‘Tis the season to be jolly – and safe!

Water safety charity launches new video to encourage everyone to #BeAMate this Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner and festive tipples in full swing, a national charity launches its annual winter campaign with sobering new video to encourage everyone to ‘Be a Mate’ this December.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is running its annual Don’t Drink and Drown campaign from 12-20December 2024, targeting festive partygoers to ‘Be a Mate’ and ensure their friends make their way home safely after a night out.  

In the last six years, of those aged 18-25 who drowned, 46% lose their lives through a substance-related drowning, informing the charity’s efforts to target this age group through the campaign (WAID, 2018-2023).

Forming part of the December campaign, RLSS UK has released an impactful video which showcases the devastatingly real risks involved when people journey home alone after consuming alcohol – and the tragic reality for some. This scenario helps to reinforce the charity’s wider message of the campaign, urging those enjoying the festive period to be responsible for themselves and their friends if they have had too much to drink and help them to avoid dangerous routes and return home safely.

As work Christmas parties and gatherings with friends and family for the festive period take place across the country, RLSS UK fears that this could result in accidental fatalities as drunk people walk home near the water.  

Matt Croxall, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “Our research indicates that among those aged 18-25 who lost their lives to accidental drowning, almost half had alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream.

“In a bid to reduce this worryingly high number of substance-related drownings around this time of year, we’ve launched our brand-new campaign video during the festive period, when people are more likely to get merry, and so the risk is significantly higher.

“The video seeks to highlight the importance of making all the right decisions – from not journeying home alone after consuming alcohol, actively looking out for friends, to taking routes home away from water – bringing to life the very harsh reality that this could happen to anyone.

“Our key message remains the same. We encourage everyone to look after their friends, to ‘Be a Mate’ and ensure that everyone gets home safely to their families this Christmas.” 

RLSS UK wants to reinforce the message of safety in numbers, avoiding dangerous routes home near the water, and staying together to make sure everyone makes it home safe.  

Matt continued: “We know that alcohol and drugs are known to lower inhibitions, which can lead to impaired judgment, and this is where we see people taking risks and getting themselves into trouble in and around water. 

“We can’t stress enough the dangers of cold-water shock around this time of year and encourage everyone to partake in festivities, but to do so safely – and to stay safe and away from the water after drinking.

“After all, your presence is the greatest gift your loved ones could ask for this Christmas.”  

For more information on the campaign and to support RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign this December, visit www.rlss.org.uk/dont-drink-and-drown where you can also download resources to spread the word and help keep your friends and family safe this winter.  

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EIJB funding crisis: The Third Sector relationship with the EIJB

THIRD SECTOR INTERFACE BRIEFING NOTE:

The financial situation of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) is very challenging. In 2025/26, the IJB seek to realise around £51m of savings. Future years will see further savings required, currently estimated to be £76m in 2026/27 and £105m in 2027/28.  

These savings will be difficult and their impact will be substantial.  So, managing change, and ensuring key services are delivered to communities will require collaboration by the IJB and city partners, including the Third Sector.

Reference Group

On November 1 2024, Third Sector representatives presented deputations to the EIJB challenging proposals around the Third Sector Grants Programme and an in-year cut (2024/2025). The IJB did not approve the proposal for the in-year cut with an alternative proposal being approved. 

Following that meeting, the IJB invited Third Sector representatives to talk through concerns and identify areas to work together. To inform those meetings, EVOC and their TSI partners collaborated with the Edinburgh Community Health Forum and representatives of other Third Sector interests across the city to create a Reference Group.

The purpose of the Reference Group is to:

  1. inform governance and city partnerships
  2. assert the value of the Sector
  3. shape investment
  4. support change
  5. distil the voices of the Third Sector to effectively represent the sector on the IJB

EIJB Engagement and Proposals

The Reference Group has rapidly considered the short-term issues around funding, and the longer-term issues of future partnership models, sharing a briefing note with the IJB on issues and options in early December. The engagement with EIJB has been positive given the difficult circumstances, and this positive engagement has resulted in an EIJB paper to the December Board which recommends:

  • That the Health Inequalities grants programme, due to end on 31 March 2025 should be extended for three months into 2025/26 which will help provide time for the organisations affected to adapt.
  • The Board support work currently underway to undertake a series of collaborative workshops which will inform some of the savings proposals and invest-to-save opportunities that will be submitted for consideration by the EIJB in March 2025.

In the current landscape this is a positive outcome for the Third Sector, informed directly by the voice, needs and priorities of the Sector.

City of Edinburgh Council Engagement and Proposals

Given the challenges to funding for the Third Sector and the impact cuts will have to the viability of Third Sector Organisations, the Reference Group have also argued the need for a cross city partnership approach to investment.

Following the November 1 EIJB meeting, the TSI wrote to the Chair of the EIJB, the Chief Executive of City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian asserting the need to [a] reset investment [b] reform ways of working [c] repair relationships. In the immediate term, a key priority is to secure a commitment from City of Edinburgh to invest to mitigate the risks to critical and anchor organisations.

On December 10 the Council Policy and Sustainability Committee considered and approved a proposal that recognised that the Council may need to provide core or foundational funding to stabilise vital third sector organisations. The TSI with ECHF collaborated to present a joint deputation, welcoming the Council proposal, and offering support.

Council officers were instructed to:

  • Work on a briefing paper for the Council’s political groups on what the Third sector needs now, specifically transitional funding, medium term, ahead of the Council setting its budget in February;
  • Undertake a review of all grant funding, exploring the provision of longer term, sustainable funding;
  • Work with the Edinburgh Partnership and Third Sector to co-design solutions, and agree terms of reference for a short life group and report back to Policy and Sustainability Committee in March.

Priorities: December EIJB meeting and Future Planning

The Reference Group will continue to meet and shape the next steps. An immediate priority is to agree on Terms of Reference and confirm representatives in the Group. We will be sharing a set of proposals before Christmas for your consideration.

A strong voice is essential to shape the long-term relationship with the EIJB and in particular the workshop series in spring 2025.

The Edinburgh TSI with EVOC and others from the Reference Group will support the paper to the EIJB on December 17 on progress on the Third Sector Grants Programme and the next steps in working collaboratively with the Sector, and also with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The EIJB Paper is available here: 6.3 Third Sector Commissioning 25-26 Engagement Update.pdf

If you need any further information in advance of the IJB meeting tomorrow (Tuesday 17 December), please get in touch with us or reach out to any member of the Reference Group.

We will also provide regular briefings on progress, through the fortnightly EVOC E-news and targeted updates on key information as necessary.

Dairmaid Lawlor, TSI Chair

Forth Ports announces £50 million investment in Leith

‘GAMECHANGER’ CONTRACT WITH INCH CAPE SECURED

Forth Ports, the UK’s third largest port operator, announces has announced (12 December 2024) a £50 million private investment in infrastructure at the Port of Leith having secured its largest ever offshore wind contract, the delivery of the 1.1 gigawatt (GW) Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm.

This latest investment in infrastructure at the Port of Leith will enhance the port’s marine access, infrastructure and vessel assets and includes plant and equipment that will be used to deliver Inch Cape. It will also create up to 50 new and upskilled green energy jobs to support the project.

Forth Ports’ agreement with Inch Cape, to be sited off the Angus coast, will utilise the port operator’s bespoke facilities and expertise at newly created renewable energy hubs at both the Port of Leith and Port of Dundee.

Visiting the Port of Leith on Thursday, Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes said: “Investment in key sectors such as Scotland’s ports can reap rewards. This is why the Scottish Budget commits £150 million to the offshore wind infrastructure and supply – to attract private investment such as this announcement from Forth Ports.

“Supported by Forth Green Freeport incentives, the Leith Renewables Hub will bring well-paid green jobs and ensure Scotland is best placed to develop a world leading renewables sector while progressing to net zero.

“The Scottish Government’s Green Industrial Strategy identifies how we can work better, smarter and quicker to create an investor-friendly environment and seize the many opportunities for green growth which lie ahead. This is a great example of how this has been achieved.”

Thursday’s Leith announcement follows a decade of private investment, during which time Forth Ports has created the land, quayside and skills capacity, which has not previously existed in Scotland, to deliver very large offshore wind contracts.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Executive Officer, Forth Ports said: “Inch Cape represents a very significant milestone for Forth Ports as it is the largest offshore wind contract ever to be awarded to our business.

“When it goes live, Inch Cape will have a significant impact on Scotland’s energy transition as the country drives to achieve net zero carbon emissions.

“Our strategy is to create and build the renewables hubs ahead of market demand and we have achieved this in Dundee and Leith. Coupled with other specialist facilities delivered by Forth Projects, this creates an unrivalled prime position for Forth Ports to deliver large offshore wind projects.

“We have a clear vision and today we commit to investing a further £50million in Leith, from our own resources, to support Inch Cape and future renewables projects.”

David Webster, Commercial Director at Forth Ports, said: “Today’s announcement is a gamechanger for Forth Ports and the Scottish offshore wind market.

“We have created world class renewables hubs in Dundee and Leith and solved the challenge of local content by locating at ports near the construction sites, creating high quality local green jobs and local supply chains while securing work for future generations.”

Forth Projects – Forth Ports’ in-house logistics division – will handle Inch Cape’s monopile and jacket foundations at the Port of Leith. The specialist pre-assembly and marshalling of the wind farm’s 72 turbines – comprising 72 nacelles, 216 blades and 72 towers – will be undertaken by Vestas in the Port of Dundee (Dundee was previously announced as a hub for Inch Cape in 2022).

John Hill, Inch Cape Project Director, said: “Through our substantial contract with Forth Ports, Inch Cape is pleased to be the catalyst for a major infrastructure investment that will not only benefit our own project but also those Scottish projects that are to follow.

“The utilisation of these two east coast ports – Leith and Dundee – for our offshore construction, will also facilitate significant opportunities with our Tier 1 contractors for the wider Scottish supply chain.”

Leith and Dundee were chosen after a competitive selection process due to their proximity to the project site off the Angus coast, coupled with the first-class storage and assembly capacity and purpose-built offshore renewables quayside facilities. 

The £50 million investment is the second phase of delivery of the vision behind the 175-acre Leith Renewables Hub which also forms part of one of the strategically located tax sites within the Forth Green Freeport.

Once completed in 2027, Inch Cape – one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms – will generate enough green energy to power half of Scotland’s homes.

It will feature state-of-the-art Vestas 15 megawatt (MW) turbines, the tallest ever deployed in Scottish waters at a height of 274m (20m taller than Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh) and a new onshore substation now under construction on the brownfield site of the former Cockenzie Power Station, East Lothian.

IAM Roundtable: Racism and religious prejudice “hugely problematic”

Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM), observed every November, aims to raise awareness  about Islamophobia—fear, prejudice, and discrimination against Muslims—and promote  understanding, tolerance, and respect for Muslim communities.

IAM challenges prejudice,  fosters social cohesion, and helps ensure Muslims can live free from fear and fully participate in  society. 

Scottish Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury closed IAM with the Muslim Council of Scotland by  hosting a roundtable at Scottish Parliament this week.

This event reflected this year’s IAM  theme, ‘Seeds of Change,’ emphasising the importance of small actions to contribute to larger  changes and to celebrate the positive contribution of Muslims across the UK. 

This meeting aimed to raise awareness of Islamophobia and promote understanding and  respect across diverse communities. The roundtable comprised keynote speakers, including the  leader of the Scottish Labour Party and first host of the Cross-Party Group on Islamophobia,  Anas Sarwar, Dr. Abu Jaffar Moshan, along with voices from the community. 

During the roundtable, MSP Choudhury recognised the significant role Scottish Muslims have  played in shaping our society, making contributions to education, healthcare, business, the arts,  and more.

Mr. Choudhury highlighted the need to involve other Muslim communities in the  discussion, like Middle Eastern communities, and to engage with these new Scot communities  to work towards tackling root causes of prejudice.

Mr. Choudhury emphasised how current  world conflicts are impacting both Muslim and Jewish communities in Scotland and the UK. 

The roundtable celebrated community support by awarding a shield of appreciation to Assistant  Chief Constable, Shaheen Barber for his work with Police Scotland.

Linsay Taylor was also  awarded a shield appreciation recognising her work with Muslim Engagement and  Development (MEND) and Interfaith.

Linsay’s work was hugely impactful to Mr. Choudhury and  his work on tackling Islamophobia, as she spoke on the experiences of Muslim women and her  experience living in Scotland while wearing a hijab. 

The event also held representatives from Police Scotland, who spoke to their anti-racism  training work, and MSPs Monica Lennon and Mercedes Villalba. 

During the roundtable, MSP Choudhury emphasised: “One priority I want to highlight this evening is the increasing need to educate against  Islamophobia.”

Costs of leaving abusive relationships to be explored by MSPs

Victims of domestic abuse are among those invited to share their views as part of a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the financial implications of leaving an abusive relationship.

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee is running the inquiry to find out what support women leaving abusive relationships can access, how public sector and social security rules and practices take account of financial issues in these circumstances and how much information and advice women have access to.

Since 2018-19, Police Scotland has recorded over 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse each year, however, research from Scottish Women’s Aid suggests that the actual figure is much higher as not all incidents are reported to the police.

Reports of domestic abuse can rise substantially over the Christmas period, a time when family finances can be at their most stretched. Research from charities including Refuge and Women’s Aid has found that this, alongside the pressures caused by the cost-of-living crisis, can effectively trap victims of domestic abuse.

The Committee’s inquiry will explore economic abuse, a form of coercive control where an abuser restricts a person’s ability to get, use and keep money or other economic resources.

It is also likely to cover the Scottish Government’s work on violence against women and girls, including its Fund to Leave pilot project and its Equally Safe strategy. The Fund to Leave offered women up to £1,000 to pay for the essentials they need when leaving a relationship with an abusive partner and was delivered by Women’s Aid groups.

Collette Stevenson, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The Christmas period should be a time where women can get together with their families. But sadly for many women suffering from abuse Christmas can be a lonely and terrible time, with economic abuse trapping them in abusive relationships.

“We know that over 60,000 incidents of domestic abuse are reported to the Police in Scotland each year, and we want to use this inquiry to learn about the support available to women in this awful situation and get an idea of what else can be done.

“If you have any experience of this issue, or work for a charity or public body that supports women in this situation we want to hear from you. Share your views with us by responding to our call for views.”

The call for views opened on Friday 13 December, and will close on Thursday 20 February.

To ensure that people can respond in full, the Committee welcomes receiving anonymous responses, where appropriate.

Scotland hero Colin Hendry kicks off second season of Specsavers- sponsored Football Memories referee tour

PARTICIPANTS of Football Memories groups across Scotland will once again get the chance to hear from former referees as their whistle-stop tour of the country, courtesy of Specsavers, kicked off with a special guest in Elgin on Wednesday (11th December).

For the second season in a row, the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA has facilitated for retired refs to speak to participants of Football Memories, a project which assists people living with memory loss conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

The special tour got under way at Borough Briggs, home to Elgin City Football Club, where ex-whistler Bill Machray got proceedings under way, with special guest and former Scotland captain, Colin Hendry in attendance.

With more than 1,000 matches between them, both Colin and Bill regaled attendees with stories from their illustrious careers, as well as showcasing some of the keepsakes and paraphernalia they have collected from games they had been involved in across the country and abroad over their combined 40 years in the sport.

Bill, who was a category two official and now works as a referee observer with the Scottish FA, refereed hundreds of matches in Scotland. He, largely, officiated in the Highland League, around the same time Elgin City were in the division, but also ran the line in a couple of Scottish Cup Finals.

Colin Hendry, who grew up close to Elgin’s stadium in Keith, had an illustrious career for the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Rangers and Scotland, winning the English Premier League, Scottish Cup and 51 caps among many other top honours.

Colin says: ‘It was a privilege to speak to those gathered at the Elgin Football Memories group as Specsavers kicked off its fantastic initiative once again.

‘Schemes like these are brilliant for the older and more isolated community across Moray, raising awareness of memory loss conditions and providing people with a space to have a cup of tea and chat football.

‘My own mother still lives in the area and it’s groups like Football Memories which often keep people of her generation active and purposeful in the community.’

With the Elgin visit a resounding success, the next port of call on the tour is Perth in January, followed by Dumfries in February.

Established in 2009, Football Memories Scotland is a charitable project run by the Scottish Football Museum in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.

With more than 600 groups around the country, often hosted in football settings, Football Memories uses engaging football-themed resources stored in a memory box, such as reminiscence cards, life-size player cutouts, newspaper clippings and books, to stir memories and discussions led by volunteers.

Specsavers will sponsor the boxes for the referee tour and have helped to provide some exciting new memorabilia for them such as old football boots, photographs of former referees and other essential equipment required to help run the groups.

Long-term memories can be triggered for many through the visual cues of images, videos, artefacts and discussions taking place in a small group or even a one-to-one setting, unlocking precious happy moments from the past. The impact can be enormous.

Robert Craig, Chair of the Scottish Football Museum, says: ‘We are excited to get under way once again with the first referee visit of the season in our renewed partnership with Specsavers.

“Their continued support to the Football Memories project, which impacts the lives of all who touch it, is invaluable and helps us to carry on delivering for those living with memory loss conditions or experiencing isolation.

‘Our Elgin group is a great example of the benefits Football Memories can bring to the people, and I’m sure the attendees will have taken a lot from their morning with Bill Machray and local hero, Colin Hendry.’

Willie Collum, Scottish FA Head of Referee Operations, says: ‘The success of Football Memories is plain to see, and this fantastic initiative – now into its second season – is one that our roster of former referees is proud to support, as an extension to our existing partnership with Specsavers.’

Specsavers’ Jenny Stephenson, Scottish Divisional Chair, says: ‘Specsavers is proud to not only be the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, but to also help raise awareness of the vital work Football Memories does in assisting people living with memory loss conditions within local communities across Scotland.’

Specsavers announced in 2024 that it was renewing its’ sponsorship deal, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA, marking 24 years of support and beyond for the partnership – one of the longest agreements of its kind in sport. 

The deal will see the partnership continue into 2025, not only helping with the training and development of referees, but also raising awareness of para and grassroots football in Scotland.

Scottish Budget will prioritise patients through NHS improvement

The Scottish Government Budget will prioritise patients and drive improvements to the NHS, Health Secretary Neil Gray has said.

If approved by parliament, the 2025/26 Budget will deliver record health and social care funding of £21 billion to ensure faster, more accessible care by improving capacity and tackling systemic challenges like delayed discharge.

This builds on ongoing efforts to address the NHS’ challenges and improve healthcare for all to create a more responsive, effective health service with earlier intervention, ensuring better outcomes for patients throughout Scotland.

Key measures set out in the draft Budget include:

  • reducing NHS waiting lists, by cutting waiting times so patients can receive vital treatments and procedures more quickly
  • improved access to GPs with expanded primary care services and additional resources to make it easier for people to see their GP
  • progress set to continue on new hospitals, including the Belford, replacement Monklands, and Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, which will deliver state-of-the-art care and greater capacity

To address delayed discharge and reduce waiting lists, £200 million has been allocated in the 2025-26 Budget. If approved by parliament, this funding will expand the innovative ‘Hospital at Home’ service, allowing more patients to receive high-quality care at home instead of being admitted to a hospital.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We are determined to drive improvements in our NHS and deliver the best possible service for patients.  But I know that some people are waiting too long and finding it difficult to get appointments – we have listened and we are taking action. That is what people can expect from this government.

“The measures we set out in the Budget would mean quicker treatments, more GP appointments, and world-class facilities for people across Scotland.

“By March 2026, no-one will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment with more than 150,000 extra patients treated as a result.

“The Budget also delivers investment to tackle delayed discharge, one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS, and to expand the Hospital at Home service giving thousands of patients the care they need at home while freeing up hospital beds for those who need them most.

“With initiatives like these, we will build a modern, resilient NHS that delivers for everyone by providing innovative and effective care.

“But we will only be able to deliver these transformational investments and drive further improvements for patients if our Budget is agreed. Our NHS needs this Budget to pass – and I am urging Parliament to unite behind it.”

‘Bombshell’ report shows short-term lets boost Scottish economy by £864m per year – with no evidence of housing impact

BiGGAR Economics challenges ‘false narratives’ surrounding Scotland’s self-catering sector now at risk from heavy-handed government regulation

NEW independent analysis from a respected Scottish consultancy reveals the substantial positive economic impact of Scotland’s self-catering industry which was also shown to have a negligible effect on housing.

BiGGAR Economics calculated that short-term lets (STLs) contribute nearly £1bn gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy while supporting approximately 30,000 jobs. By accommodating visitors, STLs generate economic activity across Scotland, with the local impacts exceeding residential use, supporting an additional £32,400 GVA per property.

Guests staying in self-catering accommodation, termed ‘secondary lets’ in Scottish STL legislation, also spend more than the average visitor to Scotland, with knock-on gains for related tourist and hospitality businesses. Alongside this huge economic boost, the researchers also highlight that self-catering accounts for less than 1% of the country’s total housing stock.

This challenges the narrative that STLs are fuelling Scotland’s housing crisis, with self-catering at only 0.8% of the country’s housing stock, too low a proportion to have a meaningful impact on local housing markets. Moreover, according to the report, in every local authority area, economically inactive empty homes account for a larger proportion of total dwellings than from secondary lets.

The key headlines include:

  • STLs are estimated to generate £864m GVA and support 29,324 jobs across Scotland;
  • Edinburgh and Highland together account for 44% of the total economic impact but the sector’s benefits are dispersed throughout Scotland;
  • The annual GVA associated with an average owner-occupier/private rented household in Scotland was £14,451, compared to £50,159 for a two-bedroom STL; and
  • STLs make up a tiny proportion of Scotland’s housing stock, with self-catering accounting for just 0.8%. This is considerably less than the 3.6% that economically inactive empty properties account for.

This study comes as the Scottish Government published an implementation update report on STL licensing which the industry maintains did not adequately address their longstanding concerns. At a local level, councils such as Highland and Edinburgh are also assessing their regulations.

BiGGAR’s new analysis is based on the best available evidence on STLs in Scotland. The findings have been shared with Scottish Government Ministers and officials.

Graeme Blackett, Director of BiGGAR Economics, said: “This report shows that secondary lets make an important contribution to Scottish tourism and economy overall, supporting almost 30,000 Scottish jobs.

“Our research also concluded that it was clear that secondary lets are not a driver of the wider Scottish housing market.

“If short-term let regulations leads to a reduction in the supply of secondary lets, that will have a negative impact on the tourism economy, without delivering any solutions to Scotland’s wider housing challenges.”   

Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “This is yet more compelling evidence that short-term lets aren’t the main contributor of the housing crisis but are instead turbocharging local economies with a near £1bn positive impact while supporting 30,000 jobs.

“The current unbalanced regulatory framework does not reflect this reality and changes are needed before irreversible damage is done.

“Local councils should take heed of the report’s findings when considering their approach to planning policies and control areas to ensure the relatively small number of valuable short-term lets are protected.

“For policymakers, the message couldn’t be clearer: you can’t solve a housing crisis by producing a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses that underpin local economies. Attention must shift to the real causes of the housing crisis.”

Economic-Impact-of-Short-term-Lets-in-Scotland-Report-by-BiGGAR-Economics-11Dec24Download

New exhibition celebrating the diversity of faiths in the Capital opens at Museum of Edinburgh

Four Seasons in Faith, a captivating new exhibition that highlights the rich and diverse faith communities within the city has opened at the Museum of Edinburgh.

The exhibition has been shaped by Museums & Galleries Edinburgh’s ‘Keep the Faith’ project, which worked in collaboration with the Edinburgh Interfaith Association and faith groups from across Edinburgh to curate a collection that reflects how communities would like to see their celebrations of faith represented within the museum collection.

The exhibition showcases a wide array of objects donated and loaned by members of some of Edinburgh’s major world faith communities, offering visitors a unique insight into how people embody their faith in the city today.

With the help of a group of community curators from different religious backgrounds, the exhibition tells the stories of these communities and explores how faith is celebrated throughout the year in Edinburgh.

Highlights of the exhibition include:

  • a Buddhist prayer wheel from the Edinburgh Tibetan Buddhist Temple
  • a pair of Shabbat candlesticks and a Kippah and Talitt belonging to a Jewish American immigrant now chair of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association
  • a Muslim prayer mat brought from Pakistan to Edinburgh in the 1970s.

The exhibition also includes items that highlight the role of faith in the broader Edinburgh community, such as hand-drawn artwork created by members of a parents and toddlers group run by the Baha’i community and St James the Less Episcopal Church, as well as a knitted hat issued by the Mission to Seafarers in Leith, a charity supporting seafarers’ mental health worldwide.

In addition to these more traditional items, the exhibition gives voice to lesser-known religious practices in the city. Visitors will discover objects used by the Heathens of Lothian in their rituals, as well as an exploration of how these practices influence Edinburgh’s vibrant festival calendar, including events like Beltane and Samhain.

As part of its ongoing work with community curators, the Museum of Edinburgh will also be creating a short film documenting the diverse faith practices in the city today. This film will feature oral history interviews and inter-faith conversations recorded at various places of worship across Edinburgh, providing a vital addition to the Museum’s social history collections. The film will be showcased at the exhibition’s closing event and will be made available on the Museum’s online channels.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Val Walker said: “Four Seasons in Faith is an important reflection of Edinburgh’s rich, diverse, and evolving cultural landscape, celebrating the faiths that shape the city’s identity and the people who practice them.

“Visitors to the museum can learn all about the traditions, celebrations, and stories that shape Edinburgh’s spiritual landscape throughout the changing seasons.

“The exhibition is also accompanied by a programme of events led by our community curators and their community contacts which will be a vital addition to our social history collections and will give context to the existing faith collections and the new material we have collected throughout this project.”