Foysol Choudhury MSP celebrates Scotland’s first Transplant Football Team

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, calls for the celebration of Scotland’s first ever transplant football team, encouraging progression post-procedure. Scotland has made history with the formation of its first-ever transplant football team, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together individuals who have undergone organ, stem-cell, or bone marrow transplants.

The mixed-gender team, with an average age of 40, welcomes players from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment where transplant recipients can connect with others who have faced similar challenges. The club’s mission extends beyond fitness—it’s about reclaiming life after a transplant, proving that recovery is not just about survival but about thriving. 

The health benefits of the club go far beyond physical activity. Jelina Berlow-Rahman, the only female player on the team, embodies the spirit of resilience. Diagnosed with kidney failure at 26, she endured four years on dialysis before receiving her transplant.

Remarkably, she built her own law firm while undergoing treatment, demonstrating the power of perseverance. Jelina shares the team’s message: “Anyone can play, for however long they want. Everyone is welcome. It’s fine to play continuously and guide one another.” 

For many transplant recipients, the journey doesn’t end with surgery—it’s a lifelong process of adapting to new challenges. The team provides a support system, helping players overcome emotional and physical hurdles that often accompany major medical procedures. Many patients struggle with mental health difficulties post-transplant, feeling isolated or uncertain about their future.

Football offers them an outlet for expression, a way to regain confidence, and a chance to honour their donors. The Scottish Transplant Football Team has already made waves in the international transplant sports community.

Despite being only six months old, the team competed in the 2025 European Transplant Football Championships, facing off against seasoned teams from across the continent. Scotland was the only mixed-gender team in the tournament, showcasing its commitment to inclusivity and diversity. 

The squad, founded by Duncan MacAulay, an Inverness-based fire service worker who underwent a heart transplant, has rapidly grown into a 21-player team.

Their participation in the Euros was a testament to their determination, securing an 8-1 victory over Ireland before battling against top-tier opponents like Spain and Italy. Jelina Berlow-Rahman also made history as the first woman to play for Scotland’s transplant football team at an international level. Her presence on the pitch was a powerful statement about breaking barriers and proving that transplant recipients can achieve incredible feats. 

The team’s journey is just beginning. With plans to expand recruitment, raise awareness about organ donation, and compete in the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup, Scotland’s transplant footballers are determined to inspire others and change perceptions about life after transplantation. 

Their message is clear: transplant recipients are not defined by their medical history—they are athletes, professionals, and individuals with limitless potential.

Commenting, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “The Scottish Transplant Football Team is more than just a sports club—it’s a lifeline for players seeking physical and mental well-being, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose.

“Through football, they are proving that life after a transplant is not just about survival—it’s about thriving, competing, and celebrating second chances.”

Drugs and firearms offences: Three arrested in Pilton

Three people have been arrested and charged in connection with drugs and firearms offences in Edinburgh.

Yesterday, Thursday 17 April, 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property on Crewe Road Gardens.

Two men, aged 61 and 41, and a 17-year-old female, were arrested and charged. They are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Saturday, 19 April.

A number of weapons, including a firearm, and mobile phones were seized.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry, Specialist Crime Division, said: “I want to reassure the community that extensive enquiries are ongoing into this as part of our investigation into recent incidents in the East and West of the country.

“There will be a continued police presence in the area.

“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”

Dogged determination will win the day at Musselburgh’s Famous Corgi Derby

Seventeen runners including two previous champions will battle it out in Musselburgh Racecourse’s Famous Corgi Derby on Easter Saturday.

A competitive canine field will set off over a lengthy 70 metres – lengthy for their short legs – with tennis coach and former Strictly Come Dancing star Judy Murray on her toes and raising the starting flag.

All eyes will be on Rodney (no 8), the 2023 Champion Corgi, who is described by owners Matt Kendall and Nicole Whiteside as “always hungry, always smiling” and who likes to cheer on the horses as they roar past the winning post.

The 2022 champion, Georgie Rumbles (no 11), is also in the mix and while the four-year-old Welsh Corgi is said to be “full of lots of mischief” by owner Alison Rumbles, it remains to be seen if she can cause enough upset to reclaim the crown.

Local interest will be with Honest Toun entry Merlin (no 12), who can often be found patrolling the lagoons which sit next to the racecourse. A “shameless flirt”, owners Sam Benson and Andrew Marks will be hoping Merlin has the magic to take number one spot but say his biggest challenge will be “resisting telling off the other racers for having too much fun”.

Two entries who may benefit from a Chariot of Fire style training regime on St Andrew’s famous beaches are Teddy (no 1) and Tommy (no 2). When he is not having his belly rubbed and chasing cuddly toys, Welsh-born Teddy “has most fun running up and down the West Sands in St Andrew’s” said owner Will Lamond.

