraft in honour of the charity.
The aircraft will carry the charity’s name across the airline’s network, helping raise awareness of its work among passengers and communities across the UK.
“Spirit of CHAS” was formally adopted as the name of the new ATR72-500 plane.
The partnership has developed into a long-term collaboration between the airline and the charity, combining financial support with practical assistance. As part of this, Loganair provides flights for CHAS at Home nurses, enabling them to reach families in island and remote communities where specialist care is often more difficult to access.
Loganair also operate the famous CHAS flight, which this year took place at Glasgow Airport. Seven children and their families went on a sightseeing route along Scotland’s west coast, offering a safe space for families to enjoy air travel and see the incredible sights.
The day included character visits from Snow White, Rapunzel, Spiderman and Batman, who helped make the experience especially memorable for those taking part.
The CHAS flight has become a regular fixture in Loganair’s calendar, having previously taken place from Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports.
Since forming the partnership in 2021, Loganair has raised over £85,000 for CHAS through staff fundraising activities and customer donations on the airline’s website.
Luke Farajallah, chief executive officer at Loganair, said: “CHAS provides an invaluable service to families across Scotland, and we are pleased to continue supporting the charity through both fundraising and practical assistance.
“The naming of one of our aircraft reflects the importance of our partnership and our commitment to helping CHAS continue its work. Our hope is that ‘Spirit of CHAS’ will inspire others to support and promote the amazing work of the charity.
“Our customers’ generosity through the £2 donation scheme has been remarkable, and we’re very proud that their contributions are helping CHAS reach more families who rely on its care and support.”
Rami Okasha, chief executive officer at CHAS, said: “Witnessing the ‘Spirit of CHAS’ plane launch was a delight. We are proud to celebrate four years of our partnership with Loganair and would like to thank them for all their support.
“This important partnership means, we can bring smiles, comfort, and precious memories to children who may die young and their families, at every step on this hardest of journeys.
“Loganair’s special support to CHAS families includes free flights for staff to reach families on Scottish islands who use our CHAS at Home service. CHAS is there for children and families in every part of Scotland, no matter where they live.
“Through customer donations at checkout, Loganair has raised over £40k, helping us to fund essential services, including CHAS at Home, providing a vital lifeline for families, especially those in remote or rural communities.
“Our CHAS at Home team supports children and families in their own homes, providing a range of care and support, including symptom management and emotional support, as well as moments of connection and play.
“The incredible amount raised will help us fund a CHAS At Home Nurse for a year.”
SUNDAY 30th NOVEMBER 11am – 3pm
EDINBURGH VOLUNTEER CENTRE, LEITH WALK
Join us on Sunday 30 November from 11.00 until 15.00 at our office on Leith Walk for a fabulous day of sustainable shopping, sweet treats, and community spirit at our fashion sale to raise funds for the Community Taskforce project, supporting people across Edinburgh who have no one else, including those recently discharged from hospital, facing new health challenges, or in need of a helping hand.
There is a £5.00 entry fee which includes a delicious tea or coffee and a slice of cake, making it the perfect Sunday outing with friends.
Find out more here: https://bit.ly/ve-fashion
We are also looking for donations for the sale so if you would like to help out and have some good-quality, pre-loved adult clothing or handbags
to sell at the event then please drop them off at our office on Leith Walk anytime Monday to Friday from 10.00 until 15.00.
