Our CCHS extra-curricular sports clubs are up and running for this term. Lots of activities on offer….come along and try something new!
Spaces can be booked by scanning the QR code on the poster.
For more information, contact Paul Murray (Active Schools Coordinator) at paul.1.murray@ea.edin.sch.uk
Students packing for university aren’t just anxious about Freshers’ Week or locating the best all-day breakfast in a new town. Many face a lesser-known emotional hurdle; parting ways with the family cat.
Leaving home is a massive milestone and feeling a sense of loss when saying goodbye to a companion you’ve shared your teenage years with is a genuine form of homesickness.
Pack a cherished cat photo, a familiar toy or a blanket your cat sleeps on to make your new room feel more like home.
Remember, you won’t be the only one missing a pet. Sharing stories and photos with flatmates is a great way to make friends and support each other. Video calls are another good way to stay in touch, especially since cats love to screen-bomb.
Back at home, cats can be unsettled by change, but a few simple steps can help. Cats thrive on routine and leaving a worn t.shirt in your cat’s favourite sleeping spot provides a comforting scent.
Families should watch for subtle signs of distress, such as changes in appetite or grooming habits, and consult a vet if concerned. But don’t worry, your cat won’t forget you. They’ll probably get over your absence faster than you will.
So, enjoy student life and look forward to the ultimate homecoming. Few things beat a warm, purr and head-bump greeting when you return for the holidays.
To learn about volunteering in your area, visit:
cats.org.uk/support-us/volunteeropportunities
Daniel Warren-Cummings
Senior Behaviour Engagement Manager, CATS PROTECTION
Brian Cox, legend of the stage and screen, returns to The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh on Sunday 8 November 2026 for an evening of conversation and stories, looking back on his remarkable life and career so far.
As one of the founding members of The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company in 1965, Brian Cox performed in the company’s first production, The Servant o’ Twa Maisters. Since then, he’s returned to The Lyceum stage in notable productions of The Master Builder (1993), Uncle Varick (2004), and most recently in Waiting for Godot (2015) where he marked the celebration of 50 years of the Company.
In an extraordinary career, spanning more than six decades, Brian’s journey has taken him from his early years in Scottish theatre to acclaimed roles on stage and screen around the world – including his unforgettable performance as Logan Roy in Succession. His feature directorial debut Glenrothan serves as a love letter to Scotland.
In this one-off event, audiences will have the rare chance to spend an evening in the company of one of Scotland’s most celebrated actors, with a chance to submit their questions for Brian to answer.
Money raised will go towards supporting the theatre in continuing to provide stand-out productions for Edinburgh audiences year-round and creating vital employment opportunities for creatives across Scotland.
James Brining, Artistic Director at The Lyceum, said: “Having Brian back on The Lyceum stage is a real treat, not only because he’s one of Scotland’s most celebrated actors, but because he’s played such a significant part in our history.
Brian’s career is a testament to the power of Scottish theatre in nurturing exceptional talent and to the importance of giving audiences the opportunity to experience the work of Scottish artists through every stage of their creative journey.”
A limited number of VIP seats are available, which include an invitation to a pre-show reception. Starting at 6pm, the reception will include a welcome drink and a meet and greet with Brian.
An Evening with Brian Cox is at The Lyceum on Sunday 8 November 2026.
Tickets can be found at lyceum.org.uk.
PICTURE: David Ho
Tesco is bringing its ‘Best Night In’ roadshow to Edinburgh this month giving shoppers the chance to sample food and win prizes.
The roadshow will be visiting Edinburgh Corstorphine Extra on Tuesday the 22nd of September, giving shoppers the chance to sample the perfect snacks and drinks for an evening at home at a special Best Night In living room set up in the store car park.
Shoppers will also get the chance to take part in an interactive game to win Best Night In prizes from Tesco.
Tesco UK Marketing Director Murray Bisschop said: “As we head into autumn, more and more of our customers will be looking forward to a cosy night in and we want to help shoppers across Great Britain with everything you need to make the most of those autumn evenings indoors.”
As part of the Best Night In activity millions of Tesco Clubcard members have already received free coupons for fresh Tesco Finest pizzas that can be redeemed in Tesco stores and online through its popular Freebie Thursday’s scheme.
Tesco is also offering the chance for 50 shoppers to win a Best Night In tech bundle worth £10,000, including an up to 98” 4K TCL television, a Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar, a PlayStation 5, a Nintendo Switch 2, a Sony Bluetooth turntable, a £2,500 furniture voucher, and £1,000 to spend at Tesco.
To qualify customers just need to spend in £25 in a qualifying transaction at Tesco in-store or online until October 4th*.
What are you reading for #WeeRead26? 
Let’s come together on October 7th to celebrate the power of reading and the vital role libraries play in our lives!
From novels and comics to recipes and poems, every kind of reading matters. This is your chance to pause, pick up something you love, and join a nationwide moment dedicated to the joy of reading – and the positive impact it has on our wellbeing, learning, and everyday life.
Libraries across Scotland are ready to welcome you on your reading journey. By taking part, you’ll be joining thousands of others – schools, libraries, workplaces, community groups, families, and individuals – helping to build a Scotland where reading is valued, shared, and enjoyed by all.
Ready to inspire others? Make your pledge and share what you’re reading! Let’s show the world that Scotland is a nation of readers.
Take part here 
https://www.weeread.scot/
Rock band swim school headlined a night of live performance, DJ sets and Scottish design at Westfield St James Quarter on Thursday night (10 September), as the centre officially became Westfield St James Quarter with the opening of ten days of cultural programming curated by Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey.
The evening was one of three UK events held on the same night for Westfield Days: The Sound of Style, presented in partnership with the British Fashion Council, with sister events at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
In Edinburgh, guests were treated to a headline set from swim school, a performance from drag act Jonbers, a DJ set from Jungle Hussi with guests piped down to the stage by trans piper, Malin Lewis.
Westfield Days centres around Charles Jeffrey’s Listening Room, an immersive installation built from his own archive and soundscapes, and his PUNK FLEA MARKET, a limited-time shop of archival pieces, accessories and exclusive products. Guests got a first look at both ahead of the wider ten-day programme, which runs at Westfield St James Quarter until 20th September.
Born in Scotland, Jeffrey is internationally recognised for blending design, performance, music and culture into a distinctive creative vision.
Returning home for the takeover, he said: “I’m looking forward to celebrating the people, places and cultural influences that inspire my work, on home turf here in Scotland.
“This is ten days of everything that’s shaped me – the music, the people, the chaotic creativity of it all – and I want Edinburgh to feel like it’s part of that story, not just watching it happen.”
Alice Johnson, singer with swim school said: “Headlining the opening night of Westfield St James Quarter was brilliant, and playing alongside everything Charles Jeffrey’s put together for Westfield Days: The Sound of Style made the night feel like something genuinely different for the city.
“Westfield St James Quarter feels buzzing – and we’re proud to have been a part of the launch.”
Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at Westfield St James Quarter, said:“This is what the new chapter for Westfield St James Quarter looks like – bold and built around real creative talent.
“Becoming Westfield St James Quarter is an exciting evolution for this destination, and we wanted the launch to feel like that. Ten days of music, fashion and ideas from Charles Jeffrey, one of Scotland’s most exciting creative voices, is exactly the statement we hoped to make.”
Highlights of the Westfield St James Quarter launch included:
Guests to Westfield St James Quarter can experience a full programme of talks, workshops and live performances continuing at each centre as part of the wider Fashion Britain initiative.
Highlights include:
Full programme of activity is available to view here.
TAKE UP WOULD SAVE NHS AND SOCIAL CARE SERVICES ALMOST £1 BILLION
New research from national charity Independent Age shows that full take-up of three key financial entitlements could lift 280,000 older people out of poverty across the UK, reducing pensioner poverty by 15%. This includes Pension Credit, pensioner Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. The analysis was carried out by the research agency Public First.
The report, entitled ‘The only way is up: The impact of improved entitlement take-up on pensioner poverty and healthcare spending’ also shows that increasing take-up of these entitlements to 100% could help improve older people’s health, leading to a reduction in health and social care public spending by up to a colossal £950 million a year in England.
Independent Age is calling on the UK Government to publish an all-entitlements take-up strategy for the UK. This should include a strong commitment and targets to increase take-up.
The number of older people in poverty in the UK is rising, with around 1.7 million in relative poverty in 2024/25, which is an increase of 200,000 compared to the year before. Another one million live close to the poverty line.
Despite this, the charity says that too many eligible older people are missing out on money set aside for them. Over one in three (38%) of those eligible for Pension Credit are not receiving it, and around 230,000 older households are missing out on Housing Benefit.
Official take-up figures of Council Tax Reduction are not produced, however the report analysis indicates that over a million pensioner households could be missing out on this vital support.
The organisation is also calling for the Pensions Commission to agree on what an adequate income in later life looks like, and the UK Government to commit to ensuring everyone receives this.
Concerningly, full take up would also provide an additional 770,000 older people with more vital income, but they would still remain in poverty, indicating that financial entitlements and the State Pension alone is not always adequate to live on.
Joanna Elson CBE, Chief Executive of Independent Age said: “Our social security system was designed as a safety net for all of us but the evidence is clear, it is failing older people in poverty. Money that has been set aside is not reaching the older people who need it and at a time with increasing costs, the impact of this is devastating.
“Through our helpline, we hear often from older people who are having to skip meals or only wash once a week to make ends meet. This is unacceptable.
“Older people on a low income have been left to struggle for too long. That’s why we urgently need a strategy to ensure everyone receives the support they are entitled to and an agreement on what an adequate income looks like in later life for all of us as we age.
“With the upcoming changes in leadership, this is a golden opportunity for the UK Government to reverse the worsening picture of poverty in later life.”
Independent Age’s report found that three groups especially benefitted from increased take-up of these entitlements. These were: older people living alone, older renters and those on the old State Pension. This is due to a combination of likely higher initial costs such as housing or energy, and a lower income.
Valerie’s Story
Valerie, 68, from the Isle of Wight
“Once the rent was paid, along with Council Tax – more than £150 a month even with the single person discount – there wasn’t enough left. I had to cut back on everything. I lived on £1 meals from Iceland because they were cheap and filling, even though I knew they weren’t very nutritious.
“I relied on a local community pantry where £5 bought roughly £15 of food.
“I couldn’t afford to put the heating on. My house is all electric and it was simply too expensive. I spent winters wrapped in blankets, drinking cups of instant soup to keep warm, and sometimes slept downstairs so I didn’t have to walk through cold rooms at night.”
Valerie called Independent Age and, while she wasn’t eligible for Pension Credit, an adviser supported her to start receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, which she hadn’t previously been aware of. After starting to receive these entitlements, Valerie described the impact this had on her life.
“Life is so much better now. I still budget carefully, but I’m not living on my credit card anymore. I can buy fresh vegetables, cook proper meals and freeze portions so food lasts longer.
“I can travel to the mainland to see family, and I enjoy the things that matter to me, such as going to the local theatre and being part of the choir. I called the Independent Age Helpline at a time in my life when I didn’t know where to turn.
“The support I received has made a dramatic difference to my daily life. I nearly didn’t make that call – but I’m so glad I did. Before that call, I was surviving day to day. Now, I feel like I’m living again.”
We have a delicious lunch planned for this Monday! Lasagne with roasted green beans on the side, beautiful beans from Edinburgh Agroecology Coop!
And for pudding, apple crumble made with our very own apples.
As always, breakfast is on from 9am – 10:30am, lunch served at 11:30am – 12:30pm.
Sit in or take away available, open to all. See you there!
50+ miles. Two days. Talented paddle boarding. One extraordinary team.
This Thursday and Friday , an incredible group of people supported by EDGE took on on a challenge that many would consider almost unimaginable — paddling more than 50 miles over two days on one Mega-SUP, while raising funds towards a much-needed mini van.
My brother Abdul-Wahid is turning the big 30 this October and is taking on a fundraising paddleboarding challenge for Edge! 
Edge has supported Abdul-Wahid through the pandemic, helping him find purpose, travel to dream destinations, make lifelong friends and learn new skills. More recently, they have supported him through the heartbreaking loss of our beloved father.
We’re incredibly grateful for everything Edge has done for him.
Please support Abdul-Wahid’s challenge if you can. 
But this story isn’t really about how far they can paddle. It’s about what can happen when people are given the opportunity, encouragement and support to believe in themselves.
Over recent weeks, the team has trained tirelessly, developing teamwork, communication, resilience, coordination and problem-solving skills. They have faced difficult weather, adapted when plans changed and continued to work together towards their goal.
Their determination and commitment have been truly extraordinary.
The expedition is also raising vital funds towards a mini van for EDGE. Accessible transport would make an enormous difference to the people supported by the organisation, helping them access activities, connect with their local community, develop independence and enjoy opportunities that many of us simply take for granted.
