EDINBURGH and LOTHIANS GREENSPACE TRUST
Looking for some free fun this Easter holiday in your local park?
Head along to any or all of these workshops all about nature in West Pilton Park!
Free fun at West Pilton Park
Tag: workshops
Spring starts with Dobbies’ Spring Shopping Evening at Edinburgh store
Celebrate the colours of spring at Dobbies’ Spring Shopping Evening, a free-to-attend evening event dedicated to outdoor living and seasonal inspiration, taking place on Thursday 2 April at the Edinburgh store.
Bring friends and family together to join the local community to mark the start of the season, with entertainment from local groups, hands-on workshops, delicious samples from Dobbies’ new foodhall, and in-store garden inspiration.
Start the evening with a complimentary drink on arrival and be in with the chance to receive a pair of gardening gloves, available to the first 100 customers that come through the door at the Edinburgh store. Browse Dobbies’ Easter Bank Holiday Weekend offers and receive a free £5 gift card when you spend £40 or £10 when you spend £70.
Shoppers can enjoy live musical entertainment from local community groups while they get inspired this spring by Dobbies in-store garden furniture and 2026 spring summer trends. There will also be samples on offer from the brand-new Dobbies ‘cottage kitchen garden’ foodhall as they shop and the restaurant will be open until 7.30pm for drinks and light bites.
A free Create Your Own Spring Container Workshop will begin at 6pm, where attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the Dobbies’ Green Team as they demonstrate how to design and plant a beautiful spring container using seasonal foliage and flowers. They will also share tips on plant combinations, soil preparation and feeding, and how to keep your container looking vibrant all season long.
Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “We are excited to invite our customers to Dobbies for our Spring Shopping Evening at the Edinburgh store, where they can discover fresh planting ideas and explore the latest outdoor living trends.
“This special event is the perfect way to kick off the season, celebrate community spirit, and spark garden inspiration. We can’t wait to welcome our customers and help everyone make the most of garden living in the months ahead.”
Tickets for Dobbies’ Spring Shopping Evening are free but sign up is required to receive an arrival drink. To book visit dobbies.com/events.
Events and Workshops at Granton Castle Walled Garden
Fancy learning about mushroom growing or flower arranging? 
We recently added a number of new events and workshops to our website.
All of them are free to attend unless noted otherwise. Spaces fill up quickly, so don’t delay signing up. 
Details here:
https://www.grantoncastlewalledgarden/events
Jewellery making with Flourish at North Edinburgh Arts
We’re excited to share a fantastic creative opportunity for local adults who would like to develop skills in jewellery making at North Edinburgh Arts.
We have a couple of places available for an extended jewellery programme with Flourish Jewellery Project, open to local adults living in Granton or Pilton.
Workshops will run weekly on Thursday mornings, 10.30am – 12.30pm, from February to August 2026.
As places are limited, participants must be able to commit to attending weekly to ensure they get the most out of this opportunity.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:
Places are being offered to adults (aged 18+). The course is funded by City of Edinburgh Council Forth Ward so to be eligible to attend you must live in Granton or Pilton.
If you are interested in taking part but unsure if your address is eligible, please get in touch.
TO APPLY FOR A PLACE:
Email Lisa at hello@flourishjewelleryproject.com and include the following information:
– Your full name
– Your address and postcode
– Contact telephone number
– Tell us why you would like to attend the extended Jewellery programme?
Leith Creative Trail launches this weekend
29th NOVEMBER – 7th DECEMBER
The Leith Creative Trail starts this weekend! 
This winter, Leith comes alive with creativity! We’re excited to be taking part again this year with our Winter Arts Markets. 
It’s your chance to explore 20 inspiring creative venues filled with markets, open studios, exhibitions, workshops, talks, and pop-up events celebrating Leith’s vibrant artistic spirit.
Come and join us from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th December where over 120 handpicked local artists and makers will be selling their work.
With everything from clothes and textiles, glass and ceramics to paintings, prints and illustrations (and lots more), there’s something for everyone.
As well as the bustling market, there will be food and drink from the fully licensed Drill Hall Cafe (including mulled wine).
The perfect place to pick up a unique Christmas gift and support local artists at the same time.
Friday 5th December | 5pm – 9pm
Saturday 6th December | 11am – 5pm
Sunday 7th December | 11am – 5pm
£3 / £1 Concessions / Free for under 12’s.
To find out more just head over to our website.
Friday market 
https://outoftheblue.pulse.ly/ati1ac0xls
Saturday & Sunday markets https://outoftheblue.pulse.ly/wmbxtebbti
Gracemount High School pupils gain hands-on hospitality experience in partnership with The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection has partnered with Gracemount High School to give pupils hands-on hospitality experience through the Hospitality Connect programme.
The initiative aims to reshape perceptions of hospitality careers while providing students with real-world training in a professional hotel environment.
Since launching last November, the partnership has enabled 30 Gracemount students, aged 14 to 16, to explore daily operations at The Scholar, a 4-star hotel run by The University of Edinburgh, through four immersive workshops. Participants gained practical insight into core hospitality functions including housekeeping, reception services, kitchen operations, and food & beverage management.
Hospitality Connect, founded by UK Hospitality, delivers six bespoke career experiences annually, including workshops, employer-led events, and hands-on training. By connecting classroom learning with real-world industry expertise, the programme helps bridge the gap between education and employment, offering students a tangible pathway into hospitality careers.
The programme culminated on Thursday, 27th March, with a special event at the hotel’s restaurant The Brasserie, rebranded by the students as “The Mount” for the day. Students took full control of the lunch service, overseeing everything from menu design and marketing to food preparation and front-of-house service.
This hands-on experience not only contributed to their year-end assessments but also provided them with practical skills and a deeper understanding of the industry – an invaluable stepping stone toward future career opportunities.
Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager for Operations at the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, said: “We have loved opening our operations to support students who have already demonstrated a keen interest in the hospitality sector.
“By providing real-world insights and experiences, we’ve sought to equip them with the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in this field and to demonstrate the career opportunities it brings.”
Morven Langley, Teacher at Gracemount High School, added: “This initiative really brings classroom learning to life.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to see the inner workings of a busy Edinburgh hotel, enhancing their learning and preparing them for exciting career opportunities in this growing sector.”
This partnership marks the start of what is hoped to be a long-term collaboration, inspiring the next generation to view hospitality as an exciting and rewarding career choice.
To find out more about the University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection, please visit:
Nearly all adults in Scotland believe emotional abuse in childhood can have a lasting psychological effect but one in six cannot spot the signs
- The NSPCC is releasing this data as part of its Listen up, Speak up campaign, aiming to inspire a million people to take action to keep children safe.
- The SSC (A Club for the Youth in Scotland) is one of many businesses, community groups and organisations across Scotland who have taken part in Listen up, Speak up workshops.
New findings reveal that 96% of adults surveyed in Scotland believe that emotional abuse in childhood can have a lasting psychological effect well into adulthood.
A YouGov survey of 4,242 UK adults, commissioned by the NSPCC – including 352 in Scotland – also gave participants a series of behaviours and asked them to correctly identify what was deemed as emotional abuse.
In Scotland, on average one in six participants (17%), failed to correctly identify examples of emotional abuse. The scenarios where adults failed to identify emotional abuse correctly included:
- Being overly controlling of a child’s life (25%).
- Never showing any emotions in interactions with a child (21%).
- Pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations (26%).
The research also found that more than two thirds of adults (69%) of adults in Scotland surveyed had not done any training or reading to help them recognise the signs of emotional abuse.
Emotional abuse – which is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child – can often be difficult to recognise, sometimes showing limited external signs.
Research suggests that 1 in 15 children in the UK will experience emotional abuse, highlighting just how prevalent the issue is, and it is a topic that young people contact Childline about on a regular basis.
Last year the NSPCC service delivered almost 3,000 counselling sessions to children and young people where emotional abuse was the main concern, a 5% increase compared to 2022/23.
