Is there a songbird in there, just begging to burst free? Do you know a few chords on the guitar, or keep a beat with a bongo?
Get yerself down to our Open Mic Night on Friday 24th of October, hosted by the marvellous Majik Mojo.
Musicians, singers and groups all welcome.
6-9PM in our indoor market area, be there or be square!
Free entry, NO TICKETS REQUIRED.
The Scottish Government’s Women and Girls in Sport Week 2025 launches this week, celebrating the power of movement and encouraging women and girls of all ages to get active in ways that work for them.
Taking place from Monday 6th October – Sunday 13th October, this year’s campaign is supported by former Scotland Women’s football captain Rachel Corsie. Corsie uses her platform as a leading figure in women’s sport to recognise that there remain significant barriers to sport and physical activity for women and girls.
The latest Scottish Health Survey showed that women remain less likely to be physically active than men across most age groups, with a notable drop off in physical activity for girls during adolescence, from 74% of girls aged 11-12 meeting recommended activity levels, down to just 43% of those aged 13-15.
There are many reasons behind this drop off, including gender stereotypes, lack of visible role models, body image concerns, and practical barriers like cost, time and transport. Cultural factors also impact participation, particularly for ethnic minority women and girls.
The Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2025 campaign seeks to increase the visibility of women and girls in sport, increase awareness of barriers to participation, and showcase the opportunities open to women and girls across the country.
The campaign is built around the message that movement looks different for everyone. It’s not about performance, it’s about feeling good, building confidence, and connecting with others. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a fitness class, or trying something new for the first time, ‘Find Your Fit’ is about discovering what makes you feel good and keeps you moving.
Reflecting on the importance of the Week, former Scotland International Women’s Football captain Rachel Corsie, said: “Sport has been a huge part of my life from a young age but after retiring from the game, I got to rediscover my love for different sports and activities that I couldn’t do as a professional footballer.
“Feeling happy and healthy is so important as you go through life and exercise is huge part of that. It’s all about finding what you enjoy and what works for you. It could be a walk in the park with friends or a jog on the beach to clear the head, I’d encourage all women and girls to try as many options as they can.
“There is something out there for everyone and it’s about finding a way for you that celebrates the benefits of being active”.
A Scottish Government Representative said: “Initiatives such as Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week remain absolutely vital to our nation’s health and wellbeing programme. Being active isn’t just good for physical health.
“It improves mental wellbeing, and contributes greatly to social health, helping people to connect with others and their communities.
“Scotland is a proud sporting nation, and the continued growth and success of women’s sport is brilliant to see, however, we know there’s still a long way to go to fully realise women’s sport potential and to address gendered gaps in participation.
“Having role models like Rachel to show that sport and exercise can be for everyone is vital. We hope that the Week inspires women and girls across the country to try something new”.
Whether you’re just getting started, returning to activity, or looking for something new, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved.
Find your fit in your area by visiting swgis2025.actify.org.uk or by contacting your local authority leisure trust.
Let’s get active and move together this Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week by using #FindYourFit and #SheCanSheWill
For more information and updates, follow @ActiveScotGov.
Local leaders across the country can now bid for support of up to £20 million each in a new competition, as the government backs regional expertise to deliver cutting-edge research that could save lives and create jobs (Monday 6 October).
Research funding body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is inviting a broad range of local and regional partnerships to bid for government funding to support research and innovation projects in their area through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. The competition will back partnerships that can turn existing research breakthroughs into practical solutions that create jobs and improve people’s lives, supporting the government’s Plan for Change.
The fund is designed to help regions across the UK build on their existing strengths – whether that is developing technology that helps doctors diagnose diseases faster, creating cleaner transport solutions, or discovering innovations that spawn entirely new industries.
Local leaders, working alongside universities and businesses, are best placed to identify these regional opportunities and turn research breakthroughs into real-world solutions that benefit their communities.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “This fund is our Plan for Change in action. It empowers local leaders, researchers, and businesses with skin in the game to deliver transformational research that creates jobs and improves lives in their area.
“Ten regions already have our support and will be able to deliver game-changing innovations to benefit their communities.
“Now we’re extending this opportunity to the rest of the country, and I encourage partnerships everywhere to come forward, and show how they can unlock their local expertise to create tomorrow’s innovations.”
Consortiums of various forms are encouraged to apply, to ensure regions across the length and breadth of the UK are supported to develop new innovations and drive regional growth.
Ten regions across the UK have already received backing through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.
These include established innovation hubs in England such as Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire, alongside Glasgow City Region in Scotland, Cardiff Capital Region in Wales, and an innovation corridor linking Belfast and Derry-Londonderry in Northern Ireland.
Each of these areas has been earmarked for at least £30 million to invest in their regional innovation strengths, from advanced manufacturing and life sciences to digital technologies and clean energy, ensuring every nation of the UK benefits from this major government investment in R&D.
This approach builds on the successful Innovation Accelerators programme, which has already brought in more than £140 million of private investment and created hundreds of jobs. Greater Manchester teams are helping detect heart and lung diseases more quickly and cheaply, while Glasgow researchers are working to spot signs of colon cancer earlier to save lives.
This shows how researchers, businesses and local leaders can work together to tackle the country’s biggest challenges while boosting local economies.
This funding forms part of the record £86 billion R&D settlement until 2030 and represents a key pillar of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, supporting high-growth sectors in every region.
For areas ready to unlock their innovation potential, this competition offers a transformative opportunity to secure the partnerships and investment needed to drive growth and improve lives across the country.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Salvesen Mindroom Centre, a charity that has transformed the lives of more than 30,000 neurodivergent children, young people, and their families since its founding in 2000.
The milestone comes as the charity’s latest impact report reveals a 294% increase in demand for its services over the past five years, highlighting a critical and growing need for accessible support.
Co-founded by Robin and Sophie Dow and inspired by their daughter Annie, who lives with a rare chromosome deletion, Salvesen Mindroom Centre was built on a foundation of lived experience.
For a quarter of a century, the charity has delivered vital programs, advocacy, and support — from aiding families in crisis to training leaders to build more inclusive workplaces.
“Mindroom was founded on lived experience, and 25 years later, its mission is more urgent than ever,” said Alan Thornburrow, CEO of Salvesen Mindroom Centre. “Neurodivergent children are today’s young people and tomorrow’s workforce.
“The work we do is all about shaping a fairer, more inclusive future.”
The charity’s 2024 impact report, available for download on their website, also reveals the growing pressures on families and the support system:
“Behind every statistic is a real person and a system under pressure,” Alan Thornburrow added.
“Since I joined in 2022, we’ve worked to scale our impact and think of our mission as a revolution. We want to continue transforming lives for the next 25 years and beyond.”
Beyond its direct services, the charity has also trained more than 7,500 leaders in business, education, and public services, and has played a significant role in advancing neurodiversity as a national priority in Scotland and beyond.
As Mindroom marks 25 years of impact, the message is clear: the need has never been greater, nor has the opportunity. Every child supported, every family empowered, and every leader trained moves us closer to a society where neurodivergent people can thrive.
Lasting change is only possible when we stand together.
To download the latest Impact Report created by Mindroom (2024), please visit: 2024 Impact Report
TUESDAY 7th OCTOBER from 6.30 – 8PM
at DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Drylaw Telford Community Council are holding a public meeting to find out YOUR views on proposals to extend the Edinburgh tram network.
It’s your local opportunity to hear what is being proposed and to have your say.
Guest speaker is CLLR STEPHEN JENKINSON, the city council’s Transport & Environment Convener.
ALL WELCOME!
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/tram-north-south
AND DON’T FORGET:
Consultation Hub Online Survey – Drylaw Shopping Centre:
A survey for the project is currently live on The City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultation Hub and runs until 8th October – that’s THIS WEDNESDAY!
Please find a link to the survey here and to find out more:
https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/drylaw-consultation
Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association is proud to announce the official selection of films for the highly anticipated Napier Student Film Festival 2025.
The festival, now in its second edition following a successful launch last year, is taking place from 5th to 7th November 2025 at Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart and Merchiston campuses.
Following an overwhelming response from student filmmakers worldwide for the call for film submissions, the festival jury has carefully curated a diverse lineup that reflects the theme of this year’s festival, “Bridging the Gap”.
There is a total selection of 23 short films, with ten representing universities across the United Kingdom, and the remaining 13 films representing Italy, USA, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Netherlands, Australia, Ukraine, India and China.
The selected films will showcase the power of storytelling to connect cultures, spark dialogue, and inspire new perspectives of student filmmakers.
In addition to the official competition lineup, this year’s festival will feature special film exhibitions and curated screenings, offering audiences a broader cinematic experience that goes beyond the student competition.
A critical highlight of this specialty is the introduction of “AiF Edinburgh Connect”; a new programme launched in partnership with Accra Indie Filmfest (AiF) in Ghana. This initiative is supported by the British Council’s Festival Connect grant, and it seeks to create a platform for cross-continental collaboration through screenings, industry conversations, and a networking opportunities, spotlighting Ghanaian and African diaspora creativity alongside global student voices.
With the official selections, special screenings, and the introduction of AiF Edinburgh Connect, this year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of emerging talent and cultural exchange.
Full details of the official selection can be found below, and the festival programme will be available next week.
OFFICIAL SELECTED FILMS – NAPIER STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2025
Around 1 in 4 children in Scotland are living in poverty.
Poverty remains far too high, and people are feeling overlooked and ignored by politicians. The next Scottish Parliament is an opportunity to build a better future for all children in Scotland.
Scottish Government identified 6 priority families where children are at greater risk of poverty: – Nearly 9 in 10 children in poverty are in a priority family – Children in 2 or more priority family groups are more than 4x as likely to be in poverty than children in none of them.
It is crucial that the next parliament focuses on the things that matter to people, like tackling child poverty.
Ensuring parents have access to flexible work and affordable childcare, investment in affordable housing and an adequate social security system are essential.
Scotland demands better because getting it right today, will build a better future for us all.
Read our Poverty in Scotland report:
POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION
An 81-year-old man has died following a crash on Annandale Street in Edinburgh at the junction with Haddington Place. The incident happened on Sunday, 28 September, around 1.20am, and involved the man and a bus.
He was taken to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service where he died on Saturday, 4 October. No one else was injured.
Sergeant Louise Birrell said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man who died and they have asked for privacy.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and we are asking anyone with information that could help who has not already spoken to officers to get in touch.”
Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0302 of Sunday, 28 September, 2025.
A researcher who found that poetry can help explain a complex medical condition that affects thousands of people in Scotland has teamed up with a national charity to enable more people to benefit from her findings.
Dr Georgi Gill, from Fife, spent six years exploring how writing poems could help people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) understand their condition better themselves, and more easily explain it to others.
Now Georgi, who has MS herself, chose National Poetry Day (Thursday 2 October) to discuss the potential implications of her research as well as announce two new initiatives she’s launching, one in collaboration with MS Society Scotland, to bring the benefits of poetry to more people impacted by neurological conditions.
Georgi, who lives near Kirkcaldy and was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 2003 at the age of 28, said: “When I first turned my pen to poetry, it felt like the only writing option remaining to me.
!My vague ambitions of being a novelist had fallen by the wayside as had my full-time career in school teaching and penchant for night clubbing in high heels; all casualties of the dizziness, brain fog and physical fatigue that have frequently interrupted my life since I was diagnosed with MS.
“I remember looking at brain scans in my neurologist’s office, scans that I couldn’t understand or interpret. To me, the white patches of inflammation and scarring were moth holes in my brain. Ideas, lesson plans, mental shopping lists, the witty comment I was about to make frequently slipped through these holes and were lost. Eventually I acknowledged, with some burning resentment, that I wasn’t going to be writing the next great novel any time soon.
“Poems, on the other hand, could be very short. They didn’t need to tell a complicated story with multiple characters. From my previous encounters in literature classes, poems didn’t even have to make sense!”
Georgi “grudgingly” signed up for a poetry writing class and within weeks she was hooked. Before long she had completed a Master of Arts in Poetry Writing and released her first poetry collection, ‘Limbo’ (Blue Diode, 2021).
She continued: “Poetry offered a distraction from some of the realities and limitations of my life. Yet it wasn’t just an escape – I was also tentatively using poems as a way to explore my feelings and frustrations about the ways that MS had derailed my life plans.
!In poems, I tried to understand what was happening to my body and to communicate that lived experience to others. I started to wonder whether writing poems about their lives with MS could offer similar benefits to others with the condition.”
More than 17,000 people in Scotland live with MS. That’s about one in every 300 people, which is one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Yet research carried out on behalf of the MS Society earlier this year suggests just a fraction of adults in Scotland can demonstrate a thorough understanding of the condition*.
Georgi’s poetry was the starting point for her PhD research at the University of Edinburgh and, in the middle of the 2020 UK Covid lockdown, she found herself hosting a series of online workshops for people living with MS. Participants were encouraged to use verse as a tool for exploring their shared condition and explaining it to others. They benefited from social interactions within the groups and some experienced enhanced self-esteem from taking part in the shared creative activities.
“We shared our lives with one another and the aspects that made us feel uncomfortable or isolated from other people,” Georgi continued. “There was a lot of laughter as we recognised our own experiences in others’ poetry and also, on occasion, a few tears.
“These workshops and the resulting poems created opportunities for people with MS to be heard and understood and, importantly, to build creative communities together. Participants also reported positive outcomes from sharing these poems with a small number of their family, friends and carers. For some participants, an old hobby was revitalised, while for others a valuable new creative practice was found.”
Having seen and experienced the benefits of poetry writing, and keen to share those positives with others, Georgi is launching the following initiatives:
· In October, Georgi will publish ‘poeMS: an anthology by people living with multiple sclerosis’. Available as a free e-book through the University of Edinburgh, the anthology brings together poems written by participants in her original study, providing unique insights into their lives with MS. A limited number of print editions will be given to neurologists and charities working to support people with MS.
· The ‘Poems on my mind’ project will then bring her poetry workshops to new audiences and people with a range of neurological conditions including MS, Parkinson’s and motor neuron disease. Initially, Georgi will train staff and volunteers from MS Society Scotland to establish and deliver the workshops. Members of the MS community throughout Scotland will then be given the opportunity to explore and communicate their health experiences through poems.
Georgi will undertake both pieces of work though the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), based at the University of Edinburgh where she completed her PhD in Health in Social Science in 2025.
IASH Director, Professor Lesley McAra, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this fascinating and timely project.
“Poetry helps us look at the world in new ways, and Georgi’s work in the community promises to bring those vital insights to a wide audience.”
Georgi believes that in addition to helping participants understand their own MS, and explain their condition to those close to them, her workshops could also be beneficial in helping medical and other professionals better understand an individual’s symptoms.
Looking ahead to the two upcoming projects, she added: “I’m excited: excited to share the original participants’ poems, which brought illumination and inspiration to readers and writers alike in the first project.
“Excited also to read the new poems that will be written by people joining MS Society Scotland’s ‘Poems on my mind’ groups. My own life with MS continues to shift and change, but poetry is a welcome constant.”
MS damages the protective coating around nerves in the brain and spinal cord, and can impact how people move, think and feel. The MS Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by MS, offering support, funding research, and campaigning to improve the lives of everyone impacted by the condition.
Jo Anderson, Director for Scotland at the MS Society, said: “We’re excited to be working with Georgi on the ‘Poems on my mind’project. Georgi’s research shows there are many ways poetry can benefit the MS community, and we’re pleased to be part of the team bringing those benefits to even more people.
“MS symptoms are different for everyone, and many are invisible. As well as supporting people to explore their own MS, the poetry workshops could lead to friends, relatives, carers, and professionals also gaining a greater understanding of the condition and how it impacts those around them.”
In March, the MS Society revealed the results of a survey conducted, in partnership with Opinium Research, to find out how well people understood MS. Of the 500 adults surveyed in Scotland, although more than 90% had heard of MS, only 12% of those were able to correctly identify whether a series of statements they were shown about the condition were true or false.
When MS Society Scotland revealed the survey results, it stressed that if a person with MS is surrounded by family, friends, or colleagues who don’t fully understand the impact it can have, it makes living with an already difficult condition even harder.
The charity pledged to continue working to increase people’s understanding of MS; the poetry project being undertaken in partnership with Georgi will contribute towards this commitment.
· A link to download the free e-book, ‘poeMS: an anthology by people living with multiple sclerosis’, will be posted on MS Society Scotland on Facebook, @mssocietyscot on X, and @iashedinburgh.bsky.social on Bluesky as soon as it’s live.
· Read Dr Georgi Gill’s PhD thesis, ‘poeMS: an exploration of poetry as a way to communicate lived experiences of multiple sclerosis’, here:
https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/42995
· Find out more about Georgi’s research and her upcoming projects at:
Resident doctor on BBC’s Morning Live, Dr Punam Krishan, has been announced as the first official patron of the Scottish breast cancer charity, The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated wellbeing and support centre for those impacted by breast cancer.
Dr Punam, who dazzled on Strictly Come Dancing last year, made a special visit to Edinburgh on Thursday 2 October to help officially open The House of Hope during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Glasgow-based GP made a name for herself presenting Laid Bare for BBC Scotland, as well as making regular appearances on BBC’s Morning Live and BBC Radio Scotland.
The charity was founded by Lisa Fleming – who was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017 and given just six months to live at that time – along with husband Euan. The House of Hope will provide a supportive space for people impacted by breast cancer, as well as access to holistic therapies and wellbeing services away from the sterile hospital or clinical setting to compliment medical treatments.
Founder of The House of Hope, Lisa Fleming, said: “It is incredible to have Dr Punam on board – her advocacy for women’s health and patient-first approach to healthcare is exactly what The House of Hope is all about and we can’t wait to officially launch in October with Dr Punam as our patron.
“The NHS does not have the operational resources or funding to provide additional holistic care and support for breast cancer patients in and around Edinburgh. The House of Hope will help to fill this void, providing the much-needed community space and compassionate support we know is so vital for patients and their families.”
In her role as patron for The House of Hope, Dr Punam will support the charity through the provision of online advice and attending nominated fundraising events aligning with her own dedication to raising awareness of women’s health concerns through her work with the BBC and her own social channels.
Dr Punam, Patron of The House of Hope, said: “Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is a difficult experience, so having a dedicated place like The House of Hope to come to is such a great resource and an important step in the healing process. I’m proud to be appointed a Patron of such a life-changing charity.”
Dr Punam is also a published author, with her third children’s book released earlier this year (August 2025). The Superhero’s First Aid Manual is a fun and colourful book packed with life-saving knowledge for children, who are often the first people at an emergency.
The House of Hope charity was inspired by London’s first-ever specialised breast cancer centre, Future Dreams House, which offers support through a range of services for women affected by breast cancer, including counselling, yoga, massage, nutrition advice, and peer support groups.
