Funding for slavery and colonialism work
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded significant funding to the independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review (ESCLR) Implementation Group and The City of Edinburgh Council.
This will allow the ESCLR to progress recommendations it made in a report published in 2022 when led by the late Professor Sir Geoff Palmer.
Tom wins the Aldi Supermarket Sweep with benefits for CHAS
One lucky local winner spread some Christmas cheer by raising £606.18 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) while bagging the same amount in Aldi favourites for himself.
Aldi’s popular Supermarket Sweep, inspired by the legendary gameshow, took place in Edinburgh on 14 December.
Lucky shopper Tom Garrat, who was chosen as the winner of the competition, donned a Santa costume for his five-minute trolley dash for CHAS at the Portobello store – where CHAS representatives got into the festive spirit dressed as elves.
As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Aldi Scotland matched the cash value of Tom’s haul, donating all proceeds to CHAS to help support over 500 babies, children and young people across Scotland with life-shortening conditions and their families. In 2025, every penny raised through the initiative has gone directly to CHAS, with £10,000 pledged in support.
Tom Garratt, said: “It was a pleasure to raise over £600 for CHAS with the help of Aldi. A special thanks to Sarah from CHAS for being my eyes and ears as I dashed through the aisles filling the trolleys!”
Sarah Dannfald, Senior Community Fundraiser, CHAS, said: “Turning up to Aldi’s Portobello store dressed as Santa and an Elf isn’t something you do every day, but the team there welcomed us like absolute stars. Tom’s fantastic effort in the Supermarket Sweep, along with the brilliant support from all the staff, brought so much festive fun and raised a wonderful amount for CHAS. Their generosity will help bring comfort, care and Christmas magic to the children and families we support all year round. We can’t thank them enough for getting behind us with such spirit and good humour!”
Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Our first-ever festive edition of Supermarket Sweep has been such a good way to celebrate the season and spread some Christmas cheer, while also finishing a fantastic year of fundraising on a high. Congratulations to Tom, who raised an incredible £606.18 for CHAS while grabbing a bundle of Aldi favourites for himself.
“CHAS is an incredible organisation that does invaluable work for families across Scotland. We’re proud to support them and help raise as much as possible so they can continue to provide vital hospice care for children with life-shortening conditions, and unwavering support to families during the most difficult moments imaginable.”
Boyack expresses her disappointment
Sarah Boyack MSP for Lothian has expressed her disappointment that the Social Justice Committee did not endorse her member’s bill.
The Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill aimed to embed legal definitions of sustainable development and wellbeing into law.
It would also have created a Future Generations Commissioner, modelled on the Welsh example, that would have oversight powers to ensure that public bodies would have to consider the long-term implications of their actions.
The bill had been making its way through the Social Justice Committee at Holyrood as experts gave evidence regarding the bill.
The bill was first unveiled by Ms Boyack in 2023.
The SNP backed a wellbeing and sustainable development bill in their 2021 manifesto but resisted Ms Boyack’s bill earlier this year.
Ms Boyack said: “I am extremely disappointed that my member’s bill has not been supported by the majority of the committee’s members.
“The bill would have ensured that Scotland focuses on implementing sustainable development and wellbeing policies and deliver the leadership, accountability, advice and guidance we urgently need.
“I want to thank all those who supported my proposed bill as it has raised the need for joined up action and implementation onto the Parliament’s agenda.
“It’s clear from reading the committee’s report that there is action which the Scottish Government needs to deliver.
“I still believe that my bill would complement and reinforce that action.”
Dangers of walking on Rose Street
Last week councillors debated (and delayed deciding upon) allowing two way cycling on Rose Street. It is already permitted to cycle westbound even though it is a pedestrian zone. Council officers wanted to lift the restrictions so that it would become two way but councillors disagreed.
Spokes the Lothian Cycle Campaign has pointed out that being a pedestrian on Rose Street is the most dangerous pursuit. They report that there have been three separate pestrian injury crashes on Rose Street with seven persons injured in total all due to the drivers of cars or other vehicles.
The organisation has published an open letter explaining what it would have hoped councillors could have looked at – pedestrian safety.
The letter is published here and is worth reading in full. In case you miss it the letter ends: “What you can do. All we can suggest here is to keep reminding your councillors of the issues raised in this article – the role of the TRO subcommittee, and the need to take more seriously the dangers posed by motor traffic to pedestrians – and, indeed, to cyclists.”
Birthlink roof appeal (and sale!)
Birthlink have two shops on Bruntsfield Place. In one of them there has been a problem with the roof and they need to raise money to fix it. Everyone visiting the shop is invited to make a donation – as well as buy something in their now almost annual sale of course!
Do help if you can. The charity offers support and advice to adopted adults, birthparents, adoptive parents, birth families and other professionals in relation to adoptions with a Scottish connection.
“Our work is invaluable to those who seek our support.”
