EVENT ORGANISED by MISSION OF INNOCENTS
Mission of Innocents warmly invites you to the 2025 Children’s Creativity Festival.
Performed by the children of the Ukrainian community, experience vibrant dancing and heartfelt singing from the voices of the innocent. Remember to arrive early to explore a beautiful art exhibition showcasing their creativity and culture.
For more information about this event, please contact the organiser:
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has joined forces with children’s burns specialists to drive home the importance of staying safe around fireworks.
During just a four week period last year, 46 people attended hospital for treatment after being injured by fireworks.
According to the statistics compiled by the Care of Burns in Scotland partnership, nearly half of those treated required plastic surgery or specialist health care.
SFRS staff have been visiting schools and community groups across Scotland to lay bare the dangers of misusing fireworks.
Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour is the SFRS Head of Prevention. He said: “Every year we witness people who have been injured by fireworks. Fireworks are explosives and people need to understand how dangerous they can be.
“We would always urge people to attend an organised public display where possible, but where they can’t, they should always read the Fireworks Code before buying or using fireworks.
“A little knowledge can go a long way to keeping people safe.”
Sharon Ramsay, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Paediatric Burns at the Scottish National Burns Centre, based at the Royal Hospital for Children, has seen the devastating impact of fireworks firsthand.
She said: “Every year around Bonfire Night, we treat children with serious injuries caused by fireworks and sparklers. These can be life-changing, especially in older children who’ve lit fireworks while holding them.
“We’ve seen blast injuries to hands, faces, and eyes, some resulting in permanent disability.
“If you’re using fireworks at home, please keep children indoors and behind closed windows where they can safely enjoy the display.
“It’s not just the 5th of November that’s risky. We often see more injuries in the two weeks following Bonfire Night, when young people get hold of leftover fireworks and use them unsupervised with friends.
“If you’re storing fireworks for another occasion, like New Year’s Eve, please keep them locked away and out of reach of children.”
You can find all key safety information, including the Fireworks Code, on the SFRS website. You’ll also find a full list of organised public displays.
Hundreds of young people across Scotland have benefitted from a record £3.5 million investment from the Essentia Foundation across 2025.
This total includes their largest funding commitment to date, with £2 million recently awarded to eight leading charities across the country.
Funding will support these organisations to deliver programmes tackling youth unemployment, poverty, poor mental health and barriers to education.
Each of the eight charities, including Edinburgh-based Children First and Bethany Christian Trust, has received £250,000, enabling ambitious projects that are helping young people build resilience, develop new skills, and take steps towards brighter futures.
This major investment comes at a critical time. Young people have been disproportionately affected by recent crises, from the long-term effects of the pandemic to the pressures of the continuing cost of living crisis.
Many continue to face the lasting consequences of disrupted education and social development, alongside limited opportunities in training and employment.
Combined with ongoing mental health challenges and persistent inequality, these barriers mean that support for Scotland’s young people is more urgently needed than ever.
Brian Davidson, Trustee and Chairperson of the Essentia Foundation, said: “Scotland’s young people are facing some of the toughest challenges in generations, and the need for support has never been greater.
“These eight charities are already making a real difference in communities across the country. This funding will help create opportunities, build resilience, and give young people the skills and confidence to thrive.
“The impact of these projects will last well beyond the life of the programmes themselves, and we hope it also sparks further support from others who want to see Scotland’s young people flourish.”
Other grant recipients of £250,000 each from the Essentia Foundation include:
These awards, alongside the additional £1.5 million that has been distributed this year by the Essentia Foundation, underpin its commitment to support young people across Scotland through initiatives focused on wellbeing, education, skills development, and opportunities for employment.
The awards also mark a milestone moment for the Essentia Foundation itself. The Foundation has confirmed it will now wind up its activities, leaving a £1.5 million legacy fund to be administered by long term partner Foundation Scotland, who have been supporting the Essentia Foundation since 2017.
Helen Wray, Head of Philanthropy & Quality, Foundation Scotland said: “We are honoured to continue Essentia Foundation’s legacy through the new fund. For the last eight years, our team has had the privilege of working alongside Essentia to ensure its resources reach young people who need them most.
“This next chapter will see us build on that partnership by supporting grassroots organisations across Scotland.
“We look forward to helping smaller charities deliver vital opportunities that improve wellbeing, education and future prospects for children and young people, ensuring Essentia’s legacy and impact endures for years to come.”
This future programme will provide small grants to grassroots charities, ensuring Essentia’s mission of supporting children and young people continues well into the future.
For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/FoundationScotlandEssentia
Almost three in five (57%) parents say their children’s physical activity levels are likely to suffer a seasonal dip during autumn and winter, with cold or wet weather (60%) and darker evenings (41%) highlighted as the key barriers in new research findings.
To tackle inactivity and help families keep children moving all year-round, the Government has launched ‘Let’s Move!’, a new campaign supported by Sport England that aims to help parents discover simple, fun, and pressure-free ways to build movement into daily life – which can start with just 10 minutes of activity.
NHS guidance recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day – including 30 minutes outside of school hours. Yet the new survey reveals that 81% of parents underestimate how much physical activity children need. Already, more than half of children in England aren’t getting the recommended amount of movement and, worryingly, the research shows this will increase during the colder months.
Supported by Joe Wicks, the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign makes staying active easy and affordable, offering ideas from kitchen discos to local activities and playground fun. It encourages families to move together – 80% of parents believe their habits influence their child’s activity levels – and highlights how everyday routines can support healthy, active lifestyles.
Regular movement boosts mood, focus, and family connections, with 78% of parents agreeing that their child is happier after being active, has more energy (71%) and has better concentration (68%).
The campaign is part of the Government’s wider effort to break down barriers to physical activity for people all over the country. Already, more than £900 million has been committed to build grassroots facilities in the places that need them most and deliver a pipeline of major sports events that inspire the nation. Alongside this, the new School Sport Partnerships and
Enrichment Framework will ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity. Sport England evidence shows that improved health from participation in sport and physical activity relieves pressure on the NHS through £10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings.
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Building a more active nation is a huge part of this Government’s Plan for Change and we want to show families all over the country just how many ways there are to get involved.
“Whether it’s dancing, playing team sport or playing in the playground with their friends, we know that children who get at least an hour of exercise a day experience so many benefits – they’re happier, healthier and focus better at school.
“I am determined that every child, whatever their circumstances, should have those opportunities.”
While just over half (52%) of parents say their children really enjoy traditional forms of sport, others face barriers such as low confidence (31%) or a dislike of competitiveness (30%). However, 94% of parents say their children enjoy physical play as a form of movement – with top activities including visiting the playground (56%), riding a bike (46%), dancing (44%) and playing tag or chase (43%).
‘Let’s Move!’ aims to support different ways for children to enjoy being active – from sport to play and everyday movement. The campaign features real families from local areas having fun getting active together in ways which suit them, such as dancing or playing in the playground. Their images are featured in out-of-home and social channels in the local areas to inspire others to visit nhs.uk/LetsMove for tips, local activities and inspiration.
Parents and TV personalities Alex and Olivia Bowen launched the campaign in Essex alongside inspiring local families, demonstrating that movement really can be for everyone. Olympic champions Beth Tweddle and Max Whitlock led activities at the event, including dance challenges to obstacle courses, as families shared how they’ve been inspired to get active this winter.
Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton said: “Every child deserves the chance to be active, healthy and happy – but right now, too many are missing out on the 60 minutes of daily exercise their bodies need.
“’Let’s Move!’ is about showing families that physical activity doesn’t have to mean expensive gym memberships or organised sports. A kitchen disco, a walk to the park, or ten minutes of silly dancing – it all counts, and it all makes a real difference to children’s health, happiness and development. This builds on the work we have already done with Joe Wicks and his Activate animated series, inspiring children to move more.
“This campaign is part of our Plan for Change to build an NHS fit for the future by helping families make movement a natural, joyful part of everyday life.”
Joe Wicks, who got the nation moving during ‘PE With Joe’, is backing the campaign following the success of his animated workout series Activate, which was supported by a cross-section of government departments including DCMS, DfE and DHSC.
The series aims to make fitness fun for kids with short five-minute animated workouts. He shares new top tips as part of the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign to help families slot activity into their everyday life, including being a role model, exploring local activities and getting outside whatever the weather.
Joe Wicks said: “As a dad, I know how hard it can be to keep kids moving – especially in the winter when it’s getting cold and dark.
“The idea of 60 minutes of movement a day for kids can sound like a lot, especially for kids who don’t feel confident doing traditional sports – but it doesn’t have to be all at once. It can start with something simple – a quick dance in the kitchen, a run or a brisk walk to the park, or an episode or two of Activate!
“It all adds up and gives kids an amazing mood boost – the key is making it fun.
“Let’s Move is about helping families find those little moments together – whether it’s discovering something local, or just getting active at home. It’s not about perfection, it’s about showing kids that moving isn’t a chore, it’s play. And when it’s playful, they’re way more likely to want to do it again, and again.”
‘Let’s Move!’ is being piloted in targeted areas of Sandwell, Lancashire, Essex and Bradford where inactivity levels and inequalities are greater than other parts of the country. These areas all receive funding from Sport England via their place partnership programme, to ensure those in greatest need can be active. The campaign supports the Government’s Health Mission, which prioritises preventative health measures, including addressing physical inactivity.
Sport England data also shows significant inequalities remain in activity levels, with Black (42%) and Asian (43%) children and young people, and those from the least affluent families (45%), still less likely to play sport or be physically active than the average across all ethnicities and affluence groups.
Find simple ideas to get active together at www.nhs.uk/letsmove.
Aldi has helped Teenage Cancer Trust patients and staff in Edinburgh get into the Halloween spirit by donating a range of seasonal goodies.
The wards at Western General Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children received everything from pumpkins and decorations to costumes and treats, helping young people to celebrate Halloween away from home.
Since first partnering with Teenage Cancer Trust in 2017, Aldi has raised more than £12 million for the charity, with a commitment to raise £20 million by 2031 to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.
This Halloween, 28 Teenage Cancer Trust units across the country received donations from the supermarket, giving patients, family and staff the chance to enjoy seasonal celebrations together.
Michelle Aucott, Senior Partnerships Manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We’re so grateful to Aldi for their continued support.
“These small seasonal gestures make a big difference, helping young people to celebrate Halloween away from home.”
Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, added: “We’re proud to support Teenage Cancer Trust through a wide range of fundraising events and donations. Halloween is meant to be a time of fun and thrills, so we hope that our donation will help to bring some spooky fun and joy to young people and staff this year.”
Teenage Cancer Trust works in partnership with the NHS to provide highly-trained expert staff and specialist cancer units in NHS hospitals across the UK. The charity is there at every stage from diagnosis, through treatment and after treatment.
It also brings young people with cancer together so they can support each other.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging families to take extra care this Halloween after new government testing revealed widespread safety failures in children’s costumes.
The warning follows findings from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in 2024, which showed that more than 80 per cent of costumes tested failed basic safety checks.
Tests carried out by OPSS on 128 costumes—mostly purchased from online marketplaces—found serious issues including flammability risks and strangulation hazards. RoSPA is advising parents to only buy costumes from trusted retailers and to check for the UKCA or CE mark to ensure products meet UK safety standards.
The OPSS investigation found that 28 costumes failed flammability tests, while 59 featured cords or drawstrings that posed a strangulation risk. In addition, 98 costumes lacked essential safety labelling, making it harder for parents to assess risk.
Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said: “These results are deeply concerning. Parents need to be vigilant and check for safety markings before buying. A UKCA or CE mark means the costume has passed critical safety tests, including for fire resistance.”
Graham Russell, Chief Executive at the Office for Product Safety and Standards, said: “Fancy dress can be an enjoyable part of Halloween, but our tests showed many costumes for sale, particularly those online, pose serious risks to young children. Please take extra care before you buy.”
RoSPA is also reminding families to follow basic safety precautions during Halloween celebrations:
RoSPA continues to work with government and industry to improve product safety and raise awareness among consumers.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland today (Wednesday 29 October) published a report relating to a Maternity Services Safe Delivery of Care inspection visit to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian.
We carried out the unannounced inspection of maternity services at the hospital on 23-24 June 2025.
Speaking of the report, Donna Maclean, Chief Inspector, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “During our inspection of the maternity services we saw staff working hard to provide compassionate and responsive care in very challenging circumstances. All interactions observed during inspection between women, babies and families were positive and respectful.
“We saw good teamwork and innovation within the maternity triage department involving extended members of the multidisciplinary team including obstetricians, midwives and the healthcare support team.
“However, during the course of this inspection, we escalated serious concerns within NHS Lothian to senior staff and Scottish Government. These concerns related to culture, oversight of patient safety and staff wellbeing within Edinburgh Royal Infirmary maternity services.
“Some staff were complimentary and described their line manager as supportive. However, the majority of the multidisciplinary team we spoke with were frustrated at staffing levels and told us this presented a safety risk, which they’d raised on multiple occasions with managers.
“They shared their concerns and feelings of being overwhelmed, unsupported and not listened to. They said this has impacted staff confidence to escalate staffing concerns.
“During the inspection we observed delays to the induction of labour process of up to 29 hours and other delays to women who required ongoing care within the labour ward due to lack of staff availability, capacity and the complexities of patient conditions.
“Staff described suboptimal skill mix and challenges in providing and maintaining one to one care for women within the labour ward, as well as delays to observations or escalation of clinical concerns.
“Our inspection has highlighted gaps in incident reporting and a reluctance to submit incident reports, with staff describing a culture of mistrust. These are concerning issues that may have significant impact on the learning from adverse events in the system and reduce opportunities to improve safety.
“Women told us of mixed experiences within the hospital, whilst some were complimentary of their care, they also informed inspectors of poor communication that left them feeling uninformed and with no ‘voice’ in their care.”
Other areas for improvement identified included fire safety requirements, safe storage of cleaning products and improvements to the environment.
Speaking of our expansion of Safe Delivery of Care inspections into maternity services, Eddie Docherty, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation, said: “In response to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Neonatal Mortality Review in 2024, we made a commitment to expanding our Safe Delivery of Care inspection approach to include inpatient maternity services.
“The maternity inspections will provide women, and families with an assessment of the quality of care provided by their local maternity service and an independent review of any required improvements.
“Our organisation is also producing a set of standards for maternity services, which will in time support our inspection process for maternity services.”
The maternity services inspection at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh resulted in five areas of good practice, two recommendations and 26 requirements.
An improvement action plan has been developed by NHS Lothian to meet the requirements for maternity services.
The full Lothian maternity inspection report is available to view at:
Pre-empting the report, NHS Lothian issued a statement yesterday:
KEY MESSAGES FOR PATIENTS
You are likely to read or hear some stories in the media this week about maternity services in NHS Lothian.
A new BBC documentary will air on Tuesday and will explore challenges in maternity services across Scotland. It is looking at situations and cases in the bigger units of Glasgow and Edinburgh and is following up on the improvement work that is already underway in NHS Lothian.
Then on Wednesday, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will publish a report into Women’s Services following two unannounced visits in June.
You might understandably have some questions or concerns about what is going on. It is also to be expected that you may feel more anxious than normal.
We can reassure you that your health, and that of your baby, is our main priority.
If you have any questions at all, please raise them. If your expert midwife can’t answer them, they will be able to find someone else who can help.
A phoneline has also been established to help answer any questions or concerns. It will be manned by our Patient Experience Team with a local contact in Women’s Services for any specific issues.
You can make contact on: Tel 0131 536 3370 (open Mon-Fri, 9am to 2pm) and on email: LOTH.Feedback@nhs.scot
Many of the things to note are:
Kick off the festivities at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store and tuck into a tasty breakfast with Santa and his elves at the ever-popular Santa’s Breakfast this winter.
Families can enjoy a morning full of Christmas magic at Santa’s Breakfast, taking place in the Edinburgh store from 29 November to 24 December. Each child will get the chance to meet Santa and build their very own collectable soft toy to name, personalise, and take home to cherish for years to come.
The event starts with a cooked breakfast in the Dobbies’ restaurant, with vegetarian and continental breakfast options also available. Then children will get to meet Santa to share their Christmas wishes, before getting the opportunity to take part in family-friendly games, festive activities, and the toy-making workshop with the help of Santa’s elves.
Tickets are priced from £18- £20 per child, depending on the date, with adult tickets from £9. While the build-a-buddy activity is not suitable for children under three years old, a pre-made version of the toy will be provided for the younger children to decorate and take part in the festive fun.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, is looking forward to welcoming families to Santa’s Breakfast at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store.
She said: “Our Santa’s Breakfast event is extremely popular with families looking for a magical morning that everyone can enjoy.
“With festive fun and games, and a special meet and greet with Santa and a hands-on build-a-buddy activity with his elves, this event is great fun for the kids and a perfect way to start the countdown to Christmas.”
Families are now encouraged to purchase their tickets for the Santa’s Breakfast event at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store before they sell out. For a limited time only, customers can get 10% off the price of Santa’s Breakfast tickets using the code SB10 when booking online at www.dobbies.com/events
Tickets for all events and experiences are on sale now with an option to make a donation during your purchase to Dobbies’ National Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK. To learn more about the Christmas events and make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events
Europe’s largest inland surf resort, Lost Shore, has unveiled its 2025 festive line-up, complete with a special visit from Mrs Claus, the return of the resort’s much-loved festive cinema, and glittering Christmas party nights perfect for groups of all sizes.
Just 25 minutes from Edinburgh’s city centre, the resort is set to sparkle this season with a packed calendar of festive fun for families, friends, and colleagues alike.
Lost Shore will welcome Mrs Mary Claus, Santa’s better half, for an immersive theatrical experience on 6, 7 and 22 December. Guests will be treated to enchanting stories from Lapland, learning all about the Christmas preparations and discovering why kindness is the real magic of the season. Tickets start from £15, suitable for children aged 0 through to 7+.
Building on last year’s success, Lost Shore is bringing back its festive favourites cinema, screening beloved Christmas classics including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frozen, The Polar Express, Home Alone, The Holiday and Love Actually.
The cosy setup will feature rugs and beanbags for children, a wood-fired stove in the resort’s on-site restaurant, Canteen, and plenty of mulled drinks, hot chocolates, and delicious festive food to enjoy by the fire.
Looking for the perfect festive night out for your team or friend group? Lost Shore’s shared Christmas party nights promise a celebration like no other, combining great drinks, a buzzing party atmosphere, and an unlimited pizza buffet catered by Civerinos.
Whether you’re a group of friends, family or even a business looking to take your annual night out to the next level, these party nights are designed to be fun, relaxed, and guaranteed to get everyone into the festive spirit.
The resort will be beautifully dressed in festive décor, created in partnership with Rogue Village, and set against the stunning backdrop of Lost Shore’s iconic wave pool, creating the most unique Christmas party setting in Edinburgh.
Each ticket includes a welcome glass of fizz or mulled wine on arrival, followed by an unlimited festive pizza buffet served from 7:30–9:00 pm. Guests will also enjoy two drinks tokens (redeemable for beer, wine, or soft drinks), access to an open bar serving beer, wine, softs and festive cocktails, and DJ entertainment with dancing until late.
Party nights run on 30 November and 4, 5, 11 & 12 December, with individual tickets priced at £45. Private party nights are also available for those looking for a more exclusive celebration, with the ability to host groups of 90 Monday-Friday throughout December.
Guests can also pick up a real Christmas tree from the resort’s car park throughout December.
Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift? Lost Shore offers monetary vouchers redeemable across the resort, including surf, stay, Canteen, and spa experiences. Visitors can also choose from surf bundles, Lost Shore Surf Club memberships, and a range of unique gifts in the on-site surf shop.
For more information about Lost Shore Surf Resort’s festive calendar, please visit: www.lostshore.com
In Scotland, uptake of the MMR vaccine is falling.
Getting babies and children vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases that could, otherwise, lead to serious illness.
Find out more: http://nhsinform.scot/mmr
