Love Football – Aged 16–21 and neurodivergent? Join Team United’s 16+ project funded by The National Lottery, Young Start programme.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST BY COMPLETING THE FORM IN THIS LINK:
https://forms.gle/GQcv8Dc737oMj6Zx7
New sessions start July/August 2026
TODAY – Thursday 7 May – the people of Scotland will decide which MSPs will represent them in the Scottish Parliament, and which party will form a new Scottish Government.
But how does the voting system work in Scotland?
Everyone gets two votes
73 constituency MSPs are chosen by First Past the Post
56 regional MSPs, representing Scotland’s eight regions, are chosen by the share of the regional vote (Additional Member System)
Each constituency has one MSP and seven MSPs are chosen to represent each region
It’s REALLY important that you use your vote, so that our elected politicians best reflect the views of the people of Scotland.
Watch this video to find out how the system works in more detail:
Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday May 7.
You can find your nearest polling place on the city council website.
The candidates for each constituency at that deadline are listed below:
Edinburgh Central:
Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith:
Edinburgh North Western:
Edinburgh Northern:
Edinburgh South Western:
Edinburgh Southern:
Edinburgh and Lothians East (Region):
ADVANCE UK
ALLIANCE TO LIBERATE SCOTLAND
ANIMAL WELFARE PARTY
COMMUNIST PARTY OF BRITAIN
EDINBURGH & EAST LOTHIAN PEOPLE
EQUALITY PARTY
INDEPENDENCE FOR SCOTLAND PARTY
INDEPENDENT GREEN VOICE
REFORM UK
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE AND UNIONIST PARTY
SCOTTISH FAMILY PARTY
SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY
SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
SCOTTISH LIBERTARIAN PARTY
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY (SNP)
SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY
SCOTTISH WORKERS PARTY OF BRITAIN
INDEPENDENT
The count will take place on Friday May 8.
Do you know of, or are you a young person in Scotland who is passionate about making the online world safe for children and young people?
The NSPCC is currently recruiting up to 20 young people aged 12 – 15, from across the UK, to join their campaigning group – ‘The Voice of Online Youth’.
This is an incredible opportunity for young people from all backgrounds, who have an interest in the digital world to be at the heart of the charity’s online safety campaign and work to make the internet safer for children across the country.
Having young people’s voices and experiences heard and recognised is one of the main driving forces behind the NSPCC achieving its goal that every child is safe online, can enjoy age-appropriate online experiences and help to ensure tech companies are held accountable for making their platforms safe for children.
Children’s opinions and experiences of the online world should be invaluable to decision makers as they know first-hand the risks young people are facing.
Members of the Voice of Online Youth will enable the charity to amplify children’s voices and experiences and help keep others safe online. They will meet with key decision makers, help influence policies, laws and regulation, share their experiences and opinions, and help tackle online safety issues.
No previous experience is required – just a passion for making the online world safer for children and young people.
Membership will run for 18 months, and successful applicants will need to attend online sessions and workshops every other month – with some in-person meetings.
The NSPCC will cover the cost of travel, accommodation and reasonable expenses for regional and national meetings.
It’s a great opportunity for a young person to learn a range of valuable skills, make a difference and have lots of fun. Participants will:
Last year, members spoke at the world’s first Children’s AI Summit in London; attended the Global AI Summit in Paris and met with Peter Kyle, who was at that time Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology.
Earlier this year, three members of the group also met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in London and spoke to him about their views on children’s access to social media as the debate around social media bans continues.
Child Safety Online Senior Project Officer, Adam Diment, who runs The Voice of Online Youth said: “Children and young people can teach adults so much about the online world.
“The more we listen to their experiences, champion their voices, and include them in the national conversation, the safer we can make the online world for young people and for everyone.
“Through my work with The Voice of Online Youth, I have watched young people grow in confidence and develop skills that will last them a lifetime.
“That’s why the NSPCC set up the Voice of Online Youth – and we want you to encourage more children and young people to be part of it.”
More information and details of how to apply can be found at: The Voice of Online Youth | NSPCC or by searching ‘Voice of Online Youth’ online.
Applications close on 22nd May.
With only one week left to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election, the Electoral Commission is urging people to register before the deadline at 11.59pm on Monday 20 April.
Registering takes minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters who are already registered will have received a poll card, which tells them where and when to vote.
Electoral Commission research shows that young people, students and those who have recently moved are less likely to be registered to vote. Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again.
Those who do not have a fixed address, whether due to homelessness, being a part of the Gypsy or Traveller community, or because they are, or have been, in care, can still register to vote using a declaration of local connection.
Cahir Hughes, Acting Head of the Electoral Commission Scotland, said: “On Thursday 7 May, people across Scotland will head to the polls to have their say on the issues important to their daily lives. If you’ve recently moved, or you’re a student living away from home, it’s especially important to check you’re registered and you can do that quickly and easily at gov.uk/register-to-vote.
“If you do not have a fixed address to register to vote at, you can still take part by registering through a declaration of local connection.
For this election, eligibility for care experienced young people has been extended up to the age of 21, from 16, so we’d encourage those who need to make use of this option to do so.
“Importantly, voter ID is not required for the Scottish Parliament election. If you’re to vote, all you need to do on the day is turn up and have your say.”
We need your help to build a picture of Edinburgh’s third sector for a new report. Your feedback will help identify trends, the needs and the challenges facing groups and organisations across the city.
Please complete this survey (7 questions):
@YouthLinkSco It’s Welcome to Your Vote Week! Use the @ElectoralCommUK‘s impartial resources to explore why voting is important to your young people and to discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
More info https://bit.ly/4rUcmdX
This year’s theme is ‘why voting matters’ – supporting young people to discover the difference voting makes and how they can have their voices heard.
Use the Electoral Commission’s impartial resources to explore why voting is important to your young people and to discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
Every year The Electoral Commission invite schools, youth groups, and local elections teams to join them in celebrating democracy by running activities that help young people understand how it works and how to get involved.
The Electoral Commission aim to support young people to develop the knowledge and confidence they need to cast their vote and discover other ways to get involved in democracy.
With thanks to the brilliant ideas of their youth voice network, the theme for Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026 will be ‘Why Voting Matters’.
Discover the difference voting makes and how young people can have their voices heard. With your young people, use the impartial resources to explore why voting is important to them and discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.
Welcome to Your Vote Week is an opportunity to discuss the importance of voting and democracy in your area. Explore questions like ‘What issues are important to you?’, ‘What are different levels of government responsible for?’ and ‘How could your vote make a change?’.
More than half a million young people took part in Welcome to Your Vote Week 2025. We want even more young people to learn about democracy and voting this Welcome to Your Vote Week.
Everyone is welcome to get involved. Feel free to be creative, ask your students and young people for their ideas, and deliver activities which best suit you and your group.
You could:
Welcome to Your Vote Week is an opportunity for those who work with young people to start a conversation about democracy and voting.
I am pleased to be getting in touch to inform you about a Community Pop Up event regarding improvements to Arboretum Place and the area in front of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Inverleith Park.
With thanks to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, we welcome you to join us to see the proposals on Saturday 7th March from 10:30 – 2:00 pm on the Ground Floor of the John Hope Visitor Centre, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ. The venue is fully accessible.
Stop by to hear more about the project, see the proposals, meet the design team and share your feedback.
We are working with the City of Edinburgh Council to develop concept designs for improvements to the site, looking at the introduction of sustainable drainage measures along the length of Arboretum Place and around the entrances to Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, including placemaking opportunities between the two.
This work forms part of Climate Ready Craigleith looking at flood management interventions and improvements across the catchment and sits under the cities overarching Climate Ready Edinburgh strategy.
Community projects have been given the green light after another successful public vote at the annual Leith Chooses event.
Thanks to the decisions of people in the Leith (ward 13) and Leith Walk (ward 12) areas of the city, the following organisations have received Community Grant Funding to progress projects that seek to improve wellbeing in Leith:
From a community orchard to activity programmes tackling social isolation, this year will see the start of a variety of exciting new experiences in the area.
A full description of each project can be found on the Leith Chooses website.
PIC: Tim Duffin
Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: “It’s great to see so many fantastic local projects benefitting through the Leith Chooses scheme. I look forward to seeing the difference this investment will make over the coming months.
“Participatory budgeting gives residents a genuine voice and real influence over how public funds are allocated, and it has been delivering meaningful results in Leith for more than a decade.
“I’m delighted that nearly £2million of income generated from the visitor levy is now going to use participatory budgeting to support activity that makes a difference for communities right across Edinburgh.”
Steering Group Chair Councillor Susan Rae said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in another successful Leith Chooses. I’m really looking forward to seeing these new projects develop.
“There’s a big push for Participatory Budgeting across the city of Edinburgh, and I’m just delighted to see it continue in Leith, well over a decade since it was first conceived.”
Steering group volunteer member and Harbour Homes’ Placemaking & Employability Officer Rachel Hutton said: “I was truly impressed and inspired to be part of my first Leith Chooses event.
“The passion of local people and the commitment shown by fund applicants are remarkable — qualities that would make anyone who lives, works or volunteers in Leith proud. This is what community involvement looks like in action.”
Steering Group Member Councillor Jack Caldwell said: “Once again, hundreds of people turned out to support wellbeing in Leith.
“Community Grant Funding continues to be vitally important for residents of all ages, and it’s great to see so many people across our neighbourhoods share so much enthusiasm for community wellbeing, and we’ll no doubt see some great projects take shape.”
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY FESTIVAL – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!
As many of you know, we run this event on passion, community spirit, and a shoestring but this year the funding challenges have been extreme. So much so that, for the first time, we’re facing the very real possibility that the festival might not be able to go ahead.
To give us the best chance of keeping it alive, we’ve introduced a tiered cost for stalls, ranging from a heavily discounted £80 up to £250 depending on the size of your organisation.
This structure lets smaller groups stay involved while asking those with more resources to chip in a little extra to support the wider community.
If you’re taking a trading or community stall, we’re encouraging everyone who can to select the £150 payment. That contribution genuinely makes a difference to whether the festival can run. But if £80 is what’s manageable for you, please know that it’s still hugely appreciated, your presence matters just as much.
We’re doing everything we can to protect this festival and the space it creates for local makers, groups, and neighbours.
Your support, in whatever form you can offer it, means the world.
Thank you for sticking with us and for being part of what makes this festival special.
Find your registration form here – https://forms.office.com/r/jMTLzXQUds
NOTE: DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING AND PAYMENT IS 30TH MARCH 2026
Community Councils, have you signed up for our next free webinar yet?
On 25th February at 6pm we welcome Scottish Government Local Governance Review team who will be providing an update on Democracy Matters policy development.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions on the process and next steps.
Community Councils can register for this free event using the link below:
