Wildflower Planting in East Pilton Park this Saturday 10.30-1 (11th October) with Granton Community Gardeners. Free, family friendly activity.
Join us to add wildflower seeds and spring bulbs to the long grass patches of East Pilton Park (around the new tree plantings).
As well as looking beautiful, we hope to improve the area for pollinators and also increase the number of invertebrates (insects and other wee bugs) for our local birds to eat.
We are particularly hoping to help increase the food supply for our nearby swift colony and this project goes hand in hand with plans we have to give the swifts more good local nesting sites by adding swift boxes to buildings.
Amazingly, the council’s ecologists have found that long grass areas can have as much as 90 times more life than short grass. Let’s add flowers to make them even better!
Considering the past, present and future of Scotland’s flagship music making fund for children and young people.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has welcomed a review highlighting the impact of music for young people of all backgrounds during Challenge Poverty Week.
The £9.78 million Scottish Government-funded Youth Music Initiative provides music-making opportunities for young people across Scotland, particularly those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
The review found the Creative Scotland-administered programme had expanded access and opportunities for children across Scotland with more than 453,000 children supported over the last year.
It also found that its newest strand, the Youth Arts Open Fund, delivered in participation with YouthLink, is already creating additional opportunities for young people facing barriers to participation. This includes ‘Starcatchers’, who opened their Baby Studio in an empty retail unit in Wester Hailes, providing free access to creative space for babies and young children.
The review makes a range of recommendations for the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to consider. These focus on potential structural changes as well as seeking out opportunities to innovate and cement YMI’s position as an internationally-recognised model of best practice in youth arts and engagement.
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: “At its heart, the YMI is about providing young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy music.
“Participation in cultural and creative activities helps young people grow into confident citizens and plays an important role in fostering wellbeing and supporting attainment.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support the delivery of these benefits with £9.78 million funding in the last Budget. The review’s recommendations will be considered carefully alongside the independent Review of Creative Scotland.”
Morag Macdonald, YMI Manager at Creative Scotland said: “This report marks a pivotal moment to both reflect on the profound impact of the YMI on Scotland’s children and young people, and to celebrate how deeply it’s now embedded within the fabric of our national cultural offer.
“We welcome the report’s recommendations which provide a clear focus for the programme’s strategic development, and we remain ambitious about the future direction of the fund.”
A group of fundraisers from across Scotland have returned after raising more than £44k for Childline by completing a gruelling 50km trek along the Great Wall of China.
The group of 14 fundraisers, who dubbed themselves the “Tartan Trailblazers,” walked 10km a day for five consecutive days across steep terrain, uneven steps, and exposed conditions – all in support of children and young people who rely on Childline.
Among the group were Angela Sloan, 63, a teacher and Childline volunteer from Glasgow, and Gemma Cutler, 22, a Childline counsellor from Aberdeen.
Gemma said: “The trek was an amazing experience and felt so surreal! The weather was pretty extreme with temperatures reaching 24 degrees and the paths were quite steep, with lots of loose rocks and uneven terrain.
“That made it difficult, but it was worth it for the views at the top and to raise money for Childline, of course. It was lovely to be able to accomplish something so difficult with likeminded people all for a shared cause – to support children and young people through Childline.”
Angela said: “It was unlike anything I have ever done before. The scale of the Wall was breathtaking and to feel the history beneath my feet made it unforgettable.
“The terrain was tough: steep climbs, loose rocks and relentless heat. There were moments of exhaustion, of course, but also laughter, camaraderie, and reflection.
“What kept us going was knowing that every step was helping Childline continue to be there for children who need someone to talk to. That purpose gave the whole experience real meaning.”
The trek, organised through Charity Challenge, followed the winding path of the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway, including the famous ‘heavenly staircase’ — a steep climb with dramatic views and unpredictable weather.
Arlene Main, Fundraising Manager for NSPCC Scotland, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the Tartan Trailblazers. Their determination, teamwork, and generosity will make a real difference to children and young people across Scotland.
“Their efforts are truly inspiring and its thanks to people like them that we can continue our work ensuring children are safe from abuse and neglect. Every step they took helps ensure Childline can continue to be there — day or night — for those who need someone to talk to.”
Funds raised will support the NSPCC’s Childline service. To donate, visit the group’s JustGiving page.
Young people looking for support can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk.
Plans to improve Scotland’s care system have been slow to come together after not enough early delivery planning by the Scottish Government and COSLA.
The Promise, a national commitment to improving the lives of care experienced people by 2030, was made by the Scottish Government in 2020.
Organisations and individuals remain dedicated to achieving that goal. But five years on, there is still confusion about what different bodies should be doing to deliver the changes needed.
Plans to date have lacked detail and direction for individual sectors. New structures set up by the Scottish Government to help deliver The Promise have lacked clarity about their roles and responsibilities.
And Scottish Government efforts to streamline The Promise’s complex governance arrangements have been insufficient. This has contributed to slow progress and made collective accountability challenging.
From the outset, there was no assessment of what resources and skills were needed to deliver The Promise by 2030, or how success would be defined or measured.
A framework to measure progress was agreed in December 2024 but further work remains. The Scottish Government is working on national data, which is not currently good enough to assess if services are improving the lives of care experienced people.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Public bodies remain committed to improving Scotland’s care system and the lives of people who go through it. But initial planning about how The Promise would be delivered didn’t provide a strong platform for success.
“The Scottish Government needs to work with its partners to clearly set out the action that will be taken over the next five years to deliver The Promise, and how that work will be resourced.”
Angela Leitch, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: “Despite public bodies working hard to support local and national change to the services underpinning Scotland’s care system, greater pace and momentum is now needed.
“Local bodies need to work with their national partners to clarify roles and responsibilities, and prioritise the work needed to achieve The Promise’s aims.”
Commenting on the latest report on the Promise by the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission, Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, said: “This report makes it clear that time is running out to keep the Promise.
“Investing in prevention and whole family support is the best way to stop children going into care in the first place. No child should be taken into care because support isn’t available.
“Real efforts have been made across Scotland over the last five years but as today’s report recognises, lack of clarity and accountability and failure to value and invest in the crucial role of the third sector are standing in the way.
“Children can’t wait. At Children First our commitment to keeping the Promise is as strong as ever. But unless the recommendations of the Auditor General and the Accounts Commission are acted on immediately the Promise won’t be kept.”
A new survey conducted by Will Aid, the national Will-writing campaign, has revealed an alarming gap in the public’s understanding about inheritance laws affecting cohabiting couples.
The survey found that 68% of cohabitees in Scotland were unaware of the rules of intestacy and what happens to their estate if they die without a Will.
The statistics from Scotland paint an identical picture to the rest of the country, with 68% of UK cohabitees also unaware of the risks without a Will.
This lack of awareness could have devastating consequences for many Scottish families, as cohabiting couples—regardless of how long they have lived together or whether they have children—are not automatically entitled to inherit from one another if one partner dies without leaving a Will.
Key findings from the poll include:
25% mistakenly believe their estate would automatically pass to their partner
24% admitted they were unsure what would happen
15% said they had never even thought about the issue
7% thought their estate would go to close friends
The Rules of Intestacy dictate how a person’s estate is distributed when they die without a Will.
These rules prioritise spouses, civil partners, and blood relatives, often leaving cohabiting partners with no legal right to inherit anything. This could leave surviving partners facing significant financial hardship, particularly in cases where they are dependent on the deceased’s income or home.
Peter de Vena Franks, Will Aid Campaign Director, said: “Many people assume that after living together for a period of time, they automatically become common law husband and wife, but this is not the case. The concept of ‘common law marriage’ ceased to exist a very long time ago.
“If you are cohabiting as a couple, the law does not recognise you as common law spouses, even if you have children together and have lived together for many years.
“Therefore, if you do not have a Will, the Rules of Intestacy will apply, and your partner will be completely disregarded.”
The annual Will Aid campaign sees solicitors across the UK volunteering their time to write Wills throughout November, so it is an ideal time for people who are cohabiting to get their wishes professionally drafted in a legal document, which will help to protect their loved ones in the future.
De Vena Franks added: “Will Aid is the perfect opportunity for unmarried and cohabiting partners to get a professionally written Will in place.
“Without a Will, surviving partners may not be automatically entitled to inherit, leaving them in a vulnerable position – and it’s particularly worrying that so many people aren’t aware of this, and don’t fully understand the Rules of Intestacy.
“By participating in Will Aid, couples can ensure their wishes are clearly documented, giving both partners peace of mind that their loved one will be provided for in the event of their death.”
Will Aid is a partnership between the legal profession and eight of the UK’s best-loved charities.
The initiative, which has been running for more than 35 years, sees participating solicitors waive their fee for writing basic Wills every November.
Instead, they invite clients to make a voluntary upfront donation to Will Aid – the suggested amounts are £120 for a single basic Will and £200 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ Wills.
Appointments are available now, and you can sign up by visiting www.willaid.org.uk
Will Aid is encouraging people to use its upcoming campaign month to write or update their Wills with a participating solicitor, while also supporting UK charities including Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Trócaire (Northern Ireland) and – new for this year, Shelter and Crisis.
For more information on Will Aid and how to get involved visit www.willaid.org.uk
A new campaign to help tackle child sexual and criminal exploitation has been launched in Renfrewshire.
‘Ready to Talk’, which is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland in partnership with community charity I Am Me Scotland and Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee, aims to support children, young people, professionals, parents and carers to have conversations about child sexual exploitation.
It will also help to increase people’s understanding of the issue, including knowing the signs and where to get support and advice.
The campaign, designed for young people aged 11 and over, was officially launched at an event on Thursday (2nd October) which was hosted by St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation at St Mirren Park, Paisley.
The campaign will be touring around schools this month to perform a play ‘It’s Not OK’ which has been written by York St John University with a Renfrewshire focus and contributions from local young people.
It highlights online safety issues including grooming, gaming and sexting, and explores healthy and unhealthy relationships and coping with strong emotions.
Dr. Matthew McVarish*, a multi-award-winning human rights activist and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, delivered the keynote speech on awareness of child sexual exploitation in the current Scottish and global context.
Aoife, 21, from South Lanarkshire, an NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, shared her experience of sexual exploitation at the campaign’s launch yesterday.
When she was 15, she was exploited by a man who pretended to be a teenager. He asked her to send him images of herself then he blackmailed her with these, threatening to share them with all her friends and family on Facebook, to control her behaviour.
When his demands became increasingly frightening, Aoife recalled being told at school about the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command (CEOP) and reported the images. Through this, her school and parents supported her to report what happened to the police. The perpetrator was sentenced in 2022 following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Aoife said: “I’d say to young people if this happens to you – it’s not your fault. You are the victim, and you have been taken advantage of. They are to blame, not you.
“It’s important that you don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed if you’ve shared images of yourself. Support is available, you can even get help to delete images of you that have been posted online.”
Carla Malseed, NSPCC Scotland Local Campaigns manager, said: “We hope this campaign will help to increase everyone’s understanding of what child sexual exploitation looks like and where they can get support and advice if they experience any of the issues raised.
“The resources that accompany the ‘It’s Not OK’ play can also be used by parents, carers and professionals to increase their awareness of this issue and to recognise when a young person may be at risk because they are in an unhealthy or exploitative relationship.”
Mhairi O’Rourke, I Am Me Development Co-ordinator, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the young people who have helped shape the Ready to Talk campaign and the powerful resources that accompany it.Their creativity and insight have been vital in making sure the materials speak directly to their peers.
“By working closely with parents, carers and professionals, we’ve been able to understand what support they need to have open, honest conversations with young people about exploitation and online safety. Together, we’re helping to build a community that’s informed, empowered and ready to talk.”
Tam Baillie, chair of Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee, said: “We are proud of our young people and teams being part of this national campaign to increase people’s awareness of child sexual and criminal exploitation.
“The Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee working with NSPCC and I Am Me Scotland strengthens the partnership approach required to keep our children free from harm.
“Knowing the signs of abuse and how to report it helps keep children and young people safe and we as a community all have a part to play in being aware and reporting any concerns, no matter how big or small.”
Schools and professionals will be able to use accompanying resources, which include films, lesson plans and activities.
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
POLICE Scotland: Today marks ten years the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) launched.
The scheme provides a formal way of sharing information about a partner’s abusive past, with a potential victim.
Today marks ten years the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) launched. The scheme provides a formal way of sharing information about a partner's abusive past, with a potential victim. Find out more ➡️https://t.co/OhvClqPPyT DSDAS form ➡️ https://t.co/g8fH5otJkTpic.twitter.com/fKEzfjsiP7
The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) is a way to find information about whether a person has an abusive past. This information can be used to prevent someone from experiencing domestic abuse in the future.
You can make a DSDAS application if you:
think you might be at risk of domestic abuse
are worried someone you know might be at risk of domestic abuse
We’ll only make a disclosure after we’ve considered all factors. We’ll assess the threat carefully, and we’ll decide if we need to share information to prevent a person from experiencing domestic abuse.
We may also speak to other agencies to help us make sure a disclosure is the right option.
If you’re making the application on behalf of someone else, we cannot make the disclosure to you. We can only make a disclosure to the person who is at risk to support and help protect them.
The police will act immediately if they think you or someone else needs to be protected from harm.
How to apply:
There are a few ways to apply for a domestic abuse disclosure. You can:
