RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES RAISE £3600 FOR MISSION CHRISTMAS
Huge well done to the Blackhall Rainbows and Brownies who raised more than £3,600 for Mission Christmas by ‘growing £1’.
This meant each girl was given £1 and had to come up with a fundraising idea to help “grow” it. They then took the money they had fundraised to B&M and spent it on gifts for children living in poverty, which they then donated to Mission Christmas with Cash for Kids.
Thanks to a 10% discount from B&M Edinburgh, the group was able to donate more than £4,500 worth of gifts – which equated to four jam-packed car loads!
Poppyscotland is gearing up to celebrate 10 years of their hugely popular Sportive event.
The Armed Forces Charity first saddled up for the cycling event in 2014, taking a hiatus due to Covid in 2020 and 2021, with the flagship fundraising cycle so far raising over £270,000 over the years.
These funds have kindly been donated thanks to the 5650 cyclists who have taken part over the years, covering hundreds of thousands of miles of cycle route, allowing Poppyscotland to support thousands of serving and ex-servicemen, women and their families who need help with issues such as housing, debt, mental health, mobility and more.
With this year’s event taking place on Sunday, September 21, people are being encouraged to sign up now and further support Poppyscotland, whilst enjoying our 10th anniversary celebrations.
Featuring four routes designed for different ability levels. It is split into two distinct types – the Classic (46, 68 and 102 miles) and the Wee Yin (22 miles).
As in previous years, riders will line up at the starting point in Prestonpans, East Lothian, then head along the historic coastal route to North Berwick, where Classic route participants will face a timed hill climb before reaching the first feed station at East Linton.
From there, the short route continues to Gifford, while medium and long routes head towards Garvald before splitting at Whiteadder Reservoir, with the longer challenge heading to Duns and medium returning to Gifford. All routes finish in Prestonpans.
New for 2025, the Wee Yin route will take cyclists inland to Gullane before heading back towards Aberlady and then on to the coastal path. This route is largely flat and ideal for anyone wanting a family activity, looking for an easy ride, or a fun, challenging activity to do at the weekend.
Richard Todd, National Poppy Appeal Manager for Scotland, leading this year’s event, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 10th Poppy Scotland Sportive in September.
“This event has raised an astounding £273,272 over the years with over 5000 participants hitting the roads. Not to mention the wonderful 380 volunteers and 30 mechanics in the last 10 years who have willingly given up their spare time to help and support on the day.
“Once again, we would love to see as many people as possible sign up to take part this year as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, whether you are a former participant or a first timer we will be sure to give you a warm welcome, with some great encouragement on the day.
“We hope to raise as much as possible in support of our Armed Forces community, and we would be delighted if those signing up to take part would also consider setting up fundraising pages and challenging themselves with a donation target.
“As little as £100 goes a long way in helping us to provide much needed support to both serving and ex-servicemen, women and their families in areas like housing, debt, mental health, and mobility.
“If fundraising is not for you, perhaps when you register, you’d consider adding a £10 donation per rider. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference!”
Entry for our Classic routes is £40 per rider (minimum age: 16). The Wee Yin route is £25 per rider or £40 per family (2 adults & 2 children). Minimum age is 12 and entry is free for riders under 16.
Entry Includes: Electronic timing; mechanical support; food and water stations; coffee at the start; Tea & Toast at the finish; ‘King and Queen of The Heugh’ timed hill climb; sweeper service and a finishers gift.
To sign up today, please visit poppyscotland.org.uk/sportive
Edinburgh Leisure is calling on the public to lace up their walking shoes, don their tartan and join them for a cause that truly matters – helping older adults in Edinburgh stay active, connected, and happy.
On Saturday, 14th September 2025, a team from Edinburgh Leisure will be taking part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk, walking to raise vital funds to support older adults across the city – and they want you to join them.
Every step taken and every pound raised will go directly towards improving the lives of older people – not just funding a project but making a real difference to real people.
The money raised will support participants of Ageing Well, one of Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programmes, which offers a lifeline of physical activity and social connection to older adults across the city.
Last year, almost 80 participants joined the Edinburgh Leisure Kiltwalk Team and raised £17,500, enabling the delivery of the 2024-25 project. This year they’re aiming for £15,000 to keep this life-changing work going. Every penny (plus gift aid) goes directly to Ageing Well.
All those signing up to the Kiltwalk to raise funds for Edinburgh Leisure will receive a 50% discount on the registration fee and an Edinburgh Leisure T-shirt and a tartan-themed snood.
Rachael McCrae, Head of Funding for Edinburgh Leisure explained: “Many people don’t realise we’re a charity. Ageing Well supports older adults in Edinburgh to stay active and stay connected.
“It’s led by a fantastic team which includes many older adult volunteers and offers walking, cycling, gardening, buddy swimming and more. Like many charities with reduced funding, we’re feeling the pinch! Every pound raised will help keep this going – and with your Kiltwalk steps, you’ll get active too!”
The Kiltwalk has three walk lengths, which can be signed up, with the 50% reduced registration for:
The Big Stroll (approx. 11 miles) – £20£10 registration fee
The Wee Wander (approx. 5 miles) – £13.00£6.50 for adults, £7.00£3.50 for children
Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme supports 14,700 people annually who face the greatest barriers to getting active– people affected by health conditions, inequalities, and poverty.
Your participation in the Kiltwalk will raise crucial funds to promote health, happiness, and connectedness among older adults in Edinburgh whilst contributing to a fantastic and enjoyable event.
To find out more about signing up with Edinburgh Leisure to walk the Kiltwalk, and to get your 50% discount,click here.
TOMORROW,Saturday May 31st, our intrepid young Youth Committee from Pilton Youth and Children’s Project will be embarking on a sponsored walk on the Pentland Hills to raise funds for our charity. We are reaching out to our amazing community for support.
Every donation, big or small, makes a huge difference.
Your contributions will help us continue providing essential services and opportunities for children and young people living in Pilton and the surrounding area.
Crippling energy price rises has seen costs at the Home soar and funds are desperately needed to enable the cattery roof to be replaced
The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has today launched a crowdfunder to raise vital funds to replace their cattery roof which is in great need of repair. Rising energy prices has seen costs at the Home rocket and so they hope to install solar panels on their new roof which will make a saving of over £2,600 in energy costs every year.
The cattery roof is in urgent need of repair and the team at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home hope to raise nearly £13,000 to fund a new one and install solar panels. Currently the outdoor section of the cat pen has a mesh area through which bird poo can fall, which is incredibly dangerous to the cats, putting them at risk of giardia infection.
The new roof will be solid to keep the cats safe, preventing bird droppings from falling through, which previously required a great deal of time to clean. The improvement means the cats will now have year-round access to the outdoor cattery.
Solar Panels on the new roof would effectively cover the electricity to the Home’s entire cattery and clinic, creating a more sustainable future for the Home and for the environment. With solar panels installed, over five years the Home would save £13,070 – enough to vaccinate 1,378 cats.
Many of the Home’s resident cats, like Mickey who had spent about 6 months with them, enjoyed spending time outside whatever the weather. Mickey loved to sit in his outdoor area, hoping that passing team members would stop to say hi to him (of course, they always would!) The outdoor pens provide important stimulation and enrichment for cats like Mickey, but at the moment they can’t be used year-round due to infection concerns.
Lindsay Fyffe Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Repairing the roof and installing the solar panels above this section of the cattery will provide much needed shelter and create a safer play area for the cats in our care.
“Not only will we benefit from much needed energy savings, we’ll also improve our carbon footprint. Installing these solar panels means that two tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided every year. Over the panels’ lifetime, this is the equivalent of 69,690 car kms avoided, 50 long haul flights avoided, or planting 448 trees.
“Installing solar panels will not only give essential cover to our cattery, but will generate enough green energy for all the electricity in our cattery and our clinic.
“The welfare of the animals in our care is always at the forefront of our operations. Operating sustainably is essential in our ability to continue to deliver on our mission.”
To make a donation to the Cattery Crowdfunder please visit:
Established in 2008, Leith-based charity Strange Town was set up to ensure that everyone, no matter their experience or their background, gets the opportunity to access life-changing activities in the arts.
Founded by local Directors Steve Small and Ruth Hollyman, the organisation has expanded across the last 15 years and now reaches 2,000 local young people every year through youth theatre classes, holiday programmes, a touring company and agency support for young actors helping to develop the careers of some of Scotland’s best-known local talent including Tallulah Greive and Lewis Gribben.
Across all the charity’s activities, Strange Town creates high quality work that is daring and entertaining, tackling subjects of importance to young people’s lives, such as consent, knife crime and climate change anxiety.
The organisation tours local schools with educational performances that spark discussion, debate and often provides local young people with their first experience of a theatrical performance.
This week the charity’s Young Company (18-25) returns to the Scottish Storytelling Centre after their sold out shows there last year. ‘The Dark Up Close’ by local writer Jack MacGregor has been specially commissioned for Strange Town’s Young Company.
Open to everyone age 12+ the play will run for two nights Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th March.
‘Two teenagers digging graves, an island full of conscripts and puffins, the guns are silent on the eve of World War III.
‘These are scenes from a near future Britain, a country in crisis, with national service reinstated for all young people. The old world is dying, and the new world has been delayed indefinitely.’
Venue: The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR
Arts activities enrich lives, but organisations such as Strange Town are seriously under-funded, and the future is uncertain. Strange Town relies on its fundraising activities to deliver fully accessible activities for local young people.
Funders include the Backstage Trust, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Cordis Trust, Crerar Trust and others.
The charity also runs the 15for15 fundraising initiative where local people can donate monthly to support their life-changing work.
Edinburgh University student and lifeguard Alexandra Ogilvie is heating up her marathon fundraising efforts with a community bake sale at Leith Victoria Swim Centre on February 22nd, 2025.
The event marks a key milestone in her journey to raise £2,000 for Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme ahead of her London Marathon debut.
Alexandra, who balances her mathematics studies with lifeguarding duties, will be showcasing her baking talents with an array of homemade treats, including her signature cheesecakes and cupcakes. Local businesses have also stepped up to support the cause, contributing to what promises to be an impressive spread of baked goods.
“This will be my very first marathon, and I couldn’t be more excited to take on one of the world’s most iconic running events,” says Alexandra, who won Edinburgh Leisure’s coveted 2025 TCS London Marathon slot.
“Running a marathon has always been a dream of mine to accomplish before turning 20, and now I have the incredible honour of representing Edinburgh Leisure on this global stage.”
The funds raised will support Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme, which helps over 12,500 people affected by health conditions, disabilities, inequalities, and poverty access physical activity and sport each year. As both a student and lifeguard, Alexandra has witnessed firsthand the programme’s impact on the community.
“Each year, Edinburgh Leisure relies on fundraising to support its work,” Alexandra explains.
“With rising costs and increasing demand, your support has never been more important. Every penny raised will go towards helping the most vulnerable in our community live healthier and happier lives.”
The bake sale will take place during regular operating hours at Leith Victoria Swim Centre, offering visitors the perfect opportunity to indulge in some sweet treats and perhaps work them off with a swim or workout afterward.
To support Alexandra’s marathon journey and donate to her fundraising total, visit: Fundraising Link
Thousands of volunteers took to streets, shopping centres and supermarkets for the final weekend of fundraising for the 2024 Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Affectionately known across the country as Poppy Saturday, the day saw an army of volunteer collectors, including veterans themselves and hundreds of young cadets, from Glasgow to Girvan, Edinburgh to Elgin, all make another outstanding effort to raise vital funds to support the Armed Forces community.
Tomorrow the nation will fall silent in sombre reflection and pause for two minutes on Remembrance Sunday, safe in the knowledge that Poppy Saturday across Scotland has once again been a roaring success, with shoppers enthusiastically donating.
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland, said: “We cannot thank each and every volunteer and indeed donator enough for their continued support to the Scottish Poppy Appeal.
“The response we have had, not just on Poppy Saturday but throughout the past three weeks, across the length and breadth of our country has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“On behalf of Poppyscotland and the Armed Forces community that we support, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gave so generously. Without such support, quite frankly the Scottish Poppy Appeal simply could not happen.”
The Scottish Poppy Appeal is Scotland’s biggest fundraising appeal, with millions of poppies being distributed around the country.
The money raised from the Appeal has enabled Poppyscotland to help countless men, women and families with issues linked to their time in the Armed Forces or with struggles adjusting from military to civilian life.
