SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER 1 – 3pm 
Join us for a brilliant FREE community event celebrating all things tattie!
Saturday 3 October
1–3pm
The Heart of Newhaven
Food — especially tatties!
Meet the community
Creative activities
Fun contests
All ages welcome!
Come along, bring your friends and family, and enjoy an afternoon of food, creativity and community spirit. 
FREE ENTRY — EVERYONE WELCOME!
CAR PARK CLOSED 5th – 9th OCTOBER
Do you drive to Spartans? If so, we have good news 
and bad news 
The Good News? an end to dodging the car park pot holes.
The Bad News? the resurfacing work means no access to SFC for cars starting Monday 5th until Friday 9th October.
We will be open and looking forward to seeing you as usual so why not walk, cycle or take public transport?
Here’s more information from Ainslie Park Leisure Centre relating to their customers which may be of use:
• There will be no access to our car park Monday 5th October- Friday 9th October 2026
• Please allow extra travel time and consider leaving earlier than usual to ensure you arrive on time for your class or activity.
• Free on-street parking is available on Pilton Drive, directly opposite Ainslie Park.
• Accessible parking spaces are available for customers with disabilities. A valid Blue Badge must be clearly displayed. Due to limited availability, customers without a Blue Badge may be asked to move their vehicle.
• Taxi and vehicle drop-off/pick-up facilities are available for customers with mobility impairments near the entrance.
A report from an experienced former headteacher on how to improve the way schools are funded and governed has been published.
John Wilson, an Independent Professional Adviser to the Scottish Government, was appointed to identify priorities for reform based on his extensive experience as a secondary headteacher.
His recommendations, which will be considered as part of a three-month dialogue with local authorities, include:
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “We are determined to continuously drive improvement in Scottish education – raising standards, empowering schools and reducing variation across council areas and schools.
“There is a great deal to be proud of already. This year’s exam results showed rising attainment across the board in National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers and the second consecutive narrowing of the poverty related attainment gap.
Recent statistics show the number of young people in work, training or study nine months after leaving school is at a joint record high and record numbers of young people are being accepted into university. This includes a record number from our most deprived backgrounds.
“However, I am also clear-eyed about the need for change and for excellence. As well as developing a new curriculum and creating phone-free learning environments across Scotland, we’re seizing the opportunity provided by the public service reform agenda to address core issues in our education system.
“This report provides an invaluable contribution to this process, and I’m grateful to John Wilson and everyone else who took part. This publication is intended to contribute to a dialogue with councils. I look forward to setting out our response to the recommendations once that process is complete.”
A year-long series of fundraising challenges and events from staff at Aberdein Considine LLP has raised £35,000 in total for the law firm’s two 2025/26 charity partners, Cash for Kids and the Russell Anderson Foundation (RAF).
Building on successful fundraising activities in previous years, which have seen Aberdein Considine employees raise more than £115,000 for various worthy causes since 2022, the firm has donated £20,000 to RAF and £15,000 to Cash for Kids in the past 12 months.
The firm’s charity committee is run jointly by Robert Holland, Partner and Head of Employment Law, and Ruth Aberdein, Partner and Head of Family Law.
Robert said: “Yet again, we’ve been blown away by the dedication of our people to raise funds for our charity partners. Across the last year, colleagues took part in events, challenges and activities, at times pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits, all in support of Cash for Kids and the Russell Anderson Foundation.
“Both charities do vital work for disadvantaged children and young people, and we hope the money the firm has raised makes a real difference to the people who need it most.”
Ruth Aberdein added: “As we now look to select our next charity partners, we remain committed to supporting local causes that make a genuine difference in our communities, and we’d like to thank everyone across the firm who took part or donated this year for their continued generosity and effort.”
The RAF improves the lives of children in socially deprived areas of Aberdeen through life-changing programmes that make a sustainable and measurable difference to their health and wellbeing.
Cash for Kids is dedicated to supporting children and young people across the UK affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limiting illness and those with additional needs.
To raise funds for both charities, the firm’s employees undertook several endurance challenges, including the Kiltwalk and other walking events, marathons and even scaled the famous Falkirk Kelpies.
Notably, Robert Holland took on the 14-day K2 Base Camp Trek alongside his son Daniel to raise almost £4,000 for Cash for Kids and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Employees also participated in company-run events including an ‘Aberdein Considine’s Got Talent’ competition, bake sales, bingo nights and a range of internal staff competitions.
Festive fundraising efforts saw the Aberdein Considine offices get involved in Christmas Jumper Day and spend time volunteering as they organised presents at Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas events.
A spokesperson for the Russell Anderson Foundation said: “We have been hugely impressed by the efforts that Aberdein Considine has invested in its charity partners, including RAF, over the past period and the phenomenal amount that has been generated.
“RAF relies heavily on the generosity of organisations such as Aberdein Considine to continue its much-needed work with youngsters in the Aberdeen area.”
Donna Bednarek, Charity Manager for Forth 1 Cash for Kids, said: “We are blown away by the incredible support from Aberdein Considine over the last year. Every penny raised has made such a difference.
“As a local charity we rely on the generosity and support of businesses and individuals in our local community to ensure we can be there for every child who needs our support, now and in the future.
“Thank you to everyone involved, it is truly appreciated.”
READ TOGETHER! WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER 6 – 7.30pm
“Wee read” is Scotland’s national celebration of reading – a simple invitation for everyone to stop, take a few minutes, and enjoy the pleasure of reading.
Public libraries are the perfect place to start or continue your reading journey.
On 7th October we are holding a special reading session at 6 to 7.30 pm. Bring a book or grab one from our shelves and enjoy the pleasure of reading together!
No need to book. Just drop in!
Outer Spaces will acquire the shares in Radge Media CIC to stabilise operations and secure a future for the Scottish publisher, who is responsible for crucial Scottish independent cultural journalism monthly print magazine The Skinny as well as the titles GNAW and FEST.
This will enable The Skinny to continue to document and support Scotland’s art ecosystem, providing a vital platform for Writers and Editors in Scotland, as well as supporting artists and organisations through the continuation of 20 years of independent cultural journalism.
Both Outer Spaces and Radge Media CIC are committed to empowering our creative communities, supporting the people creating art and building culture across Scotland in the ways which matter to them. T
his agreement is a product of synergy and mutual admiration, as well as our shared belief in the power and importance of art, a shared desire to remove barriers to access, and a joint aim of building a resilient, ambitious and confident arts ecosystem for Scotland.
Rosamund West, Editor-in-Chief, Radge Media CIC, said: “The Skinny has worked for nearly 21 years to shine a light on Scottish arts and culture, support emerging talent and connect people to the creative lives of their cities.
“The last month has been incredibly challenging, but the outpouring of support from contributors and collaborators reaffirmed the importance of a space for local, independent, cultural journalism.
“We’re excited to become part of the Outer Spaces family, and to have this opportunity to continue our work within an organisation whose values align so closely with our own. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone for their support and to Outer Spaces for creating this opportunity to secure our future.”
Shân Edwards, Director, Outer Spaces, said: “Outer Spaces supports a sustainable, resilient arts ecosystem for Scotland by responding to needs in the arts community, and we recognise the vital importance of art criticism and writing that places focus on Scotland’s vibrant art scene.
“Alongside many peers in the arts community in Scotland and beyond, we were shocked by the news of The Skinny’s closure, we recognise the importance of strong, consistent and critical journalism as part of the arts infrastructure we operate within – which The Skinny has provided for the past 20 years – and were pleased to be in the position to intervene with a solution to allow continued operations in for The Skinny as well as Radge Media CIC’s other titles, GNAW and FEST.”
Radge Media CIC is the Edinburgh-based publisher behind The Skinny, Fest and GNAW magazines, providing year-round coverage of Scotland’s arts and culture scenes through free print magazines and online platforms.
Radge Media also offers vital work opportunities to emerging journalists, photographers, illustrators and editorial staff. Radge Media CIC will retain full editorial control over its publications.
Outer Spaces is a contemporary visual arts organisation and charity established in 2021, supporting a network of over 1200 artists across Scotland through studio provision, professional development, production support and a growing public programme.
Outer Spaces will stabilise operations by acquiring the shares in the publisher Radge Media CIC, this financial intervention will allow Radge Media CIC to continue to publish The Skinny, an important part of Scotland’s cultural landscape.
Also, Radge Media will continue to be based in an Outer Spaces building, allowing their operations to have a creative base and office for the delivery of their work.
Since October 2025, Radge Media has operated from the Exchange Place building in Fountainbridge, which also houses a studio community of over 155 artists, art graduates and creatives.
Over 800 Ordinary Members, local residents aged 16 and over, have joined up so far alongside 70 youth members, and 70 Associates.
Our members are all community owners of the North Edinburgh Arts building. We are now having our first Members’ Social, and want to invite you to join us on Thursday 1 October, 6pm – 8pm!
Find out more and have your say on what’s next for the building over the next three years, enjoy a tasty bite to eat, and meet others in your community.
No booking required – simply drop in!
As Scotland’s Climate Week gets underway, a 127 year-old hoverfly is among the first insect specimens to be digitised as part of a major new project led in Scotland by National Museums Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
The specimen is a Pine hoverfly (Blera fallax), which entered the Museum’s collection in 1899. Blera fallax became critically endangered in Scotland and almost disappeared from the wild by the 2000 before successful efforts were made to reintroduce it in the wild in the Cairngorms National Park.
The DiSSCo UK project in Scotland aims to create approximately 700,000 digital records of specimens held in Scotland’s natural science collections. The project in Scotland will initially run for two years and will see more than 250,000 insects from National Museums Scotland and 388,000 herbarium specimens from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh become digitally accessible to all.
The value of the project in documenting Scotland’s natural history is illustrated by the way in which plant specimens from the same region are also being digitised by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).
The Scots pine of the Caledonian Forest is a key species for the habitat of the Pine hoverfly, with the insects using rot holes in the trees for the development of their larvae. The specimen in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was collected in Aviemore in 1975.
Dr Vladimir Blagoderov, Principal Curator, Invertebrates at National Museums Scotland, said: “It’s very pleasing to have started work on this important work digitally documenting and making accessible this really useful and valuable information about Scotland’s natural environment and how it has changed and will continue to change over time.”
DiSSCo UK [https://dissco-uk.org/] (Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK), is a £155 million, 10-year national programme to digitise and connect the UK’s natural science collections.
The programme is funded through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and delivered by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in partnership with the Natural History Museum and over 100 partners across the UK.
In addition to material from the Scottish national collections, the project will also see digital records created for 85,000 plant specimens held by Glasgow Life, 1200 insects from The Hunterian, 2400 specimens from Shetland Museum & Archives including plants, algae and fungi as well as 1400 plant, lichen and moss specimens from The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen.
It is hoped that future phases will encompass more of the collections of existing participants and also widen in scope to include more of Scotland’s natural science collecting institutions.
Throughout September, communities across Edinburgh have taken part in activities designed to help people understand the risks associated with carrying knives and explore how to prevent violence.
The 27-foot Knife Angel sculpture, created by artist Alfie Bradley and the British Ironworks Centre from 100,000 confiscated knives and blades, has provided a powerful focal point for conversations about the devastating impact of violence and knife crime.
As part of the programme, 500 pupils were funded to attend Code at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The gritty theatre production explores county lines gangs and violence through rap, parkour and BMX stunts.
The performance prompted important discussions among pupils, teachers and peers about the realities and consequences of violence.
Pupils from 13 high schools also attended Balisong, an educational play about knife crime produced by Strange Town. With support from Forth Ports, the production has toured high schools across Edinburgh, reaching thousands of pupils.
Young people have also played a key role in a creative project which saw 92 pieces of pupils’ artwork selected to form a mosaic on a Lothian bus. The artwork focuses on keeping safe and being kind, providing a positive message that was seen by people across the city.
Police Scotland school engagement officers have worked with schools and young people throughout September as part of ongoing efforts to prevent violence before it starts.
The Local Policing crime prevention team took part in community workshops, while officers have been providing local retailers with advice and guidance around the responsible sale of knives.
The Council held a closing ceremony on Friday to mark the end of the Knife Angel’s time in Edinburgh. The event brought the community together to reflect on the month’s activities and consider how partners can build on this work to continue reducing violence and knife crime across the city.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “The Knife Angel has provided a powerful opportunity to bring people together and have important conversations about knife crime, violence and how we can make our communities safer.
“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Knife Angel programme, particularly our schools, young people, community organisations, Police Scotland and our other partners. The creativity and commitment shown throughout the month has helped keep these important conversations going.
“Although the Knife Angel is now leaving Edinburgh, the work does not stop here. The partnerships, conversations and lessons from the past month give us a strong foundation to continue working together to prevent violence and keep our communities safe.”
Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal said: “Edinburgh Division has been proud to have supported the Knife Angel residency alongside Places For People, City of Edinburgh Council and over 100 partners to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of violence crime and the support available to those affected by crimes of this nature.
“There is no place for violence in our society and our officers work daily with our communities and partners to respond to incidents of violence when they arise and support a range of diversionary activities aimed at deterring at risk groups from getting involved in violence.
“During the month of the Knife Angel residency we have helped keep people safe by patrolling the transport network, providing local retailers with advice on the responsible sale of knives, delivering inputs to schools on the dangers of weapon carrying, and, crucially, listening to those impacted by violence across our communities, including children and young people, about their experience of violence. This is all in addition to enforcement activity targeting perpetrators of violence.
“The Knife Angel has provided a platform for discussion reaching millions, united partners to roll out education programs, community engagement events, practitioner events and the sharing of accounts from those impacted by violence. However, the work does not end when the Angel goes, we remain committed to tackling violence in communities.
“If you are a young person who knows information about violent crime, including weapon possession, you can report it 100 percent anonymously via Fearless, the youth service of independent charity Crimestoppers, at fearless.org.
“If you are an adult, you can report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or directly to Police Scotland by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. Together we can keep Edinburgh a safe place to work, live and visit.”
The Council will continue to work with partners, schools, and communities to support violence prevention and build on the work inspired by the Knife Angel’s visit.
And for Lisa Petrie, the remarkable wee mum who lost her son John McNab in a stabbing last September, the campaign goes on. The Angel may have moved on, but Lisa’s determination to ensure her terrible loss is Not In Vain remains as strong as ever.
More information about the Knife Angel’s time in Edinburgh and the Book of Remembrance is available on the Council’s website.
Every year, thousands of Scots dream of hopping on an Interrail adventure to discover incredible food, spectacular scenery, historic towns and unforgettable experiences across Europe.
But with the October break just around the corner, ScotRail’s new Intae-Rail guide is encouraging travellers to discover those same experiences closer to home, with 15 Scottish destination dupes waiting to be explored by train.
Swap Bilbao for Dundee, Positano for Plockton, Copenhagen’s foodie scene for Leith’s waterfront dining, or the Swiss Alps for the Cairngorms, Intae-Rail pairs some of Europe’s most iconic escapes with their Scottish destination counterparts via a map and online guide – proving you don’t need to cross the continent to find incredible food, culture, scenery and adventure.
Each Scottish alternative comes with its own ready-made Intae-Rail itinerary, packed with inspiration on what to see, eat, explore and experience when you get there – helping travellers turn European holiday inspiration into an adventure they can enjoy by train right here in Scotland.
It taps into the growing ‘destination dupe’ trend, which is seeing travellers swap famous holiday hotspots for lesser-known alternatives offering a similar experience, often without the crowds, cost or hassle.
According to research by Expedia, one in three (34%) travellers have already visited a destination considered a dupe of a more popular location, while almost half (47%) would consider doing so.
And it could particularly resonate with Scots. With affordability increasingly shaping holiday choices, research shows 45% of Scots expect to holiday in Scotland during 2026, as travellers look closer to home for shorter, more convenient breaks.
Now, ScotRail is putting a Scottish spin on the trend – showing that some of Europe’s most sought-after experiences could be just a train journey away.
Whether it’s a day trip, weekend break or a bigger adventure linking several stops, travellers can build their own Intae-Rail escape around whatever they’re “intae” – from food or exploring to nature, sightseeing and adventure.
Among the European-inspired recommendations to feature are:
Intae Adventure
Intae Exploring
Intae Sightseeing
Intae Food and Drink
Intae Nature
Five Scots travel experts put Intae-Rail to the test, jumping aboard to experience individually designed itineraries built around five different passions – adventure, exploring, sightseeing, food and drink, and nature. Among them were Glasgow twin travellers and official TikTok ambassadors for Scotland, Kieran and Kevin D’Arcy, who regularly document their adventures on social media as @darcytwins.
The siblings have always been into food and drink, so they hopped on board a ScotRail service from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, as they enjoyed a culinary experience that rivals Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula.
Kevin D’Arcy said: “Despite travelling all over Scotland and visiting plenty of places across Europe, we’d somehow never made it to Oban. Coming here by train made the journey feel like part of the experience, and once we arrived it was easy to see why so many people love it.
“You don’t have to fly to somewhere like Pula to enjoy great seafood, a beautiful harbour and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. Oban has all of that in its own way – including a striking amphitheatre.
“What really stood out was how much there is packed into such a walkable town. We had incredible seafood, wandered around the harbour, visited the distillery and just enjoyed taking everything at a slower pace, which felt very European.
“If you’re into food and drink, it’s the kind of place where you can easily spend a weekend eating well, exploring and enjoying the scenery without feeling like you need to rush anywhere.”
Lauren Smith from Abedeen took a cross-Highland trip to Plockton for Scotland’s answer to the “la dolce vita” vibes of the Amalfi Coast. She said: “You don’t have to head overseas to have a European-style adventure. Whatever you’re intae, there’s probably a place in Scotland that offers it.
“I found a picturesque harbourside town that really is Scotland’s answer to the Amalfi Coast, it even included palm trees.
“The charming village was quaint and peaceful, and all easily accessible by train. The journey also reminded me of my proud Gaelic roots, as I was able to deliver a quick guide of some of the Gaelic ways of saying station names.
“It showed how some of the best moments can happen on your journey, allowing you to slow down, relax on the train as you pass beautiful scenery along the way.”
Intae-Rail experiences are more affordable than ever with no peak fares on all ScotRail services, plus rail fares being frozen until March 2027.
And for those travelling with children aged 5-15, Kids for a Quid tickets are just £1 each return. Travellers looking for epic adventures around Scotland can consider the Highland Rover for trips up north, or the Scottish Grand for just £92. There are so many affordable options to use when travelling by train, so spur of the moment trips needn’t cost a fortune.
Claire Dickie, ScotRail Commercial Director, said: “Scotland is home to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, vibrant communities and unforgettable experiences to rival anything in Europe – and they’re all reachable by train.
“Whether you’re into adventure, food and drink, history or simply discovering somewhere new, our Intae-Rail guide is designed to inspire people to see Scotland differently and make the most of everything on their doorstep.
“And with the October break coming up, there’s no better time to Go by Train, with a range of ticket options available to help families and travellers turn Intae-Rail inspiration into their next Scottish adventure.
“The journey is all part of the experience, and travelling by train gives customers the chance to relax, enjoy Scotland’s incredible landscapes and create lasting memories along the way.”