One girl, aged 17, told Childline: “Mum’s never hit me, but it still feels abusive. She always tells me she hates me, that I’m selfish, that I’m stupid.
“When she’s angry she breaks my stuff and blames it on me. She controls my friendships too; she says no one would want to be my friend anyway. I feel so defeated and drained living with this every day.”
This new data highlights the importance of free resources, like the NSPCC’s Listen up, Speak up workshops and online tips and advice. The SSC (A Club for the Youth in Scotland) welcomed safeguarding experts to lead these free, educational workshops.
The SSC is a volunteer-run organisation that organizes summer camps and other events for children and young people in Scotland.
Listen up, Speak up provides simple tips and advice on signs a child might be at risk and steps that can be taken to help. The tips can be found online, and anyone can take part in a workshop run for free by local NSPCC teams, either in person or online.
Through a series of everyday scenarios, participants learn some of the signs that a child might be at risk, showing that not all situations are black and white, how to approach difficult conversations, and who to contact if they are concerned about a child or their family.
The NSPCC local campaigns team delivered 557 LUSU workshops in Scotland.
As part of their partnership with the NSPCC, The SSC, has committed to ensuring their volunteers and members across the region are familiar with Listen up, Speak up.
Cat Robertson, SSC chairwoman, said: “The Listen up, Speak up training was a great experience for the volunteer youth workers of the SSC.
“We believe that all young people should have access to safe, fun and positive experiences – not only at our summer camps and events but in every aspect of their lives.
“The workshop was accessible, interactive and highly relevant to the role of our team.”
NSPCC’s CEO, Chris Sherwood, said: “It is concerning that on average one in six adults in Scotland are unable to correctly identify emotional abuse. We know that emotional abuse can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on children’s wellbeing and development, affecting their mental health, and relationships well into adulthood.
“The NSPCC is here to support any child who has experienced any kind of abuse. We are also fully committed to creating a nation of adults who are passionate about preventing harm from happening to a child. With our Childline service delivering almost 3,000 counselling sessions about emotional abuse last year alone, we understand the scale and seriousness of this issue across the UK.
“That’s why Listen up, Speak up is so vital. In just 10 minutes, we can help adults learn to recognise both the obvious and subtle signs a child might be at risk and take action to support them. Every adult has the power to make a difference.”
To find out more about Listen up, Speak up, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/speakup
Edinburgh TRADFEST 2025 – FULL PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
FESTIVAL DATES: Friday 2 May – Monday 12 May 2025
Edinburgh Tradfest is delighted to announce full details of its 2025 programme of traditional music, storytelling, film, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
The festival’s music programme kicks off on Friday 2 May at the Queen’s Hall with Scotland’s most sought-after piper and composer Ross Ainslie performing with the Sanctuary Band, and special guest Terra Kin.
Then, over the 11 days of the festival, there will be live music every night at the Traverse Theatre, Folk Film screenings predominately at the Cameo, and storytelling, music and special events taking place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Some of the musicians headlining include folk song sensation and multi award-winner Siobhan Miller; Scots singer of the Year 2024 Beth Malcolm; Aberdeenshire’s crowning light, folk singer and Young Musician of the Year 2025 Ellie Beaton; national treasure Kathleen MacInnes; and cutting-edge piper Finlay MacDonald performing with his band which includes award-winning piper Ailis Sutherland (Hecla), guitarist/piper Ali Hutton (Ross & Ali, Old Blind Dogs, Treacherous Orchestra, Tryst), and drummer Paul Jennings (Croft No 5, Treacherous Orchestra). Plus, there will be a special event on Sunday 4 May featuring the music and enduring legacy of piper Martyn Bennett.
Also headlining are virtuoso English folk trio Leveret; leading Scots fiddler Lauren MacColl who will be playing tunes from her most recent album Haar; and Mary Macmaster (The Poozies) who will curate and perform as part of this year’s festival commission For the Love of Trees with some of Scotland’s finest musicians: Amy Macdougall (vocals), Donald Hay (percussion), Mairearad Green (accordion, pipes), Pete Harvey (cello) and Ciarán Ryan (banjo/fiddle).
