The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 354 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Farm visit? Remember hand hygiene!

Taking the family to a farm this weekend?

Keep you and your family healthy by making sure you wash your hands after petting animals and before eating or drinking

Letters: NSPCC Scotland supporting National Play Day on 6th August

Dear Editor,

We are proud to support National Play Day on Wednesday, August 6, which has the theme of ‘Spaces for Play’, highlighting the vital importance of spaces for children to play and explore.

It’s crucial for young people to spend time connecting with their friends, and children have the right to play, as stated in the UN Convention on Rights of a Child.

However, Play Scotland has revealed startling figures within the School Grounds in Scotland Report.

It says 15 per cent of schools have lost outdoor space in recent years and nearly half of schools consider their grounds as ‘low utility’ for supporting learning, play, and sport.

This Playday we are supporting calls for spaces for play that are welcoming, accessible and inclusive of children and young people of all ages and abilities.

And we are encouraging families, carers and communities to come together through play across the generations.

The NSPCC has a set of fun and evidence-based resources for new parents called Look, Say, Sing, Play, that provide activities to be enjoyed with babies and toddlers to help encourage higher quality interactions and build stronger bonds.

Together we can create a more playful world where all children can grow, thrive and feel a stronger sense of belonging.

Visit www.nspcc.org.uk or search online for NSPCC Look Say Sing Play.

Yours sincerely,

Kirsty Aitken

NSPCC Scotland Assistant Director

Keeping children safe online: Changes to the Online Safety Act explained

How new laws that keep children safe on the internet work

Keeping children safe

The way children experience the internet has fundamentally changed, as new laws under the Online Safety Act have come into force to protect under-18s from harmful online content they shouldn’t ever be seeing. This includes content relating to:

pornography
self-harm
suicide
eating disorder content

Ofcom figures show that children as young as 8 have accessed pornography online, while 16% of teenagers have seen material that stigmatises body types or promotes disordered eating in the last 4 weeks.   

To protect the next generation from the devastating impact of this content, people now have to prove their age to access pornography or this other harmful material on social media and other sites.    

Platforms are required to use secure methods like facial scans, photo ID and credit cards checks to verify the age of their users. This means it will be much harder for under-18s to accidentally or intentionally access harmful content. 

It’s clear in Ofcom’s codes that we expect platforms to ensure that strangers have no way of messaging children. This includes preventing children from receiving DMs from strangers and children should not be recommended any accounts to connect with.  

Data privacy

While people might see more steps to prove their age when signing up or browsing age-restricted content, they won’t be compromising their privacy.    

The measures platforms have to put in place must confirm your age without collecting or storing personal data, unless absolutely necessary. For example, facial estimation tools can estimate your age from an image without saving that image or identifying who you are. Many third-party solutions have the ability to provide platforms with an answer to the question of whether a user is over 18, without sharing any additional data relating to the user’s identity. 

 The government and the regulator, Ofcom, are clear that platforms must use safe, proportionate and secure methods, and any company that misuses personal data or doesn’t protect users could face heavy penalties.

Services must also comply with the UK’s data protection laws. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has set out the main data protection principles that services must take into account in the context of age assurance, including minimising personal data which is collected for these purposes.  

Virtual Private Networks

While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are legal in the UK, according to this law, platforms have a clear responsibility to prevent children from bypassing safety protections. This includes blocking content that promotes VPNs or other workarounds specifically aimed at young users.   

This means that where platforms deliberately target UK children and promote VPN use, they could face enforcement action, including significant financial penalties.  

The Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA) reports that there has been an additional 5 million age checks on a daily basis as UK-based internet users seek to access sites that are age-restricted.

Legal adult content

Online Safety laws do not ban any legal adult content. Instead, the laws protect children from viewing material that causes real harm in the offline world, devastating young lives and families.   

Under the Act, platforms should not arbitrarily block or remove content and instead must take a risk-based, proportionate approach to child safety duties.

Protecting freedom of speech?

As well as legal duties to keep children safe, the very same law places clear and unequivocal duties on platforms to protect freedom of expression. Failure to meet either obligation can lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to 10% of global revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.

The Act is not designed to censor political debate and does not require platforms to age gate any content other than those which present the most serious risks to children such as pornography or suicide and self-harm content.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: This marks the most significant step forward in child safety since the internet was created.

“The reality is that most children aren’t actively seeking out harmful, dangerous, or pornographic content – unfortunately it finds them. That’s why we’ve taken decisive action.

“Age verification keeps children safe. Rather than looking for ways around it, let’s help make the internet a safer, more positive space for children – and a better experience for everyone. That’s something we should all aspire to.”

Support for the Online Safety Act

NSPCC Chief Executive, Chris Sherwood: “We regularly hear from children who have suffered sexual and emotional abuse online, or who have been exposed to harmful and dangerous content.

“These experiences can have devastating impacts both immediately and long into the future. While the Online Safety Act can’t erase this pain and anger, it can be a vehicle for significant and lasting change.

“Thanks to this piece of ground-breaking regulation, algorithms are now being redesigned. Age checks are now in place. Harmful material that promotes eating disorders and suicide should no longer proliferate on social media platforms.

“This will – without a doubt – create safer, more age-appropriate online experiences for young users across the UK.”

Barnardo’s CEO, Lynne Perry: “These new protections are an important stepping stone towards making sure that children are safer online.

“They must be robustly enforced.”

Internet Matters: “Today marks an important milestone for children’s online safety […] towards ensuring that online services are designed with children’s safety in mind – from limiting children’s exposure to harmful content to creating age-appropriate experiences. 

“This milestone matters because the risks children face online remain high. Our latest Internet Matters Pulse shows that 3 in 4 children aged 9-17 experience harm online, from exposure to violent content to unwanted contact from strangers.

“With the Codes now enforceable, Ofcom must hold platforms accountable for meeting their obligations under the law.”

The Yard opens Glasgow Play Centre

Three-year funding commitment supports expanded play and family support

THE YARD, A charity that supports disabled children and young people and their families can provide 300 more places throughout the year after opening new premises in Glasgow for the first time.

The dedicated play centre, supported with £500,000 from the Scottish Government, joins existing premises in Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife where The Yard supports disabled children and young people, and their families.

The new facility provides children with a sensory room, play hall and outdoor space, while also providing a meeting room for parents and carers to receive family support.

The Scottish Government funding is part of a £2 million commitment over three years from 2024-25 to support The Yard to grow its services, including tailored support, and expand its spaces for disabled children and young people to play and socialise.

Children and Young People’s Minister Natalie Don-Innes officially opened the new facility and joined a family session as part of The Yard’s school holiday programme.

Photo: Julie Broadfoot Photographer

Ms Don-Innes said: “Working with charities is vital to improving outcomes for disabled children and their families. Our three-year funding will help The Yard to continue to grow and support more families across Scotland.

“This wonderful new facility, backed by £500,000 Scottish Government funding, has allowed the Yard to expand to new premises in Glasgow for the first time. The smiles on the faces of the children and families who rely on The Yard for support show what a difference this service makes to their lives.”

Celine Sinclair, CEO of The Yard said; “We are incredibly proud to launch our new Glasgow service, building on the success of our centres in Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife.

“The Yard team provide exemplary, safe, inclusive spaces where children can play, grow and connect, while families feel supported, empowered and included. We are just thrilled to be in the West of Scotland and would like to thank Scottish Government and our funders for helping us realise this ambition.

“Working alongside our partners in Glasgow, this new service builds on our legacy and expands our reach to meet the needs of families and schools. As we continue developing The Yard into a nationally recognised Centre of Excellence, the opening of our Glasgow centre marks a major step forward in our mission to inspire and to help build meaningful inclusion across the country.”

Have you seen Calvin?

POLICE are appealing for the assistance of the public in tracing 14-year-old Calvin Whyte who has been missing from his home in Musselburgh since Wednesday, 30 July, 2025.

He is described as white, around 5ft 7ins and of slim build with short, dark-coloured hair. When he was last seen he was wearing a grey Adidas tracksuit with a black, grey and white McKenzie bodywarmer. He wears black framed glasses and was carrying a black satchel.

Calvin is known to frequent East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh. He also visits Glasgow and North Lanarkshire regularly.

Inspector Keith Watson said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for Calvin’s safety and wellbeing. We want to trace him as soon as possible to ensure that he is safe and well.

“Officers are carrying out searches and enquiries in Musselburgh, Edinburgh and areas he frequents. I would urge anyone who has seen Calvin to contact us as soon as possible. I would also ask Calvin himself, if he sees this appeal, to please get in contact with police or a family member.”

Any information should be passed to 101 quoting incident number 2477 of 30 July.

Untold story of how one of Scotland’s most controversial public buildings was created, unveiled in new Holyrood exhibition

A new exhibition which showcases how Enric Miralles, Holyrood’s lead architect, brought to life his vision for a Parliament ‘growing out of the land’ has gone on display at the Scottish Parliament.

The exhibition, Enric Miralles: Creating the Scottish Parliament and other stories by Benedetta Tagliabue and EMBT, will be on display from 31 July until 30 October and entry is free.

Barcelona-based architects EMBT, co-founded by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue in collaboration with Edinburgh-based architects RMJM, won the international competition to design the Scottish Parliament in 1998.

Their vision was to create a new Scottish Parliament building that embodied the values of Scotland – a space rooted in its landscape, traditions and people.

Many of the original designs featured in this exhibition will be going on display for the first time, including hand-drawn concept images, sketches, photo collages, site studies and competition boards. They formed part of the rich creative process led by Enric and completed by the EMBT team under Benedetta, following his untimely death in 2000.

The exhibition illustrates the importance of drawing, photography and writing as part of Miralles’ creative practice. From the early inspiration behind the famous ‘upturned boats’ on the roof, the ponds symbolising the lochs of the Scottish landscape and the semi-circular debating chamber, the impressive centrepiece, are just some of the design concepts explored within the exhibition.

The late Queen officially opened the Parliament in October 2004, with the building going on to win many accolades for its architecture and it continues to attract thousands of visitors each year.

Deputy Presiding Officer, Annabelle Ewing MSP said: “20 years on from the opening of the Scottish Parliament, people in Scotland have embraced this building and the vision that Enric Miralles had for it.

“That vision was about more than aesthetics. It reflects principles which still guide our work today – openness, accessibility and transparency.

“This exhibition highlights Enric’s creative process and how the Parliament he envisioned on paper was brought to life, something which sadly he would never see completed.  EMBT along with RMJM created a national legislature, providing a home to Scottish politics and changing Edinburgh’s landscape forever.” 

Benedetta Tagliabue, co-founder of EMBT said: “I was sure this Parliament would be loved by the people, and now this is happening.

“20 years has passed from the opening of the building and I am so happy to come back to Edinburgh and see how beautifully the building is kept and cared for.

“I hope people will come and discover how the building was conceived and see the many art pieces on display here for the first time. Including original work, photographs and hand drawn designs by Enric which were used to create this landmark”.

The EMBT studio was founded on an ethos that architectural design should enrich the day-to-day lives and experiences of people.

To showcase this philosophy, the exhibition also includes a selection of works developed by EMBT, such as the Santa Caterina Market, Hafencity, Kálida Sant Pau Maggie’s Centre and Parco del Mare Rimini.

Emotional Eating EXPOSED

What Your Cravings Are Really Telling You

Summer holidays are in full swing, and as people unwind and enjoy the break, unhealthy eating habits often creep in, with studies showing that over a third admit to ditching their healthy meals when the sun comes out.

While occasional indulgence is completely normal, when does it become a serious health concern?

With 90% of people experiencing food cravings at some point, ZAVA, with the expert advice of Doctor Crystal Wyllie, breaks down the most common causes of cravings beyond hunger, the smartest strategies to overcome them, and the red flags that could mean it’s time to seek support.

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Why is junk food so irresistible? Here’s the truth: junk food is designed to be addictive. High-sugar, high-fat, and full of flavour and texture, these foods light up the pleasure centre in our brain, triggering feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. It’s no wonder we reach for them when we are stressed or tired.

While occasional indulgence is perfectly normal, frequent junk food cravings can come with real health consequences. That overwhelming urge for chocolate, crisps, or a midnight snack often has little to do with true hunger. In fact, most cravings are your body, or your brain, trying to tell you something. But what exactly?

The most common causes of food cravings:

Emotions and stress

Cravings often start in the brain, not the stomach. Studies show nearly 1 in 3 people engage in emotional eating. Comfort foods, especially those high in sugar and refined carbs, offer a temporary serotonin lift, helping you feel better in the moment. But when stress hits, cortisol spikes, increasing appetite and impulsive eating.

Hormones and menstrual cycles

Hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause can trigger intense cravings, especially for sweet or salty foods. In particular, the drop in estrogen and rise in progesterone during the luteal phase (the week before your period) are known to increase appetite.

Lifestyle factors

Lack of sleep, stress, skipping meals or falling into habitual eating patterns –such as always grabbing a treat with your tea– can all fuel cravings. Ultra-processed foods are literally engineered to keep you coming back for more.

Deficiencies and dehydration

Cravings can also be clues. Your body may be low on magnesium, zinc, sodium, or might just need water. Dehydration can mimic hunger signals. Skipping meals or blood sugar dips can also spark intense cravings, especially for carbs and sugar.

The 6 smartest strategies to manage food cravings:

ZAVA’s new Cravings Calculator helps uncover the reasons behind your eating habits. But regardless of what’s driving your cravings, Doctor Crystal Wyllie, ZAVA Online Doctor, shares the most effective ways to manage them and take back control:

Find the root cause

Cravings can be physical, emotional or habitual, or a combination of all three. Identifying your triggers is the key to changing your behaviour.

“Noticing when and why cravings strike can help you respond more intentionally. Is it boredom? Hormones? A stressful day? Awareness is the first step to change. Once you’ve identified the underlying reason, be it emotional eating or a lack of self care, you can then tackle your cravings head on and make some long-term changes”

Crave smarter, not harder

Going cold turkey often backfires. Instead, satisfy cravings with smarter swaps such as fruit, yoghurt, nuts, or protein-based snacks. Choose foods you actually enjoy so you don’t feel deprived.

“It’s better to satisfy a craving in a controlled way than ignore it and end up bingeing later”

Eat balanced meals

Skipping meals or relying on snacks throughout the day can trigger cravings. Aim for meals rich in protein, fibre and healthy fats to help regulate blood sugar, keeping you full and focused.

“A well-balanced plate helps reduce cravings by keeping you full and energised throughout the day. Eating a colourful, nutrient-rich diet can also help correct underlying deficiencies that may be driving those cravings”

Support mental wellbeing

Stress and poor sleep affect appetite hormones. Mindfulness techniques, meditation or even a brisk walk or, simply talking to a friend, can help curb emotional eating.

“Taking a moment to pause and ask whether a craving is emotional or physical can benefit both your body and your mental health”

Stay hydrated

Your body can mistake thirst for hunger. Try drinking a glass of water, waiting 10-15 minutes and reassessing the craving.

“Hydration is often overlooked, but it’s essential, especially when it comes to managing sugar cravings”

Recognise the right time to seek support

If your cravings feel constant, overwhelming, or difficult to control, don’t hesitate to seek support. While only 1 in 4 people with binge eating disorders currently receive treatment, speaking to a GP, nutritionist, or therapist can make a meaningful difference. If you’re unsure whether it’s time to ask for help, here are some signs your cravings might be more than just the occasional urge:

Weight fluctuations: Frequent overeating in response to cravings can lead to weight gain and make weight loss more difficult.

Low mood: Indulging too often can lead to guilt or shame. In ZAVA’s recent study, 48% of people reported low self-esteem linked to their weight.

Health problems: Craving-driven diets high in sugar or refined carbs can weaken immunity, cause mood swings, and leave your body undernourished.

New Homes Released at East Lothian’s Longniddry Village

Limited time £10,000 incentives bundle available on new apartments

Five-star Scottish housebuilder Cruden Homes has released more homes for sale at its multi-award-winning Longniddry Village development in East Lothian with prices from £290,000.

The latest release is across five plots, namely three two-bedroom apartments, available to move in from November and two four-bedroom properties which will be complete by early 2026.

To further entice buyers, Cruden is offering a limited-time package of huge savings on the apartments with £5,000 cashback and a further £5,000 options voucher to make a new house at Longniddry a dream home.

Longniddry Village takes inspiration from the characterful architecture and appeal of quaint East Lothian villages and towns. Its local vernacular and carefully considered landscape design seamlessly extends into the existing vibrant village community.

The traditionally inspired architecture includes period-style features such as sash windows, chimneys and high ceilings.

Meanwhile, the interior accommodation is spacious and airy, complete with high-quality fixtures and fittings that include designer German kitchens with integrated Siemens appliances, built-in wardrobes, stylish bathrooms and fibre broadband.

When complete, the development will include several features for residents to enjoy, including a play park, sports pitch, restored mill pond and wildflower meadow.

New owners will also benefit from the neighbouring steadings restoration, which will be a hub for several amenities including an independent coffee outlet, a luxury convenience store and salon.

Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director of Cruden Homes, said: “It’s great to extend the new home options available to discerning buyers at our Longniddry Village development, whether they’re taking their first step on the property ladder or looking for more space to grow.

“The added incentives for our range of apartments make now the perfect time to move.

“This has been an incredibly popular development, with previous launches selling out ahead of plan. We would advise potential home buyers to book a viewing as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.”

Find out more and register your interest at:

www.cruden.co.uk/homes/developments/longniddry-village-phase-2

Or for more information on other current developments, visit:

www.cruden.co.uk/homes.

Change of Date for Quiet Heroes

Date change: 31st August 2025

QUIET HEROES PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION at GRANTON:HUB

SUNDAY 31st AUGUST 1 – 2.30pm

Join us for the Quiet Heroes portrait photography exhibition by Chris McCluskie.

Join us at granton:hub on August 31st 2025 at 1:00 PM for a captivating display of images that celebrate everyday heroes.

Community organisations from across North Edinburgh nominated the folk who keep the community together, without asking for anything back.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired and uplifted by the stories behind each image. See you there!

Date: August 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM

About photographer Chris McCluskie:

Winner of the Scottish Press Photography Awards – Sports Feature

Scottish Press Photography Awards – Placed Third Overall

Book your space here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/quiet-heroes-photography…