Number two entry Toffee, wearing appropriate brown colours, has a passion for chasing pigeons and also “loves to sprint on the beach at St Andrews”, when she is not toasting herself by the fire, according to owner Mia Anderson.

The poshest-named entry is North Yorkshire-based Chester Barkington (no 7) who wears red colours and “enjoys sampling foods of the land and diving into any water source”, claim owners Rhiannon Lister and Mike Kilroy.

A dark horse contender – er, dark dog! – could be number nine Nash who may well live up to her and sprint ahead of the pack. Owner Thomas Wilson from Gourock admits the five-year-old loves sleeping on the floor, on the couch and in her bed – but is also “a zoomy wee legend who is incredibly fast and always smiling”.

Betting fans can probably avoid losing a few quid by giving ominously numbered Pennybun (no 13) a wide berth. Owner Xander Elliards admits the two-and-a-half year old resembles the plump little mushroom after which she is named, and that despite intensive training with her long-suffering Golden Retriever sister Dilly-dally, “enthusiasm is guaranteed but Derby victory may be a long shot”.

Musselburgh Racecourse Head of Marketing and Business Development, Aisling Johnston, said: “Just like the equine entries in our seven Flat races on Virgin Bet Easter Saturday, our Famous Corgi Derby has attracted a top class field and leading trainers from all over the UK.

“It may be only 1/3 of a furlong in distance but our 17 corgis will be going to great lengths to be crowned Champion Corgi and racing and dog fans alike would be barking mad to miss out on this unique event.”

The Corgi Derby is off at noon and will be run in front of Musselburgh Racecourse’s historic grandstand.

Official starter Judy Murray will also be on hand to send off the Mini Queen’s Cup at 1pm with young children competing on Happy Hoppers for Easter prizes.

Families can also enjoy a dedicated kid’s Clip Clop zone featuring the return of the hugely popular Easter Bunny, free game stalls, free fairground rides for all ages and free face painting, with kids aged under 17 admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Musselburgh maintains it’s reputation for excellent street food and vendors with children’s options include Well Hung & Tender, The Chippy, Dog N Bon, Wicked Pizza and Dippin Doughnuts, while the racecourse’s own Pinkie’s Deli, Café 1816 and Harris Tweed Bistro all have kid’s packed lunch and meal offerings.

On the turf, a highly competitive seven-card fixture boasts prize money of almost £300,000, with the feature race the £100,000 Virgin Bet Queen’s Cup which is supported by Scotland’s fastest horse race, the £45,000 Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup over a pacey five furlongs.

The After-Racing Party, open to all race goers, will be hosted by Forth One evening show host Callum Gallacher on the decks for one hour after the last race.

Gates open at 11.30am and the first and last races are scheduled for 1.50pm and 5.17pm, respectively. Book tickets before midnight on 18 April to save£6 per person. On the day price will be £38 per person.

Visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk for more information.

Police appeal after child struck by taxi in South Gyle

Road traffic police are appealing for the driver of a taxi that struck a child in Edinburgh to come forward.

At 3.15pm on Tuesday, 15 April we received a report of a collision involving a taxi and a four-year-old boy on South Gyle Broadway, near to Burne Cruik.

The child was hit at a pedestrian crossing and taken to The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People for treatment to what are described as minor injuries.

The driver of the taxi, described as a black people carrier style, did stop but then drove off towards the South Gyle Access Road without leaving details.

Constable Kristof Hona said: “We are appealing for the driver, or anyone that knows who the driver is, to come forward.

“If you were in the area at the time and have dash cam footage that could be useful in our investigation, get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference 2002 of 15 April, 2025.

More than half a million more people in line for savings boost

  • Government’s Help to Save scheme now open to 550,000 more people to help with cost of living
  • Those saving £50 a month can expect £25 Government top-up, putting more money in people’s pockets
  • Part of Government’s mission to grow the economy and deliver on Plan for Change

More than half a million more UK savers are in line for Government bonuses worth up to £25 a month to boost their cash pots and help ease rises in the cost of living, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced today.

As part of the Government’s mission to grow the economy and improve lives in every corner of the UK and to deliver its Plan for Change, Help to Save is now open to anyone working and receiving Universal Credit – rewarding 550,000 more people.

Its extension to April 2027 means more can benefit from the scheme, which has paid out millions of pounds in bonuses to more than 500,000 people since Help to Save was launched in 2018.

This is evidence of the Government backing the most vulnerable in society with 93% of savers paying in the maximum £50 every month to their Help to Save account.

In Scotland, 36,050 Help to Save savers have paid in a total of £33,584,000 into their accounts, since September 2018.

An account can be set up in less than 5 minutes and easily managed through GOV.UK or the HMRC app, making it accessible to people throughout the UK.