Other Scottish highlights include Morag Brown and Lewis Powell-Reid who perform pacy traditional tunes from Scotland and as far afield as the Balkans; Divergence (Freya Rae, Siannie Moodie and Tim Lane) so named because of their passion for playing non-traditional instruments in traditionally inspired music; cinematic alt-folk duo Rhona Stevens and Joseph Peach; and the unmissable annual #WorldPlayAStrathspey Day presented by Hands Up for Trad and featuring Rory Matheson (piano), and Anna Robertson, Catriona Price and Adam Sutherland (fiddle) who will take audiences through some of the world’s best known strathspeys, reels and marches.
International musicians headlining at this year’s festival include Pelkkä Poutanen whose music weaves together Scandinavian and Finno-Ugric folk singing with electronic, roots and traditional world folk influences; Canadian singer Catherine MacLellan, and English folk musician Lucy Farrell, also based in Canada, who’ll be presenting a selection of self-penned songs; legendary Kora virtuoso Seckou Keita who has been dubbed the ‘Hendrix of the Kora’; Finnish power-fiddle duo Teho; and the Hartwin Trio from Belgium.
Plus, The Travelling Janes led by Ali Affleck bring their unique mix of Americana, jazz and blues; and The Hot Seatsfrom Virginia whose combination of old-time, bluegrass and country make them the hot ticket of the festival.
At the Scottish Storytelling Centre there will be stories and music from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (A Necklace of Stories) with Bea Ferguson and Heather Yule; and tales and tunes from in the North East Bothy Tradition with ballad singer Allan Taylor, fiddler Karin Paterson and storytellers Phyll McBain and Jackie Ross; storyteller Rachel Pugh and harpist Lucy Nolan present Bog Standard the gripping true story of a tip off which led a rookie journalist to one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century; and MAIK (folksingers Jamie Cook and Kirsty Law) present folks songs in Scots and Cumbrian dialects; whilst cinematic-folk duo Dowally and innovative French drummer Philippe Boudot celebrate the release of their album Ici et Là-Bas.
Plus, TuFlamenco celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Spain with a tribute to poet Garcia Lorca, with Inma Montero (dance & vocals), Danielo Olivera (guitar & vocals), and Inés Álvarez Villa (storyteller); the Sangstream Scots Folk Choir led by renowned musician Corrina Hewat perform a cappella in Let Them Be Heard; and author Stuart McHardy launches his new book Scotland’s Ancient Goddess: Hidden in Plain Sight exploring the mythology of creation and the pre-Christian beliefs of the Scottish people, published by Luath Press.The popular Hearth Fire Sessions return with storytellers Dougie Mackay and Niall Moorjani, Moroccan filmmakers/storytellers Tizintizwa and musician Evie Waddell.
The Folk Film Gathering returns to Edinburgh Tradfest this year with a selection of films from the world’s archives including a screening of Ukranian film The Enchanted Desna (1964) directed by Alexander Dovzhenko’s widow Yuliya Solntseva; Fertile Memory (1981) the first full length film to be shot within the occupied Palestinian West Bank ‘Green Line’ introduced by Scottish-Palestinian poet Nada Shawa; George Nasser’s Ila Ayn (1957) the first ever Lebanese film to screen at Cannes; The Nouba of the Women of Mount Chenoua (1977) which explores the intergenerational experiences and histories of women in Algeria and of speech and silence; and Icelandic film The Juniper Tree (1990) which stars Björk in an early performance of this adaptation of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Staying with horror, O’r Ddaear Hen (1981) the first horror film to be made in the Welsh language and set in a council house in Bangor about a mysterious stone head, will be screening; along with the Scottish premiere of the new restoration of cult classic of Irish independent cinema The Outcasts (1982); and a series of short dark Gaelic tales from 1996-1999 introduced by Edinburgh-based Gaelic storyteller Martin McIntyre who is also doing a separate session introducing Gaelic storytelling culture and history at the Storytelling Centre.
Also from Scotland there will be a screening of Paper Portraits (2025) a new documentary from Gerda Stevensoncelebrating the history and working people of Penicuik’s paper mills; and a rare chance to see Emma Davie’s Flight(1997) exploring how Scottish traditions continue to be expressed in Canada by the diaspora.
Finally on Sunday 11 May, to close the Folk Film Festival, in collaboration with the Storytelling Centre, there will be a full day of screenings celebrating independent film in Scotland through the lens of filmmaker Douglas Eadie hosted by poet Jim Mackintosh and author James Robertson who will be joined in conversation by former colleagues of Eadie including Robbie Fraser, Fiona MacDonald and Christeen Winford.
Screenings include Haston-A Life in the MountainsAn Ceasnachadh – An Interrogation of a Highland Lass (with Kathleen MacInnes, Dolina MacLennan and Kenny MacRae) and Down Home (with Aly Bain).
Families, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre can enjoy a morning of face painting and crafting ahead of the traditional May Day Parade down the High Street to the Pleasance; storytelling with the Beltane Fire Society; a traditional street games, rhymes and songs session with Claire McNicol and Fergus McNicol; sensory stories and play with Ailie Finlay; and family ceilidhs.
In addition, the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin (EYG) returns with a three-day workshop programme supported by the William Grant Foundation for 13-18 year olds and led by some of Scotland’s finest musicians; and Claire Hastings hosts an hour-long relaxed session for babies and upwards, playing songs to join in with, accompanied by Ali Hutton and Adam Sutherland.
Other workshops held during the festival include: a singing workshop with Chandra Mather where participants will learn a selection of traditional songs from around the world picked up by Chandra on musical travels; a strathspey fiddle workshop with Lauren MacColl; tune writing with one of Scotland’s finest composers Adam Sutherland; and a masterclass in Highland piping from master of the pibroch Allan Macdonald. Plus, the Traditional Music Forum will present an interactive and fun workshop for musicians who want to improve their patter and be better storytellers on stage.
Rebellious Truth, this year’s popular talk presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, features Joy Dunlop who will give an insight into her Gaelic journey; from learning Gaelic songs phonetically to being the face of multi-platform learning brand SpeakGaelic. Joy is in high demand as a singer, broadcaster and Scottish step-dancer and is a well-known face on BBC Scotland, BBC Alba and host of the BBC Radio Scotland Traditional Musician of the Year. The talk will also include a special performance by musician Fraser Fifield.
ETF Spotlight, this year’s showcase concert presenting some of the most exciting new performers in folk and traditional music today returns with artist and musician Miwa Nagato-Apthorp, Parsisonic led by Iranian duo Aref Ghorbani and Amir Hossein Feyzi, and trad fusion band Dlù.
And, finally Masks: An Exhibition by Lorraine Pritchard (5 April to 12 May)displaying hand-crafted Venetian masks will be on at the Storytelling Centre alongside a series of photographs and a new behind-the-scenes documentary by Franzis Sanchez shot in Edinburgh and during this year’s Venice Carnival. This exhibition is part of the Pomegranates Festival of world trad dance and presented by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland.
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said: “Scotland’s traditions are vividly expressed and deeply felt in our words, our images and our music. As the beating heart of our national identity, they’re filtered through the 2025 Tradfest programme and across Edinburgh’s stages and screens, its walls and its streets.
“Supported by Creative Scotland through National Lottery funds, this important and inspiring event recognises not only the roots of Scotland’s revived folk culture in the city’s past but also the international ambition of our increasingly diverse country’s future.
“Thought-provoking, thrilling and straight-up fun in equal measure, Tradfest is a highlight on our cultural calendar.”
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said:
“Each year we give ourselves the challenge of building a festival packed with more superlative music than the preceding year. With more shows booked for 2025 than ever before, we think we have achieved that. It’s a wonderful mix of the exotic and the home grown. Virtuoso visitors from Senegal, Finland, Belgium, Canada, the US and England will grace Edinburgh’s stages joining an extremely strong Scottish contingent. Appearing are some of the best singers that Scotland has ever produced, the finest fiddle-players, harpists, strings-players, pianists, and, of course, pipers. We are also indebted to our partners at TRACS and the Folk Film Gathering who have provided a fabulous array of storytelling, family events and folk cinema that complement the musical offerings perfectly.”
Daniel Abercrombie, Head of Programming, Scottish Storytelling Centre said:
“Edinburgh Tradfest is a great time of the year, with lighter nights and a chance for storytellers to celebrate with musicians, dancers and other creatives. We are offering a variety of traditional arts activities for all to enjoy, with several exciting new performances alongside workshops and family events. It is a highlight of our calendar at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and we’re delighted to be involved once again.”
Jamie Chambers, Folk Film Gathering said: “We are really excited to be collaborating with our sister festival Tradfest once again, to present a programme of films screenings, in parallel with their exciting music programming. Our 2025 programme features a number of very rare films from Scotland, alongside films from Algeria, Iceland, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Ukraine and Wales, and provides a chance to once again consider how we look outwards from Scotland towards the rest of the world. We hope to see you there.”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2025 will run from Friday 2 May – Monday 12 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
North Edinburgh Film Festival
SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY from 11 – 5 at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
2025 North Edinburgh Film Festival – don’t miss this family-friendly celebration of film and community stories!
Presented by Screen Education Edinburgh and North Edinburgh Arts, this year’s NEFF brings a diverse programme of over 30 films – from powerful local stories to short animations and global perspectives.
Saturday 22 February 2025, 11am-5pm
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre
Free event
Highlights include:
Films from North Edinburgh – stories made by the community, for the community
Global shorts & animations, from near and far
Special performance by Curious Seed, featuring films by local artists and Craigroyston Community High School pupils
Workshops for aspiring filmmakers of all ages
The day also includes film installations and free food for attendees and wraps up with a screening of eight new locally made films. There’s plenty to explore so come and join us!
EIJB funding crisis: Agenda for tomorrow’s conference
To attendees and those who wished to be kept in touch about conference developments:
Hi,
Thank you for attending the workshop on Saturday or for expressing an interest in campaign developments. We will produce a written report on the conclusions arising out of the discussion at the plenary session of the workshop.
Attached is the agenda for the workshop on Saturday,
One of the key issues to be discussed at the workshop is the City Council’s response to the proposed cut in funding to third sector organisations.
The cut will take effect on 30/6/25. However, we understand that Council action to mitigate the effects of the cuts will be discussed during the Council’s budget setting meeting on 20/2/25.
There may need to be a lobby of the Council meeting.
Regards,
Des Loughney
Secretary
Edinburgh TUC
EDINBURGH SOCIAL CARE CAMPAIGN – THE WAY FORWARD
Unitecd Augustine Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
Workshop Saturday 18th January 2025
AGENDA
Chair: Ian Mullen (UNISON City of Edinburgh Council Branch)
9.30 am – 10.00 am: Tea/ coffee and biscuits.
10.00 am – 11 am. Introduction to workshop
Des Loughney – Secretary, UNITE Edinburgh Not For Profit Branch (1)
Councillor Tim Pogson – Vice Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (2)
Denise Ritchie: Fair Work Project Officer, Scottish Trades Union Congress (3)
Linda Sommerville: Deputy General Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress. (3)
11am to 12.30pm Working Groups ( two)
12.30 pm to 1.00 pm – Plenary Session and summing up.
Speakers:
- Des Loughney will comment on the impact of the proposed EIJB cuts on services and third sector worker terms and conditions. The impact includes compulsory redundancies and downgrading of contracts of employment from guaranteed working weeks to zero hour contracts,
- Councillor Tim Pogson will update us on the response of the Council to the proposed EIJB cuts. The City Council is seeking to mitigate the impact of the cuts on the third sector.
- Denise Ritchie and Linda Sommervile will brief the workshop on proposed campaigning activity at a local level and a Scottish level.