Feeling stressed at work?
Stress can affect anyone, and it’s often linked to things like workload, support or communication.
This Stress Awareness Month, talk to someone or ask for support if work is affecting you.
See below for simple steps you can take
BE AWARE OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENINGITIS
NEN PUBLISHED OUR FIRST BLOG POST ON THIS DAY IN 2011
The very first NEN blog post was published on this day in 2011. The post read:
Hello, and welcome to the brand new NEN blog.
For those of you not already familiar with the newspaper, we are a local community paper serving the North Edinburgh community. We’ve been here for over thirty years.
This blog, along with our new Facebook page and Twitter stream, represents our first foray into the world of social media. We really want to encourage more participation, more questions and ideas from the North Edinburgh community – both online and offline – and hope that these new tools will help us to do that.
We already have a good website, where you can always find the latest edition of the printed newspaper. The blog won’t be replacing that, but will instead be there to show people the latest news about the area, and also to help us cover the current funding crisis we are facing as an organisation.
Above all, we want to include your input on the blog – be it ideas for stories, comments, pictures and events. So get in touch!
The NEN’s website was sadly deleted when funding ceased but our social media presence continues on both Twitter and Facebook and the blog is still going strong with 10 – 12 posts daily.
2025 was the NEN blog’s busiest ever year with 36,000 visitors. As I write this we’ve published more than 38,000 posts – all of these remain accessible online – and we’re currently on a run of publishing on 2749 consecutive days.
When the NEN office in Crewe Road North closed much of the NEN archive material was lost, but thankfully some of our picture library was salvaged and can now be found at granton:hub (Madelvic House), where the volunteer archive team has also collated all remaining hard copies of the North Edinburgh News newspaper.
Hopefully, between the physical archive and the NEN blog, you can find all you need to know about our community’s rich history – and we’re adding to that history every day!
A Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to all NEN readers!
2025 was NEN’s busiest ever year with a record number of visitors.
It’s hard to believe but the North Edinburgh News blog celebrates our 15th birthday this year – I hope 2026 will be a special year for you, too!
Best Wishes,
Dave P (Editor)
ASH Scotland is encouraging youth workers in Edinburgh to access the charity’s new resources on vaping illicit substances to build their knowledge and confidence in starting conversations to help educate young people to protect their long-term health.
The charity’s ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing features insights from young people across Scotland which were shared with the charity’s Youth Conservations Hub.
The resource is published at a time when the emerging major public health issue of youth vaping and the availability of illicit substances in e-cigarettes is causing immense concern for people working with children.
The briefing provides up-to-date facts covering a range of important topics including how younger people are accessing vapes. and the risks and side effects associated with vaping illicit substances such as Spice (man-made drugs designed to mimic the effects of cannabis) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis).
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “With concerned youth workers across Scotland regularly contacting us for advice about vaping cannabis, THC and Spice, it is vital that those working with young people in Edinburgh can access robust, evidence-based information to engage and empower youngsters to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
“Our new ‘Understanding illicit substance vaping’ briefing can enable youth workers to promote a vape-free culture and encourage the younger generation in Edinburgh to understand the risks associated with vaping illicit substances and make positive choices to protect their physical and mental health.”
The new resource can be downloaded at https://ashscotland.org.uk/illicit-substance-vaping/, and people who work or volunteer for youth groups can join ASH Scotland’s Youth Conversations Hub at www.ashscotland.org.uk/hub.
A Coming Home Working Group has been set up to drive progress towards the Coming Home vision and mission for people with learning disabilities and complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
The group are developing an action plan, building on the recommendations in the Coming Home Implementation Report.
One of the workstreams is focusing on developing strategic approaches to skill up and strengthen community services (including integrated community teams, social care providers, school settings) and family carers to improve support for people with learning disabilities and complex support needs.
This is with a particular emphasis on preventing service breakdown and building resilience in community services for people with complex needs and behaviours that challenge. Specialist skills are required across agencies to achieve complex and sustainable return to local community settings for those in hospital or out of areas, and also to prevent support breakdown.
The group would like your views on the knowledge and specialist skills that are needed by those providing support, both direct care and as organisations and services. In addition, information about access to training in these areas is requested.
The short survey closes on Thursday 30 October. This information will help develop recommendations in the next Coming Home action plan – so this is your chance to have your say!
SP Energy Networks is planning to engage with 3.5 million homes and businesses, including customers across Edinburgh and The Lothians, over the coming weeks, as it helps local communities prepare for adverse weather ahead of winter.
This critical safety campaign forms part of a wider UK roll-out of communication to customers across Central & Southern Scotland, Cheshire, Merseyside, North & Mid Wales and North Shropshire, giving vital advice on how to stay safe and supported during a power cut.
By engaging with households, SP Energy Networks aims to help customers better understand what to do if the lights go out, who can access extra support through the free Priority Services Register, and the measures SP Energy Networks takes every day to keep communities safe and the power flowing.
Even though power cuts don’t happen often, being prepared can make all the difference. That’s why SP Energy Networks are sharing four simple steps everyone can take to prepare for a power cut.
To get prepared ahead of adverse weather, SP Energy Networks’ recommends:
1. Save the 105 number in your phone or write it down somewhere safe.
2. Keep a torch and some new batteries nearby.
3. Charge your phone and any power packs.
4. Have some extra blankets or warm clothes ready.
SP Energy Networks is also encouraging those who may need extra support in the event of a power cut – including people with medical equipment at home, those over 60, households with children under 5, or anyone who feels they could use additional support – to sign up to the Priority Services Register.
This free service provides tailored help and proactive updates when there are problems in a customer’s area, as well as offering a 24/7 dedicated helpline number to contact.
Kendal Morris, Customer Services Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “At SP Energy Networks, keeping our customers safe and supported is our top priority.
“While power cuts are rare, being prepared can make a big difference. That’s why we’re delivering vital safety messaging directly to homes across Edinburgh and The Lothians to make sure everyone has clear, practical advice on what to do if the lights go out.
“From knowing the national 105 number to signing up for our free Priority Services Register, this vital information helps customers feel confident and reassured that they’re ready for any eventuality this winter.”
SP Energy Networks plans to distribute over 3.5 million leaflets directly to households and businesses over the next month, with all homes across Edinburgh and The Lothians receiving a leaflet by the 20th of October.
The distribution of these leaflets forms part of the company’s ongoing commitment to ensuring customers have the information they need to feel safe, supported, and prepared.
For more information and guidance on how to prepare for a power cut, visit:
The Eric Liddell community day care service in Edinburgh recently held a scam awareness session for their clients living with dementia and their care partners.
They decided to organise this session due to some clients being duped by fraudsters going door-to-door and online. The session was organised by day care manager, Caroline Heenan and was run by PC Stuart Fraser from the Community Policing Team at St Leonards Police Station.
Peta Randall, day care officer, said: “It was very interesting and makes you think how prepared fraudsters are”.
Carmel Riley, admin assistant, added: “I feel more equipped to deal with the nuisance calls I get.”
Christine, 82, said: “My husband gave money to a gardener but he made a mess and never came back.”
Beverley, 73, added: “I was scammed online, but I now understand how it can happen”.
Caroline, day care manager, said: “For others who are thinking about holding a session, I’d say go for it!
“Police Scotland are more than happy to facilitate these sessions.”
Care Inspectorate
The UK’s largest community of unpaid carers is urging hundreds of thousands of Scots providing unpaid care for someone to access vital respite funding. This follows new research revealing that 1 in 3 unpaid carers are rarely able to take a break.
Released as part of a carer-led “protest from home” in July, the Carers Trust research shows that 44% of unpaid carers are not currently accessing government-issued respite care. This echoes previous research conducted by Mobilise in July 2024, which revealed that almost half (47%) of unpaid carers had never taken a break, with many respondents citing a lack of available support as the reason.
It also comes as the Scottish Government introduces a legal right to breaks for unpaid carers under the new Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Now, experts at carer-led community Mobilise are also calling for greater awareness of funding for replacement care services and holiday accommodation, as well as new developments around Scottish carers’ rights to breaks. This support can give unpaid carers desperately needed breaks.
What rights do unpaid carers have to take breaks?
Local Authorities now have a duty, under the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, to ensure that all unpaid carers are able to take sufficient breaks. This means that all unpaid carers living in Scotland are now legally entitled to take a break.
Anyone in a caring role also has the right to be assessed for an ‘Adult Carer Support Plan’ (or Young Carer Statement, if you’re caring for a child). This can lead to free respite care services, or funding for breaks and activities that offer time away from caring responsibilities – ranging from regular time off to a short holiday.
What respite care funding is available?
Adult Carer Support Plans aren’t the only way to access replacement care services. A number of different funding options are available to give Scottish carers respite breaks (sometimes known as ‘carers breaks’ or ‘short breaks’), depending on the level of care you provide and the needs of the person you are caring for.
Respite care costs can also be covered by:
Where can carers get free respite accommodation?
Even with respite care services in place, holiday accommodation costs can be prohibitive for carers who often face additional expenses, and may have to drop out of paid roles or reduce their hours. To help break down this barrier to breaks, a number of organisations offer free accommodation for carers. Some also offer support for your cared-for person to join you.
Free respite accommodation options include:
To get more help finding and applying for respite care funding and support, you can visit Mobilise’s detailed Guide to Respite. Care support experts are also on hand to help via the Mobilise website.
SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND
Over 89,000 unpaid carers received an extra payment of £293.50 in June 2025.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is only available in Scotland and gets paid automatically to people who get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance.
Find out more at https://bit.ly/CarersAllowanceSupplement