Savers who deposit the maximum amount of £2,400 over four years will receive a bonus totalling £1,200 into their bank accounts, with payments coming at the end of the second and final year.

Economic Secretary Emma Reynolds said: ““Security for working people is at the heart of our Plan for Change.

“We want more people to have a bit in the kitty for a rainy day, which is why we are giving hundreds of thousands more working families on tight budgets access to this support.”

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Thousands of customers have already benefitted from Help to Save and many more are now eligible to get a great return of 50% on top of their savings, no matter how little you can save each month. Go online or via the HMRC app to find out more and apply today.”

Savers can deposit between £1 and £50 each month earning an extra 50 pence for every £1 saved, with bonuses paid in the second and fourth years of the account being opened. The bonus payment applies to the highest amount saved within the period.

Nearly 18,500 people opened a Help to Save account via the HMRC app in 2024. App users have access to their savings account at their fingertips. They can view their account, check their balance and bonus details, and make a deposit via debit card, bank transfer or standing order.

Money can be withdrawn at any time, although this may affect the 50% bonus payments.

Michelle Highman, Chief Executive of The Money Charity, said: ‘We are really pleased to see the Help to Save scheme extended and made available to more people.

“It’s a brilliant way for people to start to save and to build their financial resilience and futures. Saving even just a little each month will help, and the added 50% bonus payment from the Government means that if you are eligible, then it’s a great place to boost your savings.”

Find out more about Help to Save at GOV.UK.

Tesco shopper selects local school to receive a £5,000 donation

St Thomas of Aquin’s High School is celebrating after being selected by a Tesco customer to receive a £5,000 donation.

On Saturday 15th March, Tesco customers at the Edinburgh Nicholson Street Express store were given the chance to take part in a lucky dip to find a golden version of Tesco’s famous blue voting token.

St Thomas of Aquin’s High School was one of three local groups that customers could vote for to receive the £5,000 Golden Grant as part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme.

Philippa Hastings, a member of staff at St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, said: “This funding will be used to support the families of the St Thomas of Aquin’s school students in accessing extra-curricular and excursion opportunities at a time when many families are struggling with the cost of living.

“We are trying to develop educational and engaging opportunities for young people to learn outside of the classroom and are thrilled to be able to support families financially thanks to this grant.”

Over one hundred Tesco stores across the country took part in the Golden Grants event, with £500,000 in total being donated to good causes that help children and young people.

Stronger Starts helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, as well as purchasing equipment for healthy activities.

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: “We are incredibly proud to award Golden Grants to over one hundred schools and local projects, supporting the vital work they do for our children and communities.

“Since we launched our grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.”

Golden Grants are part of Tesco’s £8 million Stronger Starts grant programme, which is delivered in partnership with the charity Groundwork UK.

Three arrested and charged following drugs recoveries in Lothians and Edinburgh

Three men have been arrested and charged following the recovery of drugs in the Lothians and Edinburgh.

Yesterday (Thursday, 17 April, 2025), police officers executed warrants at various addresses in Livingston, Pencuik, Bathgate, Armadale and Edinburgh. 

Quantities of cannabis with an estimated street value of £700,000 were seized alongside a five-figure sum of cash. 

The men, aged 24, 30 and 32, are due to appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Saturday, 19 April, 2025.

Detective Sergeant John Irvine said: “This represents a significant recovery and highlights our efforts to disrupt the drugs trade in our local communities.

“Seizures such as this show our commitment nationally to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.

“We will continue to take all steps to tackle and disrupt individuals involved in drug supply and I encourage anyone with any information to contact Police Scotland on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Stuart Dobbin aims for Holyrood selection

SNP Forth Ward councillor, Stuart Dobbin, has announced he has put his name forward to represent the new Edinburgh Northern constituency at the next  Scottish Parliament election  next May.

Having been living with his wife, Rosanna, in Inverleith for several years, he knows Northern Edinburgh very well. 

As a local councillor he has represented Forth Ward since 2022, and before returning to Scotland worked internationally in business for over a quarter of a century. 

As councillor, he is an active presence in the community and recognised by residents and third sector organisations as an energetic and active advocate for them. 

He is proud of the success he has had in pressuring the council to change how they respond to tenants living in damp and mould-ridden homes. It shows how he can challenge institutions to achieve outcomes, in this case, that change peoples’ lives for the better and healthier. 

Stuart said “This election is about Scotland’s place in the UK, in Europe and, ultimately, in the world.  Our country faces challenges that are of a scale radically different to those we face locally. 

“Having rid ourselves of the Tory government, we find a Labour Prime Minister who clearly treats Scotland with contempt and is doing nothing to protect our pensioners, the disabled or the workers at Grangemouth.  All promises broken.

“I bring a wealth of professional and lived experience.  I spent quarter of a century in leadership positions, living and working across Asia, engaging with commercial and government organisations and managing through some very tough times. 

“I have proven my commitment and ability to represent my constituents, with the drive and energy to affect change within institutions, with the temperament and broad professional and lived experience that would make me an effective advocate to stand up in the Scottish Parliament to represent Edinburgh Northern  and our national interests.”

Father of motorcyclist killed in crash supports Police Scotland’s Motorcycle Safety Campaign

The father of a man who died in a motorcycle crash near Glencoe is supporting Police Scotland’s annual motorcycle safety campaign, which highlights the vulnerability of motorcyclists on Scotland’s roads.

Ross Dominick (above), a 35-year-old father of three from Johnstone, died on Sunday, 23 July, 2023 when a car pulled across his path as he was riding with friends. The crash happened on the A82 at the entrance to the Buachaille Etive Beag car park, in Glencoe, where Ross sadly died at the scene.

His father, Ian Dominick, is supporting the campaign by sharing his son’s story as part of Police Scotland’s wider efforts to raise awareness of the risks faced by motorcyclists.

The campaign follows the publication of a joint study with Transport Scotland examining motorcycle fatalities between January 2015 and August 2024.

The study found that 269 people – including 253 riders and 16 passengers – were killed during that period. Despite accounting for less than 1% of traffic, motorcyclists represented 18% of all road fatalities in Scotland.

Ross’ father, Ian Dominick (above), said: “Ross was just an ordinary guy doing what he loved – out on a sunny day on a motorbike with his friends. And he never came home.

“We’re not the same people we were before – it changed everything. Our outlook on life now is just take every day as it comes, because you don’t know when it’ll be taken from you.

“His family haven’t had the opportunity to grow up with him, he hasn’t had the opportunity to see his family grow up.

“My message to everyone using the roads is simple – open your eyes and look again. If you can’t do that, you shouldn’t be on the roads. Everyone deserves to get home safely.”

Inspector Ally Johnson, from Police Scotland’s National Motorcycle Unit said: “Motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable road users. They have far less protection than those in cars, and when things go wrong, the consequences can be devastating.

“We’re encouraging motorcyclists to take their time, understand the risks, and enjoy the roads safely – particularly when overtaking, on bends or approaching junctions. As part of that, we’d encourage riders to consider opportunities like Rider Refinement, a one-day course, that helps improve skills and build awareness of the risks involved.

“Other road users also have a responsibility to look out for motorcyclists, especially at junctions where visibility can be limited. Everyone has a part to play in keeping the roads safe.”

Anyone interested in attending a Rider Refinement course can find more information and book a place via the Institute of Advanced Motorists website or by searching ‘Rider Refinement Scotland’ online.

Council Leader pays tribute to Councillor Val Walker

COUNCIL LEADER CLLLR JANE MEAGHER COMMENTS ON THE SAD PASSING OF HER COLLEAGUE, CULTURE & COMMUNITIES CONVENER CLLR VAL WALKER

Councillor Jane Meagher said: “I was extremely sad to hear of Val’s sudden and unexpected death and my thoughts are with her family and friends.

“It was a privilege to get to know Val, both as a friend and colleague. What struck me from the very beginning was her intelligence, her wit but, most of all, her warmth and kindness. Even in the heat of political debate she would always remain calm, constructive and respectful of other people’s views.

“Prior to becoming a councillor, her roles in education and library services over many years gave her a long-lasting passion for reading, something that she loved to share with others – helping them to discover the wonderful world of books and libraries.

“Alongside this, she campaigned tirelessly for the Labour Party, as she did for the rights of workers, women and single parents. She spent thousands of hours knocking on doors and speaking to local residents – and I know that being elected as councillor for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart in 2022 filled her with huge pride, something that stayed with her throughout.

“She brought the same determination to her role as Chair of the Council’s Joint Consultative Committee and I know she was held in the highest regard by the Trade Unions, who recognised a lifetime of activism and support.

“Val’s other great passion for theatre, and the arts more generally, made her the perfect choice for Culture and Communities Convener, a role that she approached with vigour and enthusiasm. She was never happier than when she’d managed to find a way of reaching consensus with all parties and I know that she was trusted and admired by colleagues from across the chamber.

“She was also a great champion of the festivals, and of the benefits they bring to our city’s reputation, but – in typically balanced fashion – an equally fierce defender of our parks and greenspaces and the huge enjoyment they bring to our residents.

“Val is a great loss to the council, to her colleagues and to the city. We will miss her immensely.”

‘Everyone at the Unite City of Edinburgh Council branch is saddened to hear that Councillor Val Walker has passed away. We know her as a solid supporter of worker’s rights.

‘She will be dearly missed.’

Flags will be lowered at the City Chambers as a mark of respect.