We believe this deserves to be more than just a fundraising story. It is a story about inclusion, possibility and challenging perceptions — and about celebrating the remarkable achievements of people who are too often underestimated.
The team has already shown what they can achieve. Now they are ready to take on the water, together, as one crew.
We would be incredibly grateful if you would consider sharing their story with your readers and helping us raise awareness of both their incredible achievement and the importance of the mini-van fundraiser.
More information about the expedition can be found here:
https://www.edgegroupscotland.com/edge-to-edge-expedition
The fundraising page is here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/edge-to-edge-expedition-10-years-of-going-further
They have trained. They have prepared. They have believed in themselves. Now it’s time to paddle. 
Proud Big Sister Khadijah Shahid
The Scottish Veterans Commissioner (SVC) has challenged the new Scottish Government to make faster progress towards making Scotland a better place to live for those who have served their country.
The SVC today publishes her annual assessment of the Scottish Government’s progress in improving support and services for Scotland’s veterans and their families. The report evaluates progress against a number of recommendations made by the SVC office, which the Scottish Government has committed to implementing.
However, Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton has expressed her disappointment at the limited progression in key activities designed to make meaningful improvements to the lives of our veteran community.
With a new parliamentary term now under way and a new government programme of work announced earlier this month, the SVC says it is essential that the commitment to helping support those who have served our country and their families is maintained.
Following on from an encouraging report last year, this year’s evaluation highlights a slowdown in the progress being made towards implementing recommendations.
It represents the first review of progress towards recommendations laid out in the Veterans and the Law (2024) and Veterans and Finance (2025) reports and, as these are both policy themes chosen by the Scottish Government in its own strategy for veterans, the SVC says she is disappointed to note the low level of general activity in these areas.
And, while some significant milestones will be reached this year in the implementation of the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Pathway, the Commissioner remains concerned by the length of time it has taken to reach this stage.
The Commissioner said: “While there has been some headway made, it is a muted picture overall and that is disappointing.”
Areas the progress report explores includes work around housing and preventing homelessness.
The Commissioner said: “I welcome that the new Local Housing Strategy guidance issued in March 2026 contains an expectation that local authorities will give consideration to the needs of the armed forces and veteran community, including spouses, partners, children and the bereaved, when developing their statutory local housing strategies.
“However, there has been minimal progress on implementing the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Pathway. The establishment of a working group would bring rigour and focus to this work – which is long overdue.”
The report also calls for further action to be taken on veteran employment.
The Commissioner added: “I noted my concern last year that there lacked strategic leadership and direction on veteran employment.
“This is an area where there has been limited progress and I hope that the findings in my recent report on ‘Veterans and Employment’ will support further action – as I believe harnessing the experience, skills and qualifications of the ex-Service community, including partners and spouses, presents a real opportunity.”
The low number of GP practices registering with a scheme designed to recognise the specific needs of veterans is also highlighted by the progress report, with the Commissioner commenting: “I continue to hear from the veteran community that their Service and specific needs are not well understood when they require primary healthcare.
“The GP Recognition Scheme was launched in 2023 to address this. However, sign up remains inadequate at around five per cent of GP practices registering with the scheme.
“More attention and resource has been directed towards the roll-out – this needs to lead to a considerable increase in registration over the coming year.”
The report acknowledges that much of the progress that has been made over the last 12 months has been due to partnership between the statutory and voluntary sector, including the organisations funded by the Scottish Veterans Fund, whose work directly supports some recommendations.
The Commissioner encourages government and statutory services to continue to harness and deepen co-operation with the effective delivery partners in Scotland’s robust and collaborative ex-Service charity sector.
The progress report also welcomes some of the recently introduced gambling levy being allocated to support Serving personnel and veterans, with an increased risk of gambling harm having been identified within that community.
The Commissioner hopes the new government will now use the coming year to provide a renewed focus on areas identified for improvement, adding: “This progress report comes at an early stage of this government but what it shows is that more progress at a faster pace is going to be required to make Scotland the destination of choice for Service leavers, veterans and their families.
“The forthcoming extension of Armed Forces Covenant legislation to new policy areas also reinforces the need for continued effort towards providing fair treatment for those who have served our country so well, and to the families whose support is the backbone of that Service.
“I will continue to monitor progress closely and work with the Scottish Government and its partners to ensure commitments are delivered in a way that drives real, lasting change.”
The full 2026 progress report is available here:
