Wildflower Planting in East Pilton Park this Saturday 10.30-1 (11th October) with Granton Community Gardeners. Free, family friendly activity.
Join us to add wildflower seeds and spring bulbs to the long grass patches of East Pilton Park (around the new tree plantings).
As well as looking beautiful, we hope to improve the area for pollinators and also increase the number of invertebrates (insects and other wee bugs) for our local birds to eat.
We are particularly hoping to help increase the food supply for our nearby swift colony and this project goes hand in hand with plans we have to give the swifts more good local nesting sites by adding swift boxes to buildings.
Amazingly, the council’s ecologists have found that long grass areas can have as much as 90 times more life than short grass. Let’s add flowers to make them even better!
CRAIGROYSTON HIGH SCHOOL’S GARDEN ALSO HIT BY VANDALISM
Community Garden Vandalism
We’re really saddened and frustrated to share that nearly all of our garden beds have been damaged. The wood has been broken, and many of the plants and vegetables that young people and volunteers worked so hard to grow have been pulled out.
This garden means a lot to our community, and it’s disheartening to see so much hard work destroyed. If anyone saw anything or knows who was involved, please get in touch.
We’re determined to repair the damage and keep this space thriving
Awful We’re about to post the same thing about our garden in the SfL department. It’s so disheartening when we try so hard to keep it good and our young people are working in it
Considering the past, present and future of Scotland’s flagship music making fund for children and young people.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has welcomed a review highlighting the impact of music for young people of all backgrounds during Challenge Poverty Week.
The £9.78 million Scottish Government-funded Youth Music Initiative provides music-making opportunities for young people across Scotland, particularly those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
The review found the Creative Scotland-administered programme had expanded access and opportunities for children across Scotland with more than 453,000 children supported over the last year.
It also found that its newest strand, the Youth Arts Open Fund, delivered in participation with YouthLink, is already creating additional opportunities for young people facing barriers to participation. This includes ‘Starcatchers’, who opened their Baby Studio in an empty retail unit in Wester Hailes, providing free access to creative space for babies and young children.
The review makes a range of recommendations for the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to consider. These focus on potential structural changes as well as seeking out opportunities to innovate and cement YMI’s position as an internationally-recognised model of best practice in youth arts and engagement.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “At its heart, the YMI is about providing young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy music.
“Participation in cultural and creative activities helps young people grow into confident citizens and plays an important role in fostering wellbeing and supporting attainment.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support the delivery of these benefits with £9.78 million funding in the last Budget. The review’s recommendations will be considered carefully alongside the independent Review of Creative Scotland.”
Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager at Creative Scotland said: “This report marks a pivotal moment to both reflect on the profound impact of the YMI on Scotland’s children and young people, and to celebrate how deeply it’s now embedded within the fabric of our national cultural offer.
“We welcome the report’s recommendations which provide a clear focus for the programme’s strategic development, and we remain ambitious about the future direction of the fund.”
To celebrate Black History Month, Vue venues in Edinburgh have curated a collection of biographic movies that champion Black representation.
Screening across the entire month of October, the season kicks off today (8 October) with biographical drama Ray, which focuses on the life and career of musical legend Ray Charles.
Written by the late James L White, and directed by Academy Award winning director Taylor Hackford, the icon comes alive beautifully through music, drama and stellar performances from Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King and more.
Also screening as part of Black History Month on 15 October is Straight Outta Compton.
The film tells the true story of how cultural rebels NWA – armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent – stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down. As they spoke the truth, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.
From 22 October, movie fans will also be able to watch the life of one of the most awarded performers of all time in Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.
The biographical musical creatively depicts the life and career of Whitney Houston with Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci and Ashton Sanders bringing their roles to life.
To conclude the season, on 29 October Vue will be welcoming breakout stars, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch as they star in biographical drama musical, Bob Marley: One Love.
The movie depicts the life and musical career of the reggae singer in a unique and engrossing story from the perspectives of those closest to the music legend.
Robert Smith, General Manager at Vue in Edinburgh Omni, said: “We’re proud to be showing a variety of content on the big screen this Black History Month and we encourage film fans from all walks of life to immerse themselves in these incredible, true stories.”
Opens at Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh, EH14 2SW
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm
51 hours of Post Office service per week
Branch now open Saturday afternoons
Experienced father & son postmasters
One of UK’s first new-look Post Offices
Wester Hailes Post Office opened yesterday (7/10) at a new location – Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Upper Ground Floor Level, Westside Plaza, Edinburgh.
Wester Hailes Post Office, which had been directly managed by Post Office, has new franchise owners – father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad.
The branch is still within Westside Plaza. It has however moved to Plaza News, a hardware and convenience store, based in this shopping centre since 2016.
Previously, Mohammed and Aamir ran Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store in Musselburgh for six years.
Post Office Limited recently announced it is moving to a fully franchised network, as part of our wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters”.
Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this would create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.
Wester Hailes Post Office is one of the first branches in the country using new colours and format for a new look and feel for today’s modern world. There is more internal signage which informs customers of the three key services we perform: Banking, Mails and Travel.
Wester Hailes Post Office has two open plan serving positions at the retail counter. The same full range of services are still available, including an internal ATM.
The opening hours are Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. This is an extra 5 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week including Saturday afternoon and earlier opening on a Tuesday morning than previously offered for the convenience of customers.
The shopping centre car park has dedicated disabled parking bays on upper level where the new branch is located.
TEAM members at Specsavers Morningside, together with local businesses from the area and nearby Bruntsfield, are joining forces to support people experiencing homelessness through a special out-of-hours clinic on Monday 13th October 2025.
The initiative, led by Michael O’Kane, director of Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll, brings together a wide network of local partners who are each contributing to make the event a community-wide effort.
Support has come from across the local areas, with donations and services from St James Management, Houseproud, Waitrose, Toys Galore, JoJo Maman Bébé, 181 Deli, and a local barber, among others.
Together, they are helping to provide food, essential winter clothing, baby clothes for families and haircuts, alongside free eye and ear care services.
A team of seven colleagues from the Morningside store, located at 85 Morningside Road, will host an eye and ear care clinic offering sight tests, OCT scans, glasses, hearing tests, and ear wax removals – all provided outside of normal business hours.
The clinic, organised to tie into World Homeless Day (10th October 2025), will run between 6–8pm, offering a calm, welcoming environment for people experiencing homelessness to access care and connect with the local community.
Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll stores are partnering with Social Bite, Streetwork at Simon Community Scotland and The Bethany Christian Trust, inviting anyone affected by homelessness to attend the clinic and access the support available.
This event forms part of Specsavers’ wider homelessness programme, reinforcing the company’s commitment to breaking down barriers to healthcare.
The Edinburgh stores are proud to mark World Homeless Day by taking a holistic approach – improving access to eye and ear care while also ensuring attendees can enjoy a meal, receive essential winter clothing, and access other wellbeing services in one supportive setting.
Michael O’Kane, clinical director at Specsavers Morningside and Cameron Toll stores, says: ‘Our ambition is to ensure that everyone experiencing homelessness can access free, appropriate eye and hearing care.
‘By helping people achieve better sight and hearing, we hope to improve their quality of life and unfortunately, we know that for many, this is not the case because it can be incredibly difficult for them to access to this care.
‘By holding an out-of-hours clinic around World Homeless Day and working closely with a number of generous businesses in the local area, we are aiming to make expert care accessible to our community whilst raising awareness of the barriers currently in place.’
One in three people who experience homelessness need glasses, and for many, accessing healthcare can be extremely difficult. This clinic is one of many being held across the UK, providing essential services to those who might otherwise go without.
Alongside its local work, Specsavers continues to collaborate nationally with organisations such as Crisis, Vision Care for Homeless People, and The Big Issue to develop long-term solutions that remove healthcare barriers for those most in need.
The company is also calling for policy changes to ensure that everyone experiencing homelessness can access free eye tests, hearing checks, and replacement glasses where needed.
Anyone who wishes to attend the clinic at Specsavers Morningside can request an appointment by calling 0131 446 9960 or emailing:
A record £99 million will be invested in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) this financial year to help thousands of households struggling to afford housing costs in Scotland.
During Challenge Poverty Week, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan highlighted the payments as a ‘lifeline’ for thousands of families and individuals. Funded by the Scottish Government and paid out by local authorities, the DHP scheme is designed to provide financial support to low-income households, delivering vital action to reduce poverty, safeguard tenancies and prevent homelessness.
The Scottish Government has budgeted a record £99 million in 2025-26 to deliver the payments, which are primarily used to help people affected by the UK Government’s under-occupancy charge (‘bedroom tax’) and benefit cap. In last month’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, the Housing Secretary allocated a further £2 million towards the budget for DHPs.
On a visit to Fife Gingerbread, a charity which supports lone parents and families in times of need, Ms McAllan said: “In a country as wealthy as Scotland, it is unacceptable that anyone, and particularly any child, should live with the strain and harm of poverty.
“While Scotland is now the only part of the UK where child poverty levels are falling, there remain many complex drivers of poverty – not least the high levels of inflation in the UK driving increases in the costs of basic essentials such as food, energy and housing.
“Last year 94,000 households were supported by the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme in Scotland. These payments are a vital lifeline for people in emergency situations and acute financial distress, where they cannot afford the cost of putting a roof over their head.
“The UK Government’s punitive welfare policies are driving the problems households face but the Scottish Government is doing what it can to mitigate the impact on people, from the £99 million investment in Discretionary Housing Payments this year to effectively scrapping the UK Government’s two-child limit in Scotland from March next year.
“The First Minister has made tackling child poverty among this government’s defining missions. However, we can only do that with a social security system that provides the support that people need in the hardest of times.
“The Scottish Government is committed to putting more money in people’s pockets and delivering real savings to support families. The UK Government must make the same choices.”
Fife Gingerbread CEO Laura Millar said: “During Challenge Poverty Week, we’re proud to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Housing. Discretionary Housing Payments are an important tool to help struggling families with their housing costs, and we welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest a further £2m to support households in temporary accommodation to find settled homes as a good next step.
“Children across Scotland deserve to grow up in safe, happy homes and we will continue to amplify their voice to champion for change.”
A group of fundraisers from across Scotland have returned after raising more than £44k for Childline by completing a gruelling 50km trek along the Great Wall of China.
The group of 14 fundraisers, who dubbed themselves the “Tartan Trailblazers,” walked 10km a day for five consecutive days across steep terrain, uneven steps, and exposed conditions – all in support of children and young people who rely on Childline.
Among the group were Angela Sloan, 63, a teacher and Childline volunteer from Glasgow, and Gemma Cutler, 22, a Childline counsellor from Aberdeen.
Gemma said: “The trek was an amazing experience and felt so surreal! The weather was pretty extreme with temperatures reaching 24 degrees and the paths were quite steep, with lots of loose rocks and uneven terrain.
“That made it difficult, but it was worth it for the views at the top and to raise money for Childline, of course. It was lovely to be able to accomplish something so difficult with likeminded people all for a shared cause – to support children and young people through Childline.”
Angela said: “It was unlike anything I have ever done before. The scale of the Wall was breathtaking and to feel the history beneath my feet made it unforgettable.
“The terrain was tough: steep climbs, loose rocks and relentless heat. There were moments of exhaustion, of course, but also laughter, camaraderie, and reflection.
“What kept us going was knowing that every step was helping Childline continue to be there for children who need someone to talk to. That purpose gave the whole experience real meaning.”
The trek, organised through Charity Challenge, followed the winding path of the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway, including the famous ‘heavenly staircase’ — a steep climb with dramatic views and unpredictable weather.
Arlene Main, Fundraising Manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the Tartan Trailblazers. Their determination, teamwork, and generosity will make a real difference to children and young people across Scotland.
“Their efforts are truly inspiring and its thanks to people like them that we can continue our work ensuring children are safe from abuse and neglect. Every step they took helps ensure Childline can continue to be there — day or night — for those who need someone to talk to.”
Funds raised will support the NSPCC’s Childline service. To donate, visit the group’s JustGiving page.
Young people looking for support can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.
Politicians must show they’re serious about tackling the crisis in Scottish A&Es, as new analysis from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine suggests that we are heading towards yet another winter of chaos.
The latest performance data for Scottish Emergency Departments, released yesterday (7 October) by Public Health Scotland for August 2025, showed that 5,556 people waited 12 hours or more to be admitted, transferred or discharged from major EDs.
That’s roughly one in every 22 patients and the highest number who experienced this wait for the month of August since records began in 2007.
The data, for major EDs in Scotland, also showed that in August 2025:
More than one in 10 (14,208) patients waited eight hours or more to be discharged, transferred or admitted – the worst August on record.
1,964 beds per day in Scotland were being occupied by people who are deemed healthy enough to be discharged, an increase of 36 on the previous month.
The proportion of patients being seen within the target of four hours fell again, from 65.8% in August 2024 to 64.7% this year.
Dr Jayne McLaren, RCEM Scotland Vice Chair, said: “These figures should send shivers down the spines of politicians who have yet to publish a tangible plan on how we will tackle the winter months ahead.
“I am dreading winter – and I know many of our members and colleagues feel the same.
“The numbers are for August when, traditionally, doctors and other ED staff would get some respite with less pressure on the system. We have had no such break – summer has been relentless
“Thousands of people, who have come to us because they are seriously hurt or sick, are being forced to endure hours and hours on trolleys and in corridors through no fault of their own. It’s a shocking consequence of a system that is near capacity.
“Unless the Government takes immediate action by putting forward detailed plans on how to tackle the issue, people will continue to bear the brunt of the crisis in Urgent and Emergency Care. This is serious.”
These figures come after RCEM’s recent analysis which showed there were more than 800 deaths associated with long A&E waits before admission in Scotland last year.
Visual representation if the data and longer-term trends are available on the RCEM Website.
Community Garden Vandalism 
We’re about to post the same thing about our garden in the SfL department. It’s so disheartening when we try so hard to keep it good and our young people are working in it